SACRAMENTO, CA –The Winnemem Wintu Tribe came one step closer to righting years of historic wrongs today when the California State Senate passed Assemblymember Huffman’s AJR 39, which urges the federal government to restore federal recognition status to the Winnemem Wintu Tribe.

“California has sent a clear message today: our state stands in solidarity with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe to correct a terrible injustice by the federal government,” said Assemblymember Huffman. “It’s now time for the federal government to acknowledge its mistake and once again recognize the tribe.”

Sometime in the early 1980’s, without official notification, the Winnemem learned that they were no longer formally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). For years, the Winnemem had received benefits from the federal government, such as housing and educational assistance.  They abruptly stopped receiving benefits, ending access to local healthcare, housing assistance, and cutting families off from scholarships they had only years before used to pursue college degrees. To this day, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has failed to provide an adequate explanation for what happened.

“This resolution is long-overdue. For years, we have struggled to maintain our traditions on our own,” explained Caleen Sisk-Franco, leader of the Winnemem. “Recognition would enable us to maintain our spiritual lifeways and get our youth scholarships and healthcare. To have the State of California declare their support for us sends a message that we are no longer alone on this issue.”

The Winnemem are a traditional, non-gaming tribe from Northern California.  They have been unable to get a clear answer as to why the federal government stopped recognizing the tribe, and the resolution will aid the tribe in rectifying the historic injustice. “We will be taking this resolution to Washington D.C. We hope it will be impetus for our congressional representatives to help us,” said Mark Franco, headman of the Winnemem. “Recognition impacts our very survival as a people. California is in danger of loosing a part of its cultural heritage if we do not act on this now.”