tribal recognition help PLEASE

Then it's BS that you can't get recognition from the government without suing!!

WOW!!

I think this is the BIA how to page http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-IA/OFA/index.htm good luck reading it lol

I find it hilarious since 75% of my family and the other natives I know can hardly read. So how are we supposed to understand THAT!? We can't hire a good lawyer to trsnskate properly because 95% of us are on or below poverty line. So go figure.

Originally Posted by hupababy_83

I think this is the BIA how to page http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-IA/OFA/index.htm good luck reading it lol

I find it hilarious since 75% of my family and the other natives I know can hardly read. So how are we supposed to understand THAT!? We can't hire a good lawyer to trsnskate properly because 95% of us are on or below poverty line. So go figure.

Is there a local college that teaches law near you??

You may be able to get an upper class-level law student to read and translate for your people...enough to understand what you need to know.

My tribe is already recognized, we are a sovereign nation. I'm trying to help my "adopted" uncles tribe get recognition.

You see, the Hupa never fought for recognition, it was given to us when the soldiers herded us on to the rez and in to the fort, giving my ancestors English names and numbers. My tribe is to broke to help uncles tribe.

Ah. I gotcha!!

Which tribe would this be?

I still think the law student idea might open some doors...and they may know how to get around the fee.

Ok, I have some info for you but I need you to answer something first:

ask her what her uncle's people call themselves... and not just Ohlone, but what tribe or band of the Ohlone

Miwok/Miadu, in Placer county. They are trying to register under Colfax Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe I believe.

ok thanks, just making sure it wasn't the Muwekma Ohlone as they are scammers. I copied your posts here and emailed them to my step mom and here are her replies (over the course of a few emails her and I had going back and forth).

I hope this is of some benefit. Please read it all, she rambles but presents a variety of good ideas:

I am not an expert on these matters, however I don't think the BIA is the route to recognition, but one of the many stops along the way. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is the second stop, the first stop being their Senator.

So many heretofore unheard of tribes are coming out of the woodwork because of the riches to be gleaned from Indian Gaming. And that's also why so many people today want to be Indian. LOL! Romantic, ain't it?

If the uncle's tribe is legit, they will probably need a lawyer. If money is needed, a business/financial proposal could be put together and submitted to one of the larger gaming tribes to help them along the road to recognition. Relying on a financially stressed government, at this moment in time, is not going to expedite matters.

I think the Miwok and Maidu are recognized tribes, but many of their bands may not be Federally recognized. California independently recognizes tribes as well. So there's that avenue to take, perhaps before the US Gov't route? The Miwok are a recognized gaming tribe, and if they're not helping, then something is definitely wrong with the claims of the uncle's tribe/band. If her uncle's tribe can't provide a "proven land base" (empirical archaeological and anthropological evidence of occupation,) then there's really very little recourse. No matter how many records might get destroyed or disappear, the evidence of civilization contained in the earth does not lie.

Also, many years ago, I know the Yurok tribe was taken into the Hupa tribe (forming a sort of Confederacy, so the Yurok could retain their autonomy yet still be recognized). Therefore I find it odd that her own tribe (Hupa) won't do the same in this situation. Has she gone to her Hupa elders and/or tribal council? Perhaps the Hupa have already decided against the matter. She needs to do a bit more research and trust her own people's council first. I think that's what bothered me the most.

I'm just a natural sceptic in these matters, as I've seen both sides (Indian and non) pull some pretty reprehensible buffalo flush regarding issues such as this, as well as many others.
"The dog sniffs before it eats" :-)

There's a lot more to the process, but this should be enough for now.

April, their lawyer is going to ask UIAC (their cousins, with the Thunder valley casino and Resort) tomorrow to help. This will be the second time asking, but the lawyer is not hopeful on this. My tribe would not listen when I talked to them, only said we couldn't afford a million dollar loan for the law suit. I honestly don't know the full 411 on what's going on, they just asked if I knew of anyone willing to help. So I thought of the few sites I go to, because you all are more educated than me. I'm just trying to help someone who helped me.