INDIANS OF ENTERPRISE NO.

1
5835 Golden Oaks Road
Paradise, CA 95969
Phone (530) 228-4910 Fax (530) 877-9228

August 26, 2009

Assembly Member, Jeff Miller

Rm. 3147, State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: ACR 32 requires reference to the Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA)

Dear Assembly Member Miller:

Our tribe feels compelled to bring your attention to a disturbing

development related to your legislation ACR 32. As recorded in the
minutes of their July 18, 2009 meeting, the California Democratic
Party’s Native American Caucus made the decision to withhold support
for your legislation ACR 32 until such a time as the reference to the
Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 has been removed from ACR 32 as
currently drafted.

No explanation was provided by the Native American Caucus for their

position, but as California Indians who have been so thoroughly
exposed to the undercurrent of injustices related to the increasing civil
rights violations at the hands of numerous tribal leaders within our
state, no explanation was needed. We get it.

The Native American Caucus Board and many of their membership

have been and continue to be comprised of some of the very tribal
leadership guilty of denying basic civil rights to their tribal members.
In order to continue with business as usual they feel it is best not to
provide the individual California Indian with any assurances such as
the protections Congress intended with the Indian Civil Rights Act. If
you don’t mention the ICRA then tribal leaders within our state need
not be constrained by consideration for any civil rights for the
individual California Indian. This is a totally unacceptable attitude.

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ACR 32 by resolution would reaffirm the state’s recognition of the
sovereign status of federally recognized Indian tribes as separate and
independent governmental communities. In addition, it would call
upon state agencies engaging in activities or developing policies that
affect Native Americans to do so in a knowledgeable, sensitive manner
that is respectful of tribal sovereignty. Very importantly, ACR 32
encourages state agencies to reevaluate and improve the
implementation of laws affecting Native American tribal rights.

We are asking you not to buckle to the pressure imposed by the Native
American Caucus to remove reference to the Indian Civil Rights from
ACR 32. Your legislation is providing California tribes with a
reaffirmation of their sovereignty and future considerations involving
dealings with the state that will assuredly be handled in a thoughtful,
sensitive manner. The inclusion of the ICRA in ACR 32 provides some
of that consideration and respect for the individual California Indian
and the civil rights they have previously been denied.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Robert Edwards, Chairman

Indians of Enterprise No.1
Phone (530) 228-4910