We are a group of concerned enrolled Cherokees and descendants from the three
federally recognized Cherokee tribes; the Cherokee Nation, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; who demand that Elizabeth Warren tell the
truth about her "Cherokee" ancestry and identity. Our group, 156 members strong and growing each day, is in it's infancy so we are, at this time, an informal one with no specific organizational structure. Spokespeople for the group are Twila Barnes and David Cornsilk.
The struggle for truth is being portrayed in the press as a conservatives against liberals issue. Both have been guilty of perpetuating myths and stereotypes about Indian people and their history. Most will say there are two sides to every issue. In this case there are three sides. Unfortunately the voice of the Cherokee people is being silenced by the roar of those trying to keep Scott Brown in office or to get Elizabeth Warren elected. The voice of the Cherokee people, crying out for truth and explaining why that truth is so important, is often being ignored.
The struggle for truth is being portrayed in the press as a conservatives against liberals issue. Both have been guilty of perpetuating myths and stereotypes about Indian people and their history. Most will say there are two sides to every issue. In this case there are three sides. Unfortunately the voice of the Cherokee people is being silenced by the roar of those trying to keep Scott Brown in office or to get Elizabeth Warren elected. The voice of the Cherokee people, crying out for truth and explaining why that truth is so important, is often being ignored.
This is NOT a political group, but instead, a group that demands
Elizabeth Warren and others like her understand OUR history belongs to us and
no one has the right to try to rewrite it or make up fictitious stories so they
can fit in it or take advantage of it. Only those who meet the requirements
under Cherokee law should claim to be Cherokee. We hope to help educate
the public on what is and is not true about our history and also why the false
claims like Elizabeth Warren is making are harmful to the Cherokee people.
While I for the most part agree with and support your stance calling Ms. Warren to ante up, I find your facebook status more than a bit misleading, and perhaps even illegal. It is certainly unethical.
ReplyDeleteI think, given this attitude, it will be difficult to garner support from NON cherokees.
Many of us that you exclude will see your group for what it is, a racist, divisive, hypocritical campaign.
I hope you succeed in discrediting Ms. Warren and exposing her lies.
I hope you fail in all other of your race baiting endevours.
This is pathetic race-baiting at its worst.
ReplyDeleteAlex Pappas published a one-sided view of your take on the Warren controversy at the Daily Caller.
ReplyDeleteThe readers who have posted the "race baiter" comments were probably referred by that link and would rather that your critical comments about Scott Brown backers not be published. The whole idea of this is to push Brown by making a claim that Warren overstated her heritage decades ago.
Regarding State tribes answer me this. You said in a blanket way that ALL state recognized tribes are fake. Tribes such as those of Vriginia (The Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Nottoway, Patawomek, Nansemond etc) are all "fake" according to you. No matter that they have treaties with Great Britain and all can prove official state to state relations with Virginia that lasted through the revolution.
ReplyDeleteIs the federal government the real arbiter of who is and is not an Indian? Are you comfortable giving the same government who has screwed all of us that kind of power? Suppose in the future congress votes to terminate all recognition what then?
Be careful who you call fake and what you say because it has consequences for all of us, Cherokee or any other.
I am talking about state recognized CHEROKEE tribes, not tribes of other nations. Virgina had the huge problem of Plecker and his attempts of paper genocide against the Native population there. I understand that. If you misunderstood my comment, I am sorry. My comment was directed at STATE RECOGNIZED CHEROKEE TRIBES.
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