The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe is an unrecognized American Indian organization, primarily composed of documented descendants of the Ohlone , an historic Indigenous people of California . The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe is the largest of several groups in the San Francisco Bay Area that identify as Ohlone tribes.
20-639: Almost all members of the organization are documented descendants of the Verona Band of Alameda County , an historic band of Ohlone people. The organization is not recognized as a Native American tribe by the federal government or by the California state government, which does not recognize any state tribes. The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, formerly known as the Ohlone/Costanoan Muwekma Tribe , applied for federal recognition as
40-506: A Native American tribe ; however, in their petition was denied in 2002. The US Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs found a lack of "evidence since 1927 of substantially continuous external identification of the petitioning group as a continuation of the historical ' Verona Band ' or Pleasanton rancheria ." The final determination also stated: "Because the petitioning group was not identified as an Indian entity for
60-532: A May 2024 interview with Vice Presidential candidate Nicole Shanahan Nijmeh describes Ricchiazzi as her "assistant" and that he was entitled to "free speech". Local businesses complained the newspaper included fake ads that used their business names without permission. Ricchiazzi also created a purported news site "The San Francisco Inquirer" which sought to undermine legitimacy claims of several other Ohlone groups. The site included accusations that Association of Ramaytush Ohlone Executive Director Jonathan Cordero
80-530: A May 2024 interview with Vice Presidential candidate Nicole Shanahan Nijmeh describes Ricchiazzi as her "assistant" and that he was entitled to "free speech". Local businesses complained the newspaper included fake ads that used their business names without permission. Ricchiazzi also created a purported news site "The San Francisco Inquirer" which sought to undermine legitimacy claims of several other Ohlone groups. The site included accusations that Association of Ramaytush Ohlone Executive Director Jonathan Cordero
100-587: A lack of "evidence since 1927 of substantially continuous external identification of the petitioning group as a continuation of the historical ' Verona Band ' or Pleasanton rancheria ." The final determination also stated: "Because the petitioning group was not identified as an Indian entity for a period of almost four decades after 1927 … it has not been identified as an Indian entity on a 'substantially continuous' basis since 1927." The final determination also "concluded that 99 percent of its current members have satisfactorily documented their descent from individuals on
120-613: A period of almost four decades after 1927 … it has not been identified as an Indian entity on a 'substantially continuous' basis since 1927." The final determination also "concluded that 99 percent of its current members have satisfactorily documented their descent from individuals on the Verona Band proxy list, or sibling thereof." The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe Inc. was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2018. Charlene Nijmeh, based in Castro Valley, California,
140-568: Is an unrecognized American Indian organization, primarily composed of documented descendants of the Ohlone , an historic Indigenous people of California . The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe is the largest of several groups in the San Francisco Bay Area that identify as Ohlone tribes. Almost all members of the organization are documented descendants of the Verona Band of Alameda County , an historic band of Ohlone people. The organization
160-421: Is not recognized as a Native American tribe by the federal government or by the California state government, which does not recognize any state tribes. The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, formerly known as the Ohlone/Costanoan Muwekma Tribe , applied for federal recognition as a Native American tribe ; however, in their petition was denied in 2002. The US Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs found
180-418: Is the principal officer. Their mission states: "The specific purpose of this corporation is for religious purposes of addressing ancestral [N]ative [A]merican sacred sites." In 2020 and 2022, their administration was: The Peninsula Open Space Trust , Children and Nature Network , and PayPal Giving Fund all provided grants to the nonprofit in 2021 or 2022. Other unrecognized Ohlone organizations such as
200-602: Is “widely seen in Indian Country as a ‘ Pretendian '", while not identifying any source for the statement. Verona Band of Alameda County The Verona Band of Alameda County , also known as the Pleasanton Rancheria , is a historic band of Ohlone people in California. Their descendants are the Muwekma Ohlone , whose ancestors belonged to the Verona Band when it had federal recognition in
220-798: The Association of Ramaytush Ohlone , the Tamien Nation , and the Confederated Villages of Lisjan have accused the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of undermining their historical claims of legitimacy with the goal of controlling potential future Ohlone Indian gaming rights . The resulting confusion has caused difficulties for local cities seeking to perform appropriate land acknowledgements as part of government meetings. In her 2024 run for California's 16th congressional district , Muwekma chairwoman Charlene Nijmeh retained
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#1732802395388240-502: The Ohlone/Costanoan Muwekma Tribe, applied for federal recognition ; however, in their petition was denied in 2002. The US Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs found a lack of "evidence since 1927 of substantially continuous external identification of the petitioning group as a continuation of the historical 'Verona Band' or Pleasanton rancheria." The final determination also stated: "Because
260-543: The Verona Band proxy list, or sibling thereof." The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe Inc. was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2018. Charlene Nijmeh, based in Castro Valley, California, is the principal officer. Their mission states: "The specific purpose of this corporation is for religious purposes of addressing ancestral [N]ative [A]merican sacred sites." In 2020 and 2022, their administration was: The Peninsula Open Space Trust , Children and Nature Network , and PayPal Giving Fund all provided grants to
280-486: The Verona Mansion, his mansion provided this band with its name. In 1906, it was discovered that there were 18 unratified treaties with Indigenous peoples of California . The U.S. federal government decided to try to provide recognition to these groups, including the Verona Band of Alameda County. In 1906, Congress passed a bill to provide funds to purchase land for this band's use. The money appropriated
300-692: The early 20th century. The ancestors of the Verona Band were the various Ohlone peoples from what is now Contra Costa County and Alameda counties in California. Starting in the 1790s they became part of the San Jose Mission in modern Fremont, California . After the missions were secularized in 1835, the Ohlone continued to live in the area. Many of them lived in Sunol and neighboring Pleasanton, California . Some of them were displaced by George Hearst 's building of his mansion at Sunol. Known as
320-618: The nonprofit in 2021 or 2022. Other unrecognized Ohlone organizations such as the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone , the Tamien Nation , and the Confederated Villages of Lisjan have accused the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of undermining their historical claims of legitimacy with the goal of controlling potential future Ohlone Indian gaming rights . The resulting confusion has caused difficulties for local cities seeking to perform appropriate land acknowledgements as part of government meetings. In her 2024 run for California's 16th congressional district , Muwekma chairwoman Charlene Nijmeh retained
340-454: The petitioning group was not identified as an Indian entity for a period of almost four decades after 1927 … it has not been identified as an Indian entity on a 'substantially continuous' basis since 1927." The final determination also "concluded that 99 percent of its current members have satisfactorily documented their descent from individuals on the Verona Band proxy list, or sibling thereof." Muwekma Ohlone The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe
360-500: The services of political consultant Matthew Ricchiazzi who created fake news sites and distributed 60,000 anonymous fake newspapers attacking incumbent House Representative Zoe Lofgren . Per Federal elections law attack campaign materials must include campaign ID numbers or disclosures which these did not. Ricciazzi said he was not working on behalf of the Nijmeh campaign, the papers were merely "an independent hobby project of mine". In
380-447: The services of political consultant Matthew Ricchiazzi who created fake news sites and distributed 60,000 anonymous fake newspapers attacking incumbent House Representative Zoe Lofgren . Per Federal elections law attack campaign materials must include campaign ID numbers or disclosures which these did not. Ricciazzi said he was not working on behalf of the Nijmeh campaign, the papers were merely "an independent hobby project of mine". In
400-530: Was not enough to purchase a suitable tract of land. Lafayette A. Dorrington, the Indian commissioner for the Sacramento Indian Agency in 1928, decided, instead of sending Congress a list of the Verona Band and 133 other California bands that had not yet received land grants, that he would just drop their 134 groups from being federally recognized. The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe , formerly known as
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