In negotiations between the Tallige
Cherokee Nation and the Scioto County Commissioners, a compromise was made to
save land held sacred by Native Americans.
The auction planned for May 4, 2000 of lands immediately adjacent to
the Bird Effigy Mound and containing Indian Burials was cancelled.
The
Bird Effigy
Mound and associated burial grounds were declared a legal cemetery.
As such, they are now protected from ever being developed or disturbed. Our sincerest thanks go to the Scioto
County Commissions, Opal
Spears (chair), Vernal
G. Riffe III, and John Knauff, for their willingness to cooperate and
preserve this valuable heritage site of our Native American Ancestors.
This
is the second historical precedent performed by the Scioto County
Commissioners. The first was in 1987
when the Scioto County Commissioners dedicated the Kalanu Native American Cemetery and returned the
remains of 47 of our ancestors to us for reburial.
The
Scioto County Commissioners have again shown their friendship to all
Native Americans by agreeing to work with us to establish oversight committee to protect
the Sacred Grounds in perpetuity. In
doing so, they have also preserved a historical pioneer cemetery that is
found on these ancient grounds.
We
also thank all those who voiced their opinion regarding the pending
auction. Wado!
The
work is not over, but only just beginning.
We look forward to working with the Scioto County Commissioners to
establish a foundation that will hold this land in trust for future
generations.
We still need your
contributions to insure this land will be protected!
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