March 31, 2009
Women from the Tigua tribe met with female legislators and spoke at a House committee meeting Monday, an effort to assuage concerns over women's role in the tribe as it works to gain state approval for its casino.
The meetings took place after state Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, last week raised concerns over the fact that Tigua women do not vote in tribal elections. In response, state Rep. Norma Chavez, D-El Paso, organized the meeting between Tigua women and female lawmakers in order to clarify the role of women in tribal society.
Bolton, not a big fan of gambling in general, talked to reporters after the closed door meeting this morning:
“It was a fascinating meeting. I learned a lot. I feel very much more informed. They are bright accomplished articulate women who really did an excellent job of conveying their tradition, their place in their tribe, their economy, there culture,” said Bolton. “I think I realize it is a lot more complex than I properly appreciated.”
Edna Sierra, a member of the tribe, said she was happy to share her culture and clarify the role of women within it after the meeting.
“We wanted to share a little bit of our cultural aspects with respect to our tradition and how they play into our political structures … We don’t vote on election night but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a say,” said Sierra, who described how women hold top management positions handling millions of dollars and have a say in the removal of tribal officers.
Bolton seemed impressed.
“In our culture, voting is such a basic human right and so connected to self-determination that it is very hard for a lot of us to think about it differently. But certainly what I heard from these women was that within their culture they have a great deal of self-determination for themselves and for their family,” said Bolton.
One of the lawmakers at the meeting was state Rep. Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen, who is also chair of the committee of Border and Intergovernmental Affairs. Later in the day, tribal member Patricia Riggs gave testimony before Gonzalez’s committee at a public hearing for the proposed constitutional amendment HJR 108, which would put the issue of Tigua gambling to the voters in 2009.
“When outsiders hear that women do not vote (in the manner that other democratic societies vote) unfortunately all they hear is that they did not vote. Nevertheless, I have a voice. I make law and policy, I play a major role in paramount administrative decisions and at the same time participate at traditional pueblo,” said Riggs reading from a prepared statement.
Riggs (whose full remarks are attached below) said that women attended tribal “juntas,” which are a “forum for Pueblo democracy where Tigua women participate.” Junta participation means that women can recommend that certain acts or persons be recalled “due to conflicts or conduct not in keeping with the pueblo’s ways.”
“I do not feel disenfranchised. I am an opinionated, strong, educated leader,” said Riggs.
On women voting in tribal elections, Riggs said that “If and when, because we anticipate that it will take place when the time is right, I will be a leader and participator in that process." But she maintained that it was an internal affair.
"Time may change processes and systems for the Pueblo, but the Pueblo will determine how and when it is best to deal with these changes. That is our sovereign right,” said Riggs.
Riggs also spoke about the closed door meeting between Tigua Women and female lawmakers earlier in the day. Riggs believed that the meeting helped lawmakers to understand how women "actually run things a bit more than people think," to which Border Committee Vice Chair Dan Flynn, R-Canton, replied that the women in his family had always ran things.
Riggs was one of three Tigua tribal members (two male, one female) speaking before the committee. The Tigua tribal members also spoke this morning at a public hearing of the Criminal Jurisprudence subcommittee on Criminal Procedure, where a separate bill, HR 1308, was being discussed.
HB 1308 would also permit the Tiguas to re-open Speaking Rock casino, but by amending the law rather than the constitution. As well as tribal members, County Commissioner Willie Gandara, city Rep. Eddie Holguin and state Rep. Norma Chavez spoke in support of both bills.