Post by blackcrowheart on May 2, 2006 13:12:23 GMT -5
Narragansett oust Champlain family
NEWS FROM INDIAN COUNTRY
APRIL 17, 2006
NARRAGANSETT OUST CHAMPLAIN FAMILY
South Kingstown, RI (AP)
The Narraganset has ousted the family of the former tribal council
member for failing to produce documents that prove their ancestry.
Narragansett Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas told the Providence Journal
that the Champlain family did not meet their 120-day deadline for
producing the records.
The Champlains were told in early December that certain documents -
their birth, death and marriage certificates linking them to the 1880
tribal roll - were missing.
The family asserts their tribal ties became an issue just weeks after
one of their members, Yvette Champlain, raised questions about how the
tribe had spent $1 million it obtained from Harrah's Entertainment.
"For the best interest of the people, I questioned, I asked for
accountability," she said.
Thomas said the timing of Yvette's inquiry and her family's membership
review is coincidental.
The Champlains have used land deeds, wills and names in the Bible to
justify their ancestry. Yvette and others have argued that using
birth, death and marriage certificates to tie their lineage to the 2880
roll is almost impossible because Indian mothers often did not give
birth in hospitals or keep typical records. They doubt that other
tribal members, including Thomas, can produce such records. #####
NEWS FROM INDIAN COUNTRY
APRIL 17, 2006
NARRAGANSETT OUST CHAMPLAIN FAMILY
South Kingstown, RI (AP)
The Narraganset has ousted the family of the former tribal council
member for failing to produce documents that prove their ancestry.
Narragansett Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas told the Providence Journal
that the Champlain family did not meet their 120-day deadline for
producing the records.
The Champlains were told in early December that certain documents -
their birth, death and marriage certificates linking them to the 1880
tribal roll - were missing.
The family asserts their tribal ties became an issue just weeks after
one of their members, Yvette Champlain, raised questions about how the
tribe had spent $1 million it obtained from Harrah's Entertainment.
"For the best interest of the people, I questioned, I asked for
accountability," she said.
Thomas said the timing of Yvette's inquiry and her family's membership
review is coincidental.
The Champlains have used land deeds, wills and names in the Bible to
justify their ancestry. Yvette and others have argued that using
birth, death and marriage certificates to tie their lineage to the 2880
roll is almost impossible because Indian mothers often did not give
birth in hospitals or keep typical records. They doubt that other
tribal members, including Thomas, can produce such records. #####