Since 1995, Mark Macarro has served as the tribal chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, based in Temecula, California. With the goal of strengthening the group’s political self-determination and economic independence, Mark Macarro also leads the Pechanga Indians in maintaining their unique cultural identity. One aspect of their identity lies in which resources their ancestors used for food, textiles, and tools, and the ways in which these resources were gathered.

 

In order to make tools, games, spiritual items, and musical instruments, the Pechanga people would utilize different parts of hunted animals. Their cultural narrative considered animals relatives, and taught that animals presented themselves to be hunted as an agreed upon part of their relationship with humans. Some of the animals hunted by the Pechanga included antelope, pelicans, turtles, weasels, quail, and rattlesnakes.

 

The use of animal resources overflowed into different areas of the tribe's life. The Pechanga would make deer hoof and turtle shell rattles, rabbit skin blankets, and turkey vulture feather skirts for dancing, among other things.