Building and Strengthening The Chickamauga Nation (TCN)
Some insights about the January 24, an 8-hour conference in Little Rock, Arkansas called “Path to Prosperity” sponsored by the Small Business Administration (SBA), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
First and foremost, TCN is an Economic Development Tribe (EDT) and not an Indian Gaming Tribe. The culture and religion of TCN forbids gaming (gambling). Therefore: TCN is opposed to being in the Gaming industry.
Second, as an Economic Development Tribe (EDT) TCN must help each Citizen become economically independent from government.
Finally, as an Economic Development Tribe (EDT) TCN must help each Citizen in every way possible to gather the confidence and skills needed to become economically independent.
One of the things required to be economically independent is the belief that you know best how to use your own strengths, skills, and talents to better yourself and family. First, as a Chickamauga you are fiercely independent. Chickamauga have always used their strengths, skills, and talents to overcome the challenges which they faced. Chickamauga have been successful in surviving for millennia because of their fierce independence.
Second, in addition to being fiercely independent, Chickamauga continually used their strengths, skills, and talents to overcome every obstacle placed in their path. When other Tribes struggled, Chickamauga prospered because they refused to be held back economically. If there was not a path to prosperity, the Chickamauga created their own so their families and Tribe had an advantage. They have always been driven to excel beyond the average.
Third, Chickamauga independence combined with their strengths, skills, and talents has allowed then to support their families and Tribe. Their industriousness has driven them to be innovators throughout history. When there was a challenge, the Chickamauga found a way to defeat it. When they were told no or that they could not, they found a way to do it anyway. They are Chickamauga after all.
A question was posed about where TCN wants to see itself as a Tribe in 10 years. The answer should not be surprising. “By 2035, TCN should have 250 brand new businesses started by Chickamauga Citizens so their Citizens can be economically independent and use their strengths, skills, and talents to benefit their families and Tribe.” The gentleman who posed the question was taken back for a second and replied, “Go make the Citizens of TCN economic successes.”
TCN has people with strengths, skills, and talents in so many areas. TCN has Citizens with skills in Arts, Clerical, Construction, Crafts, Education, Electric, Food Production, Furniture Making, Law, Machine, Medicine, Non-Profit, Plumbing, Restaurant and Leisure, Solar, Technology, Textile, Wood Working, and hundreds if not thousands of other areas. Each of these strengths, skills, and talents can be used to start and run a business that will help TCN Citizens become economically independent.
This conference taught something vitally important, TCN can partner with dozens of different groups and agencies to being to their Citizens the formula for starting a business. TCN can partner with people in the business community to assist every Citizen who wants to start a business, to put together a plan for making their dream a reality.
If you want more information about starting your own business as a Native American business, email the office, and we can get you the information about starting a Business that is chartered by The Chickamauga Nation. Citizens do not have any fees associated with filing for their Corporate Charter whether it is an Inc, LLC, or Tax Exempt business.
Yakoke Fehna Hoke = Thank You Very Much in the Mobilian Trade Language
(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.