Itse Dugalu

Federal Recognition Status

       As of the First of December 2009 our recognition has not yet been processed by the BIA.  The states of Missouri and Arkansas have both recognized us on numerous occasions with Proclamations signed by governors of both states including Kit Bond from Missouri and Mike Huckabee from Arkansas.  Boone County has also formally recognized us.  In order to better serve our citizens and our Indian and non Indian neighbors throughout Old Louisiana our Nation has a policy that prohibits gambling and tobacco sales (except for ceremonial purposes) and Chief Northup has declared that the government will not now nor ever take legal action against any state or nation demanding reparations for lost land, belongings or hardships suffered at the hands of the USA and individual state governments.  Our goal is to continue to work in a spirit of unity (gadugi) with all of our neighbors to promote the well being of one another.

      On Saturday the 18th of October 2008 we completed and mailed in what we believed would be our final submission to the BIA.  They should have received the package on Thursday the 23rd of October.  They responded promptly requesting more information and we are currently compiling their requests.  

       Again on Saturday the 5th of December 2009 we completed and mailed in what we believe will be our final submission to the BIA.  We anticipate this submission will arrive on Thursday, the 10th of December.  There will be additional steps to be completed by our citizens and government and we will let you know as we progress.  We hope to better understand where we are in the recognition process shortly and we will furnish responses as soon as we have them.  We are not waiting for the recognition to go forward with our nation.  A lot of excitement is in the air and we are looking forward to this up coming year.

New Office and Contact Information

       Thanks to the hard work and generosity of our citizens we

have been able to reestablish ourselves in a new office in Columbia,

Missouri.  The office is open from 8am - 5pm Monday through Friday

however visits are only by appointment and may be made by calling

us at the following phone number or by e-mail. 

Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory

3610 Buttonwood Drive, Suite 200

Columbia, MO 65201

(573) 777-1184

Education Day at the Pow Wow

       In Topeka, Kansas members of the Northern Cherokee Nation of The Louisiana Purchase including the Awiakta District's Mike and Conchita Ballard were involved in the Intertribal Pow Wow and Education Day the last weekend of August that brought in about 700 children in their third grade classes along with their teachers and some 10 international students from Washington University.  For more information follow the link below.

NORTHERN CHEROKEE NATION

OF THE

OLD LOUISIANA TERRITORY

NEWS

IT HAS BEEN SOMETIME since you have received a newsletter and we have a lot of catching up to do.

FIRST OF ALL after all the years of promising and working toward our goal of submitting a petition for federal recognition, we have finally accomplished that goal.  It’s just been a matter of keeping the faith and never giving up.  We don’t have the recognition yet, but it is my belief that we have and can meet all the criteria that is required.  It has not been an easy task by any means and it has taken some very dedicated people in our government to be there through thick and thin.  We know that we represent thousands of people who have relied on us to make achievements.  While you haven’t heard from us for awhile, it’s been mostly due to keeping our mind on the task at hand of recognition and all the other everyday things that life throws at everybody.  And, most of all, it has been due to lack of funding.  We can’t give you a date when recognition may happen, but you can be assured we will let everyone know.

WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL to Columbia Curb and Gutter for faithfully sending in a donation each month which has enabled us to buy copy paper, ink for the printer, stamps and all the other incidentals that is required to keep our office going and which has allowed us to have the adequate copy paper and printer ink to be able to submit documents for our recognition.  Without this, there is no way this could have happened.

WE ARE ALSO VERY GRATEFUL to Charlie Bell and Christine Pfannenstiel for providing us a very nice office space. This office is supplied with phone service and a receptionist. They generously paid rent for a year and by February 1, 2010 we need to come up with a way to continue paying for this or we will have to move out, having no other place to go.  We have been told that when our petition is in, we will likely get a visit to our office to have our files checked.  I surely hope we still have a space for them to come to.  And until funding comes our way, we must rely on donations. .  The address for this location is: Northern Cherokee Nation, 3610 Buttonwood Dr., Suite 200, Columbia, MO 65201.  The phone number is: (573)886-8900.  We will see people by appointment only.   We also continue to have a mailing address at: PMB 242-3305 Clark Lane, Columbia, MO 65202

NOW THAT OUR PETITION IS IN, it is our plan to fill leadership positions in our districts that are not being represented at this time.  We had held off bringing in others due to past experiences.   Others have come in among us who have shown negative interests, which has slowed us down.  In order to avoid this again, the council voted to hold off any filling of vacancies until the petition was sent.  Now that this is done, we will soon be requesting names of those who wish to be a representative for their area.  While at this time, again due to lack of funds, it will not be a full scale elections, but at least it will be a start to get something going in the other districts. 

TO CONTACT THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, our nation’s website is set up to handle all inquiries.  The e-mail address for NCNOLT Nation is: ncnoltnation@yahoo.com

Deputy Chief, Arlie Strong:  arlie @earth-comm.com

Deputy Chief, Beverly Maxwell: Ahgayah_hosta@yahoo.com

Representative for Oklahoma, Dana Maxwell at same e-mail

Eric Lancaster, Rep. for central Missouri galagina@itsedugalu.com

Glinda Seabaugh, Rep for SE Missouri: pitter_7@yahoo.com

Sharon Morris, Rep. for St. Louis area: sharonmorris@yahoo.com

Conchita Ballard, Rep. for Kansas: cmballard@aol.com

IT IS OUR DESIRE to get a newsletter out to everyone on a regular basis.  For those who are able, it is a good idea to check our websites to keep up with what is going on.

I WOULD SAY WE HAVE HAD A PRODUCTIVE YEAR by getting our petition submitted.  And, because of this, I believe we will have an even better year in 2010.  The Tribal government and I wish each and every one of you Happy Holidays.  Chief Beverly Baker.

CHEROKEE PROMOTERS was started by one our beloved men who is no longer with us.  Dewey Neal came up with this idea years ago in order to bring in donations.  All those who send in a donation will be part of the Cherokee Promoters and in each newsletter we will provide your name and the amount you give.  We know many of you are struggling with finances, but as we’ve often suggested, just $1 a month from each citizen would allow your tribe to excel.  At this time your Council Representative must pay their own way to travel for meetings; this means money for gas, motel and food.  We make no promises, but we hope the future for each of our citizens will bring help with education, health care, house, food, etc.  It is also our hope and desire to bring in tribal enterprises that will make the tribe money on an on going basis and provide jobs for our citizens.  Bur, for now, it is going to take all of us working together to make this happen.

If you wish to be part of our Cherokee Promoters, please send in your donation with the attached.  And, thank each of you for being part of this and helping our tribe prosper.

____Yes, I wish to be a Cherokee Promoter.

Enclosed is $_________for my donation this month and each month hereafter.

Enclosed is $_________for my one time yearly donation.

Name____________________________________________

(If you wish to have your name withheld, please let us know.)