District of Columbia, United States Apr 12, 2019 (Issuewire.com) - The California Valley Miwok Tribe (CVMT), represented by attorney Peter D. Lepsch of Fredericks, Peebles & Patterson LLP, have filed a complaint against United States Department of the Interior David Bernhardt and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
A hearing seeking a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction will be held on April 12 at 11 a.m. in Washington D.C. at the United States District Court in an effort to stop a Secretarial Election under the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) on April 15.
“David Bernhardt and the BIA are allowing non-tribal individuals, who we believe are casino developer funded, to hold a secretarial election to make themselves members of our tribe and pursue their own agenda,” said Silvia Burley, Chairperson of the CVMT. “If this election goes forward it will trample on tribal sovereignty and ultimately set the precedent that non-tribal individuals can take control of tribes across the country.”
A decision on December 21, 2018, by Marvel Harris, the acting Pacific Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, approved a petition by non-tribal members to hold a Secretarial Election under the Indian Reorganization Act. For the first time in over twenty years, the BIA failed to notify tribal members of actions to approve the petition. Only tribal members are eligible to petition for an election.
About the California Valley Miwok Tribe
The California Valley Miwok Tribe (CVMT) is a federally recognized tribe in Stockton, California. The CVMT has been continuously recognized by the United States since 1916. The historical record and by BIA’s own dealings show that Silvia Burley, Rashel Rexnor, Angelica Paulk and Tristian Wallace are members. For more information please visit http://californiavalleymiwok.us.
Contacts:
Sabrina Chapman, Perspective Marketing & Communications, sabrina@findingperspectives.com, 540-514-0638
Peter D. Lepsch, Fredericks, Pebbles & Patterson LLP, plepsch@ndnlaw.com, 202-664-6204
Charles Maddox, Miwok Construction, charles@miwokglobal.com, 702-630-7809
Media Contact
Perspective Marketing sabrina@findingperspectives.com
