PINTO OVERCAME TRAUMA TO LEAD THE JAMUL TRIBE
Abuse, harassment led to drinking, but she persevered
Jamul Indian Village Chairwoman Erica Pinto calls it “our truth.”
“The truth is,” she said, “our ancestors were slaughtered, enslaved and abused and our population diminished. But our people survived because we are resilient and courageous.
“It runs in our blood.” That resilience and courage are evident in Pinto’s own life story. She overcame enormous trauma to become one of San Diego’s most successful leaders.
Born in 1975, Pinto grew up in modest means on reservation land until age 15 when her family of six moved to Santee.
She was sexually abused as a child over several years. “I grew up thinking it was my fault,” Pinto recalled. “Although I had been an outgoing young girl, the trauma shut me down. I was damaged and became antisocial up to my high school junior year.”
During high school, Pinto came out as lesbian. Her family was supportive, but she encountered harassment at school. In 1993 she
attended her prom accompanied by her girlfriend amid heightened security due to threats against her and her date.
Pinto turned to alcohol. “By the time I was 24, I regularly drank to get intoxicated and eventually had four DUI convictions, spent time in jail and house arrest.”
On Aug. 16, 2013, Pinto found herself on the floor of a jail cell. At age 38, she had been an alcoholic for 14 years. But, while on that floor, her resilience and courage took over.
“I made up my mind I wanted to live,” Pinto said.
She obtained therapy for the first time and enrolled in Alcoholics Anonymous.
Pinto has remained sober for seven years. “I am stubborn, have a good support group, and will never return to that life,” she said.
Pinto is motivated by Jamul tribal members. A small tribe of the Kumeyaay nation, they are all family whom she enjoys serving, Pinto said.
After high school graduation, she began working as secretary for the chairman in 1994. Two years later, she became the youngest person to serve on the Tribal Council. Despite fighting addiction, Pinto worked hard and developed a special skill for finances and business while working under four chairmen.
She became vice chairwoman in 2008 before being elected the tribe’s first female chair in 2015.
Since assuming leadership, Pinto has achieved success and financial security for her tribe. She led the long and contentious effort to open a casino, overcoming some 40 lawsuits and dealing with numerous state and local agencies. She also has served on regional committees.
She speaks out about Native American causes, including a recent controversy over the border wall infringing
on cultural sites.
In 2019, Pinto accepted an invitation to speak at San Diego’s 250th anniversary celebration. Some questioned why she would speak at what they called a “celebration of genocide.” Nevertheless, she attended and spoke “our truth,” explaining in detail the plight of her ancestors.
Pinto said she believes it is important for the public to understand Native Americans’ history, culture and right of self-governance. The constitution recognizes tribes as distinct governments. Just as the federal government deals with states as governments, it also deals with tribes as governments.
She also stresses the importance of her members, particularly young people, understanding tribal culture and history. She actively supports the tribe’s Acorns to Oaks program that teaches Kumeyaay culture, history and language.
“The more we know about our culture, the prouder we are of ourselves and where we came from,” she said.
Pinto’s leadership success is being noticed. She received a Woman in Leadership Award from the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, a Citizenship Award and a Woman of Inf luence Award.
But, the most precious award of all to Pinto is the confidence and love she receives from her tribal family.