Part THREE in the story of how a group with no Pechanga blood gained control of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. Anyone wonder where the Bureau of Indian Affairs was in all this?
The Pechanga Band had a stable government for many years. Over a period of 10 years or so, the Band developed and adopted a Constitution and an Enrollment in response to the growing population on the reservation and the need of the Band for a more formal governing structure.
After the Constitution was adopted and the enrollment criteria decided upon, the Band proceeded to enroll approximately 450 members in full compliance with its enrollment procedures.
A small group of dissidents, led by Butch Murphy, refused to acknowledge the Band’s Constitution and the tribal enrollment process. In fact, they refused to apply for enrollment. This small group announced to the Pechanga Band at a tribal meeting that they were breaking away from the Band and forming their own tribal government.
Prior to breaking away from the Band, the Splinter Group took steps to disrupt the workings of the government.
Below are some quotes regarding the Splinter Group’s actions:
“…we never did get past the first item which was a petition circulated by JM to abolish the bylaws and new roll. They wanted to go by recognition only…If they don’t like you, you never get recognized though you would be a legitimate member by lineal descent.”
“…I felt we needed police protection. They were that violent.”
“…the violence of the opposition would not allow the continuance of agenda. Now they are starting their own band. This stems from agitators who probably do not have a Pechanga or Temecula back ground.”
“We may have to take legal action before something drastic happens here.”
These actions, along with their need to abolish the adopted Constitution and enrollment criteria and their failure to apply for enrollment, are signs that the Splinter Group “probably do not have a Pechanga or Temecula back ground.”
If they did have lineal descent and could meet the enrollment criteria developed and approved by the tribe, why was it necessary to cause such disruption of tribal government and eventually break away to form its own government with separate enrollment criteria?
Was their breaking away from the Band to form their own government a concession that they in fact could not meet the enrollment criteria and they were not tribal members as defined in the Band’s governing documents?
7 comments:
The tribe is weak, as long as we get paid we keep our mouths shut.
"breaking away from the Band to form their own government"
This action alone makes them non eligible for Tribal citizenship. If you apply for membership in any other Tribe you can not apply for Pechanga membership
It amazes me that all the hoop la over blood lines and proving you belong to the tribe and they let a low life like Butch Murphey with not one drop of Pechanga blood in him not only become a tribal member but have a voice in who stays and who goes it a crime.
Its even more Amazing when the talk goes around that ALL Pechanga disenrolled want their back pay over the last 9 yrs. of disenrollment. Not ALL feel this way, just for the record. Some of us just want to be reenrolled and our families honored along with ALL our Ancestors. If the band doesn't want to make back pay, they can live with that. At least they honored the Whole band!
"At least they honored the Whole band!" and the Creator who put ALL our Ancestors here. Pechanga was created for ALL our Ancestors.
July 1, 2015 at 8:31 AM, this is one of Marks terror tactics. To make false statements like this. Scarring the Tribe so they will never let us back in
Ya if Mark had honored ALL band members he wouldn't have to make false statements ever. He could honor ALL members, Ancestors and live in the right way.
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