OP: This sad story of the POVERTY of SOUL told on the Rumsey Band in the Sacramento Bee can be told on reservations throughout California. My regular readers are well aware of what Pechanga has become, once the greed, bred by wealth infusion or "affluenza" as my nephew calls it. It's a disease brought on by welfare, this IS welfare to some, an incentive NOT to work. The Picayune Rancheria has many sad story beginning with the EXTERMINATION of their people, BY their people.
I remember when the money started coming in, some of the Pechanga members were excited about getting a TARGET charge card. Then, things got bad, the greedy ones wanted no more people to share in the good fortune and they instituted an illegal moratorium (against the Pechanga Constitution and Bylaws). They no longer contributed to the youth trust fund, members didn't want the youth to be taken care of if member parent died. One of the Masiel Crime Family stood up and said he didn't trust his daughter in law to handle "that type of money", before backing off that comment.
POVERTY OF SOUL (SacBee link)
Ten years after the casino cash started flowing, the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians' good fortune is on display across the peaceful Capay Valley.
Thanks to their Cache Creek Casino Resort – which makes about $300 million a year and is scheduled to expand – each of the 26 adults in the 60-member nation gets about $1 million a year after taxes, more if they're on the tribal council or committees. They get a travel allowance to expand their horizons to Tahiti, Europe or anyplace they desire. OP: The Pechanga members, after eliminating 25% of their tribal members, now get $360,000 per year (corrected), while council members get over $95,000 per year. There are 750 adults now, so we believe that the tribe will look at terminating another family to boost per capita. Pechanga may say no, but then, they said no after extermination of the first family en masse in the history of the tribe.
They own luxury cars, custom homes on the rancheria and second homes elsewhere. They send their children to a first-class private school that offers their Patwin language and native flute taught occasionally by Grammy winner Mary Youngblood. OP: This is good for California's economy and Pechanga eliminated this from 25% of the tribe, forcing short sales, loss of health care, children kicked out of the tribal school, and elimination of elder care for lifelong members. The state of California lost a lot of tax money from those terminated that lived OFF the reservation.
But CEO and Chief Marshall McKay sees trouble behind the opulence. The demons of the past that have plagued his tribe since they lived in trailers and scrounged for work haunt them still: diabetes, substance abuse, fierce family feuds and chronic apathy. OP: There is plenty of evidence of that on many reservations, my archives are full of violent behaviors from Pechanga and it's Soboba cousins.
"I call it wealth shock … the poverty of the soul," said McKay, who's fighting to save his nation by pushing cultural rebirth and education. "I stress to members we can do a lot of damage by providing too much."
Only three tribal members have finished high school since the casino money started rolling in. They know they'll never have to work as long as they stay out of jail. OP: Not a simple task, when you have NOTHING TO WORK FOR. No goals, means nothing to strive for. The newest video game, car or toy is NOT a goal.
This is a great article and one that should be read by all in California. Is this what we thought Self Reliance would be? A few Indians getting richer at the expense of their families and friends?
9 comments:
I don't believe the Pechanga members get $360,000 per month as you stated. Typo I am sure.
In the article, it states that only 3 members have graduated from high school since they started receiving per capita. With only 60 members, how many of them are of graduating age? If they are really not graduating, that is a shame and no reason is a good one for that. But hopefully those numbers aren't as bad as they seem.
yeah they do recieve 360,000...we recieved 250k before we were disenrolled. Disenrollments were about greed and power. The families that were disenrolled were indians. Sadly they disenrolled the two families that had their children on the right track by going to school and going to college.
They disenrolled proud Pechanga's and stuck with the criminal and unenlightend
yes, the typo is they receive $360,000 per year rather than per month.
And it is a shame that instead of wanting to help others, such as the ones in the moratorium, they began disenrolling. Instead of making the Pechanga tribe stronger by letting people that want to learn about their Indian heritage they refuse to let them in. Refuse to let them benefit from the health care, the college aide, the tribal school. Who knows maybe there are people in the moratorium that could actually provide some benefits for Pechanga. Its time there was a leader who wasn't so afraid of someone smarter and better fit for the position that he won't let anyone else into the tribe. This is not about self-reliance or inter-tribal matters like Pechanga and other tribes claim. This is about terminating Native's.
“Affluenza”, a dreaded disorder caused by lack of character, moral fiber, and education.
Truly we can recognize it and define it, but can we contain it and control its consequence?
Scientist study diseases in order to manage its affect. Politicians learn the state of affairs in order to direct influences. Entrepreneurs seek opportunities in order to profit. Legislators establish and revise laws to better represent the people.
But, who can intervene and stop this social mayhem that has struck our Indian nations and change its course?
Do we need a lawyer, a preacher, or an exterminator!
I have corrected the post to reflect the $360,000 per YEAR total. Sorry for the confusion on that.
Had Pechanga done the right thing and enrolled all those that truly belong, as well as not done the unconstitutional act of disenrolling families, the per capita would still be in the $140,000 range per year. A tidy sum and much more than almost all had ever made in a year.
But not enough for some of the remaining members......
Not all members are greedy collecting money lowlifes without future goals. Some members actually spoke out against the moratorium and disenrollment. Unfortunately it was not the majority. There are members who have used this money to better their lives. Owning home for the first time. Getting off welfare after generations. Putting their children through college or going to college themselves. Some member have family caught up in the moratorium or children who are not eligible to enroll and support them financially. I believe disenrollment is/was wrong, the moratorium is wrong, but it takes the majority to change things.
True, it takes the majority, but many times it starts with the minority!
You must continue to stand for what is right! Working to correct the tribe’s wrongs has the best investment potential for your money. Each of the tribe’s members may be making more than twice the amount they would if the "right" thing occurs, but this half received on solid ground, with unyielding intentions will continue to grow at a stable income for a steadfast future. As your per capita stands now, each day is shaky. What confidence and pride can you make in your ventures? Stolen money does not hold the same value as honest money.
Time to go back to the spiritual values. One Land, One Tribe.
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