Kumeyaay-Diegueño Flag Raising Ceremony & City Proclaims "Jane Dumas Day"

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CALIFORNIA INDIAN SOVEREIGNTY — the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians is one of twelve federally-recognized Kumeyaay bands in Southern California that comprise the Kumeyaay Tribe of North America. In addition, there are four recognized Kumiai Indigenous Communities in Northern Baja California, Mexico.

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KUMEYAAY CULTURE — learn about the Kumeyaay culture online.

KUMEYAAY RESEARCH — learn information about how to research the Kumeyaay Tribe of Southern California.

CONTEMPORARY BAJA TRIBAL MULTIMEDIA DOCUMENTARIES — San Jose de la Zorra, San Antonio Necua, La Huerta, Santa Catarina, Juntas de Neji, El Mayor.

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Proclamation of the City Council
City of San Diego

Jane Dumas Day

April 28, 2012

Presented by Councilmember Marti Emerald

WHEREAS, Jane Dumas, of the Jamul Band of Kumeyaay Indians, is a well-known and highly revered elder, teacher, and leader both in the American Indian community and throughout San Diego County; AND

WHEREAS, Jane’s mother, Isabel Thing, was a Kuseyaay, or medicine woman, who passed her vast knowledge of herbs, plants, and ancient remedies down to her daughter.  For decades, Jane has dedicated herself to keeping alive her first language of Kumeyaay by sharing her impressive repertoire of Kumeyaay culture and medicine with other Kumeyaay, as well as with the general public, at special events and speaking engagements; AND

WHEREAS, Jane helped found the San Diego American Indian Health Center in 1981, where she worked first as a home health aide and then as a traditional medicine specialist.  Jane joined the Board of the Indian Human Resource Center in 1986; AND

WHEREAS, in conjunction with the reopening of father Junipero Serra Trail Road in 1993, Jane took part in the naming and blessing ceremony for the Kumeyaay Lake and Campground (formerly known as Hollins Lake).  Later that year, she participated in the groundbreaking and blessing ceremony for Mission Trails’ new Visitor and Interpretive Center and, in 1995, for the Center’s Grand Opening celebration; AND

WHEREAS, Jane shared her knowledge of Kumeyaay culture in the filming of the “Trails of the Kumeyaay” video, produced in 1994, as well as in the “Stewardship Through the Ages” video, produced in 1999.  Both of these excellent educational films are shown in the theater of the Mission Trails Visitor Center and are viewed by thousands of school children and people each year; AND

WHEREAS, Jane Dumas was inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2002 and is recognized as the catalyst for Mission Trails Regional Park acquiring a Kumeyaay-Diegueño Nation flag to fly proudly at the Kumeyaay Lake and Campground in her honor from here on out; AND

WHEREAS, Jane continues to share her expertise in medicinal plants by teaching Ethnobotany classes at Sycuan’s Kumeyaay Community College.  It is her hope that the knowledge and traditions of her people will continue to be passed down from generation to generation and never be forgotten; NOW THEREFORE

BE IT PROCLAIMED, by the Council of the City of San Diego, that this Council, for and on behalf of the people of San Diego, does hereby declare April 28, 2012 to be “Jane Dumas Day” in the City of San Diego and commends Jane Dumas for her proud service to San Diego’s American Indian community and to our greater region.

Signed by the Mayor and eight council members as approved April 24, 2012.

City of San Diego seal attached, framed and presented to Jane April 28, 2012 during the Kumeyaay-Diegueño flag raising, Mission Trails Regional Park, Kumeyaay Lake and Campground.