Dry Creek Band weighs referendum to address disenrollments

Tuesday, May 27, 2014  

A month after announcing a 10-year moratorium in disenrollments, the Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians in California is considering a referendum on the controversial issue.

The referendum would address changes to the tribe's constitution. A committee is working on the matter, Chairman Harvey Hopkins said.

"New rules are going to open the door to some folks who have a valid reason to being here and letting them become a member of Dry Creek without further review of their file,” Hopkins told The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.

The tribe's moratorium was welcomed by about 75 people who were told they could have been kicked out of the tribe. But it won't others who were already removed.

“I certainly don't accept this as legitimate,” Hailey Ferroni, who was removed shortly before the moratorium was announced, told the paper.

The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, also in California, recently changed its constitution to make it harder for the tribe to remove people from the rolls.

Get the Story:
Dry Creek Pomos halt controversial disenrollments (The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat 5/24)

Dry Creek Rancheria announces moratorium on disenrollments (04/30)
Dry Creek Rancheria to hold disenrollment hearings this week (4/16)
Dry Creek Rancheria aims to remove more than 75 from the rolls (03/25)
Dry Creek Rancheria holds election after three-month delay (02/22)
Dry Creek Rancheria removes two women who filed for office (1/11)