The 'Cherokee' organizations you listed, including your upcoming information
about the 'Free Cherokee,' are groups which have sprung up from the fertile
imaginations of people hoping to cash in on the Cherokee name. They have no
legitimacy whatsoever, outside of the minds of their members and organizers.
Wilma Mankiller, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, has
issued letters to the governors of each state, hoping that they to do not
follow Georgia's example, and go against federal law to 'recognize' these
bogus groups.
The three federally recognized Cherokee tribes are:
* The Cherokee Nation, in Talequah, OK.
*Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Cherokee, NC.
*United Keetowah band, in Talequah, OK.
To lend credence to or support any of the so-called 'Cherokee' organizations
on Ari's list, including the 'Free Cherokee,' which 'enrolls' anyone whom
they feel 'has an Indian heart,' is a direct slam in the face of all
legitimate Cherokee people.
The 'Free Cherokee' also recruits new members over the Genie information
service, where they unfortunately are the sole representation, if you could
call it that, of Native America. The 'Free Cherokee' group on Genie calls
itself the 'Invisible Band,' presumably because its 'enrollees' rarely see
each other, being an online group. They put out the 'NA News,' an
informational paper made up of a strange combination of the rantings of
various members of the 'Free Cherokee,' and postings gleaned from NativeNet,
FidoNet, and other online and offline sources.
This blend of truth and fantasy is extremely dangerous.
For more information, please contact the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma--they
have been protesting these groups vehemently, and will be happy to answer any
questions you or any other people may have regarding the legitimacy of such
groups.
Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
P.O. Box 948
Tahlequah, OK 74465
918-456-0671
Thank you,
Tracy Miller