All is not well at the Pechanga Resort and Casino. Morale is down and an offer of used furniture to employees turns out to be NOT as advertised. Apparently, $30,000 per month is not enough for tribal members to buy NEW furniture, leaving employees with nothing
From a commenter:
For a few weeks, the casino touted the following in the employee newsletter; first notice the title- then how silly it is after being negated by the first bullet
JUST FOR TEAM MEMBERS
Surplus Sale for Team Members on Friday, July 17th from 9 AM to 4 PM in the Ballroom
- Sale is exclusive to Tribal Members on Thursday, July 16th from 9 AM to 5 PM in the Ballroom
- Available items are subject to quantities on hand and may include:
- From Hotel - exercise bikes, treadmills, sofa beds, lamps, nightstands, armoires, etc.
- From F & B - dinnerware, pots, pans and other cooking utensils or equipment and more!
- Acceptable payments include cash, check, credit cards, and payroll deduction spread over 2 pay periods"
Notice how the "sale" is exclusive to Tribal members before team members can attend. The sale for the team members today ended up being a joke and a slap in the face- it was like a dirty garage sale that had already been picked through. There was nothing of the sort except for strange odds and ends, dirty comforters, and one damaged piece of furniture.
A tribal member DID STOP BY to pick up a piece of exercise equipment that was being held for him... nevermind that he already has an exclusive huge new gym that he can go to for free on the reservation.
The day before- tribal members purchased everything of value that most team members couldn't otherwise afford.
I wish the tribals had thought about the people that earn their pay for them-- employees can't afford nice patio tables or exercise equipment like they could have gotten from this sale anywhere else. I wonder if the tribals paid sales tax?
WHAT A SAD JOKE! This should never have been touted as an employee event-- they just got the crumbs from the table.
To any tribal members that read this- it's ok. We forgive you. We'll keep smiling as you roll by in your new cars that you treat like trash; we'll keep offering our talents for compensation; we'll keep looking the other way when you drink too much and cause a scene, or treat us like we're under you; and even when you send that felon to visit us when we try to serve other guests when Silk reopens (no one likes his flirtation). We'll even continue picking up the slack after those layoffs that spread us way too thin, just so that you can enjoy your monthly paycheck of $30,000 (what'd you have taken away, $1000? $1500 that you complained about even after the layoffs?)
Here is your notice that the feeling from within all of the departments is far worse than it has ever been before. We feel fortunate to have a place that will compensate us for the services that we offer, but YOU need to remember that your reservation and the laws that you live by are governed by the United States of America, and the State of California. If you don't treat your people right, the country that surrounds yours may take another look at your compact.
The whole team member sale issue may seem trivial, but it truly represents the larger issue of this attitude of tribal superiority before the team. Just because you are in the minority doesn't mean that you are immune from being racist, and from the standpoint of many... MANY... that is exactly what you are doing by word and deed. Ask your employees how many times a tribal member has been inside the casino, complained about something, and then is threatened by that member e.g. ,"What's your name? What's your badge number? I'm going to get you fired. I'm a TRIBAL MEMBER."
That $30,000 paycheck isn't going to look so hot if all of your employees walk out. Good luck running the show without us. If you think it can't happen, or won't happen, think again. We can all take a sick day over the course of 24 hours- and since that last "doctors note" fiasco, we can all produce a valid reason for calling off. Even if you fired us all for it, that wouldn't look so hot to your biggest supporters, now would it?
You need to stop taking away--- now!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Phil Ivey Makes World Series of Poker Final Table
Congratulations to poker fans everywhere and especially ESPN's NORMAN CHAD, who always picks Phil Ivey to make the final table and win it all. We'll know in four months.
Some of the final nine players said the next four months will be an overabundance of attention and potential sponsorship opportunities. For others, the time off will translate into an opportunity to better their game. Some will watch the taped coverage of the main event on ESPN to see if they can pick up clues about their opponents.
"Study them? I don't know," said Phil Ivey of Las Vegas, easily the most recognizable name of the nine players. "I think they all know what they're doing. Anyone is capable of winning it."
Ivey, 33, has seven World Series of Poker individual event champion bracelets, 35 career cashes in the tournament and almost $3.5 million in career winnings. Two of his bracelets came this year. But Ivey had never made it to the final table in the main event.
"I'm just in a zone, playing really well," Ivey said.
He almost didn't survive Wednesday. Ivey entered play in fourth place. He quickly dropped to the bottom of the leader board, losing three successive pots worth some 10 million in tournament chips.
"I lost every hand I played," he said. "I got knocked down pretty quickly and just grinded my way back. I was just hanging around waiting for something good to happen."
Some of the final nine players said the next four months will be an overabundance of attention and potential sponsorship opportunities. For others, the time off will translate into an opportunity to better their game. Some will watch the taped coverage of the main event on ESPN to see if they can pick up clues about their opponents.
"Study them? I don't know," said Phil Ivey of Las Vegas, easily the most recognizable name of the nine players. "I think they all know what they're doing. Anyone is capable of winning it."
Ivey, 33, has seven World Series of Poker individual event champion bracelets, 35 career cashes in the tournament and almost $3.5 million in career winnings. Two of his bracelets came this year. But Ivey had never made it to the final table in the main event.
"I'm just in a zone, playing really well," Ivey said.
He almost didn't survive Wednesday. Ivey entered play in fourth place. He quickly dropped to the bottom of the leader board, losing three successive pots worth some 10 million in tournament chips.
"I lost every hand I played," he said. "I got knocked down pretty quickly and just grinded my way back. I was just hanging around waiting for something good to happen."
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Stanhoff: Native Businesses SHOULD Support Native Businessess
Tracy Stanhoff, former tribal chairperson of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and current head of the Native American Chamber of Commerce of CA, and owner of AD PRO recently had an opinion piece published in Indian Country Today. Native nations should be looking to support American Indian businesses. And Native businesses need to step up their game so that they are hireable.
Here's an excerpt:
Our frustrating Indian politics are derailing one of the greatest economic opportunities in the history of Indian country, the ability to parlay our success in tribal government gaming into a sustainable, diverse, prosperous Indian business community.
I have been blessed, and with more than two decades of persistent, hard work my business has obtained work from the nation’s most progressive associations, tribes, tribal enterprises and other American Indian businesses.
I have been honored to lead my tribe, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, as tribal chairwoman in our quest for true tribal gaming economic self-sufficiency, by transitioning our casino from non-Native corporate management to our own tribal corporate management through the creation of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Entertainment Corporation.
As an aside, I have also been able to interact on another level with Corporate America, participating on many community boards where we are integrated with the presidents and CEOs of major multi-billion dollar corporations.
So I can say that I have sat on “both sides of the table” as a tribal leader contracting for products and services, and as a business owner seeking work. I have also witnessed how others keep themselves economically healthy by circulating their money back to their own communities.
The two largest and most esteemed national American Indian fraternal organizations, the National Congress of American Indians and the National Indian Gaming Association, get it. They incorporate American Indian business usage into their organization’s supplier base.
One can argue that NCAI and NIGA could do more, but I know that they believe in our people and rotate projects around to qualified American Indians.
Read the rest of the article HERE and if you have a Native American business, you should consider joining the chamber. Networking is essential to growing your businesses and YOU MUST get into the game.
Here's an excerpt:
Our frustrating Indian politics are derailing one of the greatest economic opportunities in the history of Indian country, the ability to parlay our success in tribal government gaming into a sustainable, diverse, prosperous Indian business community.
I have been blessed, and with more than two decades of persistent, hard work my business has obtained work from the nation’s most progressive associations, tribes, tribal enterprises and other American Indian businesses.
I have been honored to lead my tribe, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, as tribal chairwoman in our quest for true tribal gaming economic self-sufficiency, by transitioning our casino from non-Native corporate management to our own tribal corporate management through the creation of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Entertainment Corporation.
As an aside, I have also been able to interact on another level with Corporate America, participating on many community boards where we are integrated with the presidents and CEOs of major multi-billion dollar corporations.
So I can say that I have sat on “both sides of the table” as a tribal leader contracting for products and services, and as a business owner seeking work. I have also witnessed how others keep themselves economically healthy by circulating their money back to their own communities.
The two largest and most esteemed national American Indian fraternal organizations, the National Congress of American Indians and the National Indian Gaming Association, get it. They incorporate American Indian business usage into their organization’s supplier base.
One can argue that NCAI and NIGA could do more, but I know that they believe in our people and rotate projects around to qualified American Indians.
Read the rest of the article HERE and if you have a Native American business, you should consider joining the chamber. Networking is essential to growing your businesses and YOU MUST get into the game.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Will The NEW Obama Care be as Good as Indian Health Services?
The AP has the story:
On some reservations, the oft-quoted refrain is “don’t get sick after June,” when the federal dollars run out. It’s a sick joke, and a sad one, because it’s sometimes true, especially on the poorest reservations where residents cannot afford health insurance. Officials say they have about half of what they need to operate, and patients know they must be dying or about to lose a limb to get serious care.
Wealthier tribes can supplement the federal health service budget with their own money. OP: Unfortunately, MANY wealthy gaming tribes in California are cutting people out of their rightful healthcare via tribal termination of membership status. They are forcing MANY onto the inhumane government health care.
But poorer tribes, often those on the most remote reservations, far away from city hospitals, are stuck with grossly substandard care. The agency itself describes a “rationed health care system.”
The sad fact is an old fact, too.
The U.S. has an obligation, based on a 1787 agreement between tribes and the government, to provide American Indians with free health care on reservations. But that promise has not been kept. About one-third more is spent per capita on health care for felons in federal prison, according to 2005 data from the health service.
HOTAIR has more.
On some reservations, the oft-quoted refrain is “don’t get sick after June,” when the federal dollars run out. It’s a sick joke, and a sad one, because it’s sometimes true, especially on the poorest reservations where residents cannot afford health insurance. Officials say they have about half of what they need to operate, and patients know they must be dying or about to lose a limb to get serious care.
Wealthier tribes can supplement the federal health service budget with their own money. OP: Unfortunately, MANY wealthy gaming tribes in California are cutting people out of their rightful healthcare via tribal termination of membership status. They are forcing MANY onto the inhumane government health care.
But poorer tribes, often those on the most remote reservations, far away from city hospitals, are stuck with grossly substandard care. The agency itself describes a “rationed health care system.”
The sad fact is an old fact, too.
The U.S. has an obligation, based on a 1787 agreement between tribes and the government, to provide American Indians with free health care on reservations. But that promise has not been kept. About one-third more is spent per capita on health care for felons in federal prison, according to 2005 data from the health service.
HOTAIR has more.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Agua Caliente to HOST American Indian Chamber of Commerce EXPO
Agua Caliente, home of the fabulous Steakhouse restaurant, will host this weeks Native American Chamber of Commerce Expo:
EXPO'09 is known as "Indian Country's Best Value & Return For Your Time In A Business Conference." This event provides American Indian business attendees with presentations and ONE on ONE access to California's top Tribal Leaders, Corporations and Government/Municipal Agencies.
Our tribal enterprise, corporate and agency partners know that this event is where to find top-knotch, verified American Indian businesses who can do any job right the first time in a cost effective manner.
The Chamber's Mission:
The primary goal of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California is to provide opportunities for networking and support of American Indian business people in California. This includes providing:
• a mentor environment for those individuals beginning
new endeavors
• a vehicle for education
• an opportunity for networking
• a conduit for growth opportunities among
American Indian business
DO YOU HAVE A NATIVE AMERICAN OWNED BUSINESS? Consider joining the Chamber.
EXPO'09 is known as "Indian Country's Best Value & Return For Your Time In A Business Conference." This event provides American Indian business attendees with presentations and ONE on ONE access to California's top Tribal Leaders, Corporations and Government/Municipal Agencies.
Our tribal enterprise, corporate and agency partners know that this event is where to find top-knotch, verified American Indian businesses who can do any job right the first time in a cost effective manner.
The Chamber's Mission:
The primary goal of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California is to provide opportunities for networking and support of American Indian business people in California. This includes providing:
• a mentor environment for those individuals beginning
new endeavors
• a vehicle for education
• an opportunity for networking
• a conduit for growth opportunities among
American Indian business
DO YOU HAVE A NATIVE AMERICAN OWNED BUSINESS? Consider joining the Chamber.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
July 25th, Cherokee Freedmen Meeting
The Freedmen Band of Cherokee nation of Oklahoma will meet Saturday July 25, 2009 at the West Side Community Center, 501 S Bucy, Bartlesville Oklahoma at 12 noon. The meeting is free and open to the general public. We ask that meeting attendants bring a covered dish to share with other meeting attendants.
Why is this important to black Cherokee freedmen people?
Come hear about how join the fight to protect your legal treaty rights from being demolished by Cherokee freedmen leaders. Learn the latest about ongoing actions in Congress to protect the freedmen peoples rights, the Vann and Nash lawsuits, tribal services, tribal voting, etc.
Who should come?
Any registered Cherokee freedmen, unregistered Cherokee freedmen, or any member of the general public who is interested in hearing more about the racial discrimination suffered by the black Cherokee freedmen people cased by actions of the Cherokee nation leadership. The meeting is open to people of any race, creed,
Protect YOUR treaty rights to tribal membership, as well as associated services and economic rights. Join the Fight against Racism. Dont let your history be rewritten.
For more information contact:
Marilyn Vann 405-818-5360 or 405-227-9810 email: mkvann@yahoo.com
Vicki Baker 918-798-0771
Ruth Nash 918- 333-9683
Why is this important to black Cherokee freedmen people?
Come hear about how join the fight to protect your legal treaty rights from being demolished by Cherokee freedmen leaders. Learn the latest about ongoing actions in Congress to protect the freedmen peoples rights, the Vann and Nash lawsuits, tribal services, tribal voting, etc.
Who should come?
Any registered Cherokee freedmen, unregistered Cherokee freedmen, or any member of the general public who is interested in hearing more about the racial discrimination suffered by the black Cherokee freedmen people cased by actions of the Cherokee nation leadership. The meeting is open to people of any race, creed,
Protect YOUR treaty rights to tribal membership, as well as associated services and economic rights. Join the Fight against Racism. Dont let your history be rewritten.
For more information contact:
Marilyn Vann 405-818-5360 or 405-227-9810 email: mkvann@yahoo.com
Vicki Baker 918-798-0771
Ruth Nash 918- 333-9683
Cracking the Tribal Sovereignty Dam
Did you know that if you are injured on Tribal land that you can only sue if the tribe gives you that right? Here, it looks like the state courts are expanding jurisdiction in Oklahoma, giving citizens who are harmed the right to sue.
In a ruling that a Choctaw Nation attorney called a blow to tribal sovereignty, a split Oklahoma Supreme Court has held in two cases that lawsuits against Choctaw casinos can be brought in state courts as well as tribal courts.
“I’ve been representing Indian tribes for 40 years, and this is probably the single most difficult blow for tribal sovereignty that I have ever seen in my career,” said Choctaw counsel Bob Rabon. “These tribes have never been subject to state court jurisdiction.”
The court’s decisions came in two lawsuit filed by individuals claiming they were injured at the Choctaw Casino at Pocola. The rulings track with justices’ recent opinion in the Cossey case, which involved a lawsuit against Cherokee Nation Enterprises.
Rabon represented the Choctaw Nation in the case involving Danny and Pat Dye of Lavaca, Ark. Danny Dye alleged that he was injured in December 2005 when he was hit by a casino shuttle cart.
“This gaming is conducted on Indian country, the tribes’ Indian country,” Rabon said.
Previously, he said, no court has attempted to exercise jurisdiction over a tribe’s activities on its own land.
Read the rest of the story HERE
In a ruling that a Choctaw Nation attorney called a blow to tribal sovereignty, a split Oklahoma Supreme Court has held in two cases that lawsuits against Choctaw casinos can be brought in state courts as well as tribal courts.
“I’ve been representing Indian tribes for 40 years, and this is probably the single most difficult blow for tribal sovereignty that I have ever seen in my career,” said Choctaw counsel Bob Rabon. “These tribes have never been subject to state court jurisdiction.”
The court’s decisions came in two lawsuit filed by individuals claiming they were injured at the Choctaw Casino at Pocola. The rulings track with justices’ recent opinion in the Cossey case, which involved a lawsuit against Cherokee Nation Enterprises.
Rabon represented the Choctaw Nation in the case involving Danny and Pat Dye of Lavaca, Ark. Danny Dye alleged that he was injured in December 2005 when he was hit by a casino shuttle cart.
“This gaming is conducted on Indian country, the tribes’ Indian country,” Rabon said.
Previously, he said, no court has attempted to exercise jurisdiction over a tribe’s activities on its own land.
Read the rest of the story HERE
Friday, July 3, 2009
Letter to our U.S.Attorney General Eric Holder on Indian Civil Rights
The Honorable Eric Holder
United States Attorney General
Department of Justice Building
950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20530
Dear Attorney General Holder:
I respectfully submit this letter urging the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to commence a full-scale investigation into the gross civil and human rights violations which have infected California Indian Country
Throughout California Indian Country, tribal officials have taken actions which have denied and/or stripped thousands of California Indians of their membership status and denied them access to federal benefits and programs in the areas of housing, education, health, voting and public works assistance. In some instances, the illegal actions occurred decades ago, however, there has been a marked increase since Indian Gaming was approved and later expanded in California.
Tribal leaders justify their right to systematically deny civil rights and expel their citizens under the guise of tribal sovereignty. Tribal leaders have routinely committed acts to deny Indian individuals due process; equal protection of tribal, state, and federal laws; property interest rights; and voting rights. Theses actions have been carried out in gross violation of laws enacted to guarantee and protect the rights of the individual Indian.
We can no longer allow those who oppose upholding the civil and voting rights of thousands of California Indians to claim that this is a sovereignty issue that rests solely within the domain of tribal courts and tribal law. Few California Tribes actually have tribal courts. Therefore, in most cases, the tribal government officials responsible for the violations of law are the very same people who pass judgment as to whether or not laws have been violated - they are the judge and jury all rolled into one.
The United States has a trust responsibility to the thousands of California Indians whose civil and voting rights have been infringed upon. And, in recognition of the special status of California Indians, Congress passed California Enrollment Act of 1928 in which certain rights were guaranteed to California Indians and their lineal descendents. 25 U.S.C. § 651.
Unfortunately, the Bureau of Indian Affairs has failed to exercise this responsibility and has allowed tribal leaders to continue to commit violations unabated. Therefore, I believe that the DOJ has the legal and moral responsibility to investigate and prosecute such violations of basic rights.
I therefore urge you to direct the DOJ Civil Rights Division to initiate an investigation into the gross rights violations described above. In addition, I trust that any investigation would not be short-circuited by those who would claim tribal sovereignty as a justification for inaction.
Respectfully submitted,
United States Attorney General
Department of Justice Building
950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20530
Dear Attorney General Holder:
I respectfully submit this letter urging the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to commence a full-scale investigation into the gross civil and human rights violations which have infected California Indian Country
Throughout California Indian Country, tribal officials have taken actions which have denied and/or stripped thousands of California Indians of their membership status and denied them access to federal benefits and programs in the areas of housing, education, health, voting and public works assistance. In some instances, the illegal actions occurred decades ago, however, there has been a marked increase since Indian Gaming was approved and later expanded in California.
Tribal leaders justify their right to systematically deny civil rights and expel their citizens under the guise of tribal sovereignty. Tribal leaders have routinely committed acts to deny Indian individuals due process; equal protection of tribal, state, and federal laws; property interest rights; and voting rights. Theses actions have been carried out in gross violation of laws enacted to guarantee and protect the rights of the individual Indian.
We can no longer allow those who oppose upholding the civil and voting rights of thousands of California Indians to claim that this is a sovereignty issue that rests solely within the domain of tribal courts and tribal law. Few California Tribes actually have tribal courts. Therefore, in most cases, the tribal government officials responsible for the violations of law are the very same people who pass judgment as to whether or not laws have been violated - they are the judge and jury all rolled into one.
The United States has a trust responsibility to the thousands of California Indians whose civil and voting rights have been infringed upon. And, in recognition of the special status of California Indians, Congress passed California Enrollment Act of 1928 in which certain rights were guaranteed to California Indians and their lineal descendents. 25 U.S.C. § 651.
Unfortunately, the Bureau of Indian Affairs has failed to exercise this responsibility and has allowed tribal leaders to continue to commit violations unabated. Therefore, I believe that the DOJ has the legal and moral responsibility to investigate and prosecute such violations of basic rights.
I therefore urge you to direct the DOJ Civil Rights Division to initiate an investigation into the gross rights violations described above. In addition, I trust that any investigation would not be short-circuited by those who would claim tribal sovereignty as a justification for inaction.
Respectfully submitted,
Thursday, July 2, 2009
With Revenue Slowing, Pechanga to Re-Open Nightclub That Closed Due to Alcohol Related "Incidents"
As the economy continues to hurt business, and of course the continued lack of patrons due to Pechanga's treatment of their tribal members and families, they look to re-open the Silk Nightclub.
We discussed the issue back in March 2008 HERE. There were fights, thuggish behavior by young tribal members.
We already know that security guards beat up senior customers but now, they will attract that thug element again and make the venue even more unsafe for seniors. Then again, with falling revenue, who cares?
When in doubt about how Pechanga treats its customers, like Richard Swan, or it's members, like the Manuela Miranda family, the Hunters and the many, many caught up in it's illegal moratorium, it's better to AVOID Pechanga.
Let them know that you are NOT patronizing them because of their policies. IF they will cheat their own people, they will cheat YOU.
We discussed the issue back in March 2008 HERE. There were fights, thuggish behavior by young tribal members.
We already know that security guards beat up senior customers but now, they will attract that thug element again and make the venue even more unsafe for seniors. Then again, with falling revenue, who cares?
When in doubt about how Pechanga treats its customers, like Richard Swan, or it's members, like the Manuela Miranda family, the Hunters and the many, many caught up in it's illegal moratorium, it's better to AVOID Pechanga.
Let them know that you are NOT patronizing them because of their policies. IF they will cheat their own people, they will cheat YOU.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Answering the Deluded Pechanga Members Statements
Our cousin Aamokat answers a Concerned Pechanga Person who claims the facts weren't on our side:
Even Chairman Mark Macarro said that he heard an estimation of 90 percent but he said that was inconclusive.
So he was in effect saying there was a 90 percent probability that we the Hunters are Pechanga Indians but that wasn't good enough?
It couldn't have been a 90 percent probability against our claim of being true Pechanga Indians because all sides acknowledge that our family were on the first census records of the reservation when it was created in the late 1800's and we can prove through probate records that Indians of the period verified our family lived with the people on the original reservation as well as before they moved to the reservation.
Our resident critic will try to say that these Indians where only saying our family were their neighbors and not that we were Pechanga.
However, it is very clear that Pechanga elder Dolores Tortuga included my ancestor Paulina Hunter in the inclusive "we Pechanga Indians" when she tesitfied in the 1915 probate hearings by saying in response to the examiner's question below:
"Were you acquainted with the deceased Pechanga Indian allottee Paulina Hunter?"
Tortuga responded by saying, "yes, I knew her as a neighbor when WE PECHANGA INDIANS lived on the Pauba Ranch near Temecula, California."
Tortuga's testimony was collaborated by Pechanga elder Jose David Rodriguez who added that he knew Paulina Hunter as a neighbor on the Pechanga reservation.
Also, all sides agree that our family has a land patent as Temecula Indians from the U.S. government.
So we own trust land on the Pechanga reservation and many of our family members still live there.
The following excerpt is taken from the official Pechanga Web site concering vaunted (much praised) Pechanga elder Antonio Ashman's recounting of the Temecula Indian eviction of 1875.
The late Antonio Ashman, a vaunted Pechanga Tribal member born three years after the eviction recounted how the eviction-trek ended: "They just dumped them here"— pointing to a low hill near the golf-course. "Just dumped them!"
So why is this significant in showing that we are Pechanga people?
Because prior to the first written enrollment of 1978 our family got none other than Antonio Ashman to vouch for our family as Pechanga people.
And he said in a written notarized statement when he was asked, "did you know Paulina Hunter as a member of the Band."
His response was, "yes, I knew her as such."
Mr. Ashman went on to say he remembered her being called aunt by tribal member Martin Berdugo and that she used to stay in the home of tribal members Salvador and Micheala Quilig and that he heard they were related.
In the first enrollment application of 1978 there was a supplement sheet that listed ways people could prove they were Pechanga.
One of those acceptable ways was to be vouched for by a recognized tribal member and what better person to stand up for our family than to have Antonio Ashman stand up for us!
In addition, seven current tribal elders gave notarized written statements that we are Pechanga people.
Five are listed as being reviewed by the enrollment committee in our Record of Decision and two were turned in during our appeal to the tribal council.
But the committee ignored the testimony in our support in favor of letters and statements from members of the CPP faction of the tribe who said we are not Pechanga people.
Folks those letters and statements from the CPP faction and the fact that are some missing historical documents from the mid 1800s that Dr. John Johnson, Pechanga's own hired expert on the linage of the Hunter family said that no family could find, was the only so called evidence that was submitted against my family in our disenrollment proceedings.
By the way, Dr. Johnson came to the conclusion that my family are Pechanga Indians.
So there is more than enough evidence that should have satisfied any reasonable person's questions regarding my family's heritage.
Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro said at a 2005 general membership meeting that we should listen to what elders like Antonio Ashman said.
So Macarro and the the tribal officials believe what Mr. Ashman had to say about the eviction from the old Temecula Indian village but they don't believe what Mr. Ashman said when he verified that my ancestor was a Pechanga Indian?
Remember, Mr. Ashman is still called a vaunted tribal elder on Pechanga's own official Web site.
So gentle readers, as our resident critic likes to call visitors to this site, do you believe our critic or Antonio Ashman?
Remember, Mr. Ashman passed away before any of us ever got a penny of per capita money and our critic got a raise when we were kicked out of the tribe.
Here is WHO PECHANGA BELIEVED
Even Chairman Mark Macarro said that he heard an estimation of 90 percent but he said that was inconclusive.
So he was in effect saying there was a 90 percent probability that we the Hunters are Pechanga Indians but that wasn't good enough?
It couldn't have been a 90 percent probability against our claim of being true Pechanga Indians because all sides acknowledge that our family were on the first census records of the reservation when it was created in the late 1800's and we can prove through probate records that Indians of the period verified our family lived with the people on the original reservation as well as before they moved to the reservation.
Our resident critic will try to say that these Indians where only saying our family were their neighbors and not that we were Pechanga.
However, it is very clear that Pechanga elder Dolores Tortuga included my ancestor Paulina Hunter in the inclusive "we Pechanga Indians" when she tesitfied in the 1915 probate hearings by saying in response to the examiner's question below:
"Were you acquainted with the deceased Pechanga Indian allottee Paulina Hunter?"
Tortuga responded by saying, "yes, I knew her as a neighbor when WE PECHANGA INDIANS lived on the Pauba Ranch near Temecula, California."
Tortuga's testimony was collaborated by Pechanga elder Jose David Rodriguez who added that he knew Paulina Hunter as a neighbor on the Pechanga reservation.
Also, all sides agree that our family has a land patent as Temecula Indians from the U.S. government.
So we own trust land on the Pechanga reservation and many of our family members still live there.
The following excerpt is taken from the official Pechanga Web site concering vaunted (much praised) Pechanga elder Antonio Ashman's recounting of the Temecula Indian eviction of 1875.
The late Antonio Ashman, a vaunted Pechanga Tribal member born three years after the eviction recounted how the eviction-trek ended: "They just dumped them here"— pointing to a low hill near the golf-course. "Just dumped them!"
So why is this significant in showing that we are Pechanga people?
Because prior to the first written enrollment of 1978 our family got none other than Antonio Ashman to vouch for our family as Pechanga people.
And he said in a written notarized statement when he was asked, "did you know Paulina Hunter as a member of the Band."
His response was, "yes, I knew her as such."
Mr. Ashman went on to say he remembered her being called aunt by tribal member Martin Berdugo and that she used to stay in the home of tribal members Salvador and Micheala Quilig and that he heard they were related.
In the first enrollment application of 1978 there was a supplement sheet that listed ways people could prove they were Pechanga.
One of those acceptable ways was to be vouched for by a recognized tribal member and what better person to stand up for our family than to have Antonio Ashman stand up for us!
In addition, seven current tribal elders gave notarized written statements that we are Pechanga people.
Five are listed as being reviewed by the enrollment committee in our Record of Decision and two were turned in during our appeal to the tribal council.
But the committee ignored the testimony in our support in favor of letters and statements from members of the CPP faction of the tribe who said we are not Pechanga people.
Folks those letters and statements from the CPP faction and the fact that are some missing historical documents from the mid 1800s that Dr. John Johnson, Pechanga's own hired expert on the linage of the Hunter family said that no family could find, was the only so called evidence that was submitted against my family in our disenrollment proceedings.
By the way, Dr. Johnson came to the conclusion that my family are Pechanga Indians.
So there is more than enough evidence that should have satisfied any reasonable person's questions regarding my family's heritage.
Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro said at a 2005 general membership meeting that we should listen to what elders like Antonio Ashman said.
So Macarro and the the tribal officials believe what Mr. Ashman had to say about the eviction from the old Temecula Indian village but they don't believe what Mr. Ashman said when he verified that my ancestor was a Pechanga Indian?
Remember, Mr. Ashman is still called a vaunted tribal elder on Pechanga's own official Web site.
So gentle readers, as our resident critic likes to call visitors to this site, do you believe our critic or Antonio Ashman?
Remember, Mr. Ashman passed away before any of us ever got a penny of per capita money and our critic got a raise when we were kicked out of the tribe.
Here is WHO PECHANGA BELIEVED
Just WHO is a Native American Indian? UPDATE: Pechanga doesn't like it
UPDATE: Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro's cousin doesn't like this article. In fact, he gives it his "moron alert". That means it left a mark, even though there are some inaccuracies with this story. Dr. Johnson was PAID BY PECHANGA to research the HUNTER family and HE PROVED us Pechanga.
Jim Marino of the Santa Ynez Valley Journal asks the question. And calls out Pechanga of Temecula in the article. Pechanga has said, "Yes, we know that people who LIVED in the 1880 Temecula era SWORE that your ancestor was a Pechanga, but we'd rather believe an imprisoned child molestor than a vaunted elder"
Jim writes:
With the rise of Indian gambling casinos all over the country — and in particular those 60 casinos in California with more on the way — the question naturally arises: Who exactly qualifies to call themselves an “Indian”?
The basic answer to what appears to be a simple question is that an “Indian” is whoever the particular tribe says is an Indian. Now any person can claim to be part Indian, just as many say they are part Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. OP: Basically, tribes like Pechanga, Redding, Picayune, San Pascual, Enterprise are making a laughing stock of tribal history.
Pechanga portion:
One such vivid example here in California occurred at the Pechanga tribe, another massive and profitable gambling casino between Riverside and San Diego. Once boasting about 900 members, in one fell swoop, tribal Chairman Mark Macarro disenrolled an entire extended family, the Gomez family, in a move commonly recognized as an effort to fatten the profits for the remaining members and families.
To sell this disenrollment to other suspicious tribal members, who suspected Macarro’s true motives, he paid for and commissioned an ethnological investigator from here in Santa Barbara County, John R. Johnson, curator of anthropology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. He is a renowned authority on California Indians and was hired at the tribe’s considerable expense.
His thorough investigation and report to the Pechanga tribal government concluded, essentially, that the Gomez extended family was as much entitled to enrollment as anyone else. The tribal government promptly dismissed his report out of hand, ignoring his findings. To this day, the Gomez family has not been re-enrolled. Because Indian tribes are allowed to disregard the U.S. Constitution, even though tribal members are, by law, U.S. citizens, the Gomez family has no legal recourse.
Thank you Jim, and please keep reading the Santa Ynez Valley Journal.
Jim Marino of the Santa Ynez Valley Journal asks the question. And calls out Pechanga of Temecula in the article. Pechanga has said, "Yes, we know that people who LIVED in the 1880 Temecula era SWORE that your ancestor was a Pechanga, but we'd rather believe an imprisoned child molestor than a vaunted elder"
Jim writes:
With the rise of Indian gambling casinos all over the country — and in particular those 60 casinos in California with more on the way — the question naturally arises: Who exactly qualifies to call themselves an “Indian”?
The basic answer to what appears to be a simple question is that an “Indian” is whoever the particular tribe says is an Indian. Now any person can claim to be part Indian, just as many say they are part Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. OP: Basically, tribes like Pechanga, Redding, Picayune, San Pascual, Enterprise are making a laughing stock of tribal history.
Pechanga portion:
One such vivid example here in California occurred at the Pechanga tribe, another massive and profitable gambling casino between Riverside and San Diego. Once boasting about 900 members, in one fell swoop, tribal Chairman Mark Macarro disenrolled an entire extended family, the Gomez family, in a move commonly recognized as an effort to fatten the profits for the remaining members and families.
To sell this disenrollment to other suspicious tribal members, who suspected Macarro’s true motives, he paid for and commissioned an ethnological investigator from here in Santa Barbara County, John R. Johnson, curator of anthropology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. He is a renowned authority on California Indians and was hired at the tribe’s considerable expense.
His thorough investigation and report to the Pechanga tribal government concluded, essentially, that the Gomez extended family was as much entitled to enrollment as anyone else. The tribal government promptly dismissed his report out of hand, ignoring his findings. To this day, the Gomez family has not been re-enrolled. Because Indian tribes are allowed to disregard the U.S. Constitution, even though tribal members are, by law, U.S. citizens, the Gomez family has no legal recourse.
Thank you Jim, and please keep reading the Santa Ynez Valley Journal.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
KCET and PBS doing a story on Illegal Pechanga Disenrollments
Great news for THOUSANDS of California's Native Americans who have suffered under regime's like that of Mark Macarro and Andrew Masiel and the Masiel/Basquez Crime Family of Pechanga.
From Val Zavala's blog on KCET
This weekend I headed out to Temecula to begin shooting a most interesting story. It's about how some wealthy Indian tribes are kicking out certain members claiming they do not have proper ancestry. But long-standing members who have been kicked out say the "disenrollments" are due to political differences. Also at play -- money. Disenrollments mean fewer tribe members, and fewer members mean more money from gambling revenues for the remaining members. More than $30,000 a month.
The Pechanga Tribal Council is led by a familiar face, Mark Macarro. He's the telegenic Native American who appears in political commercials for Indian gaming propositions. The leader of the "disenrolled" is John Gomez. (See photo of John and family.) He says under Macarro's leadership hundreds of long-standing Pechanga members have been kicked out.
Tribal membership has gone from about 1200 to about 800. Monthly payments from gambling revenues have gone from about $25,000/ month to more than $30K per adult tribe member. No work required.
Much credit to USC News21 journalism student, Brian Frank, who first pitched the story and has done all the research. Thanks, Brian!
Brian and Val, THANK you for bringing this story forward, in this time of financial crisis for many in CA's Indian Country.
From Val Zavala's blog on KCET
This weekend I headed out to Temecula to begin shooting a most interesting story. It's about how some wealthy Indian tribes are kicking out certain members claiming they do not have proper ancestry. But long-standing members who have been kicked out say the "disenrollments" are due to political differences. Also at play -- money. Disenrollments mean fewer tribe members, and fewer members mean more money from gambling revenues for the remaining members. More than $30,000 a month.
The Pechanga Tribal Council is led by a familiar face, Mark Macarro. He's the telegenic Native American who appears in political commercials for Indian gaming propositions. The leader of the "disenrolled" is John Gomez. (See photo of John and family.) He says under Macarro's leadership hundreds of long-standing Pechanga members have been kicked out.
Tribal membership has gone from about 1200 to about 800. Monthly payments from gambling revenues have gone from about $25,000/ month to more than $30K per adult tribe member. No work required.
Much credit to USC News21 journalism student, Brian Frank, who first pitched the story and has done all the research. Thanks, Brian!
Brian and Val, THANK you for bringing this story forward, in this time of financial crisis for many in CA's Indian Country.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Pechanga Tribe Motion to Dismiss DENIED. Case Moves Forward.
Here's the latest from the Joe Liska vs. Donna Barron of Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians:
The hearing on June 22 is postponed..
The Judge in this case denied Pechanga's motion to have the lawsuit dismissed. The defendant Donna Barron's claim, that the paperwork was served late
was disputed by the proccess server, who while attempting to serve papers was escorted out of the Reservation by the Tribes lawyers.
OP: Pechanga Tribe trying to keep justice from moving forward, imagine that? Remember, they tried to keep the people of California from voting on increases in slot machines?
The Judge will make a ruling in 2 weeks, and if the case
goes forward then the next hearing will be on July 27.
The hearing on June 22 is postponed..
The Judge in this case denied Pechanga's motion to have the lawsuit dismissed. The defendant Donna Barron's claim, that the paperwork was served late
was disputed by the proccess server, who while attempting to serve papers was escorted out of the Reservation by the Tribes lawyers.
OP: Pechanga Tribe trying to keep justice from moving forward, imagine that? Remember, they tried to keep the people of California from voting on increases in slot machines?
The Judge will make a ruling in 2 weeks, and if the case
goes forward then the next hearing will be on July 27.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Politicians Touched by Tribes, Out of Touch with Main Street?
Santa Barbara Attorney Jim Marino has an interesting column up on the leverage that California's Gaming tribes have on our state congress. These include tribes like Enterprise Rancheria, Pechanga, Redding Rancheria and Picayune Rancheria that have stepped all over the civil and human rights of some of their members, denying them voting rights, elder care and access to their homelands.
Pay to play
The pay to play mentality has never been more prevalent than it is today. The historic special interests have been around a long time: unions, big business, medical and legal based associations, prison guards and a number of others.
The newest players are the handful of Indian casino groups, some with only one or two “tribal members,” many with questionable tribal identities and who have been allowed to build and operate full blown class III gambling casinos on land that is not eligible for Indian gambling under federal law.
On any given day you can see these casino Indians arriving in Sacramento in their private jet planes bearing gifts in the guise of political contributions to those willing legislators and officials with hands extended.
Just a few of the many, many examples have had direct impacts on local communities and more can be expected
When the voters approved Proposition 1A in March 2000, few understood that they were not just amending the Constitution, Art. 4, sec. 19, to authorize the governor to negotiate gambling compacts with federally recognized Indian tribes or bands.
Rather, the voter approval in effect ratified the 59 tribal-state compacts executed by Gov. Gray Davis without existing authority and approved by the legislators in October 1999.
THE MONEY SECTION of the ARTICLE
Friends in high places
The state of California and Gov. Schwarzenegger could have required these tribes, offering these machines for play like the casino at San Pablo, Calif., to pay significant money to the state and further to follow rules of operation established by the state in that compact.
At the 11th hour, state Senator Jim Battin from the Palm Springs area wrote a letter urging Commissioner Hogen and the National Indian Gaming Commission not to change the rule, and he got 20 other senators to sign that letter.
The rule was not changed.
So here is a state senator urging a federal agency not to change a rule that would have been a benefit to the state is supposed to represent.
Senator Battin has funneled thousands of dollars in Indian casino monies to his political colleagues in Sacramento through his “Friends of Jim Battin” committees, (lending new meaning to the expression “it pays to have friends”).
When his campaign financing practices ran afoul of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, he set up the “Jim Battin Defense Fund,” funded, of course, by Indian casino money.
Pay to play
The pay to play mentality has never been more prevalent than it is today. The historic special interests have been around a long time: unions, big business, medical and legal based associations, prison guards and a number of others.
The newest players are the handful of Indian casino groups, some with only one or two “tribal members,” many with questionable tribal identities and who have been allowed to build and operate full blown class III gambling casinos on land that is not eligible for Indian gambling under federal law.
On any given day you can see these casino Indians arriving in Sacramento in their private jet planes bearing gifts in the guise of political contributions to those willing legislators and officials with hands extended.
Just a few of the many, many examples have had direct impacts on local communities and more can be expected
When the voters approved Proposition 1A in March 2000, few understood that they were not just amending the Constitution, Art. 4, sec. 19, to authorize the governor to negotiate gambling compacts with federally recognized Indian tribes or bands.
Rather, the voter approval in effect ratified the 59 tribal-state compacts executed by Gov. Gray Davis without existing authority and approved by the legislators in October 1999.
THE MONEY SECTION of the ARTICLE
Friends in high places
The state of California and Gov. Schwarzenegger could have required these tribes, offering these machines for play like the casino at San Pablo, Calif., to pay significant money to the state and further to follow rules of operation established by the state in that compact.
At the 11th hour, state Senator Jim Battin from the Palm Springs area wrote a letter urging Commissioner Hogen and the National Indian Gaming Commission not to change the rule, and he got 20 other senators to sign that letter.
The rule was not changed.
So here is a state senator urging a federal agency not to change a rule that would have been a benefit to the state is supposed to represent.
Senator Battin has funneled thousands of dollars in Indian casino monies to his political colleagues in Sacramento through his “Friends of Jim Battin” committees, (lending new meaning to the expression “it pays to have friends”).
When his campaign financing practices ran afoul of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, he set up the “Jim Battin Defense Fund,” funded, of course, by Indian casino money.
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