Carmen George, of the Sierra Star News has a news story up on the last round of terminations at the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians in Coarsegold, near Fresno
Picayune should be know as the INCREDIBLE SHRINKING TRIBE. They are losing nearly 70 percent of their tribal enrollment, stripping so many of their tribal citizenship. This is further evidence of the need for Rep. Darrell Issa to hold oversight hearings
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is standing idly bywhile Indian people are harmed. What do we need them for?
From the article:
Members said at least 35 of an estimated 55 that received disenrollment letters in September recently received notice that they are no longer members of the tribe following hearings last month at the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians.
Those disenrolled are descendants of Jack Roan, who received one of the original Chukchansi allotment lands. Although there are U.S. Censuses and documents from the Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs from the turn of the century; early photos of Jack Roan from the Smithsonian Institution; and anthropology archives from UC Berkeley showing Roan is of Chukchansi descent -- listed in a 1919 Census as having a Chukchansi mother and a "mixed blood" father (who was of Pohoneechee descent, a band of Miwok) -- it was not enough.
Opponents said disenrollments center on greed over casino profits, old family feuds and that with each new tribal council, everything can change.
In their letters, signed by tribal council chairman Reggie Lewis, it reads that Roan was incorrectly identified in 1915 as Chukchansi on his allotment application, and that some later Censuses state he is full Pohoneechee, along with his last will and testament.
Should Picayune be forced to return all the monies they have gotten from our government by having these "false Chukchansi people" on their rolls? Of course, they've defaulted on their debt so they are in no position to pay.
More from the article:
"I call it a cultural genocide," said one Chukchansi woman. "There are very few of us left and now they are weeding them out. It seems like we are all related; it's one big family tree, and it's not going to be like that anymore. Like my son said, it's going to be a stick now, not a tree, with just one family."
American Indian tribes nationally make about $27 billion from gaming every year, with about a third of that coming from 67 gaming tribes in California that pull in $7.7 billion annually, said Cheryl Schmit, director for Stand Up California.
Of at least 12 tribes in California issuing disenrollments to their people, 10 have casinos, Wass said.
2 comments:
Wow, only giving their people $280 a month and they STILL can't pay their bills on time?
The Chukchansi disenrolled are making such big statements. Their silence is deafening.
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