THIS IS OUR LOG CABIN LOCATED ON TRIBAL LAND IN CULLMAN COUNTY.IT IS FULL OF HISTORY
photo courtesy: of Susan Eason
LAST UPDATED: 5/12/08
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ECHOTA CHEROKEE TRIBE of ALABAMA
Thank you for visiting
This website is maintained solely by me for the purpose of information. These pages belong to the People. Remember that the actions of the Echota Cherokee Tribe INCORPORATED reflect upon us all. If you have something to add to any of these pages please feel free to contact me directly at 256-627-8371 or e-mail at jmw813@hotmail.com (with the word "Editor" in the subject area.) I cannot post information that I don't have. If I have left anyone out on certain pages I apologize for it was not done purposely. I have hard copy of all items posted on the Info with Facts page. If you would like a copy please contact me. The charge will be $1.00 per page to cover the cost of paper and ink. Wado, Juanita
Indian in the Living Room Ed Hanson I would like to introduce someone you have grown up with refuse to acknowledge who has made the life you know possible Hello my relatives I am the Indian in your living room I am the First Nations the original inhabitants of Turtle Island I am the corn, the beans, the squash the sweet potatoesand tomatoes on your dinner table I am the gratitude you express every fourth Thursday in November I am the Corn Maiden, the Two Hills, the Sacred Mountains, Spider Woman, Shiprock I am the Kachinas, the Thunderbird, the Black Hills, and the Buffalo I am the Pipe Carrier, the Keeper of the Sacred Bundles the White Buffalo Calf, Kokopelli, I am HeyokaI am Coyote, Raven, Crow, White Old Man, and Salmon Boy I am the Sun Dance, the Ghost Dance, the inipi wakan, the hanblechya I am the Indian in your living room I am the Great Law of Peace I am the plan for the U.S. Constitution given you by the clan mothers of the Iroquois Federation I am political freedom, free speech, equality, and freedom of assembly which you claim as part of being an American I am the Delaware who allowed Washington’s troops to survive the winter at Valley Forge I am the caretaker of Mother Earth I am the Grandfathers who tell the stories that teach us how to be human I am the Ancestors who watch from the heavens I am Powhatan, Pocahontas, and Sacagaweawho helped the white man survive in a strange land I am the Brotherhood of the Shield that used to care for and protect the people before the white men came I am the Indian in your living room I am the residue of Manifest Destiny I am an inconvenience to progress I am America’s Final Solution I am the ghost of Osceola, Pontiac, and Seattle I am the Trail of Tears, Sand Creek, and Wounded Knee I and II, I am Baker’s Massacre, Ghost Ridge,and all the atrocities carried out in your name I am the guilt you carry for these crimes I am the Indian in your living room I am blankets infected with smallpox I am trade whiskey, forced conversions, and Indian schools I am slavery, spoiled beef rations, and crooked Indian agents I am Cornstalk, Chief Joseph, Geronimo, and Crazy Horse, I am Sitting Bull, Jim Thorpe, Leonard Peltier, and Ira Hayes I am Squanto, Red Cloud, White Calf, and SuAnne Big Crow I am the Navajo Code Talkers who helped you win the war in the Pacific I am a long history of unpaid debts and broken promises I am the spirit of the buffalo shot from train windows and left to rot on the plains I am every treaty ever made and broken I am the Indian in your living room I am the reservation where the Constitution and Bill of Rights do not apply I am the loss of freedom and way of life I am poverty and unemployment, alcoholism and diabetes I am hopelessness and suicideand I am here to tell you the reservation now includes your living room and it just swallowed New Orleans now we all live here together Welcome to the reservation what they have done to me is being done to you and you let them away with it I am the Indian in your living room and I will not go away I am your past, your future, your heritage, and your destiny I am that small drop of Indian blood every American family now carries I am your parent, your grandparent, and great-grandparent and we are all related I am the Indian in your living room and I don’t seek vengeance I’m done asking for just compensation Your government is not capable of dealing honestly I am declaring independenceand you had better respect it I ask that the people open their hearts and listen and when you weep for the loss of my children as you would weep for your own then, I will know you have heard
Mitakuye Oyasin Ed Hanson
Billy Shaw's ( Reply for the record )
I will not try to address Mrs. Hallmark’s facts one on one. However, I will try to explain to the best of my ability how things really are. In 1993 Charlotte Stewart, Joe Stewart and Wayne Rasco formed a nonprofit corporation called the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama, Inc. When they did this, they formed the corporation with the expressed purpose of taking control of the Tribe. At the same time, they also placed themselves in the position of Chief and Tribal Chairman. To this day Charlotte Hallmark has maintained her position as Tribal Chairman waiting for the opportunity to use this position to fraudulently arrange an illegal appointment to the position of Chief. Insofar as the history of Chief’s are concerned no Chief has served a full term since 1993 not even Charlotte’s ex-husband Joe Stewart. When Joe Stewart resigned from the Board of Directors in 1997 he tendered his resignation because he felt things were not being done properly (see letter in facts page) and sent to me for safe keeping. After my resignation I received hundreds of phone calls and email messages asking me to run for Chief again. I explained to the members the problem with a nonprofit corporation verses the Tribe and my strategic reasons for this decision. I advised them to call our lawyer. After which time, most members wanted to have a Tribal election to remedy the problem of having only Corporate officers who are not in the legal position to lead the Tribe. Therefore, we held a Tribal election to remedy the problem. The Tribal election was conducted by the guidelines of the Roberts Rules of Order. The outcome of the election was that I was lawfully elected by a majority of Tribal members to the position of Chief. Mrs. Hallmark was nominated by one secret vote and could only produce five (5) ballots by proxy. In regards to the other officers each of them received several nominations each. Everyone that held an office with the governing body of the corporation who where previously nominated by secret vote were soundly defeated. I know Mrs. Hallmark claims that the Tribe and the nonprofit corporation are the same but they are not. Nonprofit Corporations can be form under Tribal law or State law. Furthermore, State recognition was granted to the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama long before the first nonprofit corporation was formed. In addition to that, the Alabama state attorney general has said clearly state recognition is not determined by a corporation. I don't know of anyone person that joined the corporation. All the Tribal member’s cards say Echota Cherokee Tribe. Also, she says that the corporation is who the Indian Affairs commission recognizes. Well state recognition is only determined by the Alabama state legislature. The two people that work there might recognize Charlotte Hallmark’s false claim but the State of Alabama recognizes the Tribe as the Tribe. Here is an excerpt from a letter from the Attorney Generals office. "It is important to note that all the Tribes that presently enjoy state recognition have achieved that recognition, not through the Alabama Indian Affairs Commissions recognition process, but from an express pronouncement of the legislature."This letter was dated August 25, 1999 since that time two tribes have been recognized by the commission. But the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama was recognized by the state legislature. Therefore, the corporation bylaws do not apply. Grayfox
Written by "Mountain Lion"
We have the genetic link to our ancestors. Respect one another, for we are all relatives. We carry their blood. They speak to us, and our minds and our hearts answer. They suffered much, but through us,not in vain. We are the ones who survived. We are the lucky ones, for we are here in our native land, and we know that here, today, we can make a difference. They , we cannot help. They have passed beyond our help. But we know that history, yet we live today in this modern, busy, noisy, crazy world, that seems hell-bent on destroying itself. We must have this little corner of Eden, this tribal land, with its' near pristine forest, its; nature trails, its' streams and waterfalls, its' wildlife and medicine plants, and its' cultural sites, to come to and renew ourselves. OUR ANCESTORS ARE CALLING US HERE. We need to protect and preserve the land for our children. by preserving the tribe as a people, and holding sacred our culture, teaching our children to respect all life, and the land, we can assure that future generations will do the same.
Editors note: Any misspellings, typos, adding or removal is the sole responsibility of the editor!
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 830 Vinemont, Al 35179
Phone Number: 256-734-7337
Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama INCORPORATED site:
THIS IS OUR LOG CABIN LOCATED ON TRIBAL LAND IN CULLMAN COUNTY.IT IS FULL OF HISTORY 
