Pechanga Band runs ad against disenrollment story

Wednesday, February 21, 2007  

The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians paid for a commercial on KNBC to challenge a news story about the tribe's disenrollment of an elderly couple who helped rebuild the reservation.

In the ad, Chairman Marc Macarro said the state and federal courts have "upheld" the tribe's disenrollment decisions. But KNBC notes that the courts have never reviewed the merits of any of the cases.

"We believe the commercial contains misleading information," reporter Colleen Williams said.

Williams interviewed Lawrence Madariaga, 89, his wife, Sophie, and their 90-plus descendants about the tribe's decision to kick them out. Madariaga helped build the tribe's health clinic and rebuild the reservation but they have been denied education, health and other services, along with their $20,000 monthly per capita payment.

Get the Story:
Without A Tribe (KNBC 2/21)

Relevant Links:
Pechanga Tribal Disenrollment - http://www.pechanga.info
Tribal Corruption - http://www.tribalcorruption.com
Bureau-of-Indian-Affairs.com, Disenrollment site - http://www.bureau-of-indian-affairs.com

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