Tsiniti

The Middle TN TNNAC (TN Native American Commission) had elections this past weekend (June 25th 2005) I had been e-mailed by several different friends about this, it was open to ALL Natives, enrolled or not. It was something extremely important to the State of TN and all Native within, not just in Middle TN, but all over the state.

I drove from the Dover area, along with some ladies from Clarksville down to Manchester TN, if you know the State, then you know that is a long ways. We could not find the Park, there were three City Parks, were there any signs? No, not ragging on TNNAC, but I'm sorry there should have been more advertising, not just on TV, papers, radio, etc. But signs as well. However ....

Everything was to start at 5pm, we finally got there around 5:30, there were three people there! Then another few people showed up until there were a grand total of 15 people! FIFTEEN???????? Out of how many Native residents of Middle or Central TN??? At the least what in the world happened to all the locals?? Was the place that hard to find? Was there no word of mouth?

So many people fuss about politics, so many will say OH yeah count me in, I will be there ..... so where were they? What kind of a showing does this represent, considering a total of all who showed up goes to the Governor to show him how many are interested in what is going on in the state ..... not very many! I've been cut down and critisized because I don't drive to Nashville to meetings that I can't make. But I manages to make it for the weekend to Manchester (someone else doing the night driving) and made an important vote. So where were the very ones fussing at ME?? There were 8 or 9 of us from the Northern most Central part of TN ..... out of the 15 that showed up, and 4 of those where TNNAC board representatives conducting the caucaus and votes!

Ifn's ya gonna fuss at others, then put your money where your mouth is! Don't fuss, if you arn't going to do your part!

__________________
Your Heart Shows by how Your Words and Actions Affect Others.

Nah I ain't NO WANNABE! I don't gotta wannabe when people wannabe like me!

Wojapi4Me

Since there are no tribes whatsoever in the state of Tennessee, what exactly does this commission do? They're not going to start "recognizing" tribes are they? I would hope not.

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If pro is the opposite of con, then wouldn't progress be the opposite of...lol

Tsiniti

No they arn't going to recognize any tribes, and no there isn't any reconized tribes in TN. They are supposed to be the ears of all the Natives in TN, and take whatever to the Gov. Mostly at these elections, we voted on who we wanted to represent us to the Gov, then there will be another state wide caucaus and election from all the Statewide Delegates in Sept at Little Cedar Mtn near Chattanooga, from what I understand will be a two or three day event. You can check out their website at
http://www.tnnac.org
But if enough Natives will stand together, there is no telling what can be done. Right now, it's a case of everyone needs to get involved, everyone is fussing, but the very ones fussing the most, especially bragging about what they are doing, that never showed up! So what's the big deal with that? All talk and no show? That includes some names, from right here in PowWows.com ..... but I ain't naming names!

__________________
Your Heart Shows by how Your Words and Actions Affect Others.

Nah I ain't NO WANNABE! I don't gotta wannabe when people wannabe like me!

Wojapi4Me

Ok, there's no tribes in Tennessee. That's been established. Now, that being said and confirmed, what is it that you guys are trying to get? What do you want the governor to give you or grant you or do for you? If you have concerns, shouldn't you address those to your own tribes? Realistically, why should the state of Tennessee treat you any differently than the rest of its citizens?

__________________
If pro is the opposite of con, then wouldn't progress be the opposite of...lol

pensmoke

It's true there are no "federally recognized "tribes in TN. But there are NDNs in TN. There are Cherokees from the Eastern Band living in TN, and there are unenrolled Cherokees. There is a large Choctaw community in Henning TN.

Wojapi4Me

I never said there weren't Indians in Tennessee. There's Indians in every state in the union. But, the Eastern Band Cherokee living in Tennessee would get there services from here, and the Chotaws would get theres from either Mississippi or Oklahoma. That's my point. What is the point of this Commission? What services are they trying to provide?

__________________
If pro is the opposite of con, then wouldn't progress be the opposite of...lol

pensmoke

Oh, I see what you're saying. I have heard of the TNNAC but I really don't know what their goals are. I guess to try to help out unenrolleds or something. I don't live in TN anymore I moved to NC so I don't know whats going on there really.