Guest Book Archive: Sept. 99 - Jan. 00

Date:

24 Sep 1999

Time:

21:29:01

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great web site. very informative.

Date:

27 Sep 1999

Time:

07:14:58

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Victor- when are you going to have a chat room? Rae

Date:

27 Sep 1999

Time:

12:37:02

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MY FAMILY AND I ATTENDED THE POW WOW THAT WAS HELD AT PECHANGA A FEW MONTHS AGO AND LOVED IT. I KNOW THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ANOTHER ONE HELD AT PECHANGA IN TEMECULA THIS YEAR. WHE WILL THE NEXT ONE BE HELD? I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO POST THE UPCOMING POW WOWS ON YOUR WEBSITE.

Date:

27 Sep 1999

Time:

14:54:01

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Funny you should mention a chat room. I was thinking about getting one but I didn't think anyone would use it. I'll see what I can do. Victor Rocha

Date:

27 Sep 1999

Time:

20:14:16

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I don't know about other pow-wows but the Pechanga powwow is held on the 4th of July weekend. July 1st and 2nd mark the anniversary dates of the opening of the Pechanga Entertainment Center by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. The date of the powwow is not meant to directly pay homage to the United States' birthday. We think the juxtaposition of the dates (our gaming enterprise anniversary with the US' birthday) adds a special poignancy to the whole affair!!

While powwows are not part of the traditional Luiseño culture, we believe that it is a good thing whenever Indian people come together in the spirit of friendship to party--whatever the forum. Still, powwows are taking some getting used to for some of us.

Date:

28 Sep 1999

Time:

08:31:00

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Is there a quick way to edit your page, when we print it out, it cuts off the right hand edge.

Jane

Date:

28 Sep 1999

Time:

11:48:04

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Which pages are you talking about? Victor wstsidela@mediaone.net 

Date:

28 Sep 1999

Time:

22:27:06

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I like your site and have found it very informative on the California State Compact issue.

One issue I'd like to bring up. I believe the CA tribes are jumping the gun on signing deals with Nevada Casino owner and operators before the new March 2000 Prop. passes. This will just fall into the hands of the Anti-gaming side of the issue, that huge casino's are going to start going up everywhere in CA if the Prop. passes. I realize that the big money will not be there on the other side this time, but why give fuel to the fire of the opposition?

They should hold all announcements and expansion till after the election. If the San Pablo casino starts getting Federal and State clearances before the election it will really hurt the cause of Indian Gaming in CA. Again more fuel to the fire.

Gordon, San Mateo, CA

Date:

28 Sep 1999

Time:

23:47:43

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Vittorio-hombre:

I like the new look of the "discussion" room. Even the name change provides a faux sense of--eh--geniality. Maybe we'll all clean up our act from here on forward---kinda like a cleat slate. You know who.

Date:

29 Sep 1999

Time:

04:00:05

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Is it Indian or Native American?

Date:

29 Sep 1999

Time:

23:08:49

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Regarding the question: "is it Indian or Native American?"

The answer is multi-fold. Firstly, I've observed that typically, tribal members who live their lives on reservations seem to prefer and use the term Indian. Those living off the Rez tend to use the the Native American term. Furthermore, Indians affiliated or enrolled with tribes, generally, seem to use the term Indian versus urban Indians who tend to favor the Native American term.

In the context of the Politically Correctness Movement, Native American seems to have been the term of preference over Indian--as if Indians really care about p.c. stuff. Academia also seems to overwhelmingly prefer the N.A. term over Indian, as if that Columbus issue tainted the term.

Politically, it seems that Sen. Inouye single-handedly pioneered the use of the term among his peers--which has filtered into state politics as well. The good Senator's use of the terms was, however, very political. Native American is more inclusive--by definition, a broader group of people than Indian--and consequently includes his own constituents in the term--and now in funding and appropriations: federal funding for Native Americans vs. the more parochial federal funding for Indians and Indian tribes.

What's in a name? Everything. As the chairman of a California tribe, I do feel somewhat qualified to comment and answer your question. Just use Indian. It's what we use. We're Indian people. Those among us who would seek to redefine us are uncertain of their own identity. Always remember, though: vocabulary drives debate!

Date:

30 Sep 1999

Time:

01:44:20

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I couldn't find any recent pictures but I'll keep looking. In the meantime here's a picture of me when I was 15 y/o. It was taken in 1977 when I was a freshman in high school.

Victor Rocha

  http://www.pechanga.net/victor_rocha_1977_age_15.htm

Date:

30 Sep 1999

Time:

07:08:39

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People often ask, do you like to be called Alaskan Indian or Alaskan Native? I always say what my mama taught me "either one, just don't call me Eskimo"! Thanks for the picture. I'm sure you have gained many more fans. Rae

Date:

30 Sep 1999

Time:

07:59:51

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That sweet face, who knew that a Colton cholo would make good. Pechanga in Seattle.

Date:

30 Sep 1999

Time:

11:29:21

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When asked the question about Indian vs. Native American, Russell Means replied: " I abhor the term Native American. It is a generic government term used to describe all the indigenous prisoners of the United States. These are the American Samoans, the Micronesians, the Aleutes, the original Hawaiians and the erroneously termed Eskimos, who are actually Upiks, and Inupiats. And, of course, the American Indian. I prefer the term American Indian because I know its origins. The word Indian is an English bastardization of two Spanish words, En Dio, which correctly translated means 'in with God.' As an added distinction the American Indian is the only ethnic group in the United States with the 'American' before our ethnicity. At an international conference of Indians from the Americas held in Geneva, Switzerland at the United Nations in 1977 we unanimously decided we go under the term 'American Indian.' We were enslaved as American Indians, we were colonized as American Indians and we will gain our freedom as American Indians and then we will call ourselves any damn thing we choose. Finally, I will not allow a government, any government, to define who I am. Besides anyone born in the Western hemisphere is a Native American." Strongplace

Date:

30 Sep 1999

Time:

19:11:23

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Amongst ourselves we have different names for each other don't we? BIA Indians, IHS Indians, Pow Wow Indians, AIM Indians, Haskell Indians, Rez Indians, Apple Indians and others I don't know. Victor posted a picture from the 70's and met John Trudell today. Wounded knee and ANSCA happened in that era. I was in 7th grade in 1977. My homeroom teacher was very angry at me because there wasn't a box for Athabascan or Alaskan Indian on her questionnaire form. I refused to be identified as other. October 23, 1999 will be an awesome day! Rae

Date:

30 Sep 1999

Time:

20:03:47

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This is a great site. You really put a lot of work into it.

Where did the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians originally come from? I heard that you were part of the Chippewa tribes. Is that true?

Noreen of Fullerton

Date:

30 Sep 1999

Time:

20:33:57

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hey everyone, I met John Trudell today at UCLA. we talked about  music, the internet, and Jesse Ed Davis ( Jesse Ed Davis was a Native American guitarist who died in 1987. he played with John Lennon, Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder, Jackson Brown and many more) I had a million questions to ask him but I couldn't remember any of them. I did get to ask him if he was in the sequel to Smoke Signals. He said he hadn't heard anything but he was writing a new song for the movie. 

check out his website www.johntrudell.com I strongly recommend his new album too. great stuff. 

it was a very good day, 

Victor Rocha wstsidela@mediaone.net 

Date:

30 Sep 1999

Time:

22:17:32

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To Noreen of Fullerton: The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians have never come from anywhere. Our forebears have always lived here in the Temecula Valley. Our creation story hold that Earth-mother and Sky-father created the world here--at Exva Temeku. And, the name of this suburban extension of Orange county today remains relatively true to its original form--Temeku/Temekunga/Temecula.

Regarding the Chippewa, because our creation story holds that all the first people, and all the archetypes of all living things were created here, and that of those surviving after certain key events, a great majority of people scattered from here (with some staying) and took up different places to live--thereby population the entire country in that manner. So the Chippewa actually came from here and migrated to where they are now. As did the Chinese and other Asians. I don't know about Europe--those people are so different, especially the French. But seriously, ever hear of Pangea (Pangaea)? You think the Bering land/ice bridge is only a theory? It isn't. The only thing wrong with the land-bridge scenario is that the migration actually happened in reverse. It went from here to there. Shhh!! Don't tell the white people that because it'll rock their world if they ever find out that they descended from our ancestors. Then they'd have to acknowledge everything in their history and anthro books is backwards and wrong. Noreen, this'll just be our secret. --Temeku-Coyote-Man

Date:

01 Oct 1999

Time:

07:28:20

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I have always been told that what we call ourselves is the result of a decision we make to give others information about us and our position in their society.

Our position within our own social structure is personal and really for our own use. For example, I am a Kawasict Cahuilla from Secki. This is what I shall teach my daughter. She will also have to learn the difference between Wildcats and Coyotes.

We also identify ourselves to others as being from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs. We are also the Tribe formerly known as Agua Caliente Band of "Mission" Indians.

I always thought that allowing the “Mission” designation in the name was a political gesture designed to allow the general society to assuage any guilt left from the mission era’s effect on the Tribes nearer the missions. By calling us “Mission Indians” they could make reparations without having to give Malibu and Los Angeles back to the Gabrileños, and/or San Diego back to the Diegeños.

Even those names reflected information that was designed to convey the message that the Mission San Gabriel and the Mission San Diego had these people under their influence. There was also a Mission San Luis Rey that had Luiseño people around their area.

But, setting all this aside, it doesn’t matter what you call me, I will allow you to make yourself comfortable in communicating with me. What you call me means little compared to what you tell me.

But don’t ask me to stop calling for the return of parts of California to the rightful owners right now because it might be bad for the Casino Indians and a compact election.

What we call ourselves, and what we allow others to call us, is unimportant compared to who we are. And that is defined by our actions, not our names.

pshunwit@aol.com 

Date:

01 Oct 1999

Time:

21:36:32

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well it's about time someone noticed we were getting screwed by the Democrats http://www.pechanga.net/hayworth_bill_to_stop_california.htm it should be interesting to see where the Democrats fall on this issue. indianspear@yahoo.com 

Date:

01 Oct 1999

Time:

23:14:17

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Dear friend Victor, As usual your page informs and delights. The new look is very "up town". Thank you so much for posting the information on the DUMP SLADE GORTON event that will be held at the NCAI conference on the 4th in palm springs. One thing you can say about Gorton, is that he is pretty much an equal opportunity oppressor. He goes after Indians, the environment, working families, elders, health care and just about anything you can think of. Removing Slade would be a gift to the nation. Your web site is such an excellent source of economic news,cultural, activist and education all in one. Yes gaming is the economic engine that is both pushing and pulling the train of change down the track. Sharing knowledge - all kinds - is not only a first class ticket on the train - but a sure way to becoming the conductor. Taking part in the economics of politics and the politics of economics is one way not to get left at the station. American Indian political power is growing - not just the write-a-check kind, but the organize-from-the-inside-and-influence-direction kind as well. October 15 - 17 in Oakland, the State Democratic Party will have its next executive board meeting. Members and supporters of the Native American Caucus will be lobbying and offering education on caucus plank comments to members of the state platform committee and general delegates for their support. Caucus members presented comments to 11 of the 14 platform planks during the open submission time. This is a monumental opportunity to have actual language, written by tribal members, included in the state platform - the blueprint political directive for the state. After Oakland, in February at the State Party Convention in San Jose, the platform will be presented for full delegate support. Once approved,the CDP platform is sent to National. Indians in other states are looking to the California example to see what and how you do. Remember, every one word of support for Indian Country that you can get incorporated in this state platform - may very well have an effect on Indians across the country. FYI,I have sent you a file attachment of the entire platform as it stands now with the caucus changes included in the text. I know that everyone is not in the middle of a love fest with the dems or the reps - but never give up working for inclusion in the rank and file of political parties. Change is very hard to make by walking away. Make sure you are included in the inside where you can do it"with" them instead of them doing it "to" you on the outside. Getting to know and work with the front line people who have given years of time knocking on doors, making phone calls, stuffing the envelopes for candidates and issues they believe in - brings Indian empowerment to another level. There are many supporters out there, many. Just today I had a phone conversation with another club president in Los Angeles county, he called to ask if the caucus would send a representative to their next club meeting so that the club can issue a resolution of support for Prop 1A. With a support resolution also comes active campaigning from club members for passage of Prop 1A. These are the same folks who have spent a lot of time in their life working for some of the people that are now in office - these grassroot people support the tribes in many ways. They want to line up with you and fight the fight for what is fair and just. At the same time, these activists will and are - asking questions relative to Indian support of the legislators and party officials they help elect. Time for me to get down off my soap box - wait, I thought you get down from a duck.

Peace, progress and persistence Raven

Date:

01 Oct 1999

Time:

23:22:25

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Yikes

Everyone who knows me knows that at times - when excited - I may talk so fast with so many words in one breath that it seems like I never pause -- perhaps that may be true. heehehehe BUT at least when I write, I put a pause in there. My last message - for some reason - did not include the space, paragraph indentions etc. sooooooo don't give up on reading it. just hold your breath! thanks Raven

Date:

02 Oct 1999

Time:

13:46:18

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Raven, If you are in the Spa Hotel lobby next week ask an Agua, who redecorated the lobby?

Date:

03 Oct 1999

Time:

15:13:22

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I have one thing to say about the Pala/Anchor Gaming deal: If Pala's involved it's has to be bad for Indian Country.

IMHO (In My Humble Opinion): Las Vegas is trying to confuse the voters. The California voters didn't just vote for Indian self-reliance, they voted against Las Vegas. By aligning themselves with the smaller non-gaming tribes and promising (or threatening) to bring their "Vegas Experience" to California, they'll create confusion in the mind of the voter.

IMHO x 2: the larger gaming tribes need to offer the smaller tribes their gaming expertise and wisdom. this will cut the Vegas boys right out of the pictures.

IMHO x 3: only people who help Indian Country, work in Indian Country i.e. donations to the Indian College Fund, Indian Charities, etc.

We need to be more territorial and we need to make sure the California voter knows we don't want Las Vegas in California either.

Remember the next major battle is looming just over the horizon. are we going to stick together or are we going to fall apart?

The Eagle indianknight_2000@yahoo.com 

Date:

03 Oct 1999

Time:

15:57:55

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Indian Knight (re above):

You are absolutely right. Anchor's tactic seems to be a variation of the divide and conquer strategy. It's like: with friends like these (Anchor/Nevada gamers) who needs enemies? TeCoMa

Date:

04 Oct 1999

Time:

12:23:49

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Dear Victor, I feel that your website is becomming an integral part of the California Indian culture. It is extremely informative about Native American issues. I am proud and happy for you. Your contribution to our culture is inspiring. I tell everyone I know about your site. Please, keep it growing. Your friend, Martin Alcala, Chair, Gabrielino/Tongva Indians of California

Date:

07 Oct 1999

Time:

05:42:54

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I would like to thank Chairman Milanovich and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for their hospitality during my stay in Palm Springs.

Victor Rocha

Date:

07 Oct 1999

Time:

18:40:45

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Let's Dump Slade in 2000. Why? check this out: http://www.wa-democrats.org/dumpslade/am-indian.htm Victor Rocha

Date:

08 Oct 1999

Time:

01:38:13

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my friend was telling me that you only have to be 18 to attend an indian casino is this true ?

Date:

08 Oct 1999

Time:

16:41:22

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To the Pechanga.Net reader who seemed surprised when your friend told you that you only have to be 18 to get into an Indian casino; your friend was right. The federal law that governs Indian gaming, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), restricts patrons to 18 years of age and older. Oh, by the way, you only have to be 18 years old in order to play bingo at any charity bingo in the state. You can also buy lottery tickets in California if your only 18. Believe me your odds of winning are a lot better at your local Indian casino than playing the lottery. Oh yeah, you can also join the Army or Marines and die for your country if your 18. My brother-in-law Sgt. William Holmes Jr., a member of the Morongo Band was only 19 when he died in Vietnam fighting for his country. I hope this answers your question about Indian gaming.

Date:

08 Oct 1999

Time:

22:25:33

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If you are eighteen or older in California, you may gamble in: -an Indian casino (unless alcohol is served in the vicinity, then state ABC rules apply)as well as in:

-a horse track, betting on the races -any establishment that sells lottery tickets -in any card club throughout the state playing various forms of poker (Texas hold'em, pai-gow,etc.) -in any bingo game anywhere.

So, whoever asked, what's your issue? Our Indian casinos aren't allowing anything more than is already available and allowed elsewhere in the state. Are you trying to say that that there is some moral ascendency of non-Indian gaming over Indian gaming?

When the state of California changes the age limit on all forms of gambling statewide, then that age limit change will probably change in Indian casinos as well. But as long as this state's public policy is "if you are 18, you may gamble," tribes will continue to allow 18 year olds to do so. It's their right.

Date:

08 Oct 1999

Time:

22:26:47

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If you are eighteen or older in California, you may gamble in: -an Indian casino (unless alcohol is served in the vicinity, then state ABC rules apply)as well as in:

-a horse track, betting on the races -any establishment that sells lottery tickets -in any card club throughout the state playing various forms of poker (Texas hold'em, pai-gow,etc.) -in any bingo game anywhere.

So, whoever asked, what's your issue? Our Indian casinos aren't allowing anything more than is already available and allowed elsewhere in the state. Are you trying to say that that there is some moral ascendency of non-Indian gaming over Indian gaming?

When the state of California changes the age limit on all forms of gambling statewide, then that age limit change will probably change in Indian casinos as well. But as long as this state's public policy is "if you are 18, you may gamble," tribes will continue to allow 18 year olds to do so. It's their right.

Date:

09 Oct 1999

Time:

12:54:44

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Today I went into a small town used book store. On the shelves was a series of books I collect. There were four books that I didn't have. When I went to the counter to buy them, the owner told me those books were not for sale. she did not tell me why. I paid cash for the other books I was buying. I asked my friend if she could have books out and not sell them. He said if they were just for display purposes, yes. We left the store but I went back in and told the lady in a nice calm voice that she offended me. She did not apologize, and explained she had a customer who had priority over me. Her helper was pulling all the books off the shelf and noticed that there were two copies of one of the books I wanted. She would not sell it to me. My question to this long winded story is: Would she have sold me that copy if my friend and I had blonde hair and green eyes?

Date:

09 Oct 1999

Time:

16:00:20

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My last name is Pecha. My husbands family was always lead to believe that it is Czech heritage. But now we have been informed it could also be of indian heritage. I would like to know how to go about find this out. My father-in-law is very curious to know their true heritage. tpecha@yahoo.com

Date:

09 Oct 1999

Time:

16:38:40

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Re above: If your husband's name is Pecha, he is most assuredly Czech in heritage. It is a linguistic fluke that Pecha and Pechanga sound similar. For you to draw the conclusion that since they sound similar, therefore your husband might be Indian is called reductio ad absurdum.

Be happy with who you are. Why try to be Indian. Be yourself. Stop trying to re-appropriate our heritage. How come, by the way, your husband doesn't think he's Mexican or African? TeCoMa

Date:

09 Oct 1999

Time:

16:46:27

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To the guy with the book problem above. Get over it, buddy. What kind of chip do you have on your shoulder that you think you've been discriminated against because of your looks. Maybe you simply look creepy, or maybe your butt-ugly, or maybe you had bad-breath, or maybe you looked like a gang-banger with baggy pants and a shaved head. Even me, a brown-skinned such and such, wouldn't give you the time of day if you looked like the above.

My point is: If you got poor customer service at a bookstore--don't freakin' go there anymore. You're wearing your bleeding heart out on your sleeve and that shoulder chip is showing more and more. Deal with it buddy. Get a life. Focus on improving the world, rather that wallowing in self pity because someone had poor customer relations skills.

If you went to pat a dog's head and he bit you, then next week, would you pat the dog's head again? or would you think twice. Your answer to this question will let the world know if your a hopeless idiot or if there is some redeeming quality to you. TeCoMa

Date:

10 Oct 1999

Time:

16:28:59

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That book thing would never happen to me, but then again, I am devestatingly handsome. Pechanga in Seattle.

Date:

10 Oct 1999

Time:

18:39:08

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I don't know why you assumed that the book buyer would be creepy, butt-ugly, or had bad-breath, or looked like a gang-banger with baggy pants and a shaved head or be male. I forgot to sign my name at the bottom of that story. Rae, pretty Athabascan in San Jac.

Date:

10 Oct 1999

Time:

19:58:18

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Hey, TeCoMa,

I thought is was the duty of decent human beings to root out evil, confront it and destroy it.

It almost sounds like you practice and condone prejudgements of people based on their outward appearance. If so, that means prejudice is alive and well thanks to people like you.

Maybe you are right. In which case, maybe we will become more like them to get heard, ala Animal Farm. This was a concern of some Tribal leaders at the beggining of the Compact fight in California, way before Prop 5.

I was with the bookstore poster above, after examining and discussing the incident, it was decided that the reaction was to the political content of the shirt that Rae was wearing. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, dedicated individuals can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead." Along with these words are pictures and names of the following: Nelson Mandella, Desmond Tutu, Cesar Chavez Rosa Parks, Muhandas Gandhi, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Aung San Suu Kyi, Susan B. Anthony, and Chief Joseph.

We are activists and sometimes dress to provoke thought, discussion and reactions. This time we did not notice that we were doing so.

Here is an article that may provoke you to rethink your statements.

'If I’m ever in a position where I can fight hatred, I’ll do it’, Morris Beschloss

By Karla Dial Special to The Desert Sun (Palm Springs,CA Paper) October 10th, 1999

Like many Coachella Valley residents, Morris Beschloss is both Jewish and a German refugee. As a child growing up in the 1930s, he experienced firsthand the hatred of the Third Reich.

Unlike almost all of them, however, Beschloss saw it from the inside, as an active part of the German youth movement during Adolf Hitler’s regime.

"I consider myself a Jewish activist. That’s my heart and soul," says the Rancho Mirage resident. "After my experience in Germany and my subsequent career in the U.S. Army, where I saw -- documented -- how the U.S. government lobbied to get the Nazi war criminals out of Europe and into South America, then pardoned them, I became very frustrated and felt I had to speak up.

"After I retired from corporate life in the mid-1980s, I felt I had the time to do what I really wanted to do -- and people are listening."

People in the Coachella Valley have been listening, in one way or another, for the past six years. That’s how long Beschloss has been hosting his popular "Tuesdays with Morrie" luncheon discussion of worldwide politics at the Rancho Mirage Country Club. More recently, he has been named the senior political consultant to the "Lou Penrose Morning Show" on 1010 KNWZ AM radio, and he provides weekly political commentary to KESQ-TV3.

Although Beschloss merely moderates the lunchtime discussion group, Penrose's listeners get a healthy dose of Beschloss’s perspective every two weeks. And he discusses anti-Semitism and World War II in depth while hosting one of Temple Isaiah’s "Breakfast and Coffee with the Rabbi" sessions, though he attends Temple Sinai and is not a rabbi.

Beschloss's story began 70 years ago in the central district of Berlin. The son of a doctor who was an atheist Zionist, and the grandson of a German culturist, Beschloss’ early exposure to his own faith was minimal. And because of his red hair, freckles, athletic prowess and outstanding academics, so was the discrimination he received.

But Beschloss never set out to pass himself off as an Aryan. Everyone who knew Beschloss knew he was Jewish.

"I was 6 years old, and the principal of my school called me in and said, 'I want you to know we consider you 100 percent Aryan.’ I don’t know why," Beschloss recalls. "But I looked more like one of them than most of them did. I was reddish-blond, freckle-faced, very strong, a good athlete. I distinguished myself."

Beschloss’ first 10 years of life unfolded fairly uneventfully because of those things. During the winter, he would ice-skate on a pond in front of a prison where one of the biggest Nazi war criminals would be incarcerated many years later. His athletic prowess won him a two-day pass to attend the 1936 Olympics, where he saw Hitler walk away without shaking black athlete Jesse Owens’ hand. He watched the Hindenburg take off from an airfield near his house. And he listened to a radio broadcast in which boxer Joe Louis beat the living daylights out of Maximilian Schmeling -- a broadcast on which the plug was pulled in Nazi Germany because radio was not free and Nazis were not permitted to lose.

But he was part of something. From age 5 to 7, he served in the Pimpf division of the youth movement, something akin to Cub Scouts. From age 7 until he left Germany at 10, he was in the Jugenvolk portion of the movement. Had he been in the country between the ages of 12 and 18, he would have been a full-fledged Hitler Youth -- or, more likely, dead.

"The Hitler thing never really came up that much. Nobody was hiding it, but they soft-pedaled it to me," he says. "I almost felt guilty because I was never discriminated against or hounded. On the one hand, I was enjoying being part of a movement. But on the other hand, I was fully aware that I was Jewish -- and the hate was palpable."

Beschloss, for the most part, kept his eyes open and his mouth shut -- learning the things that have made him the effective fighter of prejudice that he is today.

"They dealt in hatred," he says of the Nazis. "Hatred was a key of the whole German education system. The French were a bunch of fornicators. 'USA’ stood for 'Unabashed, Shameless, Stupid.’ They had deprecatory terms for everybody. There, it was as if the Ku Klux Klan, the Aryan Nation and all these other creeps were running the country -- with a genocidal maniac in charge.

"As I grew older, I said, 'If I’m ever in a position where I can fight hatred, I’ll do it.’ "

Though Beschloss was largely unaffected, life was growing progressively worse for Jews all across Europe as the 1930s waned.

"In those days, you saw (Hitler) as a great leader. There was sort of euphoria about the fact that he took Germany out of the doldrums, built up the autobahns. What people didn’t realize was that it was all for the military, and he was using expropriated Jewish money to do it.

"(You shouldn’t ever) try emotion to get people going -- that’s Hitlerian. And every aspect of the German nation bought into it. People were going to get work out of it, they were going to keep their jobs -- they didn’t care if people were murdered. Later in the war, a lot of Germans would go out and kill a bunch of Jews on the weekend, for sport. They looked at Jews they way they do about killing coots (here in the valley), only Jews were more obnoxious."

It all came to a head when Beschloss was 9: Nov. 9, 1938 -- Kristallnacht, the Night of the Broken Glass. Rioting broke out and the Nazis burned synagogues and looted Jewish homes and businesses all across the nation. Some 30,000 Jewish men were deported to concentration camps, and many Jewish women wound up in jail. By the time it was over, the Jews had been targeted as vermin.

"I remember my parents were talking in whispers, they were so afraid. Two days later, my father was smuggled to Cuba on a banana boat," Beschloss says.

A few days later, when Beschloss went to school, his life was changed forever. On Nov. 15, Germany passed a law prohibiting Jewish and Gypsy children from attending German schools.

"I went to my school and my teacher said, 'I don’t think you can come in today. There’s a new law against Jews.’ I said, 'That doesn’t apply to me; I’m Aryan.’ But he said, 'No, I mean it. I really don’t think you should be here today."

Realizing it was a lost cause, Beschloss asked for permission to address his classmates, and received it from his sympathetic teacher. Once in front of the class, he proceeded to give the most blistering speech of his young life.

"I said, 'I hope you Nazi bastards get what you deserve. I hope the Russian Cossacks come in here and run right over you!’ And everyone sat there just transfixed! The teacher grabbed me from behind and said in my ear, 'Run!’ Then he turned and said to the class, 'He’s lost his marbles! Pay no attention to him.’ "

Beschloss’ speech put not only his own life in danger, but also endangered his mother and brother. Shortly afterward, his mother appealed to relatives in Pittsburgh, and the trio crossed the Atlantic to start a new life in America.

"It was tough," Beschloss said. "We were used to a very fancy lifestyle, and here we were in the middle of the Depression. I didn't know a damn word of English. I had to teach myself."

As his family -- rejoined by his father in 1939 -- drifted westward to settle in Illinois, Beschloss used everything he had to get ahead. The athletic skills he'd honed in Germany helped him become a star track athlete in high school. The academics came easily -- as an adult, Beschloss has been a member of the Mensa Society. But the military was in his blood.

"I still love the military," he says. "I took ROTC in college and came out a reserve captain. I asked to be in psychological warfare, and got top-secret clearance in 1952."

In those top-secret documents, Beschloss says he found proof that the United States looked the other way while millions of European Jews were massacred in Nazi concentration camps.

"I found that the OSS (a precursor to the CIA) definitely collaborated with the Nazi intelligence to recruit German industry and military people as a bulwark against Communism. (Gen. George) Patton was an out-and-out anti-Semite.

"What shook me to the bottom of my life was that Roosevelt’s representative to the military (John McCloy, former chairman of the Chase Manhattan Bank and future high commissioner of the American Zone in Germany) said that if any Jew got out of the death camps, not to let them across the German border. They bombed the factories around Auschwitz, but never the camp itself. He wouldn’t allow any raids to save Jewish lives. It was all documented."

The middle of the Korean War, however, was not the time for Beschloss to speak out on his findings. But now, 10 years after a 43-year career in the pipe fitting and valve industry has ended, Beschloss says, is the perfect time to resurrect his past in order to benefit the future.

"I think the biggest thing people can do today is to stand against prejudice wherever you see it. When we go along with it and turn our backs, we just allow it to grow like a cancer -- and the next step is totalitarian fascism. The people get so frustrated, they see no other choice but fascism. I don't see it happening here (in America today) -- but it could.

"Somebody has to talk."

Date:

11 Oct 1999

Time:

00:41:15

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Hey Rae: You got defensive, woman. Have you ever heard the old adage, "be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it" ? You lookin' for a fight?

You go into a bookstore in San Jacinto, CA, looking like a counter-culture revolutionary, and then get miffed when they don't want to help you? Why are you fighting Nazism in a San Jacinto bookstore? What's with the Bechloss stuff. Here in southern California Indian country, we've got our own battles to fight. If you want to take on the world's windmills, fine, more power to you. Just leave your AIM drum at home when you come around these parts. If you're not part of the solution, you may be part of the problem.

Those 22 people living in one house on an Indian reservation in Pine Ridge, do you think they'd give a hoot about some bookstore clerk not wanting to sell books to you? Woman, get some perspective. At least you have a choice from among bookstores. You don't have to patronize the jerks at the one store you were in.

How about road rage? When driving a car, if someone flips you off or cuts in front of you, aggressively, do you think they are doing so because you are female, or you look like a minority (my assumption) or you're wearing a revolutionary tee-shirt? And do you reciprocate by flipping them off? honking your horn? tailgating them? what?

Sounds to me like you're looking for problems, looking for trouble. My point is, if you're looking for racism, hatred, and discrimination, you sure as hell are gonna find it----especially in San Jacinto, California.

Alternatively, if you went about your business in a good way with a good heart and focused on those around you--you'd probably find the world around you not that bad of a place all the time. Jeez, if you read depressing stuff, sure, the world's gonna seem to be a depressing place. Get rid of the chip on the shoulder.

And by the way, I wasn't too far off base in associating gang-bangers with San Jacinto. It's kinda like ground zero for that sort of thing. Maybe you should move to a kindler-gentler sort of place. TeCoMa

Date:

11 Oct 1999

Time:

10:27:45

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hey,victor great web site, J.M.Temecula

Date:

12 Oct 1999

Time:

13:43:22

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Was there a CA state supreme court dicision overtuning the extension of native american rights recently voted on and passed, if so what was the date?

Date:

12 Oct 1999

Time:

13:57:34

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It is very helpful and informative. I refer to it daily for news about Indian Country and found it to cover a major of the news items.

Date:

12 Oct 1999

Time:

19:12:54

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RE the question above about the supreme court of California overturning the yes vote on proposition 5, it's true. The court, in a 6-1 decision filed August 23, 1999 (Monday), found proposition 5 in violation of the state's constitution. Prop. 5 however, waived the state's right to immunity from suit by tribes on compacting issues, and this is the only provision of prop. 5 that survived.

Since then, most California tribes have signed compacts with the state (including an onerous labor agreement giving unions the opportunity to attempt to organize our service workers, no guarantees) and with that, the entire legislature agreed to amend the state's constitution to solve the problems the court found with prop. 5. The law, SCA 11, passed by legislature and signed into law by the governor, creates a new ballot proposition, prop. 1A, which will appear on the March 7, 2000 ballot. Tribes are looking for an affirmative vote on this measure. This is the nutshell version and you are now up to date. TeCoMa

Date:

13 Oct 1999

Time:

06:53:48

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Agua Tribe donates fire truck to Palm Springs

Staff reports The Desert Sun October 13th, 1999

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians made the latest in a series of civic donations Tuesday, donating a $140,000 water-tanker truck to the Palm Springs Fire Department.

The 1,800-gallon truck will carry water for use in disasters and wild-land fires.

Since opening their Spa Casino in 1995, the Agua Calientes have donated more than $3.25 million to local civic, community and non-profit organizations in Palm Springs and the rest of the Coachella Valley.

Date:

13 Oct 1999

Time:

10:33:34

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HAS THERE BEEN A RECENT POLL DONE ON PROPOSITION 1A

Date:

13 Oct 1999

Time:

16:13:46

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No official or recent polling has been done on prop 1A.

Date:

13 Oct 1999

Time:

22:06:58

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Congratulations to the Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for their generous contribution to the community. This kind of tribal generosity should not only be told on this site, but to all the potential voters as well.

If the voters see all the good that the Indian Gaming money has done, and will do, I believe it will help your cause considerably.

Get out there and toot your horn! Let the voters know the good you do. Let them see that your not just out to use your resources for your own personal gains as some have implied.

Good Luck -- I want you to Win!

L.C.

Date:

14 Oct 1999

Time:

14:58:22

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Date:

14 Oct 1999

Time:

15:04:53

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Hey, Victor, you blew me away with your call... Thanks. This is noble stuff that you are doing; much here to be ver proud of. Congratulations. As I mentioned, I began working with tribes back in the early 90's. I started to some advising with the Menominee in Wisconsin, but the guys that brought me out-- the white guys-- turned out to be real jerks, so I got out of there... As I mentioned, I worked for Aristocrat for the last 4 years as their Director or Sales for North America. I am now a VP at Innovative. My first work with Aristocrat was in Oregon, and in the beginning, most of our work was with tribal casinos, as they were the ones most open to trying new products, and they had the least pre-conceived notions about this crazy business... Anyway, GREAT JOB with all this important work. Let me know how I can help. Thanks again for the call. My cell # is: 775-772-3657. Music is the best.

Date:

14 Oct 1999

Time:

15:21:00

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check out this informative website on tribal courts http://www.maiba.org/tribal.html Victor Rocha

Date:

14 Oct 1999

Time:

19:21:52

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The world was once nothing but water. The only land above the water was Black mountain. All the people lived up there when the flood came, and their fire places can still be seen.

Fish-eater and Hawk lived there. Fish-eater was Hawk's uncle. One day they were singing and shaking a rattle. As they sang, Hawk shook this rattle and dirt began to fall out of it. They sang all night, shaking the rattle the whole time. Soon there was so much dirt on the water that the water started to go down. When it had gone all the way down, they put up the Sierra Nevada to hold the ocean back. Soon they saw a river running down through the valley.

When they finished making the earth, Hawk said, "Well, we have finished. Here is a rabbit for me. I will live on rabbits in my lifetime." Fish-eater was over a swampy place, and he said, "I will live on fish in my lifetime." They had plenty to eat for themselves. It was finished.

--Jack Stewart told this story at Big Pine. It is one of several different stories of creation collected in the eastern Sierra by Julian Steward in Myths of the Owens Valley Paiute. http://www2.hmc.edu/www_common/native/news/rattles.htm

Date:

15 Oct 1999

Time:

10:59:57

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I'am interested in the proposed San Manuel Cultural Center in the City of Highland, I have recently been informed that the project is on hold because of the CA Supreme Court's recent rulings on prop 5, is this true?

Date:

15 Oct 1999

Time:

15:06:48

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many lives , not just museums, have been put on hold because of the Prop. 5 ruling

Date:

18 Oct 1999

Time:

23:30:45

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How buffalo taught the bully a lesson

One day long ago, Grizzly Bear was traveling through the hills near a river. He came upon Buffalo Bull standing in the trail. Buffalo's head was hanging down as if he were weak and sick.

"Ho! Crooked Horns," said Bear. "They say you have been saying you will go to war with me! Put on your war paint now and we will have a big fight!"

"I do not want to fight with you, Rootdigger," Buffalo replied. "I want peace, not war."

"Ho!" said Bear. "Crooked Horns, you are a coward! You want to run away like an old woman! You are afraid of me!" Then Bear came close and pulled Buffalo's hair and pushed his nose down into the dust. Then he pulled Buffalo's tail and slapped him as hard as he could.

"Oh! Rootdigger, you have caused me great pain," said Buffalo as he limped away. "I have done nothing to you and you still have hurt me. That is not right."

"Ho! You are a coward Crooked Horns! You have the heart of an old woman and you fear me," said Bear as he turned to continue his travels. "Ho! I laugh at you! You are a coward!"

As Bear walked away, Buffalo thought to himself, "I really ought to fight him for he is just a mean bully."

Bear, by his magic powers, knew what Buffalo was thinking, so he came back and said, "What was that you said about me, Crooked Horns?"

Buffalo said, "I said nothing about you."

"You speak with two tongues," said Bear. "You were talking in your mind about me and I know it!" Then he mauled Buffalo again, pulling his hair and slapping him. And then he went away laughing.

Buffalo thought again to himself, "Now I should surely fight him for he is always picking on someone and wanting to fight."

Again Bear knew what Buffalo was thinking and came back and snarled and abused him. Four times this happened. The fifth time, when Bear started to come back to Buffalo, Buffalo backed away and began pawing the earth, still begging Bear not to hurt him.

Bear said, "Don't run away Old Woman Crooked Horns. Don't run away. Stand and fight me, Crooked Horns Coward!"

But Buffalo kept backing away, and at last, when he was at the edge of a steep bank, he rushed at Bear and knocked him flat. Buffalo stood over Bear and tried to pin him down to the ground with his sharp black horns.

"Ho! Do not spear me with your horns! You cause me great pain, Crooked Horns!" cried Bear as he scrambled about, trying to get away from Buffalo.

"You wanted to go to war," said Buffalo. "Now why don't you stand up and fight, Old Woman Rootdigger? Why don't you fight me now, I say?"

At last Bear scrambled too close to the edge of the high bank, and over he went, right down to the bottom of the river valley. There he lay on his back, where he had fallen, crying and begging Buffalo to let him come up again.

Buffalo stood at the top of the bank watching Bear. At last he said, "You are the kind of person who always wants to fight the weak. I should finish this fight and make you pay dearly to teach you a lesson, instead of letting you come back up here to bother decent people."

Bear cried, "If you will let me come up, we will make peace and fight no more."

So. at last, Buffalo let Bear come back up. Since that time Bear and Buffalo have been at peace. But Bear still has his bad temper.

That is how one bully found someone who was not fearful of him and was hurt the way he had been hurting others! A bully has no real courage, and somewhere, sometime, he is going to learn a lesson in life that will hurt him.

Paraphrased by Little Jumper (adapted from Indian Campfire Tales by W.S. Phillips)

For more Native American stories, visit Turtle Tracks.http://www.radparker.com/tamakoce/turtletracks/

Date:

19 Oct 1999

Time:

10:15:59

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great story

Date:

21 Oct 1999

Time:

13:52:11

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Thank-You, Christopher Columbus 

Glad you stopped by...

by Tom Adkins

It's that time again, folks. Time for the self-loathing American apologists to attack Christopher Columbus. After all, his arrival on American shores led to the downfall of the proud, peaceful people now called "Native Americans." From that moment forward, the White Man brutally killed millions of Native Americans, stealing the land and crushing the peaceful, nature-loving people of the North American continent. Right?

Bull.

Long before and long after the white man arrived, most American natives routinely attacked and slaughtered each other in fiercely tribal genocidal warfare. Raping, pillaging, torturing, taking land and taking slaves were the rule with few exceptions. American natives were hardly "in touch" with nature. The favorite hunting tactic of the plains native was starting huge, raging fires that burned thousands of acres, forcing buffalo into killing zones formed by the tribe. When they ruined one area, they moved somewhere else and did the same thing. In the end, most natives met their demise by disease, unknowingly brought by the visitors. Few actually died in warfare with the white man.

In fact, the entire world was filled with tribes of people who killed each other and took things. There were almost no exceptions. The idea of civility was not even on the horizon. Even the pretense of national borders didn't change that philosophy. And that hasn't changed today, as we witness over 100 ongoing wars and skirmishes throughout the world. It is human nature to seek domination. The forgotten irony is those misfits who wrote the Constitution of the United States of America created the human rights revolution which included national sovereignty, individual rights, and freedom. And that happened in America first.

What would America look like if Christopher Columbus had ignored these shores and just went home? We'd look just like Africa. Americans perceive Africa through ridiculous myths perpetuated by black liberal American professional mythologists. In reality, there is no more frightening place on earth. Tribal warfare, genocide, infanticide, poverty, slavery and regional dictatorial chaos rule Africa. Life means nothing. Tribalism means everything. There is no law. There is no freedom. There is no civility. Without Christopher Columbus, that is what America would be like today.

Lovely, eh?

The worst thing the white man did to the American Natives? They created the reservation system, allowing them to become wards of the state. The reservation is liberal/socialist/communist dependency in a pure form. Free land, free money and no responsibility. The results were predictable. 50% unemployment. 50% alcoholism. 80% out-of-birth wedlock rate. Gangs. Crime. Failure. Like all American "minority" cultures, the deeper American Indians embraced liberalism the deeper their cultural failure. The American Indian has fallen into a depth of cultural failure far worse than Black America, our next-worst cultural failure. Of course, Black Americans aren't trapped inside a geographic border. If a Black American wants to escape poverty, all you have to do is study hard, work hard, don't commit crimes, don't get pregnant, get married, move to the suburbs, avoid liberals and you'll do just fine.

American Indians usually start on the reservation, stay on the reservation and become enslaved to the reservation. The best thing white men could have done for my ancestors is give them the same advice I give anyone who whines about their failures; tell them to quit whining and go get a job.

So who am I, you may ask, to shove my opinion into this fray? I am actually one-eighth American Indian. And personally, I'm damned happy my Cherokee great-grandmother married my white great-grandfather and left the reservation. Otherwise, I'd be one of those stoic drunks hawking beads at a southwest highway rest stop. I'd be a prisoner of poverty, indoctrinated with self-pity and hatred for white people. I'd be demanding white people give me more money for nothing. When enough white people felt sorry for me and needed to soothe their selfish guilt, they'd dream up another stupid liberal program and send me more money. Then, I would buy more hooch and get even drunker.

Instead, I live in the white man's world, where I actually have the power to control my destiny, as long as liberal idiots don't get in my way. And I'm successful because working hard in a free nation is rewarding. And because I have a job that is 100% commission. If I succeed, I eat. If I fail, I starve. Let's just say I haven't been hungry in years.

So here's to Christopher Columbus. He discovered America. He led the way to the greatest, most civilized and free nation on earth. He is a hero to all Americans. And he kept me from being a drunken, whining liberal loser.

by Tom Adkins

http://commonconservative.com/ 

Date:

22 Oct 1999

Time:

15:13:12

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Date:

22 Oct 1999

Time:

15:25:06

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ted atkins - It's too bad your Chris Columbus didn't keep you from becoming a whining self-righteous bigot who has not a clue to what it takes to be a Reservation Indian. It's too bad you give no credit to the good or maybe you believe in only the bad. You poor narrow-minded, self serving piece of crap. I could go on and on but you've taken too much of my valuable time already. I hope Victor leaves the core of your message in but condenses it so people won't have to waste so much of their time reading meaningless empty words such as yours. Stop telling people you are Indian. You're hardly worthy of that honor. See you in Hell butcher boy!!

Date:

23 Oct 1999

Time:

22:45:51

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To Ted Adkins (see above):

You are, indeed, a self-loathing whining, pitiful little man. It's too bad your mind is so closed to the world. In your world, ignorance surely must be bliss. You insult real Indians by calling yourself one. Just because, mathematically, you have Indian blood doesn't make you an Indian. You're tirade would have been partially credible (simply as fringe opinion) if you hadn't tried to tell us that you're 1/8th Cherokee.

It's too bad America's school system and, evidently your own family, failed to educate you properly in America's real and tragic history of our Indian people--one filled with suffering, dispossession, and untimely death.

By the way, you also lost any shred of credibility by painting "Indians" with a broad, liberal brush. Some Indians, especially here in California, are bona fide, died-in-the-wool-Republicans.

Ted Adkins, it's truly sad that you have such a low opinion of yourself that you feel you must project that onto the rest of us. There must be some redeeming quality to your pitiful life.

It breaks my heart to read your rant, and juxtapose it with the Indian people I know who lost their relatives--brothers, uncles, fathers--fighting in America's various wars in this century. Fighting for the principles embodies in our Nation's flag under which you are allowed to freely express your US Calvary view of the world. What a great country!! I love it. Only in America.

You do know that--per capita--more American Indians have lost their lives in battle, this century alone, than any other group of people?

Ted Adkins, be careful what you loath, lest you one day find you have become it. TeCoMa

Date:

24 Oct 1999

Time:

12:34:12

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HELLO THERE, I HAVE BEEN COMING TO YOUR BINGO PARLOR AND CASINO , AS LONG AS YOU HAVE BEEN OPENED. I SIT UPSTAIRS WITH MY FRIENDS, AS I DO NOT SMOKE. ALTHOUGH I DON'T WIN MUCH AT BINGO. I THOROUGHLY ENJOY GOING THERE. TWO OF MY MOST FAVORITE WORKERS THERE ARE jOHN AND STEWART. THEY ARE ALWAYS PLEASANT AND RESPECTFULL, AND ALWAYS GREET ME WITH A SMILE. I AM ORIGINALLY FROM MASS, ALTHOUGH I HAVE LIVED HERE OVER TWENTY YEARS, BUT HAVE CHILDREN, WHO STILL LIVE IN THE GREATER BOSTON AERA, SO I VISIT EVERY YEAR. THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF CASINOS IN CONNETICUT, WHICH I HAVE BEEN TO, AND NONE COMPARE WITH THE SAN MANUEL INDIANS. I GO TO BINGO AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK THERE, AND WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SUCH A FRIENDLY PLACE TO HAVE FUN. RESPECTFULLY ERNESTINE CLAY

Date:

24 Oct 1999

Time:

12:39:10

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HELLO THERE, I HAVE BEEN COMING TO YOUR BINGO PARLOR AND CASINO , AS LONG AS YOU HAVE BEEN OPENED. I SIT UPSTAIRS WITH MY FRIENDS, AS I DO NOT SMOKE. ALTHOUGH I DON'T WIN MUCH AT BINGO. I THOROUGHLY ENJOY GOING THERE. TWO OF MY MOST FAVORITE WORKERS THERE ARE jOHN AND STEWART. THEY ARE ALWAYS PLEASANT AND RESPECTFULL, AND ALWAYS GREET ME WITH A SMILE. I AM ORIGINALLY FROM MASS, ALTHOUGH I HAVE LIVED HERE OVER TWENTY YEARS, BUT HAVE CHILDREN, WHO STILL LIVE IN THE GREATER BOSTON AREA, SO I VISIT EVERY YEAR. THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF CASINOS IN CONNETICUT, WHICH I HAVE BEEN TO, AND NONE COMPARE WITH THE SAN MANUEL INDIANS. I GO TO BINGO AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK THERE, AND WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SUCH A FRIENDLY PLACE TO HAVE FUN. RESPECTFULLY ERNESTINE CLAY

Date:

24 Oct 1999

Time:

19:44:38

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I am a San Diego State University journalist and I would like to talk to you about the debate over Indian gaming. How can I contact you?

Date:

24 Oct 1999

Time:

23:47:49

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To SDSU (re the above): what debate? Indian gaming has a super-majority approval in California. What's your issue? Your question has a pre-conceived bias, by the way. TeCoMa

Date:

25 Oct 1999

Time:

00:24:12

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Why don't we do the interview here in the discussion room?

You ask the questions and WE'LL answer them.

Victor Rocha

wstsidela@mediaone.net

.

Date:

26 Oct 1999

Time:

04:56:01

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Vote for Notah Begay III for Rookie of the Year 1999 at http://cnnsi.com/golf/index.html  

Currently, the polls show:

Carlos Franco 35%

Notah Begay III 65%

Cast your vote!!!

Date:

26 Oct 1999

Time:

11:49:44

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Why should Indians be allowed to continue running casinos? Where does the money from the casinos go to?

Who are these Nevada interests that are against Indian gaming, and what are their motives?

Why do you think the California Supreme Court struck down prop 5 even though 62% of Californians favored Indian gaming? Were they influenced?

Ivan Llanda

Date:

31 Oct 1999

Time:

10:07:58

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Date:

01 Nov 1999

Time:

09:02:14

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Has the support for Indian gaming changed in California. What are the chances of prop 1a passing

Date:

01 Nov 1999

Time:

16:35:16

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Q: Has the support for Indian gaming changed in California.

A: NO

Q: What are the chances of prop 1A passing

A: good

Date:

03 Nov 1999

Time:

08:40:49

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I recently saw a news article posting on your website regarding the lack of federal funding for tribal police agencies in California. The article also said that Public Law 280 (Federal law which allows local law enforcement criminal jurisdiction on Indian Reservations) was hindering the tribes in California to set up tribal police agencies and tribal courts. I work for a Southern California tribal gaming commission, which investigates criminal offences inside the gaming facility. My experience with working with the local law enforcement officers is that they dislike responding to the Casino. These officers have been rude, ask the Security Officers for their permits (not their authority), failed to take custody of prisoners (misdemeanor offense for the officer to fail to take custody of a prisoner) and have an attitude that we do not know what we are doing. Why has the California tribes not taken a proactive stand to overturn PL 280 and set up tribal police/courts if they want to retain their sovereignty rights? With the sucess of Indian Gaming, I do not believe that a lack of money is an issue anymore. California has a large amount of tribes and tribal members that could be better served by having the criminal jurisdiction and court system under the authority of tribal governments. By: Alan Bailey fidelis@flash.net 

Date:

03 Nov 1999

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13:05:04

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Dear Victor,

Mr. Bailey's concerns about the accessibility and effectiveness of state and local law enforcement in Public Law 280 states echo statements made by Indian leaders at Congressional hearings for the past thirty years. I am currently attempting a more systematic empirical study of law enforcement and crime rates on reservations in Public Law 280 states; but all of the anecdotal information I have accumulated from surveys and other sources over the years support Mr. Bailey's claims.

Some Tribes have lobbied successfully (the Winnebago of Nebraska, for example) to have their states retrocede Public Law 280 jurisdiction, thereby leaving the Tribe and the federal government responsible for law enforcement and civil matters. Other Indian nations (the Stockbridge-Munsee of Wisconsin and the Hoopa and Cabazon of California) have created tribal courts and gone about the business of exercising concurrent (parallel) jurisdiction with the states. Indeed, in some Public Law 280 states (I can think of cases in Minnesota and Connecticut), the state courts have chosen to defer exercise of their jurisdiction under Public Law 280 where the tribes also possess the authority to resolve a dispute.

Why don't more tribes in Public Law 280 states create their own justice systems? Professor Duane Champagne, Director of UCLA's American Indian Studies Center, and I have documented the failure of federal law enforcement and tribal courts funds to reach California tribes, largely because Public Law 280 lulled the feds into thinking that the states were handling matters. This lack of federal support has been debilitating. Gaming and other forms of economic development on reservations may not only supply some much-needed funds for tribal courts and law enforcement, but also precipitate a need for dispute resolution (over employment matters, customer injuries, business contracts) and therefore for tribal courts. Indian nations benefit in several different ways from developing these institutions. Tribal courts reinforce sovereignty by assuming responsibility for on-reservation disputes. They also create opportunities for the application of tribal custom and tradition, thereby reinforcing important community values.

Sometimes the prospect of a new governmental institution, such as a court, is greeted suspiciously by a tribal community that is unaccustomed to its presence. Courts must be structured carefully to insure that the people view them as legitimate and to avoid abuses of power. For example, it is possible to initiate a court system with jurisdiction limited to a few select subject areas, such as child welfare or hunting and fishing, and then expand the court's authority as the community comes to accept its presence.

At UCLA School of Law, we have instituted a Tribal Legal Development Clinic, where faculty members supervise students in projects designed to assist Indian nations with their legal infrastructure development. One type of project we undertake is working with Indian nations to establish tribal justice systems. I would welcome contacts from Indian nations about assistance from this Clinic. As part of the Clinic's projects, students will come to the reservation and meet with community members and leaders. I can be reached at (310) 825-4429, or goldberg@law.ucla.edu 

Carole Goldberg Professor of Law, UCLA Director, Joint Degree Program in Law and American Indian Studies

Date:

03 Nov 1999

Time:

13:08:06

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Comments

I suspect that tribes have been so inhumanly treated in the past by CA officials that there is a reluctance to try anything with the state, look at gaming...I'm wondering with a clinic such as this available why more tribes are not using it...is there a catch? i.e. will the tribes have to *give up* something to participate? will this program allow development of native traditions or a forced *white* view of what should be developed?

Something doesn't fit here?

Charlotte

Date:

03 Nov 1999

Time:

14:36:08

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Comments

Charlotte,

Addressing your concern of whether tribes would have to "give up anything" or subscribe to the "white way" in neglect of tribal values while participating in the tribal legal clinic at UCLA . . .

As a past participant in the tribal legal clinic while a law student at UCLA, I can attest that nothing but the utmost respect and deference is given to tribal values and considerations. In fact, what is taught in the clinic from the first day is that tribal legal systems often operate on a different set of values and considerations than the average "Anglo" system.

More importantly, students are taught that there is not a generic "pan Indian" approach in such a project. Indian communities differ in their problems, goals, and concerns. To approach every tribe with a generic formula for success as a panacea for facilitating all of the tribe's objectives and addressing their concerns, is not only short-sighted, but quite frankly, bad lawyering. Accordingly, students within the program are required to meet with tribal leaders to assess the tribe's goals and concerns in implementing such a project and to maintain contact on a regular basis with the tribe to gauge their progress in meeting the tribe's expectations.

Through my participation in the program, I have not only experienced the satisfaction of helping an Indian community with their legal needs, but I have also gained many skills that will be invaluable assets in my service to Indian communities for years to come.

It is truly a "win-win" situation for all involved and I highly recommend the clinic to any tribe interested in implementing a tribal court.

- Chad Gordon

Date:

03 Nov 1999

Time:

14:37:41

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Comments

Dear Charlotte and the List,

Our UCLA Tribal Legal Development Clinic only began operation last spring. I should have mentioned that. So news about it is only beginning to spread.

Our aim is to train individuals who can better serve Indian nations, by helping to build legal institutions that serve community needs. Among other things, the students learn that legal institutions acquire legitimacy only when they fit the social, political, and legal culture of the community.

Carole Goldberg Professor of Law

Date:

03 Nov 1999

Time:

15:30:35

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Comments

So, if a tribe comes to the clinic for assistance what happens...?

Say for instance a tribe comes and wants to develop their own court system within the State of CA...what happens? What are the first steps?

Where does the funding come from for them?

Do they have to give up their sovereignty to do that?

What if a tribe wants to build a hospital?

Would the state stop them from obtaining federal funding from IHS...?

I've seen Indian tribes in other parts of the country and California Indians don't even have the same benefits that other tribes have...why?

Other tribes have Hospitals but you don't see any Indian Hospitals in California why?

Casinos a viable means of income for California tribes has been oppressed by the state....where do the funds come from for these programs if the tribes are not allowed to become self sufficient?

The state of California is not going to fund these programs....

Charlotte

Date:

06 Nov 1999

Time:

15:54:03

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Comments

To those of you that own part of an Indian allotment and have never been in on an allotment consolidation you need to fresh up on the following. Make a will or loose it. The Kansas Indians case covers numerous Indian tribes in Kansas that were the first tribes to receive Indian allotments and were done by treaty with each allotment being 200 acres. Thus the Shawnee Reserve 206 allotment I live on and own. I do have a will. We had allotments (1859) long before the Dawes and Curtis ACTs. The BIA should also state if the Indian died with a non-Indian spouse 1/2 of the land went to the non-Indian as non-Indian land and the other 1/2 went to the children in equal shares. Thus the children only get 1/2 of the land, then when the non-Indian dies the 1/2 fee land goes to the children as non-Indian land. Thus over the years the Indian children own Indian and non-Indian land. What a way to rob the Indian children.

A BIA sham.

Take a powder Gover. 

Jim Oyler

see story>>> http://www.sacbee.com/news/calreport/calrep_story.cgi?N161.HTML

Date:

07 Nov 1999

Time:

19:04:43

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When you think of Indian rights what do you first think of, individual Indians? or Tribes?

When you support "Indian Rights" what do whose rights are you supporting? Tribal rights over the Individual member? Or should the Individuals rights need protection from the Tribal Government?

Individual allotment was one of the most effective ways to destroy Tribal mentality.

True tribal membership requires the member submit themselves to the sovereignty of the Tribe. The Tribe's sovereignty allows them to make their own laws and be governed by them. Tribes should be making their own laws to insure the consolidation and continued ownership within the Tribe.

I believe that most would do so if Democratic elections (i.e., popularity contests) had not been imposed on them within their constitutions.

Hey Victor, what do you support more? Tribal sovereignty or individual member rights?

Date:

08 Nov 1999

Time:

15:25:42

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I have traveled down to Temecula to visit the Pechanga Casino and reservation. I am a college student in an intercultural class. I wanted to learn more about the Pechanga Indians as it is the culture I choose to study...Everyone seems to be choosing Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, etc. but no one seems to remember the Indian. I am very much more interested in this culture. Can anyone help me learn more about the Pechanga Indians, as I was not able to obtain very much information during my visit to the Casino and reservation. I don't know where to look...I do have some questions, that if anyone could answer, it would be very helpful...

1. Is the Pechanga culture still thriving. 2. Do the children go to public schools. 3. Approximately how many Indians live on the reservations and what are the requirements, limitations, advantages etc. 4. How large is it. 5. How does the casino and gaming affect the Reservation and the culture. 6. Are there any cultural rituals or celebrations. 7. What are some cultural foods or dishes eated by the Pechanga Indians. 8. Is there a cultural dress for special occasions. 9. Are there cultural differences between the Pechanga and other California Indians very significant. 10. What are some cultural conflicts the Pechanga find themselves encountered with.

I know this is sorta lengthy but if anyone could answer these questions for me, I would greatly appreciate the information or any suggestions by which I might go about finding the information.

Thank you so very much!!

Natalee

Date:

08 Nov 1999

Time:

16:39:55

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Comments

If a tribal member dies, the tribe lives on.

If a tribe dies, there is nothing.

~Victor Rocha

Date:

09 Nov 1999

Time:

12:18:35

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Comments

Natalee, Victor has assembled a very impressive list of links that you can visit from this page. Start your research by clicking on the link for Indian Culture. A world will open for you.

Raven

Date:

09 Nov 1999

Time:

23:53:59

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Comments

The late country legend Hank Williams has been inducted into the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame. Williams, who died in 1953, had Cherokee and Creek ancestry.

Date:

10 Nov 1999

Time:

12:23:36

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Comments

Let me guess........he had a Cherokee Indian Princess for a grandmother?

Date:

12 Nov 1999

Time:

15:24:27

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Comments

BUSH JOKES

Late-night TV hosts, have had a field day since Republican presidential contender George W. Bush was unable to name the leaders of four nations in global trouble spots. Some of the jokes:

DAVID LETTERMAN ``Late Night with David Letterman''

--``Did you see the interview with George W. Bush last week when they were asking him questions? I'm telling you, Donald Trump is really starting to look more and more presidential. He did not know the president of India. He did not know the name of the president of Pakistan. He did not know the name of the president of Chechnya. However, he did know all the words to that Mambo song.''

--``George W. Bush, you know the deal: They asked him world leaders, and he couldn't name four world leaders. But, y'know, in his defense, to his credit, he as able to name the last six guys he executed.''

JAY LENO ``Tonight Show''

--``What's even more embarrassing is that Bush didn't even know who the governor of Texas was. So apparently the `W' stands for `What?' ''

--``And those aren't the only problems for Bush. Oh, boy. Today when they asked him what he thought of Kosovo, he said, ``Y'know, I just shop at Price Club.`''

--``George W. Bush spoke out against Bill Clinton's plan to hire 100,000 new teachers. He said, ``Ya' know, I had lots of teachers, they never taught me a damn thing. I'd be a gooder president.''

CONAN O'BRIEN ``The Late Late Show''

--``George W. Bush, was unable to name the leaders of Chechnya, India or Pakistan. Even worse, George W. referred to the prime minister of Japan as ``that guy my dad threw up on.''

Date:

16 Nov 1999

Time:

10:25:46

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Comments

very informative site. keep up the good work

Date:

17 Nov 1999

Time:

21:08:48

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Comments

You might also be interested that Lynn Schenk while serving in the Congress introduced a bill to protect cruise ships which offered gambling which specifically prohibited tribes from entering the cruise ship industry. In response to a question from Congressman Steven Horn of California who asked is it the intent of your bill language to restrict the constitutional rights of Indian tribes to engage in this type of gaming operation, Congresswoman Schenck answered yes that was her intent. Maybe this will give an indication of her views on the rights of Indian Tribes. I think I still have a copy of the report language on the Cruise Ship Industry Bill.

Ron Andrade

Date:

19 Nov 1999

Time:

18:36:26

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Comments

Victor, I've been busy. Tis the season and all that. The new look is fantastic. Rae

Date:

21 Nov 1999

Time:

14:29:27

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Comments

I. Nelson Rose is a two-bit lawyer. Why is it that reporters continually seek him out for their stories on Indian gaming. He has no experience in Indian gaming--except for having been a one-time investor in a failed attempt at a casino in Pechanga. Rose is ignorant, uninformed, and nothing more than a self-professed expert. Jim Sweeney and Chet Barfield, don't be so goddam lazy. Get off your butts and find some real experts. Do some reporting. Nelson Rose is the Rush Limbaugh of Indian gaming (mouth always moving but saying nothing).

Date:

21 Nov 1999

Time:

22:07:51

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Comments

From the Copley News Service article of Nov. 20;

"That doesn't make any sense," said Bustamante, the governor's press secretary. "Why would you treat a tribe with 349 machines the same as one that has zero?" The compact defines "non-compact tribes" as those "operating fewer than 350 gaming devices," or slot machines. It then declares that "each non-compact tribe in the state shall receive the sum of $1.1 million per year" if sufficient funds are available.

Clearly stated in Sec. 4.3.2.a.i

I guess Bustamante and Davis should have read the're own compact before forcing the Tribes to sign it.

Gordon, San Mateo,CA

Date:

24 Nov 1999

Time:

16:41:46

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Comments

Recently a 13-year-old, mentally retarded child in Michigan was held to be responsible for his actions, but adults who are competent enough to qualify for a $100,000 credit line aren't. These Web gamblers are not victims, they are cheats and whiners who drive up credit card costs for those of us who take responsibility for our conduct. They were losers before they ever placed a bet. If one of the online casinos loses to a lucky "victim," will it be able to claim that the transaction is illegal, therefore it should not be required to pay out?

Date:

26 Nov 1999

Time:

15:29:52

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Comments

For Indian Gaming to stay, Vote YES ON 1A

Date:

30 Nov 1999

Time:

13:05:38

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Comments

Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt is a jerk and the Hopi Indians are guilty of cruelty to animals. How can Babbitt condone, or even allow, this cruelty just because it's always been done? The Hopis take the golden eaglet from its nest in May and the growing fledgling is kept outdoors, tethered at the leg. In July, it is sacrificed to the Hopi gods by being smothered with cornmeal. The point of the article was that while this custom has been ongoing on lands that are not administered by the National Park Service, Babbitt's ruling would make it legal in Wupatki National Monument in northern Arizona. Regardless of whether the golden eagle is endangered, protected or otherwise classified as at risk, this action should not be allowed anywhere. Cruelty is cruelty and has no justification. Period. RON REINHOLDSON Claremont

Date:

01 Dec 1999

Time:

08:27:19

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Comments

Dear Mr. Reinholdson,

Please get off of your white pedestal. I am sorry that you are offended with any culture that does not follow your lilly white politically correct point of view. Luisenos in California would still be practicing a similar type of sacrafice if we were allowed to practice our religion. I am sure you are also against the Makah and their traditional hunt for whales. You environmentalist use the image of Indians to show how pure the land was, you love us with tears running down our eyes or the Dances With Wolves imagery, yet when we try to practice our culture, or advance our sovereignty, you become no different than all of our enemies through the years. Pechanga in Seattle.

Date:

02 Dec 1999

Time:

13:12:42

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Comments

I have a question. Please respond on a personal level. Has the quality of Indian life been effected for good or ill by Indian Gaming? student

Date:

05 Dec 1999

Time:

13:41:50

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Comments

Friend Victor,

It is way past time for me to commend you for the continued development and excellent resource base you provide with this site.

Not only have you improved the visuals you continue to expand subject coverage. Through this expanded subject availability, you assist the Native American Caucus in our committment to educational outreach. As part of the communication outreach of the caucus, your page has provided news stories to our membership not only in the state of California, but to our contacts in other states as well. The "E" in Political empowerment stands for education. Thank you again for bringing it all together as you do.

Peace, progress and persistence. Raven Lopez-Workman, Native American Caucus of the California State Democratic Party

P.S. Shamless promotion message to follow: When it comes to the political process, no one can ever KEEP you out again -- don't volunteer to stay out. IT'S DECEMBER 5TH, ARE YOU AND EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY REGISTERED TO VOTE???????

Date:

06 Dec 1999

Time:

17:26:11

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Comments

who was responsible for legalizing gambling

Date:

06 Dec 1999

Time:

18:53:09

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Comments

I have a question about protecting ourselves against greedy people who see the opportunity to marry into the indians new found wealth. I realize love is blind but what about when the blinders are lifted and the honeymoon is over? Will a pre-nuptual protect us from having to give indian money to non-indians who feel half of it belongs to them? I'm sure that long-ago, indians never thought their land would be taken from them by non-indian spouses. Maybe some of those legal eagles from UCLA could come up with something if they really want to serve the tribes.

Date:

07 Dec 1999

Time:

16:16:33

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Comments

get a prenuptial

Date:

08 Dec 1999

Time:

09:47:23

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Comments

any person who is presently enjoying a substantial per cap and plans to marry or co-habitate would be wise to have a prenuptial or "palimony" agreement drafted, and quickly ! i am "in-house" for a so cal tribe that distributes nice size per caps and i see non-indians suing for 1/2 of it (AND WINNING)quite often !!! protect yourself !! it happens to both men and women !! be warned, be wise....don't kid yourself, all relationships end badly or they wouldn't end...your per caps could end any day, protect it and yourself !!

Date:

08 Dec 1999

Time:

17:02:13

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Comments

Good advice. Maybe the tribes could provide such services to their members. Then members would have to delicately convince their parterners or soon-to-be partners that the tribe has made this a condition of per-capita distribution. Think they'd buy it? It sounds like this has become a serious legal consequence. No fool like a trusting fool. Thanks.

Date:

08 Dec 1999

Time:

21:59:36

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Comments

This is why a tribal court is a necessity, so that the action can be under tribal jurisdiction. Either way, you still might lose but the tribe, not the state would have jurisdiction. To the person who said that Indians thought that their land would never been taken from non-Indians a long time ago, I say this, they shouldn't have married non-Indians. By the way, I will represent those skins who wish to create a prenup. Since you all have new money I will charge accordingly. To those who are from non-casino/compact tribes, free. To those who are, 200 an hour. Half of what those rich "indian lawyers" with their cushy offices in LA & DC charge. Its a bargain. (P.S. This is not a solicitation, but meant to be a joke, get a life, get a lawyer, if you have money, pay the lawyer. If you don't have money, pay the lawyer). Pechanga in Seattle, Esq.

Date:

09 Dec 1999

Time:

07:31:44

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Comments

How about setting up trust funds for Tribal children to protect the next generation. They deserve our efforts more than those that prove that love is blind.

Either a full per capita share into a trust account or even a percentage would help ensure that the benefits of Indian Gaming are not just felt by those alive, and members, at the time.

If you want greater intergenerational benefits then you can start funding endowments that generate interest and investment profits to fund current and future per caps or other programs.

Or, after the compact, you can just increase your per cap and get a prenup.

Individual Indians can just live for today. Tribes must provide for past, current and future members.

Date:

09 Dec 1999

Time:

08:45:31

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Comments

Wanted: male warrior. Willing to sign prenup. I am vertically challenged, blonde(ignore three inch roots), and wear a cow or is it skunk medicine bag around my neck every day. Kidding. I can't tell you how lovely it is to be grilled by a bunch of Aunts on how much Indian I am, can I have children, or how important it is to enroll future children in their tribe not my poor non-gaming tribe. Signing a prenup would be mild compared to a bunch of Aunts!!! I strongly disagree with trust accounts for the children. No matter how you raise them, when they turn 18 they are adults. What is going to motivate these children to be self relient or go to college, even finish high school? I see fast cars, and big parties. Rae

Date:

09 Dec 1999

Time:

12:09:57

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Comments

beware of the aunts!!!

Date:

13 Dec 1999

Time:

18:44:37

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Comments

Hey Victor! Great site! Been checking it out for quite a while now. Very informative! I assume you never sleep?

Raven, where's my laughs?

bsoullie

Date:

14 Dec 1999

Time:

15:19:18

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Comments

sleep isn't a problem when the subject is so fascinating. Victor Rocha

Date:

15 Dec 1999

Time:

00:39:44

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Comments

Anybody see the irony in a Judge named Iishi ruling on the Tule River case? Whats next, Governor Custer?

Date:

16 Dec 1999

Time:

14:27:30

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Comments

I don't understand. Why is this the Governor's fault?

Date:

16 Dec 1999

Time:

16:04:30

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Comments

Date:

16 Dec 1999

Time:

16:19:33

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Comments

The poor goes to college and parties big. The rich go to college in fast cars and parties big. So what are you saying? Rich people don't go to college because no one is telling them to? Bull!!! Money isn't everything we need in life and most of us are realizing that. As our per-cap payments increase, we are finding that the more money you have, the less "things" you feel you need. Being without is only fun when you don't need to be. I and my nine siblings grew up on the Rez poorer than the dirt within and those of us who chose to, went to college and those of us who didn't, married into wealth. (just kidding, trying to make a point)

Date:

16 Dec 1999

Time:

23:42:30

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Re the so called "irony" of a Judge named Ishii. There's irony if you look for it--anywhere...everywhere. But in this instance I think your cause and effect is backwards. Who's to say that Ishi, the last of the Yahis wasn't Japanese?

And don't tell me that "ishi" means "man" in Yahi--~~~~~~

Date:

20 Dec 1999

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18:08:30

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Comments

Take care of yourself Victor. I sincerely hope you are back to yourself soon. You really need to be more careful about what you put in your mouth. "You never know where it's been!"

Date:

20 Dec 1999

Time:

18:19:40

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Comments

"Would you telL me, please, which way I out to go from here?" asked Alice. "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat. "I don't much care where," said Alice. "Then it doesn't much matter which way you go," said the Cat. - FROM ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND

Date:

20 Dec 1999

Time:

22:51:24

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Comments

the question: "would you tell me which way I go to get out of here?"

If you have a computer, a vibrator and pizza delivery, why leave?

Date:

21 Dec 1999

Time:

15:25:07

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Comments

The three basics of life. Talk about "Alice in Wonderland!" Whew!@ You got it!

Date:

22 Dec 1999

Time:

04:14:27

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Comments

boring!!

Date:

24 Dec 1999

Time:

01:05:44

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Comments

Follow the white rabbit - NEO

Date:

27 Dec 1999

Time:

17:48:12

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Comments

Boring, yes I agree! At times,politics, indian gaming, indian history, indian this, indian that. Things start to become predictable and boring. In the years and years of living in this, the only thing that has made any difference is the indians having money. It used to be that if you were indian and you were smart, you continued your education and went on in the world of other americans. Now, the indians have money to pay their way through college (even the not so smart ones) and then return to their reservations, (whether they were born there or not) and take over as leaders and experts and continue to "change" things. They have learned well from the "government people" that money is everything and they are willing to strip the reservations naked and expose them to the world without any remorse what-so-ever! I suppose they are doing what they have to do because that is all they know.

Date:

28 Dec 1999

Time:

08:49:21

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Comments

get over yourself. we are not impressed.

Date:

28 Dec 1999

Time:

11:17:24

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Comments

Is everyone Y2K ready? Isn't it nice to have a variety of Casinos in Southern California to choose from, to celebrate the end of the year. People are holding their breaths wondering will Soboba shoot their transformer out? Will 1A pass? Will Mark run for Senate? Me, a poor Indian will celebrate with a cheap bottle of champagne watching the pay per view channel with the people I love the most in the world. Rae

Date:

28 Dec 1999

Time:

18:43:42

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Hey Rae! I heard that Budwieser has a "2000" champagne bottle with beer instead of the bubbly. Why not do it up right? Cheers to you! I'll be on the rez (probably not drinking) but kissing everything I can get my lips and hands on. Happy New Year!!!!

Date:

28 Dec 1999

Time:

20:01:39

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Comments

What!?!

There's beer in here instead of champagne?

Date:

29 Dec 1999

Time:

14:26:36

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Comments

The news articles are very informative but I wish people who respond with "we" would identify themselves. Is it one person speaking for several or is it one person responding with the assumption that everyone thinks the way they do? Keep up the research with the press, it is better than Indian Country Today and Indian Gaming Magazine. It's most interesting to know what goes on in other reservations. How many of the tribal leaders and Indian Reps actually live on their reservations and how long have they been there? Maybe we should be "Indian" first and "American" second. Like Indian-American instead of the other way around. Isn't that the way it is with other ethnic groups? African-American, Mexican-American, Asian-American, Euro-American (?). Just a drifting thought.

Date:

29 Dec 1999

Time:

17:04:49

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Comments

Does anyone know the top earning tribes?

1. Foxwoods $840 million gaming revenue 2. Mohegan Sun $580 3. ? Does anyone know the next ten or so ?

Date:

29 Dec 1999

Time:

18:45:40

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Re the question "Will Mark run for the Senate:" The answer is NO; neither the US Senate or the state senate. As well Mark is not and will not run for Ron Packard's 48th congressional district seat. Nor will he run for the 66th state assembly seat that will be vacated by No on 1A spokesman Bruce Thompson next November. At times though, Mark can run...like hell just to keep pace with things. And he used to run a 7'21" mile (12 or so years ago).

Date:

30 Dec 1999

Time:

09:32:03

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Comments

I heard that Pete Wilson is a Josef Mengele Fellow (or something like that) at some university. is this true?

Date:

30 Dec 1999

Time:

11:34:22

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Comments

In response to Mark running a 7 1/2 minute mile...I happen to know that Mark was slow! That is why he was cut. He ran out of options and opted for politics. I also happen to know that his brother was a much (and still can run) better runner than his older brother. That 7 1/2 time was from Grant Elementary...Think again Mark, 25 years ago (yes, your that old).

Date:

30 Dec 1999

Time:

14:10:53

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Sounds like little brother needs to brush up on his manners. No respect for your elders or tribal leaders? If LB ever decides to visit the rez, he better wear his running shoes. One thing LB will never know is the advantages of being older. Mark would be the first to say "there IS more to life than politics". His options are plenty and he is not worried about it. Loves his Rez, Loves his job, Loves his life and LOVES TO GOLF!!!! (not much running required)

Date:

30 Dec 1999

Time:

20:30:40

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Comments

Remember to stay away from the Space Needle even though you are a fast runner. Rae

Date:

02 Jan 2000

Time:

13:34:17

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Comments

Lets see if I got this right. United States Justice Department lawyers intentionally destroyed documents in their custody. Documents that revealed how the federal government swindled billions of dollars from Indian trust fund accounts. Documents a federal district court had ordered Justice to surrender to the court. Now the court has determined that the federal government conspired to cover up the destruction in order to hide their actions and protect the careers of the justice department lawyers that intentionally defied the court. Isn't this the same justice department that framed Peltier and indicted California Tribal leaders for operating illegal casinos on their own land? Remember Janet Reno and Kevin Degregory sided with Pete Wilson and attempted to coerce Tribal leaders into signing the Pala agreement. Just one question please: Does anyone think that Clinton or Gore will demand that the criminals at the justice department be brought to justice for their crimes? Probably not! Matter of fact don't be surprise if those paper shredding lawyers are promoted to jobs at the BIA or National Indian Gaming Commission. For ten years I have been listening to whiney ass anglos who complained about the illegal Indian casinos in California. The really great thing about America is with enough money and political power you can get away with anything. Just ask the former president of HERE john hanley. Who was caught doing business with the mafia by the same justice department. His punishment? He got to retire at full salary. A salary paid by minimum wage maids and dish washers. What have I learned working for Indian tribes the past 12 years? In America there is no wrong or right. Only winners losers, rich and poor. Its easy in America to identify the winners, their the ones with the money. They make the rules. That is why come March 7th we better win. Michael Lombardi

Date:

03 Jan 2000

Time:

23:23:51

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Comments

Mr. Lombardi:

I think your commentary on the inequities of the US Justice Department are like a laser--very focused. The only remark I have about it is that the former H.E.R.E./Culinary Union official who gets to retire on a salary in excess of $350,000 and living in Palm Springs, actually goes by the name of Ed "Eddie" Hanley. He has a gymnasium named after him in Ireland (yes, the country) built entirely with funds collected from those same maids, housekeeper, dishwashers and waitpeople you mentioned. His successor is John Wilhelm. It's incredibly ironic that you combined their names as "John Hanley." In the end, is there really any difference anyway?

TeCoMa

Date:

05 Jan 2000

Time:

09:06:56

Remote User:

 

Comments

....hate to flirt in smart discussion room...hate to bring down the level of discussion, but i HAVE to tell you...mark should run someday, mary ann should run someday...take all the credibility you have earned and up the anti so to speak !! put some skins in the big house. I have met mark on more then a few occasions and he is not only articulate and smart, but well, you know...women voters respond to attractive men. why are all the good ones married ?

Date:

05 Jan 2000

Time:

18:48:18

Remote User:

 

Comments

LETTERS FROM THE SACRAMENTO BEE

Casinos and property rights 

The proposed casino on Athens Avenue has the Lincoln, Roseville and Rocklin city councils all upset because, for the first time, they cannot micromanage the property of others since tribal land becomes a sovereign nation. This debate is about private property rights and whether property owners can place a legal business on their own property without the pious intervention of others who have not invested a single penny in the real estate. The opponents all raise concerns and fears of high traffic, noise, crime and the casino becoming a mecca for drugs. Apparently, they do not feel that adding five deputy sheriffs, paid for by the casino, will be sufficient to handle this since it is already obvious that the crime wave sweeping Placer County clearly demonstrates that the sheriff is totally inept.

Why aren't all these concerned stewards of Placer County, many of whom have barely unpacked their belongings after having moved here, raising the same set of bogus concerns about the huge regional shopping mall in Roseville? Could it be that property and sales taxes give a whole new perspective as to what kind of development is acceptable? --Carl E. Hass, Rocklin

>>>>>>>----------------------------------------------------------->

Why all the fuss about gaming in Placer County? It is just a form of adult entertainment. Wall Street classifies the gaming companies (Mandalay, Mirage, etc.) as leisure and recreation firms along with Carnival Cruise and Disney Corp. No use getting uptight about a bunch of grannies playing bingo and pulling handles. Besides, they would probably enjoy their husbands playing beside them instead of renewing their Viagra prescriptions and pestering them in the bedroom. Live and let live. --Red Sammon, Penryn

>>>>>>>----------------------------------------------------------->

For heaven's sake, let the Indians have their casino and get it over with. They will put it somewhere in Placer County anyway, and it is unbelievable to anyone with half a brain that the cities of Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln could be so stupid as to pass up all that money for their coffers on the basis of high crime, addicted gamblers, traffic and possible drugs. That is all hogwash. Consider the fact that there are hundreds of Indian casinos all over the United States, and not one complaint has been heard. Gamblers are going to go to Reno or Lake Tahoe anyway. What crimes are they expecting? Where in Placer County isn't there high traffic? And gamblers do not spend their money on drugs. They put it in slot machines and on card tables.

My family has been in the county for 150 years. I have no idea why I am surprised at the attitude. "They" have done stupider things in the past. This is just a little pothole on the road to civilization. --Mrs. James F. Larney, Auburn

http://www.sacbee.com/voices/news/voices03_20000103.html

Date:

06 Jan 2000

Time:

17:16:47

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Comments

And Mary Ann attracts what kind of voters? I am taking one of many good ones out of the "Indian Seeking Warrior" market on January 17th. Rae

Date:

07 Jan 2000

Time:

08:55:58

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Comments

Date:

07 Jan 2000

Time:

08:57:34

Remote User:

 

Comments

Rae...you may not agree, but i think mary ann is charismatic,strong of will and spirit and even slightly intimidating to some...she would attract women and minority voters

Date:

07 Jan 2000

Time:

13:03:26

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Comments

If mark ever decided to prioritize politics in his life, there would be no competition. i believe he could be president of the u.s. if he put his mind to it. too bad he doesn't have the devotion of people like wiltona, but in the end, people are not easily mislead.

Date:

07 Jan 2000

Time:

21:12:33

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Comments

there is obviously some insider chat going on between people who actually work for/with/within some southern california tribes/councils --- we should keep such discussion as cryptic as possible... lest we shoot ourselves in the foot

Date:

08 Jan 2000

Time:

11:43:56

Remote User:

 

Comments

Now the United States Justice Department is appealing Judge Royce Lamberths ruling "that the government breached its promise to faithfully hold billions of dollars in trust for more than 300,000 Indians" (Denver Post Jan 5). Janet Reno and her crew actually believe that Judge Lamberth "had overstepped his authority under the 1994 Administrative Procedures Act." The Clinton Justice Department for the past seven years has displayed utter contempt for the rights of tribes. Former governor Clintons JOD has consistently sided with states against tribes and this action is only one of a series of actions by the Reno gang to diminish the legal rights of tribes. So here come the democratic presidential canidates asking the tribes for their support this spring in California. Do you think Al Gore would be willing to adopt a litmus test for his Attorney General on the issue of the constitutional rights of tribes like he has proposed for the joint chiefs of staff and gay rights? Sounds good to me no homophobics at the defense department and no racist at the justice department. Call me a hopeless dreamer!

Date:

09 Jan 2000

Time:

12:50:25

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Comments

Sorry you did not see fit to leave the Euro-Centric comment on the comment page.

Date:

09 Jan 2000

Time:

15:44:42

Remote User:

 

Comments

you can't please everyone. Victor Rocha

Date:

10 Jan 2000

Time:

16:15:39

Remote User:

 

Comments

Hi Mark, congratulations on your promotion. I know you'll do a great job. Good luck on the up coming election. Lee C.

Date:

11 Jan 2000

Time:

16:22:58

Remote User:

 

Comments

Dear Friends,

The Yankton Sioux Tribe has run out of time and protection for their ancestors' remains. Federal Judge Lawrence Piersol, rendered his opinion Tuesday morning, extending the temporary restraining order until January 13, 2000. The TRO prevented the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from raising the waters of Lake Francis Case and submerging the Inhanktonwan remains. The Ihanktonwan people feel that the judge was fair and rendered the best opinion he could, under the circumstances of the law.

Court-ordered negotiations between the Corps and the tribe broke down early Monday evening. "The tribal negotiators were standing on spiritual ground and the Corps' arguments were based on economic concerns. There is a great distance between these two ways of thinking," said spokeswoman Faith Spotted Eagle, who is related to many of those buried in the White Swan Community.

"We did not come to an agreement. We remain deadlocked," said tribal attorney Mary Wynne.

Other options for settlement of the matter are under consideration. Elected officials Glen Drapeau and Willard Bruguier are in Washington, D.C., to enlist the help of officials there.

Because reburial was not a traditional practice and with the time pressures, the Ihanktonwan are working under extreme duress to fulfill their spiritual responsibilities to their ancestors.

Trying to maintain their time-tempered dignity, the Ihanktonwan are now faced with less than two days and uncertainty, for final disposition of not just the material remains, but the spirits of those that were before them.

Rosalie Little Thunder

For further information, please contact Tessa Lehto at (605)487-7871

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-syn/articles/A28348-2000Jan10.html

Public concern can be expressed to: Joe N. Ballard, Chief of Engineers, at 202-761-0001. Joe.N.Ballard.Ltg@hq02.usace.army.mil

DC ADDRESS: Headquarters US Army Corps of Engineers 20 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC 20314

Date:

14 Jan 2000

Time:

11:15:00

Remote User:

 

Comments

Here's my take: I'll vote yes on 1A as I did on the last Indian Gaming prop. But...

I don't gamble. It is a waste of good money. I feel sorry that the Tribes do not find a better way to make a living. Isn't there another way? I fear that much of the gambling profits will not go to those that need it most.

- White Guy in Escondido

Date:

14 Jan 2000

Time:

20:21:59

Remote User:

 

Comments

This is a great site. I check it every morning for the latest news from NDN country

Date:

14 Jan 2000

Time:

21:19:50

Remote User:

 

Comments

To White Guy in Escondido:

Fear not. Prop 1A amends the state's constitution so the gaming we're already engaged in will no longer be a legal issue. Upon it's passage, a number of key provisions, watershed from a national perspective, of the tribal-state compact agreement will go into effect. Most notably, based on your concern, is the revenue sharing provision. Each of the tribes in the state that do not engage in gaming will receive a share of the revenue that the gaming tribes generate--no other group of tribes in any other state does this. Right now 40 of 107 tribes have casinos. If the compact were operational now, that would mean that 67 tribes would stand to receive a substantial amount of revenue annually--upwards of $1Million each. I believe, therefore, that the money will begin to be channeled to where it is needed most. Indeed.

One more thing. As with prop 5, prop 1A has a provision that allows the state to use a portion of the revenue going to them--to be channeled into programs dealing with gambling addiction through the entire state.

Your concerns are well taken. Pass the word: Vote Yes on Prop. 1A

TeCoMa

Date:

17 Jan 2000

Time:

08:34:10

Remote User:

 

Comments

Victor- GREAT Web site!! I read it all the time for current updates and news information on Indian country. Myabe we could be added to your Indian links page. www.gng.net 

Thanks, gerald

Date:

17 Jan 2000

Time:

21:41:52

Remote User:

 

Comments

Good site! I am trying to get in contact with other Tribal Gaming Commissioners and Administrators. Any help would be appreciated. I am an Administrator with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Gaming Administration. E-Mail me at miingan@yahoo.com 

Date:

19 Jan 2000

Time:

08:10:16

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Comments

1-19-00 Victor.

What happen at the Western Indian Gaming Conference in Palm Springs, California.

Date:

19 Jan 2000

Time:

13:46:13

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Comments

Question. How does AB 60 (8-HOUR WORKDAY) effect the employees that work in the Indian Casino Industry. We know that the Casinos are on Federal Land but the employees work with-in the confines of the State of California, so are the Casinos exempt from AB 60? Steve Snow Vlt Manager Susanville Casino Susanville, CA. EMAIL cowboy@thegrid.net

Date:

20 Jan 2000

Time:

07:25:29

Remote User:

 

Comments

Tribes have a choice to make in deciding to follow the federally mandated overtime after 40 hours worked in a week, or to follow the more restrictive state standard of OT after 8 hours in a day.

The tribe, not the casino, should make the call on this and other regulatory state law compliance issues.

Similar decisions are faced with state law political disclosure laws. Regulatory in nature, federally recognized tribes often comply for political purposes rather than because of legal requirements.

Date:

20 Jan 2000

Time:

07:26:04

Remote User:

 

Comments

Tribes have a choice to make in deciding to follow the federally mandated overtime after 40 hours worked in a week, or to follow the more restrictive state standard of OT after 8 hours in a day.

The tribe, not the casino, should make the call on this and other regulatory state law compliance issues.

Similar decisions are faced with state law political contribution disclosure laws. Regulatory in nature, federally recognized tribes often comply for political purposes rather than because of legal requirements.

Date:

20 Jan 2000

Time:

10:15:02

Remote User:

 

Comments

Greetings - This is Martha Ture of Marin County writing. I am a member of the Triballaw, Wordcraft, and CERTAIN lists. I am a member of my town's parks and recreation commission. (Fairfax, CA.) I have learned that this county of Marin wants to build more housing by taking water from the Eel River. I am presently looking for native people online who live with the Eel River in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties. There is a lawsuit, but I am not part of it.

Martha E. Ture

Date:

21 Jan 2000

Time:

11:06:07

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Comments

Dear Victor,

It was a pleasure talking with you at the Western Indian Gaming Conference. Thank you for the autograph.

Respectfully,

Silvia Burley, Chairperson Sheep Ranch Tribe of Me-Wuk Indians

Date:

21 Jan 2000

Time:

12:11:00

Remote User:

 

Comments

Don't mean to defend Harrah's, but what I think their spokesperson was referring to was the added value that tourists bring into a community. Basically foreign dollars that are attracted into the community increase the overall wealth of the Tribe and the surrounding community.

This influx of new cash is contrasted with a locals joint that "merely" transfers wealth onto the res. This is considered "parasitic" to the local non-Indian community in a purely economic sense.

What Tribes should do to not be considered economic parasites is to broaden their marketing to draw people from outside their area.

Hmm, target LA and those Vegas bound gamblers heading up the 15? Seems like a good idea! We don't want to be parasites to our communities do we.

The point I think he was trying to make was that the "destination" resort with a casino, would be more likely to attract tourists with new dollars, than the "slots in a box" casinos that some Tribes currently offer. Probably true, but he seems to assume that we don't want to expand or don't realize this fact. That implied assumption is what he should be criticized for.

I think, and hope, that once we, CA Tribes, have access to more traditional funding sources we will seek to expand our facilities to cater to tourists. Hopefully not pyramids and pirate ships, but something that makes people want to travel and visit. This will take some creativity for the more remote reservations, hopefully some of the the eco-tourism or culture vultures are also good gamblers. We shall see.

Date:

21 Jan 2000

Time:

12:37:30

Remote User:

 

Comments

Harrah's still sucks

Date:

21 Jan 2000

Time:

14:39:10

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Comments

Dear Silvia, thank you for taking the time to tell me about the impact my website has had in your life. the best is yet to come for you , your family, and your tribe.

sincerely, Victor Rocha

Date:

21 Jan 2000

Time:

17:30:40

Remote User:

 

Comments

Parasitical Huh. Shhhh don't let the secret out:) He may want a job some day. A Pechanga in Spokane

Date:

21 Jan 2000

Time:

17:56:19

Remote User:

 

Comments

my interpretation of Harrah's COO (Chief Operating Officer) comments: He thinks that Indians need the great white father to run their business' properly.

Date:

21 Jan 2000

Time:

20:18:18

Remote User:

 

Comments

Thoughtful analysis above on the Harrah's COO thing. Here's the problem with it: why is it parasitical to keep money within a community to begin with? When everyone else (i.e. non-Indian business enterprises) do this it's called a "multiplier effect" and usually is a sign of a healthy local economy (when a dollar can be turned over several times within the same community.

You may call it merely "transferring" dollars, Harrah's COO may call it "parasitical" but I think its just basic, good, sound local economics. A "locals casino" is what helps recycle those local dollars and keep them within California (or whatever state your in). So, now local economies are parasitical?

And this "transferring" of dollars. I call this consumer sovereignty; the free will of any consumer to choose for him/herself where he/she will spend entertainment dollars. If its at a tribal casino restaurant instead of a cafe in the town next door, so what? Isn't that the basis of a market economy? Free will, choices, and competition.

I do agree with everything else in your analysis. Harrah's go home. We don't need you in California. And you're not wanted either. Rincon knows not what's they do. Fools.

--TeCoMa

Date:

22 Jan 2000

Time:

08:27:12

Remote User:

 

Comments

Well, we see how truly concerned Harrah's is with Indian Sovereignty. They did not go either way with Prop 5, but then that was probably better for them to watch from the sidelines and see which way the ball dropped, that way they could root for the "winner" and either way they would have a benefit. The Skagit Valley tribe in Washington had them as their managers, it was called Harrah's Skagit Valley Casino, they kicked them out. His quote goes to show how parasitical the company is, preying for a host to suck it dry. Sooner or later, the host scratches it off and is left with a nasty bump, then the parasite goes off to search for the next victim. Only by doing it ourselves, trusting ourselves to manages our own, will we acknowledge our worth. Pechanga in Seattle.

Date:

22 Jan 2000

Time:

12:21:37

Remote User:

 

Comments

Harrah's made some really, really bad business decisions on behalf of the Upper Skagit tribe of Washington State.

Harrah's misjudged the market and the tribe got stuck with a mountain of debt. 

here's the article: http://archives.seattletimes.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?storyID=38694e2934&query=harrah

I feel sorry for Rincon. 

Native2000

Date:

22 Jan 2000

Time:

13:14:39

Remote User:

 

Comments

I'm curious as to why there has been no mention of the tentative deal the Rincon tribe has signed with Harrah's? Yet, there was the interesting quote posted from Harrah's COO.

Victor: the article was posted on 1/19/00

Date:

22 Jan 2000

Time:

17:00:50

Remote User:

 

Comments

Here's a thought. Has anyone considered that there may be some Vegas folks trying to use less experienced tribes to make deals and media announcements as a less expensive way to fight the Prop.1A campaign?

Cabazon Chick

Date:

23 Jan 2000

Time:

07:29:15

Remote User:

 

Comments

Heard the same hypothesis from a Cahuilla chick, could be but they stayed on the sidelines last time and they had a past deal with Pala prior to current political considerations. Seems like something else.

They could be trying to ride our coat tails so that their stock takes a jump when we do the work to pass 1A. This might not directly make the company money, but would make the stockholders happy. Senior execs might also smile depending on the size of their stock options.

Or they could be trying to salvage the investment in time and money that went into the prior Pala deal. After they announced that deal everyone questioned their judgment on location. They countered with the fact that they had a list of one million rated players within a fifty mile radius of Pala. They said that their marketing strategy could directly target these good players to bring the market the casino, despite the location.

The choice of a smaller Tribe could just be an effort to save money. A smaller non-gaming Tribe might accept a smaller singing bonus, higher rev share %, etc... A large gaming Tribe is harder to impress, especially when everyone is knocking at the door. Signing a small Tribe gets your foot in the door, positions you to capture more of the "emerging market," maybe gets some good PR with other Tribes.

Good strategic plan, as long as your execs don't offend the locals with condescending crap.

Hey, check out the Hyatt Pueblo story, no mention of a casino. Might just show that there are companies that can help with tourism development, at a profit, without getting involved in your casino.

Date:

23 Jan 2000

Time:

14:12:14

Remote User:

 

Comments

The Harrah's announcement was a slap in the face to all California Indians. they only thing they care about is the price of their stock. They do not care about US!!! BOYCOTT HARRAH'S!!!!!! let's sink the stock!!!!!! call all your Native brothers and sisters across the country and tell them about Harrah's. about the disrespect. about the greed. DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH HARRAH'S!!!!! I will be calling every single Indian casino in the country to tell them not to do business with Harrah's. I will ask them not to renew their contracts with Harrah's.

A PERSONAL MESSAGE TO THE CALIFORNIA TRIBES: BOYCOTT HARRAH'S!!! DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH HARRAH'S. THEY ARE THE ENEMY

Native2000

Date:

23 Jan 2000

Time:

17:31:49

Remote User:

 

Comments

Repeat Messaage:

The only flaw in your most informative newspage seems to be the Eurocentrism underscored when you resorted to Bartlett's Quotations or their equivalent. It plays into the hands of culrural imperialists to serve as an amplifier of Western Literary detritus. Surely there is a body of aphorisms more appropriate to your page and readership in the sayings of the Great Chiefs, Tecumseh, Seattle, Joseph, He Haka Sapa, Geronimo, Chalot, etc. We not only produced more literarily pure forms of epigrams, we did it when Europeans were trying to decide whether they would adopt the spoken word over the club as a means of communication. There is another treasure of literary gold in the international indigenous nations of India, Latin-America, Meso-American, the Pacific, etc. We simply do not need to remind ourselves and our children of the European Doctrine of Literary Supremacy!

Victor: I suggest you start your own Native American quotes website.

Date:

23 Jan 2000

Time:

17:46:35

Remote User:

 

Comments

You heard it first here. The Rincon ploy was a stock play that came from disappointed stock-holders who saw the mediocre performance of gaming stocks. This deal will never go through, will never happen but will keep the tribe tied up while other tribes in the area start up or expand.

Date:

23 Jan 2000

Time:

19:08:30

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Comments

I just read the Hyatt Pueblo story. I worked at the Hyatt Grand Champions in Indian Wells. Not only is every Hyatt first class with the best customer service around, but their management produces results. I have seen consultants and managers at various casinos basically rip the natives off. I have worked for the white man in charge and with the Indians who knows how to run their own businesses. We need to get tougher on the white man in charge. They need to over exceed expectations, not just bring home a fat check. Don't just complete the job on time but finish it early and under budget.

Date:

24 Jan 2000

Time:

00:19:25

Remote User:

 

Comments

I RECENTLY HEARD YOU SPEAK AT THE WESTERN GAMING CONFERENCE IN PALM SPRINGS, AND THOUGHT I CHECK OUT YOUR SITE. VERY INTERESTING, I'VE ALSO PASSED IT ON TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I HOPE THEY ENJOY AS MUCH AS I. HEY I ALSO TOOK A LOOK AT YOUR PHOTO, YOU LOOK THE SAME. :)

Victor: thank you. 

Date:

24 Jan 2000

Time:

08:09:33

Remote User:

 

Comments

Lay off my cousin. Victor, keep on quoting Shakespeare. We can all learn from the language of our enemies. They hold just as many noble truths as our own voices. In addition, not all that is native is true, it is the same for whites. But we can learn from the best of each.

Date:

25 Jan 2000

Time:

07:12:02

Remote User:

 

Comments

Seems like your site is picking up speed. How long did it take to get your first 1,000,000 hits compared to the second million?

Doesn't seem that long ago that you hit a million? Like a fine wine, your site just keeps getting better with age. Keep up the good work.

Victor: One year to reach the first million. three months to reach the second.

Date:

27 Jan 2000

Time:

19:12:27

Remote User:

 

Comments

I just want to say that the web page of NIGA forwarded me to your website and wow what great information you have that will help me with my senior project. I am a senior at Pennsylvania College of Technology and am majoring as a legal assistant and have decided to write my research paper on "American Indian Sovereignty as a Nation dealing with Indian Gaming". Thanks for the great information and if you can direct me to anywhere else I would appreciate it. I will also submit my research paper to you if you want when I have completed it. Okay? Sincerely, Denise Holbrook

Date:

29 Jan 2000

Time:

15:31:30

Remote User:

 

Comments

To all members of Pala. Please get a clue and stop with the negative press. We have one major worry at this time and everyone knows what that is. You can cry sovereignty at any time, but half of acting like a nation is knowing when to act and when not to. The more you act like a responsible government the more you will be treated as one. Please pull your heads out of your ****** and hold still until after March 7.

Date:

30 Jan 2000

Time:

01:27:23

Remote User:

 

Comments

hello.... i am looking for a way to get to from beverly hills.... can you tell me my options. thanks

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