Amador County – Matthew Franklin, Chairman of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, resigned last week amidst allegations of Tribal Council corruption and misuse of Tribal funds, according to Tribal member Glen Villa. The resignation and surrounding controversy were confirmed by Tribal Administrator Pamela Baumgartner on Monday, but she said any further details will be included in a release to be issued shortly. In an email to TSPN, Villa said, “the members of the Tribe have been questioning the misuse of Tribal funds for months, with little to no explanations from the Tribal Council of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians.” The band has been highly controversial since its recognition as a “restored tribe” in 1994 under the Indian Reorganization Act. The grassroots group “No Casino in Plymouth” formed to oppose the tribe’s proposed gaming facility, and residents and government officials have harshly criticized the tribe’s claims of legitimacy. Also opposing the casino are members of the Amador County Board of Supervisors, who have been instrumental in fighting another facility proposed for development by the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians. District 2 Supervisor Richard Forster, whose jurisdiction includes the business office for the tribe, said the group of individuals currently claiming they are the true band “basically came in and hijacked the Ione Band of Miwok Indians (name).” “The true Ione band...those are the people that I care about,” said Forster. The Ione Band of Miwok Indians website says its “Tribal Council is comprised of five members, each of whom is elected to three-year terms by the general council.” The Council consists of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Member at Large. The website states: “Since our Tribe's federal recognition in March 1994, we have faced several challenges and obstacles. Yet we remain a focused and resilient people, ready to move forward on the path of true economic self-reliance.” We will bring you more on this developing story in a later newscast. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.-
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Amador County – Matthew Franklin, Chairman of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, resigned last week amidst allegations of Tribal Council corruption and misuse of Tribal funds, according to Tribal member Glen Villa. The resignation and surrounding controversy were confirmed by Tribal Administrator Pamela Baumgartner on Monday, but she said any further details will be included in a release to be issued shortly. In an email to TSPN, Villa said, “the members of the Tribe have been questioning the misuse of Tribal funds for months, with little to no explanations from the Tribal Council of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians.” The band has been highly controversial since its recognition as a “restored tribe” in 1994 under the Indian Reorganization Act. The grassroots group “No Casino in Plymouth” formed to oppose the tribe’s proposed gaming facility, and residents and government officials have harshly criticized the tribe’s claims of legitimacy. Also opposing the casino are members of the Amador County Board of Supervisors, who have been instrumental in fighting another facility proposed for development by the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians. District 2 Supervisor Richard Forster, whose jurisdiction includes the business office for the tribe, said the group of individuals currently claiming they are the true band “basically came in and hijacked the Ione Band of Miwok Indians (name).” “The true Ione band...those are the people that I care about,” said Forster. The Ione Band of Miwok Indians website says its “Tribal Council is comprised of five members, each of whom is elected to three-year terms by the general council.” The Council consists of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Member at Large. The website states: “Since our Tribe's federal recognition in March 1994, we have faced several challenges and obstacles. Yet we remain a focused and resilient people, ready to move forward on the path of true economic self-reliance.” We will bring you more on this developing story in a later newscast. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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