The Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians never submitted a lease for a controversial military training center to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Former chairwoman Francine Kupsch signed the lease with operators of the Eagle Rock Training Center in March 2010. The part where the full tribal council's approval was to be placed was left blank, the paper said.

A few months later, Kupsch extended the seven-year lease to run through 2035. But the document was never sent to the BIA for approval, an issue that could affect a lawsuit that Eagle Rock filed in federal court against the tribe.

Eagle Rock contends the tribe waived its sovereign immunity in the lease. But current chairman Shane Chapparosa and an attorney for the tribe say the document is invalid.

The tribe wants to evict Eagle Rock, which was established by a former Blackwater Worldwide executive. Proceedings are on hold pending resolution of the federal court lawsuit but the tribe has asked the Intertribal Court of Southern California to take action.

Tribal members became upset with Eagle Rock when gunfire from training exercises led to two small fires on the reservation in May. Then a large fire broke out in July and burned more than 14,000 acres.

Two young tribal members have been charged in connection with the blaze. In the lawsuit, Eagle Rock blames tribal leaders for the fire.

Get the Story:
Tribe wants training center off reservation (The San Diego Union-Tribune 10/11)
Military training firm sues Los Coyotes tribe over lease (The North County Times 10/10)

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