However, the IRS asked the tribe to demonstrate how the program was “need” based – or it would consider these taxable benefits. Earlier this year, we opened a new exercise facility that contributes to and facilitates the health and wellness of our tribal citizens,” testified Mark Macarro, the band’s chairman, before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Sept. “This has led to measurable improvement in the physical health of our tribe. The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians in California studied its heath care needs for two years, and then enacted a mandatory group coverage policy for tribal members. Should be no protection via sovereignty.Īll disenrolled elders, who were enrolled in excellent health care provided by their tribes, have lost that and in many cases, they have been put on state taxpayers backs. If the base enrollment numbers are falsified-say, to include disenrolled members-there’s a federal False Claims Act play to be made against whatever tribal official signed the HUD data submission. But the next letter to Steve Mnuchin will be good.Ī final thought from Attorney Galanda: I nteresting.

We are all working our way through the numbers (don't laugh, I've got experts in the family) and will have more. Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians CA Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians CA OP :NO WAY in Hell does Picayune Rancheria have MORE population than Pechanga after disenrolling HALF their tribe: Was there count used? Isn't that a good question to ask?Īttorney Gabriel Galanda on twitter: Treasury didn’t like or trust the tribal enrollment numbers they originally requested, so they audibled to service area population data. They're using Census data on # of AIAN on a rez or TSA.ĬENSUS DATA? You mean from people actually LIVING on the reservations? Like say, MY cousins who are disenrolled? I'm getting a quick head count, but we know not a lot still live on the rez, but MY family does, I think close to 40. For population, feds aren't using tribal enrollment. In brief, half of CARES $ is based on population half is based on tribal govt FTE & budgets. The report from Harvard HARVARD Dissecting The US Treasury.īut first here was her quick rundown for us: And the traction in Congress on disenrollment may improve But we are finding some interesting facts.

Woke up this morning to a twitter response from a University of Washington Associate Professor answering my query if tribes had to publicly state their populations to get their CARES disbursement.

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