And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 13:40:44 EST
Hau Kola,
I am writing this letter to let you know what has transpired here in the Erwin
community about the Mascot Issue.
As most of you are aware from the very beginning of this whole mess here in
Erwin the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have taken a neutral position on
what is going on. They have tried not to involve themselves nor take a stand
in any direction, also stating many times that the decision on what was to be
done was in the hands of the school board.
>From the very beginning we (the intertribal Assoc.) have made it very clear
that we are not spokes persons for the EBCI nor do we wish to even try to
speak for them. But we have also stated that there are 55,000 other Indian
people in the state of NC and most of them being represented by the North
Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs out of Raleigh have said very loudly
that they were not pleased with the entire Mascot image and wanted it to be
removed.
We the Intertribal Assoc. have never failed at anytime to send invitations to
the EBIC to attend every event that has been associated with the mascot issue,
such as the presentation made by Charlene Teters and the media events
pertaining to the mascot issue. Each invatition was declined by the EBCI and
they maintained their nuteral position. Stating no involvement.
But when it boiled down to the final decision the school board and DOJ went to
Principle Chief Joyce Dugan and asked for the ECIB to make the final decision
on what to do about the Mascot Issue.
Now considering that the EBCI have the franchise of selling the tomahawks to
the Atlanta Braves, and most of the stores in downtown Cherokee sell any item
that the tourist trade demands, e.g. S**** Belts and boots, Pipes, Prayer
wheels ETC, and they have the famous "take your picture with and Indian Chief
for a 1.00" while supporting places such as the Redskin Motel and various
other things that for many other Indian People are considered extremely
offensive. Would it be safe to say that for the EBCI to be able to make
decision on what will effect Indian People all over the country can be made
without a direct Conflict of Interest.
For so many years the EBCI have found a way to survive and prosper on
reservation but for many it has been by the prostitution of Indian Culture.
Because of the fact that most of the stores on Cherokee are owned and operated
by Whites and have the mindset that we will give the tourist whatever they
want to leave their money when they leave.
Now the government is asking the EBCI to make the single decision on weather
the Mascot is OK for all Indian people. If you were Principle Chief what would
you say?
Would you want to cut off a major part of your income for what is good for all
or would you protect your own people and say the Heck with the others.
At no time has the Intertribal Assoc. been asked to have our input into this
final decision nor have we been able to participate in any of the education.
Although we are the ones that brought the complaint in the first place. Also
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs (appointed by the Governor of NC) has been
excluded from his input.
They have also asked Principle Chief Joyce Dugan to walk through the school
and point out any item that may be considered scared or of a spiritual meaning
to Indian people. Now considering that Principle Chief Joyce Dugan chose to
sell a Cherokee grave site to Walmart to be paved over for a parking lot, is
this such a wise decision by the DOJ and the School Board for the future of
what is considered a final decision?
All we ask is contact the DOJ and or the school board and ask that the other
55,000 Indian people in this state be allowed to have input into this action
that will impact First Nations people all over the country.
Please forward this letter to whomever you think would like to know what is
going on here in NC, As we told the School Board at the very beginning of this
entire mess We are not going to go away.
In Spirit
Bruce
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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