11-12-01

The Annual North Texas Cherokee meeting was held last week and was very successful with DeWayne Carrol as moderator.

Several items were discussed, but the most interesting item was the planning of a trip back to Mexico in February, when a larger number of the Texas tribe will congregate at a gathering in Eagle Pass for an escorted bus tour into Mexico to visit the natural made tomb that holds the remains of Chief Sequoyah.

Chief Sequoyah led the people from Texas into Mexico to escape the horrors of a threatened lively hood and surroundings as they existed back during the early 1800's in Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia.

When the native American passes on to the next world their remains are buried in a non-disturbed burial ground. When Chief Sequoyah knew his time was nearing the end, he placed himself in a natural cave on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande near Saragosa, Mexico. He placed rocks around his body for protection.

A recent discovery of the natural tomb was made by the family who are owners of the large ranch. The cave is occupied by many rattlesnakes which prevent people from entering the cave.

Chief Sequoya was instrumental in the invention of the Cherokee alphabet and phonics.

Today, one of the more enjoyable parts of being among the Cherokees is the manner in which they conduct their meetings. It is an obvious endeavor not to be begging for something that is not theirs, but is far from it, in that they are willing to do anything to help others. I marvel at this attitude and how it is an American way; especially in the trying times that we are living and the conditions throughout the world.

This will be the atmosphere that will be on the entire trip to Mexico this coming spring. Both Jackie and I look forward to meeting our many Cherokee friends that we became acquainted with on our last trip to Mexico.

In most of the Texas Chief Hicks’ correspondence, he ends his communications with you with the closing remark, "We are here for we never left."

The photo this week is of a family and church group as they appeared in the 1870's in Onega which is currently West Plum Street. I have printed this photo before, but I think it is appropriate to print it again.

And so I close with the same famous remarks that Chief Hicks uses – see you next week as "We are here for we never left."

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