“The Unintended Consequences of Disenrollment”

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

2 thoughts on ““The Unintended Consequences of Disenrollment””

  1. James Browneagle February 3, 2015 / 12:53 pm

    Another great article by Mr.Galanda, I will be reading this article today from 5:00-6:00 PM on KPFZ 88.1 FM in Northern California on the Tribal Voices Radio program, Streaming at Tunein.com (type in kpfz) I have a lot of direct involvement as a former Tribal Administrator since 1975, Indian Health Director, Indian Education Director, elected to my council as elected tribal official; Sec./Tres, Council member and tribal Chairman from 1998-2000, I signed the gaming compact on behalf of my Tribe and was disenfranchised for ten years as of 2011. If you get a chance please call in at (707) 263-3435 “All My Relations”

  2. James Brown-Eagle February 4, 2015 / 1:20 am

    As a traditional Elder and Roundhouse Ceremonial & Cultural leader for the past 30 years, here are some of my views on tribal dis-enrollment! In my view all colonized tribes who have accepted a boiler plate implanted BIA Tribal Constitution, do not have an inherent right to dis-enroll any member of their tribe, without first consulting the traditional Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the tribe who are the keepers of the tribal family histories, and culture, this must be approved by these traditional female & Male chiefs of the Tribe. In my view any tribe who has lost their cultural practices and traditional values are not a full tribal sovereign of its people! Also, before any tribal member could be dis-enrolled/banished it is the tribes obligation to ensure that the person and family member(s) have another tribe or place to go, that they can legally claim membership in, traditionally, and in addition,we pay or compensate them for their dismemberment from the tribe. Prior to Colonization most tribes only form of dis-enrollment was banishment from the entire tribal territories, and only if a murder was committed! Also our tribal culture never had or needed any attorneys who have become public offenders of tribal aboriginal laws as they continue to view us under the rule of English law as Quasi-Sovereigns. Lastly, why aren’t the Non-Indian and Indian attorneys who legally provide and write the legal policies for these dysfunctional Tribal Councils being put on the spotlight! I know from personal experience the many Attorneys mostly non-Indians who came out of the CILS system who laid low with their IHS & BIA funded salaries never did anything to help protect tribal sacred sites, and once billions in Indian Gaming came along they turned Dis-enrollment into a cottage business for themself’s. Maybe someone remembers “Casino JACK Abramnoff”! I know first hand that in California a Cabal of attorneys control all of Indian Gaming in California as most of these individuals represent as many as four or five Tribal Casinos. Which is a direct conflict of interest, just as a note I was the elected Tribal Chairman of the Elem Tribe 1998-2000 and I was directly involved in the California Gaming Compact in 1999 and although I didn’t agree with the Compact I signed it on behalf of my tribes request. In 2010 the BIA allowed a group of members to take over our tribe to cover up both BIA and US EPA Superfund violation of section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, destroying 7,000 cubic feet of Cultural Soils worth $50 Million in damages, The BIA had to protect itself and the EPA who paid off tribal officials and allowed a Council in 2011 too disenfranchised all the tribal members living on the Reservation, and stopping all federally funded P.L. 93-638 programs and services to the Reservation and did not allow us to vote in the last two tribal elections and on the DOJ Settlement Agreement!. “All My Relations” .

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