For tribal members that had so much to gain by simply joining hands, even acknowledging one another's existence has often proved too onerous for leaders of the Juaneno band of Mission Indians.
Efforts by tribal leaders to offer an olive branch to one another failed as recently as August and may have jeopardized the Juanenos' chances to gain federal recognition as a tribe and, ultimately, the opportunity to build a casino.
Letters, phone calls and meetings over a dozen years have failed to unite the roughly 3,000 Juanenos. Instead, one petition to the Bureau of Indian Affairs seeking recognition was followed by a second, and then a third, while a fourth faction emerged in protest.
With casino fortunes in play and one gambling-related contract already signed, the stakes are high. This year, one tribal leader signed a contract with a Texas lobbying firm to help gain recognition. In exchange, the firm would get 6% of the Juanenos' revenues from gambling for five years.
"We have the opportunity of a lifetime to be the strongest tribe in California, but all this silly infighting is killing us," said Joe Ocampo, the 82-year-old leader of the Juanenos' newest faction. "We all talk the talk about unification, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty and pulling together, we can't do it."
Rep. John Campbell (R-Irvine), who is opposed to Indian gambling in Orange County, said he was unsure what to call the various groups based mostly in San Juan Capistrano.
"The tribes, and I am hesitant to call them tribes since they like have four factions, have failed with their petitions," he said.
The BIA informed Juaneno leaders last week that their 25-year quest for recognition was coming up well short. Carl J. Artman, assistant secretary for Indian Affairs, said the tribe had failed to meet four of seven criteria required for federal acknowledgment.
The tribe has 180 days to overcome its faults and another 60 days to respond to public comments.
"These findings are nothing we should be doing somersaults over," Ocampo said. "It means we should roll up our sleeves and get to work."
Ocampo said Artman told him the tribe's "lack of cohesiveness" contributed to the petitions' failure. "I guess we've got too many chiefs and no Indians," Ocampo said.
