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So what's in a Name?

This is just an example of what is happening all over the U.S. where groups of self proclaimed *tribes* and groups are springing up, unfettered apparently by Congress...but Congresswoman Watson prefers to pursue the Federal Recognized Cherokee Nation; so how come the CBC isn't in pursuit of these folks?

Where's the amendment in the bills to stop groups from self proclaiming they are *Indian*?

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http://www.caddonation-nsn.gov/gov/message.html

The following is a letter sent to Mr. Davis regarding the use of the name "Caddo" in any respect to his state recognized tribe.

November 5, 2007

Mr. Rufus Davis
4500 Hwy. 485
Robeline, Louisiana 71469

Re: Use of the name “Caddo” in any respect to your state recognized tribe

Mr. Davis:

You are hereby notified by the Caddo Nation Tribal Council (representatives of the federally recognized tribal government) that you should immediately cease and desist use of the federally recognized name “Caddo” in any and all of your media communications, including, Internet websites, advertising and marketing correspondences or other communicative correspondences to further the recognition of the Adai at either state or federal levels and as such, you shall from this time forward stop using the name “Caddo” in any further correspondence in regard to the “Adai Caddo Indians of Louisiana” (See attached brochure).

Please also find attached a copy of a resolution passed in 2001 by the federally recognized Caddo Nation of Oklahoma tribal council “TO PROTECT FOR THE CADDO NATION THE PROPRIETARY OWNERSHIP OF ITS NAME, ITS CULTURAL/TRIBAL HISTORY AND TO PROTECT THE TRIBE FROM ILLEGAL OR UNAUTHORIZED USAGE OR SALE OF ANY WRITTEN COMPOSITIONS, BOOKS OR PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN DERIVED FROM ANY ASSOCIATION, BOTH KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, WITH THE CADDO NATION, ITS TRIBAL PROGRAMS OR ITS TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP.”

Your Louisiana state recognition is based in part in that you and your tribe believe you are also “Caddo.” The Caddo Nation of Oklahoma (currently recognized through the Bureau of Indian Affairs as the Caddo Nation) has a distinct, culture, language, and tradition set apart from other tribal groups. The Caddo Nation consists of a number of smaller bands (Nabedache, Nasoni, Hainai) of the Caddo Indians under the leadership of a larger group such as, the Hasinai, the Natchitoches, and the Kadohadacho for example, but all with a common language. The Adai were not part of these groups. In 1835, the Caddo Nation signed a land cession agreement with the United States government to cede over land in both Arkansas and Louisiana.

Your group was not a part of this land cession or ever recognized as a part of the Caddo Nation proper. Neither you nor your tribal members have ever been recognized as being affiFliated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma whose members can historically trace their ancestry to and from Caddo Indians whose families held allotments of land in Oklahoma and were part of the original Wichita, Caddo, and Delaware Reservational District in Oklahoma. These Caddo Nation members came from both the Brazos Reserve in Texas in 1859 and from the state of Louisiana moving to Oklahoma prior to and following the land cession of 1835. As to date, no Adai indian has ever been ancestrally linked to the members of the Caddo Nation.

Should you continue using the name CADDO, a federally recognized name used only by the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, we will have no choice but to pursue legal remedies to the fullest extent available to us.

Sincerely,
LaRue Parker
Chairwoman Caddo Nation

Cc: Betty Tippiconnie
Superintendent, United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Anadarko Agency
P. 0. Box 309
Anadarko, Oklahoma 73005

Bobby Jindal
Governor of the State of Louisiana
P. 0. Box 94004
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804

Dan Deerinwater
Deputy Director of Trust, United States Department of the Interior
Regional Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
P. 0. Box 368
Anadarko, Oklahoma 73005

Frank Lucas
United States Congressman
2311 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3603

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