Canku Ota Logo
Canku Ota
Canku Ota Logo
(Many Paths)
An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
 
 
 
pictograph divider
 
 
Cherokee Councils Gather At Red Clay
 
 
by Cherokee Phoenix staff reports
Cherokee Nation Tribal Council Speaker Joe Byrd, Tribal Council Secretary Frankie Hargis and Tribal Councilors Keith Austin, Bryan Warner and Shawn Crittenden cast their votes during the Tri-Council meeting on Aug. 28 at Red Clay State Park in Tennessee. (courtesy photo)

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Leaders from the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians gathered on Aug. 28 at Red Clay State Park for a historic Tri-Council meeting.

The event marked the first time all three federally recognized Cherokee tribes assembled for a council meeting at Red Clay. After Georgia passed laws displacing Cherokees and preventing Cherokee leaders from meeting, the Cherokee capital was moved from New Echota (now in Georgia) to just over the Tennessee state line in Red Clay. Nearly a dozen separate council meetings were held there between 1832 and 1837.

“The gathering of our Cherokee governments at this sacred site is not only historic, but a strong reflection of our inherent sovereignty,” Cherokee Nation Tribal Council Speaker Joe Byrd said. “It is because of our Cherokee ancestors’ spirit of perseverance that we are able to gather and conduct the business of our people. We must always keep that in mind and protect that right for our future generations.”

The Tribal Councilors voted on several resolutions:

  • Requiring all cultural or historical presenters or artisans claiming to be Cherokee to be verified by one of the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes,
  • Recognizing, commending and supporting the efforts of the Cherokee Language Consortium and requiring that all Cherokee language materials distributed to the public, such as billboards, signs, brochures, newsletters and pamphlets, be approved by at least three members of the Cherokee Language Consortium to assure accuracy and authenticity,
  • Recognizing the ongoing contribution of the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum in enhancing visitors’ understanding of Sequoyah and the Cherokee people’s history, and
  • Affirming no change can be made to the Cherokee syllabary without the consensus of the Tri-Council.

During Tri-Council, attendees also visited Cherokee, North Carolina, and toured the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ recently completed $28 million justice center and the tribe’s $80 million hospital under construction. Attendees also watched a performance of the play Sliver of a Full Moon, written by CN citizen Mary Kathryn Nagle and directed by CN citizen Betsy Richards.

Tri-Council unites the legislative branches of government of the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes and is designed to create a unified and federally recognized Cherokee voice dedicated to promoting and advancing tribal sovereignty.

The CN will host the next Tri-Council meeting in 2016.

pictograph divider
Home PageFront PageArchivesOur AwardsAbout Us
Kid's PageColoring BookCool LinksGuest BookEmail Us
 
pictograph divider
 
  Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments . We do not provide subscriber or visitor names to anyone. Some articles presented in Canku Ota may contain copyright material. We have received appropriate permissions for republishing any articles. Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.  
 
Canku Ota is a copyright © 2000 - 2015 of Vicki Williams Barry and Paul Barry.
 
Canku Ota Logo   Canku Ota Logo
The "Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America" web site and its design is the
Copyright © 1999 - 2015 of Paul C. Barry.
All Rights Reserved.

Site Meter
Thank You

Valid HTML 4.01!