General > Research Needed
Tallige Cherokee of Ohio
TheRebel:
This just in..
--- Quote ---Ohio AG Office searches Cherokee Hall
Published:
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:37 PM CDT
PDT Staff Report
A search warrant was executed Monday by the Ohio Attorney General's Office on Cherokee Bingo Hall in Lucasville, according to Ted Hart of the Charitable Games Division.
Hart said his office, in conjunction with the Scioto County Sheriff's Office, executed the search warrant because of an alleged violation of bingo licensing by the business.
Hart said Cherokee Hall had been licensed to conduct bingo, but recently decided not to reapply for a new license.
"They indicated to our Charitable Law section that the laws of Ohio did not apply to them. They continued to operate bingo without a license so we took steps to stop that," Hart said.
Attempts to reach someone representing Cherokee Hall were unsuccessful.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote ---(Indian.com)
Ohio shuts down illegal 'Cherokee' bingo hall
The state of Ohio shut down an illegal bingo hall that was being operated by a group called the Tallige Cherokee Nation.
Scioto County sheriff's officers raided the Cherokee Bingo Hall yesterday. The state said the facility lacked a license.
Oliver Collins, the self-proclaimed "principal chief," said the raid was illegal. He said his group has a right to operate without a state license because it is a sovereign tribe.
The bingo hall had a license in the past but Collins refused to pay the $4,000 fee this year.
Get the Story:
Cherokee protests raid on bingo hall (The Columbus Dispatch 3/19)
--- End quote ---
--- Quote ---Search angered Cherokee Hall chief
By G. SAM PIATT
PDT Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 9:52 PM CDT
The Indian wars may be heating up again, right in the hills of southern Ohio.
The Ohio Attorney General's office executed a search warrant at Cherokee Bingo Hall in Lucasville Monday afternoon, and found everything it takes to operate a bingo game - except a state license.
Principal Chief Oliver Collins, the operator, called it an "invasion."
"We were invaded by the attorney general, the sheriff and the highway patrol," Collins said. "I told them they were on sovereign Indian territory, and therefore they needed a U.S. marshal to do what they did."
What they did was shut him down and confiscate all of the pingpong balls, blower machines, marker pens and bingo cards in the hall.
"They indicated to our Charitable Games Division that the laws of Ohio did not apply to them. They continued to operate bingo games without a license so we took steps to stop that," said Ted Hart of the division.
A spokesman for the Scioto County Sheriff's Office, who declined to give his name, said Collins could be charged with a fourth-degree felony for each day he operated the hall without a license.
Collins said he has not been charged with anything.
"This is not about a bingo game," he said. "Our sovereignty rights - the rights of the Cherokee Nation, have been violated. We come under the Bureau of Indian Affairs."
He said he and his family were left with no physical means of support.
"We are the refugees from the Trail of Tears," he said. "My ancestors were not captured. We escaped and came here."
One-hundred percent of the proceeds of Cherokee Hall - which has games two days a week, Thursdays and Sundays - goes to charity, Collins said. "It goes to support the hall, and to help the Cherokee Nation, of which there are about 600 of us, most of us here in southern Ohio. We also have a church and retreat on 39 acres in Adams County. We help support all that."
Hart said Cherokee Hall has operated without a license since the first of the year. It should have applied in November or December.
The cost of the license depends on the proceeds a game takes in. In Collins' case, Hart said, the license fee would be $4,000.
Collins said officials also took all of his financial records.
"We ran a very good game," he said. "Some games have a prize of $3,500. People come from all around the state."
G. SAM PIATT can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote ---Cherokee protests raid on bingo hall
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:40 PM
BY HOLLY ZACHARIAH
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Oliver Collins, principal chief of the Tallige Cherokee Nation in southern Ohio , says the sacrifices of his American Indian ancestors give him the right to do what he wants on his land in Lucasville — even if it is running a bingo hall without a license.
The Ohio attorney general's office disagrees.
Armed with a search warrant, state agents and the Scioto County sheriff's office raided Cherokee Bingo Hall on Rt. 23 yesterday and shut the place down.
The Tallige, who are not recognized by the federal government as an American Indian tribe, own the Lucasville building and have operated the bingo hall since 1999. They always had a license to do so. This year, however, Collins refused to pay the nearly $4,000 licensing fee.
“They are trying to assimilate us by hurting us in the pocketbook,??? Collins said yesterday. “We advance our nation, we fight for our people, and we are a religious organization. But they are still trying to kill the Indians.???
The bingo hall did $1.58 million in business from November 2005 to October 2006, the last period for which its gaming figures were available. The Tallige listed profit at $15,520. Among the 16 bingo licenses in Scioto County , its earnings were second-highest but its profit among the three lowest.
Bingo money has been used to teach the community about the tribe, to foster Indian adoptions, to hold religious conferences and to sponsor dance teams, said Collins, 68.
He said he expected trouble for refusing to buy the license, but he didn't think deputies would swarm his place, confiscate his tax records and take the $10,000 he had in a safe.
“I thought they would recognize I was doing only what I am entitled to do,??? he said.
Monica Moloney, an assistant chief in the charitable-law section of the Ohio attorney general's office, said she doesn't recall a bingo hall ever claiming it didn't need a license because of its American Indian affiliation.
Federal laws do allow for some gaming on certain land owned by American Indian tribes. It has been a contentious point in Ohio when tribes wanted to open casinos.
Moloney said authorities shut down the hall in Lucasville only after repeatedly warning Collins that he was violating Ohio 's gaming laws.
She wouldn't discuss details of what was taken during the search and referred questions to the Scioto County sheriff's office. No one there returned phone calls.
Moloney pointed out that Collins' Tallige tribe isn't federally recognized, a designation bestowed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs once ancestry is proven.
Collins said his tribe has chosen not to seek such a designation. The lack of it doesn't change the fact that they are Indian, he said.
hzachariah@dispatch.com
--- End quote ---
snicker , snicker , snicker..
educatedindian:
This old issue is popping up. Last it was written on, it was far from clear what was happening and who was truthful. Essentially you had the Tallige arguing amongst themselves and making counter charges. We presented all sides as best we could find.
A few days ago, Michael Collins sent IMs to us. This is the son of the late Oliver Collins, who called himself the Uku of the Tallige. This thread was untouched for six years and none of us even realized he had passed. (ETA: I had his age wrong and so deleted that.)
Some of the son's emails were bluster about lawyers and lawsuits, which we hear on almost a monthly basis from somebody. With his father passed, it's understandable he may be more upset.
I asked him to post his side. He has not done that, but I will post his IMs below now in an attempt to do that.
What should we do with this thread? Normally we would move thread to Archives when someone passes. The Tallige do appear to be around, kind of, a bit. One can find news articles about them as recently as a few months ago, though they have no website I can see and not much activity online beyond a few personal sites.
There was never any accusation of ceremony selling by the Tallige. Richard Allen of the CNO said they were not Cherokee. The younger Collins makes a claim about endorsement by Wilma Mankiller as you can see below, but that claim is problematic. The late Mr. Collins was accused of using funds for himself, but never charged as far as we can tell.
With him passed away, it might be best to move this to Archives. Or the Tallige kept under Research, and posts solely about Collins moved to Archives, if there is a way to disentangle them.
Here's the son's IMs.
--------
Hello, My name is Matthew Collins and thank you for you time.
The reason I am contacting you is to ask you to remove everything regarding my fathers name.
His name is Oliver J Collins and was the Elected Chief of the Tallige Cherokee Nation in Ohio.
Everything on your site is Slander and libelous put on there by people that don't know any better.
My father passed away a few years ago and does not deserve this now or then.
None of the things on there have any proof posted along with what's said.
My Attorney suggested I try to speak to you first before he gets involved in this matter.
If you would like to all me at [deleted] or my Attorney [deleted].
My father was a good man and tried his best to do right for all Native people.
He was all about family and loved his Native family and was friendly to all.
Thank You.
----------
I ask you again please remove all matter's concerning my family. I'm sure you are aware that it is not a crime to tell anyone who your ancestors are...As far as legal matters those were settled and dismissed. My father was cleared of those issues or he would of been jailed. And as far Mr. Hill goes he does not know all things Cherokee. There had been meetings between my father and Wilma Pearl Mankiller but she became ill and those matters were closed. The claims of who was the Chief well that's called poor losers because they did not win elections. As a case in point, to these post most were made by the same people claiming that one of my fathers sons passed. I am Matthew Jay Collins I am alive and meaner than ever. It was my brother Marc Anthony that had passed but they claim it was me. They are confused and misguided I do forgive them but I don't forget. Your site has cost me personal lose as to the untruths. You are libel for allowing these matters on your site as you are in control of it. I urge you to take action on this matter as soon as you see this message. You have had issues before...and have been warned.
Thank you.
Matthew Jay Collins
ShadowDancer:
I am having difficulty locating an obituary for Oliver J Collins within the last few years.
Diana:
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:40 PM
BY HOLLY ZACHARIAH
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
1st paragraph: Oliver Collins, principal chief of the Tallige Cherokee Nation in southern Ohio , says the sacrifices of his American Indian ancestors give him the right to do what he wants on his land in Lucasville — even if it is running a bingo hall without a license.
7th paragraph: Bingo money has been used to teach the community about the tribe, to foster Indian adoptions, to hold religious conferences and to sponsor dance teams, said Collins, 68.
My bold. I still can't find a obit for him.
1940 United States Federal Census
about Oliver Collins Junior
Name:
Oliver Collins Junior
Age:
1
Estimated Birth Year:
abt 1939
Gender:
Male
Race:
White
Birthplace:
Ohio
Marital Status:
Single
Relation to Head of House:
Son
Home in 1940:
New Boston, Scioto, Ohio
Map of Home in 1940:
View Map
House Number:
605
Residence in 1935:
Same
Sheet Number:
2A
Attended School or College:
No
Highest Grade Completed:
None
Neighbors:
View others on page
Household Members:
Name
Age
Oliver Collins 30
Mabel Collins 23
Nathaniel Collins 8
Oliver Collins 1
Mary Ann Collins 74
Epiphany:
--- Quote ---Oliver Collins Jr., 73
Oliver Collins, Jr., 73, of McDermott, died Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, at SOMC Hospice.
He was born March 24, 1939, in New Boston, a son of the late Oliver and Mabel Phipps Collins, Sr. Ollie was a journeyman electrician, President and co-owner of Marbex Surgical Instruments, and a 1957 Glenwood High School graduate. He was a Native American Activist and Principle Chief of the Tallige Fire Cherokee Nation. He traveled extensively to Pakistan, Germany, Israel, and Taiwan.
He is survived by his wife, Erma Lee Phipps Collins, whom he married Aug. 19, 1961, in Portsmouth; three sons, Jeffrey (Debbie) Collins of McDermott, Sean (Wanda) Collins of West Portsmouth, and Matthew Collins of McDermott; two daughters Kayla and Ellie Collins at home; 12 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; two sisters Teresa Moore and Mary Ann Mueller both of California; and a very special Native American Sister, Barbara Crandell.
He was also preceded in death by one son, Mark Anthony Collins; and one brother, Nathaniel Phipps.
A Native American Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, in Kalanu Cemetery next to Earl Thomas Conley Park on U.S. 52, in West Portsmouth. Arrangements are under the direction of the McKinley Funeral Home in Lucasville.
--- End quote ---
http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/view/full_story/20405722/article-oliver-collins-jr
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