Dear Principal Chief Baker:
I have taken the Cherokee Nation History Course and helped to facilitate one of them at the
University of California Davis. I am one of many At-Large Cherokee Citizens throughout the
Country that have had the honor of experiencing the depth of knowledge, teaching and course
preparation skills of our Tribal Council representative, Dr. Julia Coates. I have also experienced
and have been gratified by the growth of Cherokee Nation’s efforts to connect with At-Large
Cherokee Communities over the last several years. I was one of those that had the privilege of
participating in the first At-Large Community Summit last July.
I am troubled by hearing that the Cherokee Nation may be moving away from supporting the
History Course for At-Large Cherokees. It feels like the beginning of a large step backwards in
the Nation’s support of enrolled Cherokee Citizens living outside the 14 Counties. Because of
historical circumstances and through no fault of their own, Cherokee At-Large Citizens have not
been able to live and work in the Cherokee Nation. I am among what I am sure are many
Cherokees that have spent their working lives placing themselves in positions that will influence
the preservation of Native American cultures in the states in which they live. There are many
issues that cut across tribal and state boundaries: the preservation of traditional Native
American cultural places, including sacred sites, the preservation of Native American burial
places in the face of development, repatriation of Native American human remains and
associated grave items and other cultural items, and the defense of tribal government
independence. I as well as they, have put themselves in these positions because they are
“Cherokees by Blood," regardless of the circumstances of their birth.
I worked for the State of California for 32 years. Currently, I am a retired annuitant working for
the California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), the only California State agency
that works toward protecting Native American traditional cultural places. I review and respond
to environmental documents required by California State Law, for their adequacy in protecting
Native American sacred places, burials, and associated grave items. I provide training for
government agencies and tribes regarding California State Laws protecting Native American
cultural resources, and the role of the NAHC in that effort. I respond on behalf of the NAHC on
issues related to repatriation of Native American human remains and cultural items, as defined
by the Native American and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA). During my earlier service
with the NAHC, I was the Agency's representative for California coastal counties, responding to
inadvertent discoveries of Native American human remains and grave items, pursuant to
California Public Resources Code.
For three years prior to retiring from California State Parks in 2010, I was the Development
Coordinator for the California Indian Heritage Center project, which will replace the current
California State Indian Museum, built in 1940, with a new world-class facility. My responsibilities
included the operations of the current State Indian Museum, and facilitating the preparation of
the General Plan for the more than 50-acre site in West Sacramento, on the banks of the
Sacramento River, were the new Heritage Center will stand. During my prior service with State
Parks, I was responsible for the curation of three of the Department's Regional Indian
Museums. I also acted as coordinator for the Department's response to NAGPRA, which
involved conducting regional outreach meetings with tribes to culturally affiliate the over 150
burial collections in State Parks’ possession.
If it had not been for my deep seeded connection with my Cherokee ancestry, and the
realization that other tribes had experienced much of the same devastating treatment as
Cherokees, treatment that still continues in different forms to this day, I would not have taken
the career path that I did. It has been my hope that the Cherokee Nation, through maintaining
and enhancing the family connection between it and future generations of At-Large Cherokee
Citizens, it would continue to inspire other Cherokees to make the kind of career choices I
did. A connection that could in fact lead some of them back to the 14 Counties to live and
work. Maintaining and enhancing the Cherokee Nation's connection to its At-Large
Communities will also lead to opening doors to greater and greater support for the Cherokee
Nation throughout the United States. The Cherokee Nation should be looking for new and
innovative new ways to enhance its connections with At-Large Citizens. I believe that to do
otherwise is extremely short-sighted, and that withdrawing support for the Cherokee History
Course sends the message that the Cherokee Nation is in fact beginning to pull away from its
At-Large Citizens.
Sincerely,
Rob Wood
Associate Government Program Analyst, California Native American Heritage
Commission and Cherokee Citizen
Sacramento, CA