As a dispute lingered over police access to the Soboba Indian Reservation, the two sides met this week to literally break bread.

As part of a mutual understanding agreement signed in May, the tribe and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department held a potluck dinner and cultural night to keep the conversations going and to bridge any gaps in their relationship.

The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and the Sheriff's Department signed the federally mediated agreement to include a plan for reviewing policies and procedures and for forming a strategy for better communication.

During the festivities at the Masonic Lodge in San Jacinto on Thursday night, tribal members performed native bird songs and dances before about 30 tribal members and sheriff's personnel, Riverside County sheriff's Lt. Patty Knudson said.

"If we can reach out with more familiarization and friendly atmosphere, our ultimate goal is to develop those community programs with the tribe," Knudson said. "Due to recent events, we were seen as law enforcement roles only and not involved in the community."

Tribal Chairman Robert Salgado and Riverside County Sheriff Stanley Sniff -- two main figures in the dispute -- did not attend the gathering.

The Sheriff's Department and the tribe reached the agreement after hostilities on the reservation led to the deaths of three tribal members in shootouts with deputies in May.

But since the agreement was finalized, the two sides have been locked in a disagreement over nontribal police access to the reservation. Last month, Sniff called for Soboba Casino to be shut over safety concerns and threatened criminal charges against any tribe members who impede deputies' access.

Rose Salgado, the tribal vice chairwoman, attended the event and said it was a reminder to the public that the tribe and the Sheriff's Department have a strong relationship despite the dispute.

Reach John Asbury at 951-763-3451 or jasbury@PE.com