Pechanga, Temecula Plan Pu’éska Mountain Day Friday In Old Town

TEMECULA, CA — Friday marks the 12th anniversary of when a tribe and a city came together to prevent the movement of a mountain. Pechanga Pu’éska Mountain Day commemorates the victorious moment when an impending gravel mine was halted in one failed swoop.

On Friday at 4:30 p.m., at Temecula City Hall Town Square, Pechanga and the city of Temecula invite all to rekindle the celebration.

Come for the Proclamation Recital, a viewing of books published by Great Oak Press—Books available (the Authors of "The Temecula Massacre" will be present for book signing), Appetizers/Dessert, and a screening of "The Mountain that Weeps," an Award-Winning Documentary Film. Blankets are recommended for the viewing.

The story behind Pechanga Pu’éska Mountain Day was transformed into a powerful, award-winning film in 2019 by Brad Munoa, a member of the Pechanga Band of Indians and Writer, Director, and Producer for Pechanga Creative Studios, "The Mountain That Weeps." This has become an annual screening event.

"The film documents the over seven-year monumental people’s movement and its momentous culmination in protecting Pu’éska Mountain and improving the quality of life for the people of Temecula.

It bears remembering the story that led to the city and Pechanga's coming together.

The proposed Liberty Quarry would have been among the largest aggregate mining quarries in the United States, with up to 1,600 daily gravel truck trips, boulder blasts, lights, noise, and dust that prevailing winds would have blown across the city, fouling air and lungs. For the tribe, the proposal was personal: Pu'éska Mountain is the place of the Sacred Creation Area for all Luiseño Indian People.

Though the Riverside County Planning Commission rejected the plans, the mining proposal was ultimately fast-tracked for approval by the then Board of Supervisors after years of opposition by thousands of residents and businesses, the Pechanga Tribe, the city of Temecula, Save our Southwest Hills, and San Diego State University. The Pechanga Tribe officially ended the battle by purchasing the land and closing escrow on Nov. 15, 2012. On that day, when Pechanga Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro announced during an impromptu news conference that the tribe owned the 365 acres of sacred land and the Liberty Quarry would be no more.

"More than just a development vs. environment story, The Mountain that Weeps explores which force is stronger, the power of community, the corruption of politics, or reverence for the sacred," as stated on www.mountainthatweeps.com.

The City encourages every Temecula resident to view this documentary, and Pechanga Pu’éska Mountain Day is the perfect opportunity to watch it as a community, Temecula Mayor James “Stew” Stewart said.

“This local holiday provides the City a formal opportunity to thank the Pechanga Tribe for saving Pu'éska Mountain and, in doing so, protecting the quality of life in Temecula. We are forever grateful," Stewart said.

At this year's celebration, the authors of "The Temecula Massacre: A Forgotten Battlefield Landscape of the Mexican-American War" will be available at the Great Oak Press table for a book-signing opportunity.

Pechanga established the Great Oak Press to provide an avenue by which Native voices and topics of significance and importance to Native Americans could find their way into the contemporary discourse and become both a growing and permanent part of recorded knowledge. Many other history books, as well as children’s storybooks, will be available.

Mayor Stewart adds, “This evening is a remarkable occasion where the Tribal and City governments unite with residents of Temecula, a time where we can learn from the Pechanga Tribe about the culture and heritage of Temecula since time immemorial.”