CORRUPTION AND ABUSE OF POWER ARE UNDERMINING TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY IT MUST STOP

 My young friend Cam Foreman, disenrolled from the Redding Rancheria along with 70 of his family,  had this statement to me and twitter today:

External attacks on tribal sovereignty get more attention, while the abuse of power by tribal governments, including the denial of treaty and constitutional rights, risks the sovereignty of indigenous people

Corruption and abuse of power can undermine tribal sovereignty in several ways. First, they can erode the trust and confidence of tribal members in their own government, which is essential for a sovereign nation to function effectively. When tribal leaders abuse their power, it can create a sense of disillusionment and disconnection among tribal members, who may feel that their voices and concerns are not being heard or addressed.

Second, corruption and abuse of power can lead to a breakdown in the governance of the community. When leaders prioritize their own interests over the needs of the community, it can result in a lack of accountability, like at Pechanga with their two large family disenrollments, transparency, and effectiveness in decision-making.

This can ultimately weaken the ability of the tribal government to fulfill its responsibilities and provide for the well-being of its members.

Corruption and abuse of power can also result in the loss of resources and lands that are critical to the sovereignty of indigenous communities. When tribal leaders misuse funds or engage in fraudulent activities, it can lead to the loss of important resources that could be used to support the community.   Similarly, when tribal lands are sold or leased without the consent of the community or in violation of treaty obligations, it can undermine the sovereignty of the tribe and threaten their ability to maintain their cultural practices and way of life.   WE MUST DEMAND accountability

Addressing these issues is essential for ensuring that our indigenous communities can exercise their inherent right to self-determination and thrive as sovereign nations.

HOLLYWOOD "Pretendian" HEATHER RAE EXPOSED Joins LONG LIST of FAKES

 “Heather Rae is not a citizen of the Cherokee Nation,” Scott said in the statement. “She has no affiliation with Cherokee Nation Film Office and was not included in any funding it provided to ‘Fancy Dance.'”  

The Cherokee Nation couldn't moondance away from Heather Rae fast enough.

She joins a LONG list of FAKES, in both Hollywood and Academia and politics with Elizabeth Warren (D).

Cherokee genealogist and tribal advocate David Cornsilk clears up the misconception on Cherokee identification

The estimable ACEE AGOYO of INDIANZ has the full story here

Rae, however, has claimed to be Cherokee since the early days of her decades-long career, one in which she has emerged as a key player in the film and television industry, where American Indian and Alaska Native voices are all but invisible. When asked 17 years ago about being “part Native American,” she had a quick answer.

“What tribe?” the host of the Idaho Public Television show inquired in March 2006.

“Cherokee,” said Rae, who was raised in Idaho and who nodded repeatedly when asked about her heritage.

While asserting to be Cherokee, Rae has centered herself as a creator of Native stories, the kind that rarely get told in Hollywood. She ran the “Indigenous” program at the Sundance Institute, which organizes the largest independent film festival in the United States, before going on to write, direct and produce a series of projects with Native themes, including the Oscar-nominated Frozen River.

Indigenous Voices Demand an End to Tribal Disenrollment and Upholding Human Rights and Traditional Ways of Honor

Finally, new voices are joining the chorus against the action of disenrollment, which has harmed over 11,000 Native Americans in nearly 80 tribes.   Secretary Deb Haaland, Vice President Kamala Harris, CA Governor Gavin Newsom  Fawn Sharp, of the NCAI, not so much:

HOW MANY DOES IT HAVE TO HAPPEN TO, to BE WRONG?

HOW HARD IS IT TO SAY, PUBLICLY:
 
We condemn in the strongest possible terms any actions that violate the civil and human rights of Indigenous people, including stripping them of their citizenship and stealing their rightful per capita payments. These actions are not only unethical, but they also violate the fundamental principles of Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.

We stand in solidarity with those who have been affected by these actions and call for justice, healing, and reconciliation for all Indigenous people. It is our hope that all tribes will work towards solutions that prioritize the values of Indigenous communities, including cultural identity, sovereignty, and community membership, and ensure that the rights and well-being of their people are protected and respected.

We call on policymakers, advocacy groups, and all stakeholders to engage in discussions and work together to address this issue in a way that is respectful of Indigenous sovereignty and human rights. Together, we can work towards a future where all Indigenous people are able to live with dignity, respect, and justice.

Fawn Sharp, Secretary Deb Haaland, Vice President Kamala Harris, CA Governor Gavin Newsom    WE EXPECT BETTER OF YOU

Until the leaders of tribes across the country step up and acknowledge the horrific damage that is occurring in Indian country, the genocide of our elders and future generations will continue unabated. This is not a problem that should be swept under the rug or ignored, as it strikes at the very heart of what it means to be human.

Native Advocacy Groups' Failure to Address Disenrollment Amounts to Complicity in the Destruction of Indigenous Communities. NCAI, NARF, ACLU ALL ABJECT FAILURES on Disenrollment

                      

It is understandable that not everyone is fully informed or consumed by the issue of tribal disenrollment in Native American communities. It is a completely different matter when individuals attempt to virtue signal by pretending to be concerned without taking any meaningful action to address the issue.

To feign concern and do nothing to combat the injustice of disenrollment is to be complicit in the harm that is being caused to indigenous communities. It is a dereliction of our moral duty to stand up for what is right and to speak out against injustice, no matter how far removed we may be from the issue at hand.

While it is certainly commendable to acknowledge the issue of disenrollment and express concern, it is imperative that we take meaningful action to combat this shameful practice.

Makes you wonder WHAT is bad enough to get our so-called NATIVE ADVOCATES involved?  THIS isn't enough?

•Stripped tribal members of their citizenship

•Denied voting rights to members

•Taken away rightful healthcare to seniors

•Blocked access to land on the reservation

•Denied members due process of law, including legal representation, even writing tools.

•Prohibition of practicing religion, including the right to pray at their ancestor's graves.

•Threatened others if they speak out

•Subjected some to ex post facto laws.

  

We must keep educating ourselves and others on the issue, advocating for policy changes, and supporting the disenfranchised members of these communities.  Sitting on the sidelines simply will not work.  We must work to support the elders, children and honor our ancestors.

We must move beyond mere performative gestures and take concrete steps to support the indigenous communities that are being torn apart by this egregious practice. 

Failure to act is not only a reflection of our own moral character but also a continuation of the long-standing injustices that have plagued Native American communities for generations.  

TRIBAL LEADERS ACCUSED OF VIOLATING TRIBAL, CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGH DISENROLLMENT, CAUSING IRREPARABLE HARM TO NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES

 It is a travesty that there are still individuals and groups within Native American tribes who continue to horrifically violate the tribal, civil, and human rights of their own people.

These chieftains and councils that shamelessly engage in practices such as disenrollment, disenfranchisement, moratoriums and dismemberment, tearing apart the very fabric of their communities. They shame the ancestors to which they profess to hold dear

It is simply unacceptable that these individuals and groups work towards furthering the nonrecognition of other indigenous people and tribes, perpetuating the very same colonialist tactics that haveoppressed Native American communities for centuries. Such behavior is not only reprehensible, but it is also deeply concerning and must be addressed with urgency by our federal government.

Equally unacceptable is the lack of significant coverage of this issue by native media.   11,000 victims isn't enough?

We cannot allow the continued oppression and marginalization of Native American communities to go unchallenged.
Those who engage in these practices must be held accountable for their actions and called out for the harm they have caused to their own people. We can do that by exposing these shameful practices to the media, our policians and the tribal casino going public.

We must stand in solidarity with those who have been disenfranchised, dismembered, and disowned, and work together to fight against these injustices. 

It is time for a new era of accountability and justice in Native American communities, where the rights and dignity of all individuals are respected and protected.  And we are NOT here to keep shameful "family secrets" of disenrollment and abuse.

Heed the words of GERONIMO:    "If an Apache had allowed his aged parents to suffer for food or shelter, if he had neglected or abused the sick, if he had profaned our religion, or had been unfaithful, he might be banished from the tribe."  

INSTEAD, politicians like Gavin Newson and Kamala Harris give tacit approval to these horrific acts.

Learn More on Disenrollment, Ethnic Cleansing in Indian Gaming Country at these Links:
Gaming Revenue Blamed for Disenrollment
Disenrollment is paper Genocide
CA Tribal Cleansing
Tribal terrorism
TRIBAL TERRORISM includes Banishment
Nooksack Disenrollment

Pechanga Resort & Casino BUFFET: Chairman's Corruption and Abuse IS RAW, INDIGESTIBLE and DAMAGING

 We aren't talking about the salad bar at Pechanga Resort & Casino. We aren't talking about HOW TO WIN at PECHANGA CASINO  We're talking about the abuses heaped on lineal descendants of Original Pechanga people by Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians Chairman and National Congress of American Indians' Vice President Mark Macarro.

Stories of ABUSE must be
shared, not kept like "family secrets"

Here's what's on the Pechanga Casino Tribe's Buffet of Corruption

Injustice

The Pechanga General Council, the final arbiter of the LAW at Pechanga voted to END all disenrollment.  Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro IGNORED the will of the people, acted OUTSIDE THE PECHANGA CONSTITUTION and disenrolled the Hunter descendants.  Threats to the remaining tribal members kept them in line and from speaking out.

Apartheid
As discussed in this linked article, YES, Pechanga practices apartheid and NO we aren't comparing the level to South Africa, but if you don't call them out on it, who is to say it won't get worse? It's still distasteful as it is.

Segregation

Tribal Disenrollment: A Betrayal of Native American Culture and Identity, It's An Attack on Human Rights

Tribal sovereignty should be nurtured and cherished, not dishonored by tribes who wield sovereignty like a club to abuse their own people

Tribal disenrollment revokes the citizenship or enrollment of their own members, effectively stripping us of our tribal identity and the rights and benefits that come with it. This practice is often used as a tool for political control, many times it happened just before tribal elections.  

Tribal disenrollment is morally repugnant. 

It's a violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to self-identification and the right to belong to a cultural community.

For many tribal members, their tribal identity is an integral part of their sense of self and their connection to their ancestors, traditions, and cultural heritage. Disenrollment can result in the loss of access to important cultural and spiritual practices, as well as financial and social support.

Pechanga Resort Casino Leads Top Ten Tribal Casinos to Avoid. Read WHY

These Ten TRIBAL Casinos are some we chose to STAY AWAY from and NOT spend our entertainment dollars there. In NO particular order, except for Pechanga because they are MY TRIBE and they cheated MY family and dishonored MY ancestors and our young people.  

MARK MACARRO
Pechanga Chairman NCAI VP
Serial Abuser of Tribal People  

There is much more detail at each of the links, please click through
PECHANGA RESORT & CASINO: Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians CA

In 2004, 130+ adult members and their immediate families were disenrolled from the Pechanga Band. The members were all descendants of Chief Pablo Apish, a historically significant leader of the Pechanga/Temecula people. None of the members were allowed to participate in the 2004 tribal elections as a result of their disenrollment.  Why? There family members found evidence of corruption on the enrollment committee, keeping rightful members out of the tribe

Chukchansi Tribe Reportedly Going After Their BLACK INDIANS For Disenrollment

Their is NO purity at the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians yet, the most egregious of the disenrolling tribes are at it again.  Sources are saying that the tribe will target their "Black Indians" next.  Can you put that disgraceful action out of Chukchansi's scope of actions?
 

Just when you thought the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians couldn't be ANY WORSE, they continue to surprise us.   

Who do their think they are?  The Cherokee, A tribe that disenrolled their black slave descendants, but have now restored those rights after a lengthy court battle, and now have welcomed ALL their rightful people home. The Creeks, who are still racially oppressing their Freedmen descendants,  and the other so called Five Civilized tribes?

California Indians have mixed with Europeans for CENTURIES.  Going after groups for being "unpure" is very ... Nazi-like.  There's no one way to look Indian/Native American. We come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Chukchansi disenrolled their last language speaker Ruby Roan Cordero , remember?

This is simply disgraceful.  Are you paying attention Gavin Newsom?  Maybe ANOTHER meeting at their casino?

Is Gavin Newsom Losing Control on California's Tribal Gaming Business? RINCON Goes FEDERAL on Oversight

 Interesting news on the tribal gaming front in California. The Rincon tribe has OPTED OUT of State Oversight according to this San Diego Union Tribune article.   Rincon was one of the first tribes to open a bingo hall in California, and Bo Mazzetti has been fighting for their right of sovereignty for decades.

Photo by 
          Ariana Drehsler / For The SD Union-Tribune

With California and the tribe unable to reach agreement in the years since, Mazzeti said Rincon entered into an interim arrangement known as a secretarial procedure that allowed it to operate its casino under federal approval instead of state approval.  Read Schwarzenegger is a political blackmailer

On Nov. 21, the state and tribe agreed the regulatory role would permanently shift to the NIGC and the tribe would no longer need to reimburse California for regulatory costs, a spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom said in an email. The agreement with the NIGC was signed Jan. 3, said a spokesperson with the federal agency.

Elizabeth L. Homer, a tribal gaming attorney in Washington D.C. and former NIGC vice chair, said that moving away from a state gaming compact can increase sovereignty and self-governance. In California, she said, tribal gaming compacts often include stipulations related to child support enforcement or environmental policies.

“Compacts are really only supposed to govern the conduct of Class III gaming and are not intended as a mechanism for the state to start pressing its policies onto tribal governments,” Homer said.

Although the tribe will no longer be under the state’s gaming regulation, that doesn’t mean there won’t be an abundance of regulatory oversight.

READ the rest at the links above and SHARE to social media

The Ethics of Tribal Disenrollment: There is NO Ethical Dilemma in Protecting the Rights of the Abused, As there is in Protecting the Rights of the ABUSER

Tribal gaming has helped many tribes in CA, come out of poverty. My tribe, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians(led by Mark Macarro )included . Many of the Pechanga people are uneducated and I remember they were so excited when per capita was such that they qualified for a Target credit card.  Unfortunately, the modest growth was not enough, greed soon follows.  

Instead of helping all their people, as promised when they campaigned for casino gaming, including those they placed in a membership moratorium hold, who rightfully belonged to the tribe, they looked at who they could get rid of to increase their per capita checks.   $5,000 a month wasn't enough, $10,000 per month not enough, $17,000 per month not enough, $22,000 per month STILL not enough.  Greed is the proper description.

Tribal disenrollment can raise a number of ethical concerns and violations, including:

Violation of Due Process: Tribal disenrollment can violate due process rights, which guarantee individuals the right to a fair and impartial hearing before being deprived of their tribal citizenship.

Lack of Transparency: Disenrollment processes can lack transparency and accountability, which can make it difficult for individuals to understand the reasons for their disenrollment and to challenge the decision.

Discrimination: Disenrollment can be used to target individuals and families based on their political views, their ethnicity, or other factors. This can be a violation of civil rights and can create a climate of fear and hostility within tribal communities.

Denial of Cultural Heritage: Disenrollment can result in the loss of cultural heritage and identity for individuals and their families. This can be especially harmful for individuals who have invested significant time and resources in learning about their cultural heritage and maintaining their connections to their tribal community.

Elder Abuse: Disenrollment can disproportionately affect elderly individuals, who may be less able to defend themselves against allegations of wrongdoing or to navigate complex legal processes.

But the facts are clear, while most tribes have not treated their people as abominably as the Pechanga, Redding Rancheria, Picayune Rancheria, Pala and others have treated their people. In fact it's more like Tribal Terrorism, using fear and threat to keep their voting membership in line.  Remember, too, the fewer voters, the easier it is to control the general population.

Share this blog with your friends and family using the buttons below

Justice for Native Americans: Restore Them to Their Rightful Place and End Disenrollment! RIGHT THE WRONGS

Disenrollment is an egregious violation of Native Americans' basic human rights and cultural heritage.  Silence on the issue is tacit approval


The practice of tribal disenrollment is a clear and blatant violation of Native Americans' basic human rights and cultural heritage. This abhorrent practice has been carried out by some tribal leaders who use it as a tool to consolidate their own power and silence those who dare to speak out against their policies.  Many times it has happened just prior to tribal elections.

Native American Hall of Shame 
ONE    TWO  THREE

It is time for those responsible for disenrollment to be held accountable for their actions. Tribal leaders who engage in this practice must be called out and held responsible for their violations of human rights and cultural heritage.

The very idea of disenrollment is an affront to the values of justice and equality that our country holds dear. By stripping tribal members of their identity and denying them access to vital resources and benefits, tribal leaders are essentially robbing them of their basic human rights.

This is not only morally repugnant but also a clear violation of international human rights standards.

Disenrollment is a direct attack on Native American culture and heritage. For centuries, Native Americans have fought to preserve their identity and traditions in the face of oppression and forced assimilation. By denying tribal members their rightful place within their own communities, tribal leaders are effectively erasing centuries of cultural history and identity.

Despite the clear and undeniable harm caused by disenrollment, some tribal leaders continue to carry out this practice with impunity. They ignore calls for transparency and due process, using their power to intimidate and threaten those who stand up for what is right.

It is time for those responsible for disenrollment to be held accountable for their actions. Tribal leaders who engage in this practice must be called out and held responsible for their violations of human rights and cultural heritage. The federal government must step in to provide the necessary support and oversight to ensure that the rights of all Native Americans are protected.

Red Fox Casino Announces Closing. Cahto Tribe of Laytonville Rancheria

 The Cahto Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria announces closure of the Red Fox Casino afire 20 years

We had removed this casino from our Top Ten to avoid after we heard they were bringing back the disenrolled Sloan family. Still waiting on tribal confirmation.   Let’s hope that karma follows their new business venture.

Nooksack Elders Win EVICTION STAY in Tribal Court Pending Appeal To Supreme Court

Aunt Ollie Oshiro

 Temporary good news on NOOKSACK 306 elders, as reported by noted Native American rights attorney Gabriel Galanda:

Prayers answered. These two Nooksack Elders were able to trigger an eviction stay in tribal court, pending appeal. They and their loved ones remain safe for now. But with the Nooksack tribal council serving as "supreme court," their evictions still appear inevitable. This situation remains a blight upon all Native nations.

This keeps the elder's eviction on hold, but the stated goal of the Nooksack Tribe is to get them out.  The HIGH COURT, will rubber stamp the eviction.

 This belies the statement in their recent newsletter:    

"Many Native peoples have the teaching that we are all related, our clans and kinship systems show us how we are connected to each other. 

Yeah, right..