SJR0657 - Filed for intro on 01/13/2004, Withdrawn 1/21/2004
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 657 By McLeary
A RESOLUTION to recognize the Cherokee Wolf Clan as an official Native American Indian body in the State of Tennessee.
WHEREAS, the original inhabitants of North and South America were peoples who became known to European immigrants as Indians, and therefore the original inhabitants of what is now the State of Tennessee were members of various tribes of American Indians; and
WHEREAS, Tennessee's original peoples have strongly influenced the heritage of this great State and have left their mark by way of names of rivers, mountains, state names, and names of towns and counties; native peoples introduced local crops and medicinal herbs and left their influence in countless other ways; and
WHEREAS, the advance of European settlement, accompanied by the introduction of European diseases and the constant breaking of treaties by land-hungry settlers had a devastating effect upon the Native American Indian population; the crowning blow was the forced resettlement of Southeastern tribes in the Oklahoma territory by the Jackson administration over 150 years ago, known to the Cherokee as the "Trail of Tears"; and
WHEREAS, the spirit of the American Indians was not broken, surviving confinement on reservations, "Americanization" through suppression of language and culture, including removal of children to centralized "Indian" schools, and early bad practices by Indian agents and the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and
WHEREAS, today there is a great resurgence of pride of culture in all its forms, as characterized by the year round conducting of Powwows across the country and the nearing completion of the magnificent National Museum of the American Indian, a branch of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, over 15,000 American Indians are today residents of Tennessee; thousands of other Tennesseans proudly claim some Indian ancestry, but lack the precise genealogical evidence to document it; and
WHEREAS, dramatic evidence of a resurgent American Indian presence in this State is the formation of the Cherokee Wolf Clan, based in Yuma in southeastern Carroll County; the Wolf Clan, comprised of Cherokees, Shawnees, Apaches, Blackfoot, and various other tribes, is governed by a formal constitution, with a Principal Chief, a Cabinet, a Tribal Council, and a Tribal Court; and
WHEREAS, the Wolf Clan publishes three newsletters to keep its membership in touch, including the Wolf Clan Howls for adult members, the Wolf Cub News for junior members, and The Chief Speaks, pertaining to tribal law and spirituality, as well as cultural history; the Wolf Clan hopes to unite all Native Americans in Tennessee and has long range plans for a Native American Museum, a library, a school, a tribal office, a playground, and a location for its Powwow; and
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Wolf Clan is ably lead by Principal Chief, Joseph Manycoats and Council Members Alma "Little Crow" Messina, Peggy "Blue Moon" Walters, Georgie "Summer Rain" Poland, Betty "Morning Sky" Dreaden, Ann "Snow Dove" Shields, Ralph "Coyote Brother" Lane, Clark "Running Wolf" Rochelle, Ruvina "Raven" Garrison, Michael "Rain in the Face" Border, Janie "Spirit Wolf" Walters, Terri "Purple Sky" Ward, Sarah "Night Shade" Walters and Kippy "Many Eagles" Vaughn; and
WHEREAS, a wholehearted recognition of the role of the original peoples of this State and region is long overdue; and our official approval of the admirable goals of the Cherokee Wolf Clan is appropriate at this time; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy.
HB2415 - Filed for intro on 01/22/2004
HOUSE BILL 2415 By Kernell
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 34, Part 1, relative to the Tennessee commission of Indian affairs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
HB3418/SB3350 Filed for intro on 02/09/2004
HOUSE BILL 3418 - by Kernell, SENATE BILL 3350 - by Burchett
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 34, relative to the Tennessee Indian commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-34-104, is amended by deleting subsections (a) and (b) in their entirety and by substituting instead the following:
(a) The Tennessee commission of Indian affairs shall consist of at least seven (7) members as follows:
(b)
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-34-105, is amended by deleting subsection (b) in its entirety and by substituting instead the following:
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-34-105, is further amended by deleting subsection (i) in its entirety and by substituting instead the following:
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-34-105, is further amended by adding a new subsection thereto, as follows:
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
that this General Assembly go on record as endorsing the approval of the Cherokee Wolf Clan as recognized Native American Indians in the State of Tennessee.
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-34-105, is amended by deleting such section in its entirety and by substituting instead the following:
Section 4-34-105.
(a) Commission meetings shall be held at least quarterly.
(b) Prior to a commission meeting, at least ten (10) days' notice shall be given in writing to all organizations in Tennessee that have requested such notification. Notice shall be given by mail and by e-mail, if the organization provides such information to the commission. The commission shall also place notice of its meeting times and places on the website of the Tennessee commission of Indian affairs.
(c) Emergency meetings of the commission may be called by the chair. Notice of such emergency meetings and the grounds for calling an emergency meeting shall be placed on the website of the Tennessee commission of Indian affairs before any such emergency meeting is conducted.
(d) The minutes of all commission meetings shall be placed on the website of the Tennessee commission of Indian affairs within one hundred (100) days of the meeting. Minutes of all prior commission meetings shall be accessible on the commission's website.
(e)
(1) Annual reports of the commission shall be approved within one hundred (100) days of their submission to the commission.
(2) Annual reports of the commission shall be placed on the website of the Tennessee commission of Indian affairs for public access within forty-five (45) days of their approval.
(3) All prior annual reports shall be accessible on the commission's website.
(f) Four (4) commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the conducting of business of the commission.
(g) Agendas for commission meetings shall be delivered to each member of the commission at least one (1) week prior to the commission meeting.
(h) Minutes of all commission meetings shall be mailed or e-mailed to all commission members.
(i) Robert's Rules of Order shall govern meetings of the commission when not in conflict with specific bylaws or other rules as may be adopted by the board.
(j) Members of the commission are to serve without compensation and shall not be reimbursed for travel expenses.
(k) The commission is authorized to raise and expend funds for the purpose of carrying out the mission of the commission, however, the commission is to operate without dependence on state appropriations.
(l)
(1) Commission meetings shall not be adjourned until members of the public attending such meetings have had an opportunity to address the commission.
(2) A summary of comments made by members of the public attending such meetings shall be entered into the minutes of the commission.
(m) The chairperson shall appoint three (3) members of the commission to establish a rules commission. The rules commission shall develop procedural and operating rules for the commission. The commission shall approve of all proposed rules by a majority vote before such rules take effect.
(1) One (1) member from each of the four (4) metropolitan areas: Shelby, Davidson, Knox and Hamilton, and counties contiguous thereto;
(2) One (1) member from each of the three (3) grand divisions of the state.
Members representing a grand division shall not be from or represent a metropolitan area or a county contiguous thereto; and
(3) One (1) member from each Native American Indian nation or tribe located within Tennessee, and recognized by the state per recognition guidelines established by the commission.
(1) The Tennessee Native American convention shall submit a list of not less than two (2) names for each position on the commission to be appointed.
(2) Persons participating in an election conducted by the Tennessee Native American convention shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and shall provide proof of their county of residence. A voter may only vote for a candidate running to represent the voter's county of residency. Proof of having registered to vote with the county election commission shall not be a requirement to participate in such elections.
(3) No other office, seat, position or post shall be the direct or indirect result of running for election as a commissioner nominee.
(4) Accompanying each nominee's name submitted shall be a resume, including the nominee's educational background, work history, heritage, description of why the nominee would be a suitable commissioner and the democratic process and results that led to the nomination. Social security numbers and other uniquely personal information shall be redacted from any resume submitted pursuant to this section.
(5) Preference in selection of at least five (5) Indian commissioners shall be given to Native American Indians, i.e., persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North America, and who maintain cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.
(6) Each member of the commission of Indian affairs shall be a resident of Tennessee.
(b) Quarterly commission meetings shall be held on Saturdays. The locations of the quarterly meetings shall rotate among the cities of Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. Other meetings may be held as need dictates. The chairperson of the commission can call not more than two (2) emergency meetings in a calendar year. At least five (5) days notice of each emergency meeting shall be given to each commissioner.
(i) Robert's Rules of Order shall govern meetings of the commission when not in conflict with specific bylaws or other rules as may be adopted by the commission.
(n) The term of any member who misses two (2) consecutive meetings of the
commission without good cause may be terminated by a majority vote of the remaining members of the commission.