{"id":28764,"date":"2022-10-06T15:58:54","date_gmt":"2022-10-06T19:58:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=28764"},"modified":"2022-10-06T16:08:04","modified_gmt":"2022-10-06T20:08:04","slug":"false-claim-to-native-american-heritage-pechanga-band-takes-stand-against-noted-educator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/10\/06\/false-claim-to-native-american-heritage-pechanga-band-takes-stand-against-noted-educator\/","title":{"rendered":"‘False claim to Native American heritage’: Pechanga Band takes stand against noted educator"},"content":{"rendered":"\"Joely<\/a>
Dr. Joely Proudfit. Photo: California State University San Marcos<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n
‘False claim to Native American heritage’<\/div>\r\n
Pechanga Band of Indians takes stand against noted educator<\/div>\r\n
Thursday, October 6, 2022<\/div>\r\n
By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n
Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nA prominent tribe with powerful connections has taken the unusual step of denouncing an educator and scholar<\/a> who has long identified herself as a descendant of the community.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nIn an August 15 statement<\/a> that was first shared on social media, leaders of the Pechanga Band of Indians<\/a> said Dr. Joely Proudfit<\/a> lacks ties to their tribe, based in southern California. The wording in the document leaves no doubt about the tribal council’s stance.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n“For the record, Joely De La Torre Proudfit is not an enrolled member at Pechanga, has\r\nnever been enrolled at Pechanga, and has never been recognized as a member of the\r\nPechanga Band of Indians,” the statement on official tribal letterhead reads.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/alitheia1491\/status\/1577412960837836801\r\n

<\/p>\r\nBut the statement goes even further. According to the tribal council, Proudfit is not a “descendent” of the Pechanga Band either — a direct refutation of the claim she has long made as she has risen to notable positions in education, politics<\/a> and, more recently, film and television<\/a>.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n“When questioned by those outside of our tribal community, Ms. Proudfit claims she is eligible for enrollment but due to Pechanga’s moratorium on enrollment, she is not able to be enrolled,” the council states. “This claim is false and completely without merit.”\r\n

<\/P>\r\n“Ms. Proudfit is not a descendent of the Pechanga Band of Indians, nor were her forebears tribal members of the Pechanga Band of Indians,” the statement reads.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nProudfit, who is a tenured professor in the California State University system<\/a>, has been active in Indian affairs in the state for more than 20 years. Some of her first major efforts included serving as a spokesperson for two landmark tribal gaming initiatives<\/a> that the Pechanga Band — most notably its longtime chairman Mark Macarro — worked strongly to secure passage of, back in 1998 and 2000.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\"Mark<\/a>

Mark Macarro serves as chairman of the Pechanga Band of Indians, based in southern California. Photo: City of Temecula<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nBut Pechanga leaders never felt the need to speak out until now. The statement asserts that their “silence” may have in fact benefited Proudfit as she built her storied career, one that led her just recently to weigh in on yet another tribal gaming initiative<\/a> on the upcoming ballot in California.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n“Our silence over the years has allowed her false claim to stand,” the tribal council states. “But Ms. Proudfit’s appointment to a position meant for a Native American woman in the State of California, in combination with similar appointments, and her continued public assertions of being a descendent of the Pechanga Band have compelled us to correct the record.”\r\n

<\/p>\r\n“Her false claim to Native American heritage is not only self-serving, but also one that harms and misrepresents the Pechanga Pay\u00f3mkawichum<\/em> culture and history,” the council concluded, using the Pay\u00f3mkawichum<\/em> term that the tribe uses<\/a> for itself.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nDespite the strong words from the council, Proudfit is defending her identity as a Pay\u00f3mkawichum<\/em> woman. In a statement to Indianz.Com, she insisted that she does qualify for enrollment in the Pechanga Band — but for the moratorium mentioned by the tribe.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n“I am not an anomaly; I am one of many Pechanga descendants who has been excluded from the tribe without due process,” Proudfit said. “I did once qualify for enrollment according to the tribe\u2019s lineal descent criteria. I applied for membership when my mother and grandmother were both alive.”\r\n

<\/P>\r\n

On Native American Day, Governor Newsom signs some good bills and I\u2019m so happy about AB2022. No more S-word. Thank you @AsmJamesRamos<\/a>. And always respect to Suzan Shown Harjo for inspiring us to stay the course and fight for change. \u2764\ufe0f\ud83e\udeb6 https:\/\/t.co\/nt7hwjOeZ7<\/a><\/p>— Joely Proudfit, Ph.D. (@Nativeprof) September 24, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>