Historians Note:
Traditional expert witnesses and tribal court findings have characterized tribal cultural property as “history” or “medicine”. Others describe this property as having significant powers. [ss20.01[2]]
Kyle Guy Smith, as Tribal Ethnohistorian and I, Darla Matthews as Tribal, Historian are here-in attempting to promote the spread of our knowledge so that other tribal members may have access to these powers.
I publish these reports today to encourage growth into the abundance of Joy, Love and Compassion. We can’t grow as tribal people when our people are forced “under the thumb” of others and are in need of being lifted up as a people and as individuals out of this oppression. We must remember who we are. Tribal People are very Spiritual, inherently spiritual because we are Caretakers of the Earth.
So, in publishing these tools about what we have learned as the Tribal Ethnohistorian and Tribal Historian, and why we, as well as other tribes are in this oppressed situation we must remember, A tribe is entitled to their own history. It is a Property Right. Within our own histories lie our traditions, our “medicines”. These are cultural resources that are” essential to the survival of our tribe. So, we have a duty to safeguard these property rights. This is but one step of how our tribal General Council has protected these powers to identify. Then our Tribal Courts have the power and authority to further identify, interpret tribal laws governing the definition, holding, use and transfer of artifacts and resources.