CHIEF ROGERS’ LETTER TO COAHUILA GOVERNOR
THE AUGUST 1 2001 PETITION
All of which convinced the Cherokees of the March trip that the band of “the Lost Cherokee Tribe” had indeed come to Mexico as the Cherokee Advocate had indicated, and that Sequoyah had indeed died in Mexico. Thus the Petition of August 1, 2001 from the Cherokee nation of Mexico was born. To the Honorable Governor Mr. Enrique
Martinez y Martinez of the Heroic and Historic State of Coahuila in the Constitutional Republic of Mexico:
Greetings to the Honorable Governor Mr. Enrique Martinez y Martinez. We of the Cherokee Nation of the Republic of Mexico petition you in the same spirit of union and harmony of purpose that our ancestors presented to your predecessors of the office of Governor of Coahuila Mexico in the early 1800s. The Cherokee came to Coahuila after being victimized by the provincial rebels of Texas who confiscated their homes and land without the process of law and by military force. The governor of Coahuila granted the Cherokee Amparo. Shortly thereafter two villages, each with a chief, were created in 1840; the 100 Cherokee men joined Mexican General Woll in the recovery of Tejas, taking San Antonio. The recovery force passed through the patriotic town of Zaragoza Coahuila. Its citizens included Cherokee who joined the Mexican Force. Sadly, many Mexicans had lost their lives joining them in combat and in death were 12 Cherokee men fighting for their new home and Mexico’s protection of their ethnic identity. The majority of Cherokees followed the orders of the Great intellect “Sequoyah,” Mr. George Gist, which were “to stay in Mexico” which he did and he is buried in a secret tomb in Coahuila. This was his wish; this was his heart. Thus the Cherokees dispersed and hid on ranches, small Mexican villages and border cities. We believe that Mexico, due to its strong progressive leaders of today, is once again in line to culturally and humanistically be the leader of this hemisphere and will in time show other nations the path to peace and prosperity. We the Cherokee nation of Mexico ask respectfully in the spirit of brotherhood that we be recognized both presently and historically as an indigenous group of Coahuila, Mexico. We are honored to abide by the laws of the State of Coahuila and of the Constitution and Republic of Mexico. May the Creator of all things continue to bless Mexico and the Mexican people. Respectfully submitted this 1 day of August in the year 2001 by,
Dr. Charles L. Traditional chief and Physician of and for the Cherokee Nation of Mexico
