The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians in California is paying $20.35 million to protect a sacred site from development.

The tribe is paying $3 million for the 354-acre site that was slated for the Liberty Quarry. An additional $17.35 million will go to Granite Construction, the company behind the proposed mine.

The deal protects the sacred Pu`eska Mountain, one of the tribe's most important sites. “The mountain is our people’s place of creation,” Chairman Mark Macarro said at a press conference, The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported.

The land is located next to the reservation. News reports did not say whether the tribe wants it placed in trust.

Get the Story:
LIBERTY QUARRY: Pechanga tribe to buy site (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 11/16)
Tribe, mine company reach deal over quarry (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 11/16)
Land fight resolved; sacred mountain returned to IE tribe (ABC 11/15)
Pechanga Tribe to Purchase Liberty Quarry Land (Temecula Patch 11/15)

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County fast tracks approval of mine near Pechanga sacred site (8/1)
Developer resubmits bid for mine by Pechanga Band sacred site (7/26)
County rejects quarry mine near Pechanga Band sacred site (2/17)
Planning commission to vote on mine by Pechanga sacred site (12/06)