Today, it is how much of the wider world recognizes us, the Yuhaaviatam Clan of Marra’yam (Serrano) or the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians whose ancestral lands encompass most of this region. It is a Serrano word meaning the season of spring and has been the name for the spring season for the Serrano since their creation.
It means that despite all that has occurred throughout history, an Indigenous culture and language remain indelibly part of this region. The word Yaamava’ represents so much more than the marketing of a resort and casino. I can picture drivers mouthing the word and saying, “what?” It stands out as something hard to place in its origin. Over the last year or so, a seemingly new language has appeared on signs visible to many drivers: Yaamava’. It is a unique part of living here in southern California that we as Californians openly share our diversity and uniqueness with one another. Driving across Southern California, the signs and billboards that display different languages always catch my eye.
