Until yesterday I had not heard of this group. ? A new friend emailed me about them. ? After what she has said of these people, they are just as bad as Manataka and maybe becoming very dangerous. ?
Here is what she wrote me and two of our friends. ? She wished to remain anonymous. ? I respect that. ?
Osiyo Waya,
I am feeling a need to share something and hope it is okay that I send
it to the three of you. ? At first I thought about posting to the list
but then I decided not to. ? The following is something I have *never*
written about up until now. ? This is difficult.
I was sucked into a Tsalagi organization a few years back that changed
my life forever. ? The concept of the organization was what drew me to
it. ? Undocumented and/or documented Tsalagi people seeking to learn our
ancient Tsalagi ways [to "fit in" somewhere]. ? The problem was not with
the organization but it was with the organization's leader.
The leader had alterior motives. ? He is still a menace to this day. ?
The leader appointed himself as "principle chief" and "white priest" of the
organization simultaneously...for life.
The organization first started out with the concept of being a "nation".
The name of the "nation" was conceived solely by the leader. ? Later,
after having trouble with some "rebellious" members he decided [by
divine intervention, so he said] to change the name of the organization
to something else.
It was apparent to me that the leader of the organization was not what
he appeared to be. ? The "red flags" went up almost immediately after I
had joined but I remained just to observe. ? Eventually I became heavily
involved in this organization and *deeply* attached to the people
within it. ? I was appointed to a "high position" within the organization after
the leader had a "falling out" with the one I replaced. ? As a person in
a "high position", I dealt with many people within the organization and
grew to love them very much. ? They were my extended family.
Once I was appointed into the "high position" I took it upon myself to
try and protect the people from the evil of this man. ? I did everything
possible to protect them. ? I knew the people were being brainwashed and
mis-led. ? I tried desperately to intercept and/or divert his evil...all
through the help and guidance of Creator. ? I prayed continuously. ? I
felt a strong need to protect those who were unwary and susceptible to
this man. ? The leader of the organization was the head honcho but he
told the people he was not the sole decision-maker. ? The "tribal
council" supposedly had ultimate "power" but that was false. ? All of
the people in the "tribal council" were "'yes' people" except for me, my
husband and one other [who were also booted out]. ? Whatever he says
they agree to.
When I suggested that any TRUE "nation" should have a constitution with
elected officials and spoke of it publicly within the organization I was
"marked" as a "traitor" by the leader and was soon banished by him,
along with my family, without ever having the opportunity to defend
ourselves to the people. ? The leader had told his followers not to
contact us in any way, else they too would be cast out and declared a
"traitor." ? Most of the people I had grown to love did exactly what he
told them to do. ? The people I was closest to turned their backs on my
family and I. ? This hurt me *very* deeply, it literally devastated me.
I had no way to cope. ? I sunk into a deep depression. ? Finally I
realized that the only way I could move on with my life was to view it as a
great loss. ? ? I felt really STUPID [not nearly a strong enough word] and
degraded for allowing myself to become so emotionally attached to
people on the internet. ? I had opened up my heart to everyone and they
shunned me ? when they were told to do so. ? Apparently the words they
shared with me were empty words. ? Mine were not.
That organization and the leader are still active to this day. ? The
organization's name has been changed AGAIN
[after my family and the other one were removed],
they have acquired "tribal lands" now [in Kentucky]
and have been awarded non-profit status by the ? federal government. ?
When he was seeking "tribal land" back when we were involved, the
leader approached my husband and requested that we "donate" a
chunk of our property to the organization. ? My husband refused. ?
This made him angry and was probably another underlying ? reason
for kicking us out. ? We were not under his control. ? Anyone who he felt
threatened by, people who had some knowledge of our traditions were
kicked out. ? My family and the other who was banished with us were the
only ones he demanded that no one contact.
The leader of the organization seeks to maintain total "power" over the
people and will do anything necessary to keep it that way. ? If anyone
rebutes him he will kick them out. ? His weapon is the "sense of
belonging" people are so desperately seeking, afterall that is what
keeps them there.
More about the leader, he is a drug user. ? He openly told a handful of
us that he uses drugs but he claims he does it solely for Spiritual
work. ? That's a bunch of bullshit!! ? I know of no one who has to use
drugs to commune with Creator! ? He can not be with Creator in full
capacity?! ? hmmm ? What does that tell you?!
How these FAKE INDIAN people work. ? They may have Native American
heritage but they do not follow TRUE Native American ways. ? They set up
an organization that appeals to the unsuspecting, unwary and naive then
they give those people a sense of belonging. ? It is this "sense of
belonging" that appeals most to people, especially undocumented Native
Americans!!!! ? Once the people are suckered into the organization they
are soon brainwashed. ? [I never was...I could see right through the
facade.] ? Eventually, when the leader feels that he/she has full
control of the people [power] he/she will then begin to interject certain
conditions for remaining within the organization. ? These "conditions"
may be membership dues, genealogy research fees, land funds, all kinds
of things to draw-in money. ? The ultimate goal is power and money. ? The
"power" is self-appointed but it is the people that allow it to grow.
It is also the people who supply the money!
The man's name is Yona/Yonv Edwards and the group name is now
Cherokees of Kentucky-Chickamauga. ? Yona/Yonv Edwards does not
identify with his yonega name but it is Jerry Edwards.
http://www.cherokeesofkentucky.org/ is the group's website.
The group was first called
"Unified Free Cherokee Nation" [UFCN] then
"Southern Aniyunwiya Nation" [SAN], then "Cherokees of ? Kentucky"
[CKY] and now "Cherokees of Kentucky-Chickamauga" [CKY-C]. ? With each
name change there was a new philosphy presented on their website. ? The
old websites have been removed. ? The group readily uses yahoo groups
for their communication. ? I do not know what those yahoo group sites are.
Here is a website that has a note written by Yona Edwards. ? Scroll down
the page to read his words. ? With this website you will be able to see
what type of things he is involved with.
http://zptech.net/userreports.html
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