Tribal Disenrollment: Greed-Driven Theft Robs Tribal Members of Their Birthright and Their Rightful Per Capita Payments.

In the trailer for the documentary on tribal disenrollment,  YOU'RE NO INDIAN, at the :42 mark, per capita is discussed.  

Why talk about money?  Because when discussing disenrollment, some people are ONLY interested in how much money is lost.  They don't care about the loss of heritage, civil rights, or the abuse of our elders.   SO here it is.  $1,160,000,000  
 
Disenrolling tribes say that disenrollment isn't about the money (yes, they are lying).  Well, as the numbers here for the Pechanga casino prove, disenrollment enriches those remaining.  The rest is about controlling power, then you can control OTHER TRIBAL MONEY, like all expenses paid work travel including family, or giving tribal business to your wife's lobbying firm.

From the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians in Temecula CA here is the breakdown of the theft of per capita by the Mark Macarro-led tribal council.  Mr. Macarro is the President of the lobbyist group The National Congress of American Indians.

The Hunter family has lost $5,448,000 per person, in per capita payments alone.

We arrived at that figure by taking the last full year (2005) of per capita $268,000/12 months (this includes a yearly bonus) and multiplying that loss times 227 months of disenrollment. 95 adults at the time of disenrollment  totals: $5,448,00 EACH.  Total loss equals: $571,560,000

The Apis/Manuela Miranda family was disenrolled two years prior in 2004  The per capita was slightly less, about $17,000 per month times 251 months of termination: $4,267,000 times 135 adults equals: $576,045,000

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 2 large families of tribal citizens.  The Petra Tosobol descendants should have been making over $15,000 per month had they been enrolled as they were rightfully entitled. They were over 60 adults.    

Despite being the leader of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, Mark Macarro has reportedly excluded members of his own family from the tribe, prioritizing his own personal gain over the well-being of his kin.   

Thug members who were involved in drugs, shootings, sexual abuses carjacks still qualified. Pechanga Theft of $1,160,000,000 (That's over ONE BILLION DOLLARS) Includes additional $27 Million in Health Insurance, a so called "Cadillac plan" under the Affordable Care Act.

These totals do not include lost education assistance nor does it account for family members that attained the age of majority. I wanted to keep the numbers static. 

 I'll gladly update if the tribe wants to give me the current numbers. 

Pechanga Tribal Council Has Stolen Over $960 Million Through Disenrollment Scheme

For the di$enroller$, it I$ about 
THE MONEY

Why call it a scheme?  The definition of scheme is  a large-scale systematic plan or arrangement for attaining a particular object or putting a particular idea into effect.   The system plan, by corrupt council/enrollment committee didn't follow the evidence, nor Pechanga tribal constitution and changed the rules mid-stream to get the desired effect of disenrolling two large families.

Why discuss money?  Because when discussing disenrollment, some people are ONLY interested in how much money is lost.  They don't care about the loss of heritage, civil rights, or the abuse of our elders.   SO here it is.
 
Disenrolling tribes say that disenrollment isn't about the money (yes, they are lying).  Well, they mean it's not ONLY about the money, but as the numbers here for the Pechanga casino prove, disenrollment enriches those remaining.  The rest is about controlling power, then you can control OTHER MONEY, like all expenses paid work travel including family, or giving tribal business to your wife's lobbying firm.

From the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians in Temecula CA here is the breakdown of the theft of per capita by the Mark Macarro-led tribal council:

The Hunter family has lost $4,556,000 per person, in per capita payments alone.

We arrived at that figure by taking the last full year (2005) of per capita $268,000/12 months and multiplying that loss times 204 months of disenrollment. 95 adults at the time of disenrollment  totals: $4,566,000 EACH.  Total loss equals: $432,820,000

The Apis/Manuela Miranda family was disenrolled two years prior in 2004  The per capita was slightly less, about $17,000 per month times 228 months of termination: $3,808,000 times 135 adults equals: $514,080,000

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 2 large families of tribal citizens.  The Petra Tosobol descendants should have been making over $15,000 per month had they been enrolled as they were rightfully entitled. They were over 60 adults.   

Let's say there were 100 people in the moratorium, at $13,000 per month x 25 years *12 months and you get about $334,620,000 putting Pechanga's theft well over the Billion.

Despite being the leader of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, Mark Macarro has reportedly excluded members of his own family from the tribe, prioritizing his own personal gain over the well-being of his kin.   

Thug members who were involved in drugs, shootings, sexual abuses carjacks still qualified. Pechanga Theft of $960 MILLION Includes additional $26 Million in Health Insurance, a so called "Cadillac plan" under the Affordable Care Act.

These totals do not include lost education assistance nor does it account for family members that attained the age of majority. I wanted to keep the numbers static.  I'll gladly update if the tribe wants to give me the current numbers.  

Pechanga Tribal Per Capita Theft Totals OVER $890 MILLION. Still Think Disenrollment is NOT About the MONEY?

Per Capita Theft is REAL

In a recent conversation with an ABC News journalist for an upcoming segment, the subject of per capita came up as it always does. 

Many tribes that disenroll their relatives will utter the phrase "It's NOT about the Money" when disenrolling some members. 
Well, it's not ONLY about money, disenrollment also about POWER, but the money can be STAGGERING as well 

Follow the Casino Money at Pechanga.

Tribal Disenrollment: Choosing MONEY Over MORALITY in Casino Indian Country The NEW "Indian Way"

For over 14 years, we've written on the explosion of tribal disenrollments in casino Indian Country.  Tribes sing the same chorus, learned at disenrollment seminars about "correcting the membership rolls" when in fact, it's about usurping power, stealing per capita shares of casino profits and settling old scores in family disputes.

THEFT of per capita via tribal disenrollment is NOW OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS.  Yes, it's about the money for casino tribes.

Pechanga Casino Per Capita Stolen VIA DISENROLLMENT of their OWN PEOPLE

Disenrolling for a BILLION DOLLARS 

Disenrolling tribes say that disenrollment isn't about the money (yes, they are lying).  Well, they mean it's not ONLY about the money, but as the numbers here for the Pechanga casino prove, disenrollment enriches those remaining.  The rest is about controlling power, then you can control OTHER MONEY.

From the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians in Temecula CA here is the breakdown of the theft of per capita by the Mark Macarro led tribal council:

The Hunter family has lost $3,729, 611 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 171 months of disenrollment. 95 adults at the time of disenrollment  totals: $3,818,945 EACH.  Total loss equals: $362,799,000

The Apis/Manuela Miranda family was disenrolled two years prior in 2004  The per capita was slightly less, about $17,000 per month times 195 months of termination: $3,264,000 times 135 adults equals: $440,640,00 

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 2 large families of tribal citizens. 

Thug members who were involved in drugs, shootings, sexual abuses carjacks still qualified. Pechanga Theft of $860 MILLION Includes additional $24 Million in Health Insurance a"Cadillac plan"  under Affordable Care Act.

These totals do not include lost education assistance nor does it account for family members that attained the age of majority. I wanted to keep the numbers static.  I'll gladly update if the tribe wants to give me the current numbers.

Pechanga Casino Shutdown Threatens Wealthy Tribal Members; Disenrolled Know How it Feels

Felon Ray Basquez, Jr

With the Pechanga Resort & Casino closed for business, and 4,500 employees laid off.  One group of casualties never mentioned is the remaining tribal members who face the horrible threat of  LOSS OF PER CAPITA ! (omg!)

Some advice from disenrolled:
1. Use your savings (Hey, Pechanga stole a billion from us, No rainy day fund?)
2. GET A JOB.  That's what that yahoo felon Ray Jr. told our elders
3. Get free food from the casino (oh, Pechanga members did that already)
4. Have a yard sale to raise money.
5. Sell your new trucks to cut debt
6. Don't pay your mortgage until you have to give up your home

Tribal Membership Revocations: Disenrolling for Dollars

Well over $500 MILLION DOLLARS now.   Here's something from Dennis J. Whittlesey & Patrick Sullivan

This was first posted in JULY, but the timing is good to bring this back

Over the past several years, there have been a series of publicized tribal enrollment revocations of enrolled members – including former tribal leaders – and their entire families. While this phenomenon was extremely rare in the past, it is becoming increasingly and disturbingly common.

Many in Indian Country openly trace this activity from the date on which the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act became law in 1988 and tribes too often spending large amounts of their casino revenues in per capita payments to tribal members. In some cases, as tribal populations grew, revenue distributions were accordingly reduced to continue payments to all members. In other cases, the economic downturn that dates back to 2007-08 led to reduced casino revenues and, in turn, reduced individual payments. Still, many have linked dollar reductions in per capita payments to the increase in expelling members.

These facts are well reported and discussed below in some detail. The casual reader will ask how this could be possible, or even legal. Various legal challenges to disenrollments have been unsuccessful, whether they directly challenge the tribes themselves or seek to compel the Bureau of Indian Affairs (“BIA”) to intervene.

Tribal Challenges usually are made in the face of tribal sovereign immunity and are routinely dismissed. While the federal Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 ostensibly offers legal protections to the victims of enrollment revocations, the reality is that the law is toothless and is not the vehicle through which individual Indians have gained much of anything in the way of rights protection.

Disenrollment for GREED and POWER, At Pechanga The Theft of Per Capita is nearing ONE BILLION DOLLARS

STILL THINK That TRIBAL DISENROLLMENT IS NOT ABOUT THE MONEY?

Anthony Broadman of the prestigious Galanda Broadman law firm just wrote about tribal disenrollment for greed and power  so let's explore a little Pechanga greed and power.

Since 2006, the year of our disenrollment, the Hunter family has lost $3,484,000 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 ($22,333) and multiplying that loss times 156 months of disenrollment (13 years). 95 adults at the time of disenrollment equals:  $330,975,000

The Apis/Manuela Miranda family was disenrolled two years prior in 2004. The per capita at that time was slightly less, about $17,000 per month times 180 months of termination: $3,060,000 multiply by 135 adults equals:  $413,100,000

Add some NOW, for the 100 or so children who would have reached the age of majority and you are looking at another $100 million in per capita and benefits.

Moratorium People NEVER shared in what was rightfully theirs. In fact, Pechanga's Enrollment Committee worked hard to KEEP them from their rightful place, so as not to reduce the per capita.  Think of this, HAD the Tosobol descendants alone been  included, 80 who may have reduced the first six years of per capita to say $140,000 total. That's an additional $200+ MILLION..
ADD those numbers up and it's nearly ONE BILLION at Pechanga alone

The per capita at Pechanga went up to $360,000 per year for those remaining after elimination of 25% of Pechanga’s tribal citizens, and varies now with children maturing into adulthood.

With Mark Macarro not being opposed at tribal chairman, he's consolidated his power and can spend unchecked.. so it's not JUST about the money.....

I have old data on other tribes disenrolled's losses here  so, for you to bellieve it's not about the money, you have to be blind.  To think it's just about correcting tribal rolls, is laughable as long as there are PROVABLE tribal members still enrolled in tribes.

FIND the BILLION DOLLARS Carved From the Disenrollment Buffalo

JUST HOW BIG IS THAT DISENROLLMENT BUFFALO?

What ONE BILLION DOLLARS LOOKS LIKE

NEARLY ONE BILLION DOLLARS, have been stolen by corrupt tribal councils and their leaders, including Mark Macarro of Pechanga and Robert Smith of Pala and the STOOGES, Reggie Lewis and Nancy Ayala of Chukchansi, among others.   
Congress turns a blind eye, the Justice Department IGNORES the theft, and all allow tribes to claim, "it's NOT about the MONEY  when they mean, it's NOT ONLY ABOUT THE MONEY....

The loss of tribal citizenship includes the loss of Federal recognition of Native Americans. Corrupt tribes are harming their own.That's something the Bureau of Indian Affairs, led here in California by Amy Deutschke, buries their heads in the sand to avoid.  They have avoided their duty to protect Native Americans.

Tribes claim disenrollments and moratoriums weren't about the money, but the figures don't lie.   The Cherokee Nation is excluding descendents of their OWN SLAVES, which by treaty, should be in the tribe.  WHY?  Because 25,000 is a huge number even if the benefits are small.

We first wrote about this story in January 2011, and many of the numbers have been revised upward. We have passed the 10 year mark for the Redding Rancheria, which terminated the rights of their first Chairman, Robert Foreman.  And for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians

Follow the Money. 

Disenrollment Bankruptcy and Tribal Per Capita Poverty. THEFT Under BIA's Watchful Eye and Greased Palms

As the theft of Tribal per capita payments, via disenrollment nears the $1 BILLION mark, the estimable  Gabe Galanda of Galanda Broadman law firm has post up as to how Tribal Per Capita is CREATING Poverty.

Yes, it's a form of elder abuse, to rob our elders of their rightful share of what the tribe offers to all members.   This includes health care, elder benefits, and the respect they deserve as lifelong members.

To have a Non Indian/Non Blood council keep or steal per capita, is the height of irony.


“In November, a [Las Vegas] Review-Journal reporter and photographer encountered one of the disenrolled, 52-year-old Darla Hatcher, sleeping with her meager belongings in front of an upholstery shop in the homeless corridor.

By way of introduction, she gestured toward nearby tribal land and said: “I am a disenrolled Paiute.’”

Thanks to some wonderful scholarship by Seattle lawyer Greg Guedel about the socioeconomic impacts of tribal per capita monies, The Economist has cast a bright light on the topic. Guedel’s research found that:

From 2000-2010, gaming Tribes in the Pacific Northwest that did not issue per capita payments to their members did better in reducing poverty rates than the gaming Tribes that issued per capita payments.

In other words, tribal per capita monies are not alleviating Indian poverty; they are exacerbating it.

Indeed, the apportionment of tribal communal assets and distribution of those assets to individual tribal members is, by the United States’ design, a mode of tribal termination and Indian assimilation. See Tribal Per Capitas and Self-Termination (“Tribal per capita payments are a creature of the United States and its Indian termination policies.”). This dynamic dates back to the mid-1800s, although we as American indigenous people act oblivious to that genocidal reality.To be sure, tribal per capita distributions are presently catalyzing the most severe form of Indian poverty: Disenrollment and exile from one’s tribal community–and at epidemic levels.

As Professor David Wilkins explains:

Disenrollment takes an obvious financial toll . . . But it also can psychologically devastate former members.

“’It leaves them in a tenuous place of being betwixt and between,’ he says. ’They know they still are what they are claimed not to be. I just feel for them.’”

Surely other Indians feel for their brothers and sisters who have been spiritually, financially and otherwise bankrupt through disenrollment. Right?

Read about the ACCOUNTING for Tribal Per Capita Theft

FOLLOW THE MONEY III: Tribal Per Capita Theft over $500 Million Elders Stripped of Health Care; Children's Education Ruined

That's half a BILLION DOLLARS, stolen by corrupt tribal councils and their leaders. They claim disenrollments weren't about the money, but the figures don't lie. That's something the Bureau of Indian Affairs, led here in California by Amy Deutschke, buries their heads in the sand to avoid. We first wrote about this story in January 2011: Follow the Money....

From the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians in Temecula CA:

The Hunter family has lost $1,561,000 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 70 months of disenrollment. 95 adults at the time of disenrollment equals:  $148,295,000

The Apis/Manuela Miranda family was disenrolled two years prior in 2004, our previous posts mistakenly put their disenrollment in 2005. The per capita was slightly less, about $17,000 per month times 94 months of termination: $1,598,000 times 135 adults equals:  $215,700,000

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 had been averaging $5 million per month in payments to the Tribe over the past 48 months (as reported to me by a former Tribal Council member).
The tribe disenrolled 625 members whose share would be $3,200 per month. This equates to $104,000,000 stolen. They are now disenrolling an additional 300 members


Lets add what we have so far:

Pechanga: $388 MILION Includes additional $17.4 Million in Health Insurance. Corrected Insurance due to coverages, some double covered as family. Per capita losses are $200,000 PER DAY. These totals do not include lost education assistance nor does it account for family members that attained the age of majority.

Picayune: $ 104.0 MILLION Money is from share of dollars casino sends to tribe per person will grow with 200 just receiving ejection letters..

Redding Rancheria: $ 35.3 MILLION Per capita only. Totals being tabulating but includes tribal JOBS lost.

Mooretown: $12 MILLION

Enterprise: $2.9 MILLION No Per Capita. Tribe gets revenue allocation. Losses include housing help.

Pala $24 MILLION. Amount includes one year projection of losses of 160 tribal members ejected. $14K per member in per capita and benefits PER MONTH.

United Auburn $2 MILLION per year projection is for one year. and growing by 180 K per month

San Pascual    $6 MILLION in losses for the first year of Alto family’s ouster.

$560 MILLION

but,

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

Follow the Money UPDATE: Theft of Per Capita BY TRIBES Nearing Half Billion $ Mark

In January we posted a story about the theft of Per Capita/Benefits by gaming tribes.  Now, it's closer to HALF of a BILLION DOLLARS! And that's just for Pechanga, Redding and Picayune ALONE.

UPDATE: Includes Redding Rancheria 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: $318.3 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.  Does not include educational assistance and there are many college eligible students not receiving their scholarships.

Picayune: $ 97.0 MILLION Money is from share of dollars casino sends to tribe per person.  Read more on Picayune Rancheria HERE 

Redding: $ 33.3 MILLION Per capita only. Totals being tabulating but includes tribal JOBS lost.

Mooretown: $ 10.9 MILLION     Read more on Mooretown Rancheria HERE

Enterprise: $ 2.2 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.  Add that to the loss of voting rights, right to attend meetings, elder assistance, and the fact that some tribes like Pechanga have tried to steal water rights and it's a problem don't you think?

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.

The Most Shared Video on KNBC is Pechanga: Without A Tribe

After two years, it's STILL the most shared video on KNBC.

Without a Tribe details the story of what the Pechanga Tribe did to the Hunter family and the Manuela Miranda family. Pechanga Chairman Macarro gets caught in a lie his first 15 seconds into his infomercial.

There is a place to rate the video. If you like it, please rate it high. If you think it's unfair, rate it lower, if you think it's so-so, then rate it in the middle.

Pechanga's Splinter Group: Breaking Away from the Band

The Splinter Group - Part 3

The Pechanga Band had a stable government for many years. Over a period of 10 years or so, the Band developed and adopted a Constitution and an Enrollment procedure in response to the growing population on the reservation and the need of the Band for a more formal governing structure.
After the Constitution was adopted and the enrollment criteria decided upon, the Band proceeded to enroll approximately 450 members in full compliance with its enrollment procedures.
A small group of dissidents, led by BM, refused to acknowledge the Band’s Constitution and the tribal enrollment process. In fact, they refused to apply for enrollment. This small group announced to the Pechanga Band at a tribal meeting that they were breaking away from the Band and forming their own tribal government.

Prior to breaking away from the Band, the Splinter Group took steps to disrupt the workings of the government. Below are some quotes regarding the Splinter Group’s actions: “…we never did get past the first item which was a petition circulated by JM to abolish the bylaws and new roll. They wanted to go by recognition only…If they don’t like you, you never get recognized though you would be a legitimate member by lineal descent.” “…I felt we needed police protection. They were that violent.” “…the violence of the opposition would not allow the continuance of agenda. Now they are starting their own band. This stems from agitators who probably do not have a Pechanga or Temecula back ground.” “We may have to take legal action before something drastic happens here.”
These actions, along with their need to abolish the adopted Constitution and enrollment criteria and their failure to apply for enrollment, are signs that the Splinter Group “probably do not have a Pechanga or Temecula back ground.”

If they did have lineal descent and could meet the enrollment criteria developed and approved by the tribe, why was it necessary to cause such disruption of tribal government and eventually break away to form its own government with separate enrollment criteria?

Was their breaking away from the Band to form their own government a concession that they in fact could not meet the enrollment criteria and they were not tribal members as defined in the Band’s governing documents?

Pechanga: A Bad Neighbor that Does Some Good Deeds

It’s been a decade since Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro asked the People of California to help Native Americans in their quest for self-reliance. I believe that most people took self-reliance to mean that Native Americans would help take care of their own people with the proceeds of Indian Gambling. This is the messaging of every public relations campaign during every California referendum on Indian Gaming, Each time the leaders of Pechanga were the face of the California Native community.

Unfortunately, self-reliance to Pechanga means keeping rightful people from joining the band and removing people who don’t think the way the leadership wants them to think, so there will be no dissent among the membership. The Council’s policy is cash your check and shut the hell up.

Pechanga’s Constitution and Bylaws provides for OPEN ENROLLMENT each January, yet in 1997 the band approved a petition, which called for a moratorium on member enrollment so that the tribe can get caught up with the applications. There are 10 members on that committee, how long could it take to catch up? The will of the people was the rule of law in an enrollment matter, upheld by the tribal council.

When the people passed a valid petition to halt all disenrollments in 2005, the tribal council maintained that the petition couldn’t be enforced, because the general council had no authority in enrollment matters.

Let’s get this right, the general council says the people could keep people OUT, but they can’t keep people IN?

So, we have the Pechanga Tribal Council acting in a shameful manner by eliminating 25% of their citizenry. They stripped this group of their status as Native Americans, and grabbed their share of per capita payments to grow their own. They keep rightful members from their place at Pechanga via disenrollment and abused the elders and children of two families, terminating their cultural heritage.

In direct contradiction to these reprehensible actions, Pechanga donates to groups like the Boys and Girls Clubs, The Temecula Valley School District, and other organizations, which gladly take generous donations from the tribal government. Would these groups accept these donations if they knew what Pechanga had done to their own people?
Pechanga used those donations to trumpet how they were generous to the community, and good neighbors. Yet, I can’t believe that the organizations mentioned above would believe it’s okay to screw someone, let some people die knowing their heritage was stripped, so that they can have a new swing set on their playgrounds? I really don’t believe they would have endorsed Pechanga in the last elections if they knew what was really happening on the reservation in their own neighborhood.

Ethical businesses and governmental agencies should be expressing their outrage at what Pechanga has done, not turning a blind eye. Many sovereign countries quit doing business in South Africa because of their apartheid policies. Pechanga’s policy of denying basic civil rights to the people that they were purported to be helping with Proposition 5A is little different than S. Africa's, or Saudi Arabia's denying women the right to vote.

If Wal-Mart is so bad for not providing health coverage for all of their associates, which bring protests for each new store, why isn’t the same outrage aimed at Pechanga, who not only took away per capita, but health coverage, education assistance, employment and elder care for the citizens they kicked to the curb?

What Pechanga is doing is the epitome of hypocrisy. They are hiding their ‘dirty family secret’ behind a veil of sovereignty, and then publicizing their good deeds to local charities to show what honorable people they are. Don’t allow them to get away with it. It is time the people of this community learn the truth.

Please spread the word and if you must patronize an Indian Gaming facility, it is time to go elsewhere. Let Mark Macarro know that you DO NOT support his actions.

The Pechanga Indian Removal Acts: Violations of Civil Rights

Steve Craig and the folks at apoliticalblog.com have graciously asked me to contribute to their blog. Here is the first submission The Pechanga Indian Removal Acts

The Pechanga Indian Removal Acts

Posted on January 16th, 2008 by Original Pechanga

The explosion of Indian Gaming in California has lead to some acts that tribes such as Pechanga Band of Temecula would like to keep as “family secrets.” Removing Indians from tribes, pronouncing them non-Indians, had the same effect as Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Acts had in 1830’s America. Get the Indians we don’t want or like out of the way.

In 2004 and 2005, as part of the Concerned Pechanga People’s Indian Removal Policy, members of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians were forced to give up their membership in the tribe whose reservation is in Temecula, CA. Life-long members, who have had land on the reservation for centuries were forcibly expelled from the tribe. This act of paper genocide has had devastating effects on 25% of the Pechanga people.
Elders no longer qualify for the health care that they lobbied the tribe to provide for all its members. The young are not allowed to attend the reservation’s school, being forcibly blocked and told to leave, much in the manner of the white racists who blocked black children from integrating schools in Little Rock in the 1950’s.

Those who were removed, face an unsecured financial future. Many worked for the tribe, were part of all events, meetings, have their dead buried in the Pechanga Cemetery. Now, that has ended. In order to increase the per capita ($15,000 per month at the time of the first removal) some of the descendents of Pablo Apis, the family of Manuela Miranda were terminated from the tribe. Per capita grew to $20,000 per month (plus bonuses) for those remaining, members of the Concerned Pechanga People initiated a misinformation campaign, one that has successfully terminated over 300 Native Americans of Pechanga descent at the time of the second removal (the descendents of Paulina Hunter.) The per capita is now reportedly $40,000 per month.

Blood relatives are banished from the reservations, families who are no longer in the tribe, but live on the reservation property that they’ve owned since the late 1800’s live in fear that the tribe will take away their water, which has been threatened by some of the remaining tribal members. Will Pechanga really turn off their lifeblood, as easily as they took away their civil rights? It’s not difficult to think so, after the atrocities that the CPP have already committed.

The Concerned Pechanga People
This is the group of people that let the blackness of greed take over their hearts and minds.

The Splinter Group

This group is an offshoot of the 1980’s Splinter Group, led by Russell Murphy and assisted by Frances Miranda and Ihrene Scearse (later on the enrollment committee and committed to removing tribal members). Non-enrolled members of Pechanga, they started attending meetings and disrupted the regular goings on of the business. They announced that they were separating from the band and forming their own Tribe. They petitioned the BIA to recognize them, but the BIA refused.
With few exceptions, no member of the splinter group applied for membership because they knew they could not meet the constitutional requirements established by the Pechanga Band.
The actions of the splinter group raise legitimate questions: Are they really Pechanga? Are they able to document their lineal descent from an Original Pechanga Temecula Person as the Pechanga Bands Constitution and Bylaws require? Did they figure that disruption of tribal matters was the way to go?
This is not the portrait of a tribe in need, asking the people of California to allow tribes to have Las Vegas type gaming such as portrayed in the Prop. 1A and Prop. 5 television commercials of the 1990’s. This is about power, greed and violations of civil rights, voting rights, and elder abuse. It’s about tribal governments wielding sovereignty like a club and it’s about individual Indians that have nowhere to turn for justice.
I’ll explore this more in future posts, with thoughts on expanded gaming in California and what it feels like to be told you aren’t who you know you are.

Please take a look at the whole article, please check out the link and COMMENT.

Riverside Supervisor Suggests CHANGE in Soboba Leadership

Supervisor Jeff Stone is wrong in his approach here. Mr. Supervisor, you have no business recommending a change in leadership at the reservation. That is tribal business. YOU SHOULD, however, recommend to your constituents that they stay AWAY from the Casino and reservations until it is deemed safe and until you feel that the tribal leadership is taking the necessary steps to protect San Jacinto and Riverside county citizens.

ADDITIONALLY, you should be recommending that all Riverside County residents stay away from Pechanga, for violating its members basic human rights and civil rights and for failing to follow its OWN CONSTITUTION. While you shouldn't call for a leadership change there either, you SHOULD recommend that NO citizen of Riverside County patronize a local business that would treat American citizens the way the sovereign nation of Pechanga did to their people. Would you have recommended buying Krugeraands while South Africa was practicing apartheid? No, I believe you wouldn't.

Please recommend that Pechanga be avoided for the similar reason, denying some of its people civil rights, voting rights, and citizenship that was rightfully theirs.

Express your MORAL outrage, Mr. Supervisor, by NOT supporting Pechanga with your business, county's business and the patronage of your constituents. Pechanga has the right to violate their own tribal constitutions, strip their citizens of their heritage and rightful place in the tribe, and tell them to go to hell. YOU, me and our friends and customers have the right to AVOID Pechanga because of their unjust, immoral actions. Make sure the county does NO more county business at Pechanga. Might I suggest, Turtle Creek, or maybe the wineries? Do you think Pechanga, like South Africa will respond to disinvestment?

Supervisor's Criticism

The Soboba tribe is also finding itself at odds with 3rd District Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone, who on Thursday called for a change of tribal leadership and suggested the violence could be a repeated if that does not take place. Stone, whose district includes the reservation, told about 150 people who had gathered in San Jacinto that violence connected with the reservation is nothing new. Stone suggested that part of the problem is tribal leadership, which he said needs to be more sophisticated in the way it does its job.

Notice to CA State Legislators: Pechanga has 500 more taxpayers that should be in the tribe

Dear CA State Legislator,

In continuing your weak and pathetic work for us in the capitol, widening our budget gap, you claim you are looking for revenue streams and that is why you passed theses shameful memorandum of agreements. Meanwhile, in the Pechanga tribe alone, they have kept 500 members from joining the tribe, as proscribed in their Constitution and Bylaws. Each moratorium internee would have earned about $1.5 million since the opening of the casino on the reservation in Temecula (BOYCOTT PECHANGA)

That's $750,000,000 in taxable income lost to the state because you didn't stand up for the tribal members who have been cheated by the tribe. The tribes said the compacts would be good for ALL native Americans. Now, you want us to believe that the tribe won't cheat the people of CA. You take for granted your union friends, all for some spa treatments for your wives and free golf for you, because you know the unions have nowhere else to go.

Urge your constituents to vote NO on expanded gaming, tell them that you will REWORK these compacts to give rights back to all Native Americans, give the unions their due and get the environmental impacts up. Do the right thing for the people of CA. Don't just do what feels good for you.

Pechanga Cheats It's Members: What Would YOU Do?

Paulina Hunter's MYSPACE blog asked that question in February and I'm re-introducing the question here. The link has the original story, but more interesting is the comments from her friends. Please, feel free to answer the question: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Pechanga (meaning the tribal council and disenrollment committee) has CHEATED its members, by disenrolling them from the tribe. They have wronged over 500 people, when you include spouses and children who cannot claim membership.

Since 1995, almost 12 years, they have been paying per capita to each member of Pechanga. Here is the breakdown as they give for loan authorizations for the first years:
1995: $1,075 1996: $3,360 1997: $20,204 1998: $39,853

Now, bear in mind that by 1998, this is MORE money than many of the tribe has made in a year, EVER. You'd think that people would be HAPPY to be making an extra $3,000 a month.
1999: $44,071 2000: $47,744 2001: 63,800 2002: $91,000

Well now, in 8 short years, tribal members are making $7,500 per month, got health care approved and guess what? CPP started getting JEALOUS of what San Manuel was making (significantly more, due to smaller membership) so they started looking at how they could get more money.

Was setting a positive example of tribal unity and good public relations to build business and relationships the way?
or
Was getting rid of some members so you could control power and get their per capita the way?

Which would you choose? WHAT WOULD YOU DO?