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Cherokee Nation Marshals Stand Ground
In Attempted BIA Takeover
From Linda Turnbull-Lewis
May 5, 1997

Tahlequah, OK - Cherokee Nation Marshals stood their ground this morning at 8:45AM when BIA area director Jim Fields tried to take over their offices and equipment.
Pats Ragsdale, Cherokee Nation Marshal Service Director's and the other Marshals stood their ground in the attempted take over by the U.S. Governments BIA. Marshals informed the BIA agent serving notice that they would only take orders from the Cherokee Nation government's highest court.
Notice served follows:
Pursuant to the decision of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs on Friday, April 25, 1997, to temporarily assume law enforcement for the Cherokee Nation, you are advised that you lack authority to act as tribal law enforcement officer. You are specifically advised that any action that you may henceforth attempt to undertake as a tribal law enforcement officer may subject you, as an individual, to civil and criminal liability.
We request that you collect any law enforcement equipment that has been issued to you in your former capacity as a tribal law enforcement officer, and that you relinquish it to the Muskogee Area Office Property Officer beginning May 5, 1997. We ask that you seriously consider voluntarily relinquishing the equipment, as failure to do so may subject you to civil and criminal liability. The Muskogee area Property Officer will be in contact with you.
Sincerely,
James Fields
Area Director

(**Provider's Note:)
Unofficial word in Washington DC is that Assistant Secretary to Interior on Indian Affairs, Ada Deer, legally "botched" this action from the beginning. She is on her way out of office, and officials are scrambling for "damage control". Over 400 Cherokee people have started Impeachment proceedings against Principal Chief Joe Byrd.
E-MAIL, WRITE AND CALL AS MANY REPUBLICAN SENATORS AS POSSIBLE. TELL them we have a Chief who is under tribal criminal investigation for misappropriation of federal and tribal funds. Federal and tribal funds were used in the DNC campaign last year. Thi s Chief has tried to fire the Marshal service who are part of the investigation. He has tried to fire the tribal Prosecutor. Now they are attempting to overthrow our Judicial Tribunal Justices and hand our court back to the BIA, all in an attempt to sto p this investigation.
They are invading our nation in an illegal take over of what was one of the greatest tribal governments in America. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!
Impeachment procedures against Joe Byrd, Garland Eagle and certain councilman have began today, by over 400 Cherokees. We are hearing from Cherokees across the United States. This is tragic, we all see through the transparent attempt to avoid criminal investigation. CALL our Justices, Justice Phillip Viles, Justice Ralph Keen or Justice D. Birdwell, or our Prosecutor Diane Blalock at 918-458-9447.
DNC, AND THE INTERIOR ARE INVADING OUR NATION.... JUST SO THAT THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO ADMIT THAT TOOK A CORRUPT CHIEF ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN THE 1996 ELECTION TOUR.
200,000 CHEROKEES WILL NOT PUT UP WITH THIS...WE DEMAND A CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO JOE BYRD'S ADMINISTRATION!
Thanks,
Linda Turnbull-Lewis
naitca@fullnet.net

P. S. Jiggs Phillips walked off the council today. He said he's had it and would rather quit than be a part of what was going on today. Dana Tiger threw Garlands paper all up in the area and walked out.

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