our situation is essential like the one described by ann tucker, the chairwoman of the muss cokie nation. we're fighting that behemoth of those situations that don't want to move. >> you certainly are owed an apology as miss tucker is when we talk about laws when people were arrested for people saying they were native american, what a tragedy and a shame that we need to find a way to correct. >> my parents had to come to washington, d.c. in 1935 to be married as indians. they faced jail time had they done it in virginia. >> i read that in your testimony. i appreciate you telling us that as well. supervisor dillon, if a tribe is not terminated, should they be allowed to pursue administrative relief? >> i believe that that is what the law already states. >> i appreciate that. mr. gabaldon, is it your assertion that you feel that your tribe was never terminated? >> no. we believe we were terminated in 1959, but it was by a non-wappo indian. >> i appreciate that very much. thank you very much, mr. chairman. i yield back. >> mr. denham. >> thank you, mr. chairman. let me first start by saying

and with that, i introduce chairwoman ann tucker. >> ms. tucker, thank you. and if you've been doing this for 30 years, you must have started in elementary school. you're welcome to speak. >> chairman young, ranking member lujan, honorable committee member, i'm chairwoman ann tucker of the florida tribe of eastern creek indians. i want to thank congressman miller for being here today and for hid continued support of this tribe's recognition. we are the people known as petitioner 32 to the office of federal acknowledgment. in 1978 when part 83.7 was created to -- [inaudible] tribal recognition, there were 40 tribes with evidence already file inside the bia. we were one of those tribes. our people have lived on the same homelands in walton county, it'll florida, since 161. we are -- 1863. we have lived together, worked together, kept our traditions through the harshest of circumstance. in florida there is no commission to keep records on indian people. no treaties and no state reservations. we did not have a federal indian tribe until 1957 when seminole tribal

members of the sub committee, i'm pleased to join you today to introduce ann dennison tucker. chairwoman tucker has served her tribe for over 30 years. she has in-depth knowledge of the history, the genealogy and federal tribal issues unique to northwest florida, and you'll find her testimony to be a telling one. i've had the opportunity to meet with the chairwoman on several occasions and have seen firsthand her tribe's great work and the impact that they've had from a local community. i know of no better person than ann to share with you the many hardships that her tribe has faced under the current federal recognition process. i want to thank you for holding this important hearing and preeshs the opportunity to join you today, mr. chairman. to listen to chairwoman tucker, the people of the nation of florida. and their continued efforts that i hope will lead ultimately, although i know that's not what this hearing is about. but the

with that i introduced the chairwoman ann tucker. >> if you've been doing this for 30 years you must started in the elementary school. you're welcome to speak. >> mr. chairman, remember, honorable committee members, i am the chairman of muskogee nation of florida of eastern creek indians. i want to thank the congressmen for being here today and for his continued support of the tribal recognition. we are the people known as petitioner 32 to the office of federal acknowledgement. the 19781 courts 83.7 was created for the tribal recognition there were 40 try this with the evidence already felt. we were one of those tribes. our people have lived on the same homeland in florida since 1861. we are creek indian people who've lived together, work together, married one another, buried one another and kept our traditions through the harsh circumstance. in florida there is no commission to keep records on indian people. no treaties and no state reservations. we didn't have a federal indian tribe until 1957 when the seminal tribal florida was recognized by congressional action. the same year the