Editorial: Stop using every opportunity to battle Chumash Tribe

Thursday, January 28, 2016  

Tribal leaders, from left: Mike Lopez, Maxine Littlejohn, Chairman Vincent Armenta, Secretary/Treasurer Gary Pace and Vice Chair Kenneth Kahn. Photo from Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians

California newspaper urges opponents to stop fighting the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, calling the tribe a key player in the region's future success:

Here’s the thing about butting your head against a stone wall — it’s usually the head that comes out a loser.

There’s been a lot of head-butting in the Santa Ynez Valley in recent years, as one citizens group or another challenges the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ authority to operate a successful casino/resort, and otherwise grow the tribe’s business and residential development plans.

Think of the Chumash as the solid wall, and opposing neighbors as the head-bangers. The end result is inevitable, an immutable law of physics.

The principle applies to one valley group’s latest foray into the legal wars against the Chumash. A U.S. District Court judge has denied the group’s motion that challenges the tribe’s reservation land rights.

Get the Story:
Editorial: Betting on our future (The Lompoc Record 1/28)

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Chumash Tribe and county finally meet to discuss land issues (09/25)
County finally agrees to discuss land issues with Chumash Tribe (08/26)
Chumash Tribe asks county to come to the table to discuss land (08/12)
Chumash Tribe paid $15M for 350 acres by land-into-trust site (08/04)
Chumash Tribe buys 350 acres next to land-into-trust site (7/24)
Vincent Armenta: Chumash Tribe defeats opponents once again (07/16)
Editorial: County must treat Chumash Tribe as a good neighbor (7/10)
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Chumash Tribe wins dismissal of suit over status of reservation (7/3)
Editorial: County stonewalling Chumash Tribe on development (06/26)
Lawmakers slam county for poor dealings with Chumash Tribe (06/18)
The Canary: Guess what guys - the Chumash Tribe was here first (06/18)
Witness list for House hearing on tribal and Alaska Native bills (6/17)
House subcommittee sets hearing on tribal and Alaska Native bills (6/15)
Chumash Tribe legal team 'laughed' at suit over casino expansion (04/09)
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Opinion: Let's rethink federal policy toward tribal sovereignty (02/19)
Vincent Armenta: You can't rewrite tribes and tribal sovereignty (02/09)
Eldon Shiffman: Give Chumash Tribe a chance to reclaim its land (02/02)
Luis Alejo: Apologize to the Chumash Tribe for 'hurtful' remarks (1/30)
County files appeal over Chumash Tribe land-into-trust decision (1/27)
Opinion: Wealthy tribes shouldn't follow land-into-trust process (1/26)
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Chumash Tribe welcomes approval of land-into-trust application (01/08)