Greeting Readers,
This blog was created to help communicate what has gone on at the Reservation of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians in Temecula, CA.
The story of the first family to be disenrolled en masse,descendents of Pablo Apis, in the history of the tribe, can be found here: Pechanga’s Paper Trail of Tears
Please take the time to read it to familiarize yourselves with the inner workings of the Tribal Council and Enrollment Committee.
The second family, The Hunters, were disenrolled en mass, almost two years later. This story can be found here: WITHOUT A TRIBE Now, amazingly, this family was PROVEN Pechanga by the expert hired by the TRIBE!, yet maddeningly, the enrollment committee chose not to use the work that they bought and paid for. A news article is linked here: Pechanga Expert
Please help us get the word out. Send the web address out for my blog, if you have your own blog, please point this site out.
We will not go quietly into the night.....
4 comments:
Per "Pechanga Expert." Dear Reader: The disenrollees lost their membership because they did not have the facts on their side. Hence, their disenrollment corrected an error in the membership roll. For his side, John Johnson knows the facts as he sees them in his professional opinion, but the decision-makers had to take into account all information before reaching a conclusion. Mr. Johnson holds a wrong view of this process and its governing principles. Yet he feels free to claim that external matters influenced the outcome of disenrollment. This process took about two years, as part of a legitimate tribal government action under a guiding written procedure. During it, the disenrollees, enrolled at that time, had every opportunity to present their case in writing to show descent from an original Pechanga Indian. They could not do it. After careful review, the committee in charge of determining membership had to terminate the membership of the individuals subject to disenrollment. Of course, the disenrollees in turn have become bitter and disappointed, and their expert feels insulted. Feelings, however, can never substitute for valid information. The disenrollees also try to sway others by repetition of assertion, accusation, and innuendo minus any factual material. Adults understand that mere persistent claims cannot replace a sound argument supported by plain facts. The disenrollees must accept their plight, and go on their way.
Blog readers,
Another View couldn't possibly know what the families presented, that is, unless he had a sister who was a secretary to the enrollment committee.
There was no careful review, as one member of the enrollment committee told some of the Hunters that "it didn't matter what proof you have, you will be out of here".
And remember readers, Dr. John Johnson is the foremost authority on California's tribes, OTHERWISE, Pechanga would NOT HAVE HIRED HIM. The Hunters didn't hire him, Pechanga did.
And of course, the reams of paper with our evidence would be sufficient if those on the committee who stayed awake during the presentation would be able to understand them. One member was sleeping during the appeal.
The factual materials have been posted on other sites and the KNBC link that is available on my blog also has evidence: Dr. Johnson himself and the man, current Pechanga Chairman Macarro, who was caught lying in the first 15 seconds of his commercial.
Lastly for this post. Pechanga people who were alive in the 1800's stated in depositions taken in the Luiseno language that Paulina Hunter was Pechanga. Two members of the committee that were not even enrolled when Jimmy Carter was President, said that evidence didn't matter.
Another View has it wrong, we have assertions, accusations AND FACTUAL materials, the committee failed in their jobs and we will continue to make that point. Just as Pechanga will spend money trying to convice the citizens of California that they are good. If they were not guilty as charged, they wouldn't have to try so hard,now would they?
Keep reading.
Dear Reader: More falsity from the non-members: "Pechanga people who were alive in the 1800's stated in depositions taken in the Luiseno language that Paulina Hunter was Pechanga." In fact, the Pechanga people back then, knowing the true status of Paulina Walla Hunter (the ancestor of the disenrolled Hunter family) never described her as from Pechanga. Instead, those old people identified her as a neighbor or as someone they knew. And no more. Please note as well, Dear Reader, the depositions the blogger refers to took place as part of a routine procedure the Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted at the time in order to determine the heirs to the estate of PWH, who had passed away while having an interest in federal trust land on the Pechanga Indian Reservation. The BIA did not conduct this procedure for the purpose of establishing the Pechanga tribal membership of PWH. In any event, such land ownership interest does not serve as a criteria for Pechanga tribal membership. As another fact, the BIA never issued a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood for PWH -- meaning the BIA never tracked PWH as an Indian. Here’s another fact: We know the names of the parents of PWH but not their ancestry. Case closed.
Dear Reader: More falsity from the non-members: "Pechanga people who were alive in the 1800's stated in depositions taken in the Luiseno language that Paulina Hunter was Pechanga." In fact, the Pechanga people back then, knowing the true status of Paulina Walla Hunter (the ancestor of the disenrolled Hunter family) never described her as from Pechanga. Instead, those old people identified her as a neighbor or as someone they knew. And no more. Please note as well, Dear Reader, the depositions the blogger refers to took place as part of a routine procedure the Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted at the time in order to determine the heirs to the estate of PWH, who had passed away while having an interest in federal trust land on the Pechanga Indian Reservation. The BIA did not conduct this procedure for the purpose of establishing the Pechanga tribal membership of PWH. In any event, such land ownership interest does not serve as a criteria for Pechanga tribal membership. As another fact, the BIA never issued a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood for PWH -- meaning the BIA never tracked PWH as an Indian. Here’s another fact: We know the names of the parents of PWH but not their ancestry. Case closed.
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