The Constitution
and
Articles of Confederation
and
Articles of Incorporation
of the
Algonquian Confederacy
of the
Quinnipiac Tribal Council
Wah Werramat-Pakkadtawawunk
quah
Sunkowauwungansh wutche Wuttohmauwewunk
quah
Sunkowauwungansh wutche Werrawawunk
wutche
Eansketambawg Uttaji Quinnieauke
Weeche Kici Sachemauwunk
Wutche Wame Arkeis
Preamble / First Particulars
Negonshik Nanseeawk
WE, the Indigenous Algonquian People of South western Connecticut known to outsiders as the “Quinnipiac Indians” and/or the “New Haven Tribe of Indians”, for ourselves, our descendants, our allies, and in order to inform the general public, as well as all local, state and federal governmental agencies etc. about ourselves… do hereby publish and make available as a matter of public record the millennium (Y2K) revised edition of our Ancient Laws and Covenant Traditions which has served us and our ancestors as guidelines for Self-Government since time immemorial. These laws, traditions and covenant have been adapted to conform to the structures of written form with a CONSTITUTION, ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION, and ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION,
all-inclusive. For the purposes of State and Federal Law this document conforms to required guidelines and for the purposes of Algonquian Tradition it conforms to ancient precepts, language and structures.
This revised edition shall be effective commencing on January 1st, 2000, and shall be published and circulated in July 2000 (fiscal year). The only changes made herein are those of clarification and do not affect the original content or spirit of former documents.
- The name of this Corporation is: The Algonquian Confederacy of The Quinnipiac Tribal Council, Inc. (ACQTC). The name Quinnipiac is an appellative used by outsiders (of Anglo and Indian persuasions) to identify who we are. In our language this is a regional place name with two modifications. Quinni-pe-auke meaning “long water land”, and Quinni-py-ooghq meaning “long water estuary@ (i.e., The Quinnipiac River in New Haven). The proper name which our ancestors called themselves was Eansketambawg indicating “We, the original, surface-dwelling people”. All other Indian people were sketambamh. [Ref 1]
- The term “tribe” does not fit us --- nor does this label fit any of the Algonquian people of coastal southern New England [Ref 4]. A thorough history of the Quinnipiac as a nation and as a confederacy explains who we were and who we are now [Ref 2].
- The Quinnipiac People consisted and consists of seven bands. The term band indicates a group of families banded together in various cultural and religious societies. These bands were derived from five major Algonquian clans (Thunder Clan, Wolf Clan, Bear Clan, Turtle Clan and Fishhawk Clan). The Thunder Clan (Pinessiwek-it) had its own Warrior’s Society (Pinessisok) and Medicine Societies (Wa'p'no, Powwauog, Medawlinno) which are related to similar societies in the central Algonquian families of the Great Lakes and Canada.
- The Quinnipiac Tribal Council (QTC) consists of a Grand Sachem, Sachems from each band, Sagamores, and Dudas (Clan Mothers) in the ancient tradition. QTC possesses its own language used in council, along with our own forms of self-government. QTC has its own religions and spiritual teachings headed by the Bear Clan Medicine Chief. Thus QTC survives as a nation in the sense and doctrine of sociocultural authority. The AC or Algonquian Confederacy portion of ACQTC is a confederation of allies who act in the capacity of liaison and/or ambassador(s).
- AC thus operates as the Senate, and QTC as the House of Representatives as any state and federal government. The only difference is that both houses have an equal voice. The QTC serves local/regional interests relating to culture, language, politics and spirituality while the AC serves statewide, regional (e.g. New England), national, and international interests relating to culture, religion, politics, land, environment, etc. The QTC shall choose from its Central Fire Council a Board of Directors which in actuality is the sachems and sagamores and dudas who give advice at council in their regular functions but for purposes of this Constitution they will double as the Board of Directors. The AC liaison and ambassadors will double as the AC Board of Advisors to keep QTC apprised of state, regional, national and international issues and events.
- ACQTC maintains three types of membership (See WAMPUM #1, infra) which, in essence, compartmentalizes its political and social affairs into genetic, social, and cultural aspects which work in tandem within the AC and QTC levels. First, the Grand Council of Confederate Allies, and second, the Quinnipiac Tribal Council’s Central Fire function as an autonomous nation and as a sovereign confederacy for the promulgation of benevolent, cultural, spiritual, social and traditional values for the betterment of ourselves and mankind in general.
- The Grand Sachemship is a hereditary position who serves as the ultimate sovereign within ACQTC as their apparent to the culture, language and shamanic tradition demands [Ref 1, 3, 4, 5] The Grand Sachem serves as the steward (Gechannawitank)… the defender, advocate, provider, and voice of the ancestors, ecosystem (including the rocks, trees, animals, plants, etc.) within the QTC’s aboriginal domain and within the cultural and linguistic domain of the WAMPANO district (infra).
- The Duda/Headwoman position is the equivalent of Sunksquaw which in ancient days was a “Female Sachem” related to the Grand Sachem who was over all other dudas (clan mothers). It is both genetic and cultural and subject to the approval of the Grand Sachem only.
- These Articles of Incorporation (infra) include Articles of Confederation and both serve along with the additional Preamble and attached Profile as the ACQTC Constitution. These shall have full force and effect of the law.
Legal Status / Second Particulars
Nezataushik Nanseeawk
I. SOVEREIGNTY
The definition of a “sovereign” is a person, body or a group of people, or a state in which independent and supreme authority is vested, such as a Chief/Ruler/Sachem/President/King etc. [REF 5 at p. 1395]. The sovereign of ACQTC, as stated above is the Grand Sachem.
Likewise, a “sovereign people” is any political body or group who possess the inherent powers of sovereignty and when they exercise it this is known as autonomy. ACQTC’s political structure, as stated, is fashioned after the same ancient positions used by our ancestors hundreds of years ago. The Quinnipiac entered into Treaty Negotiations with settlers of English/Puritan persuasion and were treated accordingly as a sovereign people. These treaties were entered in the years 1638 and 1639 and are a matter of public record. [REF 1, 3]
In Worcester v. Georgia, 31 U.S. (6 Pet.), 515, 581 (1832) the United States Supreme Court held that Treaties between American Indians and the founders of the USA were “a compact formed between two nations or communities, having the right of self-government”. Even later, after the War of 1812 --- when Indian tribal nations held less power --- the political power they possessed may not have been equal to the USA, they still retained the power to make and enforce such compacts between “self-governing entities”. Justice McLean noted that Indians were never divested of their right to self-government or self-determination unless they surrendered it willingly. Thus Indians as a race and culture are free to “bind themselves as a distinct and separate community”. (Worcester, supra at 581-83).
The Connecticut Historical Society (Hartford) and the New Haven Colony Historical Society both have conclusive proof on file showing the Quinnipiac were a sovereign entity. Professor Carlson [REF 6] showed also that the “office of sachem” remained intact, that elders passed on the heritage and that Quinnipiac served as soldiers, sailors, guides, seamen, fishermen and whalers and as laborers into the 19th century as the “New Haven Tribe of Indians”. Similarly, John Menta and Joel Helander found evidence of Quinnipiac in the 20th century both from witness accounts and archaeology. [REF 2]
II. LAND & LAND TENURE
Aboriginal title to ancestral land is the legal doctrine of the right of Indians to occupy and use the land which their ancestors used for generations prior to USA settlement [See: Yankton Sioux Tribe of Indians v. State of S.D., 796 F. 2d, 241, 243].
Claims of Indians to “immemorable occupancy” include the right to use and occupancy on territorial land. This is based on the legal premise that all land possession is but a possessory interest based on intimate use [See: Shoshone v. U.S. 65 Ct. 690].
- DEFINITIONS & CLARIFICATIONS. ACQTC declares and avers that the interests of the Federal and/or State governments are identical to the interests of ACQTC, on the surface. For instance, we agree that a sovereign controls the land where the Federal and State governments call his ownership. To all Indian People, the Sovereign over all land on Earth is the Great Spirit. This fundamental premise was recognized in Holden v. Joy, 84 U.S. (17 Wall.), 211, 243 (1872); See also Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, 30 U.S. (5 Pet.), 1, 3 (1831). We maintain that the Great Spirit created the world for everyone to enjoy and share. Moreover, no tribe, no state, no sachem, no confederacy can own the land. A Federal or State government controls land use, whereas the ACQTC serves it as its steward, guardian and advocate.
ACQTC as a Sachemdom and Confederacy claims two ancestral domains. First, QTC claims an aboriginal domain of our 350 square mile homeland which includes Greater New Haven and vicinity [REF 2]. QTC declares its right to intimate use regarding aboriginal land tenure. Professor Kathleen J. Bragdon (College of William and Mary) explains this process regarding Algonquians of southern New England… “The documentary and archaeological data support an argument for a kind of ‘ownership’ linked to notions of personal identity, descent, and intimate use, a constellation of factors distinct from European notions…” [REF 4]
The premise here is that “ownership” can be defined by a condition of use. The indigenous term for this is Gechannawitank or steward. Sachems derive their status as stewards from the Grand Sachem who is considered the reborn spirit of the culture-hero. This is the notion of identity and descent spoken of, supra.
III. AUTONOMY
The definition of autonomy is given as: “The political independence of a nation; the right (and condition) of power of self-government…” [REF 5 at p. 134]; See: Green v. Obergfell, 73 App. D.C. 298, 121 F. 2d 46, 57.
The position of ACQTC on “autonomy” is simply this: Our Quinnipiac ancestors were autonomous and this fact is a matter of public record in both New Haven and Hartford, CT. ACQTC has not pursued state or federal recognition simply because we feel that our autonomy would be weakened. Autonomy is in the essence of independence as a self-governing people not as a ward of the state.
IV. INCORPORATION AND CONFEDERATION
As early as 1769 the Connecticut Legislature refused to recognize the Sachems of various Indian Nations. This same action was followed by Massachusetts and Rhode Island of the Indian Nations there. As a result the Algonquian Indians became disenfranchised. This lasted well into the 20th century as Time-Life Books editors explain: “By the 1920s, coastal Algonquians were caught up in the pan-Indian movement that was bringing native people together throughout North America. Tribes in the north-east formed the Indian Council of New England…” [REF 7]. Many other groups formed such as The American Indian Federation, The Council of the Descendants of the Mohegan Indians, Inc., The New Hampshire Indian Council-Pennacook/Sokoki Inter-Tribal Nation, Inc. Even in the state of Connecticut today there is another sovereign nation who opted to incorporate… The Nipmuc Indian Association of Connecticut, Inc. So there is a long history of Algonquians maintaining their sociocultural status, sovereignty and autonomy by incorporating under the laws of the several states. ACQTC has incorporated in a way that differs from all other Connecticut Indian nations. This instrument maintains our ancient traditions in place of the usual “articles”. Thus, this hybrid form conforms to the law and to ancient Algonquian traditions without compromising either having the added power of both ancient and modern applications.
V. LEGAL AUTHORITY/JURISDICTION
The ACQTC political bodies (i.e. QTC Central Fire and AC Grand Council of Confederate Allies) will exercise authority over subject matter and members within their respective purviews and to all land issues, property, assets, interests, bequests, etc. managed and controlled by ACQTC. Members rights are delineated below in WAMPUMS.
VI. LITIGATION
ACQTC recognizes that it may become necessary to enforce its rights and interests as a sovereign and autonomous entity within state and federal courts of law. Therefore ACQTC reserves the right to sue. ACQTC declares SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY on all matters of law and equity brought against it in civil matters. Waivers of sovereign immunity must be approved by the Grand Sachem.
Representation of ACQTC in any Court of Law will be managed strictly IN PROPRIA PERSONNA. The Grand Sachem shall act as counsel as ACQTC, and, in addition, he may select or appoint appropriate co-counsel as needed for the limited purpose of acting as legal representative on interests of land, the environment, religion, etc.
No other person, persons, groups, etc. shall have a right to speak on matters relating to any interests within the Quinnipiac domain. ACQTC reserves the copyright trademark and exclusive use of the Name QUINNIPIAC. Unauthorized use or unauthorized disclosures without the written permission of ACQTC is forbidden.
VII. WAMPANO DOMAIN
The first domain claimed by the QTC is its 350 square mile homeland whose borders are: Harbor Brook in Meriden (North), Kuttomquosh/Thimble Islands (South), the bend in the Connecticut River where Middletown lies today (east) and the Oyster River on the Milford/West Haven line (West). The second domain is cultural and linguistic known as the WAMPANO domain where the Algonquian R-dialect was spoken and similar Algonquian customs were practiced. This domain extends from about five miles east of the Connecticut River (Quinnehtikqutuck) on the east of the Hudson River (Mahicannituck) on the west, and from just below the Connecticut / Massachusetts border today in the north to Long Island Sound in the south, including over half of Long Island itself (called Paumanauke in ancient times, meaning “Land of Tribute”.
The WAMPANO domain is claimed on a sociocultural basis.
Wampums #1-24
INTRODUCTION
The traditional laws (Pakkadtawauwunk) of the Algonquian and Iroquoian Nations and Confederacies were handed down from generation to generation via oral traditions. They were also made visual in a symbolic form. Cylindrical beads made from oyster and clam shells were strung together with native hemp into long strings and saches or belts. Dark purple shells were contrasted with pure white shells to form pictographic images. These beads were known as wampum. The color white symbolized peace, purity and sacredness; thus the wampum belts were made to depict great events such as solemn alliances, confederations, peace treaties, inaugurations etc. Hence the keepers of our ancient traditional lore considered these wampums very sacred.
Thus, ACQTC has adopted the indigenous word Wampum herein in place of and substituted for “Articles”. This allows us to honor these precepts as sacred traditions. Thus the following Wampums serve as our Articles of Confederation and Articles of Incorporation.
The key focus of ACQTC is to become a circle whereby people of Algonquian, Iroquoin, Inter-Tribal and Non-Tribal people of like mind, heart and spirit may join hands in a Great Covenant Chain for the good of all people who seek to preserve, protect and honor the integrity of Mother Earth, Father Sky and all our relations (flora, fauna, etc.) within our domains.
In accordance with the dual political system and triunary membership system it is hereby proclaimed that the QTC Central Fire has the power to enter into an alliance or confederation with other Algonquian, Iroquoian, Inter-Tribal and Non-Native organizations who are of similar interest with us as set forth more fully below in the following Wampums. These alliances, together, constitute a combined confederation known as the Grand Council of Confederate Allies of the AC. Together these entities constitute ACQTC.
WAMPUM #1
Membership in the ACQTC shall be of three (3) types. These three forms adhere to the sociopolitical and anthropological models of self-interest and self-identity to define and preserve our traditions and culture for the next seven generations to come in three ways: (1) genetically, (2) culturally, and (3) socially. Linguistically the QTC has an R-dialect mother tongue spoken at the central Fire and in ceremonies, while we are developing a lingua franca to be used by everyone in the AC and the WAMPANO domain as well as throughout Coastal Southern New England.
- FULL MEMBERSHIP --- Quinnipiac Tribal Council’s Central Fire (Full Membership) is open to any person related to or descended from any of the bands or clans of the Quinnipiac domains, or any person of Native American lineage from the other WAMPANO domain bands, or any Native American of any other nation who currently is living within the physical boundaries of our ancestral domains. Those Full Members who are related to other than Quinnipiac bands and clans will be carried as members from their respective nations. They will be treated as cousins and family and given every respect due to our own people.
- CONFEDERATE MEMBERSHIP --- AC Grand Council of Confederate Allies (Confederate Membership) is open to any Algonquian, Iroquoian or Inter-Tribal or Non-Indian public organization with similar interests and goals and who enters into an alliance/covenant within our covenant chain. Such members will serve as liaison to their respective groups with the status of ambassadors within the AC Grand Council of Confederate Allies.
- HONORARY MEMBERSHIP --- Honorary Membership is open to any person regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religious preference who exhibits a sincere interest in learning our history, language, culture, religion, etc. There will be a six month to one year learning period where all Honorary Members are required to and expected to learn as much as possible from our councils and our publications, etc. Once a year at our annual nickommo (feast & celebrations) there will be a formal adoption ceremony. Honorary Members may attend in person, or appoint someone to attend by proxy or we will do this in absentia if the person cannot make it at all.
All Members may attend the adoption ceremony. Full Members of other nations who want to participate may do so as well as our Ambassadors.
All Members shall sign a membership application form for our files at the THUNDER CLAN NATIONAL OFFICE, and with their signature they agree to adhere to and respect these Wampums.
WAMPUM #2
The objectives, goals, intentions, rights, privileges, interests, etc. are set forth below in this and following Wampums.
- ACQTC seeks to return, as much as possible, to the ancient ways and traditions of the Algonquian tribal nations. To live in simplicity and in harmony with Mother Earth, Father Sky and All Our Relations in the Great Cycle of Life (nature).
- To revive, and perpetuate the languages, history, arts and crafts, sports, legends, folklore, democratic and political philosophy, and spiritual practices of the Algonquian Nations.
- To practice and perpetuate the sovereign and autonomous tribal forms of government, way of life and to restore the aboriginal ethos of our ancestral culture.
- To respect and care for the land, water (seas, rivers, lakes, etc.) the air, all species of flora and fauna (plants, animals, rocks, trees, etc.) as kindred and vital elements within the Great Cycle of Life.
- To respect our elders, ourselves, our ancestors, each other, and all outsiders on and off our domains.
- To help find food, shelter, clothing, water, and the traditional comforts of life to all tribal peoples regardless of age, gender, religious preference or any other variable.
- To designate and protect sacred sites and landmarks according to traditions and to care for their preservation.
- To safeguard the remains of our ancestors from any and all intrusions on their eternal peace and resting places, and to see the reburial of all tribal ancestors into burial grounds designated by ACQTC as sacred sites.
- To provide assistance to all tribal people in order to educate and train them each in the areas of natural talents, interests and abilities.
- To build a village or villages with gallery, museum, friendship house, council meeting grounds, offices, etc. on ACQTC land within the Quinnipiac domain.
- To seek public recognition and approval designating and acknowledging EAST ROCK (Wappintumpseck) as the most sacred of all landmarks, along with other landmarks such as West Rock, Sleeping Giant, Lost Lake, etc.
- To gain public approval and support as caretakers and stewards of these sacred landmarks and to restore the waters, flora, fauna and environment at these sites to its original splendor.
- To conduct social gatherings that are designated to unite and enrichen the Inter-Tribal relations within ACQTC and other Nations of New England, Canada and elsewhere as well as the general public in order to dispel stereotypes and prejudices.
WAMPUM #3
The ACQTC shall initiate a Women’s Circle to be headed by a Duda in each region. The Duda/Headwoman of the Thunder Clan is equivalent to a Sunksquaw (Female Sachem) and so she is the elder over all Woman’s Circles. The Duda/Headwoman shall be a person of unquestionable grace and unselfishness in the welfare of her people. The Woman’s Circle shall recommend which Sachems are best and who may be best suited to these positions. Their eyes of womanhood and age see more than others.
WAMPUM #4
This Confederacy will be led by the Traditional Grand Sachemship, i.e. the hereditary Grand Sachem Iron Thunderhorse of the ACQTC Thunder Clan. In the QTC under him are a council of Sachems and sagamores (councillors) of their respective clans and bands, who are responsible for the political and social functions of both the QTC and AC.
The Wolf Clan oversees the areas of sports, games, warrior society training and tasks such as safeguarding the interests of ACQTC in a peaceful way.
The Bear Clan oversees all Medicine Society activities.
The Turtle Clan oversees all Inter-Tribal relations.
The Fishhawk Clan oversees all work over Honorary Members.
Additional clubs, institutes, etc. under the leadership and direction of ACQTC are permitted to facilitate special interests under the guidance of our clans.
WAMPUM #5
The ACQTC Sachems and Sagamores shall be mentors of the People of ACQTC who are known for their wisdom ad the old ways. Their temperament shall be such that they can withstand and resist insults, and harsh words without resorting to violence. Their minds and hearts shall be filled with a yearning for the good welfare of the Confederacy.
WAMPUM #6
There shall be designated a Bear Clan Medicine Chief who will serve as primary spiritual advisor. He may select (in conjunction with the Grand Sachem) additional assistants, etc. in the performance of duties, etc. He shall have full power to conduct adoptions, weddings, namings, as well as traditional ceremonials conducted in relation to the 8-part ceremonial calendar.
WAMPUM #7
Each member of this confederacy shall have dual citizenship, i.e. citizenship as an American and as an Algonquian within this confederation of Nations, bands and clans who exercise their autonomous rights of sovereignty. ACQTC licenses, passports, IDs, license plates and tribal totems and flags must be approved by the Grand Sachem in council with QTC and AC and shall be used as needed and/or required.
WAMPUM #8
This Confederacy including but not limited to the AC and QTC, shall at all times honor and respect the following rights, privileges and immunities of its membership in accord with the Indian Civil Rights Act, ancient laws and traditions:
- The rights of the sick and infirmed (handicapped);
- The rights of the elderly;
- The rights of our children;
- The rights of unborn generations;
- The rights of our women;
- The rights of our environment;
- Freedom of religion;
- Freedom of speech;
- Freedom of the press;
- Freedom of assembly;
- The right to be heard by council, or one’s own behalf or both;
- The rights of other Nations;
- The rights of tribal trials by AC and QTC.
The Sachem under the direction of the Grand Sachem shall see to it that these rights are cared for at all times.
WAMPUM #9
The ACQTC will observe the Algonquian Lunar Calendar of the Quinnipiac Tribal Council as well as the 8-part ceremonial cycle. Once a year there will be at least one celebration for all to attend with the general public invited at a time and place designated in advance. Emphasis in the annual celebrations will be on an original re-enactment of a traditional powwow as the Quinnipiac performed them in ancient times, and to storytelling, historical and educational presentations, dancing, singing, public honoring ceremonials, games, and trade goods etc. As of the year 2000 this annual nickommo shall henceforth be known as Hobbomock’s Return.
WAMPUM #10
This Confederacy and QTC in the past have worked with the CIAC (Connecticut Indian Affaire Council), which has not met in years. Henceforth, ACQTC shall assist and maintain good relations with all other bands in Connecticut of other Nations and the Indian Affairs Coordinator. ACQTC seeks to actively join in an effort to restore something similar to the CIAC or an active advisory council whereas relations between the Indian Governments and the Anglo Governments of Connecticut have become distant.
WAMPUM #11
The QTC and AC shall strive to educate the public about our culture, sacred sites, landmarks, ancient Indian trails, etc., and ACQTC will strive to maintain good relations with the various ethnic groups of the Greater New Haven area, Connecticut and throughout New England.
WAMPUM #12
The ACQTC shall maintain three separate membership categories as stated above and it shall have the power to ally itself with other Algonquian Confederations outside of our jurisdiction.
WAMPUM #13
The ACQTC shall initiate a Warrior’s Society according to ancient tradition and may join with our allies in efforts to rehabilitate recovering alcoholics, drug abusers, prisoners, etc. ACQTC supports our allies UELN (United Eastern Lenape Nation) in joint efforts to establish Red Heart Warriors, in unison with the Wolf Clan teachings of UELN, ACQTC and UELN Ambassadors.
WAMPUM #14
The ACQTC Bear Clan Medicine Chief shall establish a Task Force to serve as Faithkeepers and Peacemakers to counter-balance elements of corruption wherever they exist.
WAMPUM #15
The ACQTC Duda/Headwoman and Women’s Circle shall teach the young people and other members their traditional lessons, stories, etc. Birthing and burial practices shall also be overseen by them.
WAMPUM #16
The QTC has the power to designate additional Wampums and to convene special council meetings at the Central Fire in New Haven.
WAMPUM #17
During traditional council meetings, celebrations or anywhere there are meetings, ceremonies and speaking within ACQTC and/or with the public, the tradition of passing the Thunder Clan Talking Stick shall be employed. Whosoever is handed this sacred artifact has the power to speak in council and in ceremony. Whosoever holds it must have the full attention and respect of everyone. No one shall interrupt the person holding it until he or she passes it back to the Grand Sachem or the Duda/Headwoman. The Thunder Clan Sacred Pipe shall also be used to seal all important decisions.
WAMPUM #18
Each member has the right to read and acknowledge these Wampums and the duty to do so. It shall be read upon acceptance of membership and failure to acquire them to do so is not a bar of excuse.
WAMPUM #19
Additional Wampums may be added if and when needed but none of the original 19 Wampums may ever be removed. They can be clarified and refined only by the Grand Sachem.
Additional Wampums
January 2000, 21st Century Additions
WAMPUM #20
ACQTC, in its power under the Original 19 Wampums, has initiated several new programs in order to help facilitate the spirit and intent of its interests. These include:
- ACLI (The Algonquian Confederacies Language Institute) --- its primary goals are to revive our ancient R-dialect as well as lingua-franca to be used throughout southern New England.
- Neetompaog (Friends of the Quinnipiac and Great Trail System in Connecticut) --- whose main goal is to educate the public to the many Indian Trails, folklore, etc.
- Guardians of Sacred Sites --- a Special Task Force to deal with NAGPRA (Native Graves Protection and Repatriation ACT), AIRFA (American Indian Religious Freedom Act), and other legal recourses where human remains, sacred sites, and/or the spiritual artifacts of our ancestors are involved.
WAMPUM #21
The QTC has recently added a traditional position to its political process. This position is the Kehtoh-oom, which means “Seafarer”. It is equivalent to the role of marinarius capitaneus or the “Warden of the ports”. This includes the status of qualified Sea-Captain, boatsman, sailor, etc. Under maritime law the area of the sea includes the ocean, bays, inlets, rivers, etc.; navigable sea has zones; and the seashore is considered a part of the territorial sea ports. The seashore is defined as the ground between the ordinary water mark and the high-water mark. The QTC Totoket Band at Oiocommock (Stony Creek) includes the Kuttomquosh (Thimble Islands) as part of its ancestral domain. Here the Kehtoh-oom has full authority. He is the equivalent of a full Sachem. Like sea captains he can conduct marriages, trials, burials, etc., with full force and effect of the law. The Kehtoh-oom shall conduct all legal affairs in sight of the shores.
WAMPUM #22
For purposes of incorporation as a Non-Profit and Non-Stock Corporation within the State of Connecticut, an Annual Report shall be submitted to the Secretary of State, giving the names and addresses of both traditional and contemporary offices.
WAMPUM #23
ACQTC Inc. is organized exclusively for charitable purposes of an educational/literary nature relative to Quinnipiac culture. We seek to reclaim our languages, religion, sacred sites, and restore historical traditions that have been lost due to erosion and to educate the public about our history and culture. ACQTC Inc. feels it can play an important role in establishing peace and confidence in the public eye where Indian people are the issue. No part of the net earnings of ACQTC Inc. shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that ACQTC Inc. shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set out in Wampum #2 (supra), such purposes qualifying for exemption under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. No substantial part of the activities of ACQTC, Inc. shall be carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these Wampums ACQTC Inc. shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Upon the dissolution of this corporation, ACQTC Inc., assets shall be distributed to other Algonquian organizations organized for one or more of the exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code. Any assets not so disposed may be subject to the distribution by a Court of competent jurisdiction of the county in which the Principle/Regional Office of ACQTC Inc. is maintained.
WAMPUM #24
ACQTC Inc. shall provide literature, arts and crafts, and other items for sale to the membership as well as the general public, such literature being donated by its members for such purposes in furtherance of Wampum #2, i.e. ACQTC Inc. goals, and proceeds shall be used to operate and perpetuate said goals.
Verification
The Undersigned, Chief Executive Officer and Sub-Chief Executive Officer of the Algonquian Confederacy of the Quinnipiac Tribal Council, Inc., Thunder Clan National Office do hereby declare that foregoing is a true and correct rendering of the Constitution, Articles of Confederation, and Articles of Incorporation of this corporation including all officers, listed below. The date in which this corporation, ACQTC, was reorganized for purposes of Incorporation was January 1st, 2000. Prior to that date no income or tax related expenditures, sales, etc., other than small correspondence costs, were made.
The Algonquian Confederacy of the Quinnipiac Tribal Council,Inc.
ANNUAL REPORT OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS AS OF MAY 2002
to Connecticut Secretary of the State
MAILING ADDRESS:
Iron Thunderhorse, Grand Sachem
Thunder Clan National Office
201 Church Street
Milltown, IN 47145
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS:
Chief Executive Officer & Director: Iron Thunderhorse
Sub-Chief Executive Officer & Director: L. Ruth Duncan
REGISTERED AGENT:
David Ostrowski
OTHER DIRECTORS:
Dr. Jack Dempsey
David Wagner
ADVISOR:
Tom Big Warrior Watts
signatures on file at the Thunder Clan National Office
