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REGION: San Pasqual tribe to meet on enrollment split
Tribal leaders, feds to gather Sunday to discuss membership dispute
By EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer | ∞
Talks between warring factions of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians are at a stalemate, which has led to a crucial meeting this weekend between tribal leaders and federal officials at the North County reservation.
A dispute on whether 80 people belong in the tribe has split the tribe's governing council, putting the tribe's Valley View Casino at risk of closing its doors, a Bureau of Indian Affairs official said Thursday.
"The elected council needs to come together, not two on that side and three on that side, but as five members," said Jim Fletcher, the bureau's Southern California superintendent.
Fletcher is scheduled to meet with San Pasqual tribal leaders Sunday to discuss the ongoing dispute.
It is the latest in a bitter feud among factions of the 300-member tribe that calls into question what it means to be American Indian and who gets to benefit from the spoils of casino wealth.
San Pasqual Chairman Allen Lawson has declined to discuss the matter and did not return a call for comment Thursday.
In July, members of the tribe conducted two separate meetings on the disenrollment matter, each side claiming leadership of the tribe. One was at the reservation and the other in Escondido.
The group that met at San Pasqual voted to accept a consultant's report that concluded the 80 people whose tribal affiliations are in question do not belong and should not be listed as members of San Pasqual.
Last year, Ron Mast, a member of the San Pasqual tribe, filed a challenge saying that the group does not belong in the tribe. He says the group is made up of descendants of Marcus R. Alto Sr., whom he contends was adopted by his aunt and uncle, Maria Duro Alto and Jose Alto, as a child, but was not their biological son.
"This is the meeting where it all gets decided," Mast said about Sunday's gathering.
About 50 tribal members lost their jobs at the casino and their share of casino revenues earlier this year after some members of the tribe voted to accept the report's findings. Tribal leaders said the casino payments are being held in special accounts until the membership dispute is resolved.
Fletcher said that the tribe could not legally take away tribal member's benefits before the bureau has made a final ruling on the question of whether the group belongs in the tribe.
In July, Fletcher sent a letter to tribal officials saying his agency no longer recognizes a functioning tribal government because of the split and the tribe's apparent inability to convene a quorum of tribal leaders.
The letter stressed that federal law forbids tribes from operating businesses or programs in the absence of a functioning government.
In August, Lawson asked Fletcher to arrange a meeting with a Justice Department mediator. Those talks hit an impasse, Fletcher said Thursday. He declined to discuss the matter in detail, but he confirmed that the tribe could lose its right to operate the casino if an agreement is not reached.
"It's a possible outcome, yes," Fletcher said.
Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.
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Leave it.... wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:00 PM:un-resolved, close the casino's doors and let the "tribe" find a new golden goose
dont leave it... wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:26 PM:"un-resolved, close the casino's doors and let the "tribe" find a new golden goose" You dont understand that not only "tribal" folk work at casinos. There are many jobs that would be lost if the closed there doors. Plus al the money that they contribute to valley center for road work, fire department, parks, schools. It affects everyone in the city. We all need to get together and protest what this guy is doing. He is just creating trouble for everyone.
alto wrote on Oct 10, 2008 2:56 AM:if this tribe does not come together and accept tribal peoples this tribe might as well be extinct. 1400 people will lose their jobs because of a tribal chairman who wants to run a dictatorship. what a mess.
Competition wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:37 AM:We need competition. Legalize gambling throughout the state. This problem would go away overnight. It is all about the money. By the way most of the workers are NOT the local indians but people brought in. The locals get money whether they work or not. That is what the fight is about. Less members more money for those that remain.
To Competition wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:04 AM:You should be govenor. Now that we have casinos,why profits only for indians.
If we had casinos in our local downtowns how much energy would be saved by ending long drives to the reservations. The jobs provided are great. How much more could be done if profits were shared with local communities.Not hand outs.
All Mine wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:23 AM:One can always find a consultant that can create a favorable spin for any interest. Jobs lost is a weak argument, these typically are bottom-feeding positions. So the infighting for 'casino spoils' continues. What a joke! Spend your money elsewhere.
The Big Casino wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:21 AM:The loss of jobs.. money for parks and roads etc...Sounds like we're talking about the global,national state and local economic conditions...are we all closer to this "casino" problem than we want to admit???
not again wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:48 AM:The casino is going to shut down. If that wasn't true then why did the Chairman, Allen Lawson declined to discuss the matter? He keeps telling the people who live their that "the casino will never close." You members who will be at that meeting with that BIA Superintendent ask him if what Allen is saying is true. If non-members can go I will be there! I don't want to LOSE MY JOB because of this bitter feud!
Not Native wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:20 AM:Most people living on tribes are not Native American. Most are just members enrolled because they met the minimum requirement in blood degree which could be as low as 1/32nd. They are exploiting the Native American name for money. When will people stop using the Natives? People are dependent on the Native name for the casinos revenue, tax exemption and easier approval for welfare. What a shame.
local native wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:45 PM:to competition, you think it is that easy just to legalize gambling. This is a Tribe that is fighting for what is fair you will not understand if your are the one out of the circle.
Too funny wrote on Oct 10, 2008 1:18 PM:What a sweet irony! Thanks to their desire for a larger cut of the casino dough, the tribe's expulsion of members may actually close their cash cow down for good. How sad...not.
Valley center resident not native wrote on Oct 10, 2008 2:52 PM:Why is it that when people hear anything about tribal casino they automatically says "good, no more free money for them" or " great! close their cash cow". Why do you care if they get money from revenues of THEIR casino, on THEIR land. Thy built a business, and now they are making money from it. And yes, you ARE closer to the "casino" problem than you think. trust me, i know.
Native wrote on Oct 10, 2008 6:10 PM:This is sad and instead of arguing about it they should just do the DNA test to resolve this matter once and for all. This doesn't have to do with the money and believe me this tribe doesn't get much at this point. Like someone said if you are not involved in this you DON'T know what you are talking about. A lot of people will lose their jobs that are non native and even if it doesn't pay much, which is something else that's not true, then there will be a lot more unemployed people. This will affect you people that are saying shut the casino down, but you're too ignorant to realize that. Everyone needs to just grow up and take responsibility for their own actions and do what's needed to clear this matter up. I would take the DNA test in a heartbeat if it were me proving I was from there and had nothing to hide.
Alto1 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:21 PM:The Altos did take the DNA and the facts are facts. How do you disprove DNA? 30% NATIVE thats more than 1/8 which the constitution of San Pasqual governs. All this money spent cause of ignorance! How sad! We know who we are! Our great relatives have roamed the area in the 1800's, I roam the area and so will my grandkids from generation to generation. There's nothing you can do! We are here to stay! We are NATIVE!
alto2 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:27 PM:Amen to that Alto1. We have done are DNA test and yep we are native! so how are those idiots going to change that? Now that is pure ignorance!
i am sure by sunday once mr jim fletcher speaks everyone will get a better understanding as to what is really going on ...
See everyone sunday and please make this meeting as peaceful as possible.
To Alto 1 2 wrote on Oct 13, 2008 9:13 AM:That's funny I lived on the San Pasqual Rez since the early 70's and I don't recall seeing any of you there roaming the land and back then there was only a few families there. It's also funny how up until a few years ago you considered yourself proud Mexicans, until you got the land. I'm sure you do have Native blood, possibly Aztec, Inca or one of the others from Mexico?
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