Mark Lucero found a kind of salvation in his Native American heritage, but when he tried to rejoin the tribe to which his family belonged, he was denied membership. Later, his entire extended family was kicked out after their ancestral legitimacy was challenged. Lucero represents a growing number of California Indians who, once displaced by the dominant white culture, are now being displaced by other Native Americans, often those who have benefited or seek to benefit from casino wealth.

Additional photos courtesy of Mark Lucero and John Gomez Jr.