"Our citizens understand about placing the
interests of their government above all else..."
Julie Coates
From a letter dated Nov. 1, 2007 from Julie Coates explaining the formation of the Cherokee Communities, note the highlighted area:
The formation of CCIE and the other eight organizations (one has since dissolved) throughout the state of California was, in fact, a concerted effort initiated BY the Cherokee Nation FOR its citizens. They are not primarily organizations for people of Cherokee ethnicity, but rather for those who are citizens of a government. The intent from day one was that these groups would be incorporated under the Cherokee Nation so that they, and others like them throughout the country, would become a network of "embassies" through which the Cherokee Nation and its citizens could be in enhanced contact and interaction. Any effort to do something different is not a challenge to an "oligarchic" decision, but rather is in violation of the original intention of the Cherokee Nation itself in devloping this as a tribal project. This was never a question to be decided by the members.
This was in response on letting the membership decide on being associated with "The Corporation"
These satellite communities, while welcoming of the positive involvement and participation of non-citizens, are primarily and always for the purpose of serving the citizens of the Cherokee Nation. Non-citizens who cannot participate and contribute in positive ways will be asked to withdraw, because it is not their place to interfere with the operation of entities directed by and for tribal citizens and under the support and protection of their tribal government. If there are members who do not want to be associated with the Cherokee Nation, then this is not an organization that they should belong to.