Original Pechanga's Blog

Unelected Chukchansi Council Members Using Sovereignty as Weapon to Oust 200 Tribal Members

2012-01-31T09:06:00.000-08:00

Two former council members of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians have signed disenrollment letters to nearly 200 Chukchansi people. The questions include: HOW do these two people have ANY authority in this matter. And WHY wouldn't the BIA step in to halt this abuse of sovereignty?

AND they were signed by only two Picayune tribal council members--the recently ousted Reggie Lewis, Chair, and Jennifer Stanley, Secretary.

Even without the dispute of who actually comprises the "true"
tribal council, the aforementioned letter violates Picayune's own enrollment policy, which states that it takes a 2/3 vote by tribal council for anyone's disenrollment at Picayune.

This should make any action of disenrollment null and void.

After Stealing $350 MILLION from Its People, Pechanga Will Pay Out $100,000 in Slot Tournament attempt to set record

2012-01-27T11:02:00.000-08:00

Interesting PR piece. The largest slot tournament with a payout of $100K total. Yet not getting news, is the fact that Pechanga has pulled off one of the largest thefts in California's Indian Gaming Country: http://www.originalpechanga.com/2011/09/follow-money-per-capita-theft-by-tribal.html Over $350 MILLION has been stolen by the tribe, from rightful members who have had their tribal citizenship stripped. That doesn't include what they've kept from rightful members via an unconstitutional moratorium.

The violations of civil and basic human righs is staggering, as a tribe that practices APARTHEID: http://www.originalpechanga.com/2010/09/does-mark-macarros-tribal-council.html is not called out on it by civil rights groups such as the NAACP and ACLU.

I think that the people of CA should make this attempt a failure. Do not stand with civil rights abusers.

Read puff piece on tourney here

Gambling Addicts Aren't Smoking Addicts: SECOND HAND SMOKE IN TRIBAL CASINOS A Danger

2012-01-25T17:23:00.000-08:00

Many commenters have complained about the smoke in casinos. Pechanga claims to have one of the most advanced air cleaners, but isn't it like having a NO PEEING section in the swimming pool?

Is second hand smoke only dangerous at non-tribal business entities?

San Diego Reader has the full article

Some casinos, such as Pechanga, boast about their air-circulation/ventilation systems. “Ventilation systems may improve odor, but do not remove the serious health risks caused by secondhand smoke exposure,” says Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights. “Casino workers even in a ‘well-ventilated’ casino have [metabolized nicotine] levels 300 percent to 600 percent higher than employees in other smoking workplaces during a work shift.”

Is the Snoqualmie Tribal Council as Inept As The Obama Administration, or Just Corrupt

2012-01-24T16:15:00.000-08:00

The BIA came looking to our blog yesterday, for information on the Snoqualmie Tribe's enrollment audit. It piqued my interest, so I asked my friend from Snoqualmie what it could be about, and here's that response:

Yes - our "illegal" tribal council is conducting their own enrollment audit. Our constitution calls for an annual meeting and elections every May. This last May they refused to hold the meeting and the elections because they said they had to do an "enrollment audit".

Of course, they will be the only ones to see the result and everyone is just expecting to get a form letter saying they have 30 days to contest each individual results - you will have to make an appointment, which everyone knows will be difficult to get.

It's just another way for those in power to stay in power another year or longer without elections - most of our council's terms have expired but the non-tribal administrator and their attorney's want to keep this "puppet" government in place for their own benefit - purely exploitation and fraud!

Isn't it interesting how the BIA is good at getting rid of Indians, but not at controlling the corruption?

We have links on the right sidebar that tells the Snoqualmie Story >>>

Indian Tribes Betting BIG on Jerry Brown to RAISE OUR TAXES. How about they pay their "fair share"? Those living on the Reservation pay NO STATE TAXES.

2012-01-23T15:29:00.000-08:00

Remember when the tribes tried to keep Californians from voting?

Now, many tribes are behind Jerry Brown's plan to RAISE OUR TAXES. It's not enough that so many are out of work, or that many of the tribes have take our per capita from us to the tune of $500 billion.

KNBC has the story:

Gov. Jerry Brown's campaign workers have been on the streets less than a week, gathering signatures to qualify his temporary tax proposal for the November ballot.

But already, it's apparent that some California gaming tribes are placing a big bet on Brown's plans.

They are among a handful of deep-pocket donors that, collectively, have contributed more than $1.4 million to the governor's ballot committee in recent weeks.

Data available on-line from Secretary of State Debra Bowen show that, at this early stage, the tribes are kicking in some serious cash.

The list of large contributors includes the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, who kicked in $100,000. The San Pablo Band also contributed $100,000.

The Morongo Band of Indians, which operates a big casino near Palm Springs, wrote a check for $25,000. And the California Tribal Business Alliance, which represents several tribes that operate casinos, gave $75,000.

Read MORE

The Redding Rancheria's ANNIVERSARY of SHAME: Foreman family on 8 years of Termination

2012-01-22T17:43:00.000-08:00

Much of the latest news on disenrollment focuses on the despicable Picayune Rancheria, but this month marks the eight year of terminations for the Foreman family. We have detailed their story before, but Carla Foreman Maslin shares her story with us. You can look in on their family website the fine TribalCorruption.com, which has a lot of stories about the shameful acts on Indian people, perpetrated BY Indians

From Carla:

I remember this month as every year it comes to haunt me. This month January 2004 is when my family's tribe, the Redding Rancheria, unjustly dis-enrolled my whole family.

We are true lineal descendants thru my great grandmother Virginia "Lela" Ortis-Timmons. As Martin Luther King Day recognizes civil rights, I can't help but think of my sister Debbie during this time.

She was fired by the Redding ...Rancheria as she was the last "Foreman" family member standing in her job. They have been trying to get her out for some time. Debbie worked for the Indian Health Service for almost 40 years. She started as a young single mother & stayed working for the Native American community long before the Redding Rancheria got it's tribal status. She is a California Pit River Indian on her Father's side. She was very dedicated to the people & watched many of the patients grow from babies to adults.

Debbie's rights as a tribal member was violated along with her family in 2004, and now her rights are violated as an employee & to think she was voted "Employee of the Year" just prior to her tribal dis-enrollment. Debbie went to work with her head up everyday under the tyranny. A place that is supposed to be healthy for the employees & patients is now an unhealthy place & to think it is funded by federal dollars.

I find that when a Health Director who was hired to do the dirty work & has a past of embezzelment, sexual harrassment, lying & cheating, it will all become even more unhealthy for the patients. I never thought that I would be so ashamed of my tribe. Debbie & I served on the tribal council as we were voted in for many terms & we always wanted things to be done right with moral & ethical values for the people. I love my sister & many patients are upset about this injustice.

Prayers to my sister & may the Creator make her a stronger woman & bless her for standing strong in the face of the evil injustice & betrayal.

Read More about the Foreman family HERE and follow the links

Woman Convicted of Stealing Pechanga Casino Prize WInnings Pleads Guilty

2012-01-20T07:56:00.000-08:00

You can't even enjoy winning at Pechanga, when thieves are around. If the security guards don’t beat you down, or get carjacked by a tribal member, the scammers come after you.

A woman who stole a Pechanga casino jackpot winner's prize money by convincing the victim she could invest it for an easy profit, in what turned out to be a scam, pleaded guilty today to grand theft and was immediately sentenced to three years probation.

Josefina Tuyet Nguyen, 40, of Westminster could have faced four years in prison had a jury convicted her of the single felony count.

Under a plea deal with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Nguyen dodged jail time in return for agreeing to make full restitution to the victim. Deputy District Attorney Paul Svitenko said the plea agreement was not expected, and the defense made the offer.

Superior Court Judge Elaine Johnson ordered the Department of Probation to conduct an analysis of the defendant's finances to determine her ability to repay the money and over what period of time.

According to sheriff's officials, Nguyen was present last March when a 43-year-old Temecula woman gambling at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula won $50,000.

Nguyen approached the victim, whose identity was not released, and began spinning a yarn about how the woman could make $20,000 to $30,000 in a few months by backing an exporting venture, said Sgt. Patrick Chavez.

The defendant and victim became well-acquainted, he said, and the latter was eventually persuaded to provide Nguyen with $40,000 of her winnings for the enterprise, which purportedly involved shipping electronics to Vietnam.

Unelected Chukchansi Tribal Council Members BANISH Elected Officials

2012-01-19T14:01:00.000-08:00

Carmen George of the Sierra Star News has another good article on the latest in the shameful saga of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians

We have posted articles from Carmen: Chukchansi Disenrollments Confirmed… and Chukchansi Issues Termiantion Letters…

In her latest article, karma has come back to strike at some elected tribal officials, who were fine with OTHER members being disenrolled. But now, they cry foul when they are BANISHED.

Following an election last month that ousted Chukchansi tribal council chairman Reggie Lewis and treasurer Chance Alberta, letters signed by Lewis have been sent to winners of the election stating they are to be stripped of all tribal benefits and services for 10 years, excluded from all Chukchansi meetings for five years and forced to pay restitution and expenses associated with the disruption of a tribal meeting Dec. 26.

At least 16 letters are believed to have been sent out, said Morris Reid, the newly-reelected chairman who also received one of the banishment letters.

The letters state members violated an "anti-violence" ordinance by disrupting the Dec. 26 tribal council meeting.

Opposition arose from many tribal members at the meeting when they were told the council they elected would not be allowed to take their seats Dec. 26 as scheduled. An announcement was made that a new February election was scheduled for one of the four seats after an appeal against a winner was filed. Until that time, the existing council would continue to serve, Lewis said

It seems the POLICE believe there was no violence:

Madera County Sheriff's Department deputies were present at the Dec. 26 meeting to ensure the peace was kept. Erica Stuart, department spokesperson, said there was no violence at the meeting that would have warranted detaining anyone. Only one official complaint was filed with the department regarding pushing and shoving, Stuart said.

The BIA admits it's ineffective and unnecessary:

"BIA is more or less an administrative body in dealing with contracting programs for these things that have to come through us for review and approval, but they are minimal," said Troy Burdick, superintendent of Central California Bureau of Indian Affairs in a previous story. "Most of the tribe's handle their own affairs pretty much on their own

Read the full article at the Sierra Star News

Less Than Two Weeks Remaining For Open Enrollment to Pechanga Tribe: Get your applications in NOW

2012-01-19T08:02:00.001-08:00

Open Enrollment to the Pechanga Tribe, according to their constitution, is in January. Call for Application. If they tell you there is a moratorium, simply ask them how that could be with the constitution saying open enrollment. The Pechanga Tribal Council has ruled that the people can't overrule the constitution on membership issues, therefore, the moratorium would be illegal.

The Pechanga Bylaws and Constitution provide for OPEN ENROLLMENT each January, despite their claims that their is a moratorium. If you believe you belong in the tribe, you should request an application. If the tribe believes in their guiding constitution, you should rightfully be enrolled if you can prove your bloodlines

The address from the Pechanga website for contacting their Tribal Government is:
Pechanga Enrollment Committee
PO BOX 1477
Temecula, CA 92593

(951)770-6000
fax: (951) 695-1778

Fresno Bee Editorial: North Fork Casino Shopping Plans Should Be Stopped

2012-01-18T15:45:00.000-08:00

The Fresno Bee gets it right

The North Fork tribe and Stations Casinos of Las Vegas want to build a 200-room hotel and casino on 305 acres at Avenue 17 and Highway 99. It would include 2,500 slot machines, and other gambling options.

Attempting to build a casino on a major California freeway is nothing more than reservation shopping by the tribe and its Las Vegas sponsors.
They correctly believe that it would be a lucrative location because of the freeway access throughout the San Joaquin Valley. But the amount of gambling revenue generated shouldn't be a consideration.
If this casino site is approved, other tribes will be given an incentive to go reservation shopping in populous areas of the state. That was never intended by California voters when they approved measures more than a decade ago to expand Indian gaming in the state.
The North Fork tribe could remedy this situation by seeking land in a rural area closer to its traditional homeland. The proposed site on Highway 99 is 38 miles from North Fork.
Gov. Brown should move quickly to oppose the Highway 99 proposal. It's time to end this unwise plan to expand Indian gambling.

Read the full editorial

Larry Echohawk Complies with Judges Order to Reinstate San Pascual Disenrolled, But Places Their Per Capita in Escrow

2012-01-17T17:44:00.000-08:00

Larry Echohawk apparently is able to screw those San Pascual members, under guise of following the IGRA (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act) saying in his 3 page order that paying per capita, while their fate is still uncertain is a violation of the IGRA.

Larry Echohawks Order can be read here

They are all still tribal members except they won't get paid. Nice Larry.

In an era where Pechanga Tribe created homeless, Agua Caliente helps the homeless

2012-01-15T22:38:00.000-08:00

Pechanga, well known for stealing benefits and per capita from 25% of their tribe, leaving some to lose their homes, gets schooled by Agua Caliente on how to treat people.

Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage has donated $17,000 worth of clothing to Martha's Village & Kitchen, a charity geared toward helping the homeless get back on their feet.

The garments that will be donated are resort uniforms that include male and female suits, blouses, shirts, ties, and work pants in colors and styles that are either not used by Agua Caliente any longer or were discontinued by its vendors.

Lorena Landeros, manager of Agua Caliente's wardrobe department, spearheaded the clothing donation.
Landeros also volunteers at Martha's Village and says she's seen firsthand what a difference these types of donations can make

Santa Ysabel Order to Pay San Diego County $3 million after reneging on their agreement

2012-01-15T22:36:00.000-08:00

Edward Sifuentes of the North County Times has the story

A North County tribe was ordered last month to pay the county $3 million for failing to make payments for public safety and other services under an agreement signed in 2005, according to court documents.

The Santa Ysabel Band of Mission Indians struck the agreement with San Diego County in January 2005 as a condition of the tribe's gambling deal with the state.

The money was supposed to help pay for the off-reservation effects of the casino, including additional law enforcement, emergency and fire services.

The payments were also supposed to help pay for gambling addiction programs and the prosecution of casino-related crimes.

Santa Ysabel Casino opened in April 2007 but apparently failed to generate the kind of revenue the tribe anticipated. OP: Apparently means that the books are not open and the tribe self-audits

According to the county, the tribe never made any payments, about $600,000 a year.

After nearly three years of missed payments, the county asked for arbitration negotiations in January 2010, according to court documents.

Attorneys for the tribe did not dispute that Santa Ysabel owed the county money, but they said it owed less, according to court documents

OP: Well, at least we didn't hear about sovereignty being used to justify non payment....yet. The tribe also qualified for $1.1 million PER YEAR in payments from larger tribes. That should have been used to pay for services.

Chukchansi Indians FIGHT to Control Tribe: Two Faction, One, the Elected Winners, Other Wants to Steal Power

2012-01-14T20:47:00.000-08:00

Marc Benjamincontinues his fine reporting of the Chukchansi tribal election debacle and the ineffectiveness of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Two groups claim to be in charge of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indianstribal council. One holds meetings in a private banquet room on the top floor of the Chukchansi Gold Casino, self-exiled from the tribal council building. The other has been meeting 12 miles away in an Oakhurst community hall, trying to figure out how to take control of the tribal government.
The distance between their meetings is symbolic of the wide gulf separating the two sides after a contested election last month.
The key issue dividing them: disenrollments based on bloodlines. The group meeting in the casino favors disenrollment, while the Oakhurst group opposes it.
OP: A correction, one opposes THIS disenrollment, but was for some previous disenrollments. We posted an OP/ED from Cathy Cory, who set us all straight in an OP/Ed in the Sierra Star News: Bring all the Chukchansi People Home…

Who's in charge?
The two tribal councils claim to be legally elected. But for now, only one of them has the power to issue checks, sign contracts and continue the work of tribal government -- the group led by Reggie Lewis, who was voted out in last month's election.

His group claims the election was tainted because one ineligible candidate won election. The tribe's election committee then invalidated the election and scheduled a new one, over the objection of committee vice chairwoman Rockele Lutz. Ten days later, Lutz lost her job at the casino, and she and her family are among about 150 Chukchansi who face disenrollment, tribal members say.

OP: If the election is a fraud then the two who were ousted should ALSO not have a vote on the council as their terms expired.

BIA's role
Today, the federal government takes pains not to intervene because tribes have constitutions and are sovereign nations within the U.S.
Only five tribes of the 55 in the BIA Central California jurisdiction are in a category that allows for BIA intervention.

Even in tribes where the agency can intervene, the BIA has chosen a hands-off approach. Last month, for example, it took a federal judge to overturn disenrollment of members of the San Pasqual tribe in Southern California; the BIA had not intervened in the disenrollment.

OP: MAYBE IT'S time to further cutback the BIA's budget since they seem unwilling to get involved. Why are they getting their full salary? DO SOMETHING! Stand up and be counted. Get our federal dollars back from this tribe that enrolled "fake" members. With interest.

Native Americans and the Economic Termination Opinion Piece Misses the Mark

2012-01-13T09:23:00.000-08:00

There is an opinion piece in Indian Country Today by David Kimelberg that misses the mark by not telling the story about what tribes are doing to terminate their own people:

Not too long ago, the United States’ explicit policy regarding Native Americans was termination. The goal was to marginalize and eradicate Native people and cultures. As a first step, the government stole Native land and resources, murdered Native families and herded the survivors onto bounded reservations offering little chance of survival. The next step was instituting a legal policy during the 1940s, 50s and 60s stripping Native nations of any remaining rights. True to form, this officially coined “Termination Era” witnessed the government terminating over 100 tribes through legislative mandate.

In a comment, yet to be released from moderation, I wrote:

The author completely ignores the Indian Terminations going on in Indian Country. Indians are being terminated and stripped of their citizenship in increasing numbers. Can you name ONE American who has had there citizenship taken away?

Tribes, including the Picayune Rancheria and Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians have TERMINATED 60% and 25% of their OWN tribes, respectively. Snoqualmie of Washington has terminated members for simply disagreeing with the tribal council. The Cherokee nation has shamed themselves for the way they have treated the descendents of their slaves that their ancestors dragged on the "trail of tears."

The theft of per capita and benefits in Indian Gaming Country is over $500 million in California alone. Where is the outrage from tribes that stand up for their people?

Tribes in CA are trying to keep other tribes from getting casinos, all in the name of protecting their market share. The Chukchansi Resort and Casino is defaulting on their loans, not because they can't pay, but because they won't. Tribes like these make it difficult for those tribes that do business honorably. Unless tribes put pressure on other sovereign nations to act both responsibly and honorably, the economic termination era will continue.

Think of this, If a tribe will cheat their own people, won't they cheat YOU?

Not every issue in Indian country is the "white man's" fault. Tribes, with their corruption and chicanery, set themselves up for failure.

San Manuel Donation Allows SB Sheriff's Reserves to buy Bullet-proof Vests

2012-01-12T09:47:00.000-08:00

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians donated more than $19,000 to San Bernardino County sheriff's Highland reserve deputies on Tuesday, allowing the volunteers to purchase new bullet-proof vests and Taser guns.

San Manuel Chairman James Ramos presented the $19,864 check to the reserve unit in Highland City Council chambers.

The sheriff's Highland station has nine reserve deputies who logged nearly 4,000 hours of volunteer service in 2011.

Funny, with Pechanga's Masiel Crime Family, Riverside Deputies are more likely to NEED bullet-proof vests.

Madera County Supervisors SUPPORT North Fork Rancheria's Casino Plans

2012-01-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

Marc Benjamin of the Fresno Bee has a story on plans for a new casino in Madera County:

Madera County supervisors reaffirmed their support Tuesday for the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians' plans for a $250 million casino and resort north of Madera.
Supervisors were compelled to weigh in after Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein questioned whether there is local support for the casino in a letter sent last month to Madera County leaders.

They voted 4-1 to send a letter outlining the steps the county has gone through over seven years to approve a site for the casino, which will have 2,500 slot machines.
The 305-acre site next to Highway 99 is 36 miles from the North Fork rancheria.

Supervisor David Rogers said he voted against the letter to Feinstein because he opposes gambling, not the tribe.
The supervisors' letter said the casino will create thousands of jobs in a community beset by 14.4% unemployment and pump up to $50 million into the local economy each year in the sales of products and services.

Chukchansi opposes Casino

North Fork Rancheria has other issues

Dear Pechanga Tribal Members: Do You Know Where YOUR Money is going?

2012-01-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

We are working on some stories about tribal influence and we've checked out Open Secrets for campaign contributions by the Mark Macarro led corrupt council of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, well known for stripping the citizenship of some original Pechanga people.

Do the members know that the tribe has given $2,500 of their money to a MICHIGAN congressional campaign?

It may have something to do with Mark Macarro's wife's company IETAN Consulting, The tribal council has given Holly's company almost 3/4 of a MILLION dollars...and for what? The tribe LOST on the water rights bill..

Time to look at that recall attempt maybe?

Susan Bradford: AURENE MARTIN Portrait of a Corrupt Insider

2012-01-09T16:40:00.000-08:00

Hard-hitting investigative reporter Susan Bradford has an expose on Aurene Martin, who had connections to Jack Abramoff, IETAN Consulting, and with our government. In an era of tribal disenrollment she had her hand in a lot of backroom dealings, but then, isn't that the "Washington Way"?

Aurene Martin and the wife of Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro, Holly Cook Macarro, left Holland and Knight to go to IETAN. Holly Macarro took Pechanga's business with her, although this was not approved by the Pechanga General Membership and made Mark Macarro the subject of a recall attempt. Mark Macarro benefitted from this change as the husband, in addition to his per capita check (which grew after the disenrollment of two families) and his pay as tribal chairman, which was over $100,000 per year.

Susan Bradford says:
Former Acting Assistant Secretary of Interior Aurene Martin has had her fair share of controversies, but she has deftly, and without principle, used her status as an insider to maneuver around them.

Prior to her appointment at Interior, Martin was a congressional aide to Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, the Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee where Senator John McCain convened hearings to investigate Republican super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s tribal lobbying.

While McCain was dressing down Deputy Secretary of Interior Steven Griles over any actions he might have taken within a public capacity on behalf of Abramoff, the Committee ignored another questionable relationship, which was written up in the Village Voice: that of former McCain presidential campaign worker and tribal lobbyist, Scott Reed, who was aggressively lobbying Martin and sabotaging professional rivals within the agency who did not kowtow to his demands on behalf of clients.

The function of the Interior Dept under Martin seemed to be to keep some tribes from getting casinos, which would help their economies, yet support other tribes. Is that what we expect from our government?

More....

Another tribe has also come forward to cry foul: the Muweka Ohlone Tribe, which has sued Martin for rejecting its petition to acquire federal recognition, describing her decision as “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, (and) not in accordance with the law.”

Independent of the merits of the case, what makes Martin’s decision suspect is that within weeks of entering private practice as a Partner in the Indian law group of Holland & Knight, she was lobbying the Department of Interior on behalf of a Lower Lake Rancheria, a landless tribe seeking to build a casino in Oakland, California.

Amazed at her enterprise, her new employer issued this public statement: “Even by Washington standards, Aurene Martin’s spin through the revolving door was a quick one…Ethics laws ban senior-level government officials from directly lobbying their former agencies for one year. But Martin benefited from a special exemption: Since the 1970s, ex-(Bureau of Indian Affairs) officials have been able to represent tribes before their former agency without waiting out the one-year cooling-off period….There are ethical controls in place aimed at restricting the ability of those officials to lobby their former agencies on behalf of industries and special interests. But Martin’s move is one of many examples of ways around those controls.”

By refusing to grant federal recognition to the Ohlone while employed at the Department of Interior, Martin ensured this tribe would not have the legal standing to acquire a casino. Subsequently and perhaps predictably, the Lower Lake Rancheria announced its plan to pursue gaming in Oakland on lands sacred to the Ohlones.

Read more of Susan Bradford’s expose

Obama's White House BANS NBA Player from Visits, but Welcomes Redding Rancheria's Vice Chairman Potter, a convicted Felon.

2012-01-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

Are there degrees of felonies?

A December meeting with Obama for a felon:

Attending the Friday, Dec. 2, conference at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C., was Redding Rancheria’s tribal Vice Chairman Jack Potter Jr., 40, a resident of Round Mountain in Shasta County.

Having attended the first Tribal Nations Conference in 2009, it was Potter’s second time to be an official delegate and the third year that Redding Rancheria has had someone at the Tribal Nations Conference.

Yet, in the news today:

The Dallas Mavericks have earned themselves a visit to the White House on Monday, as each of the 2011 champions will be awarded a meeting with President Barack Obama, along with new editions to the 2011-12 Mavs outfit. All save for one Maverick, oft-troubled off guard Delonte West.

West, who had a high profile arrest over two years ago while under the influence of prescribed medication, is "banned" (to use his words) from stepping foot in the White House after the president's security team ran a routine background check on the guard.

So, the department of Interior doesn't do background checks on their tribal visitors?

OP/Ed: Bring ALL the Chukchansi People Home

2012-01-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

Cathy Cory has been fighting to have her rights restored in the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians. The most recent plague of tribal disenrollment at that reservation has led to some interesting developments over who as "for disenrollment, before he was against it" The Sierra Star News has been generous in their reporting, and granting space for opinion on disenrollment. Here's part of that editorial:

I do find interesting the statements of newly elected tribal council member Harrold Hammond who I am related to as our great-great grandmothers were sisters down the Hawa lineage of the tribe. He has referred to recent disenrollments as "treason against your own people." This is a great contrast to his words in 2008 when he was on the council as quoted by journalist Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle.

"We didn't disenroll anybody. We just corrected our paperwork," he said referring to the 600 people who are no longer members.

Quite a leap in philosophy, wouldn't you say?

I respect Harrold Hammond as an elder and a spiritual leader of our Chukchansi people. I love him as my blood, as my relation and as a survivor of what has been propagated against our people since the arrival of the Europeans on Turtle Island so long ago.

However, he as well as current tribal council members Morris Reid and Dora Jones, and additional in-coming tribal council member Dixie Jackson, must take responsibility for what has happened and is continuing to happen within our tribe in regard to disenrollment.

All were seated at council in 2006 when more than 500 of our people were dismembered.All have their signatures affixed to documents disenrolling these individuals.

If the 2006 council, including the individuals now crying "foul" had stood for all of the Chukchansi people at that time, what is occurring today would never have come to be. They are responsible ... just as responsible as Reggie Lewis, Jennifer Stanley, Chance Alberta and Nancy Ayala are today. It began with the councils of 2005-2006, of which they were a part.

I also see parallels in what is occurring in regards to documents possibly being taken from the Picayune tribal offices by Reggie Lewis, Chase Alberta and Jennifer Stanley. Indeed, documents were taken by the Wyatt Ramirez families in the early 1990s and this did result in missing documentation which the 2006 council utilized to remove the 500 members of the tribe without regard to the fact it was impossible to recreate the files.

As Harrold said back then to the Chronicle, they "corrected their paperwork"... knowing full well that many stolen and missing records of legitimate tribal people could never be restored.

Read the full opinion at: Sierra Star News

Tosobol Family, Caught In Pechanga's Illegal Moratorium on Membership Has Letter for Council

2012-01-05T11:45:00.000-08:00

We have written about the Tosobol Family of Pechanga, who have been caught up in Pechanga's illegal moratorium. We have a letter from the family, that went to the tribal council, led by Mark Macarro, who is also keeping his own family members out of the tribe. This is a shameful story.

To Tribal leaders

On behalf of the Descendants of Petra Tosbol original Temecula Allotted we submit this letter. We number 100 or more people we have a property interest on the reservation lot number 76 47 48 totaling 48 acre
As per Pechanga’s constitution and bylaws open enrollment for citizenship in the tribe occurs from January 1 thru January 31 of each year. While certain descendant of Petra Tosobal has been enrolled our family has been denied membership for 14 years through the illegal enactment of the moratorium on enrollment as a result we have been denied all the right and privileges due tribal citizen.

Pechanga tribal officials have kept us from accessing our land and heritage last year we were restricted from going to our land after being told we would finally be enrolled , The incident occurred when family members went to the reservation on November 4 ;2009 to look at the land and burn sage to pray as we expected to finally reclaim our heritage . We were shocked when Tribal rangers surrounded the family members and detained us for 45 minutes. We provided proof of ownership in the allotment we were visiting we were taken to the tribal ranger station and questioned. Our names; addresses; and phone numbers were written down and we were eventually released.

On a return visit January 2 2010 family members were detained once again on January 20 2010 family members were stopped again but this time to our surprise we were told that we were banished and each one of us were given paper work that said we were banished for 90 days or pending life exclusion to this day we are still not allowed to access our land they tell us that we are not banished but we have to find other ways to access our land because we cannot us their roads if that is not banishment what is .

Pechanga's Constitution says: Open Enrollment in January for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians

2012-01-05T08:40:00.000-08:00

Open Enrollment to the Pechanga Tribe in January. Call for Application. If they tell you there is a moratorium, simply ask them how that could be with the constitution saying open enrollment. The Pechanga Tribal Council has ruled that the people can't overrule the constitution on membership issues, therefore, the moratorium would be illegal.

The Pechanga Bylaws and Constitution provide for OPEN ENROLLMENT each January. If you believe you belong in the tribe, you should request an application. If the tribe believes in their guiding constitution, you should rightfully be enrolled if you can prove your bloodlines

The address from the Pechanga website for contacting their Tribal Government is:
Pechanga Enrollment Committee
PO BOX 1477
Temecula, CA 92593

(951)770-6000
fax: (951) 695-1778

Don't take NO for an answer. It's IN the constitution. Call and ask for Frances Miranda. You can go to the government center for a packet.

Jury Awards $30 Million to Slot Maker from Shingle Springs Rancheria Which Runs Red Hawk Casino

2012-01-04T11:33:00.000-08:00

The Shingle Springs Miwok Band gave up some of their sovereignty to get slots, then claimed sovereignty to keep from paying.

The award goes to Sharp Image Gaming Inc., a Chatsworth-based video gaming company that had a contract with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok in 1996 to bankroll the development of a casino.
The company in its 1996 contract also had the exclusive right to supply video slot machines for the operation.

Sharp Image for years sought to enforce the contracts it had with the tribe, which later joined with another developer to build the $200 million Red Hawk Casino.

Sharp Image first filed suit in El Dorado County in May 2007 seeking the return of the $7 million it invested in Crystal Mountain and also to enforce its contract to supply machines to any casino. Sharp Image was seeking $100 million in damages.

Federal agencies has ruled their contract was invalid, a decision that was ruled invalid by a judge.

2011 Year in Review at Original Pechanga's Blog

2012-01-03T21:13:00.000-08:00

We at Original Pechanga's Blog would like to thank all our readers for their loyalty to our website. In our four years, we have made many new friendships, and we have worked hard to get the word out about the despicable action of tribal disenrollment.

Corrupt tribal councils, like my own, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, led by Mark Macarro, sadly are one of the most egregious in California's Indian Gaming Country. At this point, the despicable Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, led by Reggie Lewis, and with their current disenrollment attempts has to be the worst offender.

Disenrollment has received quite a bit of attention lately, thanks to an article from the New York Times, which helped it get some play in the National Review. And even Indian Country Today put up an article, even though they think it's ONLY a per capita issue and misses the power grab by eliminating voting blocs.

The esteemed website Turtle Talk, a blog on Indigenous Law, led by Matthew Fletcher has disenrollment as their number one issue in 2011. Mr. Fletcher was recently on Native America Calling speaking on behalf of disenrollment (though not necessarily in favor)

Here are our top five stories in terms of page views in 2011:

5. On Tribal Disenrollments and the Beginning of the End of Sovereignty A re-post of a 2008 post. 2599 page views

4. The Loss of Tribal Citizenship is Serious and Offensive. 3756 page views

3. Pala Band Shames Themselves… 4376 page views.

2. Follow the Money, Per Capita Theft reaches $500 MILLION 6956 page views

1. Does Mark Macarro’s Tribal Council Practice APARTHEID… 7477 page views.

So, you can see, this blog is not only about what Pechanga has done to so many of us. We have tried to reach out to all those affected by their tribes, and Pala has received a lot of attention from readers. We thank Carolyn Lubenau, for leadership on the Snoqualmie issue, and of course, Carla Maslin, of the Foreman family of the Redding Rancheria for her help in keeping the blog out there. And John Gomez, Jr. for his consistentcy in keeping us all focused.

PLEASE share our blog with your friends and family and ask them to do the same. Help our spotlight on the corruption to get brighter, and send the roaches scurrying into the dark.

http://originalpechanga.com