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Akicita Luta, I.S.
Gene
Chief Igmu Tanka Sutanaji
cougarman@embarqmail.com 		The outspoken Chief Gene Martin, Igmu Tanka Sutanaji, of the Chicora Tribe of S.C. stepped out of the shadows in 1975 to claim the unextinquished, unceeded, aboriginal rights of his people. The Chicora, like many Indian people, had to "cover up" from the Government to avoid the death marches. Chief Gene is no Hollywood Indian, he reflects the true values of our ancestors.

Chief Gene is a past elected Tribal Chief of the Chicora Tribe and is a traditional Ceremonial Chief of his people to whom medicine has been passed.

The history of the Chicora tribe is a long one. They are one of the first indigenous peoples to make contact with the Europeans. There is no record that the Chicora, as a people, ever ceeded any of their homeland ranges to the European settlers. The Europeans came claiming right of ownership because of some king. For all American Indian people it was down hill from there.

For 24 years Gene Martin served as interum and duly elected Tribal Chief of the Chicora Tribe of SC. Chief Gene Martin retired in November 2000 as active chief. His name, Igmu Tanka Sutanaji (Great Cougar Standstrong) was earned from a vision quest and a hereditary line of Standstrong chiefs. This line goes back at least 400 years and he holds a part of that line's medicine, a Cannunpa Wakan, passed down from generation to generation in one family.

On January 25, 1995, Chief Martin was invited to White House by Pres. Bill Clinton and spoke before 357 Chiefs and President’s Executive Committee on that date. In August 1998 after speaking before the Great Sioux Nation Summit Meeting in Granite Falls, Minnesota, two proclamations were declared:

  • the Chicora people of SC were declared one of the lost tribes of the Dakota Sioux
  • Chicora people of SC were recognized and accepted into The Great Sioux Nation by a consensus of the people.
Chief Gene, "I do not agree with all that is written about my people. But for your information, I offer you links to other information resources about my people."Also I am most greatful to my NDN brother Makpiya for helping me capture and retrive this site after it had been stolen. Also for writing the forward page of "The Reclamation of a Native Tribe" by Dr. P. Candal.
  • Petitioners for Federal Recognition
  • U.S. Indian Tribes, federally non-recognized -- by State
  • U.S. Indian Tribes -- by State
  • All US Tribes
  • Index to Federal Acknowledgement Petitioners

    • |Comments & AOL e-mail|

    E-Mail for cougarman@embarqmail.com Chief Creel>Chicoraindiannation@Hotmail.com

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