Rep. RAUL GRIJALVA SUPPORTS Pechanga THEFT of Water Rights for Swimming Pools

In a recent report to congress on Native American Water Rights, Rep. Raul Grijalva discussed the Republicans in the House Resources committee not passing water settlement bills.  He compares the Blackfeet water bill, needed for irrigation and drinking, to the Pechanga bill, which is needed for new casino swimming pools.

Apparently Rep. Grijalva isn't paying attention to what Pechanga is doing, or is complicit.

Read these articles to learn MORE
Pechanga Water Bill Cheat Allottees of Reservation
BIA and DOI NEGLIGENT in Water Rights Bill
Letter to House Nat Resources on Pechanga Water Bill
Temecula Indians in DC to OPPOSE Pechanga Water Bill
BIA Director Dutschke RECOGNIZES Trust Responsibility

PAY ATTENTION RAUL:

The Department of the Interior recognizes that allottees have water rights on allotted lands and that the United States has a trust responsibility, independent of any responsibility to the Pechanga Band, to protect those interests.

The Department is currently reviewing the proposed settlement legislation and its effect on allottees within the Reservation.

Please remember that the Hunter family is one of the few original allottees to maintain their land on the reservation.  We have homes on the original 20 acres we were allotted in 1895.  We were part of the Temecula Band of Luiseno Indians, which somehow disappeared and became the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, which has FEW allottees in the tribe. 

Stop comparing Pechanga to much needed water bills elsewhere..you're embarrassing yourself.  We have concerns, having had our tribal citizenship terminated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians.  Many of our family reside on an original Pechanga allotment of land granted to us by President McKinley.

We believe that no entity that participates in, supports, or otherwise partakes in human and/or civil rights violations should benefit from the public trust.  And this bill, as written certainly gives Pechanga benefits that we seem to be excluded from. 

Please help us clarify WHY the tribe wants definitions of allottees changed?  Here is the draft of the first water rights bill of 2010 (which could be taken to mean purchaser of reservation land, whether Indian or not: