Gardner Green Series: The Birth of a Fake Tribe

Unraveling the birth of the original fake Cherokee tribe in Missouri is complicated. There are several groups that claim to be the original, but the documents filed with the state, the available group histories, and interviews with people involved at the time make it clear which group was the first and which groups splintered from it.

There are at least three non-profit groups registered with the Missouri Secretary of State's office who claim to be Cherokee tribes who descend from "the Green Band" or Benjamin Green, purported son of the Gardner Green found on the 1835 Census of the Cherokee Nation. These groups are:

• The Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory (Columbia, MO)
• The Northern Cherokee Nation (Clinton, MO/Cuba, MO)
• The Sac River/White River Bands of the Chickamauga Cherokee Nation, Inc. (Thornfield, MO)

The most active at this time appears to be the Northern Cherokee Nation (aka NCN), a non-profit out of Clinton, Missouri. The group claims to be the original "tribe" and says, on its website, that the Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory split from them.

Screen shot from website - Click to enlarge

Documents found on the Missouri Secretary of State's website indicate this is not true. The first group to register with the state as a non-profit was the Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory (hereafter OLT) in 1982 under the name of the Northern Cherokee Tribe of Indians. (click to enlarge)

The fact the OLT group is the original is also supported by both the history of the group, We Are Not Yet Conquered: The History of the Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory by Beverly Baker Northup, and by J.C. Thompson, a founder of the OLT group and key player in developing it into the entity it is today.

The Northern Cherokee Nation from Clinton, Missouri did not become a state non-profit until 1991 and that only happened after conflict and turmoil in the original group. Much of what the NCN claims is their history occurred years before they were an autonomous group. Because the NCN sprang from the original group, it is impossible to write the authentic history of it without first addressing the history of the group from which it splintered.

The key events in the early history of the OLT are numerous. In an effort to explore these events in condensed form, it seems best to present a timeline of them first and explore each topic (recognition, grants, gaming, etc...) individually in later posts.

A timeline of key events in the OLT history follows:

1982 -

• Beverly Baker Northup and her sister, Margaret Foley, became involved with the OLT after finding a letter at the Missouri Historical Society written by J.C. Thompson about the "Northern Cherokee Tribe."
• J.C. Thompson sent a letter to Margaret Foley that listed the group leaders, including himself as Director of Tribal Affairs. Others listed were Dave Quentin, Virgil Simons, Lucy Kaufman, Cliff Harris, Jr., Marlene Corwin, Jess W. Cutting, Calvin Green, Everett J. Harris, and Betty Simmons.
• Thompson said the leadership had taken a vote and it was 10 votes yes, 2 not voting, to have the permanent tribal office in Columbia, Missouri.
• The group registered as a non-profit through the state of Missouri as the Northern Cherokee Tribe of Indians.
• J.C. Thompson was the registered agent for the group.

1983 -

• An application for an Administration of Native Americans (hereafter ANA) grant was filed. Amount requested was approximately $86,100 in salaries, with the largest salary going to J.C. Thompson for $26,000. The grant was denied.
• The group considered an attempt to get the "Green Settlement." There were disagreements over the "money" and no attempt was made.
• In order to raise money and at the suggestion of J.C. Thompson, the group formed a new non-profit, Northern Cherokee Indian Community Association. "Non-tribal" members were allowed to join for a fee. Baker Northup agreed with the idea, but some in the group did not. Inner conflicts began.
• J.C. Thompson, Margaret Foley, and Beverly Baker Northup met with State Senator Roger Wilson about obtaining state recognition.
• The group received a proclamation from Missouri Governor Christopher Bond.
• Baker Northup became registered agent for the "tribe."
• J.C. Thompson said he would step down from his position as Director of Tribal Affairs unless the group got some money. He did eventually resign his position that year, but remained active in the group.
• Chet Ellis of the Indian Center in Kansas City, Missouri opposed the group and repeatedly stated there was no such thing as a Northern Cherokee Tribe.

1984 -

• The group reached out to Missouri State Representative Chris Kelly for a legislative act to give them state recognition.
• The group received a Missouri House Proclamation of Recognition signed by Speaker of the House, Bob F. Griffin.
• Baker Northup was "elected" chief.

1985 -

• The group attempted to get legislative state recognition again. Representative Chris Kelly and Senator Roger Wilson assisted.
• The act passed the House but died in the Senate Committee.
• The act was attached to another bill to try to get it through the legislature.
• The bill passed in both the House and the Senate.
• The Cherokee Nation opposed the state recognition of the group.
• The bill was vetoed by Missouri Governor John Ashcroft who said he believed only the federal government had the authority to recognize Indian tribes.
• The group changed the name of their non-profit, Northern Cherokee Indian Community Association, to Tsa-la-gi Wa-sha-she.
• The group received an ANA grant of $25,000.
• Sandy Clark, Beverly Baker Northup and her daughter, Sherry, started research for federal recognition, paying themselves from the ANA grant funds.
• The group sent a Letter of Intent to the BIA in 1985, though the letter is now credited to the Northern Cherokee Nation in Clinton despite the fact they did not yet exist.
• Internal conflict started over the ANA funds. J.C. Thompson and others felt they should have a share.
• Chet Ellis opposed the group receiving any grant or money intended for tribes or Indians.

1986 -

• They applied for another ANA grant. They were denied.

1987 -

• They were denied for a Missouri Surplus equipment grant.
• They were awarded another ANA grant. They received $30,000.
• J.C. Thompson started a "culture group" called the Chickamauga Community Organization and wanted to attach it to Tsa-la-gi Wa-sha-she. The Sac River area people were the most interested in it but later that interest waned due to political issues.

1988 -

• The group gave up on state recognition in Missouri and attempted to gain it in Arkansas. Their attempts were unsuccessful.

1989 -

• Carl Griggs applied for enrollment and wrote a letter to the OLT explaining he'd like to open bingo parlors under their non-profit status and promised to give 12% of earnings to the group.
• Baker Northup and others rejected the idea.
• Past conflicts started to escalate.

1990 -

• There was lots of turmoil and conflict in the OLT.
• J.C. Thompson suggested Baker Northup issue a state of emergency, suspend the constitution, and name him Administrator. He said then she and the other leaders could resign and go quietly, leaving him as the new chief.
• Baker Northup refused.
• Baker Northup and Elva Beltz, sister of Carl Griggs, became candidates for chief.
• A letter was sent out to group members saying Elva Beltz would pursue the Green and Alexander Brown settlements if "elected."
• Elva Beltz was "elected" chief. Dan Coones was "elected" Deputy Chief.
• Baker Northup did not acknowledge the "election" results.
• The Beltz/Griggs faction and the Coones/Thompson faction had a falling out.
• Beltz was recalled. Coones believed he should be chief.
• Baker Northup again refused to relinquish power.

1991 -

• February - Elva Beltz usurped Baker Northup as registered agent for Tsa-la-gi Wa-sha-she.
• May - Baker Northup regained her position as registered agent for Tsa-la-gi Wa-sha-she.
• June - The Beltz/Griggs faction started calling themselves the Northern Cherokee Nation and registered with the state of Missouri as a non-profit. Their registered agent was Elva Beltz.
• October - The Coones/Thompson faction started calling themselves the Sac River and White River Bands of Chickamauga Cherokee Indian Nation of Arkansas and Missouri and registered with the state of Missouri as a non-profit. Their registered agent was Florence Hill. (They are now known as the Sac River/White River Bands of the Chickamauga Cherokee Nation, Inc.)

As stated above, the history is complicated, but basically that is how one "tribe" claiming descent from Gardner Green on the 1835 Cherokee Nation census multiplied into three "tribes" claiming descent from him. Until 1991, they shared a history and everything happened under the name of the original group that is now known as the Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory.

Please remember, the heirs of the Gardner Green on the 1835 are known and NONE of these people actually descend from him.

This story is far from over, so please continue to follow the story of Young Wolf, son of Mouse; his legacy; and why it all matters.
 
Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2018, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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A Final Rejection and the Emergence of a Fake Tribe

In the last post, False Heirs: The Gardner Green Estate, the claim to a fortune made by the Green family of Boone County, Missouri was discussed. This Green family claimed they were the descendants of a Cherokee man named Gardner Green and that the United States was holding a fortune of his to be paid out to them if they could prove their claim. Instead of probating the claim, as anyone who was claiming heirship to a fortune would, the Green family filed Eastern Cherokee applications, the applications required for those who made claim to a share of the money the U.S. Court of Claims awarded the Cherokees (or their heirs) who remained in the eastern homelands until after the Treaty of New Echota. Those Cherokees were considered parties to that treaty and therefore entitled to a share of the funds. No single Cherokee was entitled to all the money and no single Cherokee family was entitled to it all despite the story repeatedly told by the Green family.

The Green family filed 241 Eastern Cherokee applications for 552 claims (children were paid a share if approved but were listed on their parents' applications.) ALL were rejected.

The Eastern Cherokee applications filed that claimed descent from "Gardner Green" are below. The two final claimants appear to have no connection to the Green family from Missouri. That indicates people were finding a name on the 1835 Cherokee Roll and claiming on it whether they were truly related to that person or not. After all, if the claims on Gardner Green were authentic claims, the family lineages should have matched. They didn't.

Remember, ALL the applications filed by the Green family were rejected. Guion Miller, the commissioner appointed by the United States to oversee the roll and payments, wrote an extensive report on why the applications were rejected. First, the testimony given by numerous claimants conflicted with testimony given by other claimants. Second, the Greens claimed Gardner Green, their ancestor, was very old. He would have had great grandchildren born before the Treaty of New Echota and none of his purported children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren had ever lived in the Cherokee domain. Third, Guion Miller did not believe the Gardner Green claimed by the Green family was the same Gardner Green found on the 1835 based on the family description, though he admitted it was only supposition that he believed the male listed as under 18 was the child of Gardner Green.

The full report of Guion Miller is below:

Click to enlarge

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Though Guion Miller had limited resources at the time he made his decision on the family's claim, today we have numerous documents available and can confirm this family was correctly rejected. The man listed as Gardner Green on the 1835 was Young Wolf, son of Mouse. He could not have been the progenitor of the Green family from Boone County, Missouri.

After multiple rejections, by both the Cherokee Nation officials and the agents of the U.S. government, the false claim by the Green family should have come to an end. Unfortunately, it didn't.

Today, approximately 110 years after being rejected by Guion Miller, the Green family descendants still claim to be Cherokee. They, along with others, created a fraudulent tribe that has splintered into additional fraudulent tribes. While the idea of fake tribes may sound funny, it isn't. Recently, one of the Green family "tribes" has caused a tremendous amount of harm. 

They have threatened to destroy Rocky Miller, a Missouri state legislator and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, for sponsoring a law to protect the consumers of Missouri from being tricked into purchasing fake Indian art. They have launched an online smear campaign against the Missouri Archaeological Society, Inc. for cancelling the speaking engagement of one of their members when the Society learned that person was not legitimately Cherokee. They have used their fake tribal cards to apply for and receive government contracts intended for minorities. Most recently, their group members threatened an Eastern Band Cherokee when he asked to speak at their event to explain that what was being presented as Cherokee culture was, in fact, not authentic Cherokee culture.

This farce must end!

It will end.

My next few posts will show the emergence of a fake tribe, through documents and other sources, while also sharing the accurate history of this fake tribe, the non-profit group that calls itself the "Northern Cherokee Nation", headquartered in Clinton, Missouri.  You don't want to miss this. Please stay tuned for more on this story, the legacy of Young Wolf, and what we can learn from it all.


Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

*Please click on images to enlarge.

*Video clip used with permission. Credit: Chris Penick

Previous posts in this series:

Part 1 - Young Wolf, son of Mouse

Part 2 - Identity Fraud: Ghosting Gardner Green 

Part 3 - False Heirs: The Gardner Green Estate

copyright 2018, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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False Heirs: The Gardner Green Estate

In 1907, the town of Moberly, Missouri was abuzz with excitement over some of its citizens being heirs to a fortune. According to Jim Green, an heir and tonsorial artist at the Oak Barber Shop, the descendants of Gardner Green were gathering in order to try to settle an estate worth 4 1/2 million dollars that they had a claim on. He said the money was in the U.S. Treasury in Washington D.C. and they, the family, had spent several thousand dollars trying to take possession of it but had, thus far, been unsuccessful.

Moberly Weekly Democrat, Moberly, MO, July 26, 1907, p.3.

Other articles made it abundantly clear, this was the same Green family who had unsuccessfully tried to gain citizenship in the Cherokee Nation in 1896. They were trying to "take possession" of an estate they insisted belonged to their purported ancestor, a Cherokee named Gardner Green.

Moberly Weekly Democrat, Moberly, MO, August 6, 1907, p.6.

It's unclear why the Green family claimed they were heirs to such a large fortune, but their story evolved over time and changed into something more shocking and nefarious. They no longer claimed to simply be heirs to a fortune, but instead, claimed to be a tribe called the "Eastern Cherokees" and that they, the descendants of Gardner Green, alone formed what was called the "Eastern Cherokees." They also claimed Congress appropriated four and half million dollars to them for their shares of the Cherokee land taken in the east.

Moberly Weekly Monitor, Moberly, MO, August 25, 1908, p.3.

We know, for certain, that the Green family were not heirs to the money the U.S. Court of Claims awarded the "Eastern Cherokees" in 1906. That money was owed to the Cherokees for unpaid funds due them from the forced removal. Those funds were to be paid out per capita to Cherokees and/or their descendants who were entitled to them.  

To make this point perfectly clear, the money the United States paid was for the entire citizenry of the Cherokee tribe who remained in the eastern homelands until after the Treaty of New Echota. 

The term "Eastern Cherokee" did not strictly apply to the modern day Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, though it did include them. "Eastern Cherokee" certainly did not indicate descent from the Cherokee scholar named Gardner Green by the Moravians. Even if it would have, the Green family from Missouri were not his descendants.

From the first post in this series, we already know that the Gardner Green listed on the 1835 Census of the Cherokee Nation was actually Young Wolf, son of Mouse. We also know that Young Wolf died in 1837, leaving only two heirs, his wife, Aley, and young son, Ooahhusky. His estate, valued at $383.50, was divided between his two heirs in 1838. The Gardner Green Estate claimed by the Green family of Missouri was fictitious. Therefore they were false heirs.

From the second post in the series, we know that the Green family from Missouri who claimed descent from the Cherokee Gardner Green could not have descended from Young Wolf. Even though they failed in their attempt to gain citizenship in the Cherokee Nation in 1896, eleven years later, the same family again tried to claim Young Wolf as their ancestor in order to try to get money.

The next post will explore the documents filed by the Green family in their attempt to obtain their mythological fortune. Stay tuned for more on Young Wolf, his legacy, and what we can learn from it all.

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2018, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Fraudulent Tribe Getting Media Attention in Arkansas

One would hope the media would do some fact checking before the report on a story. Unfortunately, in the case of the fraudulent group, "Western Cherokee Nation", this didn't happen. 

This group is actually named "Western Cherokee" and a non-profit started in Missouri in 2002 that is currently in Good Standing with the state. 

Before this move being discussed on the news, the group was formerly out of Salem, Missouri and operated by Wanda Nash. 

They are simply a group that came into existence in 2002 and claimed to be Cherokee. They are not an authentic Cherokee tribe and the history they claim actually belongs to the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. The authentic Western Cherokee, or Old Settlers as we call them, united with the Emigrant Cherokees, those who removed from the east on the Trail of Tears, in 1839. 

This "Western Cherokee" group is just one of the 200+ fraudulent groups in the US masquerading as a Cherokee tribe.  Don't let their claim that they don't need federal recognition fool you. The reason they say that is because they can't get federal recognition. They are not an authentic tribe and have never had a government to government relationship with the US.

Channel 5 News out of Fort Smith did a story on this group which can be found here - Click here.  

The Times Record, that covers the Fort Smith, western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, did a story that can be found here - Click here. 

I contacted the reporter that covered the story for the Times Record, sharing facts and explaining that the group is not an authentic Cherokee tribe. He replied with, "Thank you." Will he do a follow up and correct the myths perpetuated by the article? I'm not sure, but each one if you is free to go to the above websites and leave your thoughts about this in the comments section. While the Cherokee Nation no longer has a Task Force, I know we Cherokees are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to defending our identity and our sovereignty.

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2015, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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When the Past Meets the Present - Part 1

 

While the above quote applies to humanity as a whole or to nations of people, I believe it also applies to us as individuals. It's why I believe the study of our own personal history is important. We all have family stories, and while that might be fine and good for sitting around the dinner table, if those stories are inaccurate or untrue, and we allow them to become engrained into our very being, they could lead us to make poor decisions based on lies and deception. Over time, that can become problematic and harmful. This harm is magnified if one who has been influenced by false family stories becomes a leader of a nation of people and he allows those false stories to play a role in the decisions he makes for that nation of people.

***

In 1896, a family group of approximately 54 people applied for citizenship in the Cherokee Nation and were rejected. They appealed to the US Northern District Court and were again rejected. That should have been the end of it, but it wasn't. In 1907, they filed Eastern Cherokee applications, attempting to get some of the money due the Cherokees for their land in the east. Once again the family was rejected. Still, this was not the end of it. To this day, though they have not one iota of proof to support their false claim, this family still says they are Cherokee. While we Cherokees are used to this type of claim and tend to roll our eyes when we hear these claims and then go on about our business believing the claim is more annoying than it is harmful, we can't do that this time. 

This time, the false claim is being made by our very own chief, Bill John Baker, and his mother, Isabel Baker. While Baker has Cherokee ancestry on his father's side, he has none on his mother's side but that doesn't stop him from claiming he does, according to sources who wish to remain anonymous. It also doesn't stop his mother from claiming it, as you can see in this comment she made in September, 2012, on Facebook:

In the 1896 claim that was appealed to to the US courts, in the case known as RM Walker v the Cherokee Nation, the ancestors of Isabel Baker claimed descent from a Cherokee man named John Rogers. They were very specific about which John Rogers they claimed.  He was white and well documented. They don't descend through him. 

By the time of the Eastern Cherokee applications, Isabel Baker's family were still very specific about which Cherokee John Rogers they claimed, but this time, it was a different John Rogers. He was a chief and also well documented. They don't descend through him either, but ironically, Cara Cowan Watts, Cherokee Nation council woman, does. (Yes, you read that correctly. Chief Baker's mom's family falsely claimed to descend through Cara Cowan Watts' ancestor!)

The Cherokee people have watched this administration closely and often wondered why our chief refuses to defend our sovereignty in these perilous times when the number of fraudulent groups are growing each day; when the BIA is considering weakening the federal recognition process; and when states consider giving fake tribes state recognition.

Stay tuned as we explore the ancestry of Chief Baker, through his mother's line, and examine whether Isabel Baker's family's false claim of Cherokee ancestry from the past has influenced her son's ability to make good decisions concerning our Nation's sovereignty today.

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2014, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Remember Elizabeth Warren? She's Multiplied!

Do you remember when Elizabeth Warren was running for the US Senate from Massachusetts?
While Warren was knee deep in the middle of her campaign, I said her false claim of Cherokee ancestry was harmful. I said individuals like her, who have a false claim, meet other individuals with a false claim and eventually, those individuals form groups that become what we Cherokees call fake or fraudulent tribes.

Many people, including our own current Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Bill John Baker, ignored what I said during the Warren campaign, thinking fakes and wannabes are harmless. They aren't and it isn't pretty.

Friday, February 1, 2013, the VA senate passed resolutions to give two fraudulent Cherokee tribes state recognition by Virginia. According to the article, "Two Cherokee Tribes Gain State Recognition", one of the reasons the senate passed this is because,

“These things are so emotional. These people are very passionate about their history,” (Republican Senator Steve) Newman said. “But no legislator has the time to delve into this.” [emphasis mine]

Interesting isn't it? After all, the authentic Cherokee people are very passionate about their history too and we would like to see that it is not re-written by frauds pretending to be us. Also, if the state of Virginia would have asked, there are many Cherokees who would have made the time to delve into this and share the truth with them. It is unfortunate they didn't respect us enough to do so.

To make matters worse, those fraudulent tribes in Tennessee are once again trying to gain state recognition there. It seems as if states have forgotten that, according to the Constitution of the United States, only the federal government has the right to deal with Indian tribes. But what should we expect when a fraud like Elizabeth Warren can get elected to the US Senate? She is now the poster child for every fake Cherokee in the United States. After all, if she can get away with it, they think they can too. Every fake Cherokee tribe in the US, all 200+ of them, includes individuals just like Elizabeth Warren. They all claim to be Cherokee and most have no documented proof to back up their claim.

Now we aren't just dealing with one Elizabeth Warren, but Elizabeth Warren multiplied exponentially, bundled into groups, trying to pass themselves off as Cherokee tribes. And now we aren't just dealing with one state because of one fake, but instead many states because of many fakes. Not only has the nightmare of many Massachusetts Republicans come true, but also the nightmare of many Cherokees - Elizabeth Warren has multiplied!

This is not a done deal though. This will still have to pass in the VA house and the governor will have to sign it, so make phone calls and send emails and let the VA legislature know this recognition of fake tribes is unacceptable.

Contact information can be found here.  

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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More: Alexander Barnes vs. Alexander Barnes

The descendant of the white Alexander Barnes disputes the evidence in the first blog post made about the two different Alexander Barnes men saying,

My uncle Ben moved away when I was a baby and I don't remember ever seeing him, I just knew he moved to Texas so I am not sure about the dates for him. 

My uncle Dave died in Poplar Bluff while I was living there. HE was run over by a dump truck not far from our house.

There is a problem with Nancy Barnes. She was living with my grandmother until after I married and left home in 1968. My mother, grandmother and I used to take her places with us and the last time I remember seeing her was in 1969. I didn't even know she was a sister to my grandfather until 3 years ago when I fond a census record saying she was sister to head of house. All we ever called her was 'Ole Indian Nancy". My sister was also shocked when we found out she was related.
On the 1860 and 1880 census none of those names are any of my family so it isn't the same Alexander.

So, some additional information to show that the David Wilken Barnes who was from Texas WAS her uncle is shown in his WWI Draft Registration card. Notice he lists for his nearest relative as Martha Smith, his sister. This is the Mary Martha E. (Barnes) Smith who was married to James M. Smith and daughter of Alexander Barnes. And she was in Hood Co, Texas, where she, James and Lucretia Barnes are all buried.

Also, the "Old Indian Nancy" "Jane" mentions now could not possibly be her grandpa's sister. Per this death certificate for Nancy Susan Barnes, sister of Arthur Alexander Barnes, she died in 1945, and before Arthur since he is the informant on her death certificate. Per Jane's information about her grandpa, she was only one year old when he died, therefore, she could not have known or remembered a woman who died 10 years prior to the death of her grandpa. Maybe she did know a woman named Nancy, but it was not the sister of Arthur A. Barnes, her grandpa.

So, the saga continues. Like I have said before, a wannabe will never accept they are not Cherokee, no matter what the evidence shows.They just keep changing the story as they go along.

Those are my thoughts for today.

Thanks for reading.

CC

The Granddaughter

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Wordless Wednesday - Fake Tribes

copyright 2011, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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