9/12/07
Written by
Lori Arellano
Within the Pit River Tribal Government there
are many complicated issues that exist that allow and influence
unfair practices not only to just exist but to actually
thrive. Nepotism, lack of policy development, lack of
internal controls, conflicts of interest, lack of limits on
Tribal Council consecutive office terms, strategic disenrollments
of entire family voting blocks and mismanagement of government
grants are but only a few of the problems that exist within the
Tribal Nation?s Government. Further, Veteran Council
members stack the deck in their favor by hiring their direct
family members in the Tribal Government?s key employment
positions while at the same time appointing their family members
to serve on key critical committees. Those who oppose these
unfair practices find themselves slandered and or quickly
unemployed in what is already an area devastated by a high rate
of unemployment.
Tribal members live in a lawless nation where
in which its Tribal members live in frustration as it
pertains to issues surrounding Tribal Government business.
Here is just a small example, when a Tribal member runs for the
council representative office in an attempt to unseat a Veteran
Council Representative then the Veteran Council calls the
election illegal, fraudulent and files a ?dispute? and or recalls
the election. . Those who have sat at the Tribal
Council table have remained in office too long and have become
quite complacent in conducting Tribal business in any manner in
which they please without being challenged or questioned by the
membership, U.S. Agencies or Authorities. Veteran Council
members have not abided by the rules outlined in either the Pit
River Constitution, which is a Treaty document ratified
between the Tribe and the United States Government, or by the
rules outlined in the few and limited ordinances that have been
developed over the past 30 years. The greatest problem
faced by the Pit River people is the complete and utter lack of
enforcement of rules by the Tribal Officials because the Tribal
Government?s Veteran Council Representatives have not yet developed
or deliberately has not yet developed a structure by which to
fairly enforce Tribal laws. This only adds to an
environment of lawlessness.
The Pit River People have struggled to
increase democracy within the Tribe only to be silenced by the
Veteran Tribal Council. The Tribal people have rallied in
great numbers as they showed up in record numbers to cast their
votes at the elections to implement change only to be obstructed
by claims of ?cheating?. The Tribal people have
protested in front of the Tribal Office to show their
dissatisfaction with Tribal Affairs only to be labeled
?dissidents?. The Tribal people have held general
membership meetings, which is a right granted and afforded to the
Tribal people under the Pit River Tribe?s Constitution, only to
be charged with allegations of meeting and congregating for
?illegal? and ?treasonous? purposes. In fact, in an attempt
to circumvent allegations of corrupt elections and to ensure fair
and honest elections the membership called for the assistance of
the Shasta County League of Women?s Voters to witness and assist
in the August 2007 election only to be hostilely shunned by the
Tribal Election Committee and certain members of the Veteran
Tribal Council.
Bob Boyce is a hired mouthpiece of the Veteran
Tribal Council. On the dates of March 31st and July 28th, 2007
the Pit River Tribal membership met on at least these two occasions to
unanimously vote the Tribal Administrator Bob Boyce out of the Tribal
Office. Bob Boyce has been officially ?Fired? and/or ?Terminated? by
the membership. The will of the Pit River Tribal people is
ignored even though the Pit River Tribal Constitution states that
the ultimate decision making power resides in the will and vote
of the Tribal membership. However, Mr. Boyce has defied his
?Notice of Termination? at the encouragement of both the Shasta
County Sheriff?s Department and the now unseated and specifically
the ?voted out? Veteran Tribal Council. Bob Boyce is
fighting hard while mudslinging to keep his job. The News Media
and the Shasta County Sheriffs Department , through possibly no
fault of their own and due to a lack of understanding of Tribal
Political Corruption that is prevalent throughout the Tribal
Government, has rushed to the assistance of the
Veteran Council Representatives in eager response to the
Terminated Tribal Administrator Bob Boyce?s charges of defiant,
unruly, dishonest Indians. In a word of defense of
these ?unruly Indians? many have assimilated professionally into
American mainstream society some of them being College
Counselors, Real Estate Agents, Lawyers, Retired Iron
Workers, College Students, Nurses and the like who have worked
hard to earn an honest living. Unfortunately however those
who want change are at a disadvantage, in that those who are
currently in the Tribal Office have three things in their favor:
first is time; second the assets of the Tribe and third the
Burney legal system.
As I looked down at my wrists shackled in
handcuffs I had to laugh at the irony. I have clamored for
a positive change toward a lawful Tribal Nation for a decade
now. I have spoken up in opposition to the blatant
political corruption that runs rampant throughout the departments
of the Pit River Tribal Government. In fact, I am an
advocate for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Agreement
(MOA) between the United States Enforcement agencies and the Pit
River Tribal Government for penalty of violations of federal
law. I was informed by the arresting officer that the
charge against me is misdemeanor battery. . I have filed a
wrongful arrest complaint against the arresting officer for his
frivolous unwarranted and illegal arrest based on hearsay of a
Tribal employee as he claims that ?the Shasta County Sheriff?s
department takes no responsibility for the citizens
arrest.? There remains much work to be done. In fact the
entire Tribal Government infrastructure needs further development
to safeguard and to ensure a free and flowing democracy within
the Pit River Tribal Nation. It was all so clearly and succinctly
put into perspective for me when someone said, referring to those
challenging the August 2007 elections, ?They are just sore
losers.?
8/15/07
Editor,
The Big Valley Fire Protection District would like to thank Kelly St.
John of United Country Mountain Valley Realty for her efforts in
selling the Nubieber Fire Hall property. Her involvement in this
project is greatly appreciated by the board of directors. Thank you
Kelly!
Dennis McGarr, Chairman
8/15/07
Editor:
The Intermountain Marines have just finished our semi-monthly sending
of care packages to the eight local Marines serving their county in
Iraq and Afganistan. We want our Marines to know we care and appreciate
their service.
We would like to acknowledge the help of our local Safeway, Rileys
Jerkey, the parishioners of the Burney Presbyerian Church, both local
papers, Burney Bowl, Avon, Hector and the Exxon Mini Mart, and Teresa
at our local post office.
You have the thanks of the Intermountain Marines and our local Marines
in harms way.
We have heard from four of our Marines and two of their mothers and
they are most appreciative of the packages and the letters from the
local children at the Burney pres school network.
Please keep all our servicemen and women in your thoughts and prayers
as they are protecting you.
Semper Fidelis,
Ron Mason
8/8/07
Dear Editor:
I was surprised not to see a mention that we no longer have a spot to
recycle newspapers and cardboard in the area. We are constantly
being bombarded with recycling messages and yet now are expected to
drive to Redding to take our paper and cardboard. You know that
these items are going to wind up in the trash pick-up.
Hopefully something will be done about this situation.
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