Says Sheriff acted outside their authority.
From the Picayune Rancheria Morris Reid issued a statement this afternoon requesting that federal law enforcement intervene.
Here is the statement:
"We are issuing an emergency call to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs (Larry Echo Hawk), the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services and the Attorney General of the United States to send federal Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement officers to the Picayune Rancheria, and to exercise the law enforcement authority granted to the United States over Tribal lands within California under section 221 of the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010.
This federal statute unquestionably authorizes the United States to assume and exercise concurrent law enforcement authority over the reservation until such time as the duly elected Tribal government is no longer being harassed and threatened. Failure by the Federal government to respond positively to this emergency call will be in violation of President Obama's commitment to Tribal sovereignty and the stated policies of his Administration.
"As the duly elected leaders of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, charged with protecting the inherent sovereignty of the Chukchansi people, we strongly oppose the action of the Madera County Sheriff and other local non-Indian law enforcement officials ordering the removal of elected Tribal officials from a Tribally-owned Tribal Government building on federal trust land.
This action by local non-Indian law enforcement is in excess of their authority under Federal law and is a flagrant violation of Tribal sovereignty and an affront to Tribal governments and Indian people across this country. To curtail this dangerous precedent, we are asking the Federal government to assume law enforcement authority over the Picayune Rancheria immediately."
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5 comments:
What is the Chukchansi word for : CHUTZPAH??
gall
I don't know the legal ramifications, but inside or outside of authority, the sheriffs department acted to protect peoples safety when both sides began assaulting each other. That was the right thing to do.
I was in the building, they sure didn't help us when they were throwing bricks through Windows, throwing burning logs in the Windows, and spraying Bear Pepper spray in the building. All while the Reggie Lewis Council watched and helping. That is their mentality,violent. What kind of Council is that to represent our people, all of our people.
Those inside certainly didn't come prepared to hold the building. Little food and water...some pizzas???
Geez.
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