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Native American site vandalized in East San Diego County

Posted at 7:02 PM, Feb 25, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-25 22:21:53-05

LA POSTA RESERVATION, Calif. (KGTV) - A local Native American tribe is considering its legal options after one of their sacred sites was vandalized.

At least 5 rocks in an area used by the La Posta Band of Mission Indians’ ancestors were spray painted over the weekend.

“A lot people don’t understand they’re on the reservation here,” said Victor Estrada, Vice Chairmen of the La Posta Band of Mission Indians.

La Posta Reservation is about 50 miles east of San Diego and was blanketed by snow last week prompting visitors to make the trek out to the high elevation to see it.

“You can come out here and play in our snow, but don’t destroy our stuff,” said Estrada, “don’t spray paint your name and your family and say 'hey you were here.' We understand you were here, we know you were here.”

Estrada says they found out who may have vandalized it through social media and that the tribe may prosecute, but would be open to the offenders cleaning it up themselves.

Those claiming responsibility wrote a statement to 10News saying in part:

“We are truly sorry as we were not aware that we were on sacred or tribal lands. My husband will be going up this weekend to clean up the writing on the rocks.”