The Kawaiisu Tribe of Tejon thanks Secretary Ken Salazar for
“Reaffirming” the Tribe to the list of Federally Recognized Tribes
in the United States according to a news release on January 3, 2012
by Indianz.com, who were the first to break the good news, and it
quickly spread through Indian Country.

Tribal Chair David Laughing Horse Robinson is thankful the Tribe
will see a new future in 2012.They have been fighting a legal case
for two years in California Federal Court, docket number
1:09-cv-01977, to stop development on their Indian Reservation
at the Tejon Ranch near Los Angeles, that gives the corporation
permission to unearth the burial remains and spiritual burial objects
of thousands of their ancestors that died on the reservation. The
timing of regaining recognition, while awaiting a ruling on the
Federal Case is an unexpected gift that the Tribe embraces with
gratitude.

Laughing Horse said, “Well, on the one side I wish this had
happened two years ago so we did not have to go to court, but
today, we are overwhelmed with joy and happiness. This has been
a hard road for over 160 years and this will help in resolving the
case before the court today. At issue before the court now is getting
our land back which was assigned under Treaty. We actually signed
two Treaties, first on December 30, 1849 and again for Tejon
Reservation in June of 1851. We also have over 100 allotments
because of these Treaties. “Reaffirming of Recognition,” means
that Congress and the President of the United States recognize the
Tribe through the Treaty, because the Treaty represents prior Federal
Recognition. The United States now is back in compliance with the
Treaty, except for the Tejon Reservation and Graves issues. Though
the wait has been long and painful, we are pleased that our tribal
families can step out of the 18th century and experience the
20th century as other US citizens do: electricity and water in their
homes, elders with medical care, children who can look forward to
a college education and day care so parents can work while their
children are safe. As each of us Elders have watched our
grandchildren born we were worried that this day might never
come and we are thankful to the kind guidance of our Ancestors
in this struggle.”