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Southern Cherokee Nation of Kentucky facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Southern Cherokee Nation of Kentucky (SCNK) is a group of people who identify as Cherokee and live in Kentucky. They are considered an unrecognized tribe, which means the United States government does not officially recognize them as a Native American tribe. In 2009, the SCNK said they had about one thousand members living in different states. They also state they are not connected to any other groups called "Southern Cherokee" or any of the officially recognized Cherokee nations.

State Recognition in Kentucky

What is State Recognition?

Sometimes, a state government officially recognizes a Native American tribe. This means the state sees them as a real tribe. This recognition can be important for a group's identity and rights.

Kentucky's History with the SCNK

In 1893, Governor John Young Brown sent a letter to the Southern Cherokee Nation. He welcomed them to the state fair. In his letter, he wrote that Kentucky "regonize [sic] the Southern Cherokee Nation as a Indian tribe." Later, in 2006, Governor Ernie Fletcher also made a statement that seemed to support this recognition.

Current Status of Recognition

However, today, Kentucky says it does not have any state-recognized tribes. The state also argues that no official government-to-government relationship was ever truly set up with the SCNK. This means that even though there were past statements, the recognition was not always clear or strong.

See also

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