tinker wrote on Aug 22, 2006 7:38 AM:what percentage of the enrolled members of the pechanga tribe are of Hispanic decent? or are they 100% pure? Blood quantum, grandfather clause?? if its not on paper with the B.I.A., it never happened, it will never be!!

Another View wrote on Aug 22, 2006 9:39 AM:Clarity: The disenrollments corrected an error in the enrollment.

Amaryllis wrote on Aug 22, 2006 12:15 PM:The idea of labelling what the State of California and the U.S. government did to California's Indian tribes as the same as the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Band disenrolling people who do not meet membership standards is wholly without merit. In the 1850s, State laws were enacted that allowed the indentured servitude of tribal members--who ranged from ages 2 to 50--by non-Indians. The federal government stripped tribes of their lands with false promises. (See the Tillie Hardwick case, Mr. Strickland). In the 1950s, the federal government unilaterally decided that many of California's tribes no longer existed (the Rancheria Act). In the 1950s the federal government relocated thousands of Indians to urban areas in an effort to assimilate them. And somehow Phil Strickland maintains *that* is the same as tribe determining for itself who its members should be? Phil Strickland shows a remarkable lack of knowledge of history. All across the country, federal law parceled tribally-owned land to individuals, which included any individual who happened to live on tribal land, whether tribal members or not. In some cases, the federal government needed the approval of the tribe to allot the lands, which it obtained by padding the allotment rolls to get the votes needed to pass. The federal government threw together people from different tribes to make a new one, with no regard of what their customs and traditions may have been--all Indians are the same, right? What is happening today is a movement for tribes to take back their own membership. Such actions may be motivated by necessity, sometimes by the opportunity to correct the federal government's own greed, sometimes by the tribe's own inherent ability to decide its membership, and, admittedly, sometimes by greed. But that is NOT Phil Strickland's, or anyone else's, place to judge. For Phil Strickland to come in and equate it with the genocide--as in the *actual* deaths--condoned and often conducted by non-Indian state and federal agents is uneducated at best and moronic at worst. You want to talk morality, Mr. Strickland? I suggest you take a look at more important issues that plague this country and this world rather than waste your time and ours smearing another Indian tribe. It's easy to make anyone the bad guy when they have money, right? Fool.

Mynameis wrote on Aug 22, 2006 12:51 PM:The Hunters who have been disenrolled have been reconised by the tribe since its beginings. They were members of the tribe before the tribe was evected from there origional village, and they then moved to Pechanga where they were allotted land by the federal government. They have signed depositions from around 100 years ago reconising them as ORIGIONAL Pechanga indians, as well as signed deposition from one of there most respeceted elders (now dead) saying he knew them as members of the tribe. The tribes own hired expert also came to the conclusion that the Hunters were Origional Pechanga.

General Custer's Ghost wrote on Aug 22, 2006 12:57 PM:Hmmmm.... The Indians (those who are into PC) refer to the expansion and settling of the American frontier as genocide. Isn't this just a softer version of genocide that the Pechanga Band is practicing? The Indians are on an Aryan quest for only the purest of the pure within their tribe. All others must be discarded. Hitler would smile favorably at such policies. Think about it Kemosabe...

Ralph T wrote on Aug 22, 2006 4:40 PM:I wonder if the people doing the disenrollments are Pechanga or not? Seems to me that these "fake" Indians are the ones claiming to be the "real" Indians. And my opinion of that maccaro guy is that he is of Mexican descent and therefore MUST create a diversion from those like him. Read about the "freedmen" who have tried to "become Cherokee." It is time for a greater agency to step into this tribal enrollment fiasco and hopefully get rid of these fakes like maccaro and his ilk.

Concerned resident wrote on Aug 22, 2006 6:04 PM:The Pechanga Tribal Government is motivated by greed. They are replacing the tribal membersip with non-Indian "ringers" that are politicaly reliable in an attempt to retain control of Casino profits. They are using the profits to corrupt government at all levels through political bribes directed by Indian lobying firms like Holland & Knight. A full review of tribal membership by the courts and an independent outside special master is long overdue. The tribe itself, and it's legal advisors have proven that it is incapable of honestly managing membership matters. We now have an open sewer of corruption running through our community and it must be fixed.

justin wrote on Aug 22, 2006 7:04 PM:Amaryllis already stated it eloquently, but it's important enough to reiterate how wholly offensive/disgusting Mr. Phil's genocide'' comparisons were. I'ts certainly of note somewhere in there to consider the fact that dis-enrollment doesn't necessarily strip someone of their heritage, even while it strips them of government recognition thereof. No one ever required a foreign government to decide who was what in Indian country(ies) before ones came in and did just that. Those people may still be Pechanga, even if the government's "legitimized" Pechanga representatives don't consider them as such. Always been that way, the dominion of the U.S. government doesn't change that. But of even greater note perhaps within that discussion of genocide, is that the Pechanges are not offering bounties on the heads of their former members. If the traditional governments still existed, these matters would not be the issues they are now (which apparently amount to fodder for 'journalists' to hyperbollically dramatize to cleanse their own polities' past). Take issue with the Pechanga, sure. Take issue with your government as well for establishing a system whereby these things can happen (they couldn't happen if not for that, don't forget). That is, if you're genuinely concerned about Indian issues, and not merely employing any negatives within tribal circles to take shots only and leave 'til the next opportunity arrives. But don't turn discord into a holocaust for effect, Mr. Strickland. And maybe from that, it's not such a good idea to suggest this dis-enrollment "genocide" might be worse than the one that terrorized and murdered untold numbers. Maybe you are right though to suggest there's more prejudice......... Those ones of a century and over ago used none in distinguishing whose scalp was worth some money, only which were given more value.

Yolanda wrote on Aug 23, 2006 3:48 AM:How? It is plane to see that our United States Leaders have finally found a way to terminate us. OOhh And to think it is by the hands of our own people. What a clever way to have a government to government relationship with the true natives of this country. As i reflect on the past and remember how our ancestors were able to survive the early Indian genicides by the white man,fills me with so much pride and respect to be able to give thanks to the Great Spirit for everyday he gives me. But my heart is filled with tears to see our people doing just what the white man did to us. And all it takes is to have some green pieces of paper,with those faces of men that claim to have made what America is today, dangle in there face. Now take a moment and look at the shape America is in today. To be so willing to throw our way off life, out the door. Just so they may get a bigger piece of the pie. Being disenrolled, by the sroke of a pen means nothing. Our corrupt tribal leaders will never be indian. No matter how much their greed gets them. The Indians have always been the care takers of mother earth, there is no need to lie, cheat, steal, hurt,and be totally heart less to others, for what? Please don't get me wrong for i have many white friends whom i will love,respect,and trust to the end of time. And that is something our corrupt tribal leaders and our goverment leaders will never be able to obtain no matter how much money they steal from the people. YAH-WEE. Coming from a former pomo indian's heart.

Camille wrote on Aug 24, 2006 12:07 AM:I can not beleive what is taking place at the pechanges board. Its so sad, that money makes people so greedy. all of you pechangas at the reservation should band together and make a new board, because if This is happening to families that have proof of there liniage, then you too can be disirolled,its clear that only the board is safe .and I wonder if all there paperwork is in order? stripping these families of there heritage and dening them of enrollment is a horable wrong to have on enyones conseience,whats the saying what goes around comes around. do on to others as you would want others to do on to you. I will pray that the board will stop this madness , and the disenrolled familes we be vindicated.

Concerned Employee wrote on Aug 24, 2006 2:57 PM: The corruption that is occuring now in the Indian communities accross the country is beyond belief. I thought that Pechanga Casino was limiting its theft and money grubbing policies to its own employees. The dissenrollment of members goes way beyond ethical conduct. The tribe must organize and remove these thieves from positions of authority. It is time for a change. Pechange casino has grown to one of the largest most successful casinos in the world but that can change through dreadful mismanagment. I am disgusted by these policies towards your own people and negative public opinion will end up hurting everyone in the end.

Rick wrote on Sep 3, 2006 6:22 AM:The questions to ask one of the Tribal Leaders of Pechanga, Murphy: How much Pechanga blood do you have? Why do you want to disenroll real Pechanga? For what purpose?

Mr. Chatterbox wrote on Sep 3, 2006 10:07 AM:So your saying this Murphy Guy is not a Indian and he had a hand in the Dis- enrollments at pechanga??? How did that work?? And how could he possibly be on a tribal Council? Is that legal?