In the letter, the Council Quorum details its daily efforts to manage “critical Tribal business, including overseeing the Chukchansi Gold Casino & Resort and handling the everyday responsibilities of Tribal government.” The Council Quorum explains in the letter that negotiations with the minority faction, headquartered in Fresno, broke down “when word reached the Council Quorum that the (accused ''rogue'') group had cancelled the health insurance of dozens of Chukchansi Tribal members.”
“We continue to do the work of the Chukchansi people from our office on the Rancheria, fighting against the sabotage and wasteful spending of the minority group led by Reggie Lewis and Chance Alberta,” said Tribal Council Nancy Ayala. “The Tribe’s forensic audit also continues its work, every day uncovering more evidence of serious issues with how the Lewis-Alberta group has done business in their own self-interest.”
The text of the Council Quorum letter is as follows:
A Letter From The Tribal Council Quorum
Nancy Ayala, Chairwoman; Tracey Brechbuehl, Secretary; Dr. Karen Wynn, Treasurer; Charles Sargosa, Member at Large
As the majority group of the Chukchansi Tribal Council, duly sworn to uphold the laws of our Tribe’s Constitution, we write to you today to be as informative as possible about the ongoing political conflict that has made life so difficult for our Chukchansi people. As you know by now, three members of our Council left the Rancheria in February 2013. Shortly thereafter, Council Members Reggie Lewis, Chance Alberta and Carl Bushman set up an unconstitutional rogue Council headquartered in a $20,000-a-month office tower in Fresno.
Since then, the Lewis-Alberta Council minority has embarked on a relentless, distortion-filled campaign of sabotage meant to harm our Tribe, the economic engine that is our casino and the quality of life enjoyed by each and every Chukchansi citizen. In an effort to return stability to our people, your Council Quorum continues to work every day on the Rancheria, attending to critical Tribal business, including overseeing the Chukchansi Gold Casino & Resort and handling the everyday responsibilities of Tribal government.
We will continue to fulfill these responsibilities day in and day out in a professional manner. We will not be intimidated, nor will we be coerced into abandoning the Chukchansi people.
Recently, in an effort aimed at negotiating an end to this sabotage campaign, members of the Council quorum traveled to San Francisco and to Phoenix to meet with the Lewis-Alberta faction and its lawyers. While it was difficult to sit at the negotiating table with a rogue group that constantly puts its self-interest ahead of our Chukchansi brothers and sisters, we believed the stability and well-being of our people must be more important than personal sleights and past wrongdoings.
Sadly, the Lewis-Alberta faction did not negotiate in good faith, nor did they make a serious attempt to end a dispute that has placed our Tribe’s economy in serious jeopardy. Therefore, when word reached the Council Quorum that the Lewis group had cancelled the health insurance of dozens of Chukchansi Tribal members, and when we received forwarded copies of their lie-filled May 2013 newsletter, we felt there was no point in continuing talks that were premised on falsehoods and destined to fail.
What does this mean for you?
Unfortunately, it means that the business interests of our Tribe – the economic engine you rely on for per-capita payments and the security of your family – remains at risk. Because of the actions of the Lewis-Alberta group, relationships with casino vendors have been badly damaged, bills have gone unpaid or been paid late, and the bond indenture used to finance the casino stands in peril of default.
Your Council quorum, along with the lawfully empaneled Chukchansi Economic Development Authority and the lawful Tribal Gaming Commission, will continue to work to preserve our Tribe’s economy and our day-to-day business interests.
It’s likely, however, that the Lewis-Alberta faction will continue to follow their present self-serving course of action, using Tribal resources to harm rather than improve the lives of the families, elders and young people of our Tribe.
One such expenditure, estimated at more than $300,000 by the Tribe’s forensic audit team, is the illegal referenda put forward by the rogue group. This vote in no way followed the Chukchansi Constitution or the processes of our Election Committee. As Chairwoman Ayala explained in a recent opinion column in the Sierra Star newspaper (see attached), this latest Lewis-Alberta faction deception hired a ballot-processing operation (the so-called Indian Dispute Resolution Services) that employs a Lewis relative who worked on the referenda. More importantly, by offering a one-time per capita payments in return for votes, the referenda appears to have been nothing more than a bribe – one that apparently worked on only a bare majority of voters.
Again, your rightfully empanelled Council Quorum remains in place, undeterred by this sham effort. The four members of the Council Majority will continue to do the business of the Chukchansi people. What’s next on our agenda?
Per capita payments – By the time you read this letter, you will have received your most recent per capita payment. The Council Quorum will continue to fight to preserve this lifeline for our people.
Health insurance issue – As you read this, we are working to determine the extent of the health insurance cancellations caused by the Lewis-Alberta group. We will report back to you immediately with answers and potential resolutions.
Forensic audit – A team of experienced forensic auditors is at work probing the financial expenses made by Chukchansi, Inc. and other subsidiary entities that have long been controlled by Reggie Lewis and Chance Alberta. Because these expenditures involve millions of dollars and documentary evidence of Lewis-Alberta expenses, which are flimsy at best, this has not been an easy task. However, the audit teams has uncovered evidence of serious tax issues already being pursued by the State of California. When the investigators’ preliminary report has been prepared, we will get back to you with additional information.
Finally, the Council Quorum and our other lawful government entities remain in regular communication with the National Indian Gaming Commission and the California Department of Justice. We will do everything in our power, including taking legal action, to protect the interests and financial security of the Chukchansi Tribe.
On our watch, no individuals will be allowed to divert Tribal revenue and resources for their own personal gratification. That has never been the Chukchansi way and it cannot and will not be tolerated.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the Rancheria offices at (559) 683-6633. Thank you.
36 comments:
Sounds like they are all corrupt and that Nancy is using Lewis-Alberta to hide her faction's own illegal activity. She seems too protestant and finger pointing. They need a brand new group of people, one that has representatives from each family so that no one is left out. Maybe they need separate entities for the Casino and for the tribal government. They also need checks and balances, having just one group do everything proves to be fatal for tribes.
Hard to tell who's the good buy and who's the bad guy in this situation. There's so much maneuvering from each faction that's hard to trust what any of these guys say.
Well if the tribe had not been stolen by a bunch of Navajo, mono,and of course can't leave out the mariposa choynumnies then maybe the actual chukchansi people would not be as bad off as they are. But when you add the greed and evil of Reggie and chance,no wonder its been 30 years of hell. If it were not for the Ramirez family, and their mother MaryAnn there would be no chukchansi tribe. Then where would all you confused wannabe natives be, who's tribe would you go and try to suck dry? Who's land would you try and steal. The real chukchansi people are rising and their time of suffering is coming to an end. God will punish Reggie, and Chance, and the truth will come out.
Reading and listening about the Hunter family of pechanga, and about the Ramirez family of picayune, it seems all these greedy fake Indians try to take everything. In fact for the first 10 years the chukchansi tribe was recognized wasn't the Ramirez family dis enrolled after all the hard work their mother did, and even though to this day they hold the deed to picayune.... Sounds just like the Hunters of pechanga... Paulina Hunter and Mary Ann Ramirez are probably rolling in their graves to know their disendants are suffering so much pain at the hands of greedy "Indians" with the white mans education. True native families didn't have much chance 60-70 years ago, to solidify the tribes because they could not afford to go to school like the white man. So when all these so called "natives", who never lived on a rez, who never ate commods, who never went without running water or indoor plumbing, the same "natives" who's ancestors sold out to the white man, who gave up their right as a native to receive white homestead lands, and white education,..... What chance did a bunch of poor uneducated Indians have? These "white natives" took advantage and lied and stole, they made all these poor people believe their lies and then took everything they had, everything they lived for, their ways, traditions, just to spit on them, to tarnish the name of their people. They bash,slander and degrade these families because they are afraid of the truth. The truth that all their lives these families were native, born native, raised native, lived native, and spoke native, and die native. Something the white natives ancestors gave up, threw away. Those ancestors gave up their native ways because they believed it the best thing for their families, to try to become part of the white mans world. And they succeeded, but they lost their native ways, no not lost gave up. Those white natives should respect the choices made by their ancestors, and respect the tribes their ancestors may have once been part of....but know that, that line was cut, severed, and they have no one to blame except their ancestors. Not the Hunter family, not the Ramirez family. Their own. It is amazing to me how these white natives, (or any person) could want to harm an entire race of people, a race that barley exists as it is. These poor families have the right to live and reap the benefits their ancestors worked so hard for without fear of the white man/native taking it all from them just like they always have in the past
I am a Chukchansi and why would I bow down to the Ramirez family. I was born a Chukchansi they could never make me one. I like how they were all for the tribe, so they say and now nobody but 46 belong. The only reason they brought back the tribe was so they could get their government grants, without the peoples blood they wouldn't have nothing.Dont thank the Ramirez family thank your ancestors for spreading the blood.
Its not bowing down its doing what's right and the way it should have been done in the beginning. The Ramirez family does not want to dis enroll, nor have they dis enrolled. The tribal members still receive their per capita from them as well. This lie that everyone has been dis enrolled is ridiculous.
Whether Nancy will disenroll is not the issue, even if she didn't, she plans to place some chukchansi above others, "a tiered system she said" to make her 46 relatives,of course, the top tier. She will just wait untill she solidifies her power base before she starts taking away from the "lesser members". Dont' forget she helped Reggie with the 2011 illegal takeover, and has taken over the tribe on the signitures of a few of her own family, not 30% of the whole tribe. She didn't have the right. Just do a recall petition on her already.
When they kicked out the Morris faction it was because they were not chukchansi! Deal with it.
Nobody asked you to " bow down " to the Ramirez/Wyatt families ! MMmmmm, must be a reason that "you" think you have to. What is it??? HUH ? You are right though, Chukchansi blood is Chukchansi blood and that DOES NOT make "you" any blood relation to the Ramirez/Wyatt family (who live on Picayune Rancheria). You DO need to be grateful to & be appreciative of Maryan Wyatt Ramirez (and her descendants), because SHE was able to bring federal recognition. Who stepped up to the plate ? SHE DID!!! Nobody else did, not even for the benefit of their own family. As for the facts, the "46 members" .... descendants of Maryan Wyatt Ramirez...are undisputed !! We are still here, will always be here, will never leave, AND NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!! THANK YOU, GRANDMOTHER ♡♡♡
Your right! And the Ramirez family wants all tribal members, the tiered idea was so that they would have a chance to re enroll the members who have been dis enrolled due to things like dead land. If all you other people want your own recognition then go fight the government for it just like Maryan did. Other wise you should be grateful for what she has done for her people. And for those of you who never knew Maryan, never met her, or spent time with her, how can you say you come from her land??? Have a little self respect people. Even reggies own sister backs the Ramirez family, why because he is a liar and a thief. Have his tribal member followers are so strung out on drugs they don't know their own ass from A hole in the ground.... But that's the way chance like it to be. Eaiser to control, when you need dirt done who better than a native woman who has been fed heroin, and meth. Half of the tribal females that follow them are so gone they sell them selves at the casino. They live in bushes on the side of the road. Ask Yvette Diaz where she stays..... In the bushes by the casino on road 417. That's what chance and Reggie want for the chukchansi people. They spend 10 grand a week paying that criminal (look into his past, 49 felonies, including home invasion with a cop partner) issa zacheria owner of zaks security, when they could be using that money to get them off drugs and off the streets. They don't give a flying f*** about the tribal members, just their pockets. They will use any and every member and then hang them out to dry. All you poor chukchansi need to see the truth, the only thing that can save you, this tribe is the Ramirez family!!!!!
The Ramirez family is no more chukchansi than any other family within the tribe. You were not singled out as special by anyone but yourselves. Even the federal Gov't refused your assersion that you were more chukchansi than anyone else when they threw out your court case. In the 90's your family stole documents from the enrollment files, later the lack of those documents caused disenrollments. How have you helped the tribe. An illegal takeover with a few signatures isn't helping the tribe. All Reggie and Nancy ever do is tell them what to sign or else. Try asking the whole tribal membership what they want, not just telling them.
Morris's Mother was chukchansi. Alway has been, always will be. Someone has been lying to you.
The reason the Ramirez family did what they did because it was stolen from them in the first place, no one said they were more chukchansi, someone has lied to you. But they are the only family from the picayune. And fyi I have personally seen Morris and his brothers enrollments ids for the Navajo tribe so no one lied except for Morris, and Orville.
most Indians bred with other tribes so they didn't breed amongst themselves that's why Morris is Navajo as with many others are other types of Indians. As a Chukchansi member I feel whomever has sat on council for the past 10 years has a part in the misuse of casino moneys of the tribe. What people don't see is the suffering and poverty most Chukchansi members are living through , no homes no electricity no running water no car no food no gas to get to work elders going to the manna house for food. While Nancy drives a mazaradi.Have you no shame. Nancy and Reggie sat side by side together last year and now there putting the blame on each other. In this situation they are both guilty of the destruction of this tribe. It takes two to tango.
speakin' of felonies...perhaps one should remember the conduct and character of dustin graham--and others within the past and present picayune tribal government...
seems unjust that jeff livingston, general manager of chukchansi gold, would go to federal prison for such a minimal issue of embezzlement when so many others from prci tribal councils and other departments have blatantly embezzled so much more from the tribe--AND stolen the very birthright of over a THOUSAND chukchansi people without sanction as well...
further...this was well-said "anonymous":
"The Ramirez family is no more chukchansi than any other family within the tribe. You were not singled out as special by anyone but yourselves. Even the federal Gov't refused your assersion that you were more chukchansi than anyone else when they threw out your court case. In the 90's your family stole documents from the enrollment files, later the lack of those documents caused disenrollments. How have you helped the tribe. An illegal takeover with a few signatures isn't helping the tribe. All Reggie and Nancy ever do is tell them what to sign or else. Try asking the whole tribal membership what they want, not just telling them."
Like I said...Chukchansi blood is Chukchansi blood. IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE FROM THE LAND OF PICAYUNE RANCHERIA ! NOR DOES IT MAKE YOU ENTITLED TO HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WYATT/RAMIREZ FAMILY ! Maryan Wyatt Ramirez was & still is special to "our" family because we loved her, & she loved us so much, that she literally, fought till her death, for "her" family ! What is your family doing for you ? As for that court case... it wasn't about who was more Chukchansi. Get your facts straight. Read the documents for yourself. The Wyatt/Ramirez families are united as ONE, as they should be. And Reggie...he's dug himself a hole so deep he's lost in it...and astonishingly, he's still digging, along with Chance and Buzz and everybody else who has their greedy little hands in the pot of embezzled money from the tribe. As that pot comes up empty, who are they going to come running to for their next per cap check ? They don't care..."I'm going where the money is---Yah, I'll say it---I am only for the money", as heard coming from a tribal "member". For those people all I've got to say is "GOODBYE!"
Fyi Nancy does not drive a mazaradi get your facts straight. And the court case was not about who is more chukchansi and the fact the the wyatt/Ramirez family has united and they stand stronger for their tribe than ever before. They know their tribe and always have, and the true members have nothing to fear
The chukchansi constitution state no member shall be enrolled if they are or ever recognized by another tribe, which Morris, Dora, Dixie and many others were. In fact the first thing Dora did was try and enroll into north fork why because they have a casino coming. And Dixie was voted mono woman of the year while sitting on chukchansi's council. Talk about having shame.
why is it shameful to be more than one type of Indian .maybe she loves all parts of whom she is. want to talk shameful Harold Hammond has documentation that he's passed out showing Jane Wyatt stole from the tribe and was suspended for life, what crook brought her back into the tribe
I think this is all BULLSHIT! YOUR ALL SICK WITH THE CASINO FEVER!I dont see any of you getting better anytime soon. We need help from Granfather to wash away all the ChukNasty... you know who you are: Nancy, Jennifer, Tracey, Karen, Reggie, Chance, Whole Ramirez Family, Charile, Jane, Dustin Graham, Diane, Ted Atkins, Amber James...even you Bev...your not even indian.
You contiune to hate and spread evil, may Grandfather stop you. AHO!
the documentation that 13 members of the wyatt/ramirez family--inclucing jane wyatt and nancy ayala--stole records, vehicles and bank accounts from the tribe in the early 1990's, is public record and has been obtained directly from the bia through the freedom of information act for all to view...
AND it is well known that the loss of those very records was subsequently utilized to arbitrarily and capriciously dismember OVER A THOUSAND chukchansi citizens at picayune...
it is also true that these same wyatt-ramirez individuals were disenrolled by the prci tribal council in 1994 for their actions, but were mysteriously re-enrolled several years later by the prci tribal council, WITHOUT knowledge of the general council, when negotiations were being made to obtain land and develop chukchansi gold...
i'm certain ANYONE seated on the prci tribal council at that time (at least one of which holds a seat on one of the three factions claiming governance of picayune TODAY) could enlighten us as to WHY the wyatt-ramirez descendants were re-inrolled, but thus far ALL have remained silent on the subject...
problem is, ALL factions have some sort of dirty laundry to hide in regard to financial and/or moral issues and decisions made at picayune over the years...all realize that they are complicit with the corruption and greed which has destroyed the circle of our chukchansi people, all realize that they could possibly go to federal prison for many years for their respective roles, and all carry their responsibility in the genocidal destruction of our people and the chaos occurring today at picayune...
so, past tribal council members at picayune...CARE TO START TALKIN'????
How can you blame the whole Ramirez family? I thought they were your "cuzins"....... Everyone thinks they want it to be just their family, but how many of you are tied into that family? A lot of you. They don't want to get rid of you, family is family. Have a little faith in your relations, weather that relation is blood, or marriage, or both.
The Ramirez family FAILED to get the tribe the federal recognitition. NO glory should go to that family. They have brought nothing but grief to the tribe. The reason the Ramirez FAILED in federal court is because THEY ARE IN THE WRONG. Too bad they never learn anything from all their FAILURES. Anonymous is so wrong to think the Ramirez are full blood. They are MEXICAN also!!!!! And most people in the tribe have many other NDN bloods. BECAUSE inbreeding (like the Wyatts and Ramirez families) is NOT HUMAN.
I also need to add .... ONE family does not make a tribe.Anyone who thinks like that is so very stupid. GO TO SCHOOL!!!!!
First of all no one said Ramirez family was full blood jack ass, and secondly their not fu***** inbred, just cause they don't want your sorry ass doesn't make them inbred, it makes them smart. And do you really want to talk inbred...... Don't make me start naming off all the people and their fucked up relationships even as nasty as siblings fu*****. Just wait and see who gets hauled of to prison along with Reggie and chance..... That's your tribe, right there on the Fresno rancheria....go follow them maybe Reggie can get you guys your own casino too. FYI Reggie ain't running housing dumb ass, his hench men are sitting on the county easement because they can't go anywhere else and the sheriffs won't let them on property. Oh and Elena you really need to stop your bull shit lies on your/chukchansi prci page.... No one buys it.
To "Anonymous" who can't stop ranting and name-calling. Your lack of intelligence is showing.
And your false and fraudulent tribe in Fresno is failing.... AHO
To nickey Livingston as you spread your lies I must come and spread the truth,... Nobody's per capita was less in January than in December... Except maybe yours. Nancy has made sure every member receives their per capita the same way they always have. So if your accepting paper checks and filing W-4s for your so called one time per capita payment then you have accepted stolen money, money from our elders. Nancy has never hired bulldog gang members all of her men are native... Those bulldogs came up with your mariposa people, I remember seeing you yourself with them in Fresno when you were trying to picket the court house.... Its been proven that the enrollment applications are not complete they can't be complete until the constitution is clarified and the only people who can do that is the family it originated from... That why all of you are so angry at them because you have known all along that it would come back this way. That all the wrong Morris and his crew of miscreant's would come to bite them in the end, and it did didn't it. When this is done the real chukchansi tribe of the picayune rancheria, Coarsegold ca will be stronger than ever. They have the actual history of the village before it was called picayune, as well as evidence that there were other bands who spoke different languages than they did. The lulniu village in Oakhurst being one of the closest... But as the records show in 1938 there was no Chukchansi's alive there anymore. And for all those who believe that chief hawa or as you guys like to call him grandpa mucksha or as the Appling family called him,.... Grandpa grasshopper.... Bahahaha mucksha IS grandpa... Canuwas is grasshopper. You guys have made fools of your selves and of these poor people. At least Reggie is really chukchansi. A moron but a chukchansi moron... Not mono, not choynumni, not miwok, not Navajo. This battle is between chukchansi the rest of you need to stay out of it.
There is no tribe in fresno. There is only one Tribe and all the factions are destroying it. No One listens to the Membership. Tribal Leadership is there to work for the tribe. The Membership is the tribe, not the Council.
Hey stupid!!! Of course you have lied more and got ALL your information WRONG!!!! your sick words are just sorry excuses to try and explain your HATE, GREED and YOUR SICK PREVERSIONS to eat the membership alive. YOU are so foolish if you think that your lies and perversions are
not clear to all people who follow this sick war that your people brought to our tribe. YOU are too stupid to realize how disgusted all people are with this HAULOCAUST you intend to follow through with. There is nothing at all NATIVE about your evil deeds. But your disillusioned ass will never drink the truth of all the hurt and evil you placed on this tribe. The Creator will deal with you in good time. Mary Jones was on that land in 1820. where the hell were your people? O YEAH they were no where around to take an allotment cuz they were in MEXICO!!!! You liars are not Chukchansi and you will reap dis enrollment cuz you sowed it. It will be good to see all the evil leave our tribe HEY COWARD reveal your name if you feel your words are so true. WHY HIDE???
I just want to say I thought my tribal leaders were corrupt and ruling the tribe to ruin. but after learning what's going on at chukchansi and all the in-fighting WOW! At least our executive council pretends to follow the constitution. You guys just ignore it entirely and don't even know who your real tribal leaders are. The Casino profits were a blessing the first few years but now they are our ruin. Money is destroying many tribes. The Casino's were suppose to help our people, but now they are causing more harm than good. This will continue until something is done or the tribe unites and banishes all money grubbing law breaking tribal leaders. If not the federal government will step in soon because this is happening all over California and they won't lose the casino money rolling into the government. When they do step in we will lose our tribal power and sovereignty. Individual percap will be gone and all funds will be for tribal operations and programs only. We will have no one to blame but ourselves for not being able to control things ourselves. We have a great thing here and a few greedy tribal leaders are destroying everything.
can we please have a reelection so the tribe can speak on what they want please sign the new referendum so we can put all this to rest THANKS!
pippy - also bring the dissenrolled back, do what is right.
Fuck Nancy's followers. Blind leading the blind. Hello dumb ass. Nancy has active gang members who are native. BIA really needs to put a stop to this mess & BIA only recognized nancy as chair from your last election.
The Ayala faction should have there employees background check & not from there casino. Also there Gaming Commission as well. Joseph Ayala (Nancy's Brother) has a sex with a minor case against him. But how did he get a job? Nancy waived that for him & how gross is that when you visit the casino & there is a child molester among us walking free??? So you must say again "lawfully tribal gaming commission"??????
Finger print & background check!!!
Fresno & Madera counties.
Lets not forget that Jennifer Stanley & Karen Wynn misused tribal credit cards for personal use while they were on council together. No one talks about them, its all about Chance Alberta & Reggie Lewis. Wynn & Stanley was spending right along with Lewis & Alberta. they also should be punished.
I'm not a supporter for any of the 3 factions. Just take care of the memberships & give them there jobs back & quit banning your own members for supporting whoever they believe would be a true leader of Picayune!!!!!
Wynn's children run the casino operations. Hard to believe that from this family who barley came to California 5 years ago. Talk about tribal MEMBERSHIP. Can't find her blood family in Arizona & all of a sudden there a Chukchansi? This is the family that should be disenrolled. DNA
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