California's Modern Indian War

-News on Indian gaming & Prop 5-

(Updates: 11/4/98: Latest Articles; 10/27: Prop 5; 10/21: Dateline; 9/26: Prop 5; 9/15/98: Ward Valley, Survey; 9/12: Links)
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FEATURES

(For LATEST NEWS, Prop 5 info, Ward Valley, and more continue down on the current page.)

What people are saying - How you can help - Who runs this site - Archive of past articles
The Opposition - Sign guestbook - Read original guestbook - Read New guestbook

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Gaming seizures on Native American land? See Dateline.
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"There are many things we can do to attempt to make reparations to the Native Americans, none of which would ever give back what we have taken away. What Wilson is doing is just the opposite, attempting to take away what little rights Native Americans, and their sovereign territories do have."

In the less than 20 years after the beginning of the California Gold Rush, Native American populations were reduced by 85 percent! In addition "California's tribes had inhabited 75 million acres and were promised 8 million acres by the settlers; they received 624,000 acres, much of it in remote mountain or desert locations." (Source) In the 1850s, the state (California) paid bounties for Indian body parts. Rewards ranged from 25 cents per scalp to $5 for a whole head. Gov. John McDougall declared "a war of extermination . . . until the Indian race becomes extinct." Source: Capitol Journal, To Tiny Tribe, Prop. 5 Looks Like a Bad Bet, By George Skelton

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SCENARIO

Governor Wilson signed a compact on March 6, 1998 with the Pala tribe and demanded that the other approximately 100 California tribes recognized federally comply with the compact within 60 days!

This would be like having a national election where ONE state is chosen to decide for the whole country. Although that deadline has passed, the biggest battles are still ahead.
-Check the Latest News section for all of the latest information.

Did Wilson purposely pit tribe against tribe in this issue? Some think so. Decide for yourself.

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DATELINE

09/15/98: Sign or be seized in numerous areas: "...his final ruling will affect Indian casinos in Coachella, Indio, Palm Springs and Highland and near Banning, San Jacinto, Anza, Temecula and Santa Barbara."
Source: Tribes file challenge of shutdown of slots, The Press-Enterprise, 8/18/98
The judge could not wait the 2 months until the issue is resolved on the ballot.
LATEST-9/29/98: Authorities ask Judge Letts to shutdown video terminals by Thanksgiving

Please email me if you have any information regarding the status of the court decision.

09/24/98: Judge Letts (see 9/15) requests arguments from both sides by 9/24 to help him make his decision to pull the plug on southern California Native casinos (not including San Diego County). My conversation with U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek confirmed that the Judge could decide to shut down the casinos before the November 3rd ballot as it is entirely up to the judge. Appeals should hold it off until after Californians can decide on the ballot.(see 11/24/98)

11/03/98: The people of California decide to give Native Americans a piece of their sovereignty being denied by Wilson. (Prediction regarding Prop 5; more info below.)

12/04/98: Judge Letts rules to shutdown video terminals by 12/4/98

Fall '98: Tribes expected to begin "field testing" new lottery-style video machines this fall. First seen 9/29/98 (Source)

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FEATURES

PROPOSITION 5

CONSIDER BOOKMARKING THIS PAGE

(LATEST NEWS - SKIP TO NEXT SECTION)

NEW - added 10/27: See new link at page entitled: The Opposition
A look at one of the opposition's arguments going out
in the State's official Voter Guides.

NEW - added 9/29: *Write your U.S. Representative, Senator(s), California Assembly member, Governor and President*
From the San Manuel Page

NEW - added 9/26: Print out an image of the official Yes on 5 sticker to hang in your car window!

Gubernatorial Candidates Stance on Proposition 5 (9/19/98)
Gray Davis is firmly behind Native Americans and their sovereignty...
May be avoiding fully endorsing Prop 5 so as not to isolate some of his Union allies.

*V O T E Y E S*

On PROP.5: the Tribal Gaming Initiative - November 3rd Elections

FOR INFO (*Links repaired 8/13/98)
Californians for Indian Self-Reliance have a new site at: http://www.cisr.org/

Q & A on the Tribal Gaming Initiative / Basics of the Tribal Gaming Initiative / Sign up as supporter
(Tribal Gaming Initiative = Proposition 5)

Go to the Secretary of State site to request a voter registration form.

* * A D D I T I O N / R E V I S I O N 9 / 1 / 9 8 * *
An easy way you can help: make your own window sticker and more.

Who runs California's Modern Indian War? A few facts
Includes an explanation of the author's stance and supporting statements.

* Share thoughts, experiences, news in guestbook *
Sign guestbook - Read original guestbook - Read New guestbook

Surfers: Check "Latest News" for the latest on Native gaming and Prop 5.
Please tell your friends and colleagues about this site.

Webmasters: Please consider adding a link to this page.

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SURVEY

Daily visitors: please fill out my short survey(Submission ability not functioning).

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(To follow the latest news on this situation, bookmark this page and check back. Thank you.)

FEATURES

MISCELLANEOUS

(Updated 8/29/98: "Letters to Editor", next link)

What people are saying
Views of 2 candidates on the native gaming issue, that survived the June primaries.
Plus: "Letters to the Editor" from California papers on the issue. *(Updated 8/29/98)
-Please contact me if you are aware of the position of any of the other candidates on this issue.

Quotable:
"The more Vegas spends," Grey (Rev. Tom Grey) said, "the more the money looks suspect.
You cannot run a campaign in California, a liberal state, and figure you're going to get
your message across. It's just not credible..(Las Vegas Journal-Review, 8-10-98)

Go to the Secretary of State site to request a voter registration form.

**Looking for a way to show your support?
Why not make a sign on the computer you are using?
Click Here (8/27/98)

Need help? email me

Ward Valley Update (6/16/98)
(If you end up at the top of this page, use browser's back
button, reload and allow page to load before clicking on link.)

Native Americans need gaming - 40% still have sub-standard housing

IT IS OFFICIAL!! The tribal gaming initiative has been officially
placed on the November 3rd ballot - see 5/28/98 article - next section

Get out to vote Tuesday, November 3rd!
-Let your voice be heard! Write to your local representative.
*Go to San Manuel's Politics page and click on "Write to your Congressman!"

Bay Area Fox affiliate KTVU Channel 2 did a special report on the clash between Wilson and Native Americans. Wilson's legal affairs secretary Dan Kolkey was there to say that the casino-style gaming on reservations required a compact with the State, but conveniently left out the fact that Wilson refuses to negotiate with those tribes. The report was done from the Tachi reservation and showed how gaming had improved conditions and education at the reservation. (5/18/98)

I have no reports of raids thus far. See article-next section(5/13/98)
-Feds expected to request court approval for seizure first.

Side note: Per statistics this site has had visits from the
Dept. of Justice, US House of Reps., US Senate, and DOI.
-I hope they see this site, and comments in the guestbook, as a sign
that the public will not stand for further repression of Native Americans.

Petition signatures filed Monday; UPDATE: Over 1 Million signatures(4/28/98)
-Expected opponents: Cardroom operators, horse-racing interests and Nevada casinos

Tribes gather 800,000 names for gaming vote (4/21/98)
-should be more than enough to appear on November ballot.
-encourage friends and colleagues to get out and vote yes on the Tribal Gaming initiative.

ANALYSIS

"Although both Wilson and Attorney General Dan Lungren oppose casino-type reservation gambling, they are legally powerless to regulate the operations. It's up to the feds, who so far, are cutting the Indians slack."(1.)

There it is, in black and white. It is out of Wilson's jurisdiction, but he insists on meddling with it.

"More than 30 California Indian tribes currently operate casinos with video slot machines that provide the bulk of their revenue. The Wilson administration says such devices are illegal in California and insists that the tribes remove them."

"If they're running slots or anything else, we won't negotiate with them," said Wilson spokeswoman Lisa Kalustian. "We're open to negotiating with any law-abiding tribe, but tribes that are operating gaming activities that are illegal in state of California in violation of state and federal law need to cease those operations. The governor will not negotiate with people who are breaking the law."

"Wilson is powerless to stop Indian casino operations, because law enforcement on Indian reservations is the province of the federal government. Three of four U.S. attorneys in California - including Michael Yamaguchi in San Francisco - have deferred enforcement until the Wilson administration is able to work out a model contract with the Pala band of Mission Indians in San Diego County."(2.)

Governor Wilson's aide saying "we won't negotiate..." knocks the Governor dead out of the race for 'Mr. Nice Guy' and directly into the role of Commanding Officer of the Modern Indian War; the officer of an illegal force in an unethical, egotistical campaign against the real Americans. Why Egotistical? Wilson can't stand the idea of territories/reservations over which he has no control, as supported by the fact that he insists on meddling with issues that are outside of his ability to enforce, namely the laws affecting Native American reservations.

The Federal government will enforce compacts that are agreed upon by both the government of California and the individual Native American groups, yet Wilson also brushes this aside by refusing to negotiate with each of these groups.

There are many things we can do to attempt to make reparations to the Native Americans, none of which would ever give back what we have taken away. What Wilson is doing is just the opposite, attempting to take away what little rights Native Americans, and their sovereign territories do have.

Please note that Governor Wilson and Attorney General Dan Lundgren, partners in the war on Native Americans in California, could both move into higher offices. Governor Wilson has not hidden his interest in running for President! And, Dan Lundgren will be running for Governor of California!

(1.)Indians gamble on prosperity by Eric Brazil, San Francisco Examiner, July 27th, 1997, Page A2
(2.)Indians enlist Mandela in battle over gambling by Eric Brazil, San Francisco Examiner, December 11, 1997, Page A8

WARD VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

(Updated 9/15:See "Latest")

If you are still not convinced Governor Wilson is waging a war on Native Americans: -See this article. A quote: "Gov. Wilson wants the (radioactive) dump plans to move forward (on sacred land), while the Clinton administration has called for more study." (Ward Valley, California)

Or this headline: Removal of U.S. rangers from Ward Valley riles Wilson (from the 2/27/98 edition of the San Diego Union- Tribune, Page A4)
WHY does Wilson insist on pressing forward against the Native Americans at Ward Valley when there are plenty of other remote sites in California?

For Additional Info: Save Ward Valley Coalition

*LATEST*
Protest Action To Save Ward Valley Scheduled For 10/7 (9/13/98)

Jesse Jackson asks Clinton to stop Ward Valley dump (6/16/98)

Indians, environmentalists claim victory at Ward Valley (6/6/98)

"The Clinton administration dealt Gov. Wilson another setback..." (5/30/98)

U.S. opposes dump at Ward Valley (5/13/98)

In a letter to Al Gore, Democrats in state Legislature say governor tried to avoid them during effort to buy Ward Valley (4/15/98)

-"Federal officials said they will not proceed with the plan as long as the Indian elders are on the land the tribes have declared sacred."

Continued peaceful resistance at Ward Valley leads to removal of law enforcement personnel previously keeping watch on the protest.(2/26/98)

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LINKS TO OTHER RELATED ARTICLES

Proposed Federal regulations may help side step Wilson

Senate Constitutional Amendment 21

Nevada Stepping into battle

Fighting for rights of Indians is his life Article(2/17/98) about Lehman Brightman, California resident, professor, and one of the biggest fighters for the rights of Native Americans.

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LINKS TO OTHER SITES ON THE WEB
(Updated 9/12/98)

NEW: Redbud site - Tribal & treaty area maps (also see "table of contents")
NEW: Tachi Yokut Tribe - Includes email addresses of California politicians!
Note: the Java on the above site, like others, may cause a slow down in surfing and other functions. Even after leaving the site, I had to restart to resolve this.
NEW: American Indian Legislation and Supreme Court Watch
Site primarily dedicated to Native's struggle in California with some out of state info
Excellent discussions on the current situation in California from the San Manuel page
This Week in North American Indian History - rich in history and over 2,000 links
Native Web
Page taking a poke at Pete Wilson
Page taking a poke at Dan Lungren
A piece on Native American Sovereignty (brief)
A piece on Native American Sovereignty (detailed)
"The Thinker" looks at both sides of the gaming question

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TELEVISION PROGRAMS REGARDING NATIVE AMERICANS

Please contact me if you would like to see this feature (tv) brought back, or have used it in the past.

To follow the latest news on this situation, bookmark this page and check back. Thank you.

Sign guestbook - Read original guestbook - Read New guestbook

USE OF THE TERM "INDIAN" HAS BEEN LIMITED TO THE TITLE EXCEPT AS USED IN REFERENCES TO OTHER ARTICLES. IT WAS USED IN THE TITLE TO STRESS THE POINT THAT A WAR STILL CONTINUES THAT IS NOT THAT DISSIMILAR TO THE WARS OF THE PAST WAGED AGAINST THE NATIVE AMERICANS. DURING THAT TIME, NATIVE AMERICANS WERE - AT BEST - REFERRED TO AS "INDIANS."

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