1...even if I did have first-hand knowledge I would not answer because I am not authorized to speak on behalf of the Blackwater Band of the Lower Muskokee.
2...Who are we to decide which titles a clan/band/nation can or cannot give?
3...I don't have to prove anything about the Blackwater Band of the Lower
Muskokee to you or anyone else since I do not have the authority to
speak on their behalf.
4...Let's be honest here. The only reason the Blackwater Band came to the
attention of the NAFPS is because of T/T/T and Francis Billington and the
involvement Larry, myself and other members of my family had with them
personally.
5...It simply isn't fair to throw around words like "not Native", PODIA,
"has no right to represent and undermine real Native Americans" and
personal opinions...
6...I haven't quite figured out how the IIC, the UN, Leonard, Zoi Lightfoot's
qualifications as a lawyer, etc. got into this thread.
Liz Roemer
I'll try to answer clearly each point. I added numbers to try and make things clearer.
1. Liz, that first one is nonsense. Any member of any recognized tribe would be able to answer such questions clearly and quickly, and no one would presume that only an "authorized representative" could, or that someone was presenting themselves as such.
The Blackwaters certainly do try to use the whole bit about "authorized" and "recognized" in the exact oppsite way most tribes with recog do.
2. No one's trying to "decide" what titles can be given out. Try arguing with what's actually said instead of what you decide to make up. It's hardly our fault if the Blackwater decided to give Nichols a title that few, if any, tribes with recog have ever had, but that some fake tribes have used.
3. I have no idea why you not being "authorized" means you believe you don't have to prove anything.
4. Actually the Billingtons were only part of the reason why they came to our attention. The main reason why they continue to occupy our time is because of the refusal to give simple, clear answers and give lots of excuses instead.
Really, how hard would it have been to say, "We are composed of people who've discovered they had Muscogee ancestry, and are trying to form a heritage group that we hope will become a community, but we often make mistakes."
5. Those terms have been tossed around primarily by Blackwater and friends. Don't complain when people see through your attempts to distract from the issue and naturally wonder if the terms are more applicable to you.
We have members who are PODIA, and don't find it insulting, don't take on airs, get easily insulted over ordinary and understandable questions, or imaginary slights. To be a descendant is no cause for shame, nor is being primarily white.
6. With the exception of the last point, I haven't figured out how either. Oh yes, I remember. Blackwaters introduced these questions, in the hopes of causing a distraction or pretending that somehow Peltier, the IIC, etc, were under debate or even somehow being insulted.