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TRIBAL HISTORY

TRIBAL EVENTS

 

 

Tribal Government

TRIBAL COUNCIL


Tribal Council

The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians is led by a Tribal Council. Members of the Tribal Council, as well as members of its committees, contribute a significant amount of their personal time and energy to look after the well being of theBuena Vista Rancheria and the activities of the Tribe.

Rhonda Morningstar Pope

Rhonda Morningstar Pope
Tribal Chairperson

 

Tribal Staff

Dr. Roselynn Lwenya

Dr. Roselynn Lwenya
Environmental Resources Director

Arnold Samuel, BVR General Counsel

Arnold Samuel
General Counsel

 

Meetings

All tribal members are encouraged to participate in the governing process by attending the monthly Tribal Council meetings.

Elections

The term of office for all Tribal Council positions shall be four (4) years. the Tribal Council elections shall be conducted every four (4) years on the first Saturday of December to fill those Tribal Council positions that have expired. Members of the Tribal Council shall remain in office until their successors are duly elected and installed.

Any enrolled Lineal Member (as defined in the Tribal Constitution) of the Tribe who is twenty-one (21) years or older prior to the date of the election, regardless of residence, shall be eligible to vote, unless there are no Lineal Members who are of such age, in which case, Lineal Members who are eighteen (18) years or older will be eligible to vote.

Jesse Flying Cloud Pope Foundation

Environmental Resources Department

 

 

 
What is a Tribal Council?
 


Tribal councils in the United States and Canada have a somewhat different status. In the United States, the term usually describes the governing body of a tribe that is typically distinct from other tribes as a matter of geography, native language, religion and culture. The tribe, usually comprising a single Reservation (although some tribes have more than one, and many have none) is the basic unit of government. Depending on the state, recognized tribes are considered domestic dependent nations, which gives then sovereign status somewhat comparable to the individual American States. Different tribes may choose governance structures for themselves, but most tribes, using the democratic governments in which a Tribal Council or the equivalent functions as a body and an elected or appointed Chairman has an executive role comparable to a President or Prime Minister. Although not necessarily required by US law to recognize legal principles of democracy, separation of powers, legal precedent, etc., most tribes have found it easier to deal with outside authorities if they do. On a few reservations such as the Hopi Reservation, tribal government exists in parallel with the tribe's more traditional religious and secular government.
   
 
 
CONTACT INFO   
Buena Vista Rancheria
916-491-0011
916-491-0012
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TMS Tribal Member Services
1418 20th Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
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Buena Vista Me-Wuk Indian Tribe
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