In The News

There's been quite a bit in the news lately.

http://www.originalpechanga.com has been covering it.

In case you have missed some of it here are some of the items of interest:

HOUSE of CARDS, Netflix's Hot Show, Get's Disenrollment (Ethnic Cleansing) Right

Link to the original article:  What Netflix Series 'House of Cards' Got Right About Native America

Excerpt:

Each tribe determines who can be considered part of their tribe because they are sovereign nations. Much like how the United States decides who is a citizen, a tribal government determines their own criteria for membership. And, unfortunately for some, those requirements can change over time leaving tribal members tribeless.

What's the reason? Well, as with the "Ugaya" tribe in House of Cards, recently, disenrollment has been related to allegations of greed by casino tribes (tribes that own casinos). The issue has been happening all across Indian Country since bingo halls and eventually casinos became a potential source of income for Indian tribes seeking a way to provide for their people.

read more here - What Netflix Series 'House of Cards' Got Right About Native America

http://www.originalpechanga.com has several posts on the killings that happened at Cedarville Rancheria.  You may have to go to older posts to get back to around Feb 20th to view the various posts.

There are many articles in the news.  If you do a google news search for Alturas several related articles pull up.  Here is a sampling:

LA Times - Woman accused of killing 4 at tribal meeting is due in court today

Redding.com - Alturas shooting related to missing funds

Christian Science Monitor - Alturas tribal shooting: Was embezzlement, eviction behind family revenge?

Epoch Times - Cherie Lash Rhoades, Alturas California Shooting Suspect, Known as Bully

And then there's Pechanga:

The Press Enterprise - PECHANGA: Woman suspected of homicide in casino shooting

Also visit http://www.originalpechanga.com  for more information on all the disenrollments taking place throughout the country.

Pala Sewer Pump Dispute

Article in today's Union Tribune:


Union Tribune - Tribe put sewer pump on family's property

By Edward Sifuentes 6 a.m.  Feb. 3, 2014

PALA — Members of a family on the Pala Indian Reservation say the tribe put a large sewer pump on their property without their knowledge or permission.

Vincent Marruffo, whose family owns a 2-acre property north of state Route 76, said the pump was built on the land seven years ago but no one contacted the family for permission. Marruffo said he found out about the pump a year ago when he was doing research into his family’s land holdings.

Now the tribe and the family are talking about how to resolve the problem.

Doug Elmets, a spokesman for Pala, said tribal leaders are working with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to reach an agreement with the family.

“The tribe and the BIA have been working together cooperatively to resolve the situation and currently appraisals are being submitted to determine the appropriate compensation for the pump station,” Elmets said.

The lot is about a mile east of the Pala Casino west of Lilac Road. It has been in Marruffo’s family for generations, but had been vacant for many years. The family is made up of about 70 individuals, some of whom are Pala tribal members and others who are not.

Marruffo is a Pala descendant and says he is eligible for membership but the tribe disagrees.

Continue Reading HERE Union Tribune - Tribe put sewer pump on family's property