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The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council has taken another step toward supporting the recognition of a separate nation for the Delaware Tribe of Indians. The measure ratifying the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Cherokee Nation and the Delawares was passed unanimously during a special Cherokee Nation Tribal Council meeting on Thursday, October 23, 2008. “We are pleased with the constructive method that the Delaware administration has taken on an issue that has divided us for a number of years,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “This collaborative agreement protects our concerns about Cherokee Nation sovereignty and allows the Delaware their separate recognition.” The MOA both recognizes the consultative, inter-governmental relationship between the two Nations and preserves and protects the Cherokee Nation’s territory and jurisdiction. “Today is a very significant day for the Delaware Tribe,” said Jerry Douglas, Chief of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. “After years of hard work by Cherokees and Delawares alike, this agreement paves the way for the restoration of the tribe’s separate federal recognition and resolves decades of uncertainty for both tribes. The tribe looks forward to continuing to work with the Cherokee Nation cooperatively and as allies under the framework embodied in the MOA.” The resolution, sponsored by Tribal Council member Bradley Cobb, compliments H.R.6786, a piece of federal legislation, introduced by Congressman John Sullivan (R-Okla.,) on August 1, 2008. While introducing the bill, Congressman Sullivan stated the legislative intent of this bill is to restore the federal recognition of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. “But [it] also incorporates mechanisms for the Delaware Tribe of Indians and the Cherokee Nation to resolve issues between them in Eastern Oklahoma amicably,” Congressman Sullivan said in a floor statement on August 1, 2008. “I am pleased to see not only Delaware restoration but also accord and cooperation between the two tribes.” Co-sponsors of the bill include Oklahoma Representatives Dan Boren, Tom Cole, Mary Fallin and Frank Lucas. Cherokee Nation representatives, including Secretary of State Melanie Knight, worked closely with Delaware officials to negotiate the proposed agreement defining the inter-governmental relationship between the two nations. Highlights from the MOA include: agreements on jurisdictional boundaries, administration of governmental programs and provisions for 8(a) contracting. This legislative action follows Resolution Number 86-06 that was enacted by the Tribal Council of the Cherokee Nation on August 21, 2006, to approve and support legislation for separate federal recognition of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. Cobb, who represents Washington and Tulsa Counties on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, said he was thankful for the collaborative spirit of the Tribal Council during the discussion of the resolution and that these efforts would directly affect a significant portion of Cherokee citizens. “I
thank both Cherokee and Delaware administrations and their legal
staffs for their hard work on this MOA,” said Cobb. “We are inherently
aware and respect the difference in cultures of our two tribes and
I am extremely pleased that we are able to come together and hammer
out an agreement that will benefit both our tribes and our citizens
in the long run.” |
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The National Indian Monument & Institute, Inc. has sent Native foods to military personnel serving in Iraq to help celebrate Native American Month in November. Donations have been received that will be sent to military members on Joint Base Balad in Iraq. A group of four stationed at Joint Base Balad had contacted us NIMI in regards to helping them to collect Native foods and recipes for a dinner they are planning for Native American month. They are hoping that this event and others they have planned through out the month will not only bring a sense of home to them being so far away but also help to educate the other military members on their base and to squash Native American stereotypes that they may have. Non-perishable food items were sought, such as wild rice, buffalo jerky, corn, hominy, blue corn bread mix, grape juice, ingredients for fry bread or/and other favorite Native American specialty foods. They will be serving approximately 250 military service people. The National Indian Monument & Institute is a non-profit organization actively promoting and creating American Indian related programs. We are a group of artists, educators, historians, linguists, actors, storytellers, and lifelong students. We seek to preserve the American Indian cultures through the education of Indians and non-Indians alike. NIMI is located at 412 N. Boston in Tulsa, Oklahoma. |
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On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels.
To help consumers with the DTV transition, the Government established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a part of the Department of Commerce, administers this program. Every U.S. household is eligible to receive up to two coupons, worth $40 each, toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes. You will be able to request the coupons beginning in January of 2008. The coupons may only be used for eligible converter boxes sold at participating consumer electronics retailers, and the coupons must be used at the time of purchase. Manufacturers estimate that digital-to-analog converter boxes will sell from $40 to $70 each. This is a one-time cost. For more information on the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program, visit the NTIA’s Web site at www.dtv2009.gov, or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).
Find out more visit http://www.dtv.gov
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