Pit River People

An Organization of Madesi Band Pit River Indian Descendants

Fighting for Traditional and Civil Rights

Media Advisory

Issued:  September 3, 2007                                         Page 1  of  3

Contact Spokesperson:  Robert Edwards, Delegate California Native American Affairs for Steve Haze, Vice Chair Democratic Party Fresno County

Phone:  (530) 228-1902   E-mail:  Robt4Enterprise1@aol.com

Fax:      (530) 877-9228

News Alert:

Bill Cosby’s Canceled Performance Speaks Volumes

for Civil Rights and California’s Disenrolled Indians

Labor Day weekend set a milestone for thousands of disenrolled Indians in California when Bill Cosby canceled his scheduled weekend appearance at the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino in Coarsegold, California.  That casino resort between Fresno and Yosemite is owned by the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians who has disenrolled hundreds of their tribal members. Critics have stated those disenrollments have everything to do with limiting the number of tribal members who can share in the proceeds of the Tribe’s lucrative casino resort operation.   

Cosby canceled his performance, according to his public relations representative, David Brokaw, because “He is unwilling to be caught in the middle of the dispute,” Brokaw said.   “Mr. Cosby is more than willing to perform at Chukchansi Gold when the matter has been settled.”

Steve Haze, Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Fresno County and author of a resolution to redress the disenrollment issue through political action was quoted as saying, “My respect and appreciation goes to Mr. Cosby who as a well know personality chose not to perform at the Chukchansi Gold Casino. He has elevated the cause of the many thousands of Native Americans who are being banished from their tribes due to the fervor of a few tribal leaders to engage in narrow greed at the expense of others.  By the action he has taken, Mr. Cosby stands along side in stature with the great civil rights leaders of the past.”

Cosby was contacted by a group which included some of the tribe’s disenrolled members, who explained to the entertainer their deep concern for the heritage of their people as a result of the tribal disenrollments.  Shortly thereafter Cosby canceled his scheduled performance.

“Mr. Cosby was the first to take that important first step,” Haze added.  “Until this issue of massive tribal disenrollments has stopped, I encourage others within the entertainment industry to understand the devastation that is occurring and think twice before agreeing to perform at an Indian Casino in which the tribe is engaging in this type of practice.  Those in the entertainment industry should confer with joint representatives of AIM Central California and AIRRO to determine which tribes are respecting the civil rights and dignity of their members,” Haze concluded.

Laura L. Wass of the American Indian Movement stressed, “Mr. Cosby has given awareness to the deeply sensitive issue regarding tribal membership of Picayune Rancheria.  His decision not to perform at Picayune’s Chukchansi Gold Casino gives honor to thousand of Indian Peoples of many tribes who are being stripped of their heritage.  Although he made no statement of his opinion, his refusal to support those who are implementing the desecration of Indianness spoke volumes. We return the honor and respect to Mr. Cosby for his integrity and willingness to stand for those who feel abandoned”.

Cathy Corey, one of the former tribal members who wrote to Cosby, stated in response to Cosby’s cancellation, “I believe the concern shown by Mr. Cosby for our many Chukchansi People who’s tribal, civil, and human rights have been so blatantly violated by our tribal government speaks to his integrity both as an entertainer and as an educator.” 

“His unwillingness to be caught in the middle of this dispute and his courage in canceling his performance at Chukchansi Gold sends a clear statement to the “nations” that have more interest in being “corporations” than in taking care of their own People, as is the established tradition of all Indian People,” Corey added.

“The position Mr. Cosby has taken in this matter is greatly appreciated and will send a very clear message to other entertainers that it is not acceptable to turn the other cheek when thousands of American Indians are being denied basic civil rights in this country,” stated Robert Edwards, disenrolled former Vice Chair of the Enterprise Rancheria.

John Gomez, Jr., President of the American Indian Rights and Resources Organization, AIRRO, stated, “The stand that Mr. Cosby has taken is truly admirable and will definitely call attention to the plight of today’s California Indians.” Gomez was a former member of the Pechanga Tribe in Temecula and that tribe has disenrolled over two-hundred of their tribal members over the past few years.

The issue of pursuing the reform of the Indian Civil Rights Act in order to provide California Indians with the benefit of added protections and due process against civil rights violations has fallen to Steve Haze, a Candidate for the Democratic Party, who in 2006 ran for Congress in the 21st Congressional District and who has authored and sponsored the California Native American Justice and Equal Economic Opportunity Legislative Initiative a resolution adopted by the California Democratic Party’s Native American Caucus at their meeting in July in Sacramento.

“This resolution has been garnering a tremendous amount of support here in California,” stated Edwards who is Steve Haze’s Delegate on California Native American Affairs for the Democratic Party’s State Central Committee.  “We are confident that Steve Haze will see this resolution through to legislation that will benefit all California Indians,” Edwards added, “and the stand taken by Mr. Cosby fortunately brings the issues to the forefront again,”

Cathy Corey sent Bill Cosby a personal note of thanks for his action in canceling his show but she points out, “My heart and my thanks go out to Mr. Cosby in his willingness to make a stand against injustice and in setting a standard to be admired and emulated by all in the entertainment industry possessing a social conscience.”