If you are inclined to help The Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina correct a historic injustice, please consider writing your elected representatives and if you're American Indian, please encourage your tribal leadership to write in support as well. You may copy and paste the letter templates below.
Since time immemorial, the Skarù·rȩˀ (Tuscarora) Nation was composed of a Council of the Great, which included representatives from independent and autonomous towns, communities and clans. Each autonomous Tuscarora town elected representative(s) to attend the Council to represent their individual needs.
Representative democracy is deeply woven into traditional Tuscarora culture and governance. Following the same traditional and historic precedent, the state of North Carolina will formally vote to recognize, or more accurately, reaffirm, the Tuscarora, which consists of three independent and autonomous Tuscarora communities.
The core Tuscarora communities have documented and demonstrated organized continuity spanning to pre-colonial times. We have maintained the core governing bodies of Tuscarora people to this day.
The Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina has always been recognized as a distinct community. In 1885 North Carolina Representative Hamilton McMillan influenced the government to recognize the Tuscarora under a non-treaty name, which has had devastating effects on the Tuscarora since. While some tribes in North Carolina claim descent from Tuscarora people and have adopted Tuscarora cultural elements, the unbroken and continuous core Tuscarora communities have been denied our rights as an Indian People.
Please help us correct this injustice. Here is how you can help!
It is fast and easy to email a letter of support!
ARE YOU AN ENROLLED TRIBE OR NATION CITIZEN
-or-
A NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENT OR NC VOTER
If you qualify as both, you may use both letter formats provided below.
It is fast and easy to email a letter of support!
We ask that you please write a LETTER OF SUPPORT for Tuscarora recognition.
Your letter can be an email or a signed letter attached to an email.
Please ALSO ask your tribal leadership, chiefs and councils to support Tuscarora Recognition! NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS OR NC VOTERS If you are a North Carolina resident or voter, we ask that you contact your NORTH CAROLINA STATE LEGISLATORS.
____________________________________________________________________
Letters of support may be EMAILED TO:
richard.blackwelder@ncleg.gov
Edward.Goodwin@ncleg.gov
You may find your legislators and their email addresses at:
USE THIS LETTER/EMAIL TEMPLATE IF YOU ARE AN ENROLLED TRIBAL MEMBER OR NATION CITIZEN.
EMAIL SUBJECT LINE: LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR TUSCARORA RECOGNITION
EMAIL BODY:
The Honorable Edward Goodwin
16 West Jones Street, Rm. 2217
Raleigh, NC 27601-1096
RE: Tuscarora Recognition
Dear Representative Ed Goodwin, I am a member of [YOUR TRIBAL AFFILIATION] and I would like to voice my support for the State recognition of The Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina. The core Tuscarora communities have documented and demonstrated organized continuity spanning to pre-colonial times. They have maintained the core governing bodies of Tuscarora people to this day. The Tuscarora who have remained in North Carolina have always been recognized as a distinct community. In 1885 North Carolina Representative Hamilton McMillan influenced the government to recognize the Tuscarora under a non-treaty name; an injustice that has had devastating effects on the Tuscarora since. While some tribes in North Carolina claim descent from Tuscarora people and have adopted Tuscarora cultural elements, the unbroken and continuous core Tuscarora communities have been denied their rights as an Indian People. Please vote to support recognition for The Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR TRIBAL AFFILIATION]
USE THIS LETTER/EMAIL TEMPLATE IF YOU ARE A NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENT OR NC VOTER. YOU MAY COPY, PASTE AND EVEN PERSONALIZE THIS TEMPLATE IF YOU WISH.
You may find your legislators and their email addresses at: https://www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators
EMAIL SUBJECT LINE: LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR TUSCARORA RECOGNITION
RE: Tuscarora Recognition
Dear [YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATOR NAME],
I am your constituent and I would like to voice my support for the State recognition of The Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina. The core Tuscarora communities have documented and demonstrated organized continuity spanning to pre-colonial times. The Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina has maintained the core governing bodies of Tuscarora people to this day. The Tuscarora who have remained in North Carolina have always been recognized as a distinct community. In 1885 North Carolina Representative Hamilton McMillan influenced the government to recognize the Tuscarora under a non-treaty name; an injustice that has had devastating effects on the Tuscarora since. While some tribes in North Carolina claim descent from Tuscarora people and have adopted Tuscarora cultural elements, the unbroken and continuous core Tuscarora communities have been denied their rights as an Indian People. Please vote YES to support recognition for The Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]