Welcome to Online With Bob!
Thanks for visiting OnlineWithBob.com. When Bob started writing over six years ago he was a community columnist
for Our Times, the local section of the Los Angeles Times serving Montebello, Pico Rivera and Whittier. Bob's writing
turned into more than just a weekly column, it became a way for him to connect with community members. Online with
Bob provides the time and space to reflect on issues that affect us all.
Dear Readers,
In the near future many of the new writings will be unedited and be more of a blog type presentation in order to keep
up with current events.
Peace,
Bob
Thanks for visiting OnlineWithBob.com. When Bob started writing over six years ago he was a community columnist
for Our Times, the local section of the Los Angeles Times serving Montebello, Pico Rivera and Whittier. Bob's writing
turned into more than just a weekly column, it became a way for him to connect with community members. Online with
Bob provides the time and space to reflect on issues that affect us all.
Dear Readers,
In the near future many of the new writings will be unedited and be more of a blog type presentation in order to keep
up with current events.
Peace,
Bob
Other Recent Articles
Most Recent Article
May 30, 2009
Dis-enrollment is American History
Juaneno dis-enrollment is American history. When people that are displaced, disenfranchised and then try to please the
dominant society by mimicking the social structure, it breeds dissension. This plutocratic society prides itself with false
portrayals of a democracy led by the people and not money. So Natives mimic these divisions by imposing limits to
citizenship into the tribe to give the master, who lays down the rules, an image of legitimacy. In the end, proof of citizenship
is only equated with absolute written proof from the federal government and the tribal council relishes this finite equation.
But it should be the view of the people that actually forms the natural indigenous community, which without a doubt is the
communal self-determination that is the General Council.
People do not get dis-enrolled because they are not Native-- ultimately it is about power and money. They get dis-enrolled
because it is political. If people are in the dark and do not know where to find the branch to the ancestral trunk of our tribe,
then they are expelled. They are expelled for not being educated in the expertise of research and are penalized for it. The
policy of the federal government and the Tribal Council is tortuous. This is a very political attack on the Majority of our
community and it will not be tolerated.
The Juaneno People are coming together to establish an all-inclusive tribe. This means unconditional unity. The majority of
the tribe wants to take action and let the current leadership realize that the dis-enrollment of thousands is unacceptable.
The current leadership, known as the Rivera Group, has ruled in a shroud of secrecy, misinformation and nepotism that
bends the laws of democracy far beyond the limits of fairness and equality.
In their own February 2009 newsletter, there is proof of the Rivera Group's nepotism and conflict of interest. In the last
election, Sue Rivera, sister of the elected Chairperson, was a “ticker” recorder or counter of votes. To say there is a feeling
of impropriety and great temptation in this situation is an understatement. This fact alone is grounds to declare the election
invalid and illegal.
The same newsletter stated, “The Acjachemen Nation, for the first time in its history, has been recognized by the Office of
Federal Acknowledgment, as the Historical Tribe of the San Juan Capistrano Mission.”
This statement could not be more misleading or false. The OFA, Office of Federal Acknowledgement, has denied our
recognition in a letter from Carl J. Artman, Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs. Artman lists in great detail why, in the
government’s view, they have ruled, “Against Acknowledgement of The Juaneno Band of Mission Indians Acjachemen
Nation.” Seven areas have been mentioned for not meeting the criteria. Today, these criteria have Not been entirely fulfilled
according to sources that do not want their name used here for fear of repercussions to family members.
As for my own adventure with the process, more research has reviled that Nomovit lived in the village of Pange (Panhe) in
1760. The Bracamontes families (my family) are direct descendants of Nomovit and more, which means there is absolutely
no reason why we have been Dis-enrolled from our tribe by the Rivera Group. We have been members of the tribe forever.
Many others in the Dis-enrolled group fall into this category of doing more research to satisfy the rubrics.
The only way that the Federal Government and the Rivera Group would be missing much of this information, after we
submitted it to them, would be if it was tampered with, intentionally excluded from the records or accidentally forgotten.
This Rivera Group may have misinterpreted this historical fact to their own liking or accidentally excluded my ancestors
from documents sent to Washington DC due to some misfortune or error. You make the call.
As for the Rivera Group’s intentional destruction of the dis-enrolled tribal documents that was to begin last month, many
Juaneno have had mail sent to the tribal office rejected or sent back to them. Mail requesting that personal documents be
returned to each dis-enrollee was in many cases not answered. This includes registered mail according to some
members. The law corporation of Bracamontes & Vlasak has sent a letter to the Rivera group to halt the destruction of any
documents with the Bracamontes name and instead forward them to the law office. There has been no response to the
letter sent. I received an email prior to the letter being sent that it would take a few weeks for me to receive any
documents, but I was not allowed to speak for my children, father, grandparents or any other family member or group.
What it boils down to is the Juaneno people are ready to stand up for their rights, the truth, and justice. What we want is
unconditional inclusivity, unconditional unity imposed by the people. In the simplest of terms it is communal self
determination without rules, regulations or rubrics that fit the slave masters mentality of the federal government and the
Tribal Council. There will be a gathering to correct this injustice.
The members of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians both active and Dis-enrolled will meet at The Blas Adobe Museum
Saturday May 30th starting at 10a.m. This is a business and cultural meeting and the plight of all our people will be
explored.
--
Peace,
Robert (Bob) Bracamontes
Yu-va'-tal 'A'lla-mal
(Black Crow)
Acjachemen Nation,
Juaneno Tribe
www.onlinewithbob.com
Dis-enrollment is American History
Juaneno dis-enrollment is American history. When people that are displaced, disenfranchised and then try to please the
dominant society by mimicking the social structure, it breeds dissension. This plutocratic society prides itself with false
portrayals of a democracy led by the people and not money. So Natives mimic these divisions by imposing limits to
citizenship into the tribe to give the master, who lays down the rules, an image of legitimacy. In the end, proof of citizenship
is only equated with absolute written proof from the federal government and the tribal council relishes this finite equation.
But it should be the view of the people that actually forms the natural indigenous community, which without a doubt is the
communal self-determination that is the General Council.
People do not get dis-enrolled because they are not Native-- ultimately it is about power and money. They get dis-enrolled
because it is political. If people are in the dark and do not know where to find the branch to the ancestral trunk of our tribe,
then they are expelled. They are expelled for not being educated in the expertise of research and are penalized for it. The
policy of the federal government and the Tribal Council is tortuous. This is a very political attack on the Majority of our
community and it will not be tolerated.
The Juaneno People are coming together to establish an all-inclusive tribe. This means unconditional unity. The majority of
the tribe wants to take action and let the current leadership realize that the dis-enrollment of thousands is unacceptable.
The current leadership, known as the Rivera Group, has ruled in a shroud of secrecy, misinformation and nepotism that
bends the laws of democracy far beyond the limits of fairness and equality.
In their own February 2009 newsletter, there is proof of the Rivera Group's nepotism and conflict of interest. In the last
election, Sue Rivera, sister of the elected Chairperson, was a “ticker” recorder or counter of votes. To say there is a feeling
of impropriety and great temptation in this situation is an understatement. This fact alone is grounds to declare the election
invalid and illegal.
The same newsletter stated, “The Acjachemen Nation, for the first time in its history, has been recognized by the Office of
Federal Acknowledgment, as the Historical Tribe of the San Juan Capistrano Mission.”
This statement could not be more misleading or false. The OFA, Office of Federal Acknowledgement, has denied our
recognition in a letter from Carl J. Artman, Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs. Artman lists in great detail why, in the
government’s view, they have ruled, “Against Acknowledgement of The Juaneno Band of Mission Indians Acjachemen
Nation.” Seven areas have been mentioned for not meeting the criteria. Today, these criteria have Not been entirely fulfilled
according to sources that do not want their name used here for fear of repercussions to family members.
As for my own adventure with the process, more research has reviled that Nomovit lived in the village of Pange (Panhe) in
1760. The Bracamontes families (my family) are direct descendants of Nomovit and more, which means there is absolutely
no reason why we have been Dis-enrolled from our tribe by the Rivera Group. We have been members of the tribe forever.
Many others in the Dis-enrolled group fall into this category of doing more research to satisfy the rubrics.
The only way that the Federal Government and the Rivera Group would be missing much of this information, after we
submitted it to them, would be if it was tampered with, intentionally excluded from the records or accidentally forgotten.
This Rivera Group may have misinterpreted this historical fact to their own liking or accidentally excluded my ancestors
from documents sent to Washington DC due to some misfortune or error. You make the call.
As for the Rivera Group’s intentional destruction of the dis-enrolled tribal documents that was to begin last month, many
Juaneno have had mail sent to the tribal office rejected or sent back to them. Mail requesting that personal documents be
returned to each dis-enrollee was in many cases not answered. This includes registered mail according to some
members. The law corporation of Bracamontes & Vlasak has sent a letter to the Rivera group to halt the destruction of any
documents with the Bracamontes name and instead forward them to the law office. There has been no response to the
letter sent. I received an email prior to the letter being sent that it would take a few weeks for me to receive any
documents, but I was not allowed to speak for my children, father, grandparents or any other family member or group.
What it boils down to is the Juaneno people are ready to stand up for their rights, the truth, and justice. What we want is
unconditional inclusivity, unconditional unity imposed by the people. In the simplest of terms it is communal self
determination without rules, regulations or rubrics that fit the slave masters mentality of the federal government and the
Tribal Council. There will be a gathering to correct this injustice.
The members of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians both active and Dis-enrolled will meet at The Blas Adobe Museum
Saturday May 30th starting at 10a.m. This is a business and cultural meeting and the plight of all our people will be
explored.
--
Peace,
Robert (Bob) Bracamontes
Yu-va'-tal 'A'lla-mal
(Black Crow)
Acjachemen Nation,
Juaneno Tribe
www.onlinewithbob.com
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