Mark2016

CONTACT INFORMATION:

To reach Tribal Chairman, Mark Macarro
Please contact his Executive Assistant, Emily Preston
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mark Macarro, is the duly elected Tribal Chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians in southern California.

Macarro's vision for the Pechanga people is to see the Band strengthen its political self-determination and economic self-sufficiency by developing a diversified economy for the Pechanga Band while maintaining its distinct and unique cultural identity.

Chairman Macarro was first elected to the Pechanga Tribal Council in 1992. Mark has served as the Tribal Chairman since 1995; 2015 marks his 20th consecutive year as Tribal Chairman.


BOARDS

  • Native American Rights Fund (NARF) Chairman Macarro became a Board Member of the Native American Rights Fund in late 2010. Founded in 1970, the NARF is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide.
  • National Congress of American Indians A national leader, Chairman Macarro serves the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) as the alternate Area Vice-President for the Pacific Region 2010-11. NCAI is the consummate policy-shaping entity in Indian Country on a wide range of issues including community development, federal appropriations, annual budgets, renewable energy, law enforcement and justice, and tribal-state relations.
  • National Indian Gaming Association Macarro also represents the Pacific Region on the board of directors for the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA). This role affords a driver?s seat role in formulating national Indian Country positions on all matters of economic development including but not limited to gaming, commercial and institutional construction, tribal enterprise creation, joint-ventures and partnerships, and strategic planning; since 2003.
  • The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development Chairman Macarro serves as a member of the Board of Governors for The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. The Harvard Project's goal: recognizing and promoting examples of good governance projects from within Indian Country serving as models for success in applied social and economic development; since 2007.

APPOINTMENTS, AWARDS

Electoral College Member, California, 2008 US Presidential Election; appointee of Art Torres, State Party Chairman

Platform Committee Member appointee, 2008 Democratic Party; appointee of Howard Dean, DNC Chairman

Delegate to the 2008 Democratic Convention, Denver, CO

Delegate to the 2004 Democratic Convention, Boston, MA

2008 Pathbreaker Award recipient, 20th Annual Indian Gaming Regulatory Act Symposium, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University

California Workforce Investment Board, Member from 2000-2003; appointee of Governor Gray Davis

Commemorative Seals Advisory Commission, Commissioner from 1999-2002; appointee of Speaker of the Assembly Robert Hertzberg, California Legislature; created bronze Native American Seal on Capitol grounds

Native American Sheriff Advisory Commission, Chairman from 2002-2005; appointee of Riverside County Sheriff Larry Smith

Riverside County Historical Commission, Commissioner from 1992-1996; appointee of Supervisor Bob Buster for District 1

Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival, Charter Board Member, 1992-1994

Named by Capitol Weekly the 48th most politically powerful person in California politics

BACKGROUND

Chairman Macarro believes it is critical to maintain and cultivate the Pechanga tribal culture, language, and traditional life ways so that the Pechanga people can preserve their unique tribal identity. He believes that the best way to accomplish this is to create Luiseño speakers. An outcome of this vision is the Pechanga Chámmakilawish School, the pre-K-5 Reservation tribal elementary school established under Chairman Macarro's tenure. Fully accredited by WASC, the bilingual immersion school instructs children in both English and Luiseño through a multitude of core subjects.

Macarro is a traditional Luiseño singer, singing ceremonial Nukwáanish funeral songs at tribal wakes throughout southern California Indian reservations. He is a practitioner of Cham'téela, the Luiseño native language. He was also an apprentice bird singer to the late Robert Levi, an elder of the Torres-Martinez Reservation; having learned hundreds of Levi's birdsongs.

Macarro served as program manager for the library and museum of the Rincon Reservation from 1992 through 1995, as the director of youth education at Soboba Reservation's Noli School from 1990 through 1992, and began his career in Indian country as a grants/contracts administrator for the Pechanga Reservation in 1988. Macarro also served as a California state credentialed substitute teacher for grades 7-12 in the Riverside County Schools system, the San Jacinto Unified School District, the Colton Joint Unified School District, and Riverside City School District.

Macarro has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Macarro grew-up in Colton, California. Chairman Macarro's father, the late Leslie Macarro, was a Pechanga tribal member and a correctional peace officer killed in the line of duty in May of 1988 while working for the California Youth Authority. Mark's great-grandfather, Juan Macarro (1851-1920) served as tribal chairman (formerly called captain) for the Pechanga Band during the first decade of the 1900's and was also a Nukwáanish singer.

Marc2016

To reach Councilman Luker:

Please contact Executive Assistant:Faith Casey
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Councilman Marc Luker graduated from Perris High School where he was selected as CIF Student-Athlete of the Year.  He continued his education at the University of California, Riverside where he was a member of the Native American Student Association.  Luker played baseball for the Highlanders and was selected as an all-conference player in 1997.  He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry at UCR and later obtained his teaching credential from Chapman University.

Before beginning his service at Pechanga, Luker started his professional career as a teacher at Perris High School where he taught biology, physical science and honors chemistry.  He also served as a varsity coach for baseball, softball, football and cross country.

Councilman Luker continues a long-standing family tradition of public service to the Pechanga Band of Indians.  His grandmother, Germaine Arenas, served as Chairwoman of the Pechanga Cultural Resources Committee and his mother, Christine Luker, served as the Pechanga Tribal Treasurer for 10 years.  His uncles Daniel Pico and Gabriel Pico served as Tribal Chairmen for the Pechanga Band.  His aunt Marie Russell served on the Tribal Council for many years and his uncle Norman Pico served as Tribal Gaming Commissioner for Pechanga. 

Councilman Luker started his service to the tribe in 2002.  He was hired as the purchasing manager for the Pechanga Tribal Government.  He drafted the Pechanga procurement manual which was later approved by the Tribal Council and the Tribe’s General Membership.

Councilman Luker was first elected to the Pechanga Tribal Council in 2004.  Councilman Luker's prior teaching experience has shaped his interest and commitment to enhance the educational programs for Pechanga tribal children.  His hopes to see a Tribal elementary school built on the Pechanga Indian Reservation is coming true and due to open in the fall of 2025.  "Our youth and their education are a great concern to me," Luker says.  "I understand the value of a quality school and productive after-school programs for our kids.  We have the opportunity to give our kids the very best."

In addition, Councilman Luker takes a great interest in ensuring that statewide and nationwide education programs reflect the true history and stories of Indian people.  In 2006, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, selected Councilman Luker to serve on the American Indian Education Oversight Committee, whose main purpose is to provide input and advice to the Superintendent on all aspects of American Indian education programs established by the State.  He continues to serve on this committee.

Councilman Luker also plays a key role in representing the Tribe on water issues.  Luker was appointed to serve as the Tribe's representative on the Santa Margarita River Watershed Steering Committee.  Councilman Luker is also the Tribal representative to the Wolf Valley Ground Water Management Agreement's Technical Committee.  Luker has been closely involved in efforts to improve the water quality on the Pechanga Reservation.  He has also worked to preserve the availability of ground water supply, increase the use of recycled water, and help to enact the tribe’s first Recycled Water Ordinance.  He believes water is a critical natural resource that must be preserved and protected. 

In February of 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Councilman Luker to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.  One of the roles of the Board is to make critical water quality decisions for the region, including setting standards, issuing waste discharge requirements, determining compliance with those requirements, and taking appropriate enforcement actions.  Another responsibility of this Board is to ensure surface waters are safe for drinking, fishing, swimming, and support healthy ecosystems and other beneficial uses.  He served on the water board from 2009 to 2011.

In 2011, Marc worked at Pechanga Resort and Casino.  Between 2011 and 2014, Marc worked in several areas of the casino such as the Finance Department, Marketing Department, Player Development and Golf Operations.

Since being re-elected in 2014, Councilman Luker has focused on improving infrastructure on the Pechanga Indian Reservation.  He worked to bring high speed internet to residents on the Pechanga Indian Reservation.  Councilman Luker also worked with the Council to develop a home loan program for tribal citizens living on the Pechanga Indian Reservation.  He continues to work on infrastructure projects such as tribal housing, residential solar and storage project, Indian Health Clinic, a sports park that includes a skate park and splash pad, and a permanent pre-K to 5th grade school.

In 2008, 2016, 2020 and 2024 Councilman Luker was selected as a delegate for the California Republican Party for the National Republican Convention.

One of Councilman Luker’s passion is coaching youth sports.  He values the lessons taught in team sports.  Lessons like hard work, communication and a positive learning environment to accomplishing a common goal are lessons that last a lifetime.  In Temecula, he has coached recreation sports that include baseball, softball and flag football.  From 2021 to 2023, Councilman Luker served on the Temecula Valley Girls Softball Association’s Board.  He held the positions of President, Vice President and Board member at large.  In 2020, 2021 and 2022 Councilman Luker was selected to be the manager for the league’s all-stars team. 

Councilman Luker is married to Kaiini Luker and has three sons and two daughters. Councilman Luker currently lives with his family on the Pechanga Indian reservation and has lived there for the last 20 years.

Louise2016

To reach Councilwoman Burke:

Please contact Executive Assistant:Faith Casey
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Louise Burke was elected to the Pechanga Tribal Council in July 2024. The Pechanga Band of Indians is located in Temecula, CA.  Louise earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Redlands.  She began serving the Pechanga Band in 2008 when she started an apprenticeship in the Accounts Payable department at the Pechanga Resort and Casino.  Later, she was appointed to serve on the Pechanga Band’s Trust Review Board, which promotes and protects the health, education and welfare of legally incompetent adult tribal members who require or request assistance.

In 2011, Louise was appointed Tribal Secretary, a Constitutional Officer position, where she served for 13 years. During her tenure, she focused on increasing efficiencies, technological advancements, document retention, strategic organization processes and tribal youth inclusion through an internship program.  The role had a unique set of challenges and opportunities and Louise discovered so much about the tribe’s history, oral traditions, familial legacies, and the importance of protecting tribal sovereignty.  Louise is amazed at the multiple opportunities available to all Pechanga tribal members and looks forward to advocating for Pechanga citizens and programs in her new role as Tribal Councilwoman.  

 

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