The Native American Caucus in California has now openly come out in support of the bills in the California Assembly that will grant certain Indian Tribes the right to expand the number of gaming machines they possess and grant them immunity from environmental laws as a bonus for their efforts (see previous article).
What is disturbing is the transparency of the Native American Caucus who should have a mission to defend all Native American's and not just the richest ones. It is painfully clear to anyone that the NAC has gone Republican.
The real issue that isn't being addressed here is that enrollment terminations are still happening around the state, that the civil right of US citizens are still suspended each and every time they step foot onto an Indian Casino's property and the political-media systems are apparently so drunk on the money they are getting out of the deal that they, like street-corner heroin addicts, simply deny that there is a problem that needs to be dealt with.
I don't know if the Caucus does its homework, but there are thousands of Native American's in California that need them to represent their interests too. Its a horrifying fact that the terminated Native's aren't rich and they certainly don't enjoy access to the political structure in the same way that the richer, gaming Indians do.
I find it to be appalling that the NAC's web site makes no mention of the fact that this problem even exists. Instead, they are throwing their lot in with the largest Tribe's in the state (financially speaking) to help them sell a pipe dream to the Governor and some of the gullibal public. Their promise of $500 million a year in payments to the state is just laughable. If there is one universal constant, its self-serving greedy people, and the Indians controlling the Casinos in California are the kings of the game. After all, the first rule of being human is "think only about yourself" with these folks.
If these compacts are passed by the Legislature, I hope that the public backlash will bring their jobs to a conclusion by the next election. I encourage everyone reading this to examine the Secretary of State's web site to see the campaign contributions made by the Tribe's to our Assemblymen and Senators after the votes are counted. Then you will see who's their daddy. You and I don't mean squat when it comes to the grease the Tribes are putting out. Our only weapon is the vote...so if they choose the Tribes over you, let them know what the cost will be to them.
In the meantime, stop supporting Tribal Casino's until they are forced to follow the same rules as everyone else in AMERICA!
The Native American Caucus is well aware of the problem of its fellow Native Americans being unfairly expelled from their tribes, some of them the richest gaming tribes in the State of California.
Last month representatives from AIRRO, the American Indian Rights and Resourses Organization, attended the California Democratic convention and they presented a resolution supporting strengthening enforcement of the Indian Civil Rights Act.
The convention wouldn't let the resolution be sent to the full convention unless it was approved by the Native American Caucus first.
Well, there were some Pechanga officials there and somehow, even though most people present at the caucus meeting likely would have supported the resolution, the caucus members were not allowed to vote on it.
Despite the fact that presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich received a standing ovation when he spoke out against disenrollment, the resolution was still tabled at the caucus.
Why was the resolution to support enforcement of the Indian Civil Rights Act tabled?
Did tainted money talk once again?
Posted by: A Friend of the Disenrolled | May 27, 2007 at 04:50 PM
just some clarification...
the resolution in question was authored by steve haze, vice chair of the fresno democratic central committee and laura wass, a well know native american activist and one who has the love of all our people in her heart...
it was presented by steve, and by robert edwards, also a native american activist...and supported in presence and prayer by many, many indian people and our supporters throughout california indian country and beyond...
the resolution covers bringing all indian people home to their tribes--not just those who have been disenrolled, but the non-recognized, the moratoriumized, and those violated in other ways by their tribal governments as well...
as a speaker at the native american caucus, presidential candidate dennis kucinich was not alone in his condemnation of the civil rights violations occurring here in california--congresswoman diane watson was very outspoken as well in her cause to uphold the rights of native people being violated by their corrupt tribal governments in membership disputes as well...
NOW is the time to call, write, email, fax and otherwise contact your congressional representitives, your BIA officials, your state legislative representatives--EVERYONE you can think of-- concerning the violations occurring in indian country...
working together, we CAN--and WILL--obtain justice for those of our people being violated...
for all nations
Posted by: for all nations | May 29, 2007 at 12:22 AM
More and more stories are getting out. My latest blog on sovereignty has already been picked up by one blog:
http://nativeblog.typepad.com
Take a look. Native Unity will also pick it up as will Paulina Hunter's blog:
http://blog.myspace.com/paulinahunterofpechanga
Posted by: OriginalPechanga | June 02, 2007 at 08:04 AM