Tennessee Native American Indian Convention Presentation

15 September 2007

You know there has been a lot going on in Tennessee.
Some of it seems to have been good, some of it makes a person wonder.
Some of it makes you wonder who is actually interested in making life better for the Tennessee Native American Indian.
I understand how this can be. I, too, have wondered who was looking out for the interest of the Tennessee Native American Indian. You see, there are those who seem to not want anything good for the Native American Indians living in Tennessee. I want the best for ALL Native American Indians in Tennessee.

We are to be a Community. What is a Community?

1 : a unified body of individuals: as

1. STATE, COMMONWEALTH
2. the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself
3. an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location
4. a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society
5. a group linked by a common policy
6. a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests
7. a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society

Each states a position of the Tennessee Native American Indian.

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 To this end we have historical references to those individuals who gave their own life for the edification of others. Dragging Canoe was a Chikamaka Cherokee who gave his life in attempt to protect the homelands of the Tennessee Native American Indian.

There has been a severe reticence to take the step necessary to allow the building of the Native American Indian Community 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.

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.

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 belief 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 means) 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 with these two items 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.

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 recognize the interests of all Native American Indians in Tennessee.

I know there’s a question on the tip of your tongue "Who are the Native American Indians in Tennessee?"

======Let's amend this to include what I presented when I was speaking at the Tennessee Native American Indian Conventionlet's

Well, there are groups to be considered when answering. There are

• Federally Recognized Native American Indians;
• Other State Recognized Native American Indians; and
• Native American Indians whose Ancestors are Historic Native American Indians who remained a part of Tennessee even after others were forced into exile.

Let's add the one I added while speaking

• Those who are culturally Native American Indians

Each group has its own needs. The Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs is in place to represent the needs of each of these groups.

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

• 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
• Recognition: Every Native American Indian deserves recognition.

Have there been those who have attempted to keep the Commission from fulfilling its purposes? YES, but we have the chance to stop the persons who are against the Native American Indian from doing more damage. We can elect Commissioners who actually have the Best interests of the Tennessee Native American Indian at heart.

I am seeking to Bless the Tennessee Native American Indian and keep their interests alive. I am seeking the Commission seat of Middle Tennessee.

I live in Middle Tennessee, Tracy City, Tennessee. I have been a Resident of Middle Tennessee and Metro Nashville for the past 25 years. I am a member of the Chikamaka Cherokee Band of the South Cumberland Plateau and have been previously associated with the Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama.

I have also worked in Tennessee Politics.
I have worked with Independents, Democrats and Republicans.
I have seen what it means to work for a better society in Tennessee.
I vote for the person and the principles on which the person stands. I have the experience Politically, socially and culturally to represent my fellow Native American Indians not only on the Commission but also in the Halls of the State and Federal Legislatures.

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