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A(,--'�l A fwHIniMEN NATION Sean Acuna Tribal Chair Charlene McNair Vice Tribal Chair Stephanie Whiteman Tribal Manager Jeanine James Tribal Council Rudolph (Rudy) Reyes Tribal Council 8/27/2022 Annebelle Nery, Ph.D. VIA EMAIL President of Santa Ana College 1530 W 17th St, Santa Ana, CA 92706 Dr. Nery: I am the Chairman of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation 84B. We have 3 Bands of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians: 84A of Chairwoman Lucero, 84B Chairman Acuna; and Independent Party Chairman Belardes. None of our bands are Federally Recognized Tribes. I have attended Santa Ana College campus on Native American events where I was given the honor to speak on our ancestral lands as a form of a Land Acknowledgment in the Amphitheater in 2021. 1 personally spoke with Dr. Flores (at that time SAC President) where we agreed to support the PowWow at Santa Ana College and I also witnessed another eouncilmember from 84A Secretary Georgia Edmundson supporting the Powwow as well. We also have support from Independent Party Chairman Belardes supporting this Powwow. As a matter of fact, we just finished our PowWdw on August 13, 2022 in San Juan Capistrano, CA to such great success with the expertise of Ms. Lupe Lopez. The letter Heidi Lucero addressed to you was not representative of myself nor Matt Belardes two recognized Chairman within the Acjachemen Leadership of 84B and IP. Both Matt and I were appalled by the letter and the claims made, regarding Lupe Lopez. Ms, Lopez has never misrepresented herself in any such way to any city governments, educational institutions, or other parties. Ms. Lopez has volunteered her time as a Tribal Administrator to assist our Tribe to visibility and connect us with educational resources for our tribal members. The letter submitted by Heidi Lucero was embarrassing to several leaders within our Acjachemen community, and not representative of their views as well. Including members of her own council that were not aware of this letter being sent to Rancho Santiago College. I was more so astonished to hear of your decision to cancel the PowWow, where so many Native groups and Native Support Groups have been working on for years. Your decision based on a false claim and not representative of the majority leadership with Aciachemen. This is not a Juaneno Tribal Event, this is a Community event. You have 2 out of the 3 Juaneno Bands of Mission Indians in support of this Powwow, School Districts, City of Santa Ana, organizations, Universities, etc. Ms. Lopez is generations deep from the Orange County community and has worked to bring the Native American population to Santa Ana College. I have requested Ms. Lucero to provide an apology to Ms. Lopez, Santa Ana College, and the entire Native American Community. OU 445 Plaza Estivai, San Clemente CA, 92672 0. jbmination@gmail.com