TCIA
Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs
The statute authorizing this board expired: 30 June 2009
The Commission is currently in wind down and will terminate on 30 June 2010.
There is the possibility for legislation to be proposed
in 2010 to extend or create a new Commission of Indian Affairs.

Watch the Sunset Review Hearing held 22 Oct. '09
Note: The composition of the commission has changed since the sunset review hearing, as has community sentiment about the commission, so much so that this commission is being referred to as the "NEW Commission". Most in the community that were opposed to the commission being extended are now in favor of giving this newly seated commission an opportunity to prove by actions that
it is favorable towards  and willing to work for
ALL Indians residing in the state, irrespective of tribal citizenship or lack thereof.

Listen to Audio of Public Rulemaking Hearing held 8 Aug. '09
Refer to "Note" above
RE: Reinstating Rule 0785-1
TCIA Recognition Criteria for Native American Indians
(get details)

Member	Term Expires	Area/Division	Contact
Jimmie E. Thigpen   (2008 - )	10-31-2011	West Grand Division	jim-dancer@hotmail.com   jetthigpen@comcast.net   (901) 251-1519
Alice Gwin-Henry   (2008 - )	10-31-2013	Memphis Metro Area	aghenry1@bellsouth.net  (901) 373-3885
James Everett Meeks   Secretary   (2007 - )	10-31-2011	Middle Grand Division	tcia@jemeeks.com (615) 885-2973 (423) 443-3468
Charles A. Lawson   (2010 - )	10-31-2013	Nashville Metro Area	clawson-54@united.net (615) 294-0038
Valerie Brestel-Ohle   (2007 - )	10-31-2011	East Grand Division	vohle@comcast.net  (865) 577-5026 (641) 715-3900 ext. 41960#
Christine Goddard   Vice-chair   (2010 - )	10-31-2013	Knoxville Metro Area	cmrg.tcia@yahoo.com (865) 567-2513
Tammera D. Hicks   Chair   (2010 - )	10-31-2013	Chattanooga Metro Area	Tammera08@aol.com (423) 240-7270
Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation       Mark James   TDEC Assistant Gen. Counsel   (State's Counsel  for TCIA)	The TN Commission of Indian Affairs is attached to the  TN Dept. of Environment & Conservation for administrative purposes	Visit TDEC's Website	Department of Environment & Conservation 401 Church Street L&C Tower Nashville, TN 37243 (888) 891-TDEC (8332) Have a question for TDEC? ask.tdec@tn.gov

view 2009 TCIA candidates and replacement process for expired seats
 

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last updated 3/8/10

TNT (Tennessee Native Times) is a grass roots project designed to provide news and information concerning American Indian affairs in the State of Tennessee.

The purposes of the Commission are to:


(1)  Deal fairly and effectively with Indian affairs;
(2)  Research and find local, state and federal resources of funding and other assistance  for the implementation or continuation of meaningful programs for Indian citizens of the state;
(3)  Provide aid and protection for Indians as needs are demonstrated;
(4)  Prevent undue hardships;
(5)  Assist Indian communities in social and economic development;
(6)  Promote recognition of, and the right of Indians to pursue cultural and religious traditions
considered by them to be sacred and meaningful to Native Americans; and
(7)  Communicate with Tennessee's Indian communities and solicit communications from such
Indian communities.



The Powers and Duties of the Commission:


(1) Study, consider, accumulate, compile, assemble and disseminate information
on any aspect of Indian affairs;
(2) Investigate relief needs of Indians of Tennessee and to provide technical assistance
in the preparation of plans for the alleviation of such needs;
(3) Confer with appropriate officials of local, state and federal governments and agencies of these governments, and with such congressional commissions that may be
concerned with Indian affairs;
(4) Encourage and implement coordination of applicable resources to meet the needs
of Indians in Tennessee;
(5) Study the existing status of recognition of all Indian groups, tribes and
communities presently existing in Tennessee;
(6) Establish appropriate procedures to provide for legal recognition by the state of presently
unrecognized tribes, nations, groups, communities or individuals,
and to provide for official state recognition by the commission of such;
(7) Cooperate with and secure the assistance of the local, state and federal governments
or any agencies thereof in formulating any programs that the commission finds
necessary or beneficial to Indians in Tennessee;
(8) Coordinate any programs regarding Indian affairs adopted or planned by the
federal government to the end that the commission secure the
full benefit of such programs;
(9) Review and comment on all proposed or pending state legislation and amendments to existing
state legislation directly affecting Indians in Tennessee; and
(10) Conduct public hearings on matters relating to Indian affairs and to subpoena
any information or documents deemed necessary by the commission.

TCA 4-34-102 and 103

Past TCIA Commissioners
(2003-2009)

Name	Area/Division	Served	Stats
John Hedgecoth	East Grand Div.	2003-2004	Resigned 25 Aug. 2004
Teri Rhoades Ellenwood	Knoxville Metro	2003-2005	Resigned 01 Sep. 2005
John Anderson	Chattanooga Metro	2003-2005	Term Fulfilled
Mike Mangrum	Nashville Metro	2003-2005	Term Fulfilled
Doris Tate Trevino	Chattanooga Metro	2005-2006	Resigned 16 Oct. 2006
Niles Aseret	Nashville Metro	2005-2007	Resigned 10 June 2007
Ruth Knight Allen	Memphis Metro	2003-2007	Resigned 27 July 2007
Kippy Vaughn	East Grand Div.	2004-2007	Resigned 26 Nov. 2007
Jimmy Reedy	Middle Grand Div.	2003-2007	Term Fulfilled
Evangeline Lynch	West Grand Div.	2003-2008	Term Fulfilled
David Teat	Nashville Metro	2007-2008	Resigned 31 Jan. 2008
Shelley Allen	Memphis Metro	2007-2008	Resigned 09 June 2008
Jeanie Walkingstick King	Knoxville Metro	2005-2009	Term Fulfilled
Thomas (Tom) P. Kunesh	Chattanooga Metro	2007-2009	Term Fulfilled
Clifford T. (Bill) Wells, Jr.	Nashville Metro	2008-2009	Term Fulfilled
Link to Resignation Letters
Succession of Seats West Grand Division Evangeline Lynch Replaced by Jimmie Thigpen Memphis Metro Ruth K. Allen Replaced by Shelley Allen Shelley Allen Replaced by Alice Gwin Henry (2010) Alice Gwin Henry Re-appointed Middle Grand Division Jimmy Reedy Replaced by James Meeks Nashville Metro Mike Mangrum Replaced by Niles Aseret Niles Aseret Replaced by David Teat David Teat Replaced by Bill Wells (2010) Bill Wells Replaced by Charles Lawson East Grand Division John Hedgecoth Replaced by Kippy Vaughn Kippy Vaughn Replaced by Valerie Ohle Knoxville Metro Terri R. Ellenwood Replaced by Jeanie Walkingstick King (2010) Jeanie Walkingstick King Replaced by Christine Goddard Chattanooga Metro John Anderson Replaced by Doris Tate Trevino Doris T. Trevino Replaced by Tom Kunesh (2010) Tom Kunesh Replaced by Tammera Hicks

Updated
     3/29