Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation awards Tribal Leadership Council $50,000 in grants
The Tribal Leadership Council will expand its training programmes for emerging tribal leaders.
US.- The Tribal Leadership Council (TLC) has received $50,000 as part of the 2025 San Manuel Cares grant cycle, through which the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation distributed more than $13.5m to support initiatives. Through thefunding, the Tribal Leadership Council will expand its training programmes for emerging tribal leaders.
TLC President Justin Barrett, said: “We are deeply grateful to Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation for their generous support and belief in our mission.
“This grant will allow us to expand training programs about governance for new Tribal leaders, and to continue building partnerships with Tribes, universities, and organizations for specialized instruction. These new leaders are responsible for economic development, health, education and the welfare of their communities, so investing in training helps create good leadership.”
Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation added: “For over two decades, the call of Yawa’—a Serrano value meaning ‘to act on one’s beliefs’—has guided our giving programs and community efforts. We are proud to support organisations like the Tribal Leadership Council that uplift our communities by reaching some of the most vulnerable populations to provide critical services.”
Since the early 2000s, the San Manuel Nation’s Yuhaaviatam programme has donated over $425m. The funding supports several causes across the Serrano Ancestral Lands and Indian Country.
California Legislature approves bill to ban sweepstakes
The California Legislature has approved Assembly Bill 831 to ban online sweepstakes gaming. The bill is now waiting for governor Gavin Newsom to decide whether to sign it into law or veto it. If he signs it, AB 831 will take effect on January 1, 2026.
The bill would prohibit sweepstakes games that use a dual currency model. It was proposed by assemblymember Avelino Valencia and co-sponsored by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) and the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations (TASIN).
It has been amended to ensure that the sweepstakes offered by businesses for marketing purposes will not be affected. The bill passed through multiple committees. The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) opposes the bill.
