PR warfare

On Nov. 5, the day of the historic White House Tribal Nations Conference, newspaper readers across the Washington region saw an ad featuring the smiling face of Obama posing next to a grinning Matthew Franklin, the federally recognized chairman of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California.

“Mr. President, what is wrong with this picture?” asked large, black newsprint appearing below the photo.

there is a problem Mister President... Mister Matt Franklin, is recognized by your administration as the Tribal Chairman of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians. However, he is not their tribal leader. in fact he is not a real member of their tribe and cannot even speak the language...

Can everyone say "Oops"!

turns out Nicolas Villa Jr., identified therein is the historical tribal leader of the band.

SO what went wrong???

in 1995, the BIA wrongfully forced the tribe to reorganize its membership to include non-members, non-Indians, and terminated some existing memberships using the United Auburn Indian Restoration Act of 1994 as its basis for action.

As a result of the 1990s reorganization, Franklin was ultimately elected chairman. in other words he was appointed to be chairmen by a federal agency and not the tribe.

Why would Frankin make such a claim???
seems he's trying to develop a casino, or perhaps even a water park on tribal lands.

So now we have a fight on our hands... Villa has asked Congress to investigate.
The BIA claims Franklin is the rightful leader.

there's going to be a lot to answer for when this all shakes out and whats at stake is do Native Americans have the right to appoint their own leaders or have the federal government pick them for us?
More on this here

[edit on 10-12-2009 by DaddyBare]

nice. thanks for the heads up.

i have become increasingly aware or and an advocate for natives rights and sovereignty over the last decade that i have lived in new mexico.

this is, if true, is one of the increasingly common heinous attacks on native sovereignty perpetuated by corporate interests and the federal government.

i will have to start paying attention to this.

reply to post by Animal


this is one of those cases that just screams kick backs and huge profits at stake... seem only fitting Calif Economy collapsed putting those casino plans on hold... maybe Mister Franklin will apply for tribal membership with an Eskimo tribe next?

reply to post by DaddyBare


Corruption, graft, kickbacks, violence and intimidation follows the Casino business from the upper levels of government to the companies that dispose of the trash and hire the staff; On the Pueblos, Rez and everything in between, nationwide.