Chief Man Many Trees given name is Lee Roy Gibson.
More specifically on his site he says Reverend Dr. Lee Roy Gibson, PhD.
http://www.overhillcherokee.com/vision.htmThe group has been in existence since 1990 as stated on the website and confirmed a few other places. According to the site it is the result of a "vision quest" by Lee and can include anyone who considers themselves Native American...not just Cherokee.
He states they are not trying for recognition or to get federal funding for anything, but the use of the word "Nation" is definitely misleading and there is some "history" that contains a lot of misinformation about Natives and Native history...especially the tribes in the Northeast.
I've seen a Dr. Lee Gibson PHD show up in a google search for something called The Gibson Method (self help, etc), but I can't confirm if this is the same person. There's a picture on one website here... http://www.bvcse.org/newsletters/September20061.pdf (page 6) that also lists this Dr. Gibson as the founder of the Master Peace Institute....once again unable to confirm if this is the same person. The pictures are inconclusive.
The website also has CD's and Tapes for sale and samples of them on youtube...
http://www.overhillcherokee.com/cdtape.htmHowever at the bottom of this page there is the strange message "All CD's and tapes are free....one for every $15.00 donation"
Not very free...
The site also contains tons of spelling mistakes...the history..not very well researched so I find the claim of Ph.D. to be questionable.
You can also order the Overhill Cherokee Language Lexicon book and you can order a copy of their bylaws (once again...free for every $20.00 donation...)
Also a vague page on tradition
http://www.overhillcherokee.com/tradition.htm$15.00 a membership card (just to cover the cost of making it...that's a hell of a card)
State clan chiefs, clans assigned by the chief after he approves your application.....you name it.
Definitely not a real tribe, but as I stated it says that on the main page, but they play out and act like they are a real tribe....always a cause for concern as these groups foster offshoot groups who DO call themselves a real tribe (ie United Cherokee...umm...system?? corp???)
Superdog