Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester Rancheria facts for kids
In front of a Long House
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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 500+ actively enrolled Members, Estimated at 873 |
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| Regions with significant populations | |
| Manchester-Point Arena, Northern California, United States. | |
| Languages | |
| English, Central Pomo languages (Hokan phylum) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Pomo tribes |
The Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester Rancheria, formerly named the 'Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria, is a federally recognized tribe of Pomo Indians in California. The tribe is a community of Pomo Native Americans who are native to Northern California. The aboriginal Bokeya society transformed into the contemporary Manchester Band of Pomo with the approval of their Constitution and By-Laws in 1936.
Contents
The Rancheria
Contact Information
Jaime Cobarubba (Chairman)
Tel: (707) 882-2788
Fax: (707) 882-3417
PO Box 623
Point Arena
CA 95468-0623
The tribe's reservation is split onto Manchester and Point Arena Lands. The coordinates for Manchester Point Arena Community: 38°56'11.4"N 123°40'58.5"W
The Bokeya was the largest Pomo tribelet in terms of territorial area. Once there was a bridge connecting these tribes closer than they are now. Point Arena in Mendocino County, California. Now, the size of the rancheria is 364 acres (1.47 km2).
Constitution
They are one of the few Native American bands who have a written Constitution that is available for the public. After the ratification of Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) in 1934, the Bokeya framed the Constitution and By-Laws. This document provided them jurisdiction over rancheria land as it was written to establish a legal rancheria organization and secure certain privileges and powers offered to the Indians by the IRA. The document has five articles:
- ARTICLE I—TERRITORY: Jurisdiction of Manchester Band of Pomo Indians extend to the territory within the confines of the Manchester Rancheria, and lands added.
- ARTICLE II—MEMBERSHIP: Section 1: All persons of Indian blood whose names appear on the official census rolls of the band as of April 1, 1935, and all children born to any member of the band who is a resident of the Rancheria at the time of the birth of said children. Section 2: The community council shall have the power to promulgate ordinances, subject to review by the Secretary of the Interior, covering future membership and the adoption of new members.
- ARTICLE III—GOVERNING BODY: Section 1: The governing body of the Manchester Band of Pomo Indians shall be the community council which shall be composed of all qualified voters of the band. A majority of the eligible voters shall constitute a quorum. Section 2: All enrolled members of the Manchester Band of Pomo Indians who are 21 years of age or over, and who have maintained legal residence on the Rancheria for a period of 1 year immediately prior to any election, are qualified voters at such election. Such residence, however, shall not be required as a qualification for voting upon amendments to the constitution and attached bylaws. Section 3: The Community Council shall elect from its own members, by secret ballot, (a) chairman; (b) vice chairman; (c) secretary; (d) treasurer; (e) and such other officers and committees as may be deemed necessary. Section 4: The community council shall meet on the first Monday of January and July. The officers elected at this meeting shall serve until the July meeting at which time their successors shall be chosen. Thereafter, officials shall be chosen at the July meeting. Section 5: The chairman, or 25 percent of the qualified voters, may, by written notice, call special meetings of the community council. Section 6: The business committee shall consist of the chairman, secretary, and treasurer of the community council, and shall perform such duties as may be authorized by that council.
- ARTICLE IV—POWERS OF THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Section 1: Enumerated powers—The community council of the Manchester Band of Pomo Indians shall exercise the following powers, subject to any limitations imposed by the statutes or the Constitution of the United States: To negotiate with the Federal, State, and local governments; to employ legal counsel; to veto any sale, disposition, lease, or encumbrance of tribal lands, interests in lands, or other tribal assets of the band; to advise Secretary of the interior with regard to all appropriation estimates or Federal projects for the benefit of the Manchester Rancheraia; to manage all economic affairs and enterprises of the Manchester Band of Pomo Indians; to promulgate and enforce ordinances; to charter subordinate organizations for economic purposes and to delegate to such organizations any of the foregoing powers, reserving the right to review any action taken by virtue of such delegated power; to adopt resolutions not inconsistent with this constitution and the attached bylaws. Section 2: Future powers.—The community council may exercise such further powers as may in the future be delegated to the council by members of the band. Section 3: Reserved powers.—Any rights and powers heretofore vested in the Manchester Band of Pomo Indians, but not expressly referred to in this constitution shall not be abridged by this article, but may be exercised by the people of the Manchester Band of Pomo Indians through the adoption of appropriate bylaws and constitutional amendments. Section 4: Manner of review.—Any resolution or ordinance which by the terms of this constitution, is subject to review by the Secretary of the Interior, shall be presented to the superintendent in charge of the rancheria, who shall, within 10 days thereafter, approve or disapprove the same.
- ARTICLE V—AMENDMENTS: Section 1: This constitution and bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the qualified voters of the band voting at an election called for that purpose. Section 2: At any regular or special community council meeting, amendments to this constitution and bylaws may be proposed.
Language
The Central Pomo are culturally identified as a Pomo dialect group. The language is under Hokan family. In pre-contact times, the Pomoan languages together probably had around 8000 speakers (Kroeber 1925). Today, there are several speakers of Central Pomo (Golla 2011).
Economy, Culture & Religion
Since they are part of larger Pomo band, their cultures and traditions are similar to that of the larger band they are part of. Each kin-group of the aboriginal Bokeya had a men's assembly house where "ghost ceremonies" were performed. These ceremonies were associated with their "secret society" and the intent was social integration. Professions such as hunting, fishing, and healing were considered prestigious. Shamans were responsible for driving away individual sickness, and sickness of the community as a whole. They were self-sufficient from the resources from the ocean, rivers, and the forests. They strongly followed a protocol of utilizing the resources, and were sensitive to external people using their resources. They did not completely oppose the idea of sharing resources, but they were strict about following a proper protocol. They had a proper system of exchange and trade. When they had superabundance, feasts were organized among the trade allies. They heavily believed in the "dreamers" and their dreams that decided religion and ceremonies. The ceremonies were conducted in the dance house. The dream songs were used to suck illness out of the individuals and the society.
Post-contact, Bokeya earned living by partially following traditional methods, and partially by participation in the settlers' way of living. They cultivated lands, grew crops to sell, charged fees on people going to rancheria to fish, and also by working in the logging industries and road work. Post IRA, they obtained a loan of $5000 to start ranch. Due to internal and external conflicts, the ranch failed and was unable to pay the workers. After the failure of the ranch, they returned to their rancheria status. However, they still practiced certain "ceremonial festivities and curing practices".
In the contemporary world, they participate in Pow Wow Singing and Pow Wow Dances. As a part of keeping the Native American culture and traditions alive, various tribes gather in the Pow Wows. They sing songs and perform dances. Since they have different languages, they do not use words, but use "vocables" so that everyone can understand the song and its special meaning. Dances are a significant part of their tradition. The collection of songs and dances that they perform today might not be as vast as in the past, and they might have been modified, but the intent remains the same.
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Corporate Charter
