For over 50 years the membership requirements for the Pala Band of Mission Indians was that one had to be a lineal descendent of someone on the 1913 rolls and be at least 1/16 blood of the band.
All 162 disenrolled members of Pala meet the membership requirement. The BIA agrees that all 162 members should be enrolled.
Margarita Brittain is listed as 4/4 on the 1913 Pala Allotment Rolls. Her children are listed as 1/2.
Over 50 years of Custom and Tradition, the Articles of Association, and even the Pala Constitution list membership requirements as being a descendent of someone on the 1913 rolls and possessing at least 1/16 blood of the band.
So what has changed? Are there new membership requirements? People of Pala should be concerned since it seems the membership requirements have changed. The Pala Executive Committee is going against over 50 years of Custom and Tradition, the Articles of Association, and the Pala Constitution by disenrolling 162 of its members.
It now appears anyone can be disenrolled or enrolled based on a vote by the Executive Committee. Is this really what the tribe wants?
