Insight CALIFORNIA TRIBAL GAMING
When one tribe goes to war
The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians of California contacted G3 to put the record straight on an internal dispute that has threatened to tear apart the tribal gaming business. The report published here is the account of the Paskenta Tribal Council’s bid to retain control of its operations.
The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians’ Tribal Council is advocating for peace and dialogue as it works to remedy an internal dispute that has nearly splintered the tribe and led to severe loss- es to its tribal business in California.
The Paskenta tribe has always been strong and well-managed, with business successes that have made the tribe’s Rolling Hills Casino a model for casino development. However, a sud- den attempt to overthrow the Paskenta govern- ment several weeks ago is still being untangled, with state and federal authorities watching the unrest with the hope that the tribe will resolve issues internally. The attempted governmental overthrow was initiated by non-Indian casino management and a lawyer whose name has been synonymous with similar unrest that has plagued the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians and other tribes in California.
Meanwhile, the duly elected Tribal Council con- tinues to meet and work toward reunification, calling for mediation and dialogue. However the splinter group, being guided by non-Indian man- agement, has refused to talk, pulling out of medi- ation and dismissing efforts for unity.
Utilising press releases to make unfounded alle- gations of embezzlement, fraud and other crimes, accusations have included falsely stating that the
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District Attorney’s office and the Tehama Sheriff’s Department are investigating the Henthorn/Pata/Lohse family, a large, high-profile family within the tribe. The press releases are inaccurate and all claims related to misdeeds are false. There is no investigation of the family being conducted by any law enforcement or prosecuto- rial office. Authorities have refused to validate
Andrew Freeman announced that Tribal members from the Henthorn/Pata/Lohse family
were not direct descendants of Paskenta ancestors and attempted to disenroll them from the tribe. As he did this, guards swarmed the meeting.
these false allegations, noting they could not identify a victim, much less any crime.
At the Paskenta Annual General Council Meeting on April 12, Chairman Andrew Freeman, departed from the agenda and announced that Tribal mem- bers from the Henthorn/Pata/Lohse family were
not direct descendants of Paskenta ancestors and attempted to disenroll them from the tribe. As he did this, guards swarmed the meeting room.
Fearing for the safety of the tribal members in attendance, the Tribal Council adjourned the meet- ing and left the room, encouraging other tribal members to do the same. That meeting and the actions that followed have been the flashpoint for Paskenta’s leadership dispute.
After the meeting adjourned, Chairman Freeman, who had been provided inaccurate financial infor- mation by a casino manager, attempted to banish Tribal members from the Rancheria and appoint a new Tribal Council. However, his actions were out- side the process laid out in the Paskenta Constitution.
Non-Indian casino management and their outside legal counsel also hired and deputised armed guards to stand watch at all Tribal businesses, including the Rolling Hills Casino, golf course and the Tribal health clinics. The armed presence has precluded the Tribal Council from maintaining control of the tribe’s assets; including the casino, in violation of IGRA.
Three days after the meeting, on April 15, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) confirmed in a letter that the only recognised and duly elected members
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