A former member of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians has organized a public forum to call attention to tribal disenrollments occurring across the country.

John Gomez Jr. said greed and power are motivating membership disputes. He and other disenrolled Indians are calling on Congress to intervene.

More than 130 people of Gomez's extended family were kicked out of the tribe last year. The family members have filed a lawsuit in state court challenging their removal. Another extended Pechanga family of about 250 people faces disenrollment, according to The Riverside Press-Enterprise.

The forum takes place on Saturday at a city park in Temecula, California.

Get the Story:
Tribal expulsions focus of family forum (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 5/18)
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Relevant Links:
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians - http://www.pechanga.com
Pechanga Tribal Disenrollment - http://www.pechanga.info
Bureau-of-Indian-Affairs.com, Disenrollment site - http://www.bureau-of-indian-affairs.com

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