Ernest Salgado Sr., who was the oldest member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians of California, died on Monday. He was 91.

Salgado was born on the reservation. He fought in World War II and served on the tribal council.

“We are the First People of this nation. Our history, our people and our voice as Native Americans has been here long before any others and will be here long after,” Salgado said last year, when he was the first person in the tribe to fill out the 2010 Census, The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported.

Salgado died of natural causes.

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SOBOBA RESERVATION: Eldest tribal member dies (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 1/26)