Amador County – Friends of Amador County and two claimed tribal elders won a U.S. District Court judge’s reconsideration Monday in their suit challenging the federal recognition of the Buena Vista Band of Me-Wuk Indians.
Spokeswoman Ya-Nah Geary Mandujano, (YA-NA GEARY MAN-DO-HANO) said her grandmother and great aunt joined Friends of Amador in the civil suit against the U.S. Department of the Interior seeking for the elders to be able to reorganize their tribe, and get the benefits that come from federal recognition. But she said they were “more interested in their rights to be interred on the burial grounds.”
Mandujano said her elders’ involvement in the suit was probably why it is being reconsidered by the judge. The suit may not necessarily change the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, led by Chairwoman Rhonda Morningstar Pope, but Mandujano said the suit aims to stop the casino and give the claimed elders the ability to develop their own land.
She said the suit could change how Indians are treated by the United States, which grants recognition to a tribe but may exclude eligible members. Mandujano’s grandmother June Geary, and great aunt Bea Ortega Crabtree, claim hereditary membership to the Buena Vista Band of Miwok Indians.
They joined a suit by Jerry Cassesi, and his group, Friends of Amador, which seeks to stop the Buena Vista Band of Me-Wuk Indians from plans to open a casino on Coal Mine Road in Amador County.
Mandujano said the elders are suing to protect tribal burial land and stop the casino. She said Cassesi opposes gaming, but she believes “the responsibility of governing Indian gaming lies on the shoulders of Indian people.” But she said “no casino should go on the Rancheria” and “ancestral land is not an appropriate place for gaming.”
Her grandmother was removed from the Rancheria and sent to Sherman Indian School. Her father grew up going there, to visit graves, such as those of her great-grandmother and great aunt. She said the elders were removed but remained connected to the land.
Mandujano said: “My grandmother took her kids out there every year.” She said: “it wasn’t in or out. Everybody was out. As soon as the tribe was terminated, everybody was out.” That allowed the land to be given to John and Annie Oliver, whose descendent, according to the suit, Donna-Marie Potts was granted tribal recognition without the knowledge of Crabtree and Geary.
Their attorney, James Marino will appeal the case to the Ninth Circuit if necessary and “he is not settling,” Mandujano said, adding that the last time Buena Vista Rancheria was sued, people settled.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
