Czombel M3 Academic Journal Blog Assignment

For Module 3’s Academic Journal Blog I chose the Online Reference United South & Eastern Tribes, Inc. (USET) established in 1969, located at http://www.usetinc.org/ as I hail from Western New York and was interested in learning more about the tribes in my geographic area. This site is dedicated to promoting Indian leadership, improving the quality of life for American Indians, and protecting Indian rights and resources on Tribal lands collectively, on a regional an national level.

            It is interesting to note that there is a calendar of several conferences scheduled in 2016 and 2017, and many of the agenda topics covered or will cover various health issues that you here in the news on a regular basis: High blood pressure, AIDS, childhood weight control, glycemic control, tobacco cessation, legalization of cannabis, diabetes and nutrition.

I had the pleasure of viewing the 45 minute USET’s 26 Tribal Nations Video, which explains the development of the organization occurred on October, 4^th, 1968 in Cherokee, North Carolina by four tribes, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The current headquarters are centrally located within the twelve represented states in Nashville, Tennessee, and the standing President since 2006 is Brian Patterson, from the Oneida Nation.

Their motto? Strength in Unity. This is especially relevant in this day and age with all the unrest in the country related to racial and police brutality issues, including the mass shooting in Orlando and the attack on Dallas police this past week during a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest.

               

                                                                         Photo courtesy of http://www.usetinc.org/

 

The video describes the backgrounds and futures of the four tribes, starting with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians that date back over 11,000 years, before the Inca, Mayans, Greek and Egyptian empires. Key concepts presented were that this tribe developed agriculture, practiced democracy, where all adults met on important issues. Each village had a Peace Chief, a War Chief, and a Spiritual Leader, and The Three Sisters were honored, corn, beans and squash.

                          

    Photo courtesy of https://kbagdanov.wordpress.com/tag/three-sisters-garden/

 

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians value their culture, which includes colorful dress making, traditional dancing, swamp cane baskets, stick ball and intricate bead work. Their creation story or point of origin centers around the Nanih Wayia Mound, or Mother Mound, pictured below.

                          

   Photo courtesy of http://gritsandsoul.blogspot.com/2010/08/happy-nanih-waiya-day.html

 

The Mississippi Choctaws are economically successful with the help of their democratically elected tribal chief, and seventeen-member tribal council. Development successes include those in high technology fields, resorts, casinos, hotels, golf club and theme park.

The Miccosukee Tribe of Florida focus on family values and look to nature to provide all the necessary resources to not only cultivate and sustain life, but also provide healing benefits.  They take pride in learning from their elders through oral tradition, and use this technique to articulate their philosophy and convey their way of life to their descendants. The Miccosukee’s colorful black, red and yellow striped flag symbolizes the circle of life, pictured below.

                            

     Photo courtesy of http://etc.usf.edu/clippix/picture/miccosukee-tribe-of-indians-flag-2.html

 

 The Seminole Tribe of Florida was a collection of refugees from various tribes in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama.  By the 1950’s they managed to evade all government termination efforts and the tribe’s constitution was ratified in 1957, officially recognized by U.S. Congress.  Although they had constant challenges and setbacks, they managed a modest tribal economy through trading and craftsmanship. This included patchwork clothes, delicate sweet grass baskets, and dolls made from Palmetto fronds.  The led the way for gaming entrepreneurship in the United States, and take pride in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.  Tribal Council meeting were held under the legendary Council Oak, pictured below. 

                              

                Photo courtesy of http://www.monon.monon.org/sobend/counciloak.html