Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California

Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California
Total population
477[1]
Regions with significant populations
United States (California)
Languages

English, Pomoan languages

Religion

Roundhouse religion, Christianity, Kuksu

Related ethnic groups

Pomo tribes

The Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California is a federally recognized tribe of Eastern Pomo people in Lake County, California.[2]

Contents

Reservation

The Robinson Pomo's reservation is the Robinson Rancheria, which is made up of two sites in Lake County. They are separated by eight miles and together total 113 acres (0.46 km2) of trust lands.[2] The larger section of land is 107 acres (0.43 km2).[1] Of the approximately 477 members of the tribe, 153 live on the reservation.[2]

The tribe conducts business from Nice, California.[3]

History

The US federal government terminated relations with the tribe in 1956, but the court case, Mabel Duncan, et al. v. US, settled in 1981 declared this termination illegal. After the 1956 termination of the Old Robinson Reservation, tribal members moved to urban areas. Federal recognition for the tribe was restored in the 1960s. In 1978 Robin Rancheria organized a tribal government and adopted their constitution in 1980. Many tribal members live back on the reservation today.[1]

Government

The Robinson Pomo are governed by a democratically elected, six-person tribal council. Officers of the council are the tribal chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary-treasurer. Positions are to be elected for two year terms and elections are held annually. The Chairperson, Secretary / Treasurer, and (1) Member at Large position are held in the even years; and the Vice Chairperson, and two other Member at Large positions are held in the odd years.

Current events

(Corrupt Tribe) The last true election held was on June 14, 2008. The subsequent January 17, 2009 election was ruled invalid and the previous tribal council remains in office.

The election of June 14, 2008 has been invalidated by the tribe's council members, which is composed of Tracy Avila (1)and (2), Curtis Anderson Jr (2), Nick Medina (3), Kim Fernandez (4), and Buffy White (5). The election committee is composed of immediate family members that rule in their favor at all costs.

The invalidation was conducted on July 6, 2008 and approved by the incumbent tribal council without the required 15 day period designated to investigate appeals.

The tribe attempted to validate the June 14, 2008 election at a general meeting held on October 25, 2008 but was not supported by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Following that meeting enrollment issues became the number one priority to prepare the same listed council members the January 17, 2009 election.

  1. Removed as a council member for outstanding checks that she processed as accounts payable clerk paid out to herself and not deposited in excess of $20,000 in the Robinson Rancheria Bingo and Casino in the late 1990s.
  2. Imprisoned for Wire Theft, Fraud, Embezzlement and numerous charges that were not applied due to statue of limitations Convicted Felon.[4]
  3. Removed from the Tribal council as secretary treasurer in 2004 for excessive payroll advances and attempting to utilize tribal assets and tribal position as secretary treasurer to purchase a home for himself. Fired by the tribe for destroying tribal fiscal documents.
  4. Signed and approved documentation submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, that proved in 1994 that the membership now in question in November 2008; included numerous members that are now disenrolled by her and fellow colleagues to obtain a totalitarian state for the tribe of Robinson Rancheria.
  5. Assisted Tracy Avila in transporting ballots in the 2007 annual election from Chico, California to secure her position as member-at-large. In the election ordinance it specifically states that ballots should be cast on site (Nice, California) or via United States Mail.

(2009) Since then, the defunct and (1)"squatted" council members have allowed illegitimate elections to proceed, and now obtain new tribal council members to pursue their agenda to ensure that they are the sole proprietors and inheritors of the tribe. The Bureau of Indian affairs have placated to the council for "whatever" reason to uphold their decisions despite their neglect of conducting an honest and formal election. The tribe is now in a state of disarray and is a complete example of why uneducated officials should not be the leaders of such tribes.

In turn the tribe is guided by an Attorney, or other Attorneys whom only concern themselves to fulfill their own agenda, and that is to ensure "their" (Attorneys) own interests, whatever that may be; are carried forward.

In fact this group of council members never and do not believe that attorneys have a say in tribal governance until it fits their agenda. And that is to ensure the pocketbook is full.

(1) SQUATTED MEANS THAT THEY HAVE NOT OFFICIALLY BEEN ELECTED AND THAT THEY HAVE SAT IN THESE POSITIONS WITHOUT THE PROPER PROCESS IT TAKES TO ELECT AN OFFICIAL UNTO THE TRIBAL COUNCIL. ESSENTIALLY THIS GROUP HAS GERRYMANDERED AND/OR MANIPULATED THEIR WAY INTO SUCCESSION.

(2) TRACY AVILA IS CURRENTLY PENDING INVESTIGATION FOR EMBEZZLEMENT FROM A LOCAL TRIBE CALLED THE ELEM INDIAN COLONY, SISTER POMO TRIBE TO ROBINSON RANCHERIA.

9/13/2011- LAKEPORT, CA -- The tribal chair for the Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians turned herself into the Lake County Jail Friday after an arrest warrant had been issued earlier in the week.

Tracey Isabelle Avila, 50, had a $20,000 bench warrant issued for her arrest, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) website.

Avila faces one count of felony grand theft for allegedly embezzling thousands of dollars from the Elem Indian Colony between February and September 2006 while serving as that tribe's fiscal officer, according to chief deputy district attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

LCSO Lt. Chris Macedo said Avila turned herself in Friday afternoon and was later released on bail. Avila's next court date for this case is Oct. 31, according to the LCSO website.

The Robinson tribal administration office declined to comment on Avila's arrest when contacted by the Record-Bee Monday.

Economic and environmental development

The Robin Rancheria Environmental Center operates a native plant nursery and a recycling center. The center also monitors local water quality and maintains tribal roads.[5]

The tribe also operates the Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino, the Aurora RV Marina and Park, and the Pomo Smoke Shop.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c History. Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians. (retrieved 29 July 2009)
  2. ^ a b c California Indians and Their Reservations. San Diego State University Library and Information Access. 2009 (retrieved 29 July 2009)
  3. ^ California Tribes and Organizations. 500 Nations. (retrieved 29 July 2009)
  4. ^ United States of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Curtis Anderson, Defendant-Appellant., 391 F.3d 1083 (9th Cir. 2004)
  5. ^ Robinson Rancheria Environmental Center. Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians. (retrieved 29 July 2009)
  6. ^ Enterprises. Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians. (retrieved 29 July 2009)

External links