Post by blackcrowheart on Jan 21, 2008 11:18:34 GMT -5
Huntington man registers Indian nation as charity
www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2007060923?pt=0
<http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2007060923?pt=0>
HUNTINGTON — A new charitable organization has been registered with
the West Virginia secretary of state: the Monacan Indian Nation.
There is already a Monacan Indian Nation in Virginia. It is a
state-recognized tribe, and a bill that would make it federally
recognized passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month.
But the Virginia Monacans have not accepted some people of Monacan
ancestry, said David Cremeans, who said he is part Monacan. He organized
the West Virginia group.
He said he has asked Sen. Robert C. Byrd's office about being
included in the possible federal recognition of the Monacans as a tribe.
"This new nation being formed ... is the new home for the Monacan
Indians of West Virginia," said Cremeans, president of the nonprofit
Native American Indian Federation in Huntington. "The Monacan Indian
Nation of West Virginia will also accept members who have been rejected
by the Monacan Nation of Virginia.
"We're trying to find eligible members that want to sign up.
They can call me to find out what criteria."
Nothing is stopping Monacans living in West Virginia, or any state, from
joining the original Monacan nation headquartered in Virginia, said
Diane Shields of the Monacan Indian Nation in Virginia.
"If Monacans live in West Virginia, Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania
— it doesn't matter," she said.
The nation has about 1,500 members in various states, including some in
West Virginia, she said.
Although 3,606 West Virginians identified themselves as American Indians
or Alaska Natives in the 2000 Census, neither the West Virginia nor the
federal government recognizes any American Indian tribes within the
state's borders.
Joyce Blankenship of Wayne said government recognition has never been
important to her. She said she has Monacan ancestry, but she has not
applied for membership with the Monacan nation in Virginia.
"I'm going to try through the one in West Virginia," she
said.
Her husband, Kenny, said he has Cherokee ancestry. But he has never
applied for membership in the federally recognized Cherokee tribe.
Federal recognition makes tribes eligible for money and services from
the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
"I don't care if I obtain state recognition or federal
recognition," said Kenny Blankenship, 60, a retired paint and
chemical factory employee. "It's about living the Indian
way."
"That's the important thing," said Joyce, 59, who is retired
from Ballard's Farm Sausage.
Bernard Humbles, 77, of Sewickley, Pa., said he has Monacan ancestry.
"I'm one of the people the Monacan nation of Virginia
rejected," he said. He said he looks black, which is also part of
his ancestry, and he was rejected after sending a required snapshot
along with his application.
Shields said applicants to the Monacan nation in Virginia must prove
they are descended from someone on the original Monacan tribal roster.
Monacans once lived in the Virginia Piedmont, according to the Virginia
Center for Digital History at the University of Virginia. Forced west in
the 1700s, they settled near Lynchburg, in present-day Amherst County,
where the nation is now headquartered.
In the early 1900s, the Virginia government systematically changed the
race of American Indians on official documents to "black" or
"mulatto," according to the center. As recently as the 1950s,
Monacan children were not allowed to attend Virginia public schools.
"I have lived through that period of Virginia history," Chief
Kenneth Branham of the Monacan Indian Nation testified before a U.S.
House committee in April, seeking federal recognition for the Monacans.
"I want the next generation to be free from that legacy."
Cremeans said government recognition is not necessary for his Monacan
Indian Nation.
"You don't have to be state-recognized," he said. "You
still get to interact, still get to learn about your heritage and your
culture."
www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2007060923?pt=0
<http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2007060923?pt=0>
HUNTINGTON — A new charitable organization has been registered with
the West Virginia secretary of state: the Monacan Indian Nation.
There is already a Monacan Indian Nation in Virginia. It is a
state-recognized tribe, and a bill that would make it federally
recognized passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month.
But the Virginia Monacans have not accepted some people of Monacan
ancestry, said David Cremeans, who said he is part Monacan. He organized
the West Virginia group.
He said he has asked Sen. Robert C. Byrd's office about being
included in the possible federal recognition of the Monacans as a tribe.
"This new nation being formed ... is the new home for the Monacan
Indians of West Virginia," said Cremeans, president of the nonprofit
Native American Indian Federation in Huntington. "The Monacan Indian
Nation of West Virginia will also accept members who have been rejected
by the Monacan Nation of Virginia.
"We're trying to find eligible members that want to sign up.
They can call me to find out what criteria."
Nothing is stopping Monacans living in West Virginia, or any state, from
joining the original Monacan nation headquartered in Virginia, said
Diane Shields of the Monacan Indian Nation in Virginia.
"If Monacans live in West Virginia, Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania
— it doesn't matter," she said.
The nation has about 1,500 members in various states, including some in
West Virginia, she said.
Although 3,606 West Virginians identified themselves as American Indians
or Alaska Natives in the 2000 Census, neither the West Virginia nor the
federal government recognizes any American Indian tribes within the
state's borders.
Joyce Blankenship of Wayne said government recognition has never been
important to her. She said she has Monacan ancestry, but she has not
applied for membership with the Monacan nation in Virginia.
"I'm going to try through the one in West Virginia," she
said.
Her husband, Kenny, said he has Cherokee ancestry. But he has never
applied for membership in the federally recognized Cherokee tribe.
Federal recognition makes tribes eligible for money and services from
the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
"I don't care if I obtain state recognition or federal
recognition," said Kenny Blankenship, 60, a retired paint and
chemical factory employee. "It's about living the Indian
way."
"That's the important thing," said Joyce, 59, who is retired
from Ballard's Farm Sausage.
Bernard Humbles, 77, of Sewickley, Pa., said he has Monacan ancestry.
"I'm one of the people the Monacan nation of Virginia
rejected," he said. He said he looks black, which is also part of
his ancestry, and he was rejected after sending a required snapshot
along with his application.
Shields said applicants to the Monacan nation in Virginia must prove
they are descended from someone on the original Monacan tribal roster.
Monacans once lived in the Virginia Piedmont, according to the Virginia
Center for Digital History at the University of Virginia. Forced west in
the 1700s, they settled near Lynchburg, in present-day Amherst County,
where the nation is now headquartered.
In the early 1900s, the Virginia government systematically changed the
race of American Indians on official documents to "black" or
"mulatto," according to the center. As recently as the 1950s,
Monacan children were not allowed to attend Virginia public schools.
"I have lived through that period of Virginia history," Chief
Kenneth Branham of the Monacan Indian Nation testified before a U.S.
House committee in April, seeking federal recognition for the Monacans.
"I want the next generation to be free from that legacy."
Cremeans said government recognition is not necessary for his Monacan
Indian Nation.
"You don't have to be state-recognized," he said. "You
still get to interact, still get to learn about your heritage and your
culture."