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Tribal chair denies wrongdoing over enrollment
Thursday, February 26, 2004
The chairman of a California tribe whose membership has grown in recent years to include Bureau of Indian Affairs employees and their families is denying any wrongdoing.
Matt Franklin said all members of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians were legitimately enrolled.
He has written a letter to The Washington Post in response to published reports questioning the expansion of the tribal rolls.
According to the Associated Press, the tribe has 535 members thanks to BIA actions. The tribe used to have 70 members, the AP said.
The FBI, members of Congress and the Department of Interior are looking into allegations of conflict-of-interest at the BIA. In the meantime, the tribe is moving forward with plans for a casino that some members oppose. The tribe's traditional leader is trying to stop the proposal.
Get the Story:
Tribal chair denies special treatment of BIA employees
(AP 2/26)
Plymouth signs tribe’s casino agreement (The Amador Ledger Dispatch 2/25)
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