domingo, 26 de junio de 2005

PRELIMINARY 2005 TNNAC caucus results

----- Original Message -----
From: VickySpitsFire Garland
To: tn-ind@tnind.net
Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005 3:05 AM
Subject: [tn-ind] PRELIMINARY 2005 TNNAC caucus results


All,
This is the PRELIMINARY 2005 TNNAC caucus results. At::
http://www.tnnac.org/2005_prelim_caucus_results.html

_______________________________________________
tn-ind mailing list
tn-ind@tnind.net
http://mail.tnind.net/mailman/listinfo/tn-ind_tnind.net

=========================================================================



http://www.tnnac.org/2005_prelim_caucus_results.html

These results are preliminary and have not been reviewed by the TNNAC board.
-------

Voting places & voter turn-out for 2005

Memphis - 22
Jackson - 15
Nashville - 14
Manchester - 20
Chattanooga - 18
Knoxville - 4
Greeneville - 17

2005 Total Caucus Voter Turn-out: 110

----

It would be interesting to compare this voter turn-out with the previous caucus' turn-out. Does anyone have that information?

And apparently the "One Board" referendum's preliminary report is that it failed to pass: 69 rejected versus 41 approved.

Donna

jueves, 23 de junio de 2005

Referendum " One Board"

I am the Author and Sponser for the One Board referendum. I put it out there with alot of hard work rounding up signatures from all three grand divisions, to let the people have a vote on what happens in their politics. Nothing more, nothing less. Just let the people have a vote. That is what we do. I am elected by the people to represent them, to do as I feel they would want me too. So I go back and ask them what they want done. This has been a question for many years now, how can someone sit on all the different boards and be objective. So let the people decide. That is all I have to say about that.Vicky

2 Days to Go

2 Days to go.

All,
Are you getting ready to Vote on Saturday June 25, 2005. This is your chance to make your voice heard. Go out to one of the seven area caucuses and VOTE. Don't sit home and fuss about who is in what position. Get up and go Vote, elect who you want, that is a applicant to that position.
This is your chance to express your choices use it wisely, VOTE.www.tnnac.org

miércoles, 22 de junio de 2005

Vote 'No' on the "One Board" referendum

> 2. One Board
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Whereas: The number of people involved in the politics of the Indian community in the State of Tennessee has improved since we started in 2001 and, the Indian Community has 3 separate Organizations working together in the process. The Tennessee Native American Convention (TNNAC) who holds elections and sends a list of names to the State to fill the positions and, the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs (TCIA) are selected from the names submitted by TNNAC for the TCIA seats and, the Advisory Council of Tennessee Indian Affairs are also selected from names submitted by TNNAC and the TNNAC board members are selected in this process also.
>
> Whereas: It appears improper for a person sitting on an election commission (TNNAC) to be able to hold his own elections if running for TCIA or ACTIA seat and, all these organizations are separate entities,
>
> Whereas: We feel that sitting on more than one of these boards presents a conflict of interest.
>
> Therefore: Be it resolved that no individual shall sit on more than one (1) of these boards/Commissions/ organizations at a time; Tennessee Native American Convention (TNNAC), Advisory Council (ACTIA), and Commission of Indian Affairs (TCIA). If you are appointed to said Board/Commission/Organization then you would have to give up any seat on the others.



Vote 'No' on the "One Board" referendum
-----------------------------------------------------------
The purpose of this referendum is to eliminate the possibility of any person serving on more than one of three boards, the Commission of Indian Affairs (TCIA), the Advisory Council on Tennessee Indian Affairs (ACTIA), and the Tennessee Native American Convention (TNNAC).

Both the Advisory Council (ACTIA) and TNNAC already have bylaws that disallow the Commissioners from sitting on these boards:

BYLAWS OF THE TENNESSEE NATIVE AMERICAN CONVENTION (TNNAC)
ARTICLE 4. MEMBERSHIP
(5) In order to avoid any perception of a possible conflict of interest, no Commissioner of Indian Affairs shall be a member of TNNAC nor shall s/he be a caucus officer for the duration of his/her appointed two-year term.
and

By-Laws of the Advisory Council on Tennessee Indian Affairs (ACTIA)
ARTICLE 4. MEMBERSHIP
(5) No Commissioner of Indian Affairs shall be a member of ACTIA, and no officer of the Tennessee Native American Convention shall be an officer of ACTIA.

---

Given that ACTIA and TNNAC both already disallow Commissioner membership, then the resolution proposes -no change- regarding Commissioner status in those organizations.

That leaves ACTIA and TNNAC ... and ACTIA already disallows TNNAC officers from ACTIA membership.

So the only net change this referendum proposes is disallowing dual membership in ACTIA and TNNAC. Currently there are only two persons who have dual membership in ACTIA and TNNAC, neither of whom is an officer in either organization: Sandi Perry of Nashville and tom kunesh of Chattanooga.

This resolution is the equivalent of trying to drive a screw into wood using a sledgehammer: it's using the wrong tool and the wrong amount of force.

First, - is there a problem? Have either the Nashville or Chattanooga caucuses complained that they are over- or under-represented by these two people serving on both ACTIA and TNNAC? No. Have either ACTIA or TNNAC complained that either of these two people over- or under-represent their caucuses' interests? No. If there's no complaint from these caucuses or organizations about their representation, what is the issue? Are other caucuses complaining that Nashville and Chattanooga are under- or over-represented by these two people? No. If there's no complaint, what is the issue?

Second, - should the Convention be attempting to resolve a non-problem? No.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Meddling in organizations in which there is no actual problem is just plain wrong. It also sets a dangerous precedent of the Convention attempting to control organizations without a demonstrable problem.

Third, - who should appropriately fix the problem if one occurs? ACTIA and TNNAC already foresaw the problem of Commissioners on their boards and prohibit Commissioners from being members of their boards. A simple solution made by the organizations themselves. If and when a problem occurs, expect the organizations themselves to fix it. If the problem continues to exist, -then- propose a solution.

Fourth, "the number of people involved in the politics of the Indian community in the State of Tennessee" has -not- improved since 2003. And this year there are actually fewer candidates, and only one person who hasn't served on any of the three organizations before. In 2005 there are 14 persons running for 37 possible positions (4 commissioner-nominee positions in 4 caucuses = 16; 3 ACTIA positions in 4 caucuses = 12; 1 TNNAC position in all 7 caucuses = 7; and 2 state commission nominations). While there may be more internet political commentary in 2005 than in 2001, there is approximately the same number of -committed- people involved in statewide indian political representation - about 35.
There are 47 possible positions to fill in the TNCIA, ACTIA and TNNAC (7 Commissioners; 24 ACTIA, 16 TNNAC). Of these 47 positions, only 24 are filled by active members. That's a 48% -vacancy- of _committed_ people who are _active_ in statewide indian political representation. Until more people get actively involved it seems a silly proposal to tell 2 of the 24 that they can't be as actively involved as they have offered ... not because of any actual problem but just because, well, it seems that they may be -too- involved for too long ... since before the old Commission was sunset. There are more political -critics- today than in 2001, but not more willing political representatives.

Fifth, while the argument contained in the referendum refers to an "improper" "appear"ance, and a "feel"ing of "conflict of interest", no actual impropriety or conflict of interest has been demonstrated. "Appearance" and a "feeling" are insufficient reasons to meddle in the affairs of two organizations that have served the Indian community well these past four years.

Sixth, since there is no actual problem specified, and since there are only two persons whom this proposed rule change would affect, the "problem" appears to be personal: some folks don't like Sandi Perry and/or tom kunesh serving on these two boards. The "problem" is that their caucuses elected them to serve double duty, and they have and are serving their caucuses in these positions. The "problem" was thus created by their respective caucuses, not by ACTIA or TNNAC. - Who should choose who represents the caucus on the ACTIA and TNNAC boards? The Convention? No. The caucuses themselves. That's why the caucus elections of ACTIA and TNNAC board members begin and end at the local caucus: caucuses elect their ACTIA and TNNAC representatives, not the Convention. If the caucuses want different people serving on the two different boards, then the caucus should elect different people to the two boards. And if a caucus wants the same person doing double duty, - why should the Convention interfere in the decision-making? Let the caucus decide its own representatives. If and when "the number of people involved in the politics of the" local caucus increases, the responsibilities will be spread out. Til then, don't penalize Nashville and Chattanooga for having a couple of dedicated ACTIA and TNNAC board members. Sandi Perry and tom kunesh are both running for ACTIA and TNNAC board positions again this election. The solution is easy: let the Nashville and Chattanooga caucuses decide on their own representation to ACTIA and TNNAC.

Seventh, a summary. Appearances and feelings aside, there is no actual problem that this referendum addresses. Until there is an actual problem, the Convention should not meddle in local caucus and organizations' affairs. There are no Commissioners on either of the ACTIA or TNNAC boards, and both ACTIA and TNNAC have rules against Commissioners being members of their boards, making Commissioner involvement in ACTIA and TNNAC a non-issue. Local representation is a local issue and the organizations' issue; it is not the Convention's place to be deciding who the caucus can or cannot elect to best represent their interests. When more people get actively involved in political representation at the caucus level, the local ACTIA and TNNAC positions will more than likely be filled by different people. Easy: let it happen naturally, as the caucuses and organizations themselves feel the need.
Vote 'No' on the "One Board" referendum

domingo, 12 de junio de 2005

Native-American activist pleads for Nickajack Shores to be left alone

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/perspectives/article/0,1406,KNS_2797_3845682,00.html

Native-American activist pleads for Nickajack Shores to be left alone
By TOM KUNESH
June 12, 2005


Burns Island in the Tennessee River, less than a mile below the Nickajack Dam 25 miles west of Chattanooga, is a privately owned 220-acre Native American site with artifacts that date to 2,400 years, ceded to the United States by the Cherokee Nation in 1819. It is so culturally significant that it is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, a designation that would give it protection under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

The Little Cedar Mountain property is a beautiful 756-acre tract of farm fields and lakeshore land just above the Nickajack Dam that the Tennessee Valley Authority took from Euro-American farmers by eminent domain in the 1960s to build a dam at the old Indian town of Shellmound/Nickajack. Little Cedar Mountain and the adjacent land, including the old town sites now underwater, long have been a sacred site to Native Americans. It was the last still-public land where Dragging Canoe and his Chickamauga band were centered in their resistance to the expanding white encroachment.

John "Thunder" Thornton, CEO of Thunder Enterprises in Chattanooga, wants to swap 1,100 acres of land he recently purchased for 578 acres of TVA lakeshore property next to Little Cedar Mountain. Thornton bought Burns Island, appraised at $593,000, to sweeten the deal for TVA. Thornton calls his proposed development Nickajack Shores.

If this were just a land swap, it would be business as usual, trading acres here for acres there. But what Thornton has done, and what he wants TVA to buy into, is nothing less than cultural terrorism.

"Artifacts" is the term archaeologists use to dispassionately describe the household and human remains of an old site that gain meaning and significance only when dug up, collected, studied and explained. To descendants of the people who lived there, however, these are sacred sites, and the dead and their resting places are to remain intact and protected from all exposure. At least this is the traditional belief in Native-American culture today.

Burns Island contains the cultural heritage and bodies of Native Americans. Burns Island, while being private property in the Euro-American developer's world, is a sacred site to Native Americans. The right thing for a good person to do is to give or sell the land back to the Muskogee (Creek) Nation and descendants of the people who lived there. Or if giving or selling land back to the Indians is not preferred, giving the archaeological easement to the tribe or to a trust like the InterTribal Sacred Land Trust or even to TVA. Or at least submit the recent archaeological report paid for by Thunder Enterprises for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places so it can receive federal protection from any further damage.

The immoral and unethical thing to do is to use sacred land and the cultural patrimony of Native Americans as a bargaining chip between a Euro-American public utility and a Euro-American land developer. Thornton and Thunder Enterprises know that Burns Island should be preserved as it is.

Thornton himself has said the island is eminently developable but needs preservation and protection. Thornton has both the knowledge and the power to protect Burns Island, but apparently is reluctant to do the right thing, in essence holding the island hostage in negotiations for the other piece of land he really wants -- Little Cedar Mountain.

There is an implicit threat contained in these negotiations: Give me Little Cedar Mountain, or Burns Island gets developed. TVA doesn't see it because it's looking at the land as acreage and wetlands and artifacts -- better toys to play with -- and because it's a secular business. But at the May 24 TVA-sponsored hearing in South Pittsburg, Tenn., Thornton (claimed to already have someone else's earlier plans) for a 220-unit housing development on Burns Island and that the solution was for TVA to swap some land for it.

Developing a sacred site -- destroying the cultural and religious integrity of the land -- creates fear of loss among religious people, especially in America among Native Americans. The creation of fear is the primary component of terrorism. To threaten development of a Native American sacred site -- holding it hostage as a bargaining chip -- is cultural terrorism.

Native Americans should not negotiate with any person who buys Native-American sacred sites to trade them for other property. TVA, a federal agency, should abide by federal policy and should not negotiate with any person who buys Native-American sacred sites to trade them for other property.

Thornton is doing what grave-robbers of Native American sites have been doing for years, just on a much larger scale: finding and buying an entire 220-acre Native-American site to sell to an old collector of Native-American sites, TVA.

Save Little Cedar Mountain. Say no to cultural terrorism. Say no to environmental racism. Demand that TVA stop negotiating for a Native-American sacred site. Demand that Burns Island and Little Cedar Mountain be protected -- by Muskogean tribes and towns, by Native Americans, by Euro-Americans everywhere.

__________________________________________________
Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monitory gain to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the material for research and educational purposes. This is in accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. section 107.

TNNAC Caucus Fliers

Author: Vicky Garland
Email: vlg42@hotmail.com
Subject: TNNAC Caucus Fliers
Date: Sun Jun 12 14:41:16 2005



All,
TNNAC caucus fliers are available for printing/coping to distribute widely. Please print and place in your communities. Thank you, Vicky Garland, TNNAC Press Chairperson

they are individually available online at
http://www.tnnac.org/tnnac2005vote-manchester.pdf
http://www.tnnac.org/tnnac2005vote-jackson.pdf
http://www.tnnac.org/tnnac2005vote-memphis.pdf
http://www.tnnac.org/tnnac2005vote-knoxville.pdf
http://www.tnnac.org/tnnac2005vote-nashville.pdf
http://www.tnnac.org/tnnac2005vote-chattanooga.pdf
http://www.tnnac.org/tnnac2005vote-greeneville.pdf

and all together at: http://www.tnnac.org/tnnac2005vote-all.pdf

viernes, 10 de junio de 2005

Use Your Voice



VOTE. tnnac.org


Elections of Indian Affairs Commissioner nominees,
Advisory Council, Convention, e t c.,



KNOXVILLE AREA CAUCUS
- includes Anderson, Blount, Grainger,

Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Roane, Sevier & Union Counties

Saturday, 25 June 2005, 7pm

City-County Building, 400 West Main Street, Knoxville


jueves, 2 de junio de 2005

2006 - 7th Annual All Nations American Indian Festival

Make plans now for next year's spring event at MTSU.

---------------------------------------

http://windthruherhair.tripod.com/tn.html

7th Annual All Nations American Indian Festival
March 3 - 5, 2006
Tennessee Livestock Center
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
All Nation's Flags Invited!
All Eagle Staffs Welcome!
All Dancers Welcome!
All Drums Welcome!
Indoor Arena
Climate Controlled
Camping Hookups
Free Parking
Non-Political
Non-Profit
Scholarship Benefit Program
Non-Competition Festival/Powwow
Address: AmerindFest, MTSU
Box #267
Middle State Tennessee University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Phone: (615) 898-5645
Email: powwow@mtsu.edu
Website: http://www.mtsu.edu/powwow

Let Freedom Sing II

----- Original Message -----
From: VickySpitsFire Garland
To: Donna
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 11:51 AM
Subject: Help posting


Donna,
I am attaching a flyer could you get it on your list for me. And the
events list. I am a member of the Giles County Tennessee Memorial Committee.
This is for our trail of Tears project. Thanks, Vicky

-------------------------

Let Freedom Sing II

2nd Annual Musical Concert to Benefit the
Giles County Trail of Tears Memorial - Interpretive Center

Tickets on Sale Now

Call: 931-363-3789

$15 Advance

$20 Day of Show

Buy Blocks of 10 or 20 & Save!

Call for Details

Country Music Artist Jeff Bates "Long, Slow Kisses" in Concert

Opening for Jeff Chris Hennessee and Guest

Bring Your Own Lawn Chairs

Thursday - June 16, 2005 - 7:00 PM

(unable to read sponsor list - print too small)

--------

Directions to the event, from Vicky:

It is in Pulaski Tennessee at the Recreation center above Pleasant Run Park
just East of the Highway 31 and highway 64 crossing.

Friends of Bottom View Farm Native American Festival and Powwow

June 4 & 5, 2005
Friends of Bottom View Farm Native American Festival and Powwow
Bottom View Farm
Portland, TN
Dancing, Arts & Crafts, Music, Silent Auction, Food and Family Fun
Benefiting Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital
Saturday and Sunday: 9 am to 6 pm
Admission: Children under 5 = FREE
Youth to 12 = $3
Adults = $6
All veterans welcome!
All drums and dancers welcome!
Grand Entry: Saturday at 12 pm and Sunday at 1 pm
Emcee: J.J. Kent, Singing Wolf Records NA flute recording artist
Head Veteran: C.D. Allen
Head Man: James Yellow Eagle
Head Lady: Loretta Howard
Arena Director: Red Kirby
Celebration Concert on Saturday at 6:30 PM with Powwow admission
Concert in covered amphitheater, featuring many artists and musical styles
All dancers are registered for the raffle and luck o’ the draw!
Camping available!
No firearms or alcohol
No selling of artifacts or sacred items, including stone pipes
For directions to Bottom View Farm, visit http://www.portlandtn.com/bottom_view_farm.htm#Directions

For more information contact:
Cathy Gregory
615-851-2623

Joe Johnston
joe@joejohnstonarts.com 615-333-7500

Crystal Rosser Rossercg@hotmail.com

2nd Annual Bell's & Benge's Memorial Motorcycle Ride & American Indian Social

from Vicky. Thanks!
_____________________________

Go to: http://www.gilescountychamber.com/chamber.nsf/?Open
From the Menu on the left, click on "Special Events".
About mid-way down the page, click on "2nd Annual Bell's & Benge's Memorial Motorcycle Ride & American Indian Social".


Special Events
2nd Annual Bell's & Benge's Memorial Motorcycle Ride
& American Indian Social

2004 Premiere Ride
In 1830, with Tennessean Andrew Jackson as President, the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Removal Act. Tennessee Congressman David Crockett bitterly opposed the bill with many others, yet it passed by only one vote.

The Indian removal of 1838-1839 displaced over 100,000 Native American Indians from their ancestral homes in the Southeastern United States to a reservation over 1,000 miles away in the territory now known as Oklahoma. This removal was conducted by forcing the Indians to travel by four primary routes. Approximately 4000 died along the way, and the Cherokees called it, "Nunna dual Isuny", which translates as "The Trail Where We Cried".

Today, it is referred to as the Trail of Tears.

Two of the land routes, Bell’s and Benge’s, passed through Giles County and crossed in Pulaski, making this the only location in the United States to have a connection to more than one land removal route. The convergence of these two historic trails in Pulaski, and Crockett’s strong opposition to the Indian removal inspired the construction of a fitting memorial to the Trail of Tears and to David Crockett.

Saturday, November 5 will be a date to truly remember the people who walked the "Trail of Tears".

The Giles County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Foundation would like for you to participate in the 2nd Annual Motorcycle Ride and Premiere Reenactment Walk to remember those who walked the Trail of Tears.

Riders will leave at the Ride Captains discretion. The walk begin on Jefferson and Village Square and continue onto South First Street turn onto East College Street converging at 11:00 a.m. at the soon to be "Trail of Tears Interpretive Center" parking lot in Pulaski. Native American Social to follow.

At the beginning of the ride you will be given an envelope. Inside will be the name of the Head of Family who walked the Benge’s Route. They will be riding in memory of that Family Group. When we come together at the TOT Memorial in Pulaski there will be a special presentation for the riders.

All donations will benefit the Giles County Trail of Tears Memorial Interpretive Center.

For more information, call 931-363-3789 or e-mail, gctourism@bellsouth.net

---------------

Also here is what the flyer says:

COME TOGETHER TO REMEMBER

Come with us as we take a fall ride down picturesque roads to remember the
Native Americans who were forced to walk the Bell's and Benge's TRAIL OF TEARS Routes through Giles County, Tennessee. We observe this memorial during this time of year instead of in the summer because both of these detachments came through Giles County during the mid-fall. Benge's Detachment in late October, Bell's Detachment in early November. It was a miserable journey for them. Along the trail the Cherokee endured inclement weather, inadequate food and water, and they lacked proper clothing. We honor them by remembering the time of year they came through this area.

At the beginning of the motorcycle ride** you will be given an envelope. Inside will be the name of the Head of Family who walked the Benge's Route.
You will be riding in memory of that Family Group. This year we will also be honoring Bell's Route by reenacting the walk through downtown Pulaski. This walk** will begin on Jefferson Street (part of the original trail) turning onto First Street south. When we come together at the Giles County Trail of Tears Memorial Interpretive Center there will be a special presentation for the motorcycle riders and for the walkers. At this time our Native Gathering will begin. This is an Indian Social event where all people will "Come Together to Remember."

This event is FREE. Donations, will be accepted to benefit the Giles County
Trail of Tears Memorial Interpretive Center.


CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION - (931) 363-3789
CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR UPDATES

**Ride Departure Sites will be determined at a later date.
Riders will leave from these sites at the Ride Captain's direction at approximately 10:00 A.M.
Re-enactment Walkers will gather at the Trail of Tears Memorial Interpretive
Center Parking lot and proceed on to Jefferson Street.
Walkers will depart from Jefferson Street at the Walk Captain's direction at
approximately 10:00 A.M.