CALIFORNIA VALLEY MIWOK TRIBE FILES COMPLAINT
AGAINST UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DAVID BERNHARDT AND THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
Temporary restraining order hearing to stop secretarial election allowing
non-tribal members to be members of the CVMT to be held Friday, April 12
Stockton, Calif. (April 11, 2019) – 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 temporary restraining order hearing will be held on
April 12 in an effort to stop a Secretarial Election under the Indian Reorganization Act
(IRA) on April 15.
“The BIA is 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
Reznor, Angelica Paulk and Tristian Wallace are members.
