"After Poarch Band became a federally recognized tribe, its then-chairman, Eddie L. Tullis, began closing doors on Muscogee Nation, especially the traditional people. He worked with intertribal groups to exclude traditional Native people from forums and as a consulting class in federal laws.

Tullis' mantra is ''Indian sacred lands can be protected, but not at the expense of Indian businesses.'' I cringe every time I hear that. Like many other Native people, I wonder how this is different from statements by non-Indian developers.

Tullis joined forces with Chief Philip Martin of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to keep the Mowa Choctaws in Alabama from being federally recognized. Disgraced lobbyist and felon Jack Abramoff was hired as the attack dog to keep the Mowa Choctaws and others from competing for gaming business.

Poarch Band teamed up with Harrah's to build the proposed mega-casino, but they never consulted with Muscogee Nation or Hickory Ground in Oklahoma, in violation of a bushel of laws."

Get the Story:
Suzzn Shown Harjo: Fire takes the vulnerable ones (Indian Country Today 6/2)

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