Pechanga: A Letter to Emmylou Harris asking her not to perform

A sample of a letter toEmmylou Harris asking her not to play September 23, 2007 Re: Performing at the Pechanga Resort and Casino Dear Ms. Harris: 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 October 11, 2007. Over the past 3 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. 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 of Chukchansi Indians near Fresno , California . The Chukchansi Band has reportedly rid itself off half its membership, 600 in all, with threats of more disenrollments to follow. In response to what is happening at Chukchansi, Bill Cosby recently cancelled his Labor Day weekend appearance at the Chukchansi Gold Casino (see attached story). 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 Sincerely, For more information contact LeeAnn Carlen at Vector Management Phone: 615.269.6600 * Email: leeann@vectormgmt.com. EmmyLou Harris is managed by Ken Levitan at Vector Management