DISENROLLMENT
MUST
END

Over the past three decades, hundreds of our family members and ancestors have been stripped of their rightful place in our Tribe. We gather not in anger but in unity, seeking justice and recognition for those who have been wrongfully disenrolled from Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians. 

Since the 1990s, more than 1,000 Chukchansi members have been disenrolled. This period has seen organized efforts by certain factions to reduce membership, driven by politics and financial interests tied to the profits of our Tribe's casino. As a result, many who have deep-rooted ties to our Tribe through ancestry, community, and culture have been denied the recognition they deserve. 

Disenrollment contradicts the values that have traditionally guided us as a people. Our ancestors did not create exclusive boundaries between family members; they brought people together. Today, however, our community is divided. It is time to change. We must honor our history and the legacy of inclusion, rather than succumbing to political and financial influences that erode the very foundation of our identity. 

What Tribal Membership Must Do
We call on each of you, our fellow tribal and family members, to take a stand against this ongoing injustice. We ask that you: 

• Engage in Open Dialogue: Most of you have not gone through the disenrollment process. We have. It's not pleasant and we wouldn't wish it upon any of you. Let's start asking "Why have so many of our own been excluded? What is the true reason behind these decisions?"

• Demand Transparency: Insist that the Tribal Council be fully transparent about disenrollment criteria, processes, and motivations. Decisions about membership must be rooted in facts, history, and cultural truth -- not financial incentives or political rivalries.

• Uphold Our Traditional Values: Advocate and speak up for the return to the values of community and kinship that our ancestors cherished. Disenrollment is a modern construct; it is not reflective of our true Chukchansi identity. 

• Support Re-enrollment: Push for re-enrollment of those who have been wrongfully excluded. Many disenrolled members have undeniable proof of their ancestry, yet they continue to be marginalized.

Facts Speak For Themselves

• Disenrollment escalated in the early 2000s, coinciding with the financial rise of our Tribe's casino. 

• In some cases, entire families were removed despite having documented lineage, records, and contributions to our community. 

• Many members disenrolled had active roles in the Tribe -- voting in elections, participating in cultural events, and maintaining their connection to our shared traditions. 

The wrongs of the past cannot be ignored, and they can be corrected. It is time to heal our community, bring our people back, and move forward together. 

Call for Unity
We stand united in our efforts to stop the disenrollment crisis and to restore justice for every Chukchansi member. We ask for your support, your voice, and your courage in this effort. Let's work together to rebuild the ties that have been broken and to ensure that every member of our Tribe is recognized, valued, and included. 

Thank you for your attention, your understanding, and your commitment to our people. We believe that with your help, we can restore the true spirit of Chukchansi people. 

Sincerely, 

Disenrolled Chukchansi Members and Families