Monday, June 28, 2010
Tribe Recognition Sparks Controversy
Former commissioners with the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs have opposed the recent recognition of six Native American tribes, including Lawrence County’s Central Band of Cherokee, stating that members of the current commission have a conflict of interest, and requesting that the decision be reviewed.
Local tribe leaders learned June 19 they had received notification that six tribes had been designated “Tennessee State Recognized American Indian Tribes.” The designation grants each tribe legal minority status and allows the groups to apply for grant funds, insurance and healthcare coverage.
The group of ten former commissioners issued a statement via email on Friday denouncing the recognition. They allege the recognition is “illegitimate” and claim that current members have an “egregious conflict of interest.”
They point out that four of the current commissioners are members of tribes recognized; two currently serving as tribal chiefs. The email asserted, “Such illegitimate tribal recognition is an intentional fraud perpetrated on Cherokee, Lenape and Yuchi people to steal their political identities.” In addition, they asserted that the recognition is a “gross violation” of state policy.
The group of commissioners has requested that the Tennessee Attorney General and Secretary of State conduct a complete review of the decision.
Central Band of Cherokee Chief, Joe Sitting Owl White, said the local group has worked diligently since 1999 to obtain tribal status. He indicated that the group of approximately 1,000 members has remained in hiding since the Trail of Tears in 1831, claiming to be of other nationalities in order to avoid being resettled on reservations in Oklahoma.
White indicated he was not surprised by the challenge, indicating that members of the commission had repeatedly refused to recognize the Central Band of Cherokee despite the fact that they had met all state-required criteria.
White feels that recognition of the tribes will generate millions of dollars in tourism revenue in their respective areas. To date, he said the local tribe has logged around 100,000 visitors at the Cherokee Museum on the Lawrenceburg Public Square.
White says gaining the official designation will drastically increase that number, thus generating more tourism dollars and boosting the local economy.
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