So now Buley claims to be a descendant of Stand Watie? You have to be Indian first. Check out some of the pages at http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://southern-cherokee.com You can see all the people in the Ridge con are now with Buley or one of the over 200 other cons being run in the name of our tribe. You can buy a southern cherokee card from Jim Wilson of Neetribe in NC for $75 or MO for $35 or a genealogy in Oregon for $200. There is no such thing as "Southern Cherokee/Treaty Party" and never has been. This was dreamed up by a group of conmen to bring in more people and more money. Paul Boyd, USPS investigator, has the "enrollment" files from federal confiscations in both OK and LA, many of which had nothing but a birth certificate in it. And numerous CNO people have been involved or helped set up these cons.Andrew Light

Go to southerncherokeeok.com

In regards to comment #2, I suggest you read my original article. I really don't believe that the srticle in any way makes claims that we are officially state or federally recognized. However, if you honestly wish to pursue the truth, I suggest you read the entire Treaty of 1866 between the United States and the Cherokee Nation. Many times in the same treaty that created the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, there is mention of the "....so called Southern Cherokee....". The last "official" Principal Chief of that sect of the Cherokee Nation was Stand Watie. Our own Principal Chief of the Southern Cherokee Nation of Kentucky comes from that same line of ancestry. In 1866, when the "full blood" Cherokee of Oklahoma were murdering and burning the homes of the "mixed blood" Cherokee, there were 75 wagons loaded with the "so called Southern Cherokee" who fled the Indian Territory in fear for their lives. The government of those people has remained intact since it moved to the Henderson, Kentucky area in the late 1800's. Many others from that 75 wagons returned to Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, and other states and tried to live peacefully. We do not dispute the rights of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma to define the terms of citizenship requirements to that Nation. However, just as they (CNO) have that right not to be interfered with nor dictated to by any other government, we adamantly cling to OUR rights UNDER THE SAME TREATY, to declare that WE are the "....so called Southern Cherokee...." and really don't care if they like it or not. Your claim that there are no "lost Tribes" or splinter groups that fled from the Trail of Tears is hardly something that you or I can argue one way or the other. You can no more produce proof that NO one escaped that terrible ordeal than I can produce proof that anyone DID escape. I do not ask your own heritage but whether or not YOUR own surname appears on the Dawes Roll obviously has no bearing on whether or not you exist. My own name of "David" appears in the Christian Bible MANY times but that does not make me a descendant of Boaz.

Citizenship Verses Heritage
Cherokee People have struggled for centuries to survive and maintain their distinct identities as citizens of the Cherokee Nation. Today we face a dangerous assault on our tribal sovereignty from a proliferation of fraudulent groups attempting to claim the same treaty rights and obligations that rightfully belong to the true historic Indian nations.
Everyone has the right to their family heritage. However, "heritage" and "citizenship" are not always the same, and should not be confused or used interchangeably.
To be a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, at least one of your direct ancestors had to have publicly proclaimed their citizenship at the time of the Dawes Commission Rolls (1906). All others gave up their right and those of their descendants to Cherokee Nation citizenship. The Cherokee Nation Government establishes the criteria for citizenship.
To be more specific in our history, the "Eastern Cherokee Nation" and "Western Cherokee Nation," including the "Old Settlers" and "Late Immigrants," joined together in an Act of Union, July 12, 1839. There are no "lost' Cherokee Tribes or splinter groups that hid out or wandered off the Trail of Tears.
Some groups attempt to appropriate the collective rights of genuine Indian nations; they can inflect great harm on the very people they are pretending to be. You can honor your heritage by learning about the history, culture and language of your ancestors, but citizens of Indian nations have rights and civic responsibilities to their nations that should not be infringed upon or imitated.
There are only three Federally-recognized Cherokee Tribes: The Cherokee Nation and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians both located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina visit www.cherokee-nc.com.
Organizations rightfully claiming an association with the Cherokee Nation via Tribal Citizens At Large Groups, visit our web site www.cherokee.org and go to "Organization' and then "Cherokee Communities.' The Cherokee Nation does not question anyone's claims of heritage, but merely points out the significant difference between claiming heritage and having citizenship in a federally recognized Indian tribe. For more information contact Cherokee Nation at (918)453-5000 and http://taskforce.cherokee.org.
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Fry Bread makes the BEST Indian Tacos...then a plain hot one with honey is the perfect dessert!

I am happy to see you all getting togeather. I never knew how special your nations are if I had not moved to Comanche County,OK.Psssttt...it is your tribal rights to be in charge of casinos.