The blinders that Congressman Mike Honda continues to wear
regarding the application for federal recognition of sovereignty by
one faction of the bitterly divided Amah Mutsun tribe are
distressing.
The blinders that Congressman Mike Honda continues to wear regarding the application for federal recognition of sovereignty by one faction of the bitterly divided Amah Mutsun tribe are distressing.
A portion of the local American Indian tribe – which is beset by allegations of forged documents and disputes over legitimate membership and leadership – is waiting in line for a ruling on its application for sovereignty with lots of other tribes at the backlogged federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Instead of sponsoring legislation that would clean up the mess at the BIA for all tribes, Honda instead proposes legislation that would allow the Amah Mutsun to “cut in line” and simply grant them federal recognition first.
Is that any way to run a country?
No, it’s a terrible idea for many reasons.
First, it’s patently unfair to allow the tribe to bypass the mandated process for federal recognition of sovereignty.
It’s rarely – if ever – a good idea to pass such narrowly focused legislation. A prime example is the last Congress’ intrusion into the Terri Schiavo case with legislation that applied only to her.
Second, it’s a bad idea because of all the problems swirling around the tribe.
Much as Honda might wish it were otherwise, he simply cannot divorce the legitimate questions about fraudulent documents, who should be members of the Amah Mutsun tribe, and who are the tribe’s legitimate leaders, from the issue of fair recognition.
Finally, as a former Santa Clara County Supervisor, Honda ought to be uniquely aware of the land-use problems he’s creating for the region by granting the tribe federal recognition of sovereignty without forcing consultation with those who now sit in his former local government position. It’s amazing how easily he has forgotten his roots. The man who denied a Japanese developer the opportunity to place a small hotel on the historic Gilroy Hot Springs site years ago is unfathomably comfortable with a blanket pass that could mean hundreds of homes.
Fast-pass recognition would allow the tribe – or at least portions of it – to bypass the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and develop the bucolic 6,000-acre Sargent Ranch south of Gilroy, which it claims as its ancestral land, in any way it sees fit.
None of it seems to bother Mike Honda. Too bad. It should.
