ONE YEAR AGO YESTERDAY, ON OCTOBER 1, 2007, OUR BELOVED (CHIEF) RALPH STURGES PASSED AWAY. HE WAS LOVED DEEPLY BY THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE. HE IS MISSED.
I WROTE IN A PREVIOUS ARTICLE THAT I THOUGHT THE TRIBE (GOVERNMENT) SHOULD DO SOMETHING FOR THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH. YESTERDAY CAME AND WENT AND NOTHING WAS DONE BY OUR GOVERNMENT FOR OUR CHIEF. THIS IS SOME EXAMPLE WE SET FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR ANCESTORS, AND OTHER TRIBES. ALL MOHEGANS SHOULD HOLD THEIR HEADS DOWN IN SHAME. WE SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING FOR CHIEF STURGES.
JUST RECENTLY, STEPHANIE FIELDING AND TEN OTHER PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER ON THEIR OWN AND HAD A MEMORIAL SERVICE ON THE ONE HUNDREDTH (100) ANNIVERSARY OF FEDILA FEILDINGS DEATH. IF A TRIBAL MEMBER COULD ORGANIZE SOMETHING FOR A TRIBAL MEMBER WHO PASSED, THEN WHY COULDN'T THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT?
MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE COULD DO SOMETHING FOR CHIEF STURGES. MAYBE WE COULD REMEMBER EMMA T. BAKER IN 16 YEARS ON THE 100 YEAR ANIVERSARY OF HER DEATH. HOW ABOUT CHIEF COURTLAND FOWLER "LITTLE HATCHET"? THERE ARE MANY MORE. DO WE JUST FORGET OUR ANCESTORS? ARE WE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY THEM? WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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2 comments:
Yeh I agree this place would have never been if it hadnt had been for his constant tireless efforts. Even a inter-tribal potluck within the convention center and the Mohegan dancers and drum group to perform in his honor. That is sad the culture deppartment along with the current chairman and council failed to act on these simplest yet most honorable tasks. Shame on them and a big thumbs up to you for calling them out on this.
It is sad that we could not get together and memorialize our Chief on the anniversary of his death, yet there are plenty of self-proclaimed successors out there who will be lobbying the new Council of Elders to choose the next chief. Many of us do not believe there is anyone currently out there with the demeanor or sagacity to fill Ralph's boots.
The other sad thing is that after a year, our Chief and his wife still do not have a suitable monument to mark their resting place. Perhaps circumstances are such that his family are unable to give them a stone. Could a fund be set up so that his larger "family" could contribute and raise enough to place a stone similar to Court's so at least we will have a permanent reference when we come to honor him?
I think this could be "do-able" and I would contribute to the cause.
Natinihak
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