Friday, December 9, 2011

Obama Administation Again Delays Juaneno Recognition Decision

We just posted a story on whether the Obama Administration was complicit in the destruction of Native American tribes and here's further proof:

On Friday Larry Echo Hawk, assistant secretary of Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior, granted a 30-day extension on the ruling, pushing the deadline from Feb. 14 to March 16. In December, the department had delayed the decision for 60 days to this month.

"The Tribe considers the time to issue the Final Determination decision is greatly past due," wrote Anthony Rivera, chairman of the tribe known as the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation, in a statement sent to members Friday.

The tribe is scattered throughout Orange County, but has roots in San Juan Capistrano and a special connection to the Mission there.

Members have had issues in the past representing themselves as a solid unit, creating factions and disagreements. Rivera's tribe isn't the only one going after federal recognition.

Joe O'Campo and Sonia Johnston are listed as Petitioner No. 84B, the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, while Rivera is Petitioner No. 84A, the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation. The federal government is evaluating both petitions simultaneously.

Does anyone think the Obama Administration would welcome another tribe in California? Or, more likely they are just delaying the bad news.

Read MORE at the OC Register

2 comments:

  1. Again, like I said to your other previous post, this is more of a Congressional problem than an Executive problem.

    While I greatly agree that tribes like Juaneno need - scratch that, DESERVE - an answer to their petition for federal recognition, the busted mechanics of the administrative nightmare known as the Office of Federal Acknowledgment cannot be easily addressed by the President.

    It's Congress' problem to administer their own agencies. Asking the President to intervene could constitute a violation of the separation of powers doctrine.

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  2. Erick, are you saying the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing? Or is it the old "Bait and Switch?" Say one thing and do another? Or not caring one way or the other? Congress hasn't been in the business of helping the "Native American Indian," or they would have put a provision in the I.C.R.A for enforcement of "Human and Civil Rights Violations." They could "Champion" a revision to the I.C.R.A to rectify this "Exclusion!" Or it's possible that they don't really care. For you have got to know the "Casino Indians" have "Big Bucks" to make sure this won't ever happen. Again, "It's All About The Money!" Can anyone "Dispute" that this is not the "Case?" For "Indian Country" has suffered at the hands of both these for nothing more then "Greed and Self Interest!" We were here first, and should be treated as such. The "Government and Casino Indians" track record for upholding "Native American Rights" is well known, and doesn't look like it going to change for the better "Anytime Soon."...We will continue our fight for "Justice" against the "Injustice" that is commonplace thoughout "Indian Country." For we aren't going away anytime soon." Erick, thank you for clarifiying why nothing gets done when it comes to the "Native Americans" in their charge.

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