Chukchansi Chucks Out 60 Members as Tribe Squabbles Over Casino Riches
Posted on: June 30, 2019, 09:06h.
Last updated on: July 3, 2019, 06:51h.
The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians – who own the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold, California — have expelled at least 60 tribal members via the controversial practice of disenrollment. Critics described the move as an attack by the tribe on its own people, motivated by greed for casino revenue, The Fresno Bee Reports.
![Chukchansi](https://www.casino.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/chukchansi.jpg)
“It was determined that these individuals do not meet the requirements for Tribal enrollment and it was necessary to suspend their memberships as part of a formal review and disenrollment hearing,” tribal council chairwoman Jennifer Ruiz told The Bee in a written statement.
What is Tribal Disenrollment?
Disenrollment strips members and their descendants of their tribal identity and their citizenship of a tribal nation, along with the benefits associated with that citizenship, such as housing, healthcare, and their share of casino revenue. The power of disenrollment is ostensibly used to correct tribal rolls and preserve the integrity of the tribe, but it is also too often wielded as a political or economic weapon.
Around 80 of America’s 567 federally recognized tribes are known to have used the practice, but the Chukchansi are among the worst offenders. Since the casino opened in 2003, the tribe has disenrolled more than half its members, including those with documented ancestry, families descended from founding members, and some of the last native speakers of the tribal language.
In many cases, the Chukchansi disenrollments have occurred between rival factions jostling for control of the tribal council and casino wealth.
Armed Confrontation
In October 2014, this power struggle spilled over into violence when about 20 armed men from a rival faction stormed the casino following a disputed election, sending customers running for cover. The men ordered security guards at gunpoint into a secure area of the building, where they were handcuffed and reportedly assaulted.
Incredibly, the group claimed it had stormed the premises to gather casino documents and audit information that was overdue for submission to the National Indian Gaming Commission in order to avoid receiving a penalty charge for late filing of accounts.
The casino was ordered closed by a federal judge and remained so for over a year, costing the tribe millions.
The leader of the coup, Tex McDonald, turned himself in weeks later and was sentenced to 485 days for false imprisonment after accepting a plea bargain.
More Than 60 Disenrolled?
While tribal leadership officially put the latest round of disenrollments at 60, Cathy Cory, a former tribal member whose family was disenrolled in 2006, said she believed closer to 125 were impacted.
“It’s generational trauma for the Indian people of California,” she told The Bee. “To have your birthright stolen by your own tribe is hurtful, ridiculous and unnecessary.
“It’s all about the money and the power, nothing about the people and the fact that each one of us is a gift even to be here existing,” she added.
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Last Comments ( 7 )
I saw Grace Lee Whitney who played Yeoman Rand on Star Trek TOS walk through the lounge area outside the gift shop, I guess you would call it. What a wonderful experience added to seeing William Shatner driving a gold Cadi convertable down 101 the year before. Our families from Reno Nv. and Reedley Ca. stayed here often and had a blast.
This CA tribe's leadership is an absolute disgrace to all Native Americans! This tribe will forever be cursed with bad karma due to their undeniable overconsumption of white-man fed greed who run their casino. These stupid worthless indians are so wrapped up in their hungry egos, ignorance and inner squabbles that they are blinded . These fools have devilish spirits within that are hurting their own tribal members and lineage. Sellouts to front drug trafficking, sex trafficking, mob laundering, and a shitt load of other crimes. Those who know who they are will rot forever. Boycott this casino!!
Greedy corn eating bastards. Hope they choke on the cobs!
I am a proud member of a tribe across the river from this mentioned tribe. We have a small casino, not big enough to get large sums of money each month. Maybe not big enough to fight or think about dropping members. I was raised to work for a living and am retired now. Happily married for 53 years. A good family and we are content. We do have pride in our culture and heritage and if fortune comes our way I hope we will be fair as our ancestors were. Nothing is perfect ..
This is a disgrace to the Native Indian Nation. They have become worse than the white-man. Geed has and will continue to destroy are Indian heritage this is Not the Native way. There greed will consume them all. This has nothing to do with power, it’s simple case of GREED! They have no clue how to operate a casino blind leading the blind, they will all fall in the ditch they have dug! You will never take away my birth right. Two nation of Indian blood run through my veins Chuckchansi/ Mono
Your reporter can’t spell. It’s “practice” not “practise”. In addition, this is just wrong! Tribal membership should be based solely on bloodline and MAYBE by living in the tribal land area. Period.
This casino is the worst! I won a jackpot and refused to accept it due to my Situation. And when I refused their money they threw me out and banned me from Entering their casino. Who in their right mind would due this? Well Chicansi gold casino did to me In Oakhurst! I would think they would appreciate not having to pay out another jackpot! On a further note not to Mention the public humiliation that caused me. I highly recommended that this place gets shut down.They do not deserve to treat people the way the have treated me as a guest. I’ve been going there for years. And if they treated me for refusing their money then how competent is this place and their management.?