Second Federal Agency Withholds Grant Funding for Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians After Nancy Ayala Misrepresents Meaning of BIA's Letters

FRESNO, Calif., Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) stated in a letter dated August 22 that it is revoking the access of Nancy Ayala and members of her faction from all grant funding for the Chukchansi Indian Housing Authority. The letters states that HUD took the action after Nancy Ayala misrepresented a letter from Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Superintendent Troy Burdick clarifying the results of the December 2012 election and claimed that the letter recognized her as the current Tribal Chair of the Chukchansi Tribe.

The decision by HUD is the second federal agency to revoke the Ayala Faction from a tribal funding source after the EPA earlier in August took similar action when it discovered that the Ayala Faction falsely represented the meaning of a BIA letter dated May 16, 2013.  HUD will not take any action until the U.S. Department of the Interior makes a decision regarding the leadership of the Chukchansi Tribe.

"This is the second federal agency this month that recognized Nancy Ayala misrepresented that she was Tribal Chair when she cropped a portion of a letter from the BIA," said Reggie Lewis, Chairman of Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians. "Actions like this are a sign of desperation by someone who knows that the facts and laws do not support her."

Chairman Lewis added, "We will make sure that the BIA fully understands the extent of Ayala's misrepresentations and gross violations of tribal, state and federal law as we abide by the legal process in place for disputes of this nature. All Tribal members are suffering from the consequences of Ayala's selfish acts."

SOURCE Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians