Today the Choctaw Nation is announcing the launch of an initiative to consider tribal membership for Choctaw Freedmen. Changing the tribal membership requirements will require a Constitutional amendment, which will require a vote from tribal members. To be successful, we'll have to tell the story of why we believe this is necessary and listen to tribal members' input. This initiative will engage Choctaw Freedmen, the Department of Interior, existing tribal members, our elected officials and membership department officials, and other Choctaw proud in listening sessions to present findings and a recommendation to Choctaw elected officials.
My young cousin, Cassie Whitten, who still resides on our family’s allotment on the Pechanga reservation in Temecula CA, gives her perspective on reconnecting with her heritage and her native spirit. So many of us who are older like me, feel the sting and injustice differently.
Cassie suffered trauma after our disenrollment, after Pechanga chairman Mark Macarro sent his jackbooted tribal rangers to physically remove Cassie and her other young cousins from the tribal school. PLEASE READ HER EXPERIENCE detailed here.
We know you have been outspoken about civil rights issues in the Black Lives Matter v. Police issue as well as voting issues in Georgia . We ask that you stand up for over 11,000 LIVING Native Americans who have had their civil and human rights violated by tribal disenrollment.
Excellent news on the tribal disenrollment reversal front. Noted indigenous attorney Gabriel Galanda has reported success in getting two disenrollment cases overturned
Gabe reports: Yesterday I helped this Snoqualmie father fight for his daughter's existence. Her mother, who is non-Indigenous, was not allowed to do so, at least publicly. After she was accepted for enrollment by the Snoqualmie General Council, and welcomed home, he wept. It was beautiful.
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| Snoqualmie Tribe |
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| Gabe Galanda |
HAPPY MOTHER'S Day to all our friends and relations. We remind one and all that OUR MOHTER'S, GrandMOTHER'S, Great GrandMOTHER'S and our ancestor mothers have been defamed, dishonored and abused by tribal disenrollment
This was a concert for first responders, held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. Sponsored by a Tribe that stripped citizenship from 25% of their people, many who live under segregation.
Harry telling the crowd, "None of us should be comfortable with thinking that we can be fine when so many others are suffering." (Or living under apartheid and elders abused with children stripped of the heritage)
"In reality, and especially with this pandemic, when any suffer, we all suffer," he exclaimed. "We must look beyond ourselves with empathy and compassion for those we know, and those we don't. We need to lift up all of humanity, and make sure that no person or community is left behind." (11,000 Native Americans suffer from Disenrollment)
SipFi Stadium
While this purchase may come as a surprise to many, San Manuel did a pretty good job of telegraphing their intention to get into the Las Vegas market.The tribe has advertised extensively in Las Vegas, including on the digital billboards at T-Mobile during Vegas Golden Knights games.
IF you are a Las Vegas fan and really, who isn't you should follow @vitalvegas on twitter, I have for yearts.
Native Americans had NO CULTURE, says CNN analyst RICK SANDTORUM. What a fucking moron. He should be beaten with a Lacrosse stick. Here's the text and you can find the video here
Our culture was wiped out, by his ancestors. OUR right to practices OUR religion, OUR beliefs was wiped out by Europeans and replaced by HIS ancestors.
YES, he has freedom of speech and YES he should be fired for his racist comments. Who would want to walk a mile in his moccasins right now? CNN the ball is in your court. Send him to be with no fry bread.
Sad news from the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians reservation near Temecula, CA.
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| Patrick Murphy Jr. |
It is with profound sadness that we inform you that Patrick Murphy, Jr., PDC Board Member and former Vice Chairman and Secretary of TASIN, passed away yesterday afternoon. Patrick has served as an elected official since 1992, and served on the TASIN Executive Board from 2002 to 2010. Patrick was instrumental in the development and construction of Pechanga Resort Casino and related economic developments.
Patrick’s contribution to protecting tribal sovereignty and the advancement of tribal gaming extends beyond Pechanga. As a tribal leader, he helped to pass laws that authorized tribal gaming in California and built relationships with local communities that have resulted in improved infrastructure, additional public safety, and funding for local schools. Patrick's generous heart extended beyond Pechanga; he cared deeply about the wellbeing of our community and lifting up those in need through support for several nonprofits in our region.
Patrick is survived by his wife, Irene Murphy, his daughter Natasha Mendoza, his sons Michael Murphy and Patrick “PJ” Murphy, along with his two grandchildren Nikiilish and Eric Mendoza.
May his family find peace.
I have been experiencing so much turmoil in my life (all good) that I missed this news piece on Julie Bogany passing. The Los Angeles times has a great article on this. Here is a statement from the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians
Educator, Loving Mother, Language Keeper
James praised the move and said he was "proud to call myself a part of the MLB family today." The Los Angeles Lakers star often speaks out on domestic issues but has been reticent to comment on repression in China, where the NBA has a significant business interest.
He doesn’t rock the boat on one of the Laker’ sponsors The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians in Temecula, CA EITHER.
PECHANGA has stripped voting rights, made tribal ID’sworthless, practices APARTHEID and the self titled KING JAMES is okatwith those abuses. Be consistent Mr.James. Look into all the issues if you want people to take you seriously.
Finally! After 17 years!
The Pechanga Tribal Council, led by Marl Macarro will restore citizenship to 435 surviving members of their 2004 and 2006 disenrollment purge of legitimate tribal members by adoptees and frauds.
“We finally realized that in order to be grouped with the major tribes, we had to do the honorable thing” said one council member who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Disenrollment was wrong, we knew it, but stealing that per capita felt so right”
The Pechanga Council’s position was that enough disenrolled elders have died, to save on healthcare costs. And hey, after stealing over $3 MILLION from those they kicked out in violation of the tribe’s wishes, the council’s wallets were getting weighed down leading to back problems.
When asked how the tribe would finance the reparations, they would only say, “the crime family will be gone”. Cryptic, but, they are known to the tribal community.
APRIL FOOLS! The Pechanga Council will only do the honorable thing when public shaming gets strong enough. That will happen when more who were affected get off the sidelines.
While tribal leaders and the Indian Health Service have been hailed for successfully rolling out COVID vaccines across the country, Osborne-Sampson is one of six Freedmen who told BuzzFeed News that the Seminole Nation has denied them vaccines, health services, and COVID financial relief based on the ancestry listed on their tribal ID cards. Freedmen make up roughly one-eighth of the Seminole Nation’s nearly 20,000 citizens and are counted in the tribal census — which the federal government used to allocate over $16 million in CARES Act funds to the tribe.
The distinction between a “Native American” and a “Freedman” relies on what Freedmen call a racist and outdated ideology of “citizenship by blood.” All Seminole Freedmen receive tribal ID cards that read “Freedman citizen, 0/0 Indian blood” on the front and “Voting benefits only” on the back. Other tribal citizens receive cards that list their blood quantum (their fraction of “Indian blood”) with no restrictions. Documents reviewed by BuzzFeed News show that the Seminole tribe has used these ID cards to deny Freedmen access to COVID health and financial services.
