Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH, OK - The group that calls itself the "real" Cherokee Nation has been ordered by a judge to stop issuing automobile tags and selling coins which they call the official currency of the Cherokee Nation.

Saying the group was "unable to present any evidence to support their claims to authority" in Cherokee Nation matters, Judge Bruce Sewell ruled that the group led by Robin Mayes and Art Nave were in violation of Oklahoma’s unfair trade practices laws and issued a temporary injunction to keep their group from selling the tags and coins in question.

"I must give Mr. Mayes and Mr. Nave credit for originality and ingenuity", Sewell said. "But you can’t tell me why you have an exclusive monopoly on calling yourselves the Cherokee Nation any more than anyone else with a card. According to your arguments, anybody could go out and do this (sell bogus car tags)."

"By your actions, the dual citizens of the State of Oklahoma and the Cherokee Nation have been defrauded of money", Sewell told Mayes and Nave.

Under questioning from Sewell, Mayes and Nave admitted that they had not been elected by the Cherokee people, and claimed that they represented a provisional government. Sewell scoffed at the notion that Mayes’ self-appointed group was a government. “I don’t know how the two of you chose to deify yourselves above other Cherokees,” Sewell said.

Judge Sewell set another hearing on the matter for September 19. Until then, the group is barred from selling the coins and automobile tags or representing themselves to be the Cherokee Nation. Judge Sewell issued a written order on Thursday morning, August 31, 2000.