Position Statement

Community (http://www.webster.com/)
1 : a unified body of individuals: as

a : STATE, COMMONWEALTH
b : the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself
c : an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species)
in a common location
d : a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living
together within a larger society
e : a group linked by a common policy
f : a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social,
economic, and political interests
g : a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society

What often fails to be included in definitions is the base principle that is
the foundation for the word that is being defined. There have been some who
understood that the good of the many outweighs that of the one. To this end we
have historical references to those individuals who gave their own life for the
edification of others.

Another thing that can be learned but not always realized is the principle of submission. I think the best characterization of this for me has been the standard: To have authority, one must be under authority. One individual can do much, but to lead the individual must attempt to understand those which are to be lead. This is no easy task because, in a real way, the leader must submit to those being lead, often as much as those being lead submit to the one attempting to lead. This is a principle I grew up with but did not begin to grasp until recent years “Mutual submission one to another.” My reference is

If you have any encouragement from being united [with Christ], if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Paul’s letter to the Philippians)

This not only points to my spiritual beliefs, but it also addresses how I should learn to treat others. When I fail to do this, I must take those steps to make the relationship right, regardless of the cost to me. I must submit to others…not just to those in authority but also to those for whom I care and see their best interest.

Becoming a community means that the individual submits to something greater than the individual. Over the years, I have often fought to be “in control”, and I have been reminded on several occasions that I need to get involved in what is already going on. I believe that the TN Commission of Indian Affairs is an organization that can lead us and that can work to fulfill the “hopes, dreams“ of our Tennessee American Indian community. There has been, however, a severe reticence to take the step necessary to allow the principal organization to actually be the focal point of American Indian activities in Tennessee.

This reticence has come from two directions: 1. The American Indians in Tennessee, 2. The organization that has this as a stated responsibility.

1. The American Indians in Tennessee have not always seen a real desire from the Commission to actually represent them as they should be represented. This has been a multi-year process. Persons who should have taken the trust given them with a sense of responsibility to those who they represented did not seem to be eager to actually be interested in the welfare of the American Indians (AI) of Tennessee. This lack of perceived interest caused the AI of TN to become fractionalized. Wanting so badly to get things done that they went on their own refusing to allow this organization to chart or navigate the course of the AI. Each AI group in TN sought its own way, no longer seeking to honor the Commission that was founded to represent the “whole” AI community in TN.


2. The Commission has the Welfare of the AI in TN as a stated responsibility. It has not always seemed to take this directive seriously. There were, have been and are individuals involved in this organization who seemed to have NO “real” interest in ensuring the Identity of the AI in TN. This has seemed to be because of fear of what “others” thought; to be because of a lack of believe that there actually continue to exist AI “Nations, Tribes or Communities” in TN; to be because of a sense of foreboding to actually act…yes act; to be because to act too quickly (whatever this actually meant) was to do something unforgivable (to whom); to be because there was a sense of uncertainty that they could actually represent the AI community in TN; to be because, once something was “decided”, the decision must be enforced.
   

Part of what is contained these two seems to be a failure to realize is that there are individuals and organizations that actually are willing to assist them in moving beyond this reticence. It is NOT that these entities ARE to take over the AI Community in TN, but that they are to aid the Commission. I am one of those individuals.

There are, as we have seen in many previous statements, several groups that want to have influence in the AI community in TN, but there seems to be a failure to, shall we use the word, submit to the authority elected by the AI community in TN. As stated above, I understand part of this.

What are the issues that we face as Native American Indians in Tennessee? A few that I have been made aware of, not an exclusive list, are:

• Recognition: Every Native American Indian deserves recognition.
  
  
• Education Curriculum: A program of studies in both local schools as well as Colleges that can educate both the Native American Indian and others as to the History and Culture of the Native American Indian in Tennessee including bilingual education and language preservation
  
  
• Health Care Resources: Access to education and care for the health and well-being of the Native American Indian Population
  
  
• Economic Development: Many of the areas wherein Native American Indians in Tennessee live are characterized as economic development zones. This means that there is a great need for industry and jobs there. How will the financial needs of our communities be met
  
  
• Tribal Lands: There is no “active” participant from the State of Tennessee that can stand as a “Party of Interest” when our ancient sites and burial grounds are being desecrated. This is usually a Tribal group. Our ancient sites need protection.
  
  
• Representation: Persons who truly put the interests of the Tennessee Native American Indian as a primary motive instead of other interests
  
  
• Indian sovereignty and religious/cultural freedoms
  
  
• Cultural continuity
  
  
• Legal resources
  
  
• Cultivation of Indian artists and writers
  
  
• Cultural and natural resource management
  
  
• Tribal, state, and federal government cooperation
  

Can I be a part that further develops the Commission to edify the American Indian population of Tennessee? I believe I can be. I believe that I can work with Commission members and AI Community leaders to fulfill the mandate as set by the State of Tennessee as well as the mandates requested by the AI Population of Tennessee.

Will We be able to do it all at once? No, but we need to understand the manner in which this architecture stands. We must continue, must start that which is not already commenced, the process(es) of seeking the welfare of the AI population in TN. We must pull together to edify the AI population and assist those entities who have persisted in attempting to stand to fill in the gaps. WE DO NOT stand alone and survive, but we can as we learn to focus.

Dohi

James Everett Meeks