Riverside County OKs Panel With Tribal Leaders

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to create a tribal council task force to strengthen ties between county and Native American leaders.

The board voted 5 to 0 after praising the proposal by board Chairman John V. Tavaglione, saying the move will formalize relationships between the county and various tribes and will help avoid the conflicts seen in other parts of the state.

“When people or groups are backed into a corner, they have to fight,” Tavaglione said. “The best way out is communication.”

Tribal leaders agreed, saying it was a landmark moment for “government-to-government” relations.

Riverside County is home to 11 tribes. Each will name a representative to the task force; two supervisors will also serve on the panel. Supervisors said that they talk to tribes one on one and that Tuesday’s vote formalizes these relationships.