BIA denies recognition to Juaneno Band


The Bureau of Indian Affairs on Monday issued a proposed finding against federal recognition for the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians of California.

The BIA said the tribe failed to four out of seven mandatory recognition criteria. Specifically, there wasn't enough evidence that the Juaneno Band has been identified by others as an Indian tribe, that the Juaneno Band has formed a distinct Indian community, that the Juaneno Band maintained political influence over its members and that its members descend from a historical Indian tribe.

The findings applied to two factions of the Juaneno Band. Leaders of both groups said they would submit additional information in hopes of overturning the decision.

The Juaneno Band is the second from California to be denied recognition by the BIA. The Muwekma Tribe failed to meet all seven mandatory criteria, the Bush administration said in 2002.

Get the Story:
Feds don't believe Juanenos rate official recognition (The Orange County Register 11/26)
Bid for federal recognition has failed, Indians say (The Los Angeles Times 11/27)
pwday
Federal agency rejects tribe's recognition bid (The San Diego Union-Tribune 11/27)

Only on Indianz.Com:
Federal Recognition Database V2.0 (May 2005)

Indian Country Today Series:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Analysis

Relevant Links:
Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, Site 1 - http://www.juaneno.com
Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, Site 2 - http://www.juanenoindians.com

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