State Rep. Nathan Vaughn has introduced legislation to give the Tennessee General Assembly the power to recognize selected Native American Indian tribes — a move partially aimed at establishing a new attraction on Kingsport’s Bays Mountain.
Vaughn, D-Kingsport, said city officials are considering entering into an arrangement with a Yuchi Indian group to create an authentic Indian village on Bays Mountain.
“But unless they are recognized as a Native American tribe, they cannot sell Indian arts and crafts and call them Indian arts and crafts unless they have recognition … (and) it would be a benefit for our school kids to see how Native Americans lived,” Vaughn, Northeast Tennessee’s first African-American state lawmaker, said of the Yuchis.
Rob Cole, volunteer coordinator for Bays Mountain Park, said park officials and representatives of the Yuchi tribe have met to discuss a partnership and are exploring ideas to put the village together. read more
I am personally glad that the Yuchi and other First Peoples such as Cherokee, Shawnee, Creek and many others are finally getting some recognition. I am a Cherokee descendant and my ancestors lived on Long Island when it was a treaty ground. Nathan Vaughn deserves a pat on the back for getting this going. I am a member of The Southern Cherokee Nation of Kentucky but, I have lived here all my life. ALL Native people need to stand together to get Bills like this passed and our ancestors honored.
Maybe in the near future there can be a powwow held in the Kingsport area.
wa-do,
tohidv wohali
Kermit Manis