"In a remarkable new development, Chumash tribal Chairman Vincent Armenta has unintentionally added his voice to the growing number of informed people making the case against additional land annexations by the tribe.

In a recent newspaper editorial, Armenta wrote: "The bottom line is that the program was developed in order to allow tribes an opportunity to achieve financial independence through economic development."

Armenta's statement is absolutely true and goes to the heart of the conflict over annexation in the Santa Ynez Valley. Everyone agrees that the purpose of the annexation law was to "allow tribes an opportunity to achieve financial independence." The disagreement is about whether or not the Chumash still qualify for annexation privileges.

The annexation program was established by the federal government in 1934, in the depth of the Depression. The objective was to help underprivileged Native American tribes achieve independence from government financial support by giving them improved opportunity to become self-reliant."

Get the Story:
Editorial: An argument against annexation (The Santa Maria Times 8/8)

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