Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Reconciling Moral Outrage at Tribes Like Snoqualmie, Pechanga, Pala, Redding and Chukchansi, with Self Determination

I posted this way back in June 2007 and it still does apply. We are on vacation and hope you remember this post

I hope from what you read here, you do NOT get the impression that we are against tribal gaming. That is not true. The links tell the story of what's happening at Pechanga, Snoqualmie in Washington State and other reservations. Feel free to comment, they are open.

Tribal gaming has helped many tribes in CA, come out of poverty, Pechanga included. Many of the Pechanga people are uneducated and I remember they were so excited when they qualified for a Target credit card. Unfortunately, with success, greed soon follows. Instead of helping all their people, including those they placed in a moratorium hold, who rightfully belonged to the tribe they looked at who they could get rid of to increase their per capita. And, unfortunately, the money hasn't made everyone happy.

But the facts are clear, most tribes have not treated their people as abominably as Pechanga, Redding Rancheria, Picayune Rancheria, Snoqualmie and others have treated their people. In fact it's more like Tribal Terrorism

I have expressed earlier that I am FOR expanded gaming, for those tribes that haven't gotten to the table yet.




Reconciling MORAL OUTRAGE at Pechanga Tribe with Self Determination


Here is an excellent article by Sheryl Lightfoot about how to support sovereignty issues, while not supporting the actions when they are morally repugnant, such as Pechanga's disenrollment of 25% of their tribe in order to enrich the remaining members.


Sheryl Lightfoot Article

In order to be sovereign nations, we must act like sovereign nations. But that does not mean that in order to support self-determination in principle, we need to agree with every decision of other sovereign nations. Nation-states in the international system do not always agree with the internal actions of other nation-states, yet they nearly always accept the principle of the equal sovereignty of all nation-states within the international system (with certain notable exceptions like the Iraq invasion or humanitarian interventions). When a nation-state, a group of nation-states, or private citizens of other nation-states disagree with the internal actions of another nation-state, there are a number of possible avenues of action.

First, sovereign nation-states can register a diplomatic complaint with the government of the offending nation-state. This is done all the time in the international system. The U.S. Department of State often drafts and delivers letters of protest to the diplomats and officials of other governments over areas of disagreement. Likewise, the executives of our indigenous nations have the right, if not the moral responsibility, to send letters and make phone calls of complaint directly to the executives of the Cherokee Nation, expressing their concern over the disenrollment decision. This can be done while supporting the inherent right of an indigenous nation to determine its own membership.

Another tactic which can be employed by other indigenous nations or the private citizens of other nations is the art of moral persuasion, or ''moral suasion,'' as it has also been termed. This involves a campaign of exposure and embarrassment. (OP: This is what we've been pursuring for 8 years now) This tactic has most often been employed in international human rights campaigns, with the purpose being to expose the immoral government action in the media and open up international discussion in order to embarrass the target government into changing its policy to better conform to international norms. This was done in the early days of the campaign against apartheid in South Africa and has been used often by groups like Amnesty International to urge governments to stop human rights abuses. OP: Now, tribes like Pechanga practice APARTHEID on their reservations.


My view is this:

As mentioned on other sites, tribal sovereignty is something that should be nurtured and cherished. Many now believe that the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians from Temecula, CA will be responsible for the quick erosion of sovereignty, that tribes have fought for for centuries. The question was asked, "what could be done?".

Frankly, economic sanctions of another nation, plus public embarrassment may be the only course of action that is effective. For instance, in South Africa, it was their SOVEREIGN RIGHT as a free nation to impose apartheid on their country.

What recourse did civilized countries use to bring down this hateful policy? Economic sanctions and world ridicule of the policy. No trade, no travel, no money. Final result, end of apartheid and a welcome back to South Africa into the world community.
Similarly, citizens of the United States (OP: AND California especially) can impose their own economic sanctions on the Tribal Nation of Pechanga by boycotting their nation.

Stop patronizing their casinos, hotel, restaurants and their powwows. Let them know that we do not agree with their system of denying civil rights to their people and until they follow their own tribal law, citizens of our country will NOT support their nation, but will patronize (OP: In other words, support tribal gaming elsewhere) their competitor nations.

Also, letting state and federal representatives know that we expect them not to support a nation that would treat its citizens this way, especially NOT to allow them increased monetary benefits by expanding their casino slot machines. OP: BIA? HELLO? ANYONE THERE? Larry Echohawk, your righteousness is calling, it misses you.

Readers, there are 250 members of the band that were disenrolled and 500 people who are caught in Pechanga's illegal moratorium (illegal in that SOVEREIGN nation, against the sovereign nation of Pechanga's own constitution) Pechanga and its chairman, Mark Macarro deserves no benefit from violations of their laws and against citizens of the United States. Chukchansi has exterminated 70% of it's tribe, Redding 25%. Elders and children abused by unconstitutional acts under the BIA's watchful eye.

Please ask your friends to read our blog and share it on social media and friends, please let me know your opinion by posting comments.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mark is in deeper than he ever thought he would have to go. The lies and misinformation he and his wife’s consulting firm continue to spread will be his downfall. Lying to cover up your desperate attempt to change history will backfire on you Mark like nothing you ever expected. Your brother John, has used the tribes sovereignty to shield you and corruption as you falsify the tribes history and allow corruption to flow through and you paint your lies in a corner. The Pechanga legal department assisted the corruption with written documents that will continue to be presented to lawmakers as proof that Pechanga does not follow custom and tradition, and legally has used government positions to try and erase family lines who do not agree with the corrupt factions of the Pechanga Indian reservation. One of the biggest mistakes you have made is allowing the use of the Legal department to send out a memo saying that the tribes General membership cannot determine membership issues, when you know how your friend sitting next to you on the council had to go to the General membership and ask to be adopted according to custom and tradition. Allowing corrupt information to be used to follow through on illegal actions of elected officials is serious and you yourself know that written documents will erase any thing you say to the contrary. Jennie will be facing embezzlement charges, will you be next?

White Buffalo said...

I would love these charges to come more sooner than later, but untill then I think it is time to write another letter. I have learned that if you write a hand written letter it will get the best response.

smokeybear said...

There is a new word that has "Surfaced Out There" that fits these "Corrupt and Criminal Tibal Leaders." You won't find it in any dictionary. You actually have to "Google" it.

Ineptocracy:
New Word
(in-ep-toc'-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

The "Government(Indian Affairs)" is "Shrouded with Ineptocracy!"

smokeybear said...

Anonymous said...
IF YOU KEEP coming here, you haven't given up. They want you to quit, so quit! Do what they want.

So, you tell me: "Why should we "Give up and quit?" So you think we are to allow these "Corrupt Criminals" to get away with these "Treasonous Acts" because, as of yet, there is no one to "Stop Them? That is "Foolish!"..."YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS?" We have our "Birthright and Heritage" that is in "Jeopardy" of being lost to us and our children. "We can "Prove" who we are, and that should be sufficiant cause to keep our fight alive. So don't even go there with a "Lame Statement" like "QUIT, AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT?" For they are still "The Fox In The Henhouse" looking for their next meal(More Disenrollments). And you have got to "Realize" that this isn't going to stop "UNLESS WE MAKE THEM!" So "Give up and Quit:"..."Not A Chance!" I can't, even, "Believe You Said That," unless, of course, you want these "Criminals" to get away with their "Corrupt Acts?" Is that your "Premise?" How about an "Explanation for you "Insidious" remarks? "We're all Ears."...."Eagle Eyes."

smokeybear said...

As I have stated, so many times before, we are all "Family," and as such, we are all "Responsable" too one another to enhance the "Indian Way of Life" for us and our "Posterity." This, in essence, means that we are allowing these "Corrupt and Criminal Tribal Leaders" (Casino Indians) to "Illegally" take away what is ours: Our "Birthright and Heritage." So as a "Family, which incompasses all "Native American Tribes, we have the unique ability to band together as one "Indian" nation, as a whole, and fight off these "Corrupt, Criminal and Vile Parasites that have been "Instumental" in the "Destuction of the Indian Way of Life." We can't continue to be afraid of the "Big Bad Wolf." The "Damage" has already been done, and it is up to all of us, as a "Family" to rectify these "Treasonous Acts" perpetrated by these "Criminal." In essence: "WHAT EVER IT TAKES." That means: "NO HOLDS BARRED," short of "Violence." They need to "Realize" that we are "Done" with this "Foolishness."..."Eagle Eyes."

Anonymous said...

Violence was the only thing the BIA took notice of at Chukchansi.

Sadly, they seem to want Indians to harm each other...

smokeybear said...

Anonymous said...
Violence was the only thing the BIA took notice of at Chukchansi.
Sadly, they seem to want Indians to harm each other.

They may have taken notice, but to what "End?" The "Chuchansi Indian Nation" is "Still" in utter "Kay-aus!" ...."Eagle Eyes."