I believe in truth and justice. For 17 years, I’ve fought the corruption in my tribe. For those same 17 years, I’ve endured the incompetence and malfeasance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
My tribe is the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, and it has a casino. With a casino comes the greed for money and the lust for power. When the state of California allowed Indian tribes to build and operate casinos, it was supposed to be for the benefit of the tribe and the state. But that’s not the way it is.
The tribal council is the tribe’s leadership. And when they realize they can do whatever they want (no government agency wants to get involved), where does that leave the people of the tribe? A corrupt tribal council is bad for business. Not all members get their fair share. They can’t buy what they want or need. Then the state or federal government picks up the tab. When a tribal council goes bad, it’s the citizens of the United States who pay the price along with the tribal membership. A perfect example: In May 2004, the state Department of Justice raided my reservation and tribal council. It was a two- to three-year investigation. They were the only ones who would do anything about the corruption we were yelling about. The corrupt tribal council members had illegally stayed in office four years after their terms had expired. All the while, they were taking the tribe’s money for their own personal benefit. But the U.S. attorney eventually dropped the charges, never saying why. It was the state’s time and manpower wasted—your tax dollars. It was the superintendent at the Bureau of Indian Affairs who continued to thwart our efforts to help ourselves. I blame the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
In my current situation, my group has been illegally denied our rights, and the illegal tribal council has tried to kick us out of the tribe. According to the illegal tribal council, my 180 members are kicked out of the tribe. The superintendent of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, like last time, is either ignoring the facts or withholding evidence. The superintendent can do whatever he wants—and he has. When the federal agencies don’t do their jobs or sidestep the truth, it affects everyone. That’s been proven time and time again. That’s your tax dollars—and mine—being wasted. I went to the Inspector General’s office to say the superintendent wasn’t doing his job. They told us they were leaving it to the BIA and weren’t going to do anything. Again, this is your tax dollars. The National Indian Gaming Commission, which is in charge of casinos, listened to our evidence and did nothing. Recently, I attempted to speak with the Governor’s office but, after a letter and six phone calls, they still ignore me. The job of the government, at the very least, is to listen. At the most, it’s to do its job. I have evidence of a sheriff’s deputy violating my rights. My due process rights and equal protection rights were violated over casino and tribal business. I have evidence of a state judge illegally overstepping his authority into tribal affairs. They violate my rights because they don’t want to get involved and it’s easier to get away with it against those who don’t have money or power. My question I pose every time I talk about these things: What if that was you? What if the federal government, the state, the BIA, NIGC, sheriff and courts violated your rights and got away with it. What would you do?
That leads to the casino going up in Rohnert Park. I always opposed it. I’ve seen a casino and its leadership getting out of hand and no one doing a thing about it. United States citizens give up their rights when they cross onto tribal lands. The question is: What rights do you consider valuable? The casino should have never been allowed in the middle of five cities. The casino could have gone anywhere and made money. That casino is the reservation. I know of corruption and illegal drugs at a reservation. What’s worse than that?
I’m a Native American, a United States citizen and a California resident. I wouldn’t want an Indian casino/reservation where I live. A tribe has a lot of power. They can do a lot within their land. Who knows what else they will put there. The casino generates money. Money buys influence. Everyone can see where that leads. Getting their city council elected, or county sheriff or supervisor or district attorney. I mention these things because that’s what has happened to me. These individuals should care for all citizens and actions on their watch. No one cares until it happens to them. Treat me as you’d want to be treated. Is that so much to ask? I’ll leave you with my belief: No man is free until all men are free.
Correy Alcantra is a Santa Rosa resident and member of Coyote Valley Band of Pomo, tribal chairman in exile. His mother is part Siuox and Pomo from Lake County and his father is part Miwok and Pomo from Sonoma County.
