Tejon Tribe History, Native Education, and Per Capita Challenges | Drum Circle News
In this 1-hour interview, I sit down with Michelle Cencalli, a member of the Tejon Tribe and a teacher at a native school on the Morongo Reservation. Michelle begins by sharing the history of her tribe, which started as the Tejon Ranch in the 1800s. She details how the rancheria was managed by a Bureau of Indian Affairs member who used government funds to buy surrounding land and enslave the natives. Michelle then brings us up to the present day, where the Tejon Tribe is a sovereign nation building a Hard Rock Cafe with the aid of the Seminole Tribe, set for completion in 2025.
We also delve into the dynamics of native education on the reservation, comparing it to public education. Michelle discusses the benefits of smaller class sizes, the dual focus on modern curriculum and native teachings, and the challenges of teaching post-COVID. The conversation touches on her family’s educational legacy at UCLA and USC, emphasizing the importance of higher education for native people. We also discuss the per capita (monthly allowance from the tribe) and the responsibilities that come with it, including my opinion that natives receiving this wealth should be required to pursue higher education and use their prosperity to support poorer nations and fight for native rights. Michelle shares her views on the potential dangers of per capita, such as the risk of drug and alcohol abuse, but notes that most families use the money for family time.
Key Topics:
Tejon Tribe history and evolution to sovereignty
Native education on the Morongo Reservation
Comparison of native and public education
Challenges of post-COVID teaching
Importance of higher education for native communities
The role and impact of per capita payments on native families
Responsibilities tied to tribal wealth and supporting native rights
#TejonTribe #NativeEducation #MorongoReservation #TribalHistory #PerCapita #NativeRights #Sovereignty #NativeAmerican #TribalWealth #EducationMatters #IndigenousCulture #HigherEducation #NativeCommunities #TribalLegacy #DrumCircleNews #IndigenousHistory #NativeSchool #CulturalPreservation
@jojoberrypie6580
November 19, 2025 at 4:29 am
It’s good to see someone who looks like me. It’s good we’re tejon Indians now. I’m a mix of all those mentioned, and my grand and great grands left tejon in 1934. In 1921 my grandma and siblings were sent to boarding school at rosebud, and they were gone seven years. My siblings and I went into the foster care system. How would an urban Indian get home? We were not accepted because we had the strong box, but nobody has it now.
Comments are closed.