Bloodlines Issue Divides Tribe: The San Pasqual Indians’ definition of membership excludes many on reservation from its benefits, such as disaster relief.
by Joel Rubin
SAN PASQUAL INDIAN RESERVATION, Calif. When wildfires tore through here last month, 94-year-old Frances Jones escaped minutes before flames engulfed her home. Within days, San Pasqual’s tribal council had cut her a check to help pay for food and clothing.
Jones’ neighbors, Lorraine and Natalia Orosco, lost their childhood home and two trailer-houses. But when they asked tribal officials for help, they were told they didn’t qualify for the aid Jones received. The reason: Even though their late father was a tribal member and the young women were reared on the reservation, they do not officially belong to the tribe.
The sisters are among the reservation’s scores of “lineals” descendants of tribal members who do not qualify for membership because they do not have enough San Pasqual blood.
My Late Father, Robert Raymond Orosco, was also a member, but my sister Selena and I have been wondering if we qualify. Could you suggest who I can contact to find out??
Thank you
April Orosco Oliver
10/28/2004 4:50:48 PM