s site is not associated with westerncherokee.com nor is it endorsed by
the Western Cherokee, this site belongs to John Watson who is running for President
/ Chief of the Western Cherokee.
Elder Jim Horton, Councilman Jeff Cover and Vice Chief
John Watson spend 16 hour repairing broken water lines at the Complex.
Left to Right, Vice Chief Watson, Chief Summers and Missouri
Representative Gayle Kingery at the Governors Ball
John Watson
It is not that John Watson wants the office, it is he has
been asked to run. At the
request of Principal Chief Summers, Elders, several present and former Council
members and numerous members of the Western Cherokee, John Watson has
been asked to run for Principal Chief/President of the Western Cherokee.
John Watson
will consider running in the next election if the people wish him to.
For Principal Chief / President
of the Western Cherokee
John Watson has served as Vice Chief/President for the
past five years and is a proven leader with a common sense approach.
People have come and gone
but John Watson has been there without question for some five years working
to make things better. Many times putting his own money into projects and
lending to those in need.
John Watson has never wanted to stop people from doing things, he feels that
our properties are not open 24 hours a day and are not there for people to
do what they want, when they want.
“All truths
are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover
them.” - Galileo
What are the fundamental differences between the
thinking of the Plaintiffs Jerry Summers, John Watson and the Western Cherokee
a Missouri Non-Profit and the Defendants, Unincorporated Association claim
and filing with the court. CLICK HERE
to see the differences between being a Organized Group Vs. an Unincorporated
Association being an unorganized group.
Hard
Work and Dedicated: As Vice
Chief/President, John Watson has been part of many achievements. He works
with everyone willing to work and always does his best to complete tasks in
the correct manner.
Some examples:.
Fixing water leaks at the Western Cherokee Complex, working as many as
16 hours straight to fix the water lines.
Installation of new water supply and drains.
Working day in and day out for the Powwow's.
Was there to build and work every day on the Haunted House, including
days no one else was there.
When the roofs were damaged by high winds Vice Chief Watson was there,
helping to insure protection of the people’s assets.
Helping with the monthly Hog Roasts most of the time, whenever time
permitted.
Procurement of commercial kitchen equipment for cafeteria and working
every trip to haul the equipment to our Complex.
He was the contact for the donation of the Winnebago.
He was there for most every fundraiser helping others.
He has fought to get people hospital beds when there was non available
and made sure it happen.
He has paid the gasoline bill for most of the out of town trips.
John has helped people build their driveway with a shovel in hand.
Building our present kitchen, John worked to get the walls built and equipment
installed.
John Watson never puts himself above working when others are working. He is
not afraid of getting his hands dirty or of hard work.
Goals:
As Principal Chief/President, John Watson would like to see the immediate
goals of the Western Cherokee
State
Recognition, as Vice Chief John Watson worked directly with Chief Summers.
If elected he will continue this work.
(picture at right, Chief Summers, Senator Rob Mayer, Vice Chief Watson,
both were invited to the Missouri Governors Ball)
Grants or funding for insurance on all our
property to protect us from law suits.
Restoration of the Western Cherokee Tribal
Complex.
Cultural Preservation and Revitalization.
Community Circle to help bring things back
Full Circle.
To create a structured Board of Elders and
eliminate confusion. The wisdom of Elders is needed to fill these
positions and to be guidance more than anything. Anyone with age is an Elder,
but the wise must be sought to fill these positions.
A Ratified Constitution and By-Laws so the
Western Cherokee will not have to deal with situation like we are in today.
Unity for the sake of unity is nothing without
the knowledge of who we are and what we are working toward. John has attended
unity gatherings with much success, but history has shown us that without
a plan such things will collapse. It is like building on sand without a
solid foundation, the structure will stand for a while, but it will not
last.
As Principal Chief/President, John Watson will continue working
with others to help build lasting relationships. John will not do it just
to look good, he will continue as he has, working and visiting with recognized
and non-recognized Cherokee, Pottawatomie, Lakota, Iowa, Kickapoo, Omaha, and
Mandan, just to name a few.
There are many issues John Watson wishes to accomplish if elected.
However, he feels we must be realistic with our goals. If these are accomplished
earlier than expected, John Watson will look and ask for other goals for our
future.
As Principal Chief, John Watson believes we need to continue working
and talking with others as he has for the past seven years. He
DOES NOT believe we should attack anyone that
disagrees with us, or become isolationist as some would have it.
John believes if we are doing things in a good way, we have nothing
to hide. Minutes, resolutions, and unity agreements need to be known and made
available to EVERY member without question.
Accomplishments:
As Vice Chief/President, John Watson has been part of most everything we have
accomplished over the past five years.
Worked
with Missouri Representative Belinda Harris for State Recognition.
Purchase of
Western Cherokee Tribal Complex.
Donation of
Western Cherokee Housing.
Donation of
13 acres for gatherings and ceremony
Organizing and
production of the Annual Upper Current River Powwow, (Chairman).
Organizing and
production of the Annual Haunted House.
Organizing and
production of "When the Clown Met the Crow" with TV star Larry
Sellers, (Cloud Dancing), of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.
2005 and 2006 Upper
Current River Powwows as chairman
John Watson working with and Larry Sellers (Cloud Dancing
of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman) to help educate children and teachers at our
local schools .
Committees: As Vice Chief/President,
John Watson was part of the following committees:
Events Committee
Family Preservation
Powwow Committee
Constitutional Committee
Restoration Committee
Upper Current River Powwow Committee
Over 100 dancers
for Grand Entry
Background
and Awards: John Watson has experience in business, farming and politics.
Charter Member
of the Missouri Organic Growers Assoc.
Former candidate
for Missouri State Representative with a strong support.
Virtues of Liberty
Award from Gregg Tlapek on behalf of the 8th District Libertarian Party of
Missouri.
Presently owner
of Incense of the World a wholesaler and Crossroads Corner, retail store.
1990's Farming,
organic and organic livestock.
1980's Promoter
Representative in International Entertainment (Music)
1970's Worked
with his father in the family General Contracting business.
It is said actions
speak
louder than words. John
does just that, he backs his
words with action and facts.
We will always give you the straight truth, not something
to sound good when it is not true.
Questions and Inquires should go to:
John Watson P.O. Box 674
Salem, MO 65560
or email: Vice
Chief John Watson
Message from Elder Jim Horton about Chief Summers and Vice Chief Watson
being asked to resign.
Osiyo
I very rarely write anything but feel I must come to you to help
set the record straight. There has been allot on misinformation put out
over the past year with some of it referring to myself and what I was witness
to. It has been said that at the August 19, 2006 meeting all the Elders
asked for Jerry Summers and John Watson to resign, this is NOT true.
There were three Elders present at this meeting, including myself, a
letter read for an Elder and one was not present making the total of five
Elders.
Here is what I was witness to:
1. I Jim Horton never said Chief Jerry Summers or Vice Chief John Watson
should resign.
2. The letter read by Laurie Spencer for Bea never said anything to the
effect that Chief Jerry Summers or Vice Chief John Watson should resign.
3. Carlo Carlino said he would step down if James Ellis, Chief Jerry Summers
and Vice Chief John Watson would resign.
4. Diane Dee did ask for their resignations.
5. David Summers was not present and never said anything about resigning.
Unless I have forgot how to count that come to 2 of 3 Elders present and
only 2 of 5 Elder total.
As far as meeting of the Elders, I have not been contacted before the
meeting or after the meeting about any Elders meeting. I have read our constitution
and it does cover this issue and it was not followed.
Elder Jim Horton
Unfortunately Some Negative Information
You Need To Know Before Voting.
The court has ruled in the
favor of the plaintiffs Chief Jerry Summers, Vice Chief John Watson and
the Western Cherokee with an
Amended Order of Preliminary Injunction on May 18, 2007 stating
the defendants are to turn over all property. At this date of June 20, 2007
the defendants HAVE NOT abided by the order in any way that we have seen.
On June 19, 2007 the court filed a
Stipulation and Order stating "All other orders to remain in full force
and effect until final ruling by this court" which we believe means the Amended
Order of Preliminary Injunction still stands, but we have received NOTHING
from the defendants.
This is all about two Council/Board
Member and a small group of people taking control of everything starting on
August 19, 2006. The court has ruled they were in the wrong and NO Cherokee
with honor and respect would ever treats another like they have the people.
They had names of people who have voted in past elections removed from voting,
only to add others they wanted.
To date there has been NO
EVIDENCE shown to the court or any person asking for evidence of wrong doing
by Jerry Summers, John Watson, Ron Quick, Jeff Cover, Barb Emmons and Elder
Jim Horton. All the defendants have done for about a year now is make allegations
with NOTHING to back it up.
The following
are those who some are now calling the Tribe of James Ellis which are
the defendants and those in active participation with the defendants in some
way.
Defendants: James Ellis, Lisa Thompson, Gail McElfresh,
Geneva Merritt, Wanda Campbell, Lancer Blair.
With a
Motion to Establish Representative Statute Under Supreme Court Rule 52.10
these people asked the court if they could represent you without your
consent. Corporation. James Ellis, Lisa Thompson,
Eric Smith Janet Smith, Fran Rutherford, Bill Sischo, Diane Dee, James Gowan,
Gail McElfresh, Geneva Merritt, Wanda Campbell, Larnce (Larry) Bailey, Lancer
Blair, Laurie Spencer, Estelle B. Foster, Carlo Carlino.The judge declined this motion Correction to: The judge
has not ruled on this as of this day and there is also a Federal Court Order
supporting the fact we are NOT a Unincorporated Association but that
we ARE a Non-Profit Corporation.
Other Names which have been closely associated with what is being called
the Tribe of James Ellis:Tim Spencer, Ron (RollingThunder)
Clark, James (Little Chief) Gowan,
“All truths
are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to
discover them.” - Galileo
What are the
fundamental differences between the thinking of the Plaintiffs Jerry Summers,
John Watson and the Western Cherokee a Missouri Non-Profit and the Defendants,
Unincorporated Association claim and filing with the court.
CLICK HERE to see the differences
between being a Organized Group Vs. an Unincorporated Association being an
unorganized group.
State
Recognition, as Vice Chief John Watson worked directly with Chief Summers.
If elected he will continue this work.
Worked
with Missouri Representative Belinda Harris for State Recognition.
