Stop the Wannabee Clans

[WolfTears]

Hold put on Native American ‘village’ plans

By Clay Carey
Hendersonville Editor

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A proposal that would allow a Native American “village” in Sumner County was put on hold by the county commission this week amid concerns that the project could lead to casino gambling here.

A contingency from the Yuma, Tenn.-based Cherokee Wolf Clan asked the county’s Legislative Committee Monday night to recognize the clan as a Native American group in Sumner County.

Clan spokesman Pooch Shields told commissioners the recognition would clear the way for the Native American group to develop a “village” featuring a Native American museum, a library, a trade school, a church and offices for administrative personnel.

Shields said the clan would also help needy people construct homes in the village.

“This is the kind of thing the Cherokee Wolf Clan does,” Shields told commissioners. He added that the village would not be exclusively for those of Native American descent.

“If a white person or a black person really needs help, we will help them,” he said.

Shields said the clan would seek private donations to fund the project. He said the group needs to be recognized by the county in order to do business here.

However, a number of county commissioners at Monday night’s meeting expressed concerns that the recognition might also clear the way for the clan to operate a casino in the county.

“This is a pretty conservative county,” District 4 Commissioner Anthony Holt told the Cherokee Wolf Clan representative. Holt then asked for Shields’ assurance that the group would not use the recognition “as a reason to put casino gambling or something like that” in Sumner County.

Shields said there are currently “no plans on the board” for a casino and noted his clan does not operate a casino.

However, he said he believed the clan’s council could vote to open a casino if it so desired and would not rule out that possibility.

“I can’t make any promises or decisions,” Shields told commissioners. “We have no plans right now for a casino.”

Concerns about the possibility of a casino opening and a desire for more information about the clan’s proposal prompted the Legislative Committee to defer the group’s request for recognition to its February meeting.

“Until I find out with certainty that they could not place a casino here, I can never vote for it,” commission chairman and District 7 Commissioner Steve Botts said after the meeting.

Botts added he would be “fine with it” if the county was assured the recognition would not lead to the opening of a casino.

“We need more information,” added District 6 Commissioner Kenny Pierpaoli. “The casino doesn’t concern me, other than I don’t want to make that decision for people.”

District 10 Commissioner Jo Skidmore voted against the deferral of the clan’s request and said Tuesday morning she supported their proposal.

“I think we should have gone on and recognized them … this was their country before it was ours,” Skidmore said.

“I’m not concerned about it at all. If I was going to build a casino, it wouldn’t be in Sumner County. It would be in Memphis or Davidson County,” she added. “Besides, what’s the difference between a casino and the lottery?”

The county Legislative Committee is expected to take up the issue at its Feb. 9 meeting. If that committee approves a resolution recognizing the clan, the recognition would then have to be approved by the full county commission in order to take effect.

Shields said the Cherokee Wolf Clan is comprised of several “different kinds of Indians,” not just Cherokees.

“That’s why we feel like we can represent all Native Americans,” he explained.

He said the village would conduct “pow-wows” and would encompass between 50 and 75 acres.

According to a brochure distributed to commissioners Monday night, the clan works to “keep our heritage and culture from vanishing from the face of the Earth” by teaching Native American customs and the Cherokee language.
Originally published Wednesday, January 14, 2004

[Shattuck]

Stop the Wannabee Clans

Wolftears,

From what I understand this "clan" is trouble everywhere it travels. It's also a church. My county listen than sent them on their way. If this "clan" is truly for the Native people than why does it need to be recognized why not work from the heart for the people instead of for the dollar?

[One Hot Mama]

What white folks don't understand is that only federally-recognized tribes can operate casinos, that those tribes can operate only in states where some form of gaming is legally permitted, and that the tribes have to have gaming compacts with the states they are in. Not only that, Indian gaming is more tightly controlled than non-Indian gaming.

Apparently, this bunch of wannabe's doesn't understand this either.

The process of federal recognition is arduous, with many strictly defined criteria, all of which must be met, before a petition of recognition can even be presented to the congressional committee which makes the determinations as to which petition will be accepted for a vote. The process takes decades, even for a tribe which was previously recognized then terminated during the Eisenhower administration. And congress has not been very receptive to granting recognition since 1980.

But try to explain that to these "tribes" who think that they are Indian just cuz they say so.

My family ran off during Removal or snuck back over, and while we have the documentation to prove our ancestors on the rolls, none of us have gone for enrollment. I've never lived in OK, and while my grandmother used to visit relatives there as a young woman, I don't know any of them. If I were to petition for enrollment, it has to be because I want to give my time, talents, and energy to be an asset to the tribe-not for freebies, gaming dividends, per cap checks, etc. I put myself through Vanderbilt University(I owe beau coup bucks in student loans still), have worked all my life-even as a kid, don't drink, smoke, do drugs, or break the law. My kids are in school or have graduated from school, are sober, and no one's in jail. Would I be an asset to the CNO? Maybe, but how if I don't live there?

Considering the problems alot of tribes are having with enrolled members, and the resurrection of banishment, I think tribes have got to start being choosier, not just granting citizenship because someone meets criteria but making sure the petitioner will strengthen the community if granted status. Why not hold back per cap until the member completes college, tech or trade school, or a stint in the military? Or at least until age 25.

If someone has kids they're not supporting, take their per cap and other tribal income and pay child support to the custodial parent or relative.

The Native Corporations in Alaska teach kids how to plan and operate a business beginning in pre-school so that they grow up to understand how to handle money better. Why not every tribe, and teach not just the little ones but the older kids and adults? Sure it's money, but it's a resource, and our traditional cultures all teach us that a resource is a gift from Creator and is to be used wisely for the greater good of all.

Being Native is not a birthright, it's a privilege, a gift from Creator. Being an enrolled member of a tribe should be considered in the same way, and each member should return many times over the investment that the tribe and the ancestors have made in him/her.

[ron red eagle]

Well, this much I can say. As a board member of the Tennessee Native American Convention , our Commission (Tenn Commission of Indian Affairs) is aware of this organization and their attempts to gain recognitiion.

What this group is doing (the CWC ULC) is going to each county commissionare and pleading their case, in hopes that once they get support of most of the counties, those that actually do approve or disapprove state recognition will have no choice but to approve them.

However we do have rules and what not on who can, and cannot be recoginized, and the counties of Tenn are being made aware of these rules.

For more info on the recognition criteria go here
RECOGNITION CRITERIA FOR NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS for Tennessee

[Peacekeeper83]

Thats my first impression...gaing a recognition as being a legitimate group....if these people were Cherokee...why are they seeking recognition as being a clan?....I have seen others using the same tactics...one group comes to mind..is an association of.."bands" southern eastern Cherokee....Running Horse band is one thats local....for a modest fee...you too can become a member....
Its become one of the biggest scams in the country....creating a tribe...selling membership....and exploiting their new found heritage..for the benifit of a few....whats its doing it hurting people in two ways.....first...it gives the Anglo community a misrepresentation of the Actual Native community...second of all...its making it harder for legitimate tribes to gain recognition,because of the reputation the fake tribes are gaining....
It bothers me to no end..seeing what this is becoming....people thinking..there is money to be made by being Native..the Govt...don't just write checks..because you are enrolled...not always is there money for our children to go to college....there is nothing glamourous about reservation life..( I was told one time in a Msn chat...that they lived reservation style in Missouri...by someone claiming to be Blackfoot Cherokee...)commodities are no prize either...when given the choice between foodies and commods..most choose the foodies..(food stamps)...when we get homes built...its usually of the shotgun shack type...maybe a two bedroom.....I could go on and on......but it does no good...
trying to make some people understand..is like talking to a dog....you get tired and the dog still looks at you silly.....my rant is at an end......

[park]

What he said

Tsanuwa Usgolv : You have GOT to stop making sense like that.

[amo]

Klamath Indians or the Modoc's near the California and Oregon border

Settlement in the 100,000's to take the money and live without a tribal name.

The Modoc Tribal Members that did not sell out for the money kept their lands

The Modoc's that took the money are left without being from the Modoc Indian Nation.

Present:

The Modoc's that sold out want to get back into their respective tribes.

Resortration Tribes or someting to that .........

The Modoc's that did not sell out have the say or don't they.....

It is just a ploy that the State(s) play on Indian(s) all across the U.S.

[NativeWay]

site below can explain this clan

http://www.cherokeewolfclan.org/index1.htm

[Gache]

These are the kinds of people that are warping any sense of what white america will see us as.

[WolfTears]

WHEREAS, over 15,000 American Indians are today residents of Tennessee; thousands

of other Tennesseans proudly claim some Indian ancestry, but lack the precise genealogical

evidence to document it; and

WHEREAS, dramatic evidence of a resurgent American Indian presence in this State is

the formation of the Cherokee Wolf Clan, based in Yuma in southeastern Carroll County; the

Wolf Clan, comprised of Cherokees, Shawnees, Apaches, Blackfoot, and various other tribes, is

governed by a formal constitution, with a Principal Chief, a Cabinet, a Tribal Council, and a

Tribal Court; and

WHEREAS, the Wolf Clan publishes three newsletters to keep its membership in touch,

including the Wolf Clan Howls for adult members, the Wolf Cub News for junior members, and

The Chief Speaks, pertaining to tribal law and spirituality, as well as cultural history; the Wolf

Clan hopes to unite all Native Americans in Tennessee and has long range plans for a Native

American Museum, a library, a school, a tribal office, a playground, and a location for its

Powwow; and

WHEREAS, the Cherokee Wolf Clan is ably lead by Principal Chief, Joseph Manycoats

and Council Members Alma "Little Crow" Messina, Peggy "Blue Moon" Walters, Georgie

"Summer Rain" Poland, Betty "Morning Sky" Dreaden, Ann "Snow Dove" Shields, Ralph

"Coyote Brother" Lane, Clark "Running Wolf" Rochelle, Ruvina "Raven" Garrison, Michael "Rain

in the Face" Border, Janie "Spirit Wolf" Walters, Terri "Purple Sky" Ward, Sarah "Night Shade"

Walters and Kippy "Many Eagles" Vaughn; and

WHEREAS, a wholehearted recognition of the role of the original peoples of this State

and region is long overdue; and our official approval of the admirable goals of the Cherokee

Wolf Clan is appropriate at this time; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL

ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

CONCURRING, that this General Assembly go on record as endorsing the approval of the

Cherokee Wolf Clan as recognized Native American Indians in the State of Tennessee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared

for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy

Now you tell Me , someone from the Cherokee nations best stop this before any Wannabee Clan can do what they are trying to do !
Come on can't they see what is behind this clan .. If you are not on the rolls you are just out of luck .. So are we going to accept any an all Clans now ....This makes me SICK ! Those of us that have fought all our lifes to be who we are an keep our satus as REAL NDN ppl . IF you have never written to a commission I suggest you do it before it is to late! Just my 2!!!!!!!!!!

[One Hot Mama]

About 20 yrs ago the so-called Tennesse Band of Cherokee tried to get state recognition as a tribe and Wilma Mankiller flew in and put a stop to it. Wilma, where are you now?

[Badmutha]

Every once in a while some story about some group of $20 Cherokees pops up. Some foolish reporter with some foolish editor allows some quotes from Chief Joe Steps in Buffalo Chips, and the group all of the sudden gets some degree of credibility. The newspaper that published this bunk needs to be taken to task. How much effort does it take to make a phone call to one of the three recognized tribes?

Maybe the legitimate tribes should charge each of these circuses for use of the Cherokee name, making per capita payments to each federally-recognized Cherokee. It'd either make us rich, or these people would all of the sudden stop being Cherokee.

Trying to "stop" them is like trying to stop a swarm of killer bees with a fly swatter.

[Kiowa2write4horror]

Why, I otta!

Greed! This is plan greed!

I'm Cherokee, raised in Tahlequah, OK, which is were the Cherokee Nation headquarters is located. And this 'clan' waters down our legitemacy. While Wilma Mankiller is no longer our Chief, you right our currant Chief Chad Smith might want to hear about this. We can send him an e-mail at www.cherokee.org

I know I will.

Good lookin out!

[WolfTears]

Thank you that is what I am wanting . Is a REAL Cherokee Chief to step in here . Since I am not Cherokee I am told I am only saying they need not be recognized because I am not Cherokee ...COMMMMMEEEEEEEE ONNNNNN . Look at the Bio ..an the name alone ...lmao ...

[WolfTears]

The Cherokee Wolf Clan, a Yuma, Tenn.-based Native American group, has been kicking up a fuss by bypassing the Tennessee Commission on Indian Affairs and asking county governments across the state for official recognition.

Commission members say the whole point of their group is to evaluate such claims by the state's Native Americans and that the Cherokee Wolf Clan has been bypassing the process.

But Joseph Manycoats Walters, clan principal chief, said the group was simply trying to get county recognition so it could apply for government grants in places where members are in need of social services. Walters said he is considering ending the group's effort to gain county recognition.

''I don't think it's worth the fighting anymore,'' Walters said. ''It just gives everybody a bad name.''

In Nashville, Metro Councilman Jim Forkum is figuring out how to undo a resolution passed by the council last week that he sponsored. ''I was just trying to help a Native American group,'' Forkum said. ''But I definitely didn't want to get in the middle. I felt like it was something they needed to work out within the Native American community.''

Carroll County, where the group is based, also has withdrawn a resolution.

At least 15 counties in West Tennessee have either withdrawn or tabled similar resolutions after members of the Tennessee Commission on Indian Affairs intervened, according to Commissioner Evangeline Lynch.

''The Tennessee Commission on Indian Affairs makes the final decision on granting recognition to different groups or tribes,'' Lynch said, ''not a city council or even the state legislature.'' The commission members were democratically elected by self-identified Native Americans across the state to lead the community by defining the guidelines for a state-recognized tribe, Lynch said. Efforts like Walters' ignore that groundwork by asking governments rather than Native Americans to set those guidelines, leaders said.

All of that has been overkill, Walters said. ''We just help people. We just wanted recognition to apply for grants'' to continue social services, such as assisting the homebound and providing food baskets to the neediest among the estimated 500-600 members statewide.

Walters said his group was not trying to get state recognition and therefore was not bypassing the commission.

Walters says the effort is just another sign of how divisive Native American politics is in Tennessee, where there are no state-recognized tribes.

Meanwhile, state Sen. Don McLeary has introduced a bill granting the Wolf Clan and other Native Americans in the state official recognition.

But Lynch said she and others had met yesterday with McLeary, who promised to table the bill.

McLeary could not be reached last night

Thank you John an everyone else that has kept us up to date on this issue .
:D :D