Tom-Kav the New Rallying Cry: Prayers Needed to Stop Further Desecration of Sacred Sites

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

FALLBROOK, CALIFORNIA - Non-Indian historians refer to Tom-Kav, the San Luis Rey Complex, as a pre-historic site.

How rude!

Nineteen ancestral remains were bulldozed in the darkest hours of night

These historians should and must measure it against the backdrop of when other than the San Luis Rey were here.

The San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, the true descendents of the tribe that existed for thousands of years, are still here.

Perhaps that is part of the problem in this despicable story. Non-Indians want to cherish the memories of American Indians as being pre-THEIR history.

At issue is the 19 ancestral remains of the San Luis Rey of Mission that were bulldozed in the darkest hours of night early last Thursday.

Tom-Kav is now an occupation where American Indians are holding a vigil to protect the sacred burial site from further desecration.

“We are happy people are here to support us,”

said Mel Vernon, tribal chairman of the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians.

Tom-Kav is also now the site in this northern San Diego County town where construction involves grading of a boulevard that will lead to a future satellite campus of Palomar College that will be called Horse Ranch Creek Road. The future boulevard is located at the site northeast of the Interstate15 and SR Highway 76.

The road will be owned and maintained by the County of San Diego. Palomar College is funding the road's construction.

Yesterday, up to 100 American Indians from various parts of California were at Tom-Kav to support the local Luiseno bands, which live in San Diego County. An inter-tribal drum provided drumming and singing. Prayers were offered to stop the further desecration of the construction site.

“For thousands of years, we know our ancestors lived here. Now their remains are disturbed. This construction company with their deep pockets came and bulldozed over our ancestors' remains and they don't care!”

Said an angry Laurie Gonzalez, tribal council member of the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians.

“We are here to stop the further desecration of this sacred burial site,”

stated Norman "Wounded Knee" DeOcampo, who lives in Vallejo, California. He and 10 others made the trip from the San Francisco Bay area to demonstrate their support to the local San Diego tribes.

“It was a long journey to get here at night time. We want to bring national attention to what is happening with sacred burial sites. The battle is never over.”

Wounded Knee was one of the principal leaders who led the 109 day spiritual encampment at Sogorea Te, also known as Glen Cove, in Vallejo where officials there wanted to disturb a sacred burial ground to put in two toilets and 15 parking spaces.

On Tuesday morning at 8:30, San Luis Rey's request for a temporary restraining order will finally be heard before a judge. If the temporary restraining order is granted, all work in the Tom-Kav area will be halted, so that all the recently collected human remains and cultural artifacts can be analyzed and the development project can be modified in an appropriate manner.

Prayers are needed for Tom-Kav.

posted February 27, 2012 3:20 pm est