"Several years ago, when Vince Armenta left his job in the valet parking department at the Chumash casino, he became tribal chairman, he wrote a letter to another Valley newspaper.

In that published letter he claimed “his people” were marched to the property, where the casino and tribal housing are now located, and were marched there “at gunpoint.” This inflammatory statement was but one in a string of false statements made over the years by Chairman Armenta.

Mr. Armenta’s claim that the local members who were fractional descendants of Chumash and Shoshone Indians were marched to this site at gunpoint was at best, a figment of his imagination. The land on which the casino and tribal housing is situated was in fact a gift from the Catholic Church in 1934.

It was never lawfully established as a reservation and has never been held in federal trust, making the gambling operation there a violation of federal law as defined by 25 USC 2703 and 25 USC 2719.

To be eligible “Indian lands” as defined by 25 USC 2703 or any exception established by the provisions of 25 USC 2719, the land would have to have been established by Congress or the President as a reservation. In order to be trust land, it would have had to be transferred into federal Indian trust status by the Secretary of Interior.

This was but one in a string of false statements by Chairman Armenta. Later when he demanded free chips for himself, his son and friends at a casino blackjack table, he told the media it was only $300 worth when it was much more."

Get the Story:
Jim Marino: WHAT TO MAKE OF CHUMASH CHAIRMAN AND LATEST DEAL? (The Santa Ynez Valley Journal 4/8)

Also Today:
COMMUNITY GROUP LEERY OF CHUMASH/PARKER DEAL (The Santa Ynez Valley Journal 4/8)

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