The Bureau of Indian Affairs is being asked to intervene in a membership dispute within the Mooretown Rancheria of California.

Last year, the tribe reclassified the status of about 40 people. The tribe said they were "non-lineals," meaning they couldn't share in casino profits, vote in elections or attend tribal meetings, although they could still receive health, education, housing and other benefits.

The group says the tribe's action was illegal and violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. They asked the BIA to intervene because the tribe's revenue allocation plan was approved by the agency.

Get the Story:
Reclassified Mooretown Members fight back (The Oroville Mercury-Register 1/20)

Relevant Links:
Mooretown Rancheria history - http://www.featherfallscasino.com/tribal.htm
Bureau-of-Indian-Affairs.com, Disenrollment site - http://www.bureau-of-indian-affairs.com

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