The La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians was the hardest hit by the recent wildfires in southern California. The 700-member tribe lost 8,679 acres of its 10,000-acre reservation. Of 170 houses, 59 were burned. "We were already at the bottom of the barrel and now this takes us down even further," Chairman Tracy Lee Nelson told The Los Angeles Times. Nelson and vice chairwoman Viola Peck were among those who lost homes. "I lost my house, I lost everything," Peck said. "I try to be strong in front of the family but I have my moments when I'm alone." The tribe doesn't operate a casino so it is depending on FEMA, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other tribes for help. Get the Story:
Impoverished tribe hit hard by blazes (The Los Angeles Times 11/22)
pwday Relevant Links:
After the Fires Fund - http://www.sdfoundation.org/fire2007 Related Stories:
After fires, La Jolla Band faces threat of mudslide (11/12)
California tribes seek better communication (11/9)
La Jolla Band accepting donations after fire (11/6)
California tribes seek assistance after fire (11/5)
California tribes begin fire recovery efforts (10/31)
Artman to survey fire damage in southern California (10/30)
Tribal firefighters battle California blazes (10/26)
Two tribes among hardest hit by California fires (10/25)
Fires strike southern California reservations (10/24)
BIA cancels consultation due to California fires (10/23)
