Cherokee
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Comment by Marty Soaring Eagle Martin on January 22nd, 2010 at 11:46 pm
I am writing concering your statement regarding the so -called “Southern Cherokee Nation of Kentucky”, they are NOT State Recognized, the Governor did not then, as he does not now, have the authority to legally reocognize any Tribe. What they have is a Proclamation from the Governor, which carries no legal weight. We are currently working to get legislation passed by the State Legislature that will allow Tirbes to get Stae Recognition. Please correct this false and misleading statement.
Comment by Jennifer Tanabe on February 6th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Thank you for your feedback. The article has been revised to explain more accurately the situation of the Southern Cherokee Nation of Kentucky.
Comment by Polmer Burke on October 3rd, 2010 at 10:18 pm
The remark that the Governor John Y. Brown had no authority to recognize the Southern Cherokee Nation of Kentucky (SCNK) needs a foot note. In fact, the SCNK was recognized in 1893 on the Governor’s Executive Letter head and again recognized in 2006 by Governor Fletcher’s proclamation. Although the proclamation carries no legal weight, Governor Brown’s executive letter is another issue, and should not be confused with the proclamation of 2006. However, the proclamation does confirm Governor John Y. Brown’s executive letter recognizing the SCNK as an Indian tribe in 1893. Governor Brown’s executive letter could be construed, by some, to be an Executive Order at the time it was written. To take the 1893 executive letter out of historical context and now attempt to adjudicate the letter in pursuant to the laws of today is just not ethical. The 1893 Executive letter must be taken at face value, and the SCNK does historically have unequivocal recognition from the Executive Branch of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Kentucky Native American Commission has no authority to recognize Native American tribes within the Commonwealth Kentucky and there is no legislative criteria; however, a precedence does exist for Executive recognition. Marty “Soaring Eagle Martin†should just stick to the facts. It is enough to say: “Governor John Y. Brown recognized the SCNK in 1893 and Governor Ernie Fletcher paid tribute to the SCNK in 2006.â€
According to this excerpt from Kentucky’s Court of Justice the Commonwealth of Kentucky recognizes two Indian tribes as follows:
“National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) and its implications in Kentucky By Tara Metts, Family Services Coordinator
According to NICWA, there are no federally recognized Native American tribes in Kentucky. However, according to the 2000 US Census, Kentucky has a relatively large urban Native American population; there are about 25,000 American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) in the Commonwealth. While there are no federally recognized tribes, Kentucky does recognize two tribes at the state level. The Southern Cherokee Nation of Kentucky was first recognized via proclamation by Governor John Y. Brown in 1893 and again by Governor Fletcher on November 20, 2006. This tribe is based in Henderson, Kentucky. The Ridgetop Shawnee was recognized by the State House of the Kentucky General Assembly on February 26, 2009, under HJR-15. The Tribe plans to seek formal recognition in 2010; it is based in Eastern Kentucky.†Sources:
http://courts.ky.gov/aoc/juvenile/recentnewsletter.htm
Polmer “Buffalo Heart†Burke
Comment by Jennifer Tanabe on October 6th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Thank you for your clarification of the rather confusing situation in Kentucky. The article has been revised as you suggested.
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