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This page will keep you up to date on what's going on with TAIDA and events in Indian Country that impact Tennessee Indians.
 
Please let us know of any Events or News that should be posted on this page. A convenient form has been added at the bottom of this page to be filled out and sent  to TAIDA so that important information can be posted here.
 
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Simply copy and paste your News or Events into an e-mail message and send it to mail@taida.org Please put "news or events to post to site" in the subject line.
 
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Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the material for research and educational purposes. This is in accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. section 107.

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News
 
Trail of Tears Park May Go In Near McMinnville
posted January 26, 2006

[drawing] Trail of Tears Park

A Trail of Tears Park is being planned east of McMinnville, according to a website about the development.

The site does not list contacts, but a source said the park would be at an extensive site along Highway 8, which leads to Dunlap.

The source said the park is being financed by Chinese investors and is planned to be "the size of DisneyWorld."

The designs on the website include a Great Spirit Arena, a Sacred Ground Pavilion and a Flaming Arrow monorail system.

It will have a National Trail of Tears Museum that will house Native American artificats, Trail of Tears artifacts and Native American inspired artwork. It is to be an interactive museum.

The museum building itself "will be the largest Native American monument in the United States."

Charles Johnson, of the Southern Standard newspaper at McMinnville, said a local commissioner is familiar with the project. But he said he had not been informed of details.

He said there is extensive available land along Highway 8 - much of which has been clearcut.

The website said miles of the original Trail of Tears are on the property and will be preserved. The Trail of Tears was the name given the route of the forced exodus to the West of Native Americans in the 1830s.

It says the group will be acquiring other sections of the trail to be placed in a non-profit conservancy.

It says it will be an interactive learning park that will include animatronics depictions of Trail of Tears history, replicas of period town, village and farms, mule train adventures, replica camping and overnight sites, flora learning trail and a children's farm animal petting zoo.

The park will construct an agricultural and environment showcase that will trace the history and development of agriculture in America. The state-of-the-art exhibit will show agriculture of the past and introduce visitors to agriculture of the future.

The arena is to be used for concerts, conferences, pow-wows and conventions.

There is also to be a conference center and a destination point resort and spa that will be constructed, operated and managed by a major hotelier.

There is also to be an indoor water park to include activities for all ages such as water slides, wave pools, swimming and diving areas. The water park will have the ability to qualify as a swimming and diving competition site.

The park will set aside several areas as wildlife zones. The website says for every acre that is developed, there will be at least 10 acres preserved.

The park is to provide educational opportunities in the areas of history, agriculture and environmental science. It will "provide opportunities for visitors to experience and learn artesian crafts both from the past as well as modern artesian crafts."

The site is
http://www.trailoftearspark.com/link_park/designs.asp
Photo by Mapquest

Preserving Traditions through the use of technology
 
Native American Family Technology Journey Seeks to Preserve Heritage
Through Innovation and Encourage Internet Access Today

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=99861

ARMONK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/01/2005 -- While technology is hailed
by many for its potential to advance today's society, Native Americans
are encouraged by the promise it holds to help sustain languages and
cultures several centuries old. The 2005 Native American Family
Technology Journey (The Journey), launching on November 1, will offer
Native People across the United States a chance to explore what
technology and innovation can mean for their families as they embrace
the full potential of the Internet.

A study released by the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, titled Falling Through The
Net: Defining The Digital Divide, found that Native Americans "are not
able to access the important information resources via computers and on
the Internet that are quickly becoming essential for success."

"With studies indicating that access to computers among many Native
American households lags behind the national average by 15% and access
to the Internet by roughly 19%, it's clear that more has to be done to
make Native American families aware of the advantages and opportunities
that are associated with bringing technology into their lives," said
Terry Braun (Seneca Hawk), Director, Americas Solution Design Center,
IBM Global Services and Native American Family Technology Journey
national co-chair.

"The Journey is providing American Indian families with an opportunity
to not just hear about technology, but also to experience it. I've seen
children delight in constructing bridges out of steel on a computer,
and
adults marvel at how easily they can access information on the
Internet.
Technology can make a tremendous difference in the Native community. As
we reach these young people, IBM is hoping to inspire them to not only
learn about the benefits of technology but to also consider careers in
technology," said Braun.

"We are truly honored to work with IBM and Career Communications Group
on The Journey," said Marcella Perrano, a member of the
Ramapough-Lenape nation and director of Title VII Indian Education. "We
are very excited and believe that the events comprising this national
initiative will provide a fun-filled learning experience for all of the
participants. Our goal is to increase technical education and computer
literacy among Native American Families, by assisting them in
incorporating science and technology into their daily lives. With this
in mind, it is our hope that these events will encourage our Native
American students to pursue university degrees in science, technology
and/or business."

Sponsored by IBM and Career Communications Group (CCG), The Journey
will
play host to computer and Internet workshops, educational and career
seminars, and interactive demonstrations, which will provide Native
Americans residing in urban centers, rural areas and on tribal lands
technology access and training.

The Journey will also establish a forum in which Native people can
learn
more about technology's potential to help pass the languages, stories
and customs that distinguish their tribes from one generation to
another. IBM, for example, is partnering with the Indigenous Language
Institute to establish a Language Materials Development Center that
will assist various tribes in preserving, teaching and sharing their
language.

The company has also developed the Native Keyboard Input Method Editor,
which allows a user to switch from English to another language with a
simple "hotkey" or command. In addition, IBM is partnering with the
Abenaki Tribe in Swanton, Vermont to offer Native American families
classes covering basic to intermediate computer skills, including
Windows, the Internet, web page creation and using business
productivity software. The classes will take place in the computer lab
IBM gifted to the community.

Events, News & Meetings

Upcoming Tennessee Advisory Council Meeting, Nov 12

Advisory Council Of Tennessee Indian Affairs
Quarterly Meeting
Jackson Madison County Library, Jackson, Tennessee
Agenda
November, 12, 2005

I. Call Meeting to Order
II. Welcome
III. Opening Prayer
IV. Approval of Agenda
V. Report from TCIA
VI. Report from TNNAC
VII. Financial Report
VIII. Reading of Meeting Minutes from August, 21, 2005 Meeting
IX. Approval of the Minutes
X. Comments from the Chair of ACTIA

XI. Committee Reports:

a. Tribal Recognition/Native History “ Melba Eades, Chair
b. Education “ Donna Bivens, Chair
c. Health
d. Legal Defense
e. Social/Public Relations/Staff & Support “ Dale Mitchel, Chair
f. Native Tourism “ Dale Mitchel, Chair
g. Archeaology Committee “ Tommy Veal, Chair
h. Operational Procedures Committee “ John Hedgecoth

XII. Old Busines:

a. Approval of any Proposed Members-at-large Present
b. Finalize Recognition of Historical Tribes proposal to the TCIA
c. Discuss Letter/Proposal for the TCIA on Pinson Mounds
d. Discuss ACTIA 501c3 Application

XIII. New Busines:

a. Election of Officers.
b. Discuss Legal Defense Fund, ACTI™s Legal Defense Committee
c. Set Date for next ACTIA Meeting

XIV. Comments from Visitors

XV. Adjorn with Prayer
 

TNNAC Meeting  (already held, these are the results of the meeting)-

These are comments from Vicky Garland:

 We have new Officers.

Chair- John Smith- At-Large from Memphis
Vice-Chair Vicky Garland- ViceChair from Manchester
Secretary- tom kunesh- ViceChair From Chattanooga

Board Members are:
Memphis
Chair- Helen Wagner-Vinson
V-Chair- Ed Vinson

Jackson
Chair- Lynn Clayton
V-Chair- Jo Nicholson

Nashville
Chair- Sandi Perry
V-Chair- Dale Mitchell

Manchester
Chair- Red Kirby
V-Chair- Vicky Garland

Chattanooga
Chair- Cleata Townsend
V-Chair- tom kunesh

Knoxville
Pending (You are not a member until you show up at a meeting)

 

Other Info here will be about International Indigenous People's rights and UNPO as well as TNNAC and Tennessee Commission's activities and comments on those activities. Check this page often for updates.

Other info will be from news across Indian country that affects Tennessee Indians and TAIDA.

Special events and activities summaries will be noted here also along with a listing in the calendar.

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500 years of Cultural Genocide