Please Contact Obama's Transition Team

Pasted below is a letter addressed to members of President-elect Obama's Transition Team. A member of the Obama Transition Team or an Advisor on Indian Issues is scheduled to attend The Tribal Sovereignty & Self -governance in the New Era Conference at the Pechanga Resort and Casino on January 23rd and 24th.

Please review and consider submitting this request or one of your own.
Please use the following email address Keith.Harper@ptt.gov
Also submit by cutting and pasting the body of the letter at the following: http://change.gov/page/content/contact/ Please be sure to include your contact information. Feel free to forward me notice of submission via email.

In addition, an event is being scheduled to coincide with the Administration representative and Senator Inouye's visit to Pechanga. Please watch for the Event Advisory.
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January 9, 2009

President-elect Barrack Obama
Presidential Transition Team Members
Keith Harper Keith.Harper@ptt.gov
Wizi Garriott
John Echohawk

Request to meet regarding tribal governance issues

Dear Presidential Transition Team members:

I am excited to hear that an Advisor on Indian Issues to President-Elect Obama will be attending the Tribal Sovereignty and Self-governance Conference in Southern California on January 23rd and 24th. Unfortunately, I am unable to afford the steep conference admission cost, and I will not be able to hear you speak regarding the Administration’s priorities for Indian Country

Nevertheless, I, and others like myself, hope that the visiting Advisor or Administration Representative can make time to meet with us during his/her trip to discuss issues related to tribal governance, sovereignty, and rights violations in Indian Country.

Specifically, we would like to discuss the growing problem of bad governance practices by tribal officials which, to date, have victimized thousands of individuals. The bad governance practices are often characterized by violations of law which strip or deny individuals and targeted groups of the basic rights and privileges enumerated and guaranteed by tribal, state, and/or federal statutes. In most instances, the victims of these bad governance practices are denied recourse against the tribal official perpetrators due to the fact that the officials invoke tribal sovereignty to escape prosecution.

Too many people have suffered too long, and it is now time for a change in the manner in which the human and civil rights of individual Indians are enforced and protected from infringement. We believe that there are steps that the Administration can take to protect and preserve the basic rights of all individuals, and we believe that such Administrative action should be a priority.

Please accept this letter as an invitation to meet in the Temecula area during your visit and attendance at the Conference. I look forward to your response, and I hope we can meet to discuss the important issues referenced above.

Respectfully submitted:

Candlelight Vigil Planned for AIRI Forum at Pechanga

American Indian Resources Institute Holds Forum at Civil Rights Violators Resort.

I HEARD there is a protest planned? A vigil for civil rights? HUNTER FAMILY, we need support

The American Indian Resources Institute is hosting a two-day forum to address sovereignty and self-governance issues under the new administration of president-elect Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled 111th Congress.Tribal Sovereignty and Self-Governance in a New Era: Forging Fair and Equitable Governance in a Time of Change takes place January 23-24 on the Pechanga Reservation in California.Sessions are geared to the challenges and opportunities tribes will face with a new leader in the White HouseSen.

Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), who will serve as chairman of the Barack Obama administration is expected to attend.