The
Bureau of Indian Affairs isn't getting involving in a disenrollment dispute within the
Picayune Rancheria of the
Chukchansi Indians in California
The tribe removed 54 people from the rolls last October. Among those who were disenrolled were Ruby Cordero, an 87-year-old woman who is one of the last fluent Chukchansi speakers and is an expert on basket weaving.
The tribe has since removed another 70 people, The Sierra Star reported. The descendants of Chief Hawa, one of the last Chukchansi chiefs, were among those who were disenrolled.
"In my family, from the day I was born, my dad told me I was Chukchansi," Chris Ballew, 70, told the paper. "We were always proud to be Indian, even when it wasn't a fad to be Chukchansi."
The BIA says it's up to the tribe to determine its membership.
Get the Story:
BIA says Chukchansi people can 'work it out'
(The Sierra Star 2/9)
Chukchansi removes more members
(The Sierra Star 2/9)
Related Stories:
Opinion: BIA intervention
required for Chukchansi dispute (02/02)
Opinion: Tribe heads in
wrong direction with disenrollment (12/15)
Turtle Talk: Intolerance can lead to a weak tribal
sovereign (12/14)
Chukchansi Tribe takes
one of last fluent speakers off rolls (12/13)
Picayune Rancheria removes dozens of people from
the rolls (11/21)
Rande Payne:
Disenrollment threatens tribal sovereignty (10/28)
Some tribes turn to DNA tests to help determine
membership (10/13)
Picayune Rancheria to
vote on DNA tests for new members (6/17)
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