Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians Chairman Mark Macarro accepts the John Kieffer Sovereignty Award at the NIGA Mid-Year Luncheon Banquet
1995; 2018 marks his 23rd consecutive year as Tribal Chairman. Chairman Macarro believes it is critical to maintain and cultivate the Pechanga tribal culture, language, and traditional lifeways so that the Pechanga people can preserve their unique tribal identity. Macarro has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. This year, Macarro joined the ranks of
such an honor to serve as the Pechanga Tribal Chairman. He said, “This is an exciting time for all of us. We get to see the opportunities to make things better for our people, for our families, and to help correct some injustices. I’m grateful for the honor. I accept the award on behalf of the Pechanga people, past, present and future.” He recognized his wife Holly and his children for their continued support of him in his service as tribal chairman.
“ This is an exciting time for all of us. We get to see the opportunities to make things better for our people, for our families, and I’m grateful for the honor. I accept the award on behalf of the Pechanga people, past, present and future.” --Mark Macarro to help correct some injustices.
past recipients of this honor including John Warren, Chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, David Bean, Vice Chairman of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Kevin Brown, Chairman of the Mohegan Tribe of New York, and Melanie Benjamin, Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe; Kurt Blue Dog of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community; Tracy Burris of the Chickasaw Nation; Chairman Mark Brown of the Mohegan Tribe; Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians; and Anthony R. Pico, former chairman of the Viejas Band of Mission Indians, just to name a few.
Mark Macarro, is the duly elected Tribal Chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians in southern California. Macarro’s vision for the Pechanga people is to see the Band strengthen its political self- determination and economic self-sufficiency by developing a diversified economy for the Pechanga Band while maintaining its distinct and unique cultural identity. Chairman Macarro was first elected to the Pechanga Tribal Council in 1992. Mark has served as the Tribal Chairman since
13 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - SPRING EDITION 2018
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