Because this is a "blog" you will need to go to the archives in order to read this document in the correct order.
To facilitate, I am including a link for you to
start here http://constitutional-cherokee.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html Once you read that,
continue on the links to the next post,
then on that post continue by clicking "newer post".
I appreciate the patience of the council as I retype these documents, verify the information, and then seek for typos and corrections.
I appreciate all the volunteers who have tirelessly pored over these documents and assisted my old feeble eyes.
I give praise to Creator for restoring our People once again.
11/7/10
A typical State Convention
The following is an example taken from a typical State convention journal.
Specifics were removed to make this a generic example.
In this case, the state convention began on a Friday, concluded with Stomp at the state Gatiyo on Saturday evening (went till dawn on Sunday)
It is at the STOMP that the real ceremony for installing officers is completed.
Other conventions have been known to assemble on earlier days in order to deal with anticipated issues that might take longer but this is rare.
prior to the convention, all the community reports and other reports, all resolutions and all ballots have been loaded onto a website maintained by the state. Delegates are given the link to it along with a password in an email in the week prior to the convention, and they verify that they have had access to it when they sign in as delegates at the convention.
First Evening prior to State Convention
Delegate registration began at 1 pm.- state convention supper begins at 4:00 (or delegates may go to eat on their own - prior reservations were required)
(NOTE: all during this time, a number of flute players are in the outer area of the meeting place, softly playing prayer songs taking turns so that the entire proceedings (except during songs) there is music heard)
At the conclusion of registration, the presentation of the Wampum belts occurs. In this, Wampum belts are brought in with ceremony and laid before the assembly.
NOTE: Delegations are to arrive and present their belt of Wampum signifying their office and standing with their sending chapter. This is in keeping with the ancient practice. Traditionally, no treaty or covenant was considered binding and no tribal embassy or delegation was ever recognized as official without the delivery of a wampum belt as a guaranty and memorial. [Just as tribes in the west held eagle feathers in high esteem, Southeastern tribes like the Cherokee held the Wampum Bead to be in high esteem and so would exchange these wampum beads (not feathers) at special occasions.] ADDTIONAL NOTE: In some cases, the state assembly may exchange a belt from the assembly for the one the delegates brought- signifying that the agreement has been reached and that the delegate is now returning to their chapter to declare the will of the state chapter to the local chapter.
These Wampum belts are hung at the head Council table throughout the proceedings of the convention, and in the closing ceremony, are returned to the delegation that brought them so that they may return to their respective chapters.
Adawehi led the people in prayer and Friendship dance 6:00 p.m.
Speaker-- (usually a presentation is given by the state chief but may be an invited guest who speaks as well)
evening concluded with
the setting of the voting area/bar (all delegates and this area are smudged with smoke of white pine needles)
and
the announcement of the delegates names who will be serving on various positions and on committee assignments during the Convention:
this was followed by a gathering song or social dance and
Voluntary contributions for expenses of Convention
Closing Round Dance
8:00 next morning
(NOTE: all during this time, a number of flute players are in the outer area of the meeting place, softly playing prayer songs taking turns so that the entire proceedings (except during songs) there is music heard)
Opening Prayers
Reminder by Parlimentarian of the voting area/bar. No one but delegates are seated in this area; delegates are required to be in this area in order to vote
REPORTS
TITLE OF ALL RESOLUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED READ (reminder that these are presented in their entirety on the state convention website accessible to delegates who have the appropriate password)
VOTE TO ACCEPT THIS LIST AND TO CONSIDER THESE RESOLUTIONS AT THIS CONVENTION. (This means no other resolutions may be presented other than are on this approved list and is not to be construed as an approval of any of the resolutions, just means they are on the agenda)
Motion was made on the floor to list all names alphabetically and all elections be by plurality.
seconded by a seated delegate, discussion then occurred and the question was called.
Motion passed unanimously.
Ballots were previously prepared by the Secretary.
Announcement of the ballots by reader.
Prayer by Adawehi,
then ballots are distributed.
Board of tellers #1 distributed ballot #1. The first ballot was for state chief.
they collected ballots and went to count them
board of tellers #2 distributed ballot #2 the 2nd ballot was for all other state officers
They collected ballots and went to count them.
Community chiefs read their reports for the year and a motion was made and seconded to receive their reports. Reports were approved unanimously.
BREAK
PRAYERS
Report of Ballot #1 by the Board of Tellers Chairperson (the board of tellers first selected their chair person prior to counting the ballots)
Board of Tellers report #1 was given
Board of Tellers report #2 was given
in this instance, all officials were selected with a clear majority and no re vote needed.
CONVENTION READER (NAME WITHHELD HERE)
then read all of the past year reports from
nominating committee report
finance committee report
goals committee report
adawehi
Youth Chiefs report
and other reports
Motion was made to approve reports as read, second was voiced, and all reports were approved.
SECRETARY READ HER REPORT TREASURER READ HER REPORT Motion made and seconded to accept these reports. Passed unanimously.
Convention reader read the next years budget as proposed by the finance committee and treasurer (Highlights- full proposed budget is available to delegates at the convention website)
Motion was made to approve the propsed budget. Second was voiced. Discussion began.
Question was called and budget was approved.
Promotional message by the Constitutional Cherokee Youth.
Promotional Video for Language endeavors was shown (7 1/2 minutes)
BREAK
PRAYERS
Awards presented to various communities and leaders for exceptional service.
Motion was made to allow (person named) and (Person named) to edit and harmonize the convention minutes in preparation for submission and publication.
Prayer for selection of other state leaders and chairpersons:
Board of tellers #1 distributed ballot
board of tellers #2 distributed ballot
ADAWEHI REPORTS
motion made to accept adawehi reports, second voice, motion passed.
Other business discussed
RESOLUTIONS PRESENTED IN ORDER AND VOTED ON
BREAK
PRAYERS
Report of Board of tellers #1
Report of Board of Tellers #2
announcement read by convention reader of all adawehi licensed by state convention
motion made, second voiced, discussion heard and motion carried to accept these as licensed adawehi
Awards made
Prayer
Anointing of and by elder Adawehi, Anointing of State Chief and State officers, recognition of Community Chiefs, principal clan mothers and other leaders.
Closing Friendship Dance
Prayer
STOMP
SUNRISE CEREMONY
GOING TO WATER
CEREMONY OF THE BELTS-
This is a solemn ceremony wherein promises are reaffirmed, friendship is proclaimed and concludes with a ceremony in itself where the Delegations present to the higher level, a wampum belt sealing the agreements made at which point the Higher level returns the delegations belts to them to take back to their own chapter.
ADJOURNMENT
brief descriptions:
1 Parliamentarian - makes certain procedures are followed and protocol is maintained, answers questions about rules of order and so on
Specifics were removed to make this a generic example.
In this case, the state convention began on a Friday, concluded with Stomp at the state Gatiyo on Saturday evening (went till dawn on Sunday)
It is at the STOMP that the real ceremony for installing officers is completed.
Other conventions have been known to assemble on earlier days in order to deal with anticipated issues that might take longer but this is rare.
prior to the convention, all the community reports and other reports, all resolutions and all ballots have been loaded onto a website maintained by the state. Delegates are given the link to it along with a password in an email in the week prior to the convention, and they verify that they have had access to it when they sign in as delegates at the convention.
First Evening prior to State Convention
Delegate registration began at 1 pm.- state convention supper begins at 4:00 (or delegates may go to eat on their own - prior reservations were required)
(NOTE: all during this time, a number of flute players are in the outer area of the meeting place, softly playing prayer songs taking turns so that the entire proceedings (except during songs) there is music heard)
At the conclusion of registration, the presentation of the Wampum belts occurs. In this, Wampum belts are brought in with ceremony and laid before the assembly.
NOTE: Delegations are to arrive and present their belt of Wampum signifying their office and standing with their sending chapter. This is in keeping with the ancient practice. Traditionally, no treaty or covenant was considered binding and no tribal embassy or delegation was ever recognized as official without the delivery of a wampum belt as a guaranty and memorial. [Just as tribes in the west held eagle feathers in high esteem, Southeastern tribes like the Cherokee held the Wampum Bead to be in high esteem and so would exchange these wampum beads (not feathers) at special occasions.] ADDTIONAL NOTE: In some cases, the state assembly may exchange a belt from the assembly for the one the delegates brought- signifying that the agreement has been reached and that the delegate is now returning to their chapter to declare the will of the state chapter to the local chapter.
These Wampum belts are hung at the head Council table throughout the proceedings of the convention, and in the closing ceremony, are returned to the delegation that brought them so that they may return to their respective chapters.
Adawehi led the people in prayer and Friendship dance 6:00 p.m.
Speaker-- (usually a presentation is given by the state chief but may be an invited guest who speaks as well)
evening concluded with
the setting of the voting area/bar (all delegates and this area are smudged with smoke of white pine needles)
and
the announcement of the delegates names who will be serving on various positions and on committee assignments during the Convention:
1 Parliamentarian
2Convention Secretary
3 Convention Reader
4 Assistants (Pages) to the Convention Council
5 Board of Tellers # 1
6 Board of Tellers # 2
7 various other needed officers (such as An English to Cherokee Translator and a Cherokee to English Translator)
this was followed by a gathering song or social dance and
Voluntary contributions for expenses of Convention
Closing Round Dance
8:00 next morning
(NOTE: all during this time, a number of flute players are in the outer area of the meeting place, softly playing prayer songs taking turns so that the entire proceedings (except during songs) there is music heard)
Opening Prayers
Reminder by Parlimentarian of the voting area/bar. No one but delegates are seated in this area; delegates are required to be in this area in order to vote
REPORTS
TITLE OF ALL RESOLUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED READ (reminder that these are presented in their entirety on the state convention website accessible to delegates who have the appropriate password)
VOTE TO ACCEPT THIS LIST AND TO CONSIDER THESE RESOLUTIONS AT THIS CONVENTION. (This means no other resolutions may be presented other than are on this approved list and is not to be construed as an approval of any of the resolutions, just means they are on the agenda)
Motion was made on the floor to list all names alphabetically and all elections be by plurality.
seconded by a seated delegate, discussion then occurred and the question was called.
Motion passed unanimously.
Ballots were previously prepared by the Secretary.
Announcement of the ballots by reader.
Prayer by Adawehi,
then ballots are distributed.
Board of tellers #1 distributed ballot #1. The first ballot was for state chief.
they collected ballots and went to count them
board of tellers #2 distributed ballot #2 the 2nd ballot was for all other state officers
They collected ballots and went to count them.
Community chiefs read their reports for the year and a motion was made and seconded to receive their reports. Reports were approved unanimously.
BREAK
PRAYERS
Report of Ballot #1 by the Board of Tellers Chairperson (the board of tellers first selected their chair person prior to counting the ballots)
Board of Tellers report #1 was given
Board of Tellers report #2 was given
in this instance, all officials were selected with a clear majority and no re vote needed.
CONVENTION READER (NAME WITHHELD HERE)
then read all of the past year reports from
nominating committee report
finance committee report
goals committee report
adawehi
Youth Chiefs report
and other reports
Motion was made to approve reports as read, second was voiced, and all reports were approved.
SECRETARY READ HER REPORT TREASURER READ HER REPORT Motion made and seconded to accept these reports. Passed unanimously.
Convention reader read the next years budget as proposed by the finance committee and treasurer (Highlights- full proposed budget is available to delegates at the convention website)
Motion was made to approve the propsed budget. Second was voiced. Discussion began.
Question was called and budget was approved.
Promotional message by the Constitutional Cherokee Youth.
Promotional Video for Language endeavors was shown (7 1/2 minutes)
BREAK
PRAYERS
Awards presented to various communities and leaders for exceptional service.
Motion was made to allow (person named) and (Person named) to edit and harmonize the convention minutes in preparation for submission and publication.
Prayer for selection of other state leaders and chairpersons:
Board of tellers #1 distributed ballot
board of tellers #2 distributed ballot
ADAWEHI REPORTS
motion made to accept adawehi reports, second voice, motion passed.
Other business discussed
RESOLUTIONS PRESENTED IN ORDER AND VOTED ON
BREAK
PRAYERS
Report of Board of tellers #1
Report of Board of Tellers #2
announcement read by convention reader of all adawehi licensed by state convention
motion made, second voiced, discussion heard and motion carried to accept these as licensed adawehi
Awards made
Prayer
Anointing of and by elder Adawehi, Anointing of State Chief and State officers, recognition of Community Chiefs, principal clan mothers and other leaders.
Closing Friendship Dance
Prayer
STOMP
SUNRISE CEREMONY
GOING TO WATER
CEREMONY OF THE BELTS-
This is a solemn ceremony wherein promises are reaffirmed, friendship is proclaimed and concludes with a ceremony in itself where the Delegations present to the higher level, a wampum belt sealing the agreements made at which point the Higher level returns the delegations belts to them to take back to their own chapter.
ADJOURNMENT
brief descriptions:
1 Parliamentarian - makes certain procedures are followed and protocol is maintained, answers questions about rules of order and so on
2Convention Secretary- takes notes and reads back from minutes when asked
3 Convention Reader- reads any letters, resolutions, or reports not given by the specific person to the convention
4 Assistants (Pages) to the Convention Council- stand or sit facing convention delegates and go to get notes or messages to pass to the council members seated on the stage or podium
5 Board of Tellers # 1- a group of at least 7 folks who count ballots
6 Board of Tellers # 2- a group of at least 7 folks who count ballots
7 various other needed officers
WAMPUM- beads are made ONLY from the quahog shell; no glass substitutes.
WAMPUM- beads are made ONLY from the quahog shell; no glass substitutes.
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