Cherokee Freedmen's Marilyn Vann Speaks at Indiana University

Friends of the Cherokee Freedmen and supporters of treaty rights and civil rights should plan on attending Indiana University's program on the Freedmen's tribal expulsion.

Indiana University's First Nations Educational and Cultural Center will celebrate National American Indian Heritage Month with a series of activities in November, begining with a reception on Wednesday (Nov. 5) that it is sponsoring with the city of Bloomington.

Nov. 10, 6 p.m. -- Marilyn Vann, president of the Descendants of Freedmen Association, will lead a discussion about the Black Freedmen of the Cherokee nation, the tribal expulsion and the current situation. The program will take place in the Bridgwaters Lounge of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, 275 N. Jordan Ave. A reception will follow. More information is available at http://www.libraries.iub.edu/index.php?pageId=2340. Sponsored by the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center Library.

Request for Johnny Mathis to Cancel Performance at Pechanga

After Bill Cosby made his stand at Chukchansi last year, we are requesting that Mr. Mathis, one of America's greatest singers, support those who have had their civil rights violated by Pechanga. Fax numbers are INCLUDED in the comments. Here is that letter I received from family: Dear Mr. Mathis: Please accept this letter as a request that you decline to perform at the Pechanga Resort and Casino, which is owned by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, on December 13, 2008. Over the past 4 years, Pechanga Tribal Officials have denied and/or stripped tribal members of their basic human and civil rights and eventually stripped of the members of their tribal citizenship. Even though such actions violate tribal and federal laws established to protect individuals from "arbitrary and capricious" acts of government officials, Pechanga tribal officials have escaped prosecution by claiming immunity from suit. As a result, nearly 400 tribal citizens have been stripped of the rights and privileges other tribal members currently enjoy. Elders and children have been cut-off from programs, health insurance and medical care have been denied, education benefits have been cut, and per capita payments have been stopped. In addition, tribal members are no longer eligible to receive federal assistance since their status as a federally recognized Indian has been taken from them. Pechanga is not the only place where such actions are occurring. Sadly, California Indian Country has been over-run by gross human and civil rights violations and thousands of individual Indians have been victimized. Pechanga has most recently been surpassed by the Picayune Rancheria (Chukchansi) near Fresno , California. The Chukchansi Band reportedly rid itself off half its membership, 600 in all, with threats of more terminations to follow. In response to what is happening at Chukchansi, Bill Cosby cancelled his Labor Day weekend appearance at the Chukchansi Gold Casino in 2007 Please read the stories attached regarding the actions taken by Pechanga Tribal Officials to victimize their own members. These acts have been compared to cultural genocide as hundreds of Indians are being "killed-off" so that others may benefit. I hope after reading the information provided you decide to cancel your performance at the Pechanga Resort and Casino. If you need more information, would like to discuss this further, or would like to meet with those who have been stripped or denied of their basic human and civil rights, please feel free to contact me at originalpechanga2@yahoo.com

Why Those Who Have Been Denied Their Civil Rights By Pechanga, Redding, Enterprise, Picayune should Support Obama and The Congressional Black Caucus

Not to pick sides or try and influence how you may vote on November 4th, but a key advisor to Senator Obama just happens to be John Conyers, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

Chairman Conyers and the Congressional Black Caucus hosted a panel discussion on the Cherokee Freedmen issue at their last conference in September 2008.
The Chairman supports the efforts on behalf of the Freedmen and played a role on getting hearings on the Freedmen issue scheduled for the next session of Congress (I will touch more on this in a later email).

His input, if Senator Obama is elected President, could lean towards selecting an Assistant Secretary who understands that civil rights for individual Indians are a key aspect of sovereignty. Rep. Barney Frank has already stood up for the Freedmen and will support those of us who have been denied Civil Rights. Maybe some hearings about those tribes that have wielded sovereignty like a club will ensue.

Additionally, Barack Obama wants to raise taxes on the rich and that will affect those like Pechanga, who enriched themselves by destroying 300 of their tribesman. A small way to raise $20,000 from each of them.

Lastly, because it will be good for UNION! Card check will be passed and unions can take over tribal casinos with just a little strong arming of the future rank and file. But more importantly, unions will be able to use the dues to keep Democrats in office.

Interlude: Tony Hillerman

Tony Hillerman, author of the acclaimed Navajo Tribal Police mystery novels and creator of two of the unlikeliest of literary heroes - the Navajo police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee - has died of pulmonary failure. He was 83.

Wonderful books and helped to bring the Navajo culture to mainstream America. In 1987, the Navajo Nation Council honored him with its Special Friend of the Dineh award

Political Interlude: Obama's Redistribution of Wealth

UPDATE: Beldar has an explanation as to HOW TO EXPLAIN OBAMA'S REDISTRIBUTION to a KID

Grades come out tomorrow," said my daughter Molly, an eighth grader, when I picked her up at school this afternoon.
"Great," I answered, "How d'ya think you're gonna do?"
"Pretty well," Molly said confidently.
"What will probably be your best grade?" I asked.
"Guitar," she said, "That will probably be a 97 or a 98."
"Cool," I said. "You really have been successful. But I think you should tell your Guitar teacher that you want to give six or seven of those points to some of your classmates who haven't practiced so hard or don't have the talent you have."
She looked up at me, startled. "What?"
"That class is easy for you, and you have lots more points than you need for an A. They need those points more than you do," I explained.

"Then they should have worked harder!" she protested. "Yeah, I'm sort of talented, but I worked hard to get those grades! I earned them!"

"So you're telling me that you think it's fair for you to get to keep all of those good grades, both the part that comes from your having worked harder than your classmates, and the part that comes from the musical talent you inherited from me and your mom. Is that what you're saying?"
"Well, yeah!" Read the rest at the link above



================================================
Got this in my email:

Redistribution of wealth
Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign the read "Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed.

Once in the restaurant my server had on a "Obama 08" tie, again I laughed--just imagine the coincidence. When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as Ive decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful. At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

OR IS IT? REDISTRIBUTION OF SOMEONE ELSE'S WEALTH IS A GREAT IDEA.......or just a fools political game?

Is Pechanga's Violation of the ICRA What you thought Self Reliance and Tribal Sovereignty Was About?

When Pechanga Spokesman Mark Macarro stood before you asking for help passing Prop. 1A and Prop. 5 he told you that there would be limited gambling and that money would be used to help lift the tribe out of poverty. He has violated the spirit of the Indian Civil Rights Act and has made many tribes in Indian Country look bad. 

  FACT: Under Macarro's leadership, the Temecula Band of Mission Indians have disenrolled 25% of their people. Did he tell us that he was going to eliminate so many Indians from the Tribe? 

FACT: Pechanga has violated the civil rights of its members by terminating membership before elections, eliminating large voting blocs and controlling the votes. And we thought Florida had voter fraud? 

  FACT: Pechanga is keeping at least 400 RIGHTFUL Pechanga people from membership via an unlawful moratorium (against the Pechanga Constitution and Bylaws), when the constitution calls for open enrollment. 

FACT: Mark Macarro did NOT grow up on the Pechanga Reservation, but went to Colton High School. His father went to San Bernardino High. He’s a city-slicker who’s fooled so many. 

FACT: Pechanga hired an expert to determine the heritage of the Hunter family. That expert, the foremost authority on California Indians, Dr. John Johnson, determined that Paulina Hunter was indeed Pechanga, more so than any other family. The Macarro-led tribe still took away the family's heritage. Lawrence Madariaga, Hunter family elder, has lived on the reservation for 60 years, which is 60 MORE years than Macarro or his father. 

FACT: Pechanga tried to keep Californians from VOTING on the February propositions, interfering in the state's business. Using tribal gaming money to try to DENY Californians’ their lawful rights. And you thought there was voter fraud in Florida? 

FACT: PECHANGA lobbied successfully to keep the Quechan tribe from getting a casino, yet whine that other tribes try to keep Pechanga from getting richer at their expense. 

FACT: Pechanga disenrolling it's members is NOT like losing a country club membership or getting booted from the PTA. It causes real pain and anguish as related HERE. It also puts the BURDEN of their health care and education BACK on the people of California. 

FACT: YOU can sign a petition showing your displeasure with Pechanga's corrupt activities HERE. 

FACT: $50,000 to the high schools should NOT wash away the $180,000,000 the tribe has taken away from the disenrolled people. A donation to the YMCA or Boys Club should not hide the fact that Pechanga has acted unconstitutionally in denying enrollment with their moratorium (Against the Pechanga Band's Constitution and Bylaws) 

FACT: Pechanga used the word of a child molestor in PRISON, versus the certified documents of the Hunter family. Megans Law has a few Pechanga people on it, so they kept their molestors but terminated peaceful people. 

FACT: Pechanga did not allow those they disenrolled to have attorney's present. Nor to have writing implements to take notes. They had armed guards to watch over the disenrollees after their pat down search. The Enrollment committee would not answer questions as to what evidence was needed, as required by law. 

FACT: During one appeals hearing, those same guards were CRYING after hearing the message, hugging the appellants as they left the hearing, whose outcome was pre-determined. If Pechanga violates it’s OWN LAWS with impugnity, wouldn’t it follow that they would violate state law too? You DO know you lose many of your rights when you visit the Pechanga Casino. 

Ask your Congressman if this is what they thought Self Reliance and Tribal Sovereignty was all about. You can exercise your outrage at Pechanga by avoiding their business and saving your money.

How to WIN at the Pechanga Casino

Get outta here! YOU CAN'T WIN, the machines are designed to take your money. And besides if a machine malfunctions, WHO are you going to complain to? Manager's have been fired for cheating THEIR OWN WORKERS, (even though it took MONTHS to fire the son of the former tribal spokesman) you think they care about YOU?

The Pechanga Casino in Temecula features hundreds of table games and over 3,500 slot machines. Do you think they would be able to put all those games and machines in their casino IF there was a good chance you would win money?  Each machine was averaging $325 a day in 2004.   Do you think in the tough economy they might tighten the reels a bit?  You DID know they don't have to put the win % on tribal slots, like they do in Las Vegas.

Exactly how do you think that each Pechanga member can be paid $360,000 per year? By you WINNING? Hardly. Take $20 and if you don't hit it big, QUIT. If you win more than 25% STOP PLAYING and go home with your winnings.

The best thing you can do is take a coupon in for the buffet and start with the expensive items! Lamb, shrimp, crab cakes, steak or sushi (not rolls). LEAVE the salads and cheap jello desserts and go for the chocolate. Take a ziploc for snacks and splenda to extend your pleasure!

The drinks?  Well, they have automated pourers, so the bartenders can't make it stronger for you, so find a deal on beers, at least you know what you are getting.

Avoid the fancy restaurants because a steak is: $38 for a 7 oz filet and a breast of chicken is $32 at the great oak. Shoot, a plate of SPAGHETTI is $13 and that's with NO SALAD at Paisano's.

Tip well, as the staff could be layed off at anytime, but STAY away from the machines. REMEMBER, Pechanga has cheated their own people to make their share of the pie much larger. So you know that:

IF THEY CHEAT THEIR OWN, THEY'LL CHEAT YOU

Like in the movie War Games, the answer is:

The only way to win is NOT TO PLAY

After Lying to Congress to Acquire Land, Pechanga opens $200 per round JOURNEY Golf Course

The new JOURNEY at Pechanga is open for play.

Golfers, PLEASE don't take too deep a divot, as our ancestors are buried there. Pechanga lied to get the land into trust as we reported HERE and now, for $200 you can play over the bodies and history of the Pechanga Temecula people.

A LIE is as good as the truth, if you can get someone to believe it. According to a Macarro: Once the land is placed in trust, a tribe has complete zoning and planning authority over it and can change land uses...

Meaning: It's not a lie, we just changed our minds.

Quechans Say Their President Breaking Tribal Law

Sunlight is the best disinfectant.

Former Quechan tribal councilmen and current tribe members say tribal President Mike Jackson is denying access to public documentation on a proposed new casino.
They say repeated requests for public information meetings have been ignored by Jackson and the current council. Tribal elders Preston Arrow-Weed, Priscilla Prettybird and Vernon Smith and tribal members Valerie Jose-O'Brien and Yolanda Escalanti say Jackson and the council have disallowed viewing of financial documents linked to the bonds and financing for a proposed casino resort off Interstate 8 and Algodones Road.
Under tribal law, they say, any financial transactions or dealings must be documented and available to tribal members during normal business hours Monday through Friday

Story HERE

The American Indian Rights and Resources Organization Works to Enforce the Government's Trust Responsibility

AIRRO is always looking to expand their membership. Please consider joining, to help defend the civil rights of the Individual Indian. Many tribes like the Cherokee, Pechanga, Picayune and Redding are stripping citizens of their basic civil and human rights. Help raise the volume by joining.

The American Indian Rights and Resources Organization was founded to educate and assist all individuals regarding basic human and civil rights issues throughout Indian Country.

AIRRO recognizes that there is a growing trend within Indian Country where many individual Indians and non-Indians alike are being denied or stripped of basic human and civil rights afforded to all United States citizens. As such, AIRRO’s goals are to educate the public about these injustices and effect change to provide all individuals with equal rights and protections .

AIRRO will serve as a resource for those seeking information or assistance regarding the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 and other laws which impact the human rights and civil liberties of Indians and non-Indian individuals.

AIRRO will work to assist individuals in order to protect, promote, and preserve the basic human rights and civil liberties of the individual as those rights are enumerated in applicable federal, state, tribal and international laws.

AIRRO will also work to enforce the U.S. Government's trust responsibility to the Indian individual and show that this trust responsibility is equally as important as the government-to-government relationship between Indian Tribes and the federal government.

AIRRO believes that victims whose human rights and/or civil liberties have been violated should be allowed to confront their oppressor in a fair, just, and unbiased forum.

AIRRO condemns any acts which violate the human rights and civil liberties of any person or persons, especially when the perpetrators claim immunity from prosecution based on their status as “tribal officials“.

You do not need to be an American Indian in order to be an AIRRO member. Membership in AIRRO is open to all who support the belief that basic human rights and civil liberties should be afforded to all people.

If you believe in equal rights and equal protection for all, we would love to have you as a member of AIRRO.

Please download and fill out the AIRRO Membership Application available here or contact AIRRO at mail@airro.org.

San Manuel Donates $1 Million to Havasupai Tribe

To help offset the devastation caused by flooding in the Grand Canyon, the San Manuel Band is donating $1 million to help the Havasupai tribe regain its footing.

Story HERE

Three Months after MONGOLS Gang Planned Rally At Pechanga; RAIDED

UPDATE: A federal judge in Los Angeles has barred the Mongols motorcycle gang from wearing or distributing its trademarked logo after authorities arrested dozens of its members in six states.
U.S. District Court Judge Florence-Marie Cooper granted an injunction requested by prosecutors Wednesday that prohibits gang members, their family members and associates from wearing, licensing, selling or distributing the logo.

In a story we wrote about HERE, the Mongols were going to use Pechanga Casino as a rally point, having some friends there.

Yesterday they were raided by ATF and other Feds:

More than 1,000 heavily armed federal agents and local police fanned out across Southern California and cities in five other states early this morning, arresting dozens of members of the notorious Mongols motorcycle gang on federal racketeering charges.But the most lasting blow to the San Gabriel Valley-based bikers may be down the road: In an unusual maneuver, the feds are also seeking to seize control of the Mongols' trademarked name, which is typically accompanied by its cherished insignia -- a ponytailed Genghis Khan-like figure riding a chopper.

Welcome to those who are looking for NEWS on the raid of the MONGOLS Motorcycle Gang