Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Paskenta

There's been much going on at Paskenta.  If you have been reading the news then like me you have probably had a hard time trying to figure out exactly what is going on.  Dueling press releases have also clouded the issues.  As things stand right now it appears the BIA is recognizing the ousted Executive Committee members while the current Committee headed by Andy Freeman seems to have the support of the tribe.

Here are some articles that go into detail:

Press Release - Paskenta Nomlaki Indians Try to Resolve Tribal Dispute Peacefully

Excerpt:

The members of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians emphatically demonstrated their support of their newly elected Tribal government this week.
On Wednesday, about 100 Tribal Members gathered at the entrance to the Tribe’s Rolling Hills Casino to show that an overwhelming majority of the Tribe supports recent General Council actions on membership issues and the replacement of four members of the former Tribal Council. They were also there to rebuff a threatened effort by the ousted Tribal Council members to take over the Casino. 

Read More Here - Press Release - Paskenta Nomlaki Indians Try to Resolve Tribal Dispute Peacefully


SacBee - Northern California tribe splits into armed camps over casino profits

Excerpt:

On May 2, Freeman issued a statement saying the new Tribal Council “has discovered substantial hard evidence of massive embezzlement of funds from the tribe by members of the suspended family and former Tribal Treasurer Leslie Lohse, Tribal Administrator Ines Crosby and Tribal Economic Development Director John Crosby.”
Freeman produced canceled checks to support his allegation that Crosby misappropriated $1.4 million from tribal accounts to pay for his house, swimming pool, basketball court and remodeling work.
The connection between Paskenta and Pala is the California Tribal Business Alliance.  Paskenta's ousted treasurer Leslie Lohse is Chair of the California Tribal Business Alliance.  Robert Smith is treasurer of the California Tribal Business Alliance.
http://www.caltba.org/who/boardofdirectors




***WARNING***
Chairman Robert Smith, Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, Pala Band of Luiseno Indians, Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pala Reservation, is monitoring your comments.  He is going to track your IP address and "take action" against any tribal member posting comments he does not like.