President Biden Tuesday signed into law a bill to place into trust around 720 acres of land considered sacred to the Pala Band of Mission Indians just weeks after it unanimously passed the U.S. Senate.
The law — authored by California’s two Democratic senators, Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein, and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Fallbrook — authorizes Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to transfer 721 acres that was acquired by the Pala into trust for the benefit of the tribe and its members.
“With the enactment of the Pala Act, historic lands belonging to the Pala Tribe will now be preserved in perpetuity,” Issa said. “I am proud to partner with the Pala Tribe on this important step to protect their lands and safeguard their culture for future generations.”
The land includes a sacred site known locally as Gregory Mountain or as Chokla in Luiseño. Chokla is next to Highway 76 and looms above the San Luis Rey River, the Pala Casino and an old quarry. A 20-year fight to build a landfill at its foot in Gregory Canyon was stopped in 2016 when the Pala Band of Mission Indians purchased a portion of the site for $13 million.