vcnaa, Formerly, The Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs , Vermonters Concerned on Native American Affairs, - Updated Regularly

Tribe recognition sparks controversy

Written by Administrator
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Tribe recognition sparks controversy Former members question decision By CHRIS GRAHAM/ This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it Jun 27, 2010 Former Indian Affairs commissioners have condemned the recent recognition of six tribes, including one in Lawrence County, calling the groups’ new state status “illegitimate” and a “gross violation” of state policy. In a June 25 e-mail denouncing the tribes acknowledged by the Commission of Indian Affairs, 10 former Indian Affairs commissioners requested the Tennessee Attorney General and Secretary of State conduct a complete review of decision. Six tribes — Remnant Yuchi Nation, United Eastern Lenape Nation, Chikamaka Band, Central Band of Cherokee, the Cherokee Wolf Clan and Tanasi Council — were all granted state recognition by the Commission of Indian Affairs June 19. State recognition gives each tribe legal minority status and allows the groups to apply for grants, insurance and healthcare coverage. The former commissioners alleged the board has an “egregious conflict of interest” with four of the current commissioners being members of the tribes, two of whom — Alice Henry and James Meeks — are chief of their respective tribes. “Such illegitimate tribal recognition is an intentional fraud perpetrated on Cherokee, Lenape and Yuchi people to steal their political identities,” the e-mail reads. Henry Saturday defended the board’s vote, saying that for years the commission was run by many tribal leaders from outside the state. “They’re definitely against the recognition of who is here,” she said. “We finally did what we’ve been mandated to do.” Henry, who is chief of the Tanasi Council, said recognizing tribes is not necessarily about obtaining services but about what is fair. “We’re handicapped when we don’t have any voices,” she said. Joe Sitting Owl White, chief of the Central Band of Cherokee in Lawrence County, said his clan has been working since 1999 to get tribal status since its elders voted to come out of hiding. He said his group, which is composed of about 1,000 members spread over several counties, had been hiding from the U.S. government ever since the Trail of Tears in 1831, when thousands of Native Americans were forced on to reservations in Oklahoma. The chief said members claimed to be black Dutch and black Irish until recently to avoid resettlement. “They gave us permission to go public because they thought discrimination was over with,” White said. “It’s shameful that we have to suffer what we’ve gone through.” White said he wasn’t surprised by the challenge from the former commissioners, saying they continually refused to recognize the Lawrence County-based tribe for several years even though he claims the tribe met all the criteria required by the state. According to the state’s website, a tribe wishing to be recognized must be indigineous to Tennessee, inhabit a particular geographic area in Tennessee, have maintained tribal political influence and have a documented history of the tribe, among other things. “They broke the law,” White said of the previous commissions. “It was a waste of everybody’s time and money, and it’s shameful the state let them break their mandate.” White said having tribes recognized in Tennessee will generate millions of dollars in tourism revenue. He said about 100,000 people have visited the tribe’s museum in Lawrenceburg and more are sure to come in the future. “Because we’re Indians, we’re used to this,” he said of the condemnation. “This is just common.” Messages left with a spokesperson for the former commissioners was not immediately returned Saturday. http://www.c-dh.net/articles/2010/06/27/top_stories/01tribe.txt

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]