The Secretary of Interior refereed The Chickamauga Nation to schedule a Meeting with Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland.
Below is a copy of the communication between The Chickamauga Nation and Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland. All E-Mail Addresses and personal contact information has been Redacted
From: Chickamauga Nation
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 8:07 PM
To: Personius, Anita
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Schedule Meeting with Secretary Haaland
Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland
In response to the office of Scheduling and Advance for Secretary Haaland, your information has been given to us to contact to set up a formal government to government meeting between you as a diplomat of the United States and the National Executive Chiefs of The Chickamauga Nation serving as diplomats for The Chickamauga Nation. In accordance with State Department guidelines,as diplomats, the National Executive Chiefs of The Chickamauga Nation expect the professional courtesies afforded other diplomats by the State Department of the United States.
Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland, we anticipate that you and your staff will be serving as the diplomats representing the United States in accordance with Article XII of the 1785 Hopewell Treaty.
“That the Indians may have full confidence in the justice of the United States,respecting their interests, they shall have the right to send a deputy of theirchoice, whenever they think fit, to Congress.”
The Chickamauga Nation are co-signers to over 16 Treaties with the United States. The United States has held land in Trust for The Chickamauga Nation both east and west of the Mississippi River. The United States has paid annuities to The Chickamauga Nation from 1785 up to the 1830s. The Governing Council of The Chickamauga Nation has existed since before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The United States recognized the Governing Council of The Chickamauga Nation in 1785 and that reconvened Governing Council exists to this day. The United States Congress has never terminated The Chickamauga Nation.
On July 18, 2019, the National Executive Chiefs of The Chickamauga Nation meet with the staff of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. We were told to have our History, Archaeology, and Anthropology academically verified. We now have over 600,000 pages of academically verified documentation that we have existed on this continent some 800 years prior to contact. We are part of the Mound Culture of the Mississippi Bottoms. We are part of the Southeast Woodland Ceremonial Mound Cult. We have more than documented our history, archaeology, and anthropology.
We seek this meeting for the purpose of placing The Chickamauga Nation on the List of Indian tribes or groups are federally recognized and eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) immediately and without delay. The statutes and codes of 25 CFR requires the Secretary to keep an accurate list of Indian tribes or groups are federally recognized and eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). It is therefore reasonable under the statutes and codes of 25 CFR when the White Line Rule is applied, that the Secretary has the legal authority to place The Chickamauga Nation on the List of Indian tribes or groups are federally recognized and eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
Chief Jimmie W. Kersh,
National Executive Chief of the West Region
The Chickamauga Nation
https//www.ChickamaugaNation.com
From:Personius, Anita
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 10:13 AM
To: Chickamauga Nation
Cc: Botts, RIchard Chief; Christopher Chief Spruell; Francis Casteel; Chuck Allen; Matt Horne; Tammy Alexander; Jones, Angie; Kee, Jerel M; Fleming, Lee
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Schedule Meeting with Secretary Haaland
Good Morning: I am providing the link along w/the required info needed for this request: https://www.bia.gov/service/request-meeting and provide the following information:
- One page briefing paper on the issue to be discussed.
- Action items for Indian Affairs to consider.
- Provide any material you wish on the topic.
Please keep in mind that if you do not receive a response confirming receipt shortly after you have submitted, there may be an issue with your submission. Please re-submit your request with all fields addressed and the detailed briefingpaper is attached to help expedite the review for processing.
Thank you,
Nita
aNita Personius
Office of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs
Executive Asst to ASIA
1849 C St. NW, MS-4660-MIB
Wash., DC 20240
Main:
From:Chickamauga Nation
Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 4:02 AM
To: 'Personius, Anita'
Cc: 'Botts, Richard Chief'; 'Christopher Chief Spruell' ; 'Francis Casteel'; 'Chuck Allen'; 'Matt Horne'; 'Tammy Alexander' ;'Jones, Angie'; 'Kee, Jerel M' (BIA); 'Fleming, Lee' (OFA)
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Schedule Meeting with Secretary Haaland
Ms. Personius,
As per our telephone conversation on Tuesday, March 8, 2022,I need to have a clarification so our National Executive Chiefs can make a proper determination about proceeding with requesting this meeting with Assistant Secretary, Bryan Newland.
It is my understanding from our telephone conversation that there are a group of persons from various departments and/or agencies who will examine our request and make the determination as to whether or not we are allowed to have a meeting with the Assistant Secretary, Bryan Newland.
Is it possible for you to provide us with the names, positions, and tribal affiliations of each of those persons who will be making the determination as to whether or not we are allowed to have a meeting with the Assistant Secretary, Bryan Newland? This will go a long way in helping us determine how to proceed in this process.
Finally, can you please provide the reason Jerel M Kee and Lee Fleming were CC on your reply e-mail to The Chickamauga Nation?
Thank You,
Chief Jimmie W. Kersh,
National Executive Chief of the West Region
The Chickamauga Nation
AS OF MARCH 11, 2022 Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland's office (Ms Personius) has not responded to our latest request for information
(C) This document was produced at the request of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on July 18, 2019, to document the History, Anthropology, Culture, Religion, and Archaeology of The Chickamauga Nation.