The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, of Coarsegold near Fresno have drastically reduced their membership. They have recently removed 200 people including their few remaining language speakers. The BIA’s director Dale Risling was quoted in 2007 saying there was nothing they could do “short of ceasing to recognize” the tribe because of the Martinez decision. Well, how many would recognize the tribe from what is was in 2005?
I have put together a very rudimentary graphic that explains what the destruction of the Chukchansi populace looks like if you put them into buses to move them. Once a proud convoy of 30 buses would have been used (at 50 people per bus) to transtport the tribe. Now, after the tribe has thrown so many UNDER the bus, less than eight full buses would be needed.
Thank you for linking to our blog. Stripping citizenship from tribal people is wrong and unjust.
In the Chukchansi case, the BIA stated the only thing they could do was to cease recognition if they didn’t follow their own laws. Well that’s happened.
Time for the BIA to quit watching the decimation of civil and human rights and step up.