o-si-yo
Rebuttal
Re: Mr. Robert Schmidt
Greetings Mr. Robert Schmidt I hope this email reaches you and all of your relations in the best of health and prosperity. Let me begin with formally, introducing myself to you. I am Chief David Stands With Song Hughes, the Principal Chief of the Eagle Medicine Band of Cherokee Indians. I presently serve people of Indigenous descent here in the Delaware Valley, and surrounding areas. I want to begin with thanking you and your staff for bringing awareness to online readers, and all interested parties, of some of the past, present, and perhaps, future issues affecting Indigenous people in America Today. I am particularly impressed with how you use The Comic Book Medium as a means of fostering dialogue between Indigenous people and other cultural aspects as well. I respect the work you are doing and please, keep on doing it.
At the prompting of some of the members of the Tribal Community I serve, I was made aware of the article you written about me and those I serve. I read it through thoroughly, and then read it again. Each time I read it, it reminded once again, of how fragmented our various Indigenous community’s have been and still are since Colonization. I was not angered in any way, just disappointed in how you conveniently copied and pasted only some of what my online bio states, and managed to leave out one important fact, and that is, my work with bridging the gap between those on the reservations and off. I have had the honor of visiting and making connections with elders and other members of both the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Connecting with them does not make me any more Cherokee than a Cherokee who has not been, although it has made me more informed. My going there has oppened a door for discussions and has established community attachment or connections to these distinct communities. I am aware that many people only want to be American Indian because of the “Romanticized” image Europeans painted of my people throughout the centuries. However, according to the Federal Register of 1997, the definition of an American Indian or Alaska Native, which are still in effect today, states:
“1. Categories and Definitions
The minimum categories for data on race and ethnicity for Federal statistics, program administrative reporting, and civil rights compliance reporting are defined as follows:— American Indian or Alaska Native. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg_1997standards
Nowhere, in the language of this Federal mandated law did it say only members of Federal, State, Municipal, or even unrecognized tribes, is a person defined as a American Indian or Alaska Native. Furthermore, my tribal community has not expressed interest in any formal recognition because we recognize ourselves. Not all Cherokees went to a reservation for the same reason not all Jews went through the Holocaust. Just because we didn’t does not make us any less Cherokee, than a Jewish person who eluded going to the concentration camps.
Furthermore, in my opinion, it is fine to mention that the only “Federally” recognized Cherokee Tribes in this country are in fact the “Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma” and the “Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians”, but to refer to me, as well as, others as “wannabes,”? I realize, we live in a country of Free speech and freedom of the Press, so you may write anything on your site you choose to publish. On the other hand, wouldn’t it be more accurate to refer to all Federally “unrecognized” tribes, communities, and bands, as just that…unrecognized, as opposed to wannabes? I mean, speaking on behalf of myself, and my community, and not anyone elses, who are we trying to be? But, ourselves.
In closing, I am not writing this letter to offend anyone. For if I have, that was not my intentions. It has been my passion to bring all our unique communities together on any level of respectable dialogue for many years now, and I hope we can forge a relationship somehow. For as I aforementioned, I respect the work you do along with the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, its leaders, and members for preserving our rich ani-yun-wiya heritage, and promoting the positive attributes that American Indian People have contributed to this world, we should all, indigenous and non-indigenous alike, should take pride in ourselves rather or not the Government recognizes us for it or not.
All the best,
do-hi (peace)
Eagle Medicine Band of Cherokee Indians
Chief David Stands with Song
Principal Chief
If you have any further questions feel free to contact me anytime,
