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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Heated debate over mission garden at meeting
American Indian representatives angered by possible disturbance of sacred
burial grounds at San Juan Capistrano site.

By SEAN EMERY
STAFF WRITER

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – A controversial Mission San Juan Capistrano rectory
garden was the focus of heated debate Tuesday night, as American Indian
representatives accused mission leaders of disturbing sacred burial
grounds.

More than 100 people filled the Council Chambers at City Hall for Tuesday's
Cultural Heritage Commission meeting, the majority of whom were members of
the Juaneno Tribe of Mission Indians, Acjachema Nation, and mission
parishioners.

At the center of the controversy is a newly constructed rectory garden,
featuring a water fountain, rustic concrete walkway, manicure grass area,
fireplace, counter area for a Barbecue and unfinished wood burning oven.
City officials say the rectory was built without proper permits, and may
stand on top of a Native American cemetery.

Mission Pastor Father Art Holquin admitted the permitting of the project
was not handled properly, saying he did not understand the requirements.

"Misjudgments were made," Holquin said. "Misjudgments we are willing to
resolve."

The rectory is meant to honor former Mission Pastor Monsignor Martin,
Holquin said, who often retreated to the quiet area after a busy day, where
he would relax and feed stray cats. The area had been left unattended,
Holquin said, becoming a rat-infested dumping ground filled with excess
materials and waste.

Holquin blamed the controversy on unnamed individuals who were "looking to
blow (it) out of proportion."

"I feel like I'm in the middle of the crosshairs of an ancestral fight,"
Holquin said.

Juaneno representatives disputed Holquin's description of the site.

"That is not a junkyard, those are our ancestors," Sean Acuna said.

An architectural firm hired by the mission found that no cultural material
or human remains were found during the construction of the rectory. David
Belardes - leader of one of the Juaneno factions, who alerted the city to
the rectory work – disputed the mission's findings.

"I know they hit human remains," Belardes said. "There is no way you can't
hit human remains in that area."

Chris Lobo, a representative for a Juaneno faction led by Anthony Rivera,
defended the mission, saying its leaders never willfully violated sacred
areas.

The animosity between some Juaneno factions was on display at the meeting.
Belardes said he had tried to unite the Juaneno leadership to discuss the
rectory issue, but had not received a response from Rivera. Lobo said
Rivera has sent correspondence out to the other leaders.

Commissioner Jan Siegel pointed out that Lobo had expressed a willingness
to work with the city and the mission, and asked if he would work with the
other Juaneno factions as well.

"We are always willing to deal with individuals who have left the tribe
willingly or have been removed," Lobo replied in remarks met with scattered
jeers from the audience.

Several Juaneno's said the apologies from the Mission weren't enough.

"I know Father Holquin didn't mean to tread on us," Stella Osborne said.
"It was an oversight, but we can't let it go."

The committee voted to continue the discussion to its Nov. 27 meeting. In
the meantime, commissioners asked interested parties to submit in writing
their ideas for what should be done to deal with the rectory garden.

Contact the writer: 949-454-7329 or semery@...