Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria

Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester Rancheria

In front of a Long House
Total population
(500+ actively enrolled Members, Estimated at 873)
Regions with significant populations
Manchester-Point Arena, Northern California, United States.
Languages
English, Central Pomo languages (Hokan phylum)
Related ethnic groups
Pomo tribes

The Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester Rancheria, formerly named the 'Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria, is a federally recognized tribe of Pomo Indians in California. The tribe is a community of Pomo Native Americans who are native to Northern California. The aboriginal Bokeya society transformed into the contemporary Manchester Band of Pomo with the approval of their Constitution and By-Laws in 1936.

Jaime Cobarubba (Chairman)
Tel: (707)467-5303
Fax: (707)467-5308
PO Box 623
Point Arena
CA 95468-0623

The tribe's reservation is split onto Manchester and Point Arena Lands. The coordinates for Manchester Point Arena Community: 38°56'11.4"N 123°40'58.5"W

The Bokeya was the largest Pomo tribelet in terms of territorial area. Once there was a bridge connecting these tribes closer than they are now. Point Arena in Mendocino County, California. Now, the size of the rancheria is 364 acres (1.47 km²).

The Bokeya residential unit was headed by kin-group chief, and the position was passed via lineage. Ceremonial chiefs had more authority than the kin-group chiefs. In the aftermath of Bokeya congregation during the Rancheria period (1900-1935), there weren't fixed leaders. However, toward the end of this period, a system of voting was introduced for the selection of leaders. The Bokeya voted to accept the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act (IRA). The Bokeya framed a Constitution and By-Laws and a Coroprate Charter, which was approved in 1936. They formed a Community Council to assume the official roles, and also formed a Business Committee to operate the ranch as a chartered corporation. The officers are elected once a year via democratic process.

They are one of the few Native American bands who have a written Constitution that is available for the public. After the ratification of Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) in 1934, the Bokeya framed the Constitution and By-Laws. This document provided them jurisdiction over rancheria land as it was written to establish a legal rancheria organization and secure certain privileges and powers offered to the Indians by the IRA. The document has five articles:

For a proposal to be ratified, it requires a majority vote of the adult Indians living on the Rancheria at an election in which at least 30 percent of the eligible voters vote.