Reaching Out to Non Resident Tribal Members

While putting Cherokee Times online was done basically with the purpose of having our publication accessible through a popular medium, the other purpose was to reach out to and inform tribal members residing away from Cherokee. It turns out that we're really doing some good.
Today, I received a thank you email from a tribal member, who's currently in physician residency in Greenville, S.C. I asked her if it was o.k. publish her letter, and I hope she says yes.
Tribal members who reside away from Cherokee are just as much tribal members as those who live on the tribe's trust lands. One of the reasons for her appreciation was, and these are her words, for "providing an intelligent and open news source that is easily accessible for those of us who are not currently living on the reservation, and cannot easily access print newspapers." She also expressed her appreciation for presenting news as it should be, uncensored.
Despite having to halt print publications for now, among our advantages over our competition is that we are online.
I understand where non resident members are coming from. I've been one of them. I grew up in Auburn, Ala. It was a great experience. I grew up on Auburn football watching greats like Bo Jackson play. I also watched Charles Barkley play basketball for the Tigers. I felt a great sense of pride when schoolmate Robert (Bobby) Gibbs was named as President Elect Obama's press secretary. Both the high school and university I attended continue to excel academically as well as athletically.
When I came to live on tribal trust land, that too was a great experience, but some didn't welcome me with open arms. My lineage was questioned. In fact some still question my "Cherokeeness" because I didn't grow up on tribal land. Interestingly enough, those politicians who depend the most upon non resident support have the most contempt for them.
I know that non resident access to information is virtually non existent. I still have two brothers residing off of tribal land. The only information provided to them by the tribe is fluff, the glossy annual report from Principal Chief Michell Hicks. The Cherokee One Feather is owned by the tribe, for which only subscribers can obtain if they don't live in Cherokee, Maggie Valley, Bryson City or Robbinsville, of which the chief has a final say on budgets, and now evidently editorial content.
The Cherokee Times website is one avenue for which they can obtain honest news coverage about their tribe. With other avenues for information, easternband.com and this blog, what's presented on those two sites serves an intent for opinion and commentary.
While the issue of non residents voting in tribal elections is one that is controversial, one aspect of why it's controversial should be supported by all sides. The lack of information non residents get is being addressed by Cherokee Times. The information is there if they want it, and since all voters should be encouraged to be as informed as possible, cherokeetimesonline.com provides a valuable service. I'm proud to offer it to all tribal members no matter where they reside.