"California tribes are consistently accused of not participating in state and local governmental processes. Yet when the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians of Yolo County attempts to do so by joining a local joint powers authority to preserve environmental and natural resources in the county, The Bee joins a chorus of detractors orchestrated by the ranch's owner/developers to oppose the tribe's participation.

This is a hopelessly mixed message, and it needs to be fixed. Excluding responsible tribes from the governmental processes of California further encourages inflexible uses of tribal sovereignty and denies tribes and local governments the tools to work together for the common good."

Get the Story:
Paula Lorenzo, Helen Thomson and Mike McGowan: A mixed message for tribes (The Sacramento Bee 9/20)
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Related Stories:
Editorial: Don't give California tribe more powers (09/13)
Tribe teams up with county on eminent domain push (9/9)