From the “Unknown” to the “Known”

By Anonymous Guest Blogger (AGB)

"Margarita’s blood quantum depends upon the identity and lineage of her father. The evidence on this issue is somewhat conflicting. For instance, a reconstructed version of the original membership roll lists Margarita as a full-blooded Pala Indian, but a copy with pen-and-ink edits changed her designation to one-half Pala Indian. Likewise, some records indicate that Margarita’s father was “unknown,” but available probate testimony from a proceeding in the 1920s suggests that her father was known, and that he was a full-blooded Pala Indian."

This footnote is from the recent Aguayo decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Seems everyone wants to focus on the “UNKOWN” and completely ignore the knowns.

After being forced to research the various families of Pala, San Felipe, Agua Caliente, Puerta La Cruz, Mataguay, San Jose and Los Tules villages, many knowns are now truly known. Even though they are known they are completely ignored when dealing with the facts. 

We now know that Alejandro (Alexander) Barker was a “White” man. This is evidenced by the fact that he was able to vote and record deeds which Indians could not do this at that time. Maria Jesusa Hyde lists Barker as her father and that he was a White Man. This is a known. See Application 1194 of the California Indian Judgment Roll. 

Domingo Moro was a citizen Indian. That is a known. He homesteaded land adjacent to Warner Springs and gave up his rights as an Indian. This is further evidenced by the fact that he did not apply for nor did he receive a land allotment at Pala. Domingo Moro’s Homestead patent number is 25506 and can be viewed on the Bureau of Land Management website. Domingo Moro was not a Warner Ranch Evictee. He had 160 acres of land under his ownership and was either “Homeless”, “Landless” or a “Mission Indian without suitable lands elsewhere.”

We also learned that Nicholasa Lubo was not an Agua Caliente Indian and that she was from Cahuilla. See Application 1241* of the California Indian Judgment Roll. This is also a known fact. The fact that she was married to Domingo Moro made her a “Citizen Indian” as well and she and her children should have never been allotted lands at Pala. She was not a Warner Ranch Evictee because they had their own lands and there was no court order affecting them. The children of Domingo and Nicholasa Moro, Annie, Catherine, and Juan were not Warner Ranch Evictees either and therefore they were ineligible to receive land allotments at Pala. 

Sylverio Nolasquez is the long ignored “KNOWN”. He was a Mexican Indian. See Applications 1256, 1257, 1258, 1259, 1260, 1261 and 1263 of the California Indian Judgment Roll. He was not a Warner Ranch Evictee because he was not an Indian of California. He should have never been allotted land at Pala. 

Now for the big and I mean BIG surprise. Roscinda Nolasquez, see Application 1262 of the California Indian Judgment Roll, the great matriarch of truth and wisdom. The words of Roscinda are gospel and without deception. The words of Roscinda are golden and indisputable. That being said, please take a look at Application 1262 and you will see that she lists her father as Salvador Nolasquez, a Mexican Indian. The information is located on Page 3 at item 15. Now how about that for some real truth? 

It really does make sense since Salvador is listed as being born in 1861 and the next sibling is not born until 1872. It is not difficult to determine that Salvador himself was born in Mexico and that he came to Warner Springs with his father from Mexico. It has to be believable because the great one herself says that her father, Salvador Nolasquez, was a Mexican Indian.  

Another person of interest is Antonio Garra. No one seems to really know where he came from. He declared that he was from San Luis Rey and everyone assumed that he meant San Luis Rey Mission in San Diego County. It is more likely that he was from San Luis Rey, Mexico, and was a Yuma Indian and not Cupeño at all. His descendants always claimed that they were from Yuma. Antonio Garra was probably wrongfully accused, convicted and executed for what is known in history as the Garra Uprising. Yes he did complain about unjust taxes and the seizing of Indian cattle but the record shows that the persons involved in the uprising were from Mataguay and San Felipe. The record shows that there were no participants in the Garra Uprising from Agua Caliente. 

We cannot overlook Remijio Lugo. See Application 1211 of the California Indian Judgment Roll. He states that he was born at Sulphur Springs near Cahuilla. This of course is Cahuilla. He was married to Angelita Barker Lugo. See Application 1206 of the California Indian Judgment Roll. What is interesting is that her sister Mary Barker Calac states that she was from San Ysidro and Cahuilla. See Application 1140 of the California Indian Judgment Roll. Are you confused yet?

It is not that complicated. Remijio Lugo and Angelita Barker were living at Morongo/Malki and were not Warner Ranch Evictees. They should have not been allotted lands at Pala. The Lugos were originally from Puki and Pui and considered Cahuilla. The Lugos were the main participants in the Temecula Massacre. The Lugos were heir to more than 37,000 acres of land which was originally part of the Lugo Ranch near Yucaipa. Juan Antonio squandered away the land and left the Lugos “Homeless”. Even as Homeless Indians, this did not qualify them for re-settlement at Pala. The Lugos went to any Reservation they wanted with the blessing of the United States for a job well done. There is a strong record of favoritism towards the Lugos for their participation in the Temecula Massacre by the United States. 

So how do you sum this entire mess up?

1)  It is not that complicated. The descendants of Domingo Moro have no rights to Pala. 

2)  The descendants of Alejandro Barker need to decrease their Indian blood to match the fact that he was white man. 

3)  Sylverio Nolasquez was a Mexican Indian and his descendants need to decrease their Indian blood accordingly. 

4)  Roscinda Nolasquez, by her own sworn testimony, declares that her father, Salvador Nolasquez was a Mexican Indian. The descendants of Roscinda Nolasquez need to decrease their Indian blood accordingly. Roscinda Nolasquez’s descendants get the double whammy because her grandfather was also a Mexican Indian. That would make Roscinda Nolasquez ¼ Indian of California. Remember that this calculation is based on her testimony and acknowledgement. (Or do her descendants want it both ways now? What do you mean the California Indian Judgment Roll is inaccurate? Really!!!)

5)  Antonio Garra was from Yuma. His descendants should also decrease their degree of Indian blood accordingly.

6)  The Lugos were from Cahuilla and Yucaipa. They were never evicted from Warner Springs. They were living at Morongo/Malki and they should have never been allotted at Pala. 

After we examined all of the California Indian Judgment Roll it was learned that more than half of the applicants from Pala did not list who their parents were or the parents of their parents, in other words, “UNKNOWN”.

All of this means that almost no one from Pala would pass the Robert Smith smell test. He chose to use the 1928 California Indian Judgment Roll to determine the blood degree of Margarita Britten. He did this in violation of the PBMI Constitution which states that lineal descent is determined from heirs of original allottees of Pala. This simple constitutional section forbids Robert Smith from utilizing the 1928 California Indian Judgment Roll in determining eligibility for enrollment in PBMI. 

If you don’t understand what is being said here then here it is in a nutshell. Everything said here does not matter if the PBMI Constitution is followed. It does not matter who Alejandro Barker was or who a Lugo was or who a Nolasquez was. That is the reason the elders adopted those standards so as to protect everyone. 

Can the Genie be put back in the bottle? Yes it can but it is up to the people to do that. If the Genie is not put back in the bottle then future generations will rely upon the records of Robert Smith to disenfranchise, disenroll, humiliate and discredit your future if not present descendants. Robert Smith’s reign of terror will be coming to an end. It will end. Do you feel comfortable with the new standard he created? Is your family safe? No. Your family is not safe. No one knows what power shifts in leadership will occur. It is a gamble for everyone unless we go back to the rules and the intention of the elders to recognize everyone based on the 1895 and 1903 allotment rolls. Anything else is a violation of tribal law. Now that is a real “KNOWN”.

The Robert Smith Enrollment Ordinance must comply with the Constitution. That is tribal law. Tribal law requires that membership shall be determined from the 1895 and 1903 Allotment Rolls. You can look it up. His blatant disregard for the Constitution is grounds for removal from office and he should be. He had several opportunities to make changes to the constitution in cooperation with the people and with the advice of the BIA. He chose to reject “all of the above” and moved forward with his version of the constitution. His version included in his mind the right to determine membership. He is wrong but the people need to tell him he is wrong. It is time to do your homework and understand your own government and its powers. The power belongs to you the people. 

There has to be some humor in all this work. Is this Robert Smith at a Tanty party dressed in drag and just finishing off his personal stash? Is this photo from the vast collection of misdeeds of Robert Smith?

This woman is a Wappo Indian from Northern California. The Wappos were from Sonoma County. Remember that Adolpho Moro was from Sonoma County. Coincidence? I doubt it. There is just too much resemblance. No Warner Ranch Indian here. Indian blood degree should be adjusted accordingly.

“The BIA’s participation in the abuse of the membership at Pala should be investigated and the culpable parties should be prosecuted. They know who they are. We will get the evidence necessary to have them prosecuted. Yes we will. This is not over yet. This will be settled Indian Way and no court or lying BIA agent can protect Robert Smith forever.” Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez you dumb asses. You will learn what it really means. You will become “KNOWN”.