VALLEY CENTER – The San Pasqual Indian band held an election for its governing business committee Sunday, but barred about 50 members whose ancestry is challenged, throwing the results into question, a federal official said Tuesday.

The 300-member tribe has told about one-sixth of its members that they are not Indians and can't take part in tribal government or share in the profits of the tribally owned Valley View Casino.

Officials with the Bureau of Indian Affairs have ruled that the members were improperly excluded from the tribe, a decision now being appealed to superiors in Washington, D.C.

“We still consider them members,” said William Fletcher, Southern California superintendent for the Bureau of Indian affairs.

Fletcher said he has not formally received the election results, but will evaluate them along with any complaints from those who say they were unfairly prevented from voting.

The San Pasqual split led Fletcher to determine that the tribe has had no recognized government since August.

He said that without a recognized government, the tribe does not have the ability to operate businesses, including its casino. The National Indian Gaming Commission, which regulates tribal casinos, has not acted on his recommendation.

Onell Soto: (619) 293-1280; onell.soto@uniontrib.com