Susanville Indian Rancheria
Maidu, Paiute, Pit River & Washoe Tribes
The Susanville Indian Rancheria, composed of the Mountain Maidu, Northern Paiute, Pit River, and Washoe Tribes, was established as a federally recognized Tribe in Susanville, California, in 1969. There are approximately 1,500 enrolled Tribal Members, and Tribal Lands extend across 1,689 acres in Lassen and Plumas counties.
History of the Susanville Indian Rancheria
The tribe elected to charter under authority of the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) of 1934 and thus the initial Rancheria Constitution and Bylaws were approved by the Secretary of the Interior on March 3, 1969. The anthropological tribes associated with the Susanville Indian Rancheria are: Maidu, Paiute, Pit River, and Washoe. The Federal Government, however, through the Department of the Interior recognizes political entities and not the anthropological entities. The Susanville Indian Rancheria, although it is made up of various tribes, is recognized as a distinct (political) entity from the other tribes who make up the Susanville membership. There is no dual membership allowed in the Constitution.
The governing body of the Susanville Indian Rancheria is the General Council, which is composed of all tribal members who are at least eighteen years old. The General Council has delegated the responsibility of running the day-to-day business of the Rancheria to the Tribal Business Council, which is a seven-member board. The members are elected by the General Council members every three years. The officers of the Tribal Business Council are: Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer.
Tribal Business Council
The Tribal Business Council is the elected governing body of the Susanville Indian Rancheria. The members of the council are responsible for creating and enforcing tribal laws, managing resources and overseeing economic development. The Tribal Business Council represents SIR in negotiations with federal, state, and local governments and ensures the protection of tribal assets and the economic independence of the tribes. The Tribal Business Council is composed of 7 members elected by a secret ballot which include a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary/Treasurer and four council members (1 from District 1, 1 from District 2, and 2 at-large, with one representative from any tribal trust property and one representative from Lassen County.
Arian Hart
Chairman
Christi Choo
Secretary/Treasurer
Aaron Brazzanovich Jr.
District 1 Councilman
Michaela Cabrera
District 2 Councilwoman
Robert Joseph
Vice-Chairman
Mary Joseph
Member At Large
(Lassen County)
Kurt Merino
Member At Large
(Trust Land)
Timeline of Tribal Land Acquisition
The current total land base of the Susanville Indian Rancheria is approximately 1,401.74 acres in trust and 287.62 acres in fee status.
Original 30 Acres of the Rancheria
August 15, 1923
The original 30 acres of the Rancheria were purchased on 15 August 1923 under the Landless and Homeless Act, through which the US Congress provided funding to purchase land for landless and homeless California Indians.
1923
Conveyance of the old Indian Cemetery
June 6, 1975
On June 6, 1975, Clifton C. Cramer and Betty G. Cramer performed a Quit Claim conveyance of the old Indian Cemetery consisting of 0.53 acres to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to hold into trust for the Susanville Indian Rancheria. The Bureau of Indian Affairs accepted this conveyance on December 7, 1981.
1975
An Additional 120 Acres
October 14, 1978
An additional 120 acres was added to the Rancheria on October 14, 1978, under the special legislation of Public Law 95-459 which was sponsored by the honorable Congressman Bizz Johnson.
1978
Another 80 Acres Donated
1994
Another 80 acres was donated to the Rancheria in 1994 that has not been put in to Federal Trust status.
1994
An Additional 72 Acres Acquired
November 6, 2000
An additional 72 acres located at the Sierra Army Depot based in Herlong, CA, was acquired from the U.S. Department of the Army under the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) and added to the Rancheria on November 6, 2000.
2000
SIR Housing Authority Purchased 3.21 Acres
December 30, 2000
The Susanville Indian Rancheria Housing Authority purchased 3.21 acres on December 30, 2000, transferred that land to the tribe, and the land was accepted into trust status on January 5, 2004.
2000
Tribe Purchased Additional 875 Acres Adjacent to Upper Rancheria
March 29, 2002
On March 29, 2002, the tribe purchased an additional 875 acres adjacent to the Upper Rancheria utilizing proceeds from the casino loan from the Marshall Group and this land was accepted into trust status on December 8, 2004.
2002
Tribe Purchased 160 Acres Close to Antelope Lake
September 30, 2003
On September 30, 2003, the tribe purchased 160 acres located close to Antelope Lake – The Cradle Valley Ranch.
2003
SIRCO Signed a Grant Deed Transferring 10.45 acres of the Guitierez Property
January 28, 2016
On January 28, 2016, the Susanville Indian Rancheria Corporation (SIRCO) signed a Grant Deed transferring 10.45 acres of the Guitierez property that are adjacent to west side of Paul Bunyan Road to the tribe at no cost.
2016
301 Acres of Federal Land from Bureau of Land Management Transferred
May 1, 2015
Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-1) introduced H.R. 2212 on May 1, 2015, seeking to transfer 301 acres of Federal Land that the Bureau of Land Management had identified as excess property to the tribe. On June 22, 2016, President Obama signed Public Law 114-181 that transferred these lands into trust for the benefit of the Susanville Indian Rancheria.
2015
Additional 37.17 Acres Purchased
September 12, 2016
On September 12, 2016, after the passage of a ballot measure approving the purchase of the Guitierez property to the east side of Paul Bunyan Road, the Susanville Indian Rancheria purchased five parcels of land totaling 37.17 acres. This additional land brings the total land base of the tribe to 1,401.74 acres in trust status and 287.62 acres in fee status.
2016