Tallige Cherokee of Ohio

[TheRebel]

This just in..

Ohio AG Office searches Cherokee Hall

Published:

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:37 PM CDT


PDT Staff Report

A search warrant was executed Monday by the Ohio Attorney General's Office on Cherokee Bingo Hall in Lucasville, according to Ted Hart of the Charitable Games Division.

Hart said his office, in conjunction with the Scioto County Sheriff's Office, executed the search warrant because of an alleged violation of bingo licensing by the business.

Hart said Cherokee Hall had been licensed to conduct bingo, but recently decided not to reapply for a new license.

"They indicated to our Charitable Law section that the laws of Ohio did not apply to them. They continued to operate bingo without a license so we took steps to stop that," Hart said.

Attempts to reach someone representing Cherokee Hall were unsuccessful.

(Indian.com)

Ohio shuts down illegal 'Cherokee' bingo hall

 

The state of Ohio shut down an illegal bingo hall that was being operated by a group called the Tallige Cherokee Nation.

 

Scioto County sheriff's officers raided the Cherokee Bingo Hall yesterday. The state said the facility lacked a license.

 

Oliver Collins, the self-proclaimed "principal chief," said the raid was illegal. He said his group has a right to operate without a state license because it is a sovereign tribe.

 

The bingo hall had a license in the past but Collins refused to pay the $4,000 fee this year.

 

Get the Story:

Cherokee protests raid on bingo hall (The Columbus Dispatch 3/19)

Search angered Cherokee Hall chief

 

By G. SAM PIATT
PDT Staff Writer

Published:   Wednesday, March 19, 2008 9:52 PM CDT

 

The Indian wars may be heating up again, right in the hills of southern Ohio.

The Ohio Attorney General's office executed a search warrant at Cherokee Bingo Hall in Lucasville Monday afternoon, and found everything it takes to operate a bingo game - except a state license.

Principal Chief Oliver Collins, the operator, called it an "invasion."

"We were invaded by the attorney general, the sheriff and the highway patrol," Collins said. "I told them they were on sovereign Indian territory, and therefore they needed a U.S. marshal to do what they did."

What they did was shut him down and confiscate all of the pingpong balls, blower machines, marker pens and bingo cards in the hall.

"They indicated to our Charitable Games Division that the laws of Ohio did not apply to them. They continued to operate bingo games without a license so we took steps to stop that," said Ted Hart of the division.

A spokesman for the Scioto County Sheriff's Office, who declined to give his name, said Collins could be charged with a fourth-degree felony for each day he operated the hall without a license.

Collins said he has not been charged with anything.

"This is not about a bingo game," he said. "Our sovereignty rights - the rights of the Cherokee Nation, have been violated. We come under the Bureau of Indian Affairs."

He said he and his family were left with no physical means of support.

"We are the refugees from the Trail of Tears," he said. "My ancestors were not captured. We escaped and came here."

One-hundred percent of the proceeds of Cherokee Hall - which has games two days a week, Thursdays and Sundays - goes to charity, Collins said. "It goes to support the hall, and to help the Cherokee Nation, of which there are about 600 of us, most of us here in southern Ohio. We also have a church and retreat on 39 acres in Adams County. We help support all that."

Hart said Cherokee Hall has operated without a license since the first of the year. It should have applied in November or December.

The cost of the license depends on the proceeds a game takes in. In Collins' case, Hart said, the license fee would be $4,000.

Collins said officials also took all of his financial records.

"We ran a very good game," he said. "Some games have a prize of $3,500. People come from all around the state."

G. SAM PIATT can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.

Cherokee protests raid on bingo hall

 

Tuesday,  March 18, 2008 10:40 PM

BY HOLLY ZACHARIAH

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Oliver Collins, principal chief of the Tallige Cherokee Nation in southern Ohio , says the sacrifices of his American Indian ancestors give him the right to do what he wants on his land in Lucasville — even if it is running a bingo hall without a license.

 

The Ohio attorney general's office disagrees.

 

Armed with a search warrant, state agents and the Scioto County sheriff's office raided Cherokee Bingo Hall on Rt. 23 yesterday and shut the place down.

 

The Tallige, who are not recognized by the federal government as an American Indian tribe, own the Lucasville building and have operated the bingo hall since 1999. They always had a license to do so. This year, however, Collins refused to pay the nearly $4,000 licensing fee.

 

“They are trying to assimilate us by hurting us in the pocketbook,??? Collins said yesterday. “We advance our nation, we fight for our people, and we are a religious organization. But they are still trying to kill the Indians.

 

The bingo hall did $1.58 million in business from November 2005 to October 2006, the last period for which its gaming figures were available. The Tallige listed profit at $15,520. Among the 16 bingo licenses in Scioto County , its earnings were second-highest but its profit among the three lowest.

 

Bingo money has been used to teach the community about the tribe, to foster Indian adoptions, to hold religious conferences and to sponsor dance teams, said Collins, 68.

 

He said he expected trouble for refusing to buy the license, but he didn't think deputies would swarm his place, confiscate his tax records and take the $10,000 he had in a safe.

 

“I thought they would recognize I was doing only what I am entitled to do,??? he said.

 

Monica Moloney, an assistant chief in the charitable-law section of the Ohio attorney general's office, said she doesn't recall a bingo hall ever claiming it didn't need a license because of its American Indian affiliation.

 

Federal laws do allow for some gaming on certain land owned by American Indian tribes. It has been a contentious point in Ohio when tribes wanted to open casinos.

 

Moloney said authorities shut down the hall in Lucasville only after repeatedly warning Collins that he was violating Ohio 's gaming laws.

 

She wouldn't discuss details of what was taken during the search and referred questions to the Scioto County sheriff's office. No one there returned phone calls.

 

Moloney pointed out that Collins' Tallige tribe isn't federally recognized, a designation bestowed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs once ancestry is proven.

 

Collins said his tribe has chosen not to seek such a designation. The lack of it doesn't change the fact that they are Indian, he said.

 

hzachariah@dispatch.com 

snicker , snicker , snicker..

[educatedindian]

This old issue is popping up. Last it was written on, it was far from clear what was happening and who was truthful. Essentially you had the Tallige arguing amongst themselves and making counter charges. We presented all sides as best we could find.

A few days ago, Michael Collins sent IMs to us. This is the son of the late Oliver Collins, who called himself the Uku of the Tallige. This thread was untouched for six years and none of us even realized he had passed. (ETA: I had his age wrong and so deleted that.)

Some of the son's emails were bluster about lawyers and lawsuits, which we hear on almost a monthly basis from somebody. With his father passed, it's understandable he may be more upset.

I asked him to post his side. He has not done that, but I will post his IMs below now in an attempt to do that.

What should we do with this thread? Normally we would move thread to Archives when someone passes. The Tallige do appear to be around, kind of, a bit. One can find news articles about them as recently as a few months ago, though they have no website I can see and not much activity online beyond a few personal sites.

There was never any accusation of ceremony selling by the Tallige. Richard Allen of the CNO said they were not Cherokee. The younger Collins makes a claim about endorsement by Wilma Mankiller as you can see below, but that claim is problematic. The late Mr. Collins was accused of using funds for himself, but never charged as far as we can tell.

With him passed away, it might be best to move this to Archives. Or the Tallige kept under Research, and posts solely about Collins moved to Archives, if there is a way to disentangle them.

Here's the son's IMs.
--------
Hello, My name is Matthew Collins and thank you for you time.
The reason I am contacting you is to ask you to remove everything regarding my fathers name.
His name is Oliver J Collins and was the Elected Chief of the Tallige Cherokee Nation in Ohio.
Everything on your site is Slander and libelous put on there by people that don't know any better.
My father passed away a few years ago and does not deserve this now or then.
None of the things on there have any proof posted along with what's said.
My Attorney suggested I try to speak to you first before he gets involved in this matter.
If you would like to all me at [deleted] or my Attorney [deleted].
My father was a good man and tried his best to do right for all Native people.
He was all about family and loved his Native family and was friendly to all.
Thank You.

----------
I ask you again please remove all matter's concerning my family. I'm sure you are aware that it is not a crime to tell anyone who your ancestors are...As far as legal matters those were settled and dismissed. My father was cleared of those issues or he would of been jailed. And as far Mr. Hill goes he does not know all things Cherokee. There had been meetings between my father and Wilma Pearl Mankiller but she became ill and those matters were closed. The claims of who was the Chief well that's called poor losers because they did not win elections. As a case in point, to these post most were made by the same people claiming that one of my fathers sons passed. I am Matthew Jay Collins I am alive and meaner than ever. It was my brother Marc Anthony that had passed but they claim it was me. They are confused and misguided I do forgive them but I don't forget. Your site has cost me personal lose as to the untruths. You are libel for allowing these matters on your site as you are in control of it. I urge you to take action on this matter as soon as you see this message. You have had issues before...and have been warned.
Thank you.
Matthew Jay Collins

[ShadowDancer]

I am having difficulty locating an obituary for Oliver J Collins within the last few years.

[Diana]

Tuesday,  March 18, 2008 10:40 PM
BY HOLLY ZACHARIAH
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

1st paragraph: Oliver Collins, principal chief of the Tallige Cherokee Nation in southern Ohio , says the sacrifices of his American Indian ancestors give him the right to do what he wants on his land in Lucasville — even if it is running a bingo hall without a license.

7th paragraph: Bingo money has been used to teach the community about the tribe, to foster Indian adoptions, to hold religious conferences and to sponsor dance teams, said Collins, 68.

My bold. I still can't find a obit for him.

1940 United States Federal Census
about Oliver Collins Junior

Name:
Oliver Collins Junior

Age:
1

Estimated Birth Year:
abt 1939

Gender:
Male

Race:
White

Birthplace:
Ohio

Marital Status:
Single

Relation to Head of House:
Son

Home in 1940:
New Boston, Scioto, Ohio

Map of Home in 1940:
    View Map   

House Number:
605

Residence in 1935:
Same

Sheet Number:
2A

Attended School or College:
No

Highest Grade Completed:
None

Neighbors:
 View others on page

Household Members:

Name

Age

 Oliver Collins  30
 Mabel Collins  23
 Nathaniel Collins  8
 Oliver Collins  1
 Mary Ann Collins  74
 
 

[Epiphany]

Oliver Collins Jr., 73

Oliver Collins, Jr., 73, of McDermott, died Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, at SOMC Hospice.

He was born March 24, 1939, in New Boston, a son of the late Oliver and Mabel Phipps Collins, Sr. Ollie was a journeyman electrician, President and co-owner of Marbex Surgical Instruments, and a 1957 Glenwood High School graduate. He was a Native American Activist and Principle Chief of the Tallige Fire Cherokee Nation. He traveled extensively to Pakistan, Germany, Israel, and Taiwan.

He is survived by his wife, Erma Lee Phipps Collins, whom he married Aug. 19, 1961, in Portsmouth; three sons, Jeffrey (Debbie) Collins of McDermott, Sean (Wanda) Collins of West Portsmouth, and Matthew Collins of McDermott; two daughters Kayla and Ellie Collins at home; 12 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; two sisters Teresa Moore and Mary Ann Mueller both of California; and a very special Native American Sister, Barbara Crandell.

He was also preceded in death by one son, Mark Anthony Collins; and one brother, Nathaniel Phipps.

A Native American Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, in Kalanu Cemetery next to Earl Thomas Conley Park on U.S. 52, in West Portsmouth. Arrangements are under the direction of the McKinley Funeral Home in Lucasville.

http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/view/full_story/20405722/article-oliver-collins-jr

[Epiphany]

I could not find "Kalanu Cemetery" in Find a Grave initially, turns out it is known as "Old Infirmary Cemetery"

In the SE corner of' the cemetery the remains of' the Indians removed from the infirmary site were reentered July 17, 1987. A plaque has been erected that reads:

KALANU CEMETERY
TALIGE ALSILA
ITAWA TALAGI AYLEI
Remains of 47 Native Americans
Reburied July 17, 1987

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2315141

I assume he is buried there, but the obit does not completely clearly state that.

[Epiphany]

Article about "Tallige Cherokee Nation" and Kalanu Native American Cemetery:

Remains added to Kalanu Native American Cemetery
Last updated: July 24. 2013 1:13PM - 216 Views


By WAYNE ALLEN

PDT Staff Writer

For the first time in 16 years Native American remains have been added to the Kalanu Native American Cemetery in West Portsmouth.

Members of the Native American Alliance of Ohio held a reburial ceremony over the weekend to properly put some remains to rest.

In March, the Scioto County Commissioners approved a request from the Alliance to bury three boxes of partial remains of Native American people in the cemetery.

The Alliance was asked earlier this year by the Clyde Museum of Clyde, Ohio, to help in the proper burial of remains in the museum’s possession.

Brenda Stultz, volunteer curator of the Clyde Museum in northern Ohio, said the museum has been in possession of the remains for years with no documentation on their origin.

“We do not have a reburial ceremony, we say a few prayers and thank the creator we are able to do this and that we were given strength that we could carry through,” said Barbara Crandell, co-chairwoman of the Native American Alliance of Ohio.

Crandell said the remains of one male was buried in a box, and the remains of a female in another box; a third box contained a mixture of remains.

Most of the identifiable remains were skulls, Sheriff’s Deputy Jodi Conkel said.

Crandell said remains were last added to the Kalanu Native American Cemetery in 1996.

According to www.scenicsciotoheritagetrail.com, the Kalanu Native American Cemetery was established in 1987 by the Scioto County Commissioners after a local group of citizens called the Tallige Cherokee Nation negotiated the return and re-interment of the remains of 47 prehistoric Native Americans that had been accidentally unearthed when the former Scioto County Home for the Aged was torn down in 1986.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.

http://portsmouth-dailytimes.com/view/full_story/18490248/article-Remains-added-to-Kalanu-Native-American-Cemetery

[Epiphany]

The "Tallige Cherokee Nation", was started in 1972 and incorporated in 1988 - the same time period that all of the other little groundhog Indians began appearing. Like some other groups, it also lies about being a "state recognized tribe".

Perhaps the most onerous activities of this group occurred in 1987, when it stuck it's nose into the reburial of forty seven Indian remains at newly built Kalanu Native American Cemetery in Scioto County. Although the remains were most likely of Shawnee Indians, the group claimed them as "our ancestors" and conducted what they called a "traditional Cherokee burial ceremony". As a part of commonalities between the different newly founded "tribes", other groups and individuals have also usurped legitimate Indians in the reburial of remains - despite current NAGPRA laws.

http://threeoaks-onthewingsofeagles.blogspot.com/2008/04/greed-continues.html

[Diana]

Yeah, old Oliver Collins is white, white, white! I went back to the 1800's on his Father's side and they are all from Kentucky and white. And on his Mothers side I went as far back as 1775 where they would refer to people as "Free White Persons." There is no way this guy is Cherokee or any other Indian.

Unfortunately he lied to a lot of people and obviously caused a lot of problems. Shameful just shameful.

Someone in his family published an extensive family tree on Ancestry.com which was very helpful, so there is NO WAY he or any of his immediate family cannot know that they are any thing but white.


Lim lemtsh,

Diana

[educatedindian]

The younger Collins, Michael, sent this account of the family history and the reburials.

-------
Thank you for helping me find some closer my father suffered more than anyone should during those times.  Cancer is something that no one should know of it affects everyone involved in the loved ones life.
As far as the accuser's go they walked away from our circle and are considered dead to us.
In my fathers teaching of our ancestors it is not our ways to speak of the dead.
My family was always aware of our Cherokee roots but did not share it with the world.
In Kentucky to some it did not matter what you were but to others those facts were best not spoke of.
And as far as I can remember my father always spoke of his grandmother Minnie teaching him.
Also there was a news report where he did say that he was a genealogist.
That was all part of a deal made between my father and Commissioner William Ogg.
Mr Ogg wanted my father to run for commissioner and chair with him.
To get the 47 remains and preserve the mound from where they was taken.
My father was glad to go along with Mr. Ogg to get that done.
Once we had that under control we did contact Oklahoma and North Carolina and the Columbus indian center. As to the proper ways to rebury the ancestors because we were not federal and did not want to offend anyone.
North Carolina would not even speak to us only to say they did not want involved.
Oklahoma said the same but was not that nice about it.
The Columbus Indian Center said they would help but needed 2,500 dollars to send grass dancers.
So we was left to our own and since we could not be certain of what tribe the remains was we adopted them.
Maybe most wouldn't agree with our ways but we felt that was better than just throwing them in hole as suggested.
Some of the elders of our own did not want involved mainly the Castle family the Chief at the time.
So him and his family walked away and that's how we came into contact with Mr. Gibbs.
Mr. Gibbs was asked by some to sit in as a Chief since no one wanted to do the job.
I'm sure your aware of the fact that in 1988 Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Our existence predates that so the claims of all we were after was a casino makes no sense.

We have not asked for anything from anyone the Government nor the other tribes.
Also my father felt in part responsible for NAGPRA since it was the first time any remains were put back.
And he does deserve some respect for that.
And yes I am Cherokee as my Father was and he was as his father was
I do understand your concern and others concerns.
Thank you for your time in this matter.
Matthew Jay Collins

[Diana]

This whole "account" of their family history is oddly written. I'm trying to figure out who it was written to...? Was it written to NAFPS? Or what?

I went back and looked again just in case I may have missed something. I did not miss anything, they are all white. And him mentioning his Grandmother Minnie Sayler, I not sure what he means by her teaching him...? I took a second looked at her and like a lot of other GG parents they are all from a small town which was named after their family; Saylersville Kentucky, pretty impressive. Here's a link to their town. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salyersville,_Kentucky

 Saylersville: "The area was settled by pioneers wanting to find a good place to settle and raise their families. Residents today are, for the most part, descendants of these hardy pioneers who carved from the wilderness homeplaces and livelihoods for their families."  http://www.kentuckytourism.com/city/salyersville/

I'm bothered by this statement, " Also there was a news report where he did say that he was a genealogist.
That was all part of a deal made between my father and Commissioner William Ogg.
Mr Ogg wanted my father to run for commissioner and chair with him.
To get the 47 remains and preserve the mound from where they was taken.
My father was glad to go along with Mr. Ogg to get that done." What are they alluding to? Are they implying their Father was lying about being an genealogist? Was Oliver Collins and this William Ogg an elected official up to some sort of nefarious or illegal behavior? That's the way I'm reading it.

After obtaining some human remains under suspicious circumstances, they claim they called the North Carolina and Oklahoma Cherokee Tribes and basically were told to SHOVE IT by both Tribes. Lol!  And another questionable organization called The Columbus Indian Center tried to scam them to the tune of $2500 with some sort of dancers. Even the other people in their fake tribe, the Castle family who at the time was their fake chief walked away. What is wrong with this picture? I think the answer is, everyone knows they are frauds with a capital F. Shame on you, you and your little group are absolutely despicable. I am just sickened that these thieving white people got away with grave robbing.


Diana

[Epiphany]

E. Kalanu Native American Cemetery

The Kalanu (Raven in Cherokee) Native American Cemetery is the newest mound in the Ohio Valley as it was built on July 19,1987 by the Scioto County Commission and local native peoples, for the return of 47 Ancient Native American bodies returned to Scioto County by the Ohio Historical Society. A bronze plaque has been installed to commemorate this occasion.

https://web.archive.org/web/20090331075212/http://www.tallige.com/Sites.htm

But, as Diana has laid out, at least one of the leaders of these "local native peoples" was not NDN at all.

It's almost as if this group hoped to "become" NDN by interfering in these burials and taking over the project.

In their IRS tax exempt paperwork their mission is to "preserve and enhance Cherokee heritage", but Collins is not Cherokee. So he and crew only preserved myths and enhanced only themselves.

Another land and burial case they interfered with: https://web.archive.org/web/20020613222326/http://www.tallige.com/landsale.html

They did not need to pretend to be NDNs in order to advocate for proper care of the land and burials.

[educatedindian]

This whole "account" of their family history is oddly written. I'm trying to figure out who it was written to...? Was it written to NAFPS? Or what?

The younger Collins wrote to me and I asked that he give his side of things, best he knew. I didn't edit it at all.

Looking at that tax return, it shows over a half million in revenue from the bingo hall, and over $3 million from "merchandise, admissions, or services" etc. But expenses took up almost all of the bingo funds. There was also a $6000 loan from a bank they defaulted on. It seems that except for the jobs provided by the hall, most of their goals weren't met. The Cherokee village was never built, best I can find. Tallige.com now seems to be a Thai health food site.

Other tax docs on them someone put up.
https://www.citizenaudit.org/311230281/

[Diana]

These people need to be moved to frauds. Also, I hate to sound like a broken record, but this is exactly why we need an exclusive thread for fraudulent tribes.

It sounds like these people have caused conflict and strife for 4 decades now throughout Ohio. And lets face it, taking real Indian remains and doing some made up white bogus woo woo ceremony is just bad Juju. No wonder some people suffered so horribly. It is very sad indeed.

 

[educatedindian]

If they were still active, I'd certainly agree. But the bingo hall ended six years ago, they have no online presence since then. I don't even know who currently claims to lead them or if they even have anyone. There seem to be a couple scattered people still saying they are Tallige, but no organization, no one teaching their claims. That's why I'd say move to Archives.