California’s Tejon Tribe, recognized by the federal government in 2012, has bought a former school building just east of Highway 99 in Central California and plans to turn it into the tribal headquarters.
The tribe also eventually hopes to assemble a proposal for a casino near the highway.
Tribal Vice Chair Kathryn Morgan exulted in the step, declaring “This is the first time our tribe has had a place to call home in 150 years,” she told Bakersfield Now. The school holds memories for many in her tribe. Some members attended school there and graduated from eighth grade there.
She added, “We’re close to our traditional area, this is smack in the middle of our area. Our ranch was just 20 miles away in the canyon.” She said that’s in the hills east of the site. The tribe hopes to have the building ready for occupation in one to two years.
The tribe has applied to put the land into trust. It is also looking for several hundred acres near Highway 99 for a possible casino.
The tribe has been negotiating a memorandum of understanding with Kern County, dealing with property taxes, and purchasing public services such as police, fire and health inspections.
