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Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama
P. O. Box 830
Vinemont, AL 35179
(256) 734-7337
The Official
TRIBAL WEBSITES

Echota Tribal Leaders
Principal Chief
Charlotte Hallmark
Tribal Chairman
John Berryhill
Recording Secretary
Belinda Finn
Treasure
Pat Weeks
Membership Secretary
Rhonda Robbins

Tribal Council
Nancy Barron
Bobby Borden
Linda Smith
Charles Scott

CLAN CHIEFS
Deer Clan - Lucky Bates
Bird Clan - Almon Gann
Bear Clan - Ed Elliott
Blue Clan - Millard Shelton
Long Hair Clan - Rick Mosley
Wolf Clan - Wayne Rasco
Smoke Signal
The tribe puts out a newsletter, bi-monthly. If you would like to recieve a years
subscription, you can write to the tribal office with an enclosed check or money order for the amount of $15. The address
is,
Echota Cherokee Tribe of AL
P. O. Box 830
Vinemont AL 35179

AIAC Scholarships Available
Applications for scholarships are now available from the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission.
You may download an application from their website at: www.aiac.state.al.us or by calling them at
800-436-2902 in AL only.
Scholarship Opportunity
LOWES.com/scholarship

Free Health Insurance Program
All Kids the no-fee health insurance program for children under age 19. All
Kids will help children who do not have health insurance coverage and who meet income requirements. To qualify a child
must: be under age 19; be an AL resident; be a U.S. citizen, not covered under any other health insurance; for more information
and applications call 1-888-373-5437. Applications are also available at: County Health Departments, Clinics, Schools, many
Dr's offices and hospitals.

Vision Care For Low Income Families
Vision USA Open year-round: More than 40 million low income working people in the United
States cannot afford the cost of routine eye care or health insurance that covers it. As income earners, they don't qualify
for government aid and private health-care assistance. Now a year round program, VISION USA can help these people by providing
basic eye health and vision care services free of charge to the many unisured low-income people and their families who have
no other means of obtaining care. If any individual or a family is eligible, they will be matched with a volunteer Dr. of
Optometry who will provide a comprehensive eye exam at no charge. The Dr's are donating their services and may be limited
in some areas. Eyewear may also be provided at no cost or for a small fee/donation in some states.
Applications: Vision USA, 243 N. Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63141, 1-800-766-4466,
7 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST, Monday - Friday

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MISSION STATEMENT OF THE ECHOTA CHEROKEE
TRIBE OF ALABAMA
For the Cherokee
the past has determined what the Tribe is today, and preserving that past and the education of our people
is our primary goals.
GOALS OF THE ECHOTA CHEREOKEE TRIBE OF
ALABAMA
- To encourage and promote socioeconomic development
aimed at tribal and individual self-sufficiency.
- To support the preservation of traditional Cherokee
culture, language, and values.
- To imporve education and training opportunities for
tribal members.
- To seek improved health care for our people with particular
emphasis on children and elders.
- To encourage our people to deveolop, as individuals,
their talents as craftsmen, dancers, artists, musicians, and writers.
- To continuously strive to maintain the dignity of the
American Indian by always treating others with the utmost respect and courtesy.
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HISTORY OF THE TRIBE
The members of the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama
are the descendants of the Cherokee people who escaped the infamous "Trail of Tears". Many of our ancestors hid out in
the mountainous backswoods and lowlands of the Southeast. Some started on the long walk to the Indian Territory but
fled from the group during the March. While others made the long walk and upon reaching the Indian Territory, which today
is the state of Oklahoma, simpley walked back home to Alabama. The northeastern part of Alabama has always been
home to the Cherokees. However, the Cherokees who were hiding scattered over almost all of the state. Today we
have members in almost every county in Alabama and many states in the USA. Because of the mobibily of our people, we
even have members in other countries.
Our ancestors hid but at a price
to their pride and hertiage. In order to keep their families safe the Cherokee people kept a low profile in the
community. As best they could they lived in regions close to each other. Most did not speak the Cherokee language
nor teach it to their children for fear the children might use the language and be heard by the wrong people. Many of
the children were not told that they were Cherokee also for fear the children would tell the wrong people that they were Cherokee.
It was not legal for an American Indian to live in the state of Alabama until 1969 therefore the Cherokee people always
lived with the fear the if someone found out their "secret" they could immediately be taken into custody and sent to live
in the Indian Territory. Also everything they owned could be taken by the state and sold to others. This was a
very scary time to be Cherokee and live in the state of Alabama.
The Cherokee people hiding in Alabama tried their
best to assimilate into the white populace. Many of them claimed to be "Black Irish" or "Black Dutch" or "Black
German" to explain why their skin was darker than most of the other European descendants. Luckly the census takers did
not figure out that there was not a real ethnic group called Black Irish or Black Dutch or Black German the Cherokees ust
made up the names to fit in with theEuropeans. During this time period most of the people were farmers and they worked
outside in the sun thus many of the people had tanned skin, just not as tanned as the Cherokees. Many Cherokee
people remember stories of their family members wearing straw hats and long sleeves in the summer so they would not get any
darker than they already were.
In the 1970's a group of descendants of
the Alabama Cherokees began gathering together. At these gatherings old stories or legends were told, crafts were demonstrated,
and whose who still knew a few words of the Cherokee language shared it with the others. They struggled then as we all
struggle today to preserve our history and culture. Everyone brought "covered dishes" to the gatherings and they enjoyed
the pleasue of pot-louck dinners and the wonderful fellowship with others who shared the common hertiage bond. Many friendships
were developed that are still going on today.
The group decided they wanted to become a more formalized
group. At a meeting in Opelika, Alabama on March 16, 1980 the name of the group became "Echota". The group also
chose the Phoenix as their symbol. They chose the Phoenix to symbolize that they were rising from the ashes of
their ancestors' burned villages and hiding places to reclaim their Cherokee heritage.
To conform to the standards of today's world, corporation
papers were filed and we became a legal, legitimate entity. By-Laws were written as well as a Mission Statement.
A tribal newsletter, "The Smoke Signals", was started and it has grown from one page to ten pages.
The tribal members entered into a four year struggle
to establish an Indian Affairs commission that would represent all the tribes in the state of Alabama. The goal
was to "State Reccognition". This became a reality with the passage of the Davis-Strong Act in 1984. In the meantime the
members were researching their genealogy, history, traditional dress, dances, games, crafts,and language.
A dance team was formed and practiced relentlessly. Progress was slow and not without its trials and tribulations.
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