Pit River People

An Organization of Madesi Band Pit River Indian Descendants

Fighting for Traditional and Civil Rights

Resolution presented at a properly noticed meeting of the Pit River Tribe  Members on July 28th, 2007 at Burney, California and adopted.

ACTIONS NEEDED

A.  Constitutional Officers

Restore salary (taken away sometime in 2007) and tribal office access (taken away April 2, 2007) to Jessica Jim, Chairperson, Pit River Tribe, effective July 28, 2007, and allow Jessica to establish any necessary task force.

Chairperson should not be deprived of her salary.  Also, access to tribal office is critical to do her job and handle tribal contacts, requiring her involvement.  Action may also be seen as a putting the Chairperson back where she belongs.  Also, it may be helpful to allow Jessica to establish any special task force she finds necessary to assist regarding working with the interim Tribal Administrator to reorganize/staff Tribal Office.

2.  Restore and reaffirm duties of Jolee George, Secretary, Pit River Tribe, effective July 28, 2007.

According to the Constitution, duties of Tribal Secretary, include maintaining the base roll of the tribe and keeping current the tribal membership roll.  For purposes of confidentiality and integrity of the records, it is imperative that no one else but the Secretary should have access to our tribal enrollment documents.  Thus, letting Tribal Office know of requirements may stop any further removal of documents from our enrollment files.

B.  Tribal Office

1.  Terminate Tribal Administrator, effective July 28, 2007, and post notice at Tribal Office of his termination.

There is ample evidence that the current Tribal Administrator does not have the level of competency necessary to do the job let alone his actions showing that he is less than honest and his behavior that is in violation of the Tribes zero tolerance policy against violence.  It is also important for all staff of tribal office and other folks who have business to conduct with the Pit River Tribe to know that the current Tribal Administrator has been terminated by the Pit River Tribe.

2.  Change check signers to perhaps Jessica Jim and Jolee George immediately to prevent any further payments to Council members or on behalf of the Council and review financial records to determine if an audit is necessary.

Most effective way to ensure that tribal monies are safe from further misspending by the Council, is to stop the cash flow through a change in the check signers.  Also, it may be necessary to review all financial transactions from October 1, 2006 through July 30, 2007, and decide whether an independent audit is necessary.

C.  Tribal Council

1.  Cancel Council meetings and operations until new Council members are elected and post a notice at tribal office of the suspension, pointing out that Council meetings and operations will resume after the elections are held.

Bold and decisive action must be taken to stop the Council from any further unfair/illegal actions.  Cancelling any further meetings and operations of the current Council will send a loud/clear message that inappropriate actions will not be tolerated.  Also, prominent display of the Tribe’s action will let folks know it is the Tribe that has the ultimate authority and who will take whatever action is warranted to protect the rights of the Tribe.

2.  Veto Tribal Council decisions made from October 1, 2006 to July 28, 2007 involving:

              1)  Tribal Officers, Tribal Council members and Members;

              2)  Enrollment Ordinance/process;

              3)  Election Ordinance/process;

              4) Land Ordinance, allotments, and assignments;

              5)  Housing; and,

              6)  any other area that is deemed to be in violation of the Pit River Constitution or that is determined to be detrimental to the Pit River Tribe or Members.

              Also issue a letter to the Tribal Chairperson, Hammawi Council Representative, six tribal members, apologizing for the inappropriate and illegal actions of the Council.

Initial feeling that the Council was violating the Constitution was at the October 28, 2006 Tribal membership meeting in Burney.  At that time, the Council attempted to oust Jessica Jim from her Chairman Position.  The membership informed the Council that Jessica was to remain in her position and the Council could use the recall process if they chose to do so to remove Jessica.  Also, a booklet distributed to membership at the May 19, 2007 meeting shows changes to enrollment process not approved by the membership.  Council also inappropriately removed Marina Martinez from her council position as the Hammawi elected representative.  Additionally, changes to election process, in violation of constitution, are being attempted.  I could go on and on with Council actions/decisions detrimental to tribal folks, but would prefer to hear experiences from membership.  Suffice it to say, unfair/illegal Council decisions must be overturned.  October 1, 2006 seems a likely point from which to start.