SOVEREIGNTY AT RISK - STATES RECOGNITION "LAWS" EQUALS NO CREDIBLE STANDARDS

http://www.youtube.com/utubecherokee#p/u/0/gp7Z4eiEuaw
A National Aboriginal Rights issue is facing all of our First Nations today. Look no further than Vermont and New Hampshire were State Recognition is threatening to change the course of history for the Abenaki Nation in our own original homelands.

State Recognition laws allow interest groups/social clubs to claim our history, claim to be our family member without recourse, claim our ancestral burial grave sights, without any credible criteria or evidence, typically to "sell crafts" as Indian made. To paraphase one quote from Vermont Nulhegan-aki (variation on made up tribe, I have also witnessed Mohican-aki) "Cheif" "like a maple syrup brand, makes it more marketable to be indian made."

An obvious out of touch and far removed from our history remark.

The Cherokee Nation (Click here to SUPPORT - Oppose Kentucky State Recognition Bills) has been the leader in educating and lobbying the general public to this serious issue facing  Indian history and Federally Recognized nations today, and one of the forefront leaders in defending their aboriginal rights against State Recognition for the Cherokee people and their history.

The Cherokee Nation struggles is a mirror image of the Vermont State Recognition laws impacting our aboriginal rights today. Most of these laws are and were enacted in Vermont with sub-standard criteria. One example; allowing for "family stories" to replace any credible or vital record that cannot be produced.

Please read below to learn more of this serious issue facing All Indian people today. You may click on the link below to read more on the Cherokee struggles currently with Kentucky and their success with combating Tennessee ill-conceieved State Recognition laws.

SOVEREIGNTY AT RISK - STATES RECOGNITION "LAWS" EQUALS NO CREDIBLE STANDARDS

A battle for what it means to be an Indian tribe (3) and a struggle for benefits provided to Indians is currently being waged by groups seeking to take away the identity and benefits that have been reserved to federally recognized Indian tribes (4). Hundreds of false Indian groups are claiming to be sovereign tribes and are teaching their own fabricated culture and history as if it were Indian. They apply for and receive aid from the same sources that fund the historic treatybased obligations intended for Indians. Yet they do not measure up to the credentials required of true tribes.


Some groups are “state recognized.” Most are not. However there is no standard definition or set of requirements for what states must do to recognize tribes. Some states have no standards and simply grant recognition by resolution or executive decree. Some states have minimum requirements but these are always much more easily met than federal requirements. Otherwise groups would simply get federal recognition and not need state recognition.