RE: Mark Yazzie???
From: Bryan Shade, Webmaster (webmaster@keetoowahcherokee.org)
Sent: Mon 12/29/08 6:32 PM
To: Bonnie Singleton (bls926@msn.com)
Bonnie,
After several months of researching, we have no record of any of our membership residing in Dublin, Ireland. This is not intended in any way to deny that this individual is a member of the UKB but it is unlikely. Only with a name would we be able to verify the status of this individual. While our membership consists of nearly 13,000 enrolled members, none have an address in Ireland.
Unfortunately, an increasing number of non-Keetoowah individuals choose to imitate our full-blood faction. For years, people have imitated the Cherokee People, though only recently have we, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees, been aware of the number of people who claim to be from United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees.
While we realize that our deeply traditional roots have became a draw of sorts for those who wish to affiliate with Native American-ism, this type of activity truly is a threat to the existence of the bona fide Native American Tribes and our relationship with other Tribes and Nations as well as the Federal Government.
They say that imitation is the best form of flattery so it makes perfect sense that these people begin to imitate the most religious and traditional portion of the Cherokee Blood Line – The Keetoowah Cherokees.
We appreciate your inquiry and thank you for coming to the source.
Wado,
Bryan Shade,
Webmaster/Director of Federal Programs & Compliance,
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Mark Yazzie
From: Bonnie Singleton <bls926@msn.com>
Date: Tue, July 01, 2008 1:59 am
To: <enrollment@keetoowahcherokee.org>
I have a question I hope someone in the United Keetoowah Band can answer. I recently came across someone online claiming to be enrolled UKB. I don't know her real name; she goes by Tsisqua, refusing to give any personal information. I know that she lives in Dublin, Ireland. She never gave out that info, but I was able to find out by other means. She has stated that her cousin, Mark "Coyote" Yazzie, was beaten to death defending a burial site in December 2007. While she claims full-blood Keetoowah, Yazzie was San Carlos Apache/Cherokee. I'm having a hard time believing this story; haven't been able to find anything about this incident. I hope someone has heard something about it. If it really happened, someone lost a son, brother, nephew, cousin, a relative. This is not the type of news that would be kept quiet. I realize Yazzie is neither a Cherokee name nor Apache, but is Dine. In fact there's a Dine artist named Mark Yazzie. I don't want to accuse this person of making up a story to garner sympathy and support, but that's what I feel in my gut. There are other inconsistencies in who she says she is. Would really like to get to the bottom of this. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Bonnie Singleton