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OUKAH'S LETTER TO NEWLY ELECTED JOE BYRD
September 1, 1995
This letter was printed in 5 or 6 northeastern Oklahoma newspapers, including the Cherokee Observer. It outlines some history that others may not be aware of. Joe Byrd and friends have since proceeded to do everything wrong, as the Oukah was afraid of, at the time. We print it here to educate the people who are just now learning the truth, who think that there is something glamorous or exciting about being a Cherokee, and it is still good advice for any candidate today running for the office of Principal Chief.
Principal Chief Joe Byrd
THE CHEROKEE NATION
PO Box 948
Tahlequah, OK 74465
It is difficult to say "congratulations on being elected" to an office which will probably prove to be four years of pure hell (if, indeed, you last that long.) It is NOT the Principal Chief position set up by my great-great-grandfather, Dayunita (Wm. Shorey Coodey) in 1839.
Also, it is NOT the NATION set up by Dayunita in 1839, which was effectively (but not legally) abolished by the Federal USofA government in 1906, after which we Cherokees were illegally made part of the State of Oklahoma in 1907. You have just become the leader of a bastard government set up by (as the historians are putting it) a group of "white businessmen" for their own interests, in 1975, just 20 years ago. In no way is it the old government of the Cherokee people. No wonder that the full-bloods and Keetoowahs want nothing to do with it. Neither do I, but I had to enroll a few years ago because I intended to improve it, and I needed to be a member in order to have some legal "standing".
In 1968 my father, Ross, died and I inherited the only ancient Cherokee title that has survived. God had put it into my heart to do something for my people, and to use what I had been given as the Bible points out in the parable of the talents -- the only one who was condemned was he who did nothing with his. So, at the September Homecoming I prepared to deliver a message to my people. My mother, at Muskogee, rushed out to my car and begged me not to do it, saying "They'll kill you." I told her that they would have to. (I don't suppose you've ever heard of that before, have you? There's probably a lot that has gone on that you don't know about -- that's one reason why it is dangerous for a person like you to be elected).
So, the lawsuit was filed by Mr. George Groundhog and his courageous friends, and I was later informed that the Supreme Court had ruled in our favor and had ordered legal elections again for the "Five Civilized Tribes". W. W. Keeler, then serving by "appointment of the President" (which was 'restrained' by court order so that it could never be done again) called an election so fast that it was over and he was legally elected before any of the rest of us even knew that there had been an election! But, the precedence was begun. And a "government" was begun. It was still not what I wanted for my people. (Special Note: I don't know of any time you have put your life on the line for the Cherokee people, or your neck in the noose. In fact, I don't know of anything you have done for the Cherokee people, or to upgrade their circumstances or life. I have. All I know about you, until now, is that you have "fed at the trough" along with the other fat, greedy, greasy hawgs). Do you think you are my equal?
This so-called "government" was given the name of the "Cherokee Nation of OKLAHOMA", in spite of the fact that every treaty we ever signed provided that we would NEVER be a part of a State or Territory. Were these "white businessmen" who set up this organization merely ignorant of this fact, or were they merely insensitive? Or did they just intend to rub our noses in the stench of that terminology, knowing we could do nothing about it? Either way, the name itself is as odious as some of their practices have been.
W. W. Keeler passed the leadership of this elite, self-serving group to Ross Swimmer, and Ross Swimmer passed it on to Wilma Mankiller. I just recently named them "The Trio of Traitors", for good reason. Each of them became rich (or richer), while my fullbloods and half-bloods are sitting out in the stony Ozark foothills enjoying ? the greatest poverty-level in this country. I ain't happy.
Some of us had intended to "make a difference" in this recent election, and with the help of God through a series of weird events and circumstances, we were able to do so. God works in mysterious ways, to be sure. With the elimination of the hand-picked heir, destined to be TRAITOR NUMBER FOUR, George Bearpaw was removed from the ballot. We were left with you.
Let me make it quite clear that you are NOT the candidate that we wanted, but you became the "lesser of two evils" as we said among ourselves. At the present time you are NOT the Principal Chief that we want, and this is NOT the government that we want. Not like it is, and not like you are. It may be that you can become a "Principal Chief" instead of a "Principal Thief" (I do hope you heard the words correctly when you took the oath of office. The three before you evidently did not).
Your job is to serve the people, the masses of the people, one and all, and not to serve yourself, your friends, and all the greedy little sychophants (read: ass-kissers and parasites) hanging around. And definitely not to serve the sinister State of Oklahoma or the feral Federal government.
It has been due to the independent Cherokee Observer newspaper in just the last few years that some of the truth about the corrupt current Cherokee government has come out. I have had some outspoken input through that newspaper, so I can take a little credit for finally getting SOME of the truth out, and David Cornsilk, Marvin and Linda Summerfield, Robin Mayes, and others, can take CONSIDERABLE credit. Had it not been for them, the Cherokee people would not now have a chance (just a CHANCE) to make something of you AND this sad quasi-government that has been thrust upon us.
I have kept in touch with things in Northeastern Oklahoma throughout the last year mostly by telephone. I have grown more and more confident in the concerns of the people mentioned in the above paragraph, and are quite convinced that they want the best for the Cherokee people more than they want anything for themselves, just as I do. Rather than trying to get them to "get off your back and give you a chance", they are going to keep ON your back, and the back of any other wrong-doer either elected to, or employed by, the Cherokee Nation. And that with my urging and my blessing. They are going to tell it in their newspapers today, and I am going to tell it in my books that will live on through the centuries. You might do well to make them your chief advisors. Your old advisors, and current ones, don't seem to be effective.
Oh, yes, the genocide has worked. Else how do we have people proud to be an "Indian"? If they are, let them move to Bombay or Calcutta. I say: Become a Cherokee -- and find out what it means to be one. How is it that college educated people like you don't know that you can't be a TRIBE and a NATION at the same time? And why is it you have called us the LEAST, most insulting, of these words? Don't you have a brain in your head, or is it just filled with your personal ambition? Let me tell you, "personal ambition" is the worst reason for running for an office, or for becoming elected.
We are not about to forget that you just sat on the Cherokee 'Tribal' (insult, insult) Council, whose last few decisions before the elections were OVERTURNED by the Cherokee courts BECAUSE THEY WERE WRONG! This does not speak well for your mental acumen, or your decision-making ability. Or the advice and counsel that you had.
Oh, no, Mr. JoeByrd, if you are to become a "Principal Chief" that we can tolerate, you will have to make some considerable changes. And, when working on problems, one should always start with oneself -- to make sure that your heart and head are in the right place, that you mean well by all, and that your thoughts are pure.
Only then will you become a leader of my people, for my people, of whom I can approve.
You have been given a chance.Good luck.
His Royal and Imperial Majesty
The OUKAH CO 135128
Emperor of Tsalagi
The Cherokee Nations.
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Notes to the Above:
Joe Byrd ignored every good piece of advice given to him in the above letter, has made every mistake in the book, and will go DOWN in history as a very stupid man, as well as a corrupt, self-serving elected official. The same with dear Wilma: she became a failed Principal Chief and a failed human being. God gave them both a chance, and they blew it!
Joe Byrd, in fact, has turned out to be the worst nightmare that could be imagined, propped up by the BIA which evidently runs the school on corruption.
God help us all!
OUKAH.
March 31, 1999
Dallas, Texas