Will the REAL Delaware Tribal Leaders Please Stand Up?!

On August 1st, U.S Representative John Sullivan introduced legislation which will help the Delaware Tribe of Indians reestablish their recognized status with the United States Government.

At that time, Chief Jerry Douglas issued the following statement on behalf of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, tribal council and the tribal trust board:

“We are pleased and appreciative of the spirit of cooperation between the two tribes, Delawares and Cherokees, which has enabled us to arrive at a point that legislation to restore our federal recognition has been reached. Chief Smith and Congressman John Sullivan have been instrumental in assisting with the mechanics of getting our legislation drafted and introduced before Congress. I certainly don’t want to minimize the cooperation and assistance from the members of the Cherokee Nation tribal council. We are looking forward to working with members of Congress and particularly the Oklahoma delegation in getting this bill moved through both houses.”

Now, however, according to a report in the Bartlesville News Examiner – Enterprise, a former Delaware Chief and a wife of another former Delaware Chief are holding townhall meetings to discuss the legislation proposed by Congressman Sullivan, which, they say is their constitutional right.

Current Chief Jerry Douglas has this to say, according to the report:

“There is an old adage which states, ‘If you call yourself a leader and you look back and no one is following you … you are just out taking a walk.’ This maxim holds truth for those who have issued comments to the media concerning a town hall meeting…The so called ‘Delaware Leaders’ to host this meeting do not represent the collective voice of the Delaware Tribal government nor the Delaware Tribal membership at large. The majority of Delaware leaders elected and serving on the Tribal Council and the Trust Board are honoring the Nov. 3, 2007 election mandate from the Delaware Tribal voting membership which authorizes the Tribal Council to take such actions as necessary to obtain legislation for the restoration of tribal federal recognition.

“The so called ‘Delaware leaders’ and town hall meeting is not an official meeting of the Delaware Tribe of Indians and the majority of elected officials of the tribe will not be in attendance.”

So there you go. Delaware tribal members who want to “take a walk,” will be meeting on Sunday 1:30 p.m. August 17th at the Delaware Community Center. The Delaware Tribal Council will be meeting the next day, Monday, at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18th.