Big 4 Gambling Deals – A Bad Deal For Education And For California--“No” on 94, 95, 96 and 97

One area that's frustratingly not mentioned is the fact that PECHANGA has violated the civil rights of their people. They have taken away their voting rights, health coverage and elder care.
Pechanga Chairman Macarro PROMISED in his Prop 1A and Prop 5 commercials that they would be able to take care of the tribe.
Instead, Pechanga is a shrinking tribe, with 25% LESS members now.
DO NOT REWARD a tribe that practices paper genocide California.
Do NOT ALLOW Pechanga to fool you with their commercials. Why would a tribe have to spend MILLIONS of dollars convincing you that they are nice people? Please check out my blog.

1. The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians' tribal council has acted unconstitutionally (Pechanga Constitution) in allowing an illegal moratorium. Saying it was the "will of the people" in a vote.
2. The "will of the people" was again exercised in voting to halt ALL Disenrollments. The council said the will of the people didn't matter and allowed another 10% of their tribe to be forcibly eliminated.
3. Pechanga's tribal council violated the civil rights of CA's citizens by not allowing due process.
4. Pechanga has stripped over 230 adult members of their rightful per capita, health care and elder care, PLUS the educational assistance for the 100+ youth. Now CA absorbs much of that cost.
5. VOTE NO on 94, until Pechanga does what's right. Don't give a nation that denies it's peoples civil rights billions.

That's right. In the Pechanga backed commercials, they claim 9 BILLION will go to the state. For that to happen 18 BILLION will go to the four tribes, and since Pechanga is 40% of that: over $7 BILLION to a nation that has mistreated their people.

Don't DO it!

I wonder if President Hittelman would have ANY concern for what is happening in Indian Country had these compacts included money for schools?
Marty, would you throw the thousands of Native Americans who have lost their rights to vote, healthcare, senior care under the bus if schools would be getting a piece of the pie?
What is your stand against what tribes are doing to their OWN people in the name of greed? Do you care?

How much money are california's schools losing out on now that thousands of students are no longer considered "Indian" and therefore the school districts cannot get federal money for their attendance? How many millions of dollars are our schools losing out on over the course of their education- from K thru 12th grade? How many millions will be unrealized over the life of these compacts because thousands upon thousands of students cannot claim their Indian status due to gross human and civil rights violations carried out by gaming tribes like Pechanga? Don't be duped again. Get the facts on the compacts and the real social and economic impacts the growing number of human and civil rights violations will have on California taxpayers. Even if the pie in the sky ammount of $9 billion is met, is that enough to cover the costs incurred by the actions of some tribal governments. How much are the rights of California's citizens worth? In my opinion, they are worth alot more than the pittance the Governor and the State Legislature sold us out for.

November 30, 2007 CONTACT: John Gomez Jr.

5:47 PST (951)941-4943

mail@airro.org

EVENT ADVISORY

Civil Rights Organization Opposes Compacts with Big 4 Tribes

TEMECULA, CA - The American Indian Rights and Resources Organization ("AIRRO"), a civil rights advocacy group, has joined the growing number of tribes, labor unions, and environmental groups in opposition to the gaming compacts signed with the Pechanga, Morongo, Sycuan, and Agua Caliente Tribes.

AIRRO cited the failure of the Governor, the tribes, and the State Legislature to include language in the compacts that would protect and preserve the basic human and civil rights of tribal employees, casino patrons, and the thousands of others who do business with the tribes.

"The expansion of tribal gaming in California has seen an increase in the number of human and civil rights violations, especially within Tribes that have gaming operations," stated AIRRO President, John Gomez, Jr. "These compacts were the perfect place to address these rights issues and to protect California citizens from further abuses."

"The Governor and the State Legislature let the citizens of California down in negotiating and approving these compacts. Fortunately, the voters of California will have an opportunity to vote "No" on these compacts and force the Big 4 tribes back to the drawing board to negotiate new compacts- compacts that are fair to California's citizens and respect basic rights."

AIRRO also believes that the compacts with the Big 4 tribes fail to adhere to the purpose and intent of previous gaming initiatives where California voters were led to believe that Indian gaming would benefit all California Indians.

"A news article in the Sacramento Bee estimated that only a small percentage of California Indians actually benefit from Indian Gaming," said Gomez. "With the rise in human and civil rights violations in California Indian Country, we expect that the percentage may be even less as thousands of California Indians have been stripped of or denied citizenship in their tribes. As a result, these dis-enfranchised Indians have been cut-off from or denied health care benefits, elder benefits, education assistance, and other social services provided by their tribal governments. Most must now avail themselves of state and federal programs at taxpayer expense."

Along with several other organizations, AIRRO has signed the ballot arguments in opposition to the Big 4 tribes' compacts. The ballot arguments provide voters information on the proposed ballot initiatives and are distributed to all of California's registered voters.

For more information on the American Indian Rights and Resources Organization, go to www.airro.org or email mail@airro.org.

###

Let's see, who's against the compacts?

Civil Rights Organizations
California Teachers
Unions including Delores Huerta
Police and Fire Associations

Who's for the compacts?

Big 4 Tribes
Politicians like Don Perata, Jim Battin Defense fund

Don't these few rich casino tribes have enough already and what about other tribes who are poor?

How come these other tribes don't they get a chance to improve their lives too?

That is what I voted for when those propositions to allow gaming on reservations were put to a vote.

I didn't vote for a monopoly of just a few Indians to benefit from gaming.

But it sounds like it to me that the rich are just getting richer and others are being left behind.

When is the state government going to learn that they have to spend within their limits and not have to rely on something like gambling to help bail them out?

How interesting. A labor union boss crying about Native Americans spending money to lobby lawamkers to support their people's cause. Hmmm.Let me think -- I wonder if
Hittelman's union has ever spent money lobbying lawmakers to support their people's cause? Hey, Marty, the gaming tribes are only playing by the same lobbying rules that you dominate so mightily. They didn't create the rules...just playing by them. So please don't play that card.
Aside from the "rich indian" bashing, your other main point is that the compacts don't spend enough money on your particular special interest. So we could eliminate that point if they specifically did? OK. Then we're back to your "rich indian" bashing. How pathetic.

Looks like the Federal Govt. does not want Californians to decide in state matters. They have approved the compacts

Interior Dept. OKs tribes' gambling agreements

By James P. Sweeney
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

8:33 p.m. November 30, 2007

SACRAMENTO – In a stunning development, federal officials confirmed late Friday that controversial gambling agreements for four Southern California Indian tribes, including Sycuan of El Cajon, have been approved by the U.S Interior Department.
As a result, under federal law, the multibillion-dollar deals could take effect early next week even though all face a statewide vote on the Feb. 5 ballot.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who negotiated the agreements, called the unexpected development “good news.”

“The governor believes that these compacts are strong and that this action by the federal government upholds the validity of the compacts,” Sabrina Lockhart said.

The administration, however, also was assessing the many legal questions, including what it may mean for the pending ballot measures, Lockhart said.

“We are pleased that the federal government has approved the Pechanga compact,” Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro said. “This approval reaffirms the validity of this comprehensive government agreement.”

What the Dept. of Interior is ignoring is the fact that tribes have to get approval for their compacts from the state in whoose borders they reside in.

In the State of California the voters can override the governor and the state legislature with the petition process even if the politicians have approved the compacts of the Big Four.

The Dept. of Interior says they have no jurisdiction to intervene in membership issues of tribes so why all of a sudden are they intervening in an issue involving gaming compacts, a State of California issue?

Original: I don't read the federal action as having any impact on the referenda. This is a three legged stool--you need a compact negotiated by the Governor with the tribe, federal approval, and ratification by the legislature. The last of these is a legislative act subject to the referenda process and until the people of California have spoken is held in abeyance under our state constitution and laws.

Until you have all three, the picture is not complete.

Too bad for you.
Pechanga will get the machines we deserve. Quit crying.

You are losers. And we are winners. Sovereignty trumps the people of CA everytime.
Find another view.

Frank, What will happen is that the big 4 tribes will be putting machines in next week or the week after.

Then, they'll be publicizing that the compact has already been settle. The picture will be complete as far as they are concerned. Getting the machines out, after they have already been in use will be next to impossible.

Our Governor does NOT WANT the people to have a say in this.
Pechanga DOES NOT want the people to have a say, just their dollars

Unless the people wake up to this, any efforts to change it will be wasted.

A recall of Schwarzenegger may be in order. He is no more for the rights of the people of CA than Pechanga is for the rights of their members.

Arrogant aren't we Ed! Well if sovereignty trumps the will of the people of California, then a tribe wouldn't need to have a compact approved by the State of California or the Dept. of Interior.

Also the federal 1988 Indian gaming act and the state ballot propositions 5 and 1A would not have been needed for tribes to have gaming on tribal lands.

I think Frank is right that the interior dept. is just one step in the process.

Hey Ed, if the vote is allowed to go to the people of California, are you going to use what you said about sovereignty trumping the people of California in the campaign?

REMEMBER, PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL!

Ed is a plant from someone from the other side. That was my first thought when I read that dribble.

Below is a list of places in California Indian Country where tribal officials are participating in actions to decimate their own people.
The incidents at each has happened since the passage of Props 5 and 1A which legalized Indian Gaming in California. As a result, California Indian Gaming has grown into a multi-billion dollar business where even non-gaming tribes share in revenue generated by California tribal casinos.
The actions taken by the tribal officials are exactly the types of "arbitrary and capricious" acts that were the catalyst for the introduction and passage of the Indian Civil Rights Act. The acts to strip or deny individuals of their basic human and civil rights have been taken in violation of both tribal and federal laws which are intended to protect these rights and privileges of tribal members. The victims have been denied access to fair and impartial forums in which to have their grievances heard, and the tribal officials have invoked immunity from suit to protect themselves from prosecution.
In most instances, individual members have been denied the due process and equal rights protections provided in the Indian Civil Rights Act, as well as language in their Tribe's governing documents which mandates that tribal officials uphold the individual rights of each member without malice or prejudice.
Another commonality exists- each of the tribes listed benefits in some form or fashion from Indian Gaming. Tribes such as the Pechanga Band and Table Mountain Rancheria have highly successful gaming operations, while others enjoy moderate success. Other non-gaming tribes are paid money from the Special Distribution Fund. In total, hundreds of millions of dollars are paid out each year to individual tribal members.
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians- 300 adults and children
In 2004, 130+ adult members and their immediate families were disenrolled from the Pechanga Band. The members were all descendants of Chief Pablo Apish, a historically significant leader of the Pechanga/Temecula people. None of the members were allowed to participate in the 2004 tribal elections as a result of their disenrollment.
An additional extended family of approximately 100 adults was disenrolled in March 2006 when tribal officials determined that the ancestor from whom they are lineally descended from was not an Original Pechanga/Temecula person. This determination was made despite the fact that a report prepared by a well known anthropologist hired by the Band's Enrollment Committee concluded she was a Pechanga/Temecula person.
The most recent disenrollment of 100+ adults and children was especially egregious as the General Membership, the Tribe's governing body, had previously passed a law which (1) repealed the Tribe's disenrollment procedures and (2) made it illegal for the Enrollment Committee to disenroll members. (Too bad, so sad, they said)

SINCE PECHANGA doesn't follow its own laws and constitution...... will they follow CA's?

Concerning Disgraceful Actions by the Pechanga Tribal Council

In a notice dated August 7, 2006, the descendants of Paulina Hunter, an original allottee of the Pechanga Indian Reservation, were informed that the Pechanga Tribal Council and the Pechanga Enrollment Committee had denied their appeal to over-turn the Enrollment Committee’s earlier decision to disenroll the family.
The Hunter Family members were disenrolled in March of this year when the Enrollment Committee concluded that their ancestor, Paulina Hunter, was not a Temecula Indian.
Along with disenrollment notices from the Enrollment Committee, a memo from the Tribal Council explained that it had decided that a law passed by the Tribe’s governing body in July 2005 to bar future disenrollments applied to all tribal members except the Hunter Family.
The disenrollment of the Hunter family was initiated when several statements were presented to the Enrollment Committee claiming Paulina Hunter was non-Indian or not a member. One such letter came from a convicted felon currently serving time in the California State Prison system for child molestation.
In response to the allegations, the descendants of Paulina Hunter provided numerous documents as proof that Paulina Hunter was indeed of Indian ancestry and was an original Pechanga/Temecula Indian.
In fact, a report prepared by Dr. John Johnson, the curator of anthropology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, at the request of the Enrollment Committee concluded that a "preponderance of the evidence" from surviving historical records and census documents shows that Paulina Hunter was a Pechanga member who lived in Temecula and was allotted reservation land. There is no greater authority on this issue than Dr. Johnson.
"My feeling is it's a faulty interpretation of the record to reject this family. Paulina Hunter was definitely a core member of the Temecula Band of Luiseño Indians," Dr. Johnson said. "I don't understand the decision other than it is not based on fact. It is based on conjecture and politics."
The disenrollment of the Hunter family is the second such disenrollment of a large family from the Pechanga Band. Each has occurred just months before scheduled tribal elections for Chairman and Tribal Council.
The expulsions of the 2 families removed significant opposition to the current administration and others running for tribal office. Each “disenrollment” was done in violation of both tribal and federal laws which are intended to protect the rights and privileges of tribal members.
Specifically, the members were denied the due process and equal rights protections provided in the Indian Civil Rights Act, as well as language in the Band’s Constitution and Bylaws which mandates that tribal officials uphold the individual rights of each member without malice or prejudice. The disenrollments reduced the Pechanga Band's enrollment by nearly 30%, and each enrolled member, including those responsible for the violations of human and civil rights, could reap additional profits in the tens of millions of dollars.
For more information, please visit www.pechanga.info and http://originalpechanga.blogspot.com

Gilbert, Ed B is likely one of the leaders of a faction in the tribe known as the CPP (the so called Concerned Pechanga People that he sided against in the past) and if he is the same person, then he as been heard in the past, when the profit share to tribal members was about a third of what it is now, that he was going to get more money by any means necessary.

His attitude is a perfect example of what we are dealing with, people out of control who think they can act with impunity behind the wall of sovereignty.

Ironic in that in the early 1980's Ed B sided against a group that was known as the Splinter Group who opposed the written enrollment rules and the tribe's constitution who tried to take over the Pechanga government.

At that time Ed B, who was then the tribe's secretary, expressed his opposition to the Splinter Group in a newsletter he put out that was distributed to the people.

For information about the activities of the Splinter Group in their attempt to take over the Pechanga government in the 1980's go to "www.pechanga.info" to the home page and click on some links for stories about this group.

The group known as the Concerned Pechanga People has as its core members people who were all members of the Splinter Group.

It appears Ed B now has sided with the CPP because he saw them as the people most likely to get him the more money he was after.

It's critical that the people of CA educate themselves on what SOME tribes like Chukchansi (Picayune) Redding, Enterprise and PECHANGA are doing to their tribes since they received the goodwill of the people of California via Prop. 1A and Prop. 5
This web address is to a story on Pechanga cheating its people, and not following their own constitution:

http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=64156

In the video, decide for yourself, who looks more comfortable telling his side: The educator, and foremost authority on Mission Indians OR the chairman, who has been on television numerous times and spoken before THOUSANDS of people. Who looks like they are lying? The educator, OR the chairman, who was caught lying in the first 15 seconds of the piece?

http://originalpechanga.blogspot.com

I vote to believe Dr. John Johnson and not the guy who lied in the first 15 minutes.
Now, of course, the Pechanga DisEnrollment committee also chose to believe a child molester.

Now, after watching the KNBC video addressed above, does the people of CA believe that the PECHANGA tribe, who has eliminated 25% of their population in a case of selective genocide, should be rewarded with expanded gaming and no oversight.

VOTE NO on 94-97

ALTHOUGH THE PECHANGA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS HAVE PASSED A LAW BANNING THE DISENROLLMENT COMMITEE FROM INVESTIGATING FAMILIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISENROLLMENT, WHY THEN IS THE DISENROLLMENT COMMITEE STILL MEETING? THEY ADDED TWO NEW MEMBERS TO THE COMMITTEE, AND EXTENDED AN ILLEGAL MORITORIUM.

The tribe can choose who they want in it. And the two families removed obviously were not wanted. With sovereign nation status, we can see plenty more families kicked out.
Currently the Pechanga Band is paying $32,500 in per capita to each member, per month thanks to getting rid of a few undesirables.
This was the plan from the start. Get rid of families who they knew wouldn't fight back. Your meekness, is a weakness that was exploited by people who knew you would not stand together to defend yourselves. You put your whole battle on the shoulders of your women, and Pechanga beat the women down, in front of the men, who stood by and watched.
No judge will touch the sovereignty issue, and the legislators are well paid to do nothing.
Whine about civil rights all you want, but it won't do no good. None of you have a strong leader, none of you stand together, most of you don't even know each other..

And in the meantime Pechanga will continue to buy the politicians, it's easy and tax deductible.

Yes on Expanded gaming, No to whiny ex-members

If Tribes want to say they are capable of running their own governments, one of the most important things is to make sure they follow their own laws. Pechanga is keeping their own families from being enrolled, when the constitution says OPEN ENROLLMENT IN JANUARY.
The Moratorium is illegal. If Pechanga deems it legal as the will of the people, they have to deem legal another vote that stopped ALL DISENROLLMENTS. The vote did not say, "except for the Hunter Family".

More importantly, Californians, Pechanga has cheated their OWN people, denied them civil rights, voting rights, educational assistance, health coverage. Exactly WHAT makes you think they will tally up their "net win" when YOU will not gain access to the books?

And I'll agree with PHUNTER above when I say that the UNIONS will throw terminated Native Americans under a bus if they get a contract.

I'm here to represent the disenrolled people of CA
Native Tribes, being on of 240 people. Pechanga says it's to correct a mistake. So we are to believe that the same people who were smart enough to get a casino built, are stupid enough to enroll 240 people BY MISTAKE?
My name is a link to our family's weblog and it has many stories in the archives with which the people of CA should get themselves familiar.
When Pechanga's commercial says ONE LAND, ONE PEOPLE it directly contradicts their record of disenrollment where is said that Pechanga was a subset. Right their that would make it One Land, Two Peoples wouldn't it?
My ancestor Paulina Hunter is from Pechanga, proven by Pechanga's own hired expert. Have they asked Dr. John Johnson to REFUND his fee because he obviously did not know what he was talking about. Just because he works regularly with the only surviving mission books in California...for decades, it doesn't make him an expert does it?
Better to have three housewives (not that there's anything wrong with that) make a decision that they don't understand. I don't mean to insult housewives, just the three in particular on the committee: Frances Miranda, Ruth Masiel and Ihrene Scearse. Their names are public record and well known. They are the three that ruined the lives of many, including some that lived on the reservation for decades before they got their.

NO ON EXPANDED GAMING

Has anyone considered the U. S. constitutional issues involved here? The Constitution guarantees equlaity for all; yet the federal government has issued the IGRA that discriminates against the vast majority of Americans in favor of a very, very small minority by virtue of race or color. What's wrong with this picture?

If Californians want casinos in the state, then it should be legal for anyone with the resources to operate casinos within the same legal framework as any other business in the state and subject to the same laws and regulations.

Finally, if Indians want to do business in the state, let them be subject to the same laws and taxes as anyone else. If they want to be "sovereign" let them attend their own schools, get their own medical care, drive on their own roads and stop making the rest of the taxpayers pay for what the Indians get for free no matter how much money they make.

My blog has a link to an video of a son of Pechanga, who has been kept out of the tribe. He is now banished.

If Pechanga will cheat their own people this way, what are the chances they will cheat you?

Pechanga is anti-union, their chairman called the unions corrupt. I'd be worried about that accusation, as "it takes one to know one".

My blog is linked at my name, click on Original Pechanga.

AIRRO has spoken in front of the federal building in Los Angeles against expanded gaming, and Pechanga's statements about going ahead with the expansion in 'the first quarter' which is in three weeks. My blog will have more later....
Also there are sample letters and some blogs on the Los Angeles County Commissioner that used government email to solicit votes at the Native American Caucus two weeks ago. Take a look before you decide on the Props.....

Pechanga Told To Stop All Plans for Illegal Slot Machines
Contact: Scott Macdonald
(310) 996-2671

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2007

LOS ANGELES – “Cease and desist” was the demand leveled today at the rich and powerful Pechanga tribe which has made it clear to reporters that they are moving forward with plans to install illegal slot machines in their Temecula-area casino.

The demand came from the campaign against the Unfair Big 4 Gambling Deals, No on Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97, which opposes the deals because they represent one of the largest expansions of gambling in U.S. history and are unfair to California taxpayers, workers and other tribes.

Standing in the shadow of the Westwood Federal Building, campaign representatives praised the federal government for acknowledging its mistake in prematurely reviewing the deals before California voters get their say on February 5th.

“Unfortunately, the federal government’s respect for California’s referendum process is not shared by the Pechanga tribe in Temecula,” said Cheryl Schmit, executive director of Stand Up for California!, a gambling watchdog organization. “The chairman of the tribe has told numerous reporters that they have plans to move forward with adding what would be illegal slot machines to their casino.”

“The California Constitution gives us the referendum process as a check on legislative decisions that favor the rich and powerful like the Big 4 tribes,” continued Schmit. “Until we vote Feb. 5, there are no deals and any attempt by Pechanga or the others to add slot machines would be a gross violation of law, not to mention the democratic process.”

Schmit said the deals lack strict environmental protections and have a revenue formula that would let the Big 4 tribes manipulate funds to underpay the state.

John Gomez, Sr. vice-president of American Indian Rights and Resources Organization, said it concerned him deeply that the Pechanga tribe would trample on the rights of voters.

“It would be a monumental display of disrespect for Pechanga to expand their casinos before Californians have a chance to have their say as is guaranteed under the referendum process in the state Constitution,” said Gomez.

The leader of the Native American civil rights organization said one of the major problems with the Big 4 deals is that “just four of the state’s 108 tribes would control one-third of the state’s Indian gaming pie. On top of that, the Big 4’s dominant casinos could economically devastate other smaller tribes.”

More information on Props. 94-97 is available at www.nounfairdeals.com.

California Professional Firefighters, California Federation of Teachers and the American Indian Rights and Resources Organization are among those opposed to the Big 4 Gambling Deals.

All of you!
There will be nothing that will come out of it. I am sorry that family's were wronged. But screaming out on corners or on web sites and in courts is not going to get you back in. At least not in this life time. All your doing is pissing off the tribe more and more. So what if you were let back in? what then? You get the income back that you say you dont really care about, (ya right) but you wouldnt be weclomed back on the rez. you would have to hang your head in shame. All you are is one of those red inflamed pimple's on the back of your neck that you just cant reach, it wont go away. I do feel sorry for you.
Do keep trying, you never no.

Giving up is not an option.

And, from your tone, I don't think you are sorry the family's were wrong. Otherwise, you'd be asking how you could help.
We are STILL ON THE REZ. Our family still has the land alotment given to us in 1895, you know, 20 years BEFORE World War 1?
So which is it for you, give up or "do keep trying"?

We were voting members when all there was at Pechanga was SAND. My father helped build the cabin there 50 years ago. Lawrence Madariaga was in his own home there 60 years ago.

The money? Not only are we entitled to it, so are 400 others caught in the illegal, unconstitutional (Pechanga's constitution) moratorium.

VOTE NO on 94. Don't reward Pechanga.

"Tired of It All," We are still on the Rez, our land is ours and the tribe can't do anything about that.

Hang our heads in shame? You have got to be kidding as it is the people who did us wrong who should hang their heads in shame and we are never going away.

WE HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AND DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU WON'T BE JOINING US ON THE STREET CORNER SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.

YOU THINK IT CAN'T HAPPEN TO YOU BUT IF YOU AREN'T FROM A FAMILY FROM THE CPP, WHO SEEM TO HAVE SOME SORT OF UNGOLDLY HOLD ON THE TRIBE, YOU COULD BE THE NEXT TO BE DISENROLLED.

AFTER ALL, THE PETITION TO OUTLAW DISENROLLMENT WAS PASSED IN 2005 BUT WE WERE KICKED OUT IN 2006 ANYWAY.

ALSO, THE ENROLLMENT COMMITTEE SENT A LETTER TO THE TRIBE AT THE END OF 2001 THAT SAID THAT THE RUMOR THAT HUNDREDS OF TRIBAL MEMBERS WERE BEING TARGETED FOR DISENOLLMENT WAS JUST THAT A RUMOR BUT GUESS WHAT, STARTING IN 2004 HUNDREDS OF TRIBAL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT.

PLUS THE FACT THAT THE PECHANGA CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT THE MORATORIUM IS ILLEGAL AS THE ENROLLMENT, ACCORDING TO THAT DOCUMENT, IS SUPPOSED TO BE OPENED EVERY JANUARY.

DO YOU THINK PECHANGA LAW WILL PROTECT YOU WHEN IT ISN'T BEING FOLLOWED NOW?

I DO HOPE WE DON'T SEE YOU ON THE STREET CORNER WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED.

WE DIDN'T THINK IT COULD HAPPEN TO US EITHER.

I wonder how other American citizens would react if they were put on trial to decide if they can continue to be citizens and they are not allowed to have attorneys come with them to their hearings, they are not allowed to even bring pens or pencils to take notes or to have transcripts of what was said at those same hearings.

Or what if in the Record of Decision saying they are no longer American Citizens there were documents that they never saw that they were not allowed to respond to?

Also, what if the government in the Record of Decision that said they were no longer citizens of the United States if the government ignored any evidence that supported their citizenship and the government didn't give reasons to refute evidence that supported their citizenship?

Well that is what happened to us when Pechanga kicked us out of the tribe.

We were not kicked out of some country club we lost our citizenship in the Pechanga nation when we were disenrolled.

By allowing their expansion the tribe is rewarded for violating our rights.

Well if Pechanga doesn't get their expansion, current tribal members would still be getting 30,000 dollars a month and Pechanga would still have a casino as big or bigger than Las Vegas casinos.

Pechanga would not be losing a thing and even if they do get it, the state would still have to find a way to live within a budget as these compacts will not solve the budget problems.

The new compacts would give the politicians a modest amount (compared to how big the budget is) of more money for them to waste.

I find it disheartening that a people that has been put through so much since the white man first arrived on our shores, has been reduced to infighting and sniping. Yes there is the issue of belonging or not. When did disenrollment start? What does the constitution state on this matter? Bottome line-this would not be an issue if money were not the bottom line. We need to all be mindful that the rich always get richer. Selling your souls to the devil(read CA government)won't put back together fragmented tribes. Wait:maybe that is the master plan! Divide and conquer????!!!

P Berger, although there were a few isolated incidents of disenrollments before gaming came into being at Pechanga, there was never wholescale disenrollments of entire family lines until 2004, of course long after gaming became very profitable.

The Pechanga constitution says that people have to be direct lineal descendants of an original Pechanga Temecula person and what the tribe did was claim, wrongly, that our ancestor wasn't Pechanga and they in effect kicked her out so all of her descendants our out.

But there has been no determination that we aren't descendants of local Indians, our blood isn't in dispute even by our critics.

Below are examples of facts that the majority of the tribe's enrollment committee ignored in deciding to disenroll us:

1. Our ancestor Paulina Hunter is an original Pechanga land allottee, allotment number 62, and she had a trust patent signed by President William McKinnley. The patent lists her as a Temecula Indian.

2. During probate hearings in the early 1900's for Paulina's land, known Pechanga elders verified that she not only lived on the original Pechanga reservation, she was a resident in the Temecula village before the resevation was created.

3. an elder named Antonio Ashman gave a notarized legal statement that he knew Paulina Hunter as a member of the Pechanga Band. Ashman is called a vaunted (much praised) elder on the Pechanga tribe's own official website and he was a well respected authority on tribal history.

4. five current tribal elders are listed in the Record of Decision (but ignored by the enrollment committee) giving legal notarized depositions stating that they have always recognized our family, the Hunters, as being Pechanga Indians.

5. Paulina Hunter is listed as living on the Pechanga reservation from 1893, the first year the official census was taken, until 1899, the year of her death.

6. Dr. John Johnson, the foremost expert on geneology of California mission Indians, was commissioned by the tribe's enrollment committee and he concluded that we are Pechanga people.

In fact Dr. Johnson has said, "there are no people today who deserve more to be a Pechanga Indian than that family" (our family, the Hunters).

The main evidence against us was based on lost or missing historical documents from the mid 1800's that Dr. Johnson explained have been missing for over 150 years and that any family would have trouble locating.

Again, the tribe hired him, not us.

Other so called evidence was turned in by three current tribal elders who said we are not Pechanga people and they are either family or friends of the majority of the enrollement committee who voted against us and all of them are from a faction of the tribe, the CPP (the so called Concerned Pechanga People), who seemed to want us out at any cost.

As far as the U.S. costitution is concerned, we are still American citizens with the same rights as all other citizens and before our disenrollment we held dual citizenship with both the United States and the Pechanga nation.

Pechanga will never talk specifics about our case because they know the case against us was weak.

All they will say is they have a sovereign right to determine their membership and that our case is closed and that we were given due process even if we weren't.

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