Greetings:
I would like to start by first wishing each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope the New Year brings you even more blessings and happiness than the previous ones. When I reflect upon 2014, I must say that it was a good year. During this season, we often give thanks so I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to show my gratitude to you all.
I would personally like to thank our council members for all of their hard work and dedication, which resulted in one of the most successful years our tribe has ever seen. We have increased our roll membership with several families of Ishak lineage. Mr. Hubert Singleton would be proud of the progress we have made. Even through the opposition faced from past leadership; we, as a tribe, stood firm and pushed forward.
We are focused and staying steadfast on the course ahead of us, which is seeking federal recognition. Steps are being made to address the government and activate our petition. We must also work on the seven criteria required to meet this goal. In the coming year, we will continue to work with organizations such as the French-American Chamber of Commerce and the several universities that have reached out to help us achieve the task at hand. We will also be addressing the state of Louisiana and Texas concerning recognition.
I could go on with all of the accomplishments, but most importantly, lets continue to show that we exist by attending the numerous events held locally and regionally. Our presence brings awareness and enlightenment. It shows people that we are still here, so please come out and support events in you area. If you’ve never attended an event, try to make it a point to do so in the New Year.
For those of you who have not made your donations, it is imperative that you do so. Every organization needs funding to operate. As of late, council members and I have been coming out of our own pockets to attend various events. We are all members of this organization and should all share in the benefits and the burdens of this tribe.
Please be fair to your fellow members by making your donation for the 2015 year and paying your debts to the tribe if you’d wish to see it thrive. I urge you all, not only in this tribe but in life, to stop depending on the hard work of a select few to carry the weight of all. No matter how great or small the contribution, if we all just did our part, I know we could move to higher heights.
Please take the time to visit our web site for educational and awareness purposes. We post events that we attend as well as upcoming ones for your knowledge. The site is updated several times a month, but sadly many posts have received as little as 4 views, which tells me that members are not visiting. Having a website is not free and keeping the site current isn’t always easy. This is an invaluable resource that is available to you to share the knowledge of our tribe with others, so take advantage of it. Please also pass on information to others that might not have a computer. My daughter, who is a wife and working mother of 2 small children, keeps this site updated for us. I would like to thank her for her contribution and effort.
In closing, thanks to all of you who have supported us throughout the years. Please use this celebratory time spent with family and loved ones to get refreshed and invigorated for the 2015 year. I hope you are excited about the tribe and where we are headed because I certainly am. I pray that you have a great holiday season and that our Creator continues to bless our people.
Chief Crying Eagle,
Edward Chretien, Jr.