Madera County officials and 30 local agencies that include many nonprofit groups have been pulled into the battle between Chukchansi Indian factions over annual tribal donations.
Under a contract with the county, the tribe is obligated to donate $1 million annually to local groups. This year's recipients include schools, animal welfare agencies, tribal organizations, churches and veterans groups.
But the money has been held back because of the ongoing legal wrangling between the two leadership factions.
In November, the tribal council led by Nancy Ayala submitted a list of recipients to Madera County and held a banquet for the agencies that earned the grants.
Ayala's group, whose leader is now Tex McDonald, operates the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians business complex and oversees operations at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino. Leadership of the tribe is still in flux.
The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs announced last week that it intends to recognize the seven members of the 2010 tribal council. That council includes Ayala and the other group's leader, Reggie Lewis. McDonald's group is appealing the BIA decision.
In December, the Lewis group legally challenged the tribal donations, alleging the other faction improperly designated a casino account to pay them.
A New York state court, which has been serving as a mediator in the conflict, said that casino revenues are supposed to pay off the tribe's debts of more than $250 million after financing bonds for the casino complex were restructured last year.
The court upheld the Lewis group's challenge, and so the money has not been distributed.
The withheld funds include a $50,000 grant for the Eastern Madera County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for a spay and neuter program. Last year, the all-volunteer organization raised $40,000 for the work -- but none from the Chukchansi program, said Sharon Fitzgerald, the animal group's board chairwoman.
She said the tribal donation is expected to allow her organization to concentrate its fundraising on money to build a no-kill shelter.
The group has received money twice previously from the tribe, Fitzgerald said.
Madera County officials said they are considering legal action.
The best move? DO NOT GO to Chukchansi GOLD Casino. Don't support CORRUPTION, Don't support Civil Rights Violators
4 comments:
Cry some more, and continue to do absolutely nothing. Shooting people was a stupid and selfish act that did nothing to help the cause. I wouldn't recommend flaunting this story. It's bad enough you still have to deal with the whole drunkard stereotype, and brining firearms into the picture with a veiled threat just makes the whole "Savages" stereotype resurface. Why don't you lazy crybabies go and lock yourselves in the government building and protest with the media, without bringing guns? You all are just plain stupid. Cry some more. See what that helps. Good plan.
All that's coming out of the privious post is alot of noise,an armchair quarterback.I'm know there are people who are still fighting.Its not over yet!
@ 12:48
I guess you think that it is ok for the corrupt leaders to use a weapon, but not ok for the wronged
to arm themselfs.
Im talking about "SOVERNITY".
This is the weapon that these ass@holes are using to kill off legit tribal members. So whats fair is fair.
Chukchansi leadership is an OXYMORON
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