Monday, January 31, 2011

Sen. Daniel Akaka Heads Indian Affairs Committee: We request a HEARING on Civil Rights Violations Senator

Senator Daniel Akaka (HI)has been tapped to lead the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

"I am looking forward to chairing the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and working to help all the indigenous people of our country. I believe the United States can serve as a model for the rest of the world in the treatment of its first people," Akaka said in a statement.
Congratulations Senator, maybe you can start helping the INDIGENOUS PEOPLE from Tribes where the tribal council has violated the civil rights of their people. PechangaRedding, Picayune, Enterprise, Guidiville, Table Mountain. Start THERE, Senator, here's a letter for you:

Dear Senator Akaka,


The number of civil rights violations in Indian Country has reached epidemic proportions. Thousands upon thousands have been stripped or denied the basic due process and equal protection rights provided for in the United States Constitution, the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 (“ICRA”), and tribal laws.


Most recently, a report by the Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) referenced the fact that internal tribal disputes “seem to be occurring more and more frequently”. In response to the growing number of these types of disputes, the GAO felt it was necessary and appropriate that nominees to the Secretary of Interior be asked how they would address such issues.


The responsibility to address this issue does not lie with the Secretary alone. The number of civil rights violations in Indian Country will continue to grow unless Congress once again takes action, just as it did in enacting the ICRA, to further protect individuals from the “arbitrary and capricious” actions of tribal governments. Considering the current situation and an environment which rewards the villain and punishes the victim, I ask you, “How do you plan to address this problem?”


I believe that hearings on the current civil rights situation in Indian Country are not only warranted, they are long over due. Therefore, I respectfully request that your Committee hold hearings on the civil rights problem in Indian Country as an initial step to further action that will uphold and enforce the rights of those who, to date, have been stripped of or denied the basic rights many take for granted

Recall of Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro: Attempt by Splinter Group Fails; Child Molester Unsuccessful

UPDATE:  It's been 52 days and STILL no word of the recall attempt on the news, newspaper or the pechanga.net website run by Macarro's cousin, Rocha.  He's had plenty of time to research the story, since he must have heard about it here and via our emails.   Why keep it secret?  

UPDATE II: I've heard back from Rocha's assistant and he said: " I forwarded your link to Victor in case he wanted post it. He didn't."  I also heard back from Rocha and he said he didn't think my site was a legitimate news source.  Luckily for those of us that have been harmed by corrupt tribal councils, including the one led by Rocha's cousin Mark Macarro, the Feds do, we are regularly visited by the House, the Senate, The Office of the POTUS, BIA, Dept. of Justice and Dept. of Interior.



Pechanga Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro came under fire at the recent General Membership meeting of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians in Temecula, CA.

Macarro, who is well known in Indian Country for presiding over the disenrollment and genocide of 25% of his tribe, was the subject of a recall attempt by a group known as the CPP (Concerned Pechanga People).   This group allied themselves previously with the diminutive chairman in eliminated two large voting blocs from the  Manuela Miranda and Paulina Hunter descendents.
Miranda was a descendent of Pablo Apis, on whose land grant the Pechanga Resort & Casino is on, and Paulina Hunter is an Original Pechanga Person, who received an allotment on the reservation as a tribal person.

The CPP group, this time fronted by:  Raymond Basquez Sr.,  Ed Burbee, Gloria Wright & convicted child molester Vince Ibanez.  At a meeting that was designed to elect new PDC (Pechanga Development Corporation) leaders, the CPP presented a petition recalling Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro for nepotism in hiring his wife Holly Cook Macarro as the tribe's lobbyist.  

Holly Cook Macarro is a principal in IETAN Consulting, but was formerly employed by the tribes's then lobbying firm, Holland & Knight.



Holly & Mark Macarro

Macarro presented paperwork at the meeting that showed that the tribe had approved Holly as a lobbyist while at Holland and Knight in 2002.   This was prior their marriage, we believe,  and it was Holland & Knight that was chosen, not Holly.  Was the switch to IETAN Consulting ever brought before the tribe?

There was a vote on the validity of the recall petition and the tribe voted down the petition as invalid.   This is one time that Macarro, I'm sure will follow the will of the tribe. (/snark)    Macarro had previously overturned the will of the people in the Hunter disenrollment.

The die is cast, however and there is a new Macarro Enemies List.   Macarro now knows who is against him.    It might be a good idea for local citizens to stay away from Pechanga, exercising moral outrage at what Pechanga has become.

MR. MACARRO, there are 250 possible votes for your survival out here, simply re-visit your unlawful overruling of the people and reinstate the Hunters and Manuelas.  And while you are at it, undo the unconstitutional moratorium, I'm sure 100 of the Tosobols would vote in your favor.   It would have the added feature of reducing your enemies income.....hmm.

Please read the links to get more of the story.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Cherokee Freedmen Case Still in Limbo

Chris Casteel at NEWOK has the story

Nearly four years after Cherokee Nation citizens voted to bar freedmen without tribal blood, the status of potentially thousands of descendants of former slaves still is in limbo.

And it’s not clear when and how the issue will be resolved.

The Cherokee Nation’s attorney general last week asked the tribal Supreme Court to determine whether a March 2007 constitutional amendment that bars freedmen without Cherokee blood is valid.

The tribe also filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tulsa on the question, but a judge there has deferred for now to the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., where a case has been pending for more than seven years.

Marilyn Vann, the lead freedmen plaintiff in the case filed in Washington, was on Capitol Hill last week talking with congressional staff members about ways to help the freedmen’s cause.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

San Manuel Elder Pauline Murrillo Passes; California's Indian Country Loses A Great One

Sad news from the San Manuel Indian Reservation and for all of California Indian Country:
Pauline "Dimples" Murillo, an elder of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, died Friday. She was 76.

Born on the San Manuel Reservation in 1934 with both Cahuilla and Serrano heritage, Murillo grew up learning tribal history, culture and language that she would later share outside of her community.

Murillo, who was married to her husband, George, for 58 years, was the mother of three, grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of 19.

"Nothing meant as much to her as her family - keeping everyone together and being together for the holidays," said daughter Lynn Valbuena of Orange. "We always tried to be there for her."

She was caring and generous, always wanting to help people, Valbuena said. Murillo and her husband have been known for their philanthropy, donating time and funds to hospitals, schools and nonprofit organizations in the the region.

In 2009, the Murillos donated $800,000 to Cal State San Bernardino to build an observatory that bears the family name. In 2008, the family's contribution to Loma Linda University Medical Center enabled the hospital to expand its lounge for oncology patients and their families.

A funeral service is set for 10 a.m. Friday on the San Manuel Reservation. A Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday on the reservation, with visitation from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday at Mountain View Chapel,  570 E. Highland Ave., San Bernardino.

National Museum of The American Indian Asks: Who is Indian, and what makes a person an Indian?

Dennis Zotigh at the NMAI has a blog post asking Who is Indian, and what makes a person an Indian?

It's a moving target, I say.   The rules get changed, sometimes depending on how much per capita is, or would be if they cut Indians from the tribe.   From Dennis' Blog Post:

The question of who is an Indian is often debated among Indian people. Does carrying a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) make you Indian? Does being raised away from a reservation and not having traditional knowledge make a person less Indian? Does knowing your language make you more Indian? These are some of the complex questions that have been debated on determining Indian identity. The response depends on who is answering the question.
Skin color does not make you Indian. In our museum I have heard non-Indians comment they have seen an Indian simply if the person they saw has the long black hair, brown skin, and high cheek bones associated with the classic Indian image. In reality, there are proud Indians with blonde hair and blue eyes or black skin. Through intermarriage, their Indian descent comes from one or both Indian parents.
Each tribe has the sovereign authority to define who its members are and who is eligible to be enrolled. Some tribes have blood quantum requirements—a requirement that to be enrolled, a person must have at least a certain degree of tribal ancestry, such as one-fourth—while other tribes’ laws state that a person is eligible for enrollment if one of his or her ancestors appears on a particular historical list of tribal members. Ultimately the question, “Who is an Indian?” is determined by tribal law

See the rest of the article  HERE

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Cherokee Officials Ask Supreme Court to Again Strip Cherokee Freedmen's Citizenship

Cherokee Nation officials on Jan. 25 filed an appeal in the tribe’s Supreme Court asking it to reverse a lower court decision that reaffirmed Cherokee Freedmen rights to CN citizenship. They obviously believe that stripping thousands of descendents of their slave, they brought as property on the Trail of Tears, from their citizenships is a good thing.

Judge John Cripps’ ruling affirmed the citizenship status of approximately 2,800 Cherokee Freedmen descendants who regained citizenship based on a CN Supreme Court ruling in 2006.

In his ruling, Cripps wrote that the CN has entered into agreements or treaties with other nations and that in some instances those nations failed to honor their agreements and treaties, which resulted in loss and harm to Cherokee people.

“Various courts, including the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court, thereafter affirmed the Freedmen’s admission in the same manner as Cherokee citizens of Cherokee blood. As a result of the above actions and rulings, the Freedmen were included on the Dawes Commission Rolls,” Cripps wrote. “The Cherokee Constitutional Amendment of March 3, 2007, by virtue of the provisions of the Treaty of 1866 and subsequent actions taken in furtherance thereof are hereby determined to be void as a matter of law.”

Related Stories    NAACP  Cherokee Chief Chad Smith in  Hall of Shame     More NAACP Support

FOLLOW THE MONEY: Theft of Per Capita from California Indians is over a Third of a BILLION DOLLARS

Closer to HALF of a BILLION DOLLARS! And that's just for Pechanga, Redding and Picayune ALONE.

UPDATE:  Includes ReddingRancheria and Mooretown Rancheria per capita totals now.
UPDATE:  Includes Enterprise Rancheria losses from Revenue Sharing.

Eric Bolling of Fox Business Channel's Follow the Money  ( Follow The Money" with Eric Bolling...taking you inside the world of corruption, abuse of power, and shocking betrayals of public trust. We follow the money wherever it goes.) asked me to send him links about the actions of tribes and their disenrollment practices after tribal gaming. I've sent him numerous links, but thought I'd make a post of it. I've asked friends from Redding Rancheria and Picayune Rancheria to let me know of their losses, and I invite citizens from other tribes to let us know what they've lost.

From the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians in Temecula CA:

The Hunter Family has lost $1,295,000 per person, in per capita payments alone.   We arrived at that figure by taking the last full year of per capita $268,000/12 months and multiplying that loss times 58 months of disenrollment.   95 adults at the time of disenrollment equals:  $123,056,000

The Apis Family was disenrolled the year prior in 2005.  The per capita was slightly less about $17,000 per month times 62 months of termination:  $1,054,000 times 135 adults equals:  $142,290,000

Moratorium people NEVER shared in what was rightfully theirs.  The per capita went up to $360,000 per year for those remaining after elimination of tribal citizens.

From the Picayune Rancheria in Coarsegold, CA:

In the case of Chukchansi Gold, the casino has been averaging $4 million per month in payments to the Tribe over the past 18 months (as reported to me by a former Tribal Council member).

The tribe disenrolled 625 members who were making $3,200 per month.  This equates to $96,000,000 stolen.   The word from that reservation is that they wanted to further reduce their population.

Lets add what we have so far:

Pechanga:    $310.3 MILION       Includes additional $21 Million in Health Insurance.  Corrected Insurance due to coverages, some double covered as family. Per capita losses are $200,000 PER DAY.
Picayune:     $  96.0  MILLION   Money is from share of dollars casino sends to tribe per person.
Redding:       $  32.3 MILLION    Per capita only. Totals being tabulating but includes tribal JOBS lost.
Mooretown:  $  10.7 MILLION  
Enterprise:  $     2.1 MILLION   No Per Capita. Tribe gets revenue allocation.  Losses include housing help. 

I'll update per capita losses from other tribes as I get information.    Also bear in mind, the tribe save on health care coverage for citizens and dependents they terminated.    $12,000 per year for Pechanga times 600 people should be over $35 MILLION more. CORRECTION:  Cost is per family, so number is reduced from $35 Million.

And the tribal coucils will say, it's NOT about the MONEY!  But it IS because so many have lost homes, health insurance because their rightful per capita was taken away.

House Natural Resources Committee Announces New Members from GOP

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, R-Wash., today announced committee assignments for the Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Don Young, R-Alaska, will serve chairman over the following GOP House members: Jeff Denham, of California; Daniel Benishek, of Michigan; Paul Gosar, of Arizona; Raúl Labrador, of Idaho; Kristi Lynn Noem, of South Dakota. Hastings will serve ex officio.


“The Natural Resources Committee has broad jurisdiction that allows our Members to use their individual talents and expertise to work on policies and issues that will help create jobs, grow the economy, and reduce wasteful government spending,” Hastings said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

The full committee will meet Jan. 26 in part to adopt an oversight plan, which includes the following Indian-focused items: budget and spending Review; federal barriers to economic and energy development on Indian land; Cobell v. Salazar settlement implementation; trust reform; fee-to-trust issues, including Carcieri v. Salazar; Alaska Natives; natural resources management on Indian reservations; Tribal Law and Order Act implementation; Indian Health Care Improvement Act Implementation/Indian Health Service; and gaming.

WE must continue to press for enforcement of the Indian Civil Rights Act!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Tongva to SUE for Desecration of Burial Sites; Seeking $10 BILLION Dollars

The Tongva have had enough, named in the suit include the Archdioses of Los Angeles, L.A. County Supervisors...

TATTN

TONGVA ANCESTRAL TERRITORIAL TRIBAL NATION
4712 ADMIRALTY WAY # 1013 MARINA DEL REY, CA 90292
JOHNTOMMY ROSAS
TRIBAL ADMINISTRATOR
TRIBAL LITIGATOR
310-570-6567 TATTNLAW@GMAIL.COM

January 23, 2011

RE: NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE IN US FEDERAL COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA FOR CONTINUOUS CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS –INTENTIONAL BURIAL[S] DESCRETION –DESTRUCTION OF A SACRED SITES – VIOLATIONS OF THE -NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT- Federal Tort Claims Act- -ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT-US CONSTITUTION- DEFENDANT PARTIES LISTED THAT HAVE COMMITTED THE VIOLATIONS

{ ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES CORP/Cardinal Roger Michael Mahony
{ LA PLAZA DE CULTURA Y ARTES CORP/MIGUEL ANGEK CORZO
{ LOS ANGELES DEPT. OF CORONERS -ANTHONY T. HERNANDEZ
{ CAL STATE UNIVERSITY L A-JAMES M.ROSSER/ ANY OTHERS INVOLVED
{ THE SANBERG GROUP CORP/ Sandy Schneeberger / ANY OTHERS INVOLVED{ COUNTY LOS ANGELES - BOARD OF SUPERVISORS -Gloria Molina,Mark Ridley-Thomas, Zev Yaroslavsky, Don Knabe, Michael D. Antonovich, { CITY OF LOS ANGELES –MAYOR Antonio R. Villaraigosa /CITY COUNCIL/INDV
{ STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER- MILFORD Wayne Donaldson { NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE COMM/ LARRY MEYERS
{ STATE OF CALIFORNIA/GOVERNOR EDMOND G. BROWN JR.
{ U S OF A /ADV COUNCIL ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION MILFORD Wayne Donaldson{ DEPT OF INTERIOR –KEN SALAZAR -BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS –LARRY ECHOHAWK
{ SMITHSONIAN INSTITTUTION-BOARD OF REGENTS / Smithsonian Affiliations -Harold Closter, Director, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE SUED IN YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY AND PERSONALLY FOR YOUR ILLEGAL ACTIONS RESULTING IN SEVERE irreparable INJURY[S] AND DAMAGES, AGAINST THE TONGVA /TATTN / JOHNTOMMY ROSAS- PLAINTIFFS.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED OF THIS FINAL DEMAND FOR RETURN OF THE BURIALS REMAINS AND ASSOCIATED BURIALS ITEMS TO TATTN/JTR FOR REINTERNMENTON SITE.

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED OF THE TWO [2] REQUEST/DEMANDS FOR A FULL AND FORMAL INVESTIGATION[S] FOR NUMEROUS ILLEGAL VIOLATIONS WITH UNDER CIVIL AND CRIMINAL OFFENSES AND FOR THOSE PROSECUTIONS IN CIVIL LIABILITIES AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES. INCLUDING ALL PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN MONETARY AND COMPULSORY RESTITUTION, IN WHICH WE ARE SEEKING IN THE AMOUNTS EXCEEDING TEN BILLION USD/ $10,000,000,000.

ALL DEFENDANTS ARE HEREBY NOTICED NOT TO ALTER OR DESTROY ANY EVIDENCE OR FILES IN REGARDS TO THIS AND OTHER PROJECTS UNDER THIS LITIGATION.
ALL CONTACT COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE BY DEFENDANTS WILL BE IN WRITING AND SENT BY EMAIL TO TATTNLAW@GMAIL.COM .

/S/ JOHNTOMMY ROSAS

--
JOHN TOMMY ROSAS
TRIBAL ADMINISTRATOR
TRIBAL LITIGATOR
TONGVA ANCESTRAL TERRITORIAL TRIBAL NATION
OFFICIAL TATTN E-MAIL CONFIDENTIAL
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
TATTN / TRIBAL NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY:

Tribe that Cheated its Citizens, the Pechanga Band asks Judge to Throw out City of Temecula's Lawsuit

The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, well known for defrauding and stealing from some 25% of its membership, asked a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit filed against the tribe by the city of Temecula, saying the court does not have jurisdiction in the case.

"The city (cannot) establish this court's jurisdiction because the tribe possesses sovereign immunity," attorneys for the tribe wrote in court papers filed Tuesday.

Temecula City Attorney Peter Thorson said Friday he had expected the request.
"Jurisdiction and sovereignty are always issues in any lawsuit filed against tribes," Thorson said. "... I'm confident that case law and the tribal-state compact will support the city's position in the lawsuit."

Attorneys for the tribe said in court papers the only waiver to a tribe's sovereignty in the compact is limited to actions between a tribe the state, not any other entity or individual person.

Temecula sued the tribe over a dispute that centers on a March agreement with the tribe.

The city contends the pact called on the tribe to pay the city at least $2 million annually to cover the city's casino-related expenses, such as police service.

The city expected the $2 million in June. But the tribe said the pact was not final until talks with Riverside County concluded. Pechanga is seven months past due in payment to the City of Temecula, and now moving on 6 years of per capita theft from one family, and 5 years from another, that total theft is

The city also contends that under the tribal-state compact, Pechanga must prepare an environmental impact report to support the expansion of its gaming operation.

Attorneys for the tribe wrote the expansion amounted to installation of slot machines, not construction or expansion projects, and does not require the study.

They also said the machines were added before a 2008 amendment to the compact that requires an environmental study before "commencement of a project."

A hearing on the lawsuit dismissal request is scheduled for March 7 in federal court in Los Angeles.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Picayune Tribal Council Member SUSPENDED Pending Permanent Removal

A note came in from our friend For All Nations:  It has been confirmed that Patrick Hammond, incumbent tribal council member and treasurer at PRCI recently re-elected to the council in december and seated, has been suspended from the council for un-named alleged financial offenses against the tribe...it is said that there will be a hearing by the newly elected tribal council in regard to his permanent removal...
With the newly seated council more heavily swayed toward further disenrollments at picayune, it is only a matter of time until this will come to pass
 IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ALL TRIBAL MEMBERS CURRENTLY ENROLLED AT PICAYUNE ATTEND ALL UPCOMING TRIBAL COUNCIL, BUSINESS, AND GENERAL COUNCIL MEETINGS SCHEDULED AT PICAYUNE!

Geez, you can screw 600 of your fellow citizens no problem, but don't mess with the finances.   Hope Patric grabbed some paperwork before he left, so he can show what goes on at Picayune.

Big Sandy Rancheria Tribe Proposes Casino Near Friant, Competition for Civil Rights Abusing Picayune Rancheria.

The Big Sandy Rancheria Band of Western Mono Indians filed a draft environmental impact statement last week for a proposed casino and resort near Friant, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which also participated in the filing.

The complex would have a gaming floor, restaurant and lounge facilities, an entertainment hall, a hotel and conference center and a multi-level parking garage. The public has 75 days to comment on the statement, from Jan. 14 to March 28.

A public hearing is planned Wednesday, Feb. 2, on the project. It will be from 6 to 9 p.m. in the multi-purpose room of Foothill Middle School, 29147 Auberry Road in Prather.

The draft environmental statement outlines the environmental impacts of the construction and the mitigation measures that would be used to minimize them.

It seems to be a bit outside their tribal lands, but it would definitely cut into the overall business of the Picayune Rancheria's Chukchansi Casino.    Anyone want to be that Picayune will fight their neighboring tribes plan to become self reliant?

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Is the Garbani Family AGAIN a Target for Disenrollment At Pechanga?

We are hearing rumblings from the Pechanga Rez that there may be a move afoot to take another look at the Garbani family for extermination, uh termination.

They survived an attempt in 2005.   There had been a petition passed to outlaw disenrollments, but, as we found out, that petition, which should have been tribal law, was overruled by the tribal council, led by Mark Macarro et al.

I invite all Garbani family to let us know what they know here at Original Pechanga's Blog.

APARTHEID: Pechanga Tribe Segregates Temecula Indians

The Mark Macarro-led Pechanga Tribal Council practices APARTHEID on Indian people at the Temecula reservation.  Can we compare what Pechanga is doing to their own families to something as despicable as what South Africa practiced against their black citizens?   
APARTHEID at Pechanga Reservation

APARTHEID as described by the dictionary is:
a•part•heid
2. any system or practice that separates people according to race, caste, etc.

Pechanga is doing just that, determining that families with historical ties to the origins of the reservation are ‘no longer pure’ in their eyes. They may be Temecula Indian, but “they aren’t Pechanga.” Even though the expert hired BY Pechanga proved that we were using the facts presented by "real" Pechanga Indians.

Here are some similarities to the Apartheid system you are familiar with:

South Africa - Strategists in the National Party invented apartheid as a means to cement their control over the economic and social system.
Pechanga - Splinter Group invented disenrollment as a means to control membership during a time of new economic growth (Resort & Casino).

South Africa - Initially, aim of the apartheid was to maintain white domination while extending racial separation.
Pechanga - Initially, aim of the Splinter Group was to dominate the tribe while instilling fear in other members. Controlling votes means controlling the money.

South Africa - Africans living in the homelands needed passports to enter South Africa: aliens in their own country.
Pechanga - Descendants of original allottees that have been disenrolled have to verify their reasons for entering their own land. An entire family of Tosabols have been denied access to use the roads to go to their property because of their banishment. Their crime? Nothing, they were never charged, just banished.  Aliens on their own reservation.

The reservation and allotments were set aside for the Temecula Band and village of Indians not just Pechanga, the self described subset, which now includes people with NO Temecula Indian blood, much like the Boers of South Africa.

Pechanga now has a group living on the reservation that have:

• Lost the right to vote
• Lost their rights to healthcare provided by the government.
• Their children can no longer attend tribal schools
• They can no longer be buried in the reservation cemetery with their relatives.
• Have no access to tribal health center
• Are not protected by the Tribal Rangers.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

JUDGE: City Of Temecula's Lawsuit Against The Pechanga Tribe to Continue

In a setback for a local Indian tribe, a federal judge has determined her court is the proper venue to hear Temecula's lawsuit against the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians.  This ruling gives the first victory to the City of Temecula in its quest to make the tribe pay for the effect that the Pechanga Resort & Casino has on roads and other city services.

The city maintains that California's compact with the tribe, whose casino borders the city to the south, made federal court the proper forum for the lawsuit. But in November, Fischer wrote that the part of the compact cited by the city did not appear to give the court jurisdiction.   This case could have statewide implications.

The city's lawyers wrote a response explaining their reasoning. And Fischer wrote that the jurisdiction was proper.

Tribal public affairs representative Jacob Mejia said the ruling was "a preliminary and technical procedural matter, of the kind we generally do not comment on publicly during the course of litigation."

The city's lawsuit came after the City Council approved a deal last April with the tribe that called for the PECHANGA tribe to pay Temecula at least $52 million over 21 years. The tribe also agreed to pay $10 million or secure the same amount in federal funding for improvements to the Interstate 15/Highway 79 South interchange, which is heavily used by casino-goers.

The city said the tribe missed a summer deadline to pay $2 million per the agreement. The tribe responded that the deal was not official until it wrapped up talks with Riverside County over casino impacts.   We all know that the tribal chairman, Mark Macarro has lied to Congress and to KNBC news on land usage and membership issues.   Money is tight at Pechanga, loss of business continues to be an issue.    Of course, if Pechanga will cheat their own people, many realize they would cheat them too.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Chronology for Pechanga Terminations of Tribal Citizen: Liars and Thieves Run Amok

Chronology of Events of Pechanga's Disenrollments.

 
1. In December 2001, Yolanda McCarter (niece of Irene Scearce and Ruth Masiel OP: and she is the one on the Pechanga infomercial saying she could die happy if she didn't have the casino money.) submitted a letter to Enrollment Committee demanding the Committee research several families including ours. The request stated that "this (be) straightened up before the next election in July." (So that there would be less votes, a clear sign that they wanted to disenfranchise "several families")

2. In June 2002, Enrollment Committee Chairperson Mary Magee is removed from the Committee for divulging confidential information. (She was caught talking about other families. Her sister is Gloria Wright, who is CPP) A petition is justified to amend the Disenrollment Procedures. A vote to approve or deny the petition is set for July 2002. (Petition is not brought forth until February 2003.) The newly built Pechanga Resort and Casino is opened. This is a permanent structure which replaced the original Casino structures which were in modular and sprung structure. In October 2002, 2 new members are elected to Enrollment Committee to bring membership up to required 10 members. (A member retired from Committee in September 2002).  Olivia Walls is elected Committee Chair, and we request an audit of Enrollment Committee activities for the previous years and advice from our legal counsel at California Indian Legal Services on how to address wrong-doings by Committee and Committee members.   Our legal counsel is told by John Macarro not to take any action to assist the Committee or answer our questions regarding the wrong-doings. (Wrong doings include enrollment of adult family members of 'certain' enrollment committee members.)

3. November 12, 2002, members of the Enrollment Committee, acting without a quorum and outside the Committee's procedures, serve several other Committee members with disenrollment summonses. The Committee members who took the action were- Irene Scearce, Ruth Masiel, Frances Miranda, Margaret Duncan, and Bobbi Lamere. Those served include John Gomez, Theresa Spears, Olivia Walls, and Sandra Garbani. (Lamere later gets her family members enrolled in the tribe, during the "moratorium", while others have languished for years.

4. On December 10, 2002, Concerned Pechanga People (These were part of the splinter group, many who were not on the original 1979 membership roll, nor allottees, as the Hunters were) submit documents to the Enrollment Committee questioning the lineal descent of several families including the Manuela Miranda descendents, Paulina Hunter descendents, and Garbani descendents. This action was taken a month after the above action. The Concerned Pechanga people are immediate family and friends of Committee members who initiated the November 12, 2002 action.
5. Between December 10, 2002 and February 23, 2003, Concerned Pechanga people make visits to Enrollment Committee and send out flyers to Tribal members urging disenrollment actions be taken against the 3 families they have targeted. The Enrollment Committee does not move forward due to a split as to how to proceed and what constitutes "factual" information related to enrollment.

6. The Concerned Pechanga people move to have Pechanga Development Corporation Elections post-poned until disenrollment occurs. After the PDC elections have been put off for over a month, elections are finally held and Jennie Miranda is voted out of office. She is replaced by a member of the Hunter family. She and members of her family make statements about getting revenge on the Hunters and Manuela people.

7. February 18, 2003, members of the Enrollment Committee, acting without a quorum and outside the Committee's procedures serve several other Committee members with disenrollment summonses. The Committee members who took the action were- Irene Scearce, Ruth Masiel, Frances Miranda, Margaret Duncan, and Bobbi Lamere. Those served include John Gomez, Theresa Spears, Olivia Walls, and Sandra Garbani.

8. From February 24, 2003 to March 18, 2003 Committee is locked out while the Tribal Council reviews actions and concerns of Enrollment Committee Chair.

9. March 7, 2003 letter from Tribal Council nullifying the February 18, 2003 action taken by Committee members to initiate the disenrollment process against several other Enrollment Committee members. Enrollment Committee members removed from committee and Enrollment Committee reconstituted.

10. March 18, 2003, Enrollment Committee now consisting of Bobbi Lamere, Margaret Duncan, and Lori Vasquez reconvene. Committee drafts letters of rescission and send to Committee members who were targeted by February 18, 2003 action.

11. Between March 18, 2003 and June 1, 2003, Concerned Pechanga people meet with the Enrollment Committee to provide additional information against the 3 families targeted and to push the Leyva/Basquez review before the review of any other family. The information questioning the Leyva/Basquez family (which includes Jennie Miranda, Irene Scearce, and Ruth Masiel) was received well after the information questioning the Manuela descendents and the other families. Procedurally, the Manuela descendents and other families should have been reviewed prior to the Leyva/Basquez family and/or the Candelaria Flores review. However, the Enrollment Committee consisted of members- Bobbi Lamere and Margaret Duncan- who acted with and for the Concerned Pechanga people. Even though the Manuela descendents provided information to the Enrollment Committee as early as December 17, 2003 refuting the allegations made by the Concerned Pechanga people, those working with, for, or were/are a part of the Concerned Pechanga people were pushed ahead of us in the review process. This was done to stack the Committee and guarantee our disenrollment.

12. On or about June 1, 2003, the Garbani and Leyva/Basquez families were cleared. Ruth Masiel, Irene Scearce, and Sandra Garbani returned to the Enrollment Committee.


13. Between June 1, 2003 and September 23, 2003, the Manuela descendents provided the Enrollment Committee with additional documents proving lineal descent and refuting the allegations made by the Concerned Pechanga.

14. On September 23, 2003, the Enrollment Committee clears the Candelaria Flores family. Frances Miranda returns to the Committee as a result of this decision. We were once again passed over for review so that a member working with, for, or is/was a part of the Concerned Pechanga people could be put back on the Committee. Frances Miranda's father, Richard Miranda, was a member of our family. The years before he passed away, she was receiving his per capita check as she was "taking care of him". Once he passed away and she was no longer receiving 2 per capita checks, the Splinter Group initiated their disenrollment action against the targeted families.

15. On October 21, 2003, Jennie Miranda provides the Enrollment Committee with a letter regarding the lineage of Pablo Apish. Demands that the Manuela descendents be disenrolled. On October 23, 2003, the Enrollment Committee sends summonses to all adult members who are lineally descended from Manuela Miranda.

BREAKING NEWS & UPDATES: Cherokee Freedmen Win Tribal Court Lawsuit; 4,000 Applications ordered processed

From David Cornsilk comes this news:

Sources at the CNO Complex have notified me that the Freedmen have won their tribal court lawsuit. I don't have many details at this moment, but the District Court has ordered tribal registration to immediately begin processing the 4,000 pending Freedmen applications. The tribe can still appeal to the CNO Supreme Court.


The news is still breaking, stay tuned

UPDATE: Cherokee Nation District Court Judge John Cripps overturned an amendment to the Cherokee Nation Constitution passed by the Cherokee people with 77% of the vote in 2007, which denied citizenship to about 2,800 non-Indian freedmen descendants who had gained citizenship since a previous court ruling in 2006.

UPDATE IIhttp://www.cherokee.org/NewsRoom/FullStory/3464/Page/Default.aspx      The Cherokee AG sounds like they may appeal.  In a lower court ruling today, Cherokee Nation District Court Judge John Cripps overturned an amendment to the Cherokee Nation Constitution passed by the Cherokee people with 77% of the vote in 2007, which denied citizenship to about 2,800 non-Indian freedmen descendants who had gained citizenship since a previous court ruling in 2006.


“We have received the district court decision with which we respectfully disagree,” said Diane Hammons, Attorney General for the Cherokee Nation. “We believe that the Cherokee people can change our Constitution, and that the Cherokee citizenry clearly and lawfully enunciated their intentions to do so in the 2007 Amendment. We are considering all options, including our right to appeal to the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court."

Thursday, January 13, 2011

New Book on Jack Abramoff by Susan Bradford Shows Relationship to IETAN and Tribal Membership FRAUD

New Book on Abramoff Investigation Gets to the Bottom of Tribal Membership Fraud

Membership disputes have plagued Indian Country for decades now. We have helplessly watched as people who do not trace to Indian tribes falsely claim Native ancestry while our own people are being systematically disenrolled and persecuted on our own reservations. The problem has not only touched the Pechanga tribe, but tribes across the nation. A recently released book written by investigative journalist Susan Bradford reveals that other tribes represented by Ietan Consulting, including the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, have experienced membership disputes similar to ours and that the principals of the lobbying firm facilitated the take over of individuals of questionable tribal legitimacy.

Bradford's Lynched: The Shocking Story of How the Political Establishment Manufactured a Scandal to Have Republican Super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff Removed from Power is a must-read for all Natives, especially those concerned with protecting their heritage and restoring integrity to their reservations. While giving particular attention on the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, which gave birth to the Abramoff scandal, the author documents that tribal governments across the nations were seized by those who do not belong and who are not even Indian.  Pechanga has an adopted member, Russell "Butch" Murphy who worked to eliminate 25% of blood members and keep hundreds OUT of the tribe.

We, in Indian Country, were apparently fed a steady dose of propaganda about the Abramoff investigation – namely that the lobbyist at the center of the scandal, Jack Abramoff, was shaking tribes down for money and defrauding his clients. Larry Rosenthal of Ietan helped fan the flames of discontent against Abramoff, who was apparently championing the interests of Indians and therefore, challenging the status quo. Bradford makes a compelling case for Abramoff's innocence, providing strong evidence that he was essentially set up in an invented scandal which was sold to the American people through the media, with Rosenthal's assistance. You can read about the set up and what really happened to Abramoff in the book.




Suffice to say, the scandal originated at the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, which is experiencing membership issues which mirror our own at Pechanga. In Lynched, Bradford meticulously documents how people who do not belong to this tribe took over the Saginaw Chippewa's government and its casino through fraud and deception. What is fascinating about her account is that she captures all the maneuvering and sleight of hand that facilitated the take over.


During the tribe's hotly contested election of 1999, Rosenthal helped organize a coup d'etat which removed the Chief, Kevin Chamberlain, who was trying to clean up the membership rolls. He was essentially following court orders to ensure that the tribe held a legitimate election at a time when fictitious Indians were running as candidates and casting their ballots.
As Bradford documents in her book, the take over of Indian Country by fictitious Indians began in the 1970's around the time in which federally recognized tribes were anticipating their multi-million dollar settlements from the Indian Claims Commission. Miraculously non-Indians, many of them Caucasian, made bee-lines for Indian tribes and their governments. President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty was then underway, and lawyers were dispatched to tribes, who helped sign fictitious Indians onto the tribal membership rolls so that they could receive federal benefits and eventually per cap payments.

The settlement money served as the seed capital for gaming, and ultimately casinos, which have generated tremendous wealth for Indian Country. Many of these newcomers were backed by the federal government who wanted the fictitious Indians to oversee the profit-generating gaming businesses. In the case of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, gaming was spearheaded by a woman by the name of Josephine, whom public records identify as “white.” Eventually she and her family would add people onto the membership rolls and seize control the government and casino, with the assistance of attorneys and their allies on Capitol Hill.

We have all experienced the pervasive influence of nepotism on Indian reservations. On this particular reservation, one of Rosenthal's chief contacts was Bernie Sprague, who later testified against Abramoff in Sen. John McCain's hearings. While Sprague apparently does trace to the tribe, he married into Josephine's family and was therefore afforded privileges reserved for them.
Once Josephine, her family, and allies staked claim on the tribal government, they rewrote the Constitution to solidify their power and control of the tribe's businesses and revenue. In a pattern all too familiar to us, they then proceeded to add more individuals onto the membership rolls, who would then vote for them to keep them in office in perpetuity and who would also receive per cap, even though many are not even Indian. The lengths that some of them went to acquire membership is truly extraordinary. For example, Josephine's mother, Beatrice, apparently assumed the identify of an Indian male, Jesse Davis, and then altered his birth certificate by changing his name to hers, and reassigning the gender on his paperwork to female. Many official records were altered to give these intruders a paper trail of legitimacy.

CA Indian Tribes: Termination, Disenrollment and Re-Classification and Apartheid from Mooretown Rancheria

We've written often about disenrollment and civil rights violations in CA and elsewhere, but reclassification has not been touched on often. Did Mooretown Rancheria think to put STARS on the clothing of its reclassified citizens?  It reeks of APARTHEID doesn't it?

 
On March 10, 2005 Mooretown tribal council reclassified 40 adults and about 45 children. Giving us notice that we would no longer be classified as lineals who were eligible to receive per capita, full health services from tribal health, and also educational monies cut.

Services were limited to minimal and our medication as well limited. Tribal council stating we were not the direct decendants of Robert Jackson our grandmother's second husband,who she lived with from 1928 until her death in 1962 in the Feather Falls Area and on the Mooretown Rancheria the last 22 years of her life. She married Robert Jackson 1913. After her first husband was killed in a minning accident. She and Robert lived at Enterprise from 1913 to 1928 when they were listed as living in Feather Falls. 1940  they were living at Mooretown Rancheria. A wife of a lineal was their reason for reclassification.
Claiming Robert Jackson's step-children were not lineals though two were listed as minor's living with Ina and Robert on the 1928 application as membership in Mooretown Rancheria. Lois Edwards grandaughter of Ina and Robert Jackson. My grandmother was from Gensee Valley the daughter of a Northern Madiu Mary Yatkin and a white man John Davies.

Ina 1/2 Native American and my mother biological father Frank Martin full blood , my mother Cecilia Frankie Martin 3/4 blood. I am 1/2 blood. Our Chairman is only 3/16 blood.   I was told at one time you had to be 1/4 even to qualify for educational grant monies, or be a member of the tribal council whatever happen to that law?   BIA ignores it?

We'll have more on lineal descent.   Many Plains Indians would laugh at the blood quantum levels in CA tribes.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Mohegan Tribe Settles Lawsuit Rather Than Lose Sovereignty Case

After more than three years, the Mohegan tribe didn't risk losing a sovereignty case in the Connecticut Supreme Court.

Attorneys for the Mohegan Tribe and a Waterford teenager seriously injured in 2007 when she was hit by an SUV whose driver had been drinking at a Mohegan Sun bar reached a court settlement Monday, the day before an aspect of the case was to be argued before the state Supreme Court.

The parties agreed to keep the amount of the settlement confidential, Robert Reardon Jr., the New London attorney for the victim, Emily Vanstaen-Holland, and her mother, Susan Holland, said.

Reardon was expected to argue today that the tribe is subject to the state's Dram Shop Act, the law that allows victims in drunken-driving accidents to sue the establishment that served the drunken driver.
Reardon had appealed New London Superior Court Judge Robert Martin's February 2009 dismissal of his clients' claims against the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority and Mohegan tribal officials and employees, including Bruce "Two Dogs" Bozsum, chairman of the tribal council; Mitchell Etess, the authority's chief executive officer; and Gary Crowder, Mohegan Sun's senior vice president of resort operations.

According to Reardon, a hearing on the tribe's claim of sovereign immunity from dram shop and reckless-service-of-alcohol counts might have yielded a significant state Supreme Court decision.

He said he would have argued that Indian tribes have never been granted sovereignty in regard to the possession and dispensing of alcohol. Not until 1953, he said, did federal law allow tribes to possess alcohol on reservation lands and then only in conformity with applicable state law.

Monday, January 10, 2011

The Temecula Indian Reservation: Pechanga Allotments. How Many Families STILL have their Allotments? Paulina Hunter's Family Still Has Theirs After 113 Years

Since the Department of the Interior has been checking our blog for allotment information, I thought I'd make it easier for them.

Allotments at the Temecula Reservation from 1897; PECHANGA denies historical FACTS

Paulina Hunter's   parents, as proved by the Temecula Band of Luiseno Indians from the Pechanga Reservation are the ONLY ones that mention Pechanga on their birth records.  And Hunter's are one of the FEW families that still have their allotment.   Yet the tribal council STRIPPED them of their citizenship.

Notice how the name for the place is the TEMECULA RESERVATION? Pechanga is a PLACE.

Indian Allotments Temecula Reservation
Approved by Honorable Secretary Interior on March 29, 1897
Filed June 12, 1897

1 Berdugo, Juan 2 Berdugo, Martino 3 Berdugo, Domingo 4 Joac, Felipe 5 Helm, Adolfo 6 Aguallo, Prudencio 7 Raines, FrankPaul 8 Pa, Matteo 9 Duro, Andreas 10 Chowee, Adolfo 11 Valdez, Sinobia 12 Yuac, Leon 13 Kengish, Lugarda 14 Kengish, Santiago 15 Gaishman, Alejandro 16 Medrano, Alfredo 17 Jacuie, Thomassa 18 Trujuillo, Antonio Maria 19 Kengish, Dolores 20 Macaro, Juan
21 Attache, Bital 22 Kengish, Leona 23 Cosme, Salgado 24 Guavish, Christina 25 Rodriguez, Jose Davie 26 Rodriguez, Benito 27 Rodriguez, Alfredo 28 Jacuie, Alocio 29 Oliveras, Juan Maria 30 Majel, Jose 31 Yuac, Maria 32 Alveras, Antonio 33 Guavish, Michella 34 Ayal, Victoria 35 Casas, Luisa 36 Albanes, Martha 37 Medrano, Griselda 38 Attache, Felipe 39 Attache, Jesus 40 Rodriguez, Incarnaciona
41 Rodriguez, Polocarpio 42 Losobal, Ysidro 43 Garcia, Eduardo 44 Madines, Jose 45 Jacuic, Juan Maria 46 Pajaniun, Benito 47 Trujuillo, Vicente 48 Losobal, Petra 49 Losobal, Gabriel 50 Losobal, Rejugia 51 Valencia, Manuel Dolores 52 Valencia, Maria Jesus 53 Medrano, Maria 54 Valencia, Esther 55 Qulich, Salvador 56 Magee, Frank 57 Tochiga, Andreas 58 Garcia, Luis 59 Serrano, Jose 60 Magee, Custoria Nescat
61 Losobal, Juan 62 Hunter, Paulina 63 Contreras, Juaquin 64 Loatmany, Stefena 65 Contreras, Dolores 66 Contreras, Marcellina 67 Ramirez, Feliciano 68 Sal, Jose Antonio 69 Sal, Virginia 70 Rodriguez, David 71 Albanes, Esperanza 72 Nescat, Appolonia 73 Pajanin, Rafael 74 Pajanin, Ramon 75 Japarrakes ,Martina 76 Munio, Ysabel 77 Garboni, Josefa 78 Guavish, Francisco 79 Moguaguish, Victoria 80 Garcia, Vibrana
81 Castro, Escholastica 82 Pa, Gregoria 83 Kenguish, Feliciana 84 Medacuf, Ysidora 85 Jacuic, Jose Domingo 86 School House 87 Cemetery

The foregoing schedule (4 Sheets) of allotments of lands in severalty made to the Indians residing on the Temecula Reservation in the State of California. Under the Act of Congress approved January 12, 1891 (26 stats. 712) by Special Agent John F. Carrere, under instructions from this office approved by the Department February 5, 1893 is respectfully submitted to the Secretary of the Interior with recommendation that he approve the allotments therein described and cause patents to be issued there for in the names of the allottees as provided in the 5th section of the Act aforesaid.

D. M. Browning Commissioner E.E.W Department of the Interior March 29, 1897

The allotments to the Indians residing on the Temecula Indian Reservation in the State of California as described in the above recommendation of the commissioner of Indian Affairs are herby approved and the commissioner of the General Land Office is directed to issue in forum and of the legal effect prescribed by the 5th Section of the Act of January 12, 1891 (26 Stats. 712). C. N Bliss Secretary

Pechanga Tribal Council Should Follow Tribal Law Rescind Disenrollments

Hunter cousin, 'aamokat, has put together a post that details what happened during a valid petition presented by Anthony Miranda, former head of CNIGA, who presented the petition halting ALL disenrollments in order to keep the tribe from fragmenting further.  Unlike the recent petition to recall the corrupt tribal council leader Mark Macarro, Miranda's petition was ruled VALID by the people.

The following petition was declared justified by a vote of the Pechanga General Council (General Membership) on June 19, 2005 and was voted into the law by the General Council (General Membership) on July 17, 2005.

PETITION
JUNE 19, 2005

The purpose of this petition is to repeal the disenrollment procedures and declare all currently enrolled members as meeting the qualifications for membership for all purposes under the laws and customs and traditions of the Band.
The reason for this petition is to bring harmony and peace back to the membership.

For all purposes under the laws and customs and traditions of the Band, the General Council of the Band hereby declares
1) The Disenrollment Procedures is repealed effective June 19, 2005
2) All persons whose names appear on the membership roll as of June 19, 2005, constitute a base roll and meet the qualifications for membership in the Constitution and Bylaws.
3) Any persons who proves an unbroken chain of lineal descent from a member is (2) also meets the qualifications for membership in the Constitution and Bylaws.
4) It is unlawful for the Enrollment Committee to investigate members for disenrollment purposes.”


During the debate of the measure the Pechanga legal department declared that it was within the tribe’s authority to pass this petition as written into law per the Temecula Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Constitution and Bylaws, sometimes referred to as the Pechanga Band of Mission Indians (title of the tribe is from the preamble of the Band’s Constitution and Bylaws). So the all the provisions of this law are legal and binding.

Also during the debate of the measure Chairman Mark Macarro said, when asked if the Hunters were covered by the new law if it was passed, “all means all” So it was very clear that the people were voting to end all disenrollments including the pending Hunter case. In addition, elder Norman Pico commented that disenrollment was not even mentioned in the Constitution and Bylaws so it was not stipulated that the enrollment committee had the final authority in such matters so the people were the final authority to stop the Hunters disenrollment which they did when they approved the law outlawing disenrollment.




Article VIII of the Band’s Constitution and Bylaws states the following:

“THE SIMPLE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS PRESENT SHALL RULE AND DECIDE IN ALL MATTERS OF GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS OF THE BAND UNLESS STIPULATED OTHERWISE IN THESE BYLAWS.”

Article V of the Band’s Constitution and bylaws states the following:

“IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE BAND TO UPHOLD AND ENFORCE THE CONSTITUTION, BYLAWS, AND ORDINANCES OF THE TEMECULA BAND OF LUISENO MISSION INDIANS; AND ALSO, TO UPHOLD THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF EACH MEMBER WITHOUT MALICE OR PREJUDICE."

So the disenrollment of the Hunters on March 16, 2006 was clearly illegal as, among other reasons, the disenrollment procedures to move against the lineal descendants of Paulina Hunter, no longer existed as of the justification date of the petition of June 19, 2005 so any decisions made by the enrollment committee and the tribal council regarding our disenrollment are null and void.   Anyone who wants to lead the tribe should see that immediately.  Simply stated, council members including Russell "Butch" Murphy and Mark Macarro did not do their duty.

We are asking the elected officials of the Temecula Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, sometimes referred to as the Pechanga Band of Mission Indians, to do their duty as mandated in the Band’s Constitution and Bylaws to reinstate us to our rightful place in accordance with a duly passed tribal law.

Current tribal members, is there anybody out there who has the courage to insist that tribal law be followed?  I was told by a sitting tribal councilman after our illegal disenrollment that things will be made right so why not now? Also, a long time member of the PDC told me, also after our disenrollment, that he wasn’t afraid of the CPP who orchestrated our disenrollment. 

So if that is the case, then why isn’t he personally insisting that tribal law be followed?

Friday, January 7, 2011

OPEN ENROLLMENT AT PECHANGA: But Why is there STILL a MORATORIUM

We've posted about this month being the constitutionally mandated month for Open Enrollment for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians.     Yet, today, the government parking lot is quite empty.  shouldn't the enrollment committee be working diligently to enroll new members?   

The question that comes up quite often is:   Why is there still a Moratorium?   Pechanga said when it instituted their moratorium a decade ago, that is was to allow the enrollment committee to "catch up" on all the enrollment applications.  Well, should a dozen years be enough time to catch up?    Especially so since they have stripped 25% of the population of their citizenship, which had the effect of eliminating the heritage of so many children.

Recall that the disenrollment of two families started when members of those families that were serving the tribe on their enrollment committee raised concerned that one ENTIRE family had the right to be in the tribe but their application was not processed.  Stepping away from the terminations of two families for "not having lineal ties"  A lie that's was exposed by Pechanga's own expert, the question remains:  Why cannot every TRUE descendent be enrolled?
 The members of today are greedy and prevent those from joining their rightful place and receive the benefits of tribal citizenship.

As a commenter put it: If it's not about the almighty dollar, there would be no moratorium and the tribe as it stands would have no fear or greed about letting new people in.

So then, it HAS to be about GREED, keeping rightful people from the tribe.    We've written about the Tosobol descendents, but we are quite sure there are still others who belong and are kept out.

More at these   TOSOBOL FAMILY   RIOS FAMILY

Lottery Sales No Sure Thing for States; CA Collections DOWN in 2009, Up in 2010

All the more reason why we should have our casino gaming money controlled by the state.   It will even out the highs and lows of lottery sales.

In California, where cash shortages grew so severe in 2009 that the state was forced to issue IOUs to pay its bills, collections from ticket sales dipped 3.2 percent from 2008, to $2.7 billion. California now forecasts that lottery revenue will increase by $447 million, from fiscal 2010, to $3.5 billion in the budget year that ends in June.

California is taking a different approach. Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who left office this month, signed a law in April to give the lottery latitude to pay out more of its revenue in prizes, a bid to draw more in more consumers. In California, lottery money is used to finance schools, a perennial target of lawmakers’ budget cuts.

“When you can pay out more, you can sell more tickets,” said Alex Traverso, a spokesman for the California lottery.

BLOOMBERG

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Is it Time to Legalize Casino Gaming Off Tribal Lands in CA?

It's time for California to legalize gambling, regulate it, tax it and reap the benefits of casinos in our higher populated cities.

California faces a budget crisis that is reaching critical mass.    Two years ago, tribes promised us with exaggerated claims,  that we'd reduce our budget deficits if we passed Props. 94-97.    Schwarzenegger said it was good for California, knowing at the time that one of the tribes hadn't even taken it before their people.  Some tribes even tried to keep Californians from voting on the propositions

Where are we two years later, not only didn't expanded gaming fulfill it's promise to California,  tribes haven't even benefitted.   All the slots we were told would bring MORE dollars to California haven't even been placed into casinos.  Tribal gaming is suffering from economies.

Self-Reliance has become a joke, replaced by civil rights violations, tribal citizenships destroyed so that remaining tribal members could steal per capita from rightful citizens, that we've documented here many times.  Many tribes have not benefitted from gaming, that was promised by Pechanga's Chairman Mark Macarro when we passed Props. 1A and 5 a decade ago.   Tribes have gained political clout, from the monopoly established by allowing gaming on reservation land, which, while good for tribes, has not been as good for CA citizens, other than our politicians. 

We need revenue and the trickle that CA gets from tribal gaming needs to be a flood.    More jobs, more spending here in our state, less money spent to get to distant casinos or Las Vegas.   We need gaming legalized and regulated so that we can see where the money goes.    You do realize that we have NO RIGHT to audit tribal books?   They are self regulating.   I'm not saying we can't trust the tribes, but, hey, they've cheated their own people, why would they cheat Californians too?  Or as some tribal people put it... "normal people".

What do you think?

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

John Cornsilk For Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation; Chad Smith Must GO

John Cornsilk, a friend of Original Pechanga's Blog and from years of reading his website and correspondence is now running for Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.   It's past time that Chad "Our Slaves were well treated" Smith be voted out of office.  . We will continue to promote this change of leadership. Follow us on Twitter: @opechanga
We've previously discussed Chad Smith, an inductee into Original Pechanga's Blog's HALL of SHAME  HERE HERE and
HERE
John William Cornsilk

For Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation


For All your Cherokee Rights The Right Cherokee for the Job.
See my platform as your Chief here
http://www.cornsilks.com/aplatform.html

My Pledge to the Cherokee People if I am elected, I will bring honesty
and true transparency to the Government,

Of course a cliche old as politics. But, I believe from my platform as the
planks are added you will see this is a plan that can only produce what the
Cherokee people desire of their elected officials.

So to all Cherokee People, if you want change, then you must work to get out
the vote on June 25, 2011, and I as a candidate for Chief ask for your vote. We together can fix the ails of the CNO.

The LAST Shameful Act of Arnold Schwarzenegger: We Can't Say Good Riddance Fast Enough

Arnold Schwarzenegger, who lied to the people of California, tried to pull the wool over our eyes with expanded gaming, made foolish errors trying to cheat tribes, has left office after the shameful act of commuting a sentence of the son of political ally, Fabian Nunez, his longtime collaborator on job-killing environmental regulations.


Fabian Nuñez, a Democrat, grew close to the governor while speaker. The two worked together to pass the state’s landmark global warming law, which was a signature achievement of Schwarzenegger’s time in office. Fabian Nuñez is a business partner of the governor’s chief political advisor at the consulting firm Mercury Public Affairs.


“We are totally outraged,” said Fred Santos, the father of Luis Santos. “For the governor to wait until the last day in hopes it would fly under the radar is an absolute injustice.

Is it any wonder why tribal citizens who were harmed by their tribes couldn't get any support from the thankfully now FORMER Governor?

Esteban Nuñez, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in the October 2008 stabbing death of college student Luis Dos Santos near San Diego State, had his prison term commuted to seven years by the governor. In a statement, the governor noted that Nuñez, while involved in the fight, did not inflict the fatal knife wound to Santos’ chest. He cites a finding by the court that it was a friend of Nuñez who stabbed Santos through the chest, “severing his heart.”


“”I do not discount the gravity of the offense,” Schwarzenegger’s statement said. “But given Nuñez’s limited role in Santos’ death, and considering that…Nuñez had no criminal record prior to this offense, I believe Nuñez’s sentence is excessive.”

Monday, January 3, 2011

Happy New Year! We resolve to work even HARDER to shine the light on Pechanga's tribal corruption

Greetings Readers!    Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years.   We've been away from the blog for a week and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the family.   New Year's 2011 brings us into the five year anniversary of the termination of Pechanga citizens who descended from Paulina Hunter.   Sadly, it's a year more for those of Apis ancestry.

We've had a good 2010, forcing the Pechanga Tribe to show their dishonesty as to what they have done to their citizens.  There has been a lot of visits from Congress, Department of Interior and even the office of the President has come to Original Pechanga's Blog for information.

For our resolution for 2011, we will work harder to bring what Pechanga has done to light.   WE WON'T GO AWAY.  The tribal hack who visits here has pushed that meme often.    NO, we won't give up.  We may have some people drop off, but we'll work to get them back and enlist other family members to do their share.   And we will continue to focus on how other tribes have done the same to their people.

We will continue to focus on Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro, as well as the CPP's use of a felonious child molester.  We will work to get more people to stay away from Pechanga and hope to get some schools to refuse to accept money from a tribe that practices apartheid.    We will draw attention to tribal antics and see if we can get local news to cover it.

Please come and visit the blog often, join in our comments and let your friends know that their is corruption simmering below the surface.    

NAACP Committed to Publicize Plight of Native Americans? Is It What It Seems?

According to informed sources, the NAACP adopted this resolution at their summer conference in Kansas City, Mo.

1. NAACP Support of Native American Indians

WHEREAS, the history of the Native American Indians is intertwined with that of African-Americans; and

WHEREAS, during slavery, the Native American Indian nations provided safe havens for run-away slaves; and

WHEREAS, the African-American and Native American Indian have faced the same or similar discrimination and bigotry in America; and

WHEREAS, Native American Indians have participated in, and fought alongside African-Americans during the civil rights movement for equality of all people; and

WHEREAS, the poverty rate and unemployment rate for Native American Indians are higher than that of any ethnic group in America; and

WHEREAS, the illiteracy rate for Native American Indians is higher than that of any ethnic group in America; and

WHEREAS, the majority of Americans are unaware of the extremely poor living conditions most Native American Indians live in.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP is committed to immediately help publicize the plight of Native Americans; and, that the NAACP further highlight this issue during its National Convention in Los Angeles in 2011, and at the 2011 Image Awards Ceremony.

At first blush, that sounds like tremendous news, a renowned civil rights organization coming to the aid of another group. Yet all is not as it seems.   There should be some serious reflection by the NAACP as to what they are going to "publicize".

Let's look at a few Whereases:

Whereas, Slavery: And what about tribes like the Cherokee that OWNED slaves? The Cherokee dragged their slaves on the "Trail of Tears". They are currently mistreating their slaves descendents, hey NAACP, ever hear of the FREEDMEN? Shouldn't you call out the Five Civilized Tribes?  And the Freedmen just got screwed in the Cobell Settlement.

Whereas, Civil Rights Struggle: Yet, after that struggle for equality, they have turned on their own people and violated some tribal members, and others civil rights including apartheid like tactics. Should each tribe that has done so be called out as a separate sovereign nation? Should the NAACP be accepting funds from tribes that have done so? We know the CA NAACP has taken money from Pechanga, which is well known to have violated their people's civil rights. And Alice Huffman KNEW about the rights violations.

Whereas, poor living conditions: That's because many of CA tribes have not fullfilled their promise to lift all Indians, and in fact are trying to keep many tribes from benefitting from gaming in CA.


Whereas, Poverty & Unemployment: Gaming tribes in CA have sent their own people into poverty and have terminated many from employment in tribal enterprises.  The Pechanga Tribe alone has stolen $280,000,000 for terminated members, more if you include those who rightfully belong, who are kept out via a moratorium.    The Redding Rancheria terminated 25% of their tribe and the Picayune Rancheria almost 50%, equal to 15 million Californians.   Enough yet to give you pause, NAACP?

Is the NAACP doing it for the money?  Or can they stand up for Native Americans who have been wrong by Native Americans.

NAACP you stood up for people AGAINST APARTHEID in South Africa, PLEASE, DO NOT STAND UP FOR people who practice apartheid in America.