-----------
i don't intend to generate fear or alarm but it is important that we
all know what we are striving for here. READ the "RED CLAY" Resolution in its ENTIRETY [below]
CONSTITUTIONAL CHEROKEE
Hosting Cherokee Cultural Events Every weekend in various locations in Near you!
We have Chapters in ....
Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
and other places!
JOIN US!
our elders are saying: It's time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaG02HhmRxY
+++++++
The documents contained here on this BLOGSPOT are from the Handbook of the Constitutional Cherokee The HANDBOOK is the Constitution and By Laws of the CONSTUTIONAL CHEROKEE and it may be distributed freely only among Chapters of the Constitutonal Cherokee and their members and their prospective members only.
The CONSTITUTIONAL CHEROKEE do hold SOLE RIGHTS to this document in part or in entirety.
If you are NOT an enrolled member or prospective member, please request permission before you distribute, copy, reproduce in any method whether in part or in whole.
ENROLL with us, and you are granted the right to these documents.
The following documents contained here on this BLOGSPOT are from the Handbook of the Constitutional Cherokee with the exception of the RED CLAY RESOLUTION OF 2008 [which has been freely published on many other sites and in newspapers across the land], and with other small noted quotations, attributed images and other noted sections provided for information and clarification.
The HANDBOOK is the Constitution and By Laws of the CONSTUTIONAL CHEROKEE and it may be distributed freely only among Chapters of the Constitutonal Cherokee and their members and their prospective members only.
The CONSTITUTIONAL CHEROKEE do hold SOLE RIGHTS to this document in part or in entirety.
If you are NOT an enrolled member or prospective member, please request permission before you distribute, copy, reproduce in any method whether in part or in whole. ENROLL with us, and you are granted the right to these documents.
===
All rights reserved. No material may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the CONSTITUTIONAL CHEROKEE except as by its enrolled members.
EDITOR has made every effort to insure the accuracy of its information. The information provided is "as is" with all faults and without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. In no event shall the CONSTITUTIONAL CHEROKEE be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, lost profits, or any indirect damages even if the CONSTITUTIONAL CHEROKEE has been informed of the possibility thereof.
DO NOT STEAL!
THOU SHALT NOT STEAL
ᎤᏃᏍᎩᏛᏃ ᎨᏒ ᏞᏍᏗ ᎿᏉ ᏳᏃᏍᎩᏎᏍᏗ
u-no-s-gi-dv-no ge-sv tle-s-di hna-quo yu-no-s-gi-se-s-di
The Handbook contains the Constitution and Bylaws as well as membership requirements.
THE DANGER OF BEING SILENCED FOREVER IS VERY REAL.
but this time-- the danger is not from the US GOVERNMENT.
THIS TIME-- the danger to us comes from our own relatives-- from our own CHEREOKEE brothers and sisters!
YOU are in DANGER! OF forever being PREVENTED from talking about YOUR Cherokee Ancestors!
-----------
i don't intend to generate fear or alarm but it is important that we
all know what we are striving for here.
What will happen when the Nancy Ward Association members can no longer
speak of having an ancestor who was cherokee?
--will we forever be silenced?---
Who will speak up for us when NO ONE who has a cherokee ancestor-but
is not federally enrolled-- can declare that?
==============
we are working to gather as many folks of documented descendancy so
our voice will have credibility when we do propose this to anyone who
will listen... so we want to find the descendants of the Cherokees who
are not federally enrolled but who know who they are... to do that, we
may need to help some folks find those documents... so when we go,
they will know that we are legit!
=====++++=====
DID you know? ???
The CNO and the EBCI passed a resolution on April 2008 at RED CLAY TN
calling for the direct and involved OPPOSITION to any one claiming
Cherokee HERITAGE or ANCESTORS- except in the case of federal
enrollment?
=====++++=====
That means FEDERAL enrollment.
so......
If you are not federally enrolled, they state they do not want you to
be able to claim that an ancestor of yours was cherokee even if that
ancestor is well documented.
---think about that----
In other words-- not only do they oppose groups and state
organizations-- they also do NOT wish anyone who is not federally
enrolled to be able to state their ancestor was cherokee-- so even if
it is true, it is their intention to make it so that we wuld not even
be able to say that we have a Cherokee Ancestor.
NOT EVEN FAMOUS ONES!
is this a move to silence all the cherokee descendants who have low
blood quantums or who are not on the "right" rolls? that is why we are banding together-- all of us who actually do have a
Cherokee Ancestor-- to remind everyone that we are still here.
we are doing this for our children and for future generations. we are
doing this so the descendants of great people like Nancy Ward, Chief
Ross, Chief Lowrey, the signers of the Old Settlers Rolls, and many
many others will always be able to proudly say they have a Cherokee
ancestor.
Your help in this effort is appreciated.
please, speak up now while we still can speak.
==========
here is the
proof--- HERE IS THE THREAT! [see below] but we have a [hopefully] solution!
so join us in SPEAKING UP AGAINST THE RED CLAY RESOLUTION OF APRIL, 2008!
================
This is an emotionally charged issue for both sides.
we do not seek to stand against any cherokee nation or group.
we are instead seeking to stand together and be recognized as family
for that is what we truly are... family.
Some have spoken as to the "intent" of the resolution.
The intention of this resolution may well be questioned,
However, the words are clear enough.
Those are what we must focus on.
So we don't wish to debate what might be the original intention of
this resolution.
We merely wish to speak to what the words of this resolution are
establishing as precedent. Neither do we wish to seek to ascertain the intention of it,
but we do wish to forestall any interpretation of it that might result
in an unfavorable treatment of our own status.
there fore we are making no attempt to discuss the past hurts of our
people, on either side of the federal recognition issue,
nor are we wanting to discuss how this current resolution has reopened
those wounds and have deepened the feelings of disenfranchisement that
many documented descendants of Cherokee Ancestors now feel as a result
of this Red Clay joint resolution. that being said, we would like to submit an amendment to be added to
that resolution so that clarity of intention can be insured, so that
those who feel disenfranchised by its current wording can find
assurance in the addition of these words, and so that the purpose of
the resolution be more readily apparent.
==========
HERE IT IS! THE DANGEROUS RESOLUTION OF APRIL 2008 AT RED CLAY--
it is LONG but you NEED to read it all!
=========
BEGIN RED CLAY RESOLUTION
JOINT COUNCIL OF THE CHEROKEE NATION AND THE EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
Resolution 1# 00-08
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING FABRICATED CHEROKEE "TRIBES" AND "INDIAN'S"
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians since time immemorial have exercised the sovereign rights of self- government on behalf of the Cherokee people; and
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are federally recognized Indian Nations with a historic and continual
government to government relationship with the United States of
America; and
WHEREAS, the Joint Council unites the Legislative Branches of
government of the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians, representing approximately 294,000 Cherokee people throughout
the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, the two Cherokee Tribal governments share a common history
prior to forced removal in 1838, and then separate histories to the
present, yet our common language, culture, and traditions have made
the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians distinct
and unique Native people from other Indian Tribes and other people, as
was declared by the Joint Council in Resolution No. 3-92, adopted on
Augusl II, 1992 in Cherokee, North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation has been aware of a growing number of non-
Indian groups claiming to be Cherokee tribes or bands and that these
groups have been organizing and attempting to gain federal recognition, this problem being acknowledged by the Joint Council in
Resolution No. 008, adopted on October 3, 1988 in Cherokee, North
Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the Department of the Interior through the Bureau of Indian
Affairs' Branch of Acknowledgment and Research maintains the
responsibility for addressing specific applications for federal
recognition and The Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians fully support the federal recognition process; and
WHEREAS, the history of the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians is well documented and no other tribes or bands of
Cherokee Indians exist aside from those already federally recognized,
which includes the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in
Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Cherokee Nation
in Joint Council assembled in Resolution No. 4-96, adopted on October
4, 1996 have previously expressed opposition to the "state
recognition" process by the State of Georgia or other states in the
United States who may seek to recognize a group of 'Cherokee' that do
not already have federal recognition;
WHEREAS, public funding by pseudo-Cherokee Tribes is of epidemic
proportions and often involves membership fees; misleading
presentations to school children and interference in a multitude of
government functions including child welfare cases; and
WHEREAS, the sovereignty and reputation of the Cherokee Nation and the
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, as well as members the general
public continue to be in jeopardy due to the acts of individuals who
organize and administer fabricated Cherokee tribes; and
WHEREAS, untold millions of federal dollars that are appropriated for
the benefit of tribal people are being diverted from their intended
purpose, including money distributed by federal agencies such as the
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Native
Americans, the Department of Labor, Department of Education,
Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Joint Council of the Cherokee
Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians do hereby support the
federal recognition process of the Department of the Interior as
administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Branch of Acknowledgment
and Research, and endorse the criteria used by the Bureau of Indian
Affairs as appropriate; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians denounce the state or federal recognition of any
further 'Cherokee' tribes or bands, aside from the those already
federally recognized, and commit to exposing and assisting state and
federal authorities in eradicating any group which attempts or claims
to operate as a government of the Cherokee people;
and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that no public funding from any federal or
state government should be expended on behalf of non-federally
recognized 'Cherokee' tribes or bands or the individual members
thereof; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians shall call for a full accounting of all federal
monies given to state recognized, unrecognized or 501(c)(3) charitable
organizations that claim any Cherokee affiliation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the federal and state governments should
stringently apply a federal definition of "Indian" that includes only
citizens of federally recognized Indian tribes, to prevent non-Indians
from selling membership in 'Cherokee' tribes for the purpose of
exploiting the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no 501(c)(3) organization, state
recognized or unrecognized groups shall be acknowledged as Cherokee,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any individual who is not a member of a
federally recognized Cherokee tribe, in academia or otherwise, is
hereby discouraged from claiming to speak as a Cherokee, or on behalf
of Cherokee citizens, or using claims of Cherokee heritage to advance
his or her career or credentials. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall be the policy of
the Joint Council of the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent
resolution. CERTIFICATION
The foregoing resolution was adopted by the Councils of the Cherokee
Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians at the Joint Council
Meeting held in Catoosa, Oklahoma on April 9, 2008, having joint
council members present, constituting a quorum, by the vote of
___yea; ____nay; abstaining.
Meredith A. Frailey Speaker
Council of the Cherokee Nation
ATTEST Mike Parker
Chairman of the Tribal Council
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Approved and signed by the Principal Chiefs this 9th day of April,
2008.
Chadwick Smith
Principal Chief
Cherokee Nation
Michell Hicks
Principal Chief
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
END RED CLAY RESOLUTION
.........
The April 2008 Resolution at Red Clay came to be because of a MYTH.
they say...
anyone opposed to the resolution is opposed to the Cherokee
we say...
we oppose the resolution but we are NOT against any people or group or nation -- we love our Cherokee kinfolk no matter how distant the relationship!
they say...
no one should be able to claim they have Cherokee Heritage unless they are FEDERALLY enrolled
we say...
if I have a Cherokee Ancestor, I should be FREE to say so!
they say...
that if you are not federally enrolled you cannot celebrate your Cherokee Heritage
we say...
if I have a Cherokee Ancestor I should be FREE to honor them any time I want to honor them!
they say...
the people who claim Cherokee Ancestry/heritage cannot prove it.
we say...
we were content just knowing who we were and who our parents told us we were... but you have thrown out a challenge... we are pulling out our paper work and guess what!!! GRANDMA really was a CHEROKEE woman! GRANDPA really was a CHEROKEE man!
they say...
the only reason that the NON federally recognized groups exist is to try to get money...
we say...
what money? without a treaty, we are not entitled to ANY funds for being Cherokee descendants. NO, we are not trying to get non existent money.
What are you defending against? We are family-- but we are not asking you for money.
they say...
claiming our cherokee heritage keeps them from being able to sell their traditional crafts
we say...
we are not your competition... your competition for crafts comes from CHINA at the local W**-M*** store where you buy your beads rather than make your own beads-- we are not your competition
we just want to be allowed to proclaim ourselves to be who we truly are!
we are MIXED BLOOD yes -- but so what?
can we help what happened to our ancestors?
some good cherokee women were raped-- their children are not fullblood, no but they are cherokee-- and we don't punish the children for the sin of the fathers!
some women and men married outsiders because of LOVE--love the most powerful and greatest force on the planet-- their children are not full blood, no but they are LOVED Cherokees!
so--
let us declare ourselves
we have a Cherokee ancestor
we have a Cherokee ancestor that is documented
we have a Cherokee ancestor that is documented thru generations to us
THEREFORE...
we ARE Cherokee Descendants!
===
here is a copy of the CONSTITUTIONAL CHEROKEE
proposed additions/amendments to Red Clay Joint Resolution of April 2008: (join with us to get these added)
Whereas, there are many descendants of Cherokee people living both inside and outside our historical homeland and
Whereas, there are many descendants of Cherokee people who are ineligible for membership in the CNO, the EBCI and the UKB based only upon those organizations own internal requirements of those entities and not for the lack of an actual document Cherokee Ancestor,
whereas, the documented descendants of Cherokee people may wish to continue to participate in their heritage through cultural, social, religious, and individual expressions of that heritage
and
whereas the documented descendants of Cherokee people may wish to organize themselves into legitimate legal entities for the purposes of fundraising and advancement of those cultural expressions and for other purposes related to their desires to participate in and acknowledge their historic and cultural roots,
now therefore be it resolved that that the Joint Council of the
Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians do hereby support the rights of documented descendents of Cherokee ancestors to declare themselves as such and to participate fully in those social,
cultural, traditional, religious and individual expressions of that Cherokee heritage,
Be it further resolved that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians do acknowledge the rights of documented Cherokee descendants to organize as 501 (c)3 groups, or as state groups, or as
national groups in order that those documented descendants may be able to share with one another as they desire.
be it further resolved that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians shall make no attempt to inhibit the free expression of documented descendants of Cherokee people be it further resolved that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians shall make no attempt to proscribe the free speech of documented descendants of cherokee people
be it further resolved that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians shall make no attempt to discourage the activities of documented descendants of cherokee people in any way.
==========================
again, these are proposed statements,
and have NOT been added---
YET
and may need to be added to ...
but we are open to negotiating more conciliatory language than the
current resolution presently contains.
We are open to negotiations on this language... is that the attitude
of the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on their
resolution as well?
================
there are approximately 80,000 federally enrolled Cherokee. For our
voice to matter, we need to enlist as many folks with cherokee
heritage as possible. some 250,000 people that are NOT federally
enrolled claim to have cherokee ancestors -- we need to find at least
50% of these 250,000 folks, enlist them and get them to join with us
in this endeavor if we are to be successful-- so -- its a daunting
task to locate 125,000 and help them to understand the necessity of
our group but a journey of a 1000 steps and all that cliche... but its
true... here is our one step the first step-- organizing as the
Constitutional Cherokee- not a state group not a local community group
but an organization of all the communities in all the states that have
Cherokee descendants. All of us together with one common goal! Do not
silence us! find your friends and family and neighbors who already
admit to being cherokee descendants help each other find their
documentation and do the research, engage in cultural traditions like
cherokee marbles or if you're a 'tough' guy, stickball, but learn
words, learn cherokee dances and do them... attend stomp whenever
possible-- at the very least once a year at either kituwah in cherokee
nc in june or at the CNO in September every year if you dont have a
local one near you once a year will at least show you are cherokee persons-- and if you want go to BOTH kituwah and the CNO stomps so you
would have 2 opportunities! it will just take some planning and
dedication. which we will need if we are to defeat the red clay
resolution. we cant keep on being fragmented "oh i'm a tn cherokee" or
"oh i'm an al cherokee" or "oh im a ga cherokee" or "oh i'm a
chickamauga cherokee" or "oh i'm a Southern Cherokee" or whatever ....
we must unite as one in one cause in order to be
able to have a big enough voice to be heard. set aside petty
differences for the greater good our ourselves and our future
A NOTE about The Day of INFAMY-- April 9:
We Commemorate April 9 each year with MOURNING and FASTING and will do so until the RED CLAY RESOLUTION is repealed AND until the day we are recognized as TRUE Cherokee people.
This is not a "holiday" -- it is a National Day of Prayer
NEXT POSTING:
http://constitutional-cherokee.blogspot.com/2010/10/holiday-2010-october-10-17.html
OR
Click "NEWER POST" Link Below
We merely wish to speak to what the words of this resolution are
establishing as precedent. Neither do we wish to seek to ascertain the intention of it,
but we do wish to forestall any interpretation of it that might result
in an unfavorable treatment of our own status.
there fore we are making no attempt to discuss the past hurts of our
people, on either side of the federal recognition issue,
nor are we wanting to discuss how this current resolution has reopened
those wounds and have deepened the feelings of disenfranchisement that
many documented descendants of Cherokee Ancestors now feel as a result
of this Red Clay joint resolution. that being said, we would like to submit an amendment to be added to
that resolution so that clarity of intention can be insured, so that
those who feel disenfranchised by its current wording can find
assurance in the addition of these words, and so that the purpose of
the resolution be more readily apparent.
==========
HERE IT IS! THE DANGEROUS RESOLUTION OF APRIL 2008 AT RED CLAY--
it is LONG but you NEED to read it all!
=========
BEGIN RED CLAY RESOLUTION
JOINT COUNCIL OF THE CHEROKEE NATION AND THE EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
Resolution 1# 00-08
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING FABRICATED CHEROKEE "TRIBES" AND "INDIAN'S"
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians since time immemorial have exercised the sovereign rights of self- government on behalf of the Cherokee people; and
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are federally recognized Indian Nations with a historic and continual
government to government relationship with the United States of
America; and
WHEREAS, the Joint Council unites the Legislative Branches of
government of the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians, representing approximately 294,000 Cherokee people throughout
the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, the two Cherokee Tribal governments share a common history
prior to forced removal in 1838, and then separate histories to the
present, yet our common language, culture, and traditions have made
the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians distinct
and unique Native people from other Indian Tribes and other people, as
was declared by the Joint Council in Resolution No. 3-92, adopted on
Augusl II, 1992 in Cherokee, North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation has been aware of a growing number of non-
Indian groups claiming to be Cherokee tribes or bands and that these
groups have been organizing and attempting to gain federal recognition, this problem being acknowledged by the Joint Council in
Resolution No. 008, adopted on October 3, 1988 in Cherokee, North
Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the Department of the Interior through the Bureau of Indian
Affairs' Branch of Acknowledgment and Research maintains the
responsibility for addressing specific applications for federal
recognition and The Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians fully support the federal recognition process; and
WHEREAS, the history of the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians is well documented and no other tribes or bands of
Cherokee Indians exist aside from those already federally recognized,
which includes the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in
Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Cherokee Nation
in Joint Council assembled in Resolution No. 4-96, adopted on October
4, 1996 have previously expressed opposition to the "state
recognition" process by the State of Georgia or other states in the
United States who may seek to recognize a group of 'Cherokee' that do
not already have federal recognition;
WHEREAS, public funding by pseudo-Cherokee Tribes is of epidemic
proportions and often involves membership fees; misleading
presentations to school children and interference in a multitude of
government functions including child welfare cases; and
WHEREAS, the sovereignty and reputation of the Cherokee Nation and the
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, as well as members the general
public continue to be in jeopardy due to the acts of individuals who
organize and administer fabricated Cherokee tribes; and
WHEREAS, untold millions of federal dollars that are appropriated for
the benefit of tribal people are being diverted from their intended
purpose, including money distributed by federal agencies such as the
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Native
Americans, the Department of Labor, Department of Education,
Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Joint Council of the Cherokee
Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians do hereby support the
federal recognition process of the Department of the Interior as
administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Branch of Acknowledgment
and Research, and endorse the criteria used by the Bureau of Indian
Affairs as appropriate; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians denounce the state or federal recognition of any
further 'Cherokee' tribes or bands, aside from the those already
federally recognized, and commit to exposing and assisting state and
federal authorities in eradicating any group which attempts or claims
to operate as a government of the Cherokee people;
and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that no public funding from any federal or
state government should be expended on behalf of non-federally
recognized 'Cherokee' tribes or bands or the individual members
thereof; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians shall call for a full accounting of all federal
monies given to state recognized, unrecognized or 501(c)(3) charitable
organizations that claim any Cherokee affiliation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the federal and state governments should
stringently apply a federal definition of "Indian" that includes only
citizens of federally recognized Indian tribes, to prevent non-Indians
from selling membership in 'Cherokee' tribes for the purpose of
exploiting the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no 501(c)(3) organization, state
recognized or unrecognized groups shall be acknowledged as Cherokee,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any individual who is not a member of a
federally recognized Cherokee tribe, in academia or otherwise, is
hereby discouraged from claiming to speak as a Cherokee, or on behalf
of Cherokee citizens, or using claims of Cherokee heritage to advance
his or her career or credentials. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall be the policy of
the Joint Council of the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent
resolution. CERTIFICATION
The foregoing resolution was adopted by the Councils of the Cherokee
Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians at the Joint Council
Meeting held in Catoosa, Oklahoma on April 9, 2008, having joint
council members present, constituting a quorum, by the vote of
___yea; ____nay; abstaining.
Meredith A. Frailey Speaker
Council of the Cherokee Nation
ATTEST Mike Parker
Chairman of the Tribal Council
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Approved and signed by the Principal Chiefs this 9th day of April,
2008.
Chadwick Smith
Principal Chief
Cherokee Nation
Michell Hicks
Principal Chief
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
END RED CLAY RESOLUTION
.........
The April 2008 Resolution at Red Clay came to be because of a MYTH.
they say...
anyone opposed to the resolution is opposed to the Cherokee
we say...
we oppose the resolution but we are NOT against any people or group or nation -- we love our Cherokee kinfolk no matter how distant the relationship!
they say...
no one should be able to claim they have Cherokee Heritage unless they are FEDERALLY enrolled
we say...
if I have a Cherokee Ancestor, I should be FREE to say so!
they say...
that if you are not federally enrolled you cannot celebrate your Cherokee Heritage
we say...
if I have a Cherokee Ancestor I should be FREE to honor them any time I want to honor them!
they say...
the people who claim Cherokee Ancestry/heritage cannot prove it.
we say...
we were content just knowing who we were and who our parents told us we were... but you have thrown out a challenge... we are pulling out our paper work and guess what!!! GRANDMA really was a CHEROKEE woman! GRANDPA really was a CHEROKEE man!
they say...
the only reason that the NON federally recognized groups exist is to try to get money...
we say...
what money? without a treaty, we are not entitled to ANY funds for being Cherokee descendants. NO, we are not trying to get non existent money.
What are you defending against? We are family-- but we are not asking you for money.
they say...
claiming our cherokee heritage keeps them from being able to sell their traditional crafts
we say...
we are not your competition... your competition for crafts comes from CHINA at the local W**-M*** store where you buy your beads rather than make your own beads-- we are not your competition
we just want to be allowed to proclaim ourselves to be who we truly are!
we are MIXED BLOOD yes -- but so what?
can we help what happened to our ancestors?
some good cherokee women were raped-- their children are not fullblood, no but they are cherokee-- and we don't punish the children for the sin of the fathers!
some women and men married outsiders because of LOVE--love the most powerful and greatest force on the planet-- their children are not full blood, no but they are LOVED Cherokees!
so--
let us declare ourselves
we have a Cherokee ancestor
we have a Cherokee ancestor that is documented
we have a Cherokee ancestor that is documented thru generations to us
THEREFORE...
we ARE Cherokee Descendants!
===
here is a copy of the CONSTITUTIONAL CHEROKEE
proposed additions/amendments to Red Clay Joint Resolution of April 2008: (join with us to get these added)
Whereas, there are many descendants of Cherokee people living both inside and outside our historical homeland and
Whereas, there are many descendants of Cherokee people who are ineligible for membership in the CNO, the EBCI and the UKB based only upon those organizations own internal requirements of those entities and not for the lack of an actual document Cherokee Ancestor,
whereas, the documented descendants of Cherokee people may wish to continue to participate in their heritage through cultural, social, religious, and individual expressions of that heritage
and
whereas the documented descendants of Cherokee people may wish to organize themselves into legitimate legal entities for the purposes of fundraising and advancement of those cultural expressions and for other purposes related to their desires to participate in and acknowledge their historic and cultural roots,
now therefore be it resolved that that the Joint Council of the
Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians do hereby support the rights of documented descendents of Cherokee ancestors to declare themselves as such and to participate fully in those social,
cultural, traditional, religious and individual expressions of that Cherokee heritage,
Be it further resolved that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians do acknowledge the rights of documented Cherokee descendants to organize as 501 (c)3 groups, or as state groups, or as
national groups in order that those documented descendants may be able to share with one another as they desire.
be it further resolved that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians shall make no attempt to inhibit the free expression of documented descendants of Cherokee people be it further resolved that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians shall make no attempt to proscribe the free speech of documented descendants of cherokee people
be it further resolved that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians shall make no attempt to discourage the activities of documented descendants of cherokee people in any way.
==========================
again, these are proposed statements,
and have NOT been added---
YET
and may need to be added to ...
but we are open to negotiating more conciliatory language than the
current resolution presently contains.
We are open to negotiations on this language... is that the attitude
of the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on their
resolution as well?
================
there are approximately 80,000 federally enrolled Cherokee. For our
voice to matter, we need to enlist as many folks with cherokee
heritage as possible. some 250,000 people that are NOT federally
enrolled claim to have cherokee ancestors -- we need to find at least
50% of these 250,000 folks, enlist them and get them to join with us
in this endeavor if we are to be successful-- so -- its a daunting
task to locate 125,000 and help them to understand the necessity of
our group but a journey of a 1000 steps and all that cliche... but its
true... here is our one step the first step-- organizing as the
Constitutional Cherokee- not a state group not a local community group
but an organization of all the communities in all the states that have
Cherokee descendants. All of us together with one common goal! Do not
silence us! find your friends and family and neighbors who already
admit to being cherokee descendants help each other find their
documentation and do the research, engage in cultural traditions like
cherokee marbles or if you're a 'tough' guy, stickball, but learn
words, learn cherokee dances and do them... attend stomp whenever
possible-- at the very least once a year at either kituwah in cherokee
nc in june or at the CNO in September every year if you dont have a
local one near you once a year will at least show you are cherokee persons-- and if you want go to BOTH kituwah and the CNO stomps so you
would have 2 opportunities! it will just take some planning and
dedication. which we will need if we are to defeat the red clay
resolution. we cant keep on being fragmented "oh i'm a tn cherokee" or
"oh i'm an al cherokee" or "oh im a ga cherokee" or "oh i'm a
chickamauga cherokee" or "oh i'm a Southern Cherokee" or whatever ....
we must unite as one in one cause in order to be
able to have a big enough voice to be heard. set aside petty
differences for the greater good our ourselves and our future
A NOTE about The Day of INFAMY-- April 9:
We Commemorate April 9 each year with MOURNING and FASTING and will do so until the RED CLAY RESOLUTION is repealed AND until the day we are recognized as TRUE Cherokee people.
This is not a "holiday" -- it is a National Day of Prayer
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