Copyright © 1998 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Cherokee Press Association
Copyright © 1998 CPA
All Rights Reserved

"A Cherokee Connection" This group is a combination of Cherokees from all parts of the Cherokee Nation including scores of out of state Cherokees. They have requested that the Cherokee Press Association forward the the following open letter to Byrd/Eagle and those who have aided them.

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February 23, 1998

WE HAVE NOT GONE AWAY!! Even though you have given away the money that belonged to the Cherokee babies and school children; reduced health care for Cherokee orders people and others who need medical attention (Cherokees are dying -- literally being sent home from our hospitals and clinics to die!!); and so blatantly taken away the dream of any number of our Cherokee who wish to start a home or desperately need home repair.

We are drowning in red tape and no funds but WE ARE STILL HERE!! Our hearts are heavy, our concerns are just as intense. We want you all to know that you can not decide the will of the Cherokee people -- We deny you the permission to decide our future! YOU have lost your dignity, integrity and honor -- not us!!

YOU have committed the treasonous acts -- not us!! You have proven your pattern of conduct to the Cherokee people and it is YOU who have brought the detrimental attention upon the tribe -- not us!!

We are proud of the color of your skin because it is the color of ours, we are not proud of what you have become. We are not critical of your leadership because you are not leaders!

The controversy of this past year has taken us back 20 years because there is no accountability in your administration. Don't blame us for your inadequacies for you have placed these problems at your own door by trying to hide something. We are not attacking the Cherokee Nation, we have begged you for the last 12 months to please stop this and save our Cherokee Nation.

We will continue to tell anyone that will listen that the "Cherokee Turmoil", which is your descriptive words in your article, Is Not Over.!! We say it is the Byrd/Eagle Turmoil and we choose to call this the "Trail Where We Cry Each Day!!"

The Cherokee people have no law enforcement, our Marshals are not back to work as promised, our judicial system and our Justices are ignored and restrained with your blessing, we have no prosecutor, the finances of the Cherokee Nation has a deficit of more than $6 million and a successful audit can not be completed because of cover-ups and destruction of financial documentation and incompetence.

The Cherokee people are suffering and we feel it is your administrations fault! WE CAN NOT AND WILL NOT BE DISMISSED WITH A WELL WORDED ARTICLE. The Byrd/Eagle Administration and the Councilors will to continue to hear from us!!

A Cherokee Connection