Tribal culture and identity deserve protection

Cara Cowan Watts, Dist. 7 Tribal Councilor

By Cara Cowan Watts
Tribal Councilor

When the tribal taskforce began in 2003, we knew we had an uphill battle. For one, few folks like conflict, even when necessary.

Its purpose is to address groups and individuals posing as Cherokee tribes, bands, clans and/or nations. Specifically, the taskforce addresses issues of Cherokee identity and cultural theft. Addressing such issues of fraud and identity theft with these individuals and groups who persistently assert being Cherokee usually results in conflict.

Since I became involved with Cherokee identity and cultural theft, I have witnessed individuals fraudulently claiming to be Cherokee teach Indian children about being Indian in institutions of higher learning. Allowing non-Indians to teach misleading and false history and culture to our children is dangerous. Other frauds have kidnapped children using fake tribal court orders posing as actions under the Indian Child Welfare Act. At least one is now a convicted felon for selling illegal immigrants “citizenship.” One group decided at Arby’s to form a tribe and begin asserting its “sovereignty” by suing local governments. This fake group was actually winning until someone stood up and told the truth.  

Tribal use of funds, preservation of language and protecting artisans and crafts people are only one aspect of a huge battle being waged on our culture and identity as a distinct tribal people.

In addition to the stories about cases of fraud and identity theft, I have endured personal attacks by some individuals trying to reinvent themselves as tribal citizens. After six years of fighting fake Cherokees, I understand that conflict is necessary to bring about change and rid ourselves of such fools.

Before you give too much credit to Mr. Sunray’s letter, know this.  His original surname is Ray. But that did not sound “Indian” enough so he added “Sun” and became “Sunray.” He is not an American Indian in the same sense as Cherokee citizens, where we can be prosecuted in tribal court.  

Recently, the Pawnee Nation filed criminal charges on him. Representing himself, he filed a brief for dismissal stating he is not an American Indian subject to tribal jurisdictions and tribal laws. I am unsure why he is insists on claiming to be Indian. I guess he makes these claims when it is convenient for him in his pursuit of a personal identity.

He claims heritage to various so-called tribal communities. At one point, he claimed to be Cherokee and speak Cherokee. Later, Choctaw was the claim and so on. Unfortunately for Indian Country, he continues to find jobs with unsuspecting tribes. While playing Cherokee, he came to Tahlequah and taught our children how to sing “Ten Little Indians.” Somehow, I do not find that culturally appropriate or Cherokee.

After six years of tribal politics, I have a fairly thick skin for personal attacks such as Sunray’s editorial. I am sure he won many friends and swayed many Cherokees by insulting the majority of the tribe with racial remarks about blood quantum and physical appearance.

Staff Writer Will Chavez’s editorial may have led one to believe I was advocating the removal of existing non-Indian or non-Cherokee children from the immersion school. No existing students will be removed. The existing non-Indian children are grandfathered in but will have to leave after sixth grade.  

Going forward, the enrollment process for immersion and Sequoyah School will have the same standards for eligibility. Since immersion students are expected to graduate to Sequoyah School after the sixth grade, they will now both require enrollment in a federally-recognized tribe. Any federally-recognized tribal citizen is eligible for both immersion and Sequoyah. However, CN citizens will be given preference at the immersion school as it is funded entirely with tribal funds.

By the way, I am no longer an official member of the taskforce. I have stepped aside to allow others who have stepped up to pursue conflict with folks such as Sunray in our fight to preserve Cherokee culture and identity. Any action surrounding the immersion school was done as a councilor representing numerous Cherokee families who called concerned about the non-Indian actions at the school. The task force was not involved.  
As a Tribal Councilor of the historic CN, I was sworn “to (do) everything in my power to promote the culture, heritage and traditions of the Cherokee Nation” per our constitution. If this means addressing people who create their own Indian tribes out of thin air, then so be it. I will continue the fight.