Comments from Convention Presentation

The Post of "Wednesday, September 19, 2007" was the written presentation made to the Tennessee Native American Indian Convention at Henry Horton State Park on 15 September 2007.

The printed statement and my spoken words presented a question as well as potential answers.
The question was/is "Who are the Native American Indians in Tennessee?"

I gave three of the listing below in writing and via my blog, but I added the fourth one while I was speaking at the convention.

• 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.
• Those who are Culturally Native American Indian

I received an email from a commissioner on 22 September 2007 stating that he'd heard about my "trinitarian definition of Tennessee indians". As I stated above I added the fourth while I was speaking at the convention.

Does the definition above rule out Native American Indians whose Relatives and Ancestors are from outside of Tennessee?

Do the lines on the map make a difference in who is Native American Indian, or are we pressed by necessity to conform to those lines because of the laws under which we are governed?

Please, lend me your opinions: Who are Native American Indians in Tennessee?

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

Open Letter to Constituents

Hello Fellow Tennessee Native American Indian

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.

Then there's the question on the tip of your tongue "Who are the Native American Indians in Tennessee?"

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

Federally Recognized Native American Indians
Other State Recognized Native American Indians; and
Native American Indians who are descended from Historic Native American Indian tribes which lived in Tennessee before Europeans arrived here.
Each group has its own needs. The Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs is in place to represent the needs of each of these groups.

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.

On September 15, I would appreciate your YES vote for James Everett Meeks.

I look forward to seeing you and Listening to you on Saturday September 15 at Henry Horton State Park.

Best Wishes

James Everett Meeks
800-989-4691
http://jemeeks.blogspot.com/
me@jemeeks.com

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

* TNAIC

Join the Tennessee American Indian Community email group.

This is an email group for The Tennessee American Indian Community. It is for the dispersal of information, planning, announcements and just items of general interest to the American Indian population of Tennessee.

This email group is developed for those who "Care a Wit" for the Indigenous Tennessee American Indians as well as for the Sacred Places in Tennessee.

This email group is developed for those American Indians who have made Tennessee home and "Care a Wit" for the on going economic, social and cultural development of their families here in Tennessee as well as the Indigenous Tennessee American Indians.

Seek Freedom

Post message: TNAIC@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: TNAIC-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Website: http://www.yahoogroups.com/groups/TNAIC

* Recognition

Recognition criteria has been enacted for Tennessee American Indian Nations, Tribes and Communities. The Commission has also created an application for those NTCs which seek to apply.

Given this, there remain two topics to review in regard to recognition. These are:
1. Individual
2. Organizations

Please lend me your thoughts and ideas regarding these.
If you have thoughts and opinions regarding the NTC recognition, you may leave this as well, but let's focus on the two listed above.

Thanks

* 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?