This year we are about to venture out into the public arena of ideas like never before. We are going to be discussed by various groups and organizations throughout the country.
We must all learn self-control when others begin to talk about us whether they are espousing our honor and dignity, or whether they are trying to take our honor and dignity.
First, DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS. A Troll is a person who cannot advance your cause and only wants to cause problems. Why engage someone in an argument on the internet, in a store, or on the street that cannot move our issues forward? Feeding Trolls does not promote a strong and united front for The Chickamauga Nation. We need to be engaging persons who can actually advance our goals, and those are hard to find.
Second, we now have press credentials for some of our leaders. We will use the press credentials to add podcasting and journalistic stories to our website. We will interview politicians, community leaders, government officials, and our Citizens as we prepare to take our message national. A professional podcast is not expensive to start and keep going, but it is not free. It will cost us about $4,000 for the first year (equipment purchases) then about $500 a year after that.
Third, as we become more visible to the general public, we will begin to take a more aggressive messaging with those who call us “fakes, frauds, and wannabees.” If you hear other tribes or nations, or their citizens refer to us in that manner, we need to know their names and their tribal or governmental affiliation, but do not feed the trolls and confront them. Do not give them the satisfaction of causing anger or frustration. If we do not feed the trolls, they will eventually stop their behavior.
Fourth, do not say something publicly on television, radio, or internet. Very few of our Citizens have the required letter with a raised seal and signature to speak for The Chickamauga Nation. If you have something or someone you believe the Nation needs to speak to or with, then, let the National Executive Chiefs know and they can deal with it because they have a letter with a raised seal and signature to speak for The Chickamauga Nation.
Fifth, we will be announcing different ways every Citizen can help the Nation throughout 2022. When we make an announcement, we are making the announcement because it is critical and crucial at that time and for the upcoming few weeks or months. In the next few days we are making our first announcement for 2022.
Finally, make sure every person in your family has a roll number. Make sure every one of our friends and neighbors are given an opportunity to fill out an application. The more people we have on our rolls, the more powerful we are in the eyes of the federal government.
(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.