Letter sent to Ohio Senators & Congress

United States Congress
Washington, D.C.

Askeno keoke Senator,

I am Sachem Great Elk Dancer For His Elk Nation. I am writing to you on behalf of the Notoweega Nation Council and Tribal Government with over 30,000 members of lineal descent. Our claims can be authenticated by numerous documents on file with the Library of Congress, Congressional and Presidential Orders, Supreme Court Decisions, Federal Census, Vital Statistics, Academia, Periodicals and Documented family oral histories, etc. For over 300 years we have stood dead fast to self identification as a self-sufficient and tribal people in a hostile environment.

We are asking for your assistance to intercede on our behalf and to request a congressional hearing concerning our affirmation and inherent sovereign rights.

We The Notoweega Nation would like to meet with you to discuss our issues concerning our sovereign tribal rights and affirmation as Pre-Constitutional Non-Indian Reorganization Act and Independent Tribal People, here in the State of Ohio and West Virginia. Our concern is the ongoing violations of Inherent Sovereign Rights, violating the U.S. Constitution, Treaty Rights, Non-Intercourse Act, Northwest Ordinance, Supremacy Clause, Freedom of Religion and American Indian Rights. States lack Subject Matter Jurisdiction and do not have any authority to abrogate our Tribal Rights

We are currently involved in Litigation in the South Eastern District Court of Ohio pertaining to violations of our Treaty and Inherent Sovereign Rights and Tortious offenses by the Municipality of Hocking County and the City of Logan. As of yet we have not begun to address the violations committed by the State of Ohio against three tribal business’s which have been caused to close or reinstate for a total of five times over a period of five years.

Only Congress has the right to negotiate with Indian Tribes and States have no jurisdiction authority when a tribe has not conceded its sovereignty. We are well within our rights and wish to educate the Senator in the dealings and laws that are currently being violated by his constituents in the State of Ohio. There is no entity in the State of Ohio that has the authority or expertise to translate our Laws back at us. We have faced incredible harms at the wrong doings of his/her fellow Ohioans that has caused much discern and the Tax payers a considerable amount of Tax Dollars in the States and Local Municipalities attempt to cause us damage. We will continue to operate as a tribal and self sustaining Tribe that can show continuance dating before the American Revolution and that many of our Tribal forefathers assisted the Americans in winning their Independence.

We are not a BIA Tribe, nor are we Federally Recognized and we do not concede our Inherent Sovereignty to that Administrative Office nor any other entity of the Federal Government as we are "First Peoples". We would also like to point out the laws of U.S. Constitution that was inspired by the Iroquoian Leagues "Great Law". Quoting from the American Constitution "Indians not taxed" and Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress the power “to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes.” This clearly states "With" and not "Of". The State of Ohio has violated this clause and has clearly molested our right to "Trade, Travel, and Hunt" Which is an inherent right thru out these lands retained by the Federal Government.

We have family ties and covenant agreements with many other sovereign nations and continue to engage in “Tribe to Tribe” commerce, much to our jeopardy as the state continues to harass and obfuscate through the administrative enforcement of the Master Settlement Agreement, Casino Commission, The Attorney Generals Office, Buildings Commission and Local City Departments. Therefore this has caused us the inability to provide services for our people and destroying our economic prosperity and placing us in a condition of continuing poverty. Our community and personal welfare is a protected interest of the United States Government that also has fiduciary obligation as well to look after our well-being and to entreat Indians and Tribes in the best possible light.

"Perhaps the most basic principles of all Indian law supported by a host of decisions...is the principle that those powers which are lawfully vested in an Indian tribes are not, in general delegated powers granted by express acts of Congress, but rather inherent powers of a limited sovereignty which has never been extinguished.

Felix S. Cohen”

We have also invoked "ICWA" here in the State of Ohio, which has no dealings with the ICWA Act and the Magistrates and lower courts seem to not understand the gravity of our children being taken away from American Indian Families or how to even implement this "Federal Law" and at this moment are in violation. We urge the Senator to re-submit the proposals for HR 2750 concerning the ICWA Amendments.

These are but a few issues relating to our experiences in the state of Ohio. We are here, we have always existed and we will not go away. We will continue to fight for our rights and conduct business as a Tribal People, a Sovereign Nation. We request a meeting with the Senator to show good faith as we continue our Government to Government Relations to point out the wrong doings of State Powers and to move forward in a less hostile atmosphere of education and good will.

Sincerely

Sachem Great Elk Dancer for His Elk Nation