Virginia tribe plans burial for skull

Smokin' Ace · 12-13-2005, 09:50 AM

Virginia tribe plans burial for skull
Skull was returned after briefly being offered for sale on eBay

ROANOKE, Virginia (AP) -- Virginia tribal leaders are planning a springtime burial for a possibly 300-year-old Indian skull turned over to them by a New York chiropractor who found it in a closet and tried to sell it on eBay.

Kenneth Branham, chief of the Monacan tribe, believes the skull belonged to one of a group of American Indians whose remains were dug up in western Virginia in 1901.

New York City chiropractor Steven Mendola said he found the skull while cleaning out a closet in the office he took over from a chiropractor who had died.

It had stickers bearing the words "Suponi" and "Roanoke, Va.," and the dates "1671-1701."

Mendola put the skull up for auction on eBay earlier this year, drawing bids of $150 and $152.50 and the attention of a Roanoke television news reporter.

WSLS-TV's Dan Reany figured out that "Suponi," which Mendola assumed was an Italian name, was actually a mangling of "Saponi," a tribe from the Roanoke area related to the Monacans who now live in the area.

That halted the eBay sale since federal law bans knowingly selling remains that could be those of American Indians.

Mendola talked to Branham and quickly turned the skull over to the tribe.

"It has a home," Mendola said. "It has to go back."

Branham is convinced the skull is of a Saponi from western Virginia. "That is our region," he said. Descendants of the Saponi now live in North Carolina.

The Virginia Council on Indians referred the Monacans to state archaeologist Joanna Wilson, who determined from the shape of the well-preserved skull's bones that it belonged to an American Indian, probably at least 50 years old.

Branham thinks it was among remains dating from the early 1700s that were dug up in Rockbridge County in 1901 and put on display in a museum in Richmond. The remains of more than 100 individuals were returned to the Monacans in 1999.

Branham said the Monacans plan to rebury the skull on the tribe's land on Bear Mountain in Amherst County, about 50 miles east of Roanoke.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/12/12/ind....ap/index.html

**Wojapi4Me** · 12-13-2005, 10:08 AM

If its a Saponi skull, why was it repatriated to the Monacans?

**sokoki_wolf** · 12-13-2005, 12:12 PM

i agree...why arent the saponi's getting their skull back? whats interesting is,the 'chief" of this tribes brother is george"white wolf" branham who is one of the biggest scams going...he has changed tribal affiliations numerous times and has ,among other things,claimed to be an adopted member of the Fools Crow family on Pine Ridge....i did extensive research on geoerge Branham and there was never any indication of any indian in his family...this is a man who sells "blessed" rabbit skins at powwows for huge prices and at one time when he live in maryland had a "burial" mound in his back yard that he had constructed...and of course he does the typical running sweats,pipe ceremonies etc...i hope the Saponis intercede in this and regain whats theirs to begin with and keep an indian skull out of the hands of another bunch of plastic medicine men and wannabees...i dont know about any of the other people in the monacan tribe but i do know that the branhams are NOT indian

**Wojapi4Me** · 12-13-2005, 12:19 PM

I agree! I've said it before on this site and I'll repeat it here...there are six virginia groups seeking federal recognition through Congress. They are seeking this recognition through the same bill, and the Monacans are on that bill. Four of those six richly deserve recognition, and its a travesty that they don't already have it, but the Monacans are not counted among those.

**sokoki_wolf** · 12-13-2005, 12:45 PM

the whole thing with recognition is im sure a design of george branhams....as i said above he has changed tribal affiliations numerous times and finally settled on a tribe that doesnt exist ...im appalled that any museum would turn over dozens of indian remains to a non federally recognized tribe and one that doesnt even have state recognition...that simply gave the monacans a sense of legitimacy that they donot deserve....ill dig thru my boxes of things and see if i can find either my noted on branham or the article that was published in Akwesasne Notes about him( i wrote the article)...the monacans have a web site as well...i get sick every time i see it...i truly wish that something could be done about the wannabees and plastic medicine ppl...it gets very old and they prostitute our ways

mikkee58 · 04-02-2006, 11:57 AM

Just wanted to do a short reply ! Chief of the Monacans is Kenneth Branham
I have been to both there Pow-wow and Homecoming's
if you want to request there heritage please contact Karenne Wood there program
director Historic research / or the Episcopal church in virigina / Or Sam R Cook at Virigina Tech in Blacksburg Va or find a copy of the Monacans & Miners by Sam R Cook
All of my viewes are based on Several years of personal contact and knowledge !
With Pride I call them Sisters and Brothers mike walton i'm at mikewalton58@yahoo.com I'm also known as Old Saponi

**sokoki_wolf** · 04-02-2006, 12:01 PM

again...if its a Saponi skull,why are the monacans getting it back? i dont know about kenneth branham at all but i do know that george branham is NOT indian ...he has over the years changed tribal affliations numerous times and makes claims that are false and fraudulent....

mikkee58 · 04-02-2006, 01:02 PM

DO a google on the issue ! I attempted to call there office several time last week
NO luck in the time's I called but then My voice comes and goes as I have COPD &
at times my voice is not too good ! and I'm doing work on Other Issues "ALL"
in Ohio ! If you want to email direct I'll be glad to update you as I recive the Rest
of the story ! My time is "Better" spent on Other Issues as it one thing to view the
postings but another to reply and I have roadrunner My email is mikewalton58@yahoo.com

DANCINGEAGLE · 04-03-2006, 02:11 PM

I agree. If it is a Saponi skull, then, it should be returned to the Saponi tribe. Why don't they just do a private ceremony and return it to the Saponi's.

golfer2122 · 06-05-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sokoki_wolf

i agree...why arent the saponi's getting their skull back? whats interesting is,the 'chief" of this tribes brother is george"white wolf" branham who is one of the biggest scams going...he has changed tribal affiliations numerous times and has ,among other things,claimed to be an adopted member of the Fools Crow family on Pine Ridge....i did extensive research on geoerge Branham and there was never any indication of any indian in his family...this is a man who sells "blessed" rabbit skins at powwows for huge prices and at one time when he live in maryland had a "burial" mound in his back yard that he had constructed...and of course he does the typical running sweats,pipe ceremonies etc...i hope the Saponis intercede in this and regain whats theirs to begin with and keep an indian skull out of the hands of another bunch of plastic medicine men and wannabees...i dont know about any of the other people in the monacan tribe but i do know that the branhams are NOT indian

Sokoki_Wolf

I am very interested in your Post here #5. I am a Member of the mentioned Tribe but have questions, as well, regarding these issues... Please contact me at golfer2122@yahoo.com

12-13-2005, 09:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
Smokin' Ace Arena Director Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: United States Posts: 4,112	Virginia tribe plans burial for skull Virginia tribe plans burial for skull Skull was returned after briefly being offered for sale on eBay ROANOKE, Virginia (AP) -- Virginia tribal leaders are planning a springtime burial for a possibly 300-year-old Indian skull turned over to them by a New York chiropractor who found it in a closet and tried to sell it on eBay. Kenneth Branham, chief of the Monacan tribe, believes the skull belonged to one of a group of American Indians whose remains were dug up in western Virginia in 1901. New York City chiropractor Steven Mendola said he found the skull while cleaning out a closet in the office he took over from a chiropractor who had died. It had stickers bearing the words "Suponi" and "Roanoke, Va.," and the dates "1671-1701." Mendola put the skull up for auction on eBay earlier this year, drawing bids of $150 and $152.50 and the attention of a Roanoke television news reporter. WSLS-TV's Dan Reany figured out that "Suponi," which Mendola assumed was an Italian name, was actually a mangling of "Saponi," a tribe from the Roanoke area related to the Monacans who now live in the area. That halted the eBay sale since federal law bans knowingly selling remains that could be those of American Indians. Mendola talked to Branham and quickly turned the skull over to the tribe. "It has a home," Mendola said. "It has to go back." Branham is convinced the skull is of a Saponi from western Virginia. "That is our region," he said. Descendants of the Saponi now live in North Carolina. The Virginia Council on Indians referred the Monacans to state archaeologist Joanna Wilson, who determined from the shape of the well-preserved skull's bones that it belonged to an American Indian, probably at least 50 years old. Branham thinks it was among remains dating from the early 1700s that were dug up in Rockbridge County in 1901 and put on display in a museum in Richmond. The remains of more than 100 individuals were returned to the Monacans in 1999. Branham said the Monacans plan to rebury the skull on the tribe's land on Bear Mountain in Amherst County, about 50 miles east of Roanoke. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Find this article at: http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/12/12/ind....ap/index.html __________________ Everything is gonna be alright! Be blessed - got love??? This b me..... www.myspace.com/akayo

12-13-2005, 10:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
Wojapi4Me Kili! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Tha Rez Posts: 1,515	If its a Saponi skull, why was it repatriated to the Monacans? __________________ If pro is the opposite of con, then wouldn't progress be the opposite of...lol

12-13-2005, 12:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wojapi4Me Kili! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Tha Rez Posts: 1,515	I agree! I've said it before on this site and I'll repeat it here...there are six virginia groups seeking federal recognition through Congress. They are seeking this recognition through the same bill, and the Monacans are on that bill. Four of those six richly deserve recognition, and its a travesty that they don't already have it, but the Monacans are not counted among those. __________________ If pro is the opposite of con, then wouldn't progress be the opposite of...lol

04-02-2006, 11:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
mikkee58 mikkee58 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Columbus ,Ohio Posts: 5	Just wanted to do a short reply ! Chief of the Monacans is Kenneth Branham I have been to both there Pow-wow and Homecoming's if you want to request there heritage please contact Karenne Wood there program director Historic research / or the Episcopal church in virigina / Or Sam R Cook at Virigina Tech in Blacksburg Va or find a copy of the Monacans & Miners by Sam R Cook All of my viewes are based on Several years of personal contact and knowledge ! With Pride I call them Sisters and Brothers mike walton i'm at mikewalton58@yahoo.com I'm also known as Old Saponi __________________ Always Seeking Mikkee

04-02-2006, 12:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
sokoki_wolf Beadworker Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,398	again...if its a Saponi skull,why are the monacans getting it back? i dont know about kenneth branham at all but i do know that george branham is NOT indian ...he has over the years changed tribal affliations numerous times and makes claims that are false and fraudulent.... __________________ TRUDELL FOR PRESIDENT (and no,this isnt zeek)

12-13-2005, 12:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
sokoki_wolf Beadworker Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,398	i agree...why arent the saponi's getting their skull back? whats interesting is,the 'chief" of this tribes brother is george"white wolf" branham who is one of the biggest scams going...he has changed tribal affiliations numerous times and has ,among other things,claimed to be an adopted member of the Fools Crow family on Pine Ridge....i did extensive research on geoerge Branham and there was never any indication of any indian in his family...this is a man who sells "blessed" rabbit skins at powwows for huge prices and at one time when he live in maryland had a "burial" mound in his back yard that he had constructed...and of course he does the typical running sweats,pipe ceremonies etc...i hope the Saponis intercede in this and regain whats theirs to begin with and keep an indian skull out of the hands of another bunch of plastic medicine men and wannabees...i dont know about any of the other people in the monacan tribe but i do know that the branhams are NOT indian

12-13-2005, 12:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
sokoki_wolf Beadworker Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,398	the whole thing with recognition is im sure a design of george branhams....as i said above he has changed tribal affiliations numerous times and finally settled on a tribe that doesnt exist ...im appalled that any museum would turn over dozens of indian remains to a non federally recognized tribe and one that doesnt even have state recognition...that simply gave the monacans a sense of legitimacy that they donot deserve....ill dig thru my boxes of things and see if i can find either my noted on branham or the article that was published in Akwesasne Notes about him( i wrote the article)...the monacans have a web site as well...i get sick every time i see it...i truly wish that something could be done about the wannabees and plastic medicine ppl...it gets very old and they prostitute our ways

04-02-2006, 01:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
mikkee58 mikkee58 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Columbus ,Ohio Posts: 5	DO a google on the issue ! I attempted to call there office several time last week NO luck in the time's I called but then My voice comes and goes as I have COPD & at times my voice is not too good ! and I'm doing work on Other Issues "ALL" in Ohio ! If you want to email direct I'll be glad to update you as I recive the Rest of the story ! My time is "Better" spent on Other Issues as it one thing to view the postings but another to reply and I have roadrunner My email is mikewalton58@yahoo.com __________________ Always Seeking Mikkee

04-03-2006, 02:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
DANCINGEAGLE BikerBoyNDNStyle Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Where the rubber meets the road! Posts: 693	I agree. If it is a Saponi skull, then, it should be returned to the Saponi tribe. Why don't they just do a private ceremony and return it to the Saponi's. __________________ Through the good times and bad times, always pray.

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