Margaret Dalton, the late former chairwoman of the Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California, "pulled a fast one" on the federal government in the 1960s, The Sacramento Bee reports.

Federal policy at the time was termination. Dalton agreed in order to get services on the reservation, a tribal executive said.

"Margaret discovered that if you elected for termination, the government was obligated to bring in power and put in roads. So she told the government she'd go along with termination," tribal chief executive officer Rich Hoffman told the paper. "They finally came and put power and paved roads in for the first time, and then Margaret told them, 'I've changed my mind.' She pulled a fast one on them."

Dalton led the tribe for 30 years. She opened one of the first Indian bingo halls in the state and is credited with the successful launch of the Jackson Rancheria Casino.

Dalton died on Sunday at the age of 69. The tribe will close the casino on Saturday in her honor.

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Indian casino pioneer Margaret Dalton of Jackson Rancheria dies at 69 (The Sacramento Bee 5/28)

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