Villager named Native American Heritage Member
The Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars held its bi-annual meeting where State Gov. Mary Reid Warner recognized Sheila Beatty as a member with proven Native American ancestry.
Under Warner’s administration, all members of CSDIW who can prove Native American ancestry will be given the distinction of “Native American Heritage Member.” Warner’s objective is to recognize those who have American Indian ancestry, but may not be a member of any tribe, such as Beatty whose family was rejected citizenship in the Cherokee Nation on a technicality by the Dawes Commission. The Dawes Commission was established by Congress in 1893. Its purpose was to exchange Indian tribal lands in the southeastern United States for new land allotments to individuals in Oklahoma. More than 250,000 people applied to this commission for enrollment and land. Just over 100,000 were approved.
CSDIW assists and encourages the preservation of records and historic sites associated with native and immigrant American ancestors. Among its activities is the awarding of Native American scholarships to enrolled tribal members who plan to work with a tribe or nation in the field of education or social service, and whose career goals involve working with Native Americans. The Arkansas Society contributes to Bacone College, the Indian College in Muskogee, Okla., and the Sequoyah National Research Center in Little Rock. SNRC holds the world’s most comprehensive collection of American Indian, Alaska Native, and First Nations newspapers, periodicals and other publications.
Membership in CSDIW is open to women 16 or older. Eligible candidates must prove lineal descendant of a Native or immigrant American ancestor who participated in any capacity in actual hostilities or in any other activity with each other, between 1607-1900. CSDIW meets in February and August with the United States Daughters of 1812 and the Dames of the Court of Honor.