I know of some of the history and what was written on this resolution document (which I'll be finding out on Monday by calling the Ohio House of Reps Clerk to 'request a copy'. If they find it, it's real; if they don't, then Sammy Kennedy somehow forged and faked a State document), which does have a gold embossed seal of the Ohio House of Reps. on the original.
On the document, it states that the Alleghenny Lenape have lived in the Stark County region of Ohio, their traditional hunting grounds since the 1700's (which makes sense, since the Lenape were pushed ever westward). I guess you can say that Samuel Kennedy adopted us, and I did do the research on the Kennedy family of his, coming up that they came from the extreme western PA into NE Ohio area. I even confirmed someone else's geneology to stem from Sammy's great grandparents, proving that the Sammy's family was inter-married with the Lenape. True, Sammy wouldn't exactly be full-blooded at all...possibly 1/8th like my mother.
My mother and I were adopted 5 years ago, via Sammy Kennedy, and (unfortunately due to desperation on my mother's end of wanting to belong to a tribe) paid membership fees of $30 bucks each. At the time, I figured it was a way of members to have to donate to support the food baskets and 'bake sales' they had. Throughout that time, my mother has tried 3 times to give good ideas to Sammy: 1) push the petition for Federal Recognition; 2) create a member directory for members to keep in contact with one another; and 3) to produce a church (for which my mother became a reverend and has the license to marry people within the State of Ohio) to hopefully benefit the tribe and look better to the Federal govt. (this latter we gave loads of flyers to Sammy, of whom never passed them out). Every single idea was pushed away. It was in 2006, when we paid our membership again, is when I seen his loads of medication sitting on the desk, and him pocketing the cash in his own pocket. He even told me that he didn't know how long the tribe would hold up due to losing members.
All I can think of is "Duh! Of course we're losing members! No gatherings, no ceremonies, no actual elders who might know the legends and culture. How do you expect to keep a tribe together without those elements?"
Anyhow, we went back last year to pay dues, and the Alleghenny Indian Center (as it was called in the phone book) was gone. In it's place was some biker shop selling various things. My mother had done a search on the web for Samuel Kennedy, coming up with two sources. One phone number came up with the wrong person, and another was disconnected. Samuel stole cash, stole membership rolls (with all the people's personal information), and even abandoned the tribe.
Also, during all this time, I was learning the language all by myself out of a couple English/Lenape dictionaries, doing research on the Lenape, all to possibly get the tribe to what it should actually be and present all the info to Sammy. Sammy MAY have known all this info, he may have not...we will not know at all what he knew.
This tribe is all the NDN people have in NE Ohio, in truth; it's all my mother has to feel like she belongs to a community of some sort. Though scattered, the Alleghenny Lenape members are still that, but it's trying to bring them together again, under a true council and to bring in what was lost. It's hard to do research all by myself...lol.
Eric
I am still confused about the Alleghenny Lenape'. Since Eric was adopted into this Tribe, maybe he could give us a short history. We know they just don't spring up over-night. The Communities and/or Tribes usually go back to the 1700 or 1800's and beyond. I would be sure the family that adopted you gave you some of the history of the group.
