BIA Conspiracy: San Pasqual Complaint Part One
BIA Conspiracy: San Pasqual Complaint Part One
BIA Conspiracy: San Pasqual Complaint Part One
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12
Christina Alvarado, an individual, ) Case No. '17CV1149 BAS KSC
13
Patsy Alvarado, an individual, )
14 Lisa Belardes, an individual, ) Related to Case No.
15 Paul contreras, an individual, ) 16-cv-2442-AJB-KSC
Johnny Contreras, an individual, )
l6 Rudolph Contreras, an individual, ) COMPLAINT FOR:
17 Josie Delgado, an individual, )
Lajean Miller, an individual, ) (1) Violation of Civil Rights
18
Dolores Perez, an individual, ) Due Process
19 Huumaay Quisquis, an individual, ) Equal Protection
James Quisquis, an individual, ) Property Rights
20
Elsie Rohas, an individual, ) (2) Breach of Fiduciary Duty
21 Amelia Martinez Contreras ) (3) Unconstitutional Diminution
22 Villalobos, aka Melia Duenas ) Of Patented Land
an individual, Della Villalobos ) (4) Fraud and Misrepresentation
23 Ochoa, an individual, ) (5) Civil Conspiracy
24 Josie Villalobos, an individual, ) (6) Damages
Mary Villalobos Varela, an individual)
25
Josie Villalpando, an individual, )
26 Gloria Zwicker, an individual, )
27
28
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.2 Page 2 of 49
1
2 and DOES 1 - 400, inclusive, )
,.,
)
.)
Plaintiffs, )
4 )
v. )
5 )
6 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; )
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR; )
7
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS; )
8 RYAN ZINKE, Secretary of the )
9 Department of Interior, United States )
of America; MICHAEL BLACK, )
IO Acting Assistant Secretary Indian )
11 Affairs, Department of Interior - )
United States of America; )
12 WELDON LOUDERMILK, )
13 Director Bureau of Indian Affairs; )
AMY DUTSCHKE, Regional )
14
Director, Department of Interior - )
15 Indian Affairs, United States of )
16 America; JAVIN MOORE, )
Superintendent of the Department of )
17 Interior Indian Affairs, Southern )
18 California Agency, all in their )
official capacity, and ROES 1 )
19 through 200, inclusive, )
20 )
Defendants. )
21
)
22 )
23
24
25
26
27 2
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COMPLAINT
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TO
COMPLAINT
RELEVANT LAW
THE PARTIES
A Plaintiffs
B Defendants
BACKGROUND
SUBSTANTIVE ALLEGATIONS
COMPLAINT
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2
IX THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF - VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS:
3
VIOLATION OF PROPERTY RIGHTS
4
5 The Defendants, by their acts, failure to act, omissions negligence
Or fraud by enrolling non-San Pasqual Indians into the BAND
6 Have denied Plaintiffs their rightful property rights including,
7 But not limited to : judgment payments, income, land, schooling,
8 Health, and housing.
9
x FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF - BREACH OF FIDUCIARY
10 DUTY 25 USC SECTION 2
11
Defendants have a fiduciary duty to Plaintiffs which is imposed
12
By 25 USC Section 2. Defendants, by their intentional acts,
13 Failure to act, omissions, or negligence have violated their
14 Statutory duty to Plaintiffs causing Plaintiffs to suffer damages.
15
XI FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF - UNCONSTITUTIONAL
16 DIMINUTION OF TRIBAL RIGHTS PURSUANT TO 1891 LAND
17 PA TENT SIGNED BY PRESIDENT TAFT.
27 4
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COMPLAINT
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19
20
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25
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27 5
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COMPLAINT
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1
2 I
3
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
4
5 1. This Court has jurisdiction over the civil rights claims pursuant to
6 Title 42 U.S.C. l 985and 42 U.S.C. 1981. This Court has subject matter
7
jurisdiction pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. 1331 (Federal Question); 28 U.S.C.
8
9 l 343(a)(l)-(a)(2) (Civil Rights); Title 28, U.S.C.331, as a civil action arising
10
under the Constitution and laws of the United States; Title 5 U.S.C. 701, 702,
11
12
(Judicial review of agency action), 704, 706( I), etc.seq., as an action to set aside
20 the same nucleus of operative facts alleged in this Complaint, and are so related to
21
the federal claims over which this Court has original jurisdiction that they form
22
23 part of the same case or controversy.
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COMPLAINT
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1
2
under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 500-596; 704, 706,
3 et.seq. A plaintiff may seek review of the agency' s decision "under the APA's
4
arbitrary and capricious standard." Aguayo v Jewell, 14-56909 (91h Cir. 7/8/16)
5
6 citing Alto v. Black, 738 F.3d 1111, 1123 (9th Cir. 2013). ("The propriety of
7
agency action is a federal question over which we have jurisdiction, even where
8
the agency applied tribal law in the contest of a membership dispute"). 73 8 F .3 d at
9
10 1123-25.
11
4. "[F]inal agency action for which there is no other adequate remedy in
12
13 a court [is] subject to judicial review." 5 U.S.C. 704. Judicial review under the
17 5. Plaintiffs allege that Article III of the Constitution of the San Pasqual
18
Band of Mission Indians requires the Department of Interior - Bureau of Indian
19
20
Affairs to review and approve tribal enrollment. Therefore, the act is not
21 discretionary.
22
6. Plaintiffs allege the APA creates a "strong presumption that Congress
23
24 intends judicial review of administrative action." Bowen v. Mich. Acad. OfFamily
25
Physicians 476 U.S. 667, 670 (1986). Section 702 of the APA allows judicial
26
27 7
28
COMPLAINT
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10 The BIA's "denial of relief to Plaintiffs and its failure to act on their behalf, as a
11
final agency action is subject to judicial review (See, Aguayo v. Jewell, Supra at
12
13 17] because Defendants' actions and/or failure to act have denied Plaintiffs their
21 this jurisdiction. And, because most of the Plaintiffs are residents of the County of
22
San Diego, California.
23
25 because Defendants are Federal agencies: the United States Department of the
26
27 8
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COMPLAINT
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2 Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. A substantial part of the events and omissions
3 giving rise to this action occurred in this District. And, the location of the Native
4
American Indian Reservation that is the subject matter of the action is located in
5
6 this district.
7
10. The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians is a Federally recognized
8
reservation and is geographically located in the County of San Diego, State of
9
IO California.
11
II
12
13 RELEVANT LAW
17 length herein.
18
12. Plaintiffs have brought this Complaint under the following Statutes,
19
20
laws and constitutions: San Pasqual Constitution; the Due Process and Equal
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COMPLAINT
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1
2 Pasqual Mission Band of Indians); 25 U.S.C. 1 through 345; Title 42,
13 By the terms of the IRA, it applies only to those tribes who vote for its application.
14 The Secretary of the Interior was directed to call such an election "within one year
15
after June 18, 1934." Id. The Secretary called such an election, and the San
16
17 Pasqual Band voted for adopting the IRA in 1934 .. [Theodore Haas, Ten Years of
18
Tribal Government Under LR.A. , 14 (U.S. Indian Serv. 1947).] On January 14,
19
20 1971 , the Secretary of the Interior approved the Constitution of the San Pasqual
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COMPLAINT
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2 restricted release of lands; and it provided for the Secretary of the Interior to
3 purchase holdings in the reservation for Indian use. It did much to help the Indians
4
develop democracy. Congress, through the Indian Reorganization Act, invoked the
5
6 tribe as a democratic operational mechanism. It was an important step in
7
assimilating Indians to modem democratic life ... Giving Indians the right of
8
self-determination.
9
10 15. Title 25, U.S.C., 2 - The BIA's enabling statute gives the
11
Commissioner of Indian Affairs (under the direction of the Secretary of the
12
13 Interior) the "management of all Indian affairs and of all matters arising out of
14 Indian relations." [Aguayo at 18.] Therefore, the BIA's action is reviewable under
15
25 U.S.C., 2.
16
17 16. The APA requires the court to set aside agency action that is
18
"arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with
19
20
law." 5 U.S.C., 706(2)(A).
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COMPLAINT
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2 and enrollment decisions. (i.e. 25 U.S.C. 48). As a result, the Secretary must apply
3 the tribe's own enrollment criteria. The fact that "the substantive law to be applied
4
in this case is tribal law does not affect the court's jurisdiction over an APA
5
6 challenge to the BIA's decision. (Exhibit 1)
7
18. The Tribe's Constitution clearly states, in pertinent part:
8
"We, the people of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians,
9
(Diegueno Indians), in order to establish a fonnal organization
IO under the provisions of Section 16 of the Indian Reorganization
11 Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984) as amended by the Act of
June 15, 1935 (49 Stat. 378), and to promote our common
12
welfare, do hereby adopt the following constitution and
13 bylaws."
14
15
.. . ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
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COMPLAINT
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3
ARTICLE IX - BILL OF RIGHTS
4
18 sole use and benefit of the said San Pasqual Band or Village of Indians, according
19
to the laws of California, and at the expiration of the said period the united States
20
21 will convey the same ... by patent to the said San Pasqual Band or Village of
22
Indians, as aforesaid, in fee, discharged of said trust and free of all change or
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24
incumbrance what-so-ever. . ." It was not until 1910 that Congress codified this
25 Act, but the San Pasqual Indians did not get their original land back. (Exhibit 3)
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27 13
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COMPLAINT
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1
2 21. Plaintiffs are not required to exhaust administrative remedies where
7
III
8
THE PARTIES
9
20
She is a federally recognized enrolled member of the San Pasqual Mission Band of
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COMPLAINT
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She is a federally recognized enrolled member of the San Pasqual Mission Band of
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COMPLAINT
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21 County. She is a federally recognized enrolled member of the San Pasqual Mission
22
Band of Indians. Her enrollment number is 2.
23
24 37. PLAINTIFF MARY VILLALOBOS VARELA is a resident of San
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Diego County. She is a federally recognized enrolled member of the San Pasqual
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27 16
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COMPLAINT
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14 Affairs.
15
41. Defendant RYAN ZINKE (hereinafter ZINKE") is the Secretary of the
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17 Department of Interior. He is responsible for the supervision of the various federal
18
agencies and bureau within the Department of Interior, including the Bureau of
19
20
Indian Affairs. He is an officer or employee of the United States and has a direct
21 statutory duty to carry out the provisions under Title 25 U.S.C. 48.2(a).
22
Defendant ZINKE is being sued in his official capacity only.
23
24 42. Defendant MICHAEL BLACK (hereinafter 'BLACK") is the Acting
25
Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs of the Department and head of the Bureau of
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27 17
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COMPLAINT
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2 Indian Affairs. Plaintiffs believe and thereon allege that Defendant. ZINKE has
3 delegated the duty to oversee and review the TRIBE'S tribal membership issues to
4
Defendant BLACK. Defendant BLACK is being sued in his official capacity only.
5
6 43. Defendant WELDON 'BRUCE' LOUDERMILK (hereinafter
7
"LOUDERMILK") is the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs within the
8
Department. Defendant Loudermilk is responsible for the day-to-day operations of
9
10 the BIA. Defendant Loudermilk is being sued in his official capacity only.
11
44. Defendant AMY DUTSCHKE (hereinafter "DUTSCHKE) is Director
12
20
MOORE is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the BIA, Southern
21 California Agency. Defendant MOORE is being sued in her official capacity only.
22
46. ROE defendants, 1 through 100, inclusive, are government employees
23
24 who are agents acting in the scope of delegated authority, the scope of which is
25
unknown to Plaintiffs at this time.
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27 18
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COMPLAINT
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2 IV
10 Enrollment Committee or any actions of the Tribe itself, rather they are bringing
11
this complaint against the United States Government, and its subordinate
12
13 departments the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its
14
employees. They are seeking legal relief against the actions, inactions, omissions,
15
17 through the Department of Interior, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and its
18
employees. Therefore, Plaintiffs allege that sovereign immunity is not a bar to their
19
20 claims against the United States government.
21
40. Plaintiffs recognize: "As a matter of federal law, an Indian tribe is
22
23
subject to suit only where Congress has authorized the suit or the tribe has waived
24 it sovereign immunity." Kiowa Tribe of Okla. v. Mfg. Tech., Inc., 523 U.S. 7541,
25
754 (1998).
26
27 19
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COMPLAINT
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2 VI
3
BACKGROUND
4
6 this Complaint, and incorporate the same by reference as though fully set forth at
7
length herein.
8
9 51 By Executive Order dated January 27, 1870, President U.S. Grant
10
established the San Pasqual Reservation on the rich farmland of what is now the
11
12 San Pasqual Valley, the traditional home of the San Pasqual people. This order
13 was cancelled only a year later due to the out-cry from the local press and citizenry
14
and the recent discovery of gold in the area.
15
16 52. By 1878 the Indians had been pushed out of the San Pasqual Valley.
17
They were forced to relocate to scattered places all over Southern California. Since
18
19
that time the San Pasqual Band has continually struggled in vain to reestablish its
20 identity as a community.
21
53. The current San Pasqual Reservation was established on July 1, 1910
22
23 by an act of Congress that codified the 1891 Land Patent issued by President Taft.
24
Prior to that, as other Mission Indian Reservations were set aside, almost every
25
26 report of the Bureau Indian Agent from 1869 on mentioned the crying need to
27 20
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COMPLAINT
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3 54. In 1910 The Bureau of Indian Affairs hired a white man named Frank
4
Trask, who was at that time living on the Mesa Grande Reservation with his wife, a
5
6 registered Santa Ysabel Indian, to take care of the new reservation and to live in the
7
house that was on the property: Property that would only sustain a few people, but
8
9 was valuable to squatters.
10 55. Between 1910 and 1950 several San Pasqual families attempted to
11
move onto the Reservation. However, they were forbidden entry by Frank Trask.
12
13 In subsequent years descendants of Frank Trask refused to allow true San Pasqual
14
Indians on their patented land.
15
16
56. For the purpose of gaining political control over their land, the San
23
necessary documentation. Dr. Shipek worked with the San Pasqual Indians for
27 21
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COMPLAINT
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2 the Enrollment Committee at that time were persons whose San Pasqual ancestry
3 was unquestioned. However, because Bureau officials insisted that everyone who
4
claimed a right to membership in the Band was entitled to vote in determining the
5
6 substantive and procedural content of the membership rules, two persons whose
7
San Pasqual ancestry was questioned also served on the committee. One of these
8
9 two persons was Florence Trask Wolfe.
16
Pasqual Indians insisted that the 1909 role was the only accurate census roll.
17 (Exhibit 2)
18
59. The Bureau officials told the true San Pasqual people that they did not
19
20 need a lawyer.
21
60. Many people of questionable San Pasqual ancestry and several who
22
did not even claim membership participated in many key votes and discussions
23
24 including the vote on whether to accept the proposed regulations [i.e. 25 C.F.R.
25
48].
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27 22
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COMPLAINT
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2 61. Section 48.5(f) of the enrollment regulation, which has proven to play
3 an important role in the subsequent membership dispute, was added by the Bureau
4
as one of several "purely administrative" changes without the knowledge or
5
6 approval of the San Pasqual people. The language of this section is a repudiation
7
of the promises made by many Bureau officials throughout the negotiation that
8
9
permission to vote in determining the substantive and procedural content of the
16
credentials. This section relies on the 1961 memorandum of the Regional Solicitor:
23
people throughout the enrollment process.
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COMPLAINT
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1
2 confidence that the phrase "blood of the Band", upon which they had carefully
3 inserted in all the clauses relating to membership, would protect the group's
4
heritage and identification. (Exhibit 4)
5
6 65. In 1965 theSolicitor issued an Opinion interpreting the enrollment
7
regulation. The Solicitor's Opinion declared that twenty applicants [mostly Trask
8
9
descendants] who were rejected by the Enrollment Committee were entitled to
10 membership in the San Pasqul Band because the key phrase "Indian Blood of the
11
Band" in 25 C.F.R. 48.5(b) is, in his reading of the regulation, completely devoid
12
13 of significance. (Exhibit 5)
14
66. A similar reading of the phrase "Indians whose names appear as
15
16
members of the Band" in 25 C.F.R. 48.5(a) in an earlier 1961 memorandum of the
17 Regional Solicitor had resulted in the approval by the BIA of two additional
18
applicants that had been rejected by the Committee. (Exhibit 6)
19
20 67. These actions by the Defendants resulted in the admission and federal
21
recognition of the Trask descendants, who have absolutely no San Pasqual Indian
22
blood but are of white heritage, and other non-San Pasqual people, into the San
23
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COMPLAINT
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2 Director dated August 13, 1961, considered the applicants for the enrollment of the
3 Trask descendants: Florence Trask Wolfe and Ella Trask Ward. Mrs. Wolfe and
4
Mrs. Ward were turned down by the San Pasqual Enrollment Committee. (Exhibit
5
6 4) They are listed on the census roll for the Mesa Grande Reservation as is their
7
mother, Lenora La Chappa Trask, and their grandparents, Antonio La Chappa and
8
9
Feliciana Yankee. (Exhibit 7) They are also listed on the 1910 San Pasqual census
10 roll. Their father, Frank Trask, was a non-Indian employed by the Bureau of Indian
11
Affairs as a caretaker for the San Pasqual Reservation. (Exhibit 8) The Enrollment
12
13 Committee rejected their applications along with others whose names also appeared
14
on the 1910 census role, because they had not met the burden of establishing that
15
16
they were "Indians whose names appear as members of the band" on the 1910
17 Census Roll. [25 C.F.R. 48.5(a) and (d); and because they were not San Pasqual
18
Indians.
19
20 69. The Regional Solicitor overruled the committee's determination by the
21
simple expedient of ignoring the words "Indians whose names appear as members
22
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COMPLAINT
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2 1910 Census Roll." As a result of this erroneous interpretation of the statute, the
3 requirement of membership in the San Pasqual Band was not applied to the Trask
4
family although it was applied to other rejected applicants whose names also
5
9
of "rolls". [See 8.5]. (Exhibit 9) There is the "basic roll" which is the list of
10 persons used as the basis for determining eligibility for membership in the tribe.
11
Most tribal constitutions specify a census roll as the basis roll. However, an
12
13 allotment roll or an annuity payment roll may be used for that purpose. It should be
14
noted that generally the allotment roll and the annuity payment roll do not show the
15
16
quantum of Indian blood possessed by the individuals listed thereon.
17 72. The second type of roll is the "Tribal roll" which is a list of persons
18
who meet the requirements for membership in an Indian tribe established by the
19
24 members of the tribe all other persons affiliated with the tribal group, both Indian
25
and non-Indian.
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27 26
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COMPLAINT
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1
2 74. The difference between the definitions of the three types of rolls is one
3 of the basis for the dispute in this case. The non-Indian people who were
4
participating in the original enrollment committee chose the 1910 Census roll
5
6 rather than the 1909 Tribal roll. As a result non-Indians like Frank Trask and his
7
descendants were erroneously enrolled into the San Pasqual Band of Mission
8
9 Indians by the Defendants.
10 75. All the evidence in this case clearly indicates that the Trask family
11
resided on the San Pasqual Reservation in 1910 only because Frank Trask, a white
12
13 man who is not an Indian, had been hired as the Reservation's caretaker, in order to
14
preserve it from squatters for the San Pasqual Indians.
15
16
76. On April , 1910, Frank Trask was appointed judge, earning 84.00 a
17 year.
18
77. After the Trasks moved onto the San Pasqual Indian Reservation, the
19
20 Government caused census to be taken in 1910. In this census the Trasks were
21
listed as living on the San Pasqual land. The census records of the 1920's note that
22
23
the Trask family were not San Pasqual Indians. The BIA continued to make this
28
COMPLAINT
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2 the BIA continued to enumerate the San Pasqual Indians on the Bureau census each
3 year that it was taken. While the San Pasqual Indians continued to exist and live
4
near their aboriginal land, the BIA failed to enumerate them within the BIA census
5
6 records of the San Pasqual Indians after 1913.
7
78. Frank Trask's "job" as caretaker of the San Pasqual land lasted for
8
9
only one year. After his job ended, he and his family [and his present descendants]
10 have continued to squat on the San Pasqual Reservation: land that was patented to
11
the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians in 1891 pursuant to President Hayes '
12
17 the San Pasqual Indians had no water, was rocky, unsuitable for farming, and could
18
only support one or two families. There were no efforts by the BIA to solve the
19
20 problem and get the San Pasqual Indians onto their reservation.
21
80. Roberts advised the BIA in her 1916 letter that Frank Trask was still
22
on the reservation and that he was not a San Pasqual Indian. (Exhibit 10)
23
24 81. During the 1930's the BIA stopped noting on the San Pasqual census
25
that the Trask family were not San Pasqual Indians. California government studies
26
27 28
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COMPLAINT
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2 performed during the 19930's noted that although there were 8 non-residents on the
3 San Pasqual reserved land, there were no San Pasqual Indians. (Exhibit 11, 12)
4
82. After the Treaties made with the California Indians were unratified by
5
6 the United States, on May 18, 1928, Congress passed the California Indian
7
Judgment Act to pay for the undelivered lands (as promised by treaty) to California
8
9
Indian descendants. As a result of this Act, the Department of the Interior sent five
16
Government for the loss of their land. Ultimately, the U.S. Government prepared
17 what is known as the 1933 California Indian Census Roll, from the information
18
they obtained in the 1928 California Indian Applications, applications that have
19
20 subsequently been determined to be totally unvettted and unreliable.
21
84. The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians (BAND) was formally
22
23
organized under the Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934, as amended, by
24 the adoption of a Constitution and Bylaws of the San Pasqual Band of Mission
25
Indians on November 29, 1970. ("Constitution").
26
27 29
28
COMPLAINT
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6 Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934, with its members identified on
7
preexisting tribal rolls and a census complied by the BIA.
8
9
87. The United States Constitution provides in Article III, Section 2 that
10 "[a]ll membership in the band shall be approved according to the Code of Federal
11
Regulations, Title 25, Part 48.1through48.15 and an enrollment ordinance which
12
16
pursuant to ordinances or resolutions passed by the general council and approved
17 by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs ... (1) To control future membership, loss of
18
membership and the adoption of members." 1
19
20 88. On or about November 1950 a case was filed against the United States
21
by certain bands of Mission Indians relating to land and water rights. In 1960, the
22
case was amended to include the San Juan Indians [BAND]; This case is known as
23
24
1
25 Plaintiffs allege that neither the Band's Constitution nor the Federal Statutes allow for the Tribe
to place a moratorium on emollment or dis-emollment. Rather, 25 CFR 48 mandates the rolls
26
be kept current.
27 30
28
COMPLAINT
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2 the Court of Claims 80-A Docket. The matter was settled and monies were paid by
3 the United States government to be held in trust and distributed by the BIA. In
4
1988, 25 C.F.R.76 was published forthe sole purpose of bringing the 1966 roll
5
6 current and to distribute the 80-A docket money to the San Pasqual Indians.
7
89. In 1966, the Bureau of Indian Affairs acknowledged that Mrs. Wolfe
8
9
and Mrs. Ward were not members of the San Pasqual Band. In a letter dated March
10 9, 1966, to Mrs. Mary C. Matteson, Mr. Leonard Hill, Sacramento Area Director,
11
states:" ... The Bureau is aware that the members of the only family which has
12
13 occupied the reservation for many years are not members of the San Pasqual
14
Band." The family referred to by Mr. Hill are the Trasks because, as the Regional
15
16
Solicitor notes in his memorandum, "For approximately 50 years the only residents
17 of the San Pasqual Reservation were the Trask family." (Exhibit 13)
18
90. The United States is required to fulfill its obligation as trustee and
19
20 protect the property it holds in trust for the use and benefit of the San Pasqual
21
Band. The trustee is charged with the obligation of protecting the corpus of the
22
23
trust and can be held liable for mismanagement if it fails to do so. To this date, the
24 Defendants have failed to act to remedy situations brought about by its unilateral
25
grant of valuable property rights to the Trasks [and other non-Indians] that
26
27 31
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.32 Page 32 of 49
3 VII
4
SUBSTANTIVE ALLEGATIONS
5
9 length herein.
10
92. The harm to Plaintiffs, including damages and injuries, are ongoing
11
13 93. An actual case and controversy has arisen and now exists between the
14
parties with regard to the following actions and/or inactions of the Defendants:
15
16 Department of the Interior, the Board of Indian Affairs, and their regional offices:
17
I) Failure to give notice in violation of due process rights; 2) Failure to correct
18
20 Plaintiffs with Equal Protection of the law; 4) Failure to enforce the San Pasqual
21
Constitution; 5) Failure to follow Department procedures and apply the
22
26 any subsequent land patents from squatters; 7) The actions by the Defendants are a
27 32
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.33 Page 33 of 49
9
94. In 1959, the BAND approved the enrollment ordinance promulgated
IO by the Bureau of Indian Affairs [BIA]. In 1960, the BIA, without notifying the
11
BAND's Enrollment Committee, modified the approved version of the enrollment
12
13 ordinance which was published in the Federal Code of Regulations under 25 CFR
14
48.
15
16
95. On January 4, 1971, the San Pasqual Constitution was adopted by the
17 BAND and approved by the BIA. Since its adoption in 1971, the San Pasqual
18
Constitution has never been amended; no other enrollment ordinances have been
19
20 adopted. Pursuant to Section III, Paragraph (1) and (2), 25 CFR 48 was
21
incorporated within the San Pasqual Constitution regarding membership, making it
22
23
Tribal law.
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.34 Page 34 of 49
6 erroneous.'' (Emphasis added). Clearly, the Defendants failed to even examine and
7
review Plaintiffs' applications as required by statute.
8
9 97. Plaintiffs allege that the Defendants violated statutory mandates and
15
16 FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF - VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS
20
21
99. Plaintiffs refer to and reallege Paragraphs 1 through 98, inclusive, of
22 this Complaint, and incorporate the same by reference as though fully set forth at
23
length herein.
24
25 100. The Defendants violated Plaintiffs' (and/or their ancestors') civil
26
rights when they failed to inform Plaintiffs of the changes to the Amendment of 25
27 34
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.35 Page 35 of 49
3 101. In 1959, the BIA published in the Code of Federal Register [CFR]
4
"Proposed Rule Making" - 25 C.F.R. Part 48: "Enrollment of the San Pasqual Band
5
16
Office letter dated November 13, 1959, concerning the changes proposed for the
17 San Pasqual enrollment regulations. A copy of our October 13, 1959 letter was
18
furnished [to] you. Also enclosed for your information is a copy of the proposed
19
24 made available to the San Pasqual enrollment committee in view of the fact
25
that they may not understand why additional corrections to the regulations
26
27 35
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.36 Page 36 of 49
3 published in the Federal Register on July 29, 1959. (Emphasis added). (Exhibit
4
15)
5
10 codified form of25 CFR 48 added a new paragraph, 48.5(f), which states in
11
pertinent part: "A person who meets the requirements of paragraph (a), (b), or ( c)
12
13 of this section, but whose name has been carried on the census roll of another
14
reservation shall be declared ineligible for enrollment unless he can establish that
15
16
he has been affiliated with the San Pasqual Band for a continuous period of a least
20 tribal meetings, and being permitted to vote on matters relating to the San Pasqual
21
Reservation." (Exhibit 2)
22
23
104. Defendants' acts have violated Plaintiffs' rights to due process of law
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.37 Page 37 of 49
2 made by the BIA specifically for the purpose of allowing the Trask Descendants to
3 claim San Pasqual Blood. It also allowed the Trask Descendants to bootstrap
4
presence on the reservation without San Pasqual Indian blood to full membership
5
6 in the Tribe.
7
106. Section 48.5(f) is unconstitutional in that it is contrary to the
8
10 before being enrolled in the San Pasqual Mission Band of Indians. Specifically,
11
48 .5(e) states: "If an Indian who applies for enrollment under the provisions of
12
13 paragraph (a), (b ), or ( c) of this section has received in his own right an allotment
14
or is enrolled as a member with some other tribe or band and has not relinquished
15
16
such allotment or enrollment prior to January 1, 1959 such person shall not be
17 enrolled.
18
107. Furthermore, Section 48.S(f) is unconstitutional in that it violates the
19
20 requirement in 25 U.S.C. 181 which states, in pertinent part:" No white man, not
21
otherwise a member of any tribe of Indians, who may after August 9, 1888, marry
22
23
an Indian woman, member of any Indian tribe in the United States, .. . shall by
24 such marriage after August 9, 1888, acquire any right to any tribal property,
25
privilege, or interest whatever to which any member of such tribe is entitled."
26
27 37
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.38 Page 38 of 49
2 108. Plaintiffs allege that in the proposed rule making that was published
3 in the Federal Register on July 23, 1959, paragraph 48.5 only had 5 subsections:
4
( a),(b ),( c ),( d),(e ). This was the statute that the San Pasqual enrollment committee
5
lO final version of the bill which was passed and took effect on March 2, 1960.
11
Defendants intentionally withheld the fact that Section (f) was going to be added to
12
13 the codified bill. Section (f) states (in pertinent part): "A person who meets the
14
requirements of paragraph (a), (b), or ( c) of this section, but whose name has been
15
16
carried on the census roll of another reservation shall be declared ineligible for
17 enrollment unless he can establish that he has been affiliated with the San Pasqual
18
Band for a continuous period of at least one year immediately prior to January I,
19
23
matters relating to the San Pasqual Reservation. Should an applicant establish his
24 eligibility for enrollment his membership claim at the other reservation must be
25
relinquished in writing prior to approval of his enrollment with the San Pasqual
26
27 38
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.39 Page 39 of 49
3 both reservations involved, the Riverside Area Field Office and the Sacramento
4
Area Office.
5
6 110. Plaintiffs allege that this unpublished section (f) of 48.5 violates
7
statutory rules and denied Plaintiffs Due Process of law.
8
9 111. Plaintiffs further allege that Defendants wrote paragraph (f) and
10 failed to disclose this fact specifically for the purpose of allowing the enrollment
11
of non-San Pasqual Indians in the BAND legitimate. Defendants did this in order to
12
16
the U.S. Attorney who had a statutory duty to represent them, ignored them. (See
24
25
2
25 USC 175 - "In all States and Territories where there are reservations or allotted Indians the
26
United States attorney shall represent them in all suits at law and in equity."
27 39
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.40 Page 40 of 49
2 the blood of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, therefore they could not
1O the basis roll, provided such descendants possess at least 118 degree Indian blood
11
of the band. The Trask descendants satisfy neither requirement since they possess
12
16
Wolfe's names appeared on the June 30, 1910 census roll. The only reason why
17 their names appeared on the roll was because they were on the San Pasqual land
18
with their father Frank Trask, a White man, and their mother, an enrolled member
19
20 of the Santa Ysabel/Mesa Grande Tribe, pursuant to the hiring of their father Frank
21
Trask as a caretaker of the land by Amos Frank of the BIA. (Exhibit 8)
22
23
116. After his employment ended, because the Trasks had been squatting
24 on the San Pasqual Reservation from 1911 through the 1950's, and not because
25
they had San Pasqual Indian Blood, the BIA erroneously determined that the Trask
26
27 40
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.41 Page 41 of 49
2 descendants were "clearly eligible for enrollment under Part 48.S(a), Title 25, Code
3 of Federal Regulations, all to Plaintiffs' detriment.
4
11 7. Plaintiffs allege that the BIA erroneously concluded that Helen Trask
5
6 Ward and Florence Trask Wolfe could qualify for enrollment under Part 48.S(b).
7
They did this knowing that the Indian blood that they allegedly possessed was not
8
9
San Pasqual Band blood. The opinion stated: "In this connection, it is our
13 that persons of Indian blood who were recognized as Band members when the
14
basic roll of June 30, 2010 was complied, may be considered to be of the blood of
15
16
the San Pasqual Band." The facts do not support this assumption. (Exhibit 7, 17)
17 Census records that have always been available to the BIA show the following:
18
Rosewell Trask 1880 census - White
19
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.42 Page 42 of 49
17 Pasqual Band, the BIA then added any alleged3 Indian blood Wolfe, Ward, and
18
others, and then combined the blood of other tribes in order to come to the
19
20 conclusion that they had at least 1/8 Indian blood because they needed at least 1/8
21
San Pasqual Indian Blood to be federally enrolled as a member of the San Pasqual
22
23
Band of Mission Indians, to Plaintiffs' detriment.
24
25
3
Plaintiffs use the word "alleged" because the documentation that was used by the BIA for the
26
issue of the blood degree of Wolfe and Ward faulty, is unreliable, and made-up.
27 42
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.43 Page 43 of 49
2 119. Plaintiffs have suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable harm
3 while the Trask descendants and others continue to reap the benefits of being San
4
Pasqual Indians. The income and land belong to Plaintiffs and the other federally
5
22 121 . An actual controversy exists by and between all Plaintiffs and the
23
Defendants concerning the unconstitutional enrollment of non-San Pasqual persons
24
25 into the San Pasqual Band of Mission
26
122. This controversy is the root of the illegal, unconstitutional, and
27 43
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.44 Page 44 of 49
2 fraudulent actions taken by the Defendants against the Plaintiffs, all who carry at
10 diminution of the land for the Plaintiffs, in violation of Plaintiffs' statutory and
11
constitutional rights.
12
16
detriment of Plaintiffs thereby denying Plaintiffs the guarantees of the Equal
24 126. On April 6, 1910 Amos Frank received a letter from DOI, BIA
25
authorizing him to hire Frank Trask as a "caretaker." Frank Trask took the oath of
26
27 44
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.45 Page 45 of 49
2 office on February 1, 1910 which was filed with BIA on March 8, 1910. On April
3 7, 1910 he was confirmed in the position of police private and judge. (Exhibit 8)
4
127. Frank Trask, a white man living at Mesa Grande with his wife
5
6 Leonora, who was registered as a Santa Ysabel Indian, was to be the caretaker for
7
the new reservation and to live in the house that was on the property. This
8
9 assignment was to last one year.
10 128. On May 20, 1909, Frank Trask applied for an allotment of land on the
11
Mesa Grande Reservation stating that his family consisted of himself, his wife, and
12
13 two minor children. The Assistant Commissioner wrote: "The office has no further
14
knowledge of when or upon what authority Frank Trask moved to the San Pasqual
15
16
reserve, but it is presumed that he was allowed to do so as he is an Indian and
17 has a San Pasqual wife by whom he has a family. [Emphasis added]. Contrary to
18
this "presumption" the documents and records show that Frank Trask has no Indian
19
20 blood what-so-ever and his wife Lenora Trask was a registered and enrolled Santa
21
Ysabel/Mesa Grande Indian. (Exhibit 7, Exhibit 18)
22
23 129. In 1916, the Defendants received numerous letters from true San
24 Pasqual Indians stating that Frank Trask was not an Indian; he was a White man.
25
These letters objected to Frank Trask living on the San Pasqual land when they
26
27 45
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.46 Page 46 of 49
2 could not live on it. There is no record that the Defendants ever responded to these
3 letters or that they satisfied the requirements of 25 U.S.C. 175. (U.S. Attorneys to
4
represent Indians). (Exhibit 10)
5
6 130. In a letter from Frank Trask' s mother dated November 14, 1920, she
7
stated: "In reply to your letter asking information about my son [I] will say, first,
8
9 Frank Trask was not a San Pasqual Indian himself, nor were any of his immediate
13 the Reservation was when he wrote me about nine ten years ago and told me he had
14
married an Indian woman on the Reservation" . (Exhibit 18, 19)
15
16
13 1. In a typed note at the top of a letter dated January 5, 191 7, E. B.
l7 Meritt, Assistant Commissioner, stated: "Authority for presuming that Mrs. Trask
18
is a San Pasqual Indian herself, and that she and her daughters are therefore entitled
19
20 to allotment there, is based upon Indian office letter as follows :" The subject of the
21
letter was a request that four families of San Pasqual Indians be allowed to move
22
23 onto the reservation. Although the letter questioned the status of Frank Trask, no
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.47 Page 47 of 49
2
letter dated March 15, 1920 the Superintendent wrote: " It would be hardly fair to
3 the Trask family to withhold allotment on the supposition that other San Pasqual
4
Indians may at some later time also desire allotments." The actions by the BIA
5
6 were taken upon erroneous and illegal suppositions that Frank Trask was a San
7
Pasqual Indian.
8
9
132. At the top of a memo from 1959, the June 30, 1924, Census of the San
13 asking information about my son will say, first, Frank Trask is not a San
14
Pasqual Indian himself, nor were any of his immediate ancestors. [Emphasis
15
17 were Indians, but do not know of which tribe. My father was English. (Exhibit
18
19)
19
23 descendants [Mrs. Wolf and Mrs. Ward who are Lenora LaChappa Trask's
24 descendants] derived their Indian blood from both their mother and their father.
25
This conclusion is the result of convoluted interpretation of the language of the
26
27 47
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.48 Page 48 of 49
2 statutes. The Solicitor stated: "It is our conclusion that a construction may be
6 San Pasqual blood, but just any Indian blood) who were recognized as Band
7
members when the basic roll of June 30, 20 I 0 was compiled, may be considered to
8
9 be of the blood of the San Pasqual Band. (Exhibit 21, 22)
13 at least 1/8 San Pasqual blood. This "construction of the language" also violates
14
Plaintiffs' rights to Equal Protection of the law.
15
16
13 5. Although the words ''blood of the band" are not contained in the San
17 Pasqual Constitution or 25 C.F.R. 48, the BIA inserted the words "Blood of the
18
Band" in all clauses relating to membership in the San Pasqual Band. When
19
24 Blood of the San Pasqual Band. Said interpretation has denied Plaintiffs Equal
25
Protection of the law and have caused Plaintiffs to suffer severe damages.
26
27 48
28
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-01149-BAS-KSC Document 1 Filed 06/08/17 PageID.49 Page 49 of 49
2
136. This "construction of the language" interpretation of the statute and
6 Pasqual Constitution and 25 C.F.R. 48 because: a) The term "Band" means the
7
San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, [25 C.F.R.48.5], not blood of the band of
8
9
any Indians; b) 25 C.F.R.48.5 (a), (b), and ( c) identifies the persons to be
10 enrolled: I) those who are alive on January 1, 19594 ; ii) Members whose names
11
appear of the Band on the Census Roll, provided such descendants possess one-
12
13 eighth or more degree of Indian blood of the Band [By statute (25 CFR 48.2 (e)-
14
Band means San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians]; iii) Indians not include in (a)
15
16
or (b) who can prove they are 1/8 of more degree Indian blood of the San Pasqual
17 Band of Mission Indians, i.e. "BAND"; And iv) Section 48.5(e) states: "If an
18
Indian who applies for enrollment under the provisions of paragraphs (a), (b), or (
19
23
enrollment prior to January 1. 1950, such person shall not be enrolled." None of the
24
4
" [P]rovided he or she is not an enrolled member of some other tribe or band." The 1933
25 California base roll of Indians contains Frank Trask' s wife, Lenora LaChappa [Trask], born in
Mesa Grande in 1881 was enrolled in the Mesa Grande Indian Band. She was the daughter of
26
Feliciana Leonora App #2478 (Exhibit 7)
27 49
28
COMPLAINT