ISSUE 39 San Diego Cherokee Community Newsletter
Issue 42 May 1, 2013
June 9th SDC Community Meeting Inside This Issue Join us in San Diego for a Cherokee History day to look at the history of the Cherokee Nation and tracing your personal Cherokee family history, with guest 1 June 9th Meeting speakers from Tahlequah: Catherine Foreman Gray, Culture and History Specialist, and Roy Hamilton, Genealogist, from the Cherokee Heritage Center 1 May 19th – Spring Picnic in Tahlequah.
3 CN Update 1:00-5:00, Sunday June 9th, at Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park 3 Pow Wow Schedule 2004 Park Boulevard San Diego, CA, 92101
4 SIG Corner Hamburger and Hotdog BBQ lunch at 1:00. Bring a side dish or dessert to share, in the Cherokee tradition. 4 Community News & Questions? George Lynch, 858-395-1183 or Announcements [email protected] 5 Other Local Cherokee
Communities Also if you have your absentee ballot for the CN elections, you will need it
5 At-Large Representatives notarized. SDCC and Theresa Gonzales will provide it for free at the meeting. So bring your ballot and a Government.-issued ID card. 5 The Summer Abroad We hope you will plan to join us Program -- 2012
6 Cherokee Youth Section SDCC Council May 19th SDC Community Meeting – 6 Summer Abroad -- 2013 Spring Picnic at Lake Murray 7 Upcoming Events
7 Historical Events We had a very successful picnic at Lake Murray. We had over 50 people 9 Cherokee Culture Notes who signed our registrar Old friends and new friends came out on this lovely day. It was a little windy, so the blowgun contest was cancelled. And there 10 Local Cherokee Library was plenty of food and friendship 10 Misc. Notes Julia Coates came out and talk about what was happening in the Cherokee 11 Membership Registration Nation.
Below are some of the pictures taken at the picnic. More can be found on “We will never have our website. If you have any to share, either send me a link on the net or true civilization until we email them at [email protected]. have learned to
recognize the rights of others.” .
Will Rogers
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CN UPDATE – Julia Coates PAGE 3
Absentee Ballots – May 28, 2013
Hello, everyone --
This is a reminder that absentee ballots are being mailed out today. You should be receiving them within the next week, and may mail them in any time, so long as they are received in Tahlequah before Saturday, June 22. Just some information about absentee ballots and voting:
1) The ballots are being mailed by the company that is contracted to handle the election, so they are not being mailed from the tribe. The company is, however, using lists that have been developed by the Election Services/Election Commission based on absentee ballot requests they received prior to May 10, 2013. You must request an absentee ballot for each election. Simply being registered to vote does not mean you will automatically receive a ballot, nor does having voted absentee in the last election.
2) The ballots require notarization. There is a lot of complaint about this, but it is what's required in Oklahoma, as well as forty-six other states, when voting absentee, so it is not an unusual requirement. Most banks will notarize a ballot for free for their clients. In many states, notaries are required to notarize ballots for free, particularly in California, where we have many citizens. In the 2011 election, some ballots were not counted because the notary did not affix their seal, or did not affix it in the proper place. Please make sure your ballot is notarized and the notary seal is affixed properly.
3) Please remember to sign your ballot. In the contested 2011 elections, when there were several recounts, the most common reasons for disqualifying absentee ballots was the lack of a notarization and/or the lack of a signature. Without both, your ballot is not legal and cannot be counted. Please remember to sign your ballot!
I have thus far about twenty people who made requests but did not get on the list somehow. That is a very disproportionate number, and although we will look into reforms, there is nothing that can be done immediately. However, it is likely that, with six candidates in the race, there may be a runoff. If there is, absentee ballot requests will open again from June 23-July 1. It is a very short window, so if you did not get your request in for this election, be ready to get one in for the possible runoff. I will, of course, be notifying you immediately and attaching the form again.
Thanks! Pow Wow Schedule Julia June 8-9 17th Annual San Luis Rey Band of Luiseño Mission Indians Intertribal Pow Wow
San Luis Rey Mission Grounds
4050 Mission Avenue
Oceanside, California 92058 June 15-16 Pow Wow by the Sea Pier Plaza Seacoast Drive & Evergreen Imperial Beach, California 91932 June 28-30 18th Annual Pechanga Pow Wow
45000 Pechanga Parkway
Pechanga Resort & Casino
Temecula, California
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Cooking Clothing Meeting Place: TBD Meeting Place: TBD Meeting Time: TBD Meeting Time: TBD Genealogy Language
Meeting Place: TBD Meeting Place: Online and at the Meeting Time: TBD Centro
Meeting Time: Saturday 10 am
Wednesday 8 pm
All groups and interested parties will be meeting in groups before each regular meeting. The Language SIG will be re-grouping on June 9th. SIG FAQs A group of people with What is a SIG? similar interests in a It’s a group of people with similar interests in a particular cultural topic like particular cultural language and meets more often than the regular meetings. topic… When does a SIG meet? Each SIG is different and it depends on what the group decides - preferably at least twice a month.
Where does a SIG meet? Each SIG can meet anywhere they want. With the Language SIG, many of the meetings will be online and in-person. The facility at the Centro Cultural de la Raza is reserved each month for meetings. Also a SIG can meet before the regular meetings at 12:30 pm. (See Upcoming Meetings for schedule.)
What help will we get from the Nation? Hopefully, we will be able to connect to other citizens who are knowledgeable about each SIG topic and perhaps, Skype with them.
AreCommunity these SIGS included News in my membership and Announcements fee? SDCCYes. As Committee with any hobby Members there and might Duties be additional for 2012-2013 costs for each group.
Phillip Powers -- Council Leader, Meeting Facilitator & Community Outreach Phil Konstantin -- Meeting Facilitator & SDCC Spokesperson Joe Radeker -- Treasurer Mona Oge -- Membership Coordinator
George Lynch -- Record-keeper Patrick Bea -- Webmaster and Newsletter Editor Etta Miller -- Telephone Membership Outreach Pamela Hightower -- TBA Mike Ledger -- Alt - TBA
All. council members can be reached at [email protected].
This is a section for anyone who likes to share something about your family such as births, engagements, graduation, etc. All announcements must be sent in before the last day of each month. I will try to put out this Newsletter monthly. Send your information to [email protected]
Other Local Cherokee Communities PAGE 5
News
Cherokee Community of the Inland Empire (CCIE)
CherokeeGeneral Meetings are Community held on the 3rd Saturday of theof every Inland month. Monthly General Meetings are held at: Empire (CCIE)Sherman Indian High School Bennett Hall 9010 Magnolia Ave. Riverside, CA. 92503 General Meetings are held on the 3rd SaturdayFor more information, of checkevery the website month. at: www.cherokeecommunityie.org
Orange County Cherokees Monthly General Meetings are held at: For more information, contact Ed Carey at [email protected]. Sherman Indian High School
Bennett Hall At -Large Representatives
9010 Magnolia Ave.
Riverside, CA. 92503 Julie Coates (2015):
http://juliacoates.com/index.html P.O.For Box more 1968, Tahlequah, information, Ok 74465 check the website Emailat: julia [email protected] . Phone: 918-772-0288 Julia Coates speaking at one of our meetings. Jack D. Baker (2013) 1102Orange Marlboro Lane County Cherokees Oklahoma City, Ok 73116 (H) 405-840-1377 or (C) 918-457-9382
[email protected] more information, contact Ed Carey
at [email protected]. The Summer Abroad Program 2012 -- Other Council Members can be located here.
As part of the Summer Abroad Program, Lisa was introduced to Green Corn DanceBy Lisa that Ronning is typically held in June or July. Below was the 3 day schedule for one of the stomp grounds. The story of the Green Corn Dance is in the Culture Notes for this month.
Eagle Stomp Dance
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Cherokee Youth Section Announcements: There is a Youth Council initiative being led by Kathryn Bussey. She is asking anyone that is interested to fill out a survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6FYL7HT to see what people are interested in doing. There is a big backing from Tahlequah for this. Native Dancing Anyone who is interested can attend the workshops. These workshops do not only include dance instruction, but also include the making of traditional clothes to be worn at the powwows. Soaring Eagles For more information on dancing and activities:
http://www.scair.org/soaring_eagles/ All ages are Welcome to join. Urban Tribal Sports For more information contact: Tel. (951) 719-3444 www.intertribalsports.org Also on Facebook San Diego American Indian Youth Center Call the center for more information and other activities. (619)531-1938 [email protected] www.sdaihyc.blogspot.com This is a new section of our newsletter to have our Cherokee youth to share their activities, thoughts, pictures, etc. about being Cherokee and culture. If you wish to share, please submit your material to [email protected]
SUMMER ABROAD PROGRAM 2013
The Summer Abroad in the Cherokee Nation program has extended registration through June 10, 2013.
The dates of the program are July 5-19, 2013. The costs for the two-week program are approximately between $1500-$1800 per person. The Cherokee Nation Foundation is offering scholarships to students and community members who are Cherokee Nation citizens. The program is open to anyone, both CN Citizens and non- citizens.
This is the fourth time this program has been offered, and participants in earlier programs have expressed overwhelming support in previous evaluations. Participation is open to students and community members of all ages over 18. Students who wish to receive credit which can be transferred to their home universities may enroll for 6 credit hours. Community members who simply want to participate for the experience of it may register at a reduced fee.
The participants will be housed at historic Bacone University in Muskogee, Oklahoma. There will be in-class instruction in Cherokee History (taught by Dr. Julia Coates) and Cherokee Language (taught by Wyman Kirk of NSU's Cherokee language degree program). There will be hands on workshops in Cherokee arts, Cultural field trips through CN Cultural tourism, opportunities to participate in ceremonial dances, stickball games, marble games, a council meeting, and many other civic and cultural activities.
See the attached flyer, or contact Jason Denny at [email protected] to register or for more information. Don't miss this opportunity! 7
PAGE 8 SDCC NEWSLETTER Upcoming Events June 9, 2013 – History Day July 14, 2013 – SIG Meetings June 2013 August 11, 2013 – SIG Meetings September 8, 2013 -- SIG Meetings S M T W T F S October 27, 2013 -- Annual Picnic with CN Citizens and Officials 1 November 10, 2013 -- SIG Meetings December 8, 2013 -- Year End Get Together 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 All meetings will be held at Centro Cultural de la in Balboa Park unless otherwise stated. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Click here for a map. 1 5
All events are subject to change. Please check our web site 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
www.sandiegocherokeecommunity.com
or 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Write to us at [email protected].
Historical Events July 2013
Jun. 1, 1773 – The Cherokees and the Creeks S M T W T F S signed a treaty with England ceding 2,000,000 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 acres to eradicate debts owed to England. Jun 2. 1788 – General John Sevier’s forces 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 attacked the Cherokee village Hiwassee. The American forces were victorious, with many 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Cherokees fleeing. The village was burned. Jun. 3, 1830 – The governor of Georgia declared 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 the laws passed on Dec, 19, 1829, to be officially in effect. These laws extended the sovereignty of 28 29 30 31 Georgia over Cherokee territory. These laws made all Cherokee laws null and void. Georgia became owners of the Cherokee gold mines.
Jun. 5, 1762 – Cherokee Chiefs, Ostenaco, Pouting August 2013 Pigeon, and Stalking Turkey arrived in England.
They were en route to meet King George III.
Jun. 6. 1838 – The first group of Cherokees (800) S M T W T F S forced to emigrate to the Indian Territory was 1 2 3 4 loaded onto boat at Ross’s Landing. A total of 489 Cherokees reached Fort Coffee in late June. Many escaped while en route. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Jun. 10, 1761 – Colonel James Grant invaded Cherokee lands with a large force. On this day, he 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
defeated the Cherokees in a battle. He eventually destroyed many of the Cherokee 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 “middle towns.” 25 27 28 29 30 31 24 SDCC Event Historical Event
Trail of Tears Event
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Jun. 13. 1848 – Lt, R.H.K. Whitely departed from Ross’s June 2013 landing with the second group of Cherokee “prisoners”
numbering 875 to the Indian Territory. And they arrived
on August 5.
S M T W T F S Jun. 16, 1864 – Cherokee troops under Cherokee 1 Brigadier General Stand Waite captured the steamboat, J.J. Williams, loaded with supplies for Union Soldiers. The fight took place near Fort Gibson on the Arkansas River . 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Jun. 17, 1839 – The third group of “prisoner” Cherokees left Ross’s Landing with very few provisions. The group of 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1,070 only took food from the federal agents for the fear 1 5 that anything else might violate the New Echota Treaty.. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Jun. 18, 1839 – Seven Cherokee representatives met with King George II at Windsor Castle in London They 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 acknowledged him as the sovereign of the Cherokees people. Leading the Cherokees were Chief Oukah-ulah 30 and Attakullaculla (Little Carpenter). Jun. 19, 1760 – General Winfield Scott agreed to a petition to delay the departure of any other Cherokees due to the drought and heat conditions. He gave Sept. 1 as the continuation of the removal. This was further extended until October when the weather improved.
Mar, 26, 1862 – Col. J.J. Clarkson was promoted to command all Confederate troops in the Cherokee Nation.
Cherokee Culture Notes
Green Corn Festival and Dance The Green Corn Ceremony (Cherokee: ᎠᎦᏪᎳ ᏎᎷᎤᏥ) is an English term that refers to a general religious and social theme celebrated by a number of American Indian peoples of the Eastern Woodlands and the Southeastern tribes. The Green Corn festivals are also known to have been practiced by the Mississippian culture people as part of their Southeastern Ceremonial Complex.
Green Corn festivals are still practiced today by many different native peoples of the Southeastern Woodland Culture. The Green Corn Ceremony typically coincides in the late summer and is tied to the ripening of the corn crops. The ceremony is marked with dancing, feasting, fasting and religious observations The Cherokee Tradition
Among the Cherokee people, the Green Corn Ceremony (Cherokee:ᎠᎦᏪᎳ ᏎᎷᎤᏥ) honors Selu (ᏎᎷ), the Corn Mother. In ancient times it lasted for four days. The ceremony consisted of sacred dances which were performed by the dancers within the sacred circle. The ceremony would begin with all the members of the town going to a running body of water and washing themselves.
Within the sacred circle, a deep pit would be dug and a branch of wood from a tree struck by lightning would be lit and used to bless the grounds for the ceremony. The coals from this thunderwood would be used to kindle the sacred fire in the pit in the center of the circle.
The dancers would then perform several rounds of sacred dances which typically lasted from 2–4 hours. The War Dance was also performed by the men. Several other dances which symbolized the planting of and harvesting of the corn were performed.
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Within the dance circle, the dance leader and priest would make offerings to the Thunder Beings and the ancestor spirits as a gesture of thanks for a fruitful corn harvest. The final dance of Green Corn was the running dance, which would involve not only the sacred dancers, but also the entire assembly in a combined social dance, who would enter the circle and form a snaking, sinuous line of dancers circling the fire.
The dancers would use rattles made from gourds which were filled with small rocks and a stick of wood from a lightning struck tree during all the dances with the exception of the war dance and the running dance, which was accompanied by a drum made from a hollow log and covered with deerskin.
During the ceremony all the clan matrons would take coals from the sacred fire in the circle to the new year's home fires.
In many tribal towns, all the residents would bring out their furniture and shared living items and destroy them as a symbol of renewal of the new corn harvest. They would then remake new furniture and shared items for their clan dwellings.
Minor infractions of the religious and clan law, as well as debts were typically forgiven during green corn between parties as a symbol of rebirth and new beginnings, which Chickasaws also include in their ceremony, which allowed minor deviations from the ancient religious laws in deference to community bonding and cohesion as part of traditional Cherokee culture in ancient times. Local Cherokee Library The Nation has sent us some books about the Cherokee people and culture to start our own library. If anyone wishes to donate, take care of, or check out a book, please contact us at [email protected]. Some of the books are now available online. Please check back from time to time for others such as the Cherokee Nation History Class book
The list of what is currently available is online at http://sandiegocherokeecommunity.com/Library.htm.
Gendalle Cooper has kindly donated several books concerning the Chrokees including Mankiller – A Chief and Her People, Medicine of the herokees, videos, audio tapes, flash cards, etc. Once they are sorted out, I will have the list online updated. So check back often.
Billy Falling has also donated copy of his book, My Cherokee Roots. Language The Nation offers a variety of levels from beginner to advanced, and you can choose to participate in live or recorded sessions. CN classes will start April 2013. For instructions to register for these free online classes go to
http://www.cherokee.org/AboutTheNation/Culture/Language/31863/Information.aspx.
A group was formed to learn Cherokee. If you want to join the group, contact me at [email protected] Misc. Notes
Youth Employment Employ. ment Services for American Indian and Native Hawaiians - 15-19 yrs. old at date of application
- 2.0 GPA requires
- Placements are limited – First come, first serve basis.
For more information: Indian Human Resource Center – has moved. www.indianhrcenter.org
(619)281-5964 IHRC is also available for Adult employment.
Education For those who are interested in Native Studies, please go to this website for A Guide to Native American Studies Programs in the United States and Canada by Robert M. Nelson, Editor.
Wado,
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Membership Registration for 2014 If you have not joined the Community for 2014, please fill out the application below and mail your check for $10 for Individuals or $15 for multiple family members living at the same address to SDCC, 1098 Canyon Creek Place, Escondido, CA 92025. The Membership Year is from May 1 through April 30th. Your dues payment now will carry you through April 30th, 2014. San Diego Cherokee Community (SDCC) Membership Form Date: ______
NAME: ______First Middle Initial Last If you are renewing and your contact information has not changed, check here __ and mail us the form with your check. Fill in the rest of the form only where changes have occurred. MAILING ADDRESS; ______Street Address & Apt. # or Post Office Box #
______City State Zip
TELEPHONE #:______E-MAIL:______
Do you want to be listed in a SDCC membership directory? Yes______No______Do you wish to share your information with the Cherokee Nation? Yes______No ______How do you prefer to receive the SDCC newsletter? E-Mail______Postal Mail____ Names of other household members over 18 at the same address to be added to the SDCC Roster of Members: ______
CHEROKEE AFFILIATION (Check One): Cherokee Nation ______Registration #______United Keetoowah Band ______Registration #______Eastern Band of Cherokee ______Registration #______Cherokee Descent, Unregistered ______Other (Explain) ______Topics you would recommend for future SDCC Community Meetings? ______11