The Sacredness of Citizenship in The Chickamauga Nation
From the Governing Document of The Chickamauga Nation Approved in Council 3-25-2026
Pride, ego, and excessive self-worth have no place in Love. We must never forget why we are here on this planet: “to make the lives of those around us better.” When process and bureaucracy overtake love for relatives, we have lost the sacred. When we elevate paperwork over the needs of our fellow Chickamauga blood relatives, then we have lost sight of the Creator, Love. Life was never to be about “some of us,” it has always been about “all of us.”
Our citizenship is much more than having a place of belonging; it is sacred, a gift bestowed upon us by the Creator, the blood of our ancestors, the traditions of our culture, and the earth, land, and waters upon which we depend for our very existence. The Creator invests the sacredness of Citizenship in each of us through our personal and interpersonal relationships with our families, community, culture, land, water, and history. Our Citizenship projects our humanity to other Nations and peoples, demonstrating our uniqueness among all other humans and Nations.
Our Citizenship is a commitment on behalf of our Community to teach and train us to become humans worthy of the gift bestowed upon us by the Creator, our ancestors, culture, traditions, and history. Our Citizenship is an oath in blood that binds each Citizen together through interdependence, loyalty, respect, dignity, and honor.
The Community, through our Elders, Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins, is placed in our lives to make us better human beings. The Creator has placed them there to teach us to be accountable to our Tribe, ancestors, ourselves, and future generations. They teach us our laws, traditions, culture, and history, and they must be honored and respected as gifts from the Creator.
The Chickamauga Nation confers citizenship in three distinct ways. First, as a direct blood descendant of a Chickamauga ancestor. Second, as a blood descendant of a Tribe or people who were Confederated with the Chickamauga. Third, as a human, Adopted because of great works done for or on behalf of the Chickamauga.
A blood descendant of a Chickamauga ancestor is a gift bestowed on us by the Creator and our ancestors. A blood descendant is endowed with specific rights and privileges from the Tribe and rights and privileges bestowed to The Chickamauga Nation by Treaties with England, France, Spain, Mexico, the United States, and other Confederated Tribes.
The blood descendant of a Confederated Tribe or people can become a Citizen of The Chickamauga Nation. Confederated Citizens hold the rights and privileges of Chickamauga Citizenship. Still, they cannot hold certain offices in the Government of The Chickamauga Nation but can serve in the many departments and agencies of the Tribe. They are encouraged to learn the history and culture of their tribe, but to defer to the laws, traditions, culture, and history of The Chickamauga Nation as a Citizen.
A human can be Adopted as a Citizen of The Chickamauga Nation by doing great works for or on behalf of The Chickamauga Nation. The Adopted Citizen holds the rights and privileges of Chickamauga Citizenship. Still, they cannot hold certain offices in the Government of The Chickamauga Nation but can serve in the many departments and agencies of the Tribe.
The Sacredness of Citizenship requires the Nation, as a community of families, to diligently seek to teach each Citizen our laws, traditions, culture, and history. If a human decides they no longer want to be a Citizen of The Chickamauga Nation, that choice will be honored. In writing, they must inform their Clan Mother, Gorget Chief, and the National Council of their intention to withdraw from Citizenship.
The Sacredness of Citizenship is essential within the life of The Chickamauga Nation. The extinguishing of that gift as bestowed by the Creator to the Community and Families of The Chickamauga Nation is never to be considered except for the vilest of offenses committed against the Nation itself.
An orderly process shall govern such actions in the hope of restoring honor, trust, respect, and loyalty. First, the Clan Mothers of the offender's Clan must seek to mediate and restore the relationship. Second, if the Clan Mothers' mediation is unsuccessful, the Gorget Chief of the Council House of the offender must seek to mediate and restore the relationship. Third, if the Gorget Chief of the Council House is unsuccessful, the National Council must review the offense and vote by at least 66% to refer the offender to the National Supreme Court for trial. At the end of the trial, the National Supreme Court vote must be at least 66% for removal from the Nation, and the person is immediately removed from the roles of the Nation. The offender immediately surrenders all rights and privileges of Citizenship, including all Treaty Rights, Tribal benefits, and standing within the Community. If the offender does not have their Citizenship removed, their relationship to the Nation must be accepted and restored.