* American Indian Needs

The stated purposes and duties of the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs are:

4-34-102. Purposes. —
The purposes of the commission are to:

1. Deal fairly and effectively with Indian affairs;
2. Research and find local, state and federal resources of funding and other assistance for the implementation or continuation of meaningful programs for Indian citizens of the state;
3. Provide aid and protection for Indians as needs are demonstrated;
4. Prevent undue hardships;
5. Assist Indian communities in social and economic development;
6. Promote recognition of, and the right of Indians to pursue cultural and religious traditions considered by them to be sacred and meaningful to Native Americans; and
7. Communicate with Tennessee's Indian communities and solicit communications from such Indian communities.

4-34-103. Powers and duties. —
It is the duty of the commission to:

1. Study, consider, accumulate, compile, assemble and disseminate information on any aspect of Indian affairs;
2. Investigate relief needs of Indians of Tennessee and to provide technical assistance in the preparation of plans for the alleviation of such needs;
3. Confer with appropriate officials of local, state and federal governments and agencies of these governments, and with such congressional commissions that may be concerned with Indian affairs;
4. Encourage and implement coordination of applicable resources to meet the needs of Indians in Tennessee;
5. Study the existing status of recognition of all Indian groups, tribes and communities presently existing in Tennessee;
6. Establish appropriate procedures to provide for legal recognition by the state of presently unrecognized tribes, nations, groups, communities or individuals, and to provide for official state recognition by the commission of such;
7. Cooperate with and secure the assistance of the local, state and federal governments or any agencies thereof in formulating any programs that the commission finds necessary or beneficial to Indians in Tennessee;
8. Coordinate any programs regarding Indian affairs adopted or planned by the federal government to the end that the commission secure the full benefit of such programs;
9. Review and comment on all proposed or pending state legislation and amendments to existing state legislation directly affecting Indians in Tennessee; and
10. Conduct public hearings on matters relating to Indian affairs and to subpoena any information or documents deemed necessary by the commission.

[Acts 2003, ch. 344, § 4.]

(Recognition will be another blog title, save your comments regarding Recognition for that one).

What do you feel are the needs of that American Indian Community in Tennessee which are part of the things the Commission could do to perform its duties/purposes?