Stop the Wannabee Clans

[Wojapi4Me]

This group is recognized in the state of Tennessee as a church. They set themselves up in that manner so they could claim tax-exempt status. They want people to think they are tax-exempt because they are an Indian tribe, but it's because they are a church.

Tsiniti is right in that there are no federally- or state-recognized tribes in Tennessee at the moment. But, it's not because there isn't a reservation or land base. It's because no groups meet the criteria to be a tribe.

As to Tsiniti's little jab at the "enrolled Cherokee"...why is that necessary? These people feel "put upon" as you said it because they are sick and tired of having to deal with all these little groups popping up from Florida to Oregon (yeah, there is a group in Oregon claiming they were on the Trail and kept going). It's all so ridiculous.

Granted, some people might have left the Trail so to speak and settled along the way, but entire groups didn't and these people certainly have not maintained a tribal identity, community or culture. As there are documented cases of Cherokees walking back from Oklahoma to the homeland in North Carolina, I doubt many just settled in an area and were content with that. It's just not documented.

[Mato Winyan]

These people feel "put upon" as you said it because they are sick and tired of having to deal with all these little groups popping up from Florida to Oregon (yeah, there is a group in Oregon claiming they were on the Trail and kept going). It's all so ridiculous.

Energizer Natives..... they kept going...and going... and going!!!

:rofl2:

[milehighsalute]

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......

agreed