UPDATE 08/13/2002

Siyo everyone
Many of you may remember the tragic desecration of the Burial Grounds and the Sacred Site located at the Oakville Mounds Park in Lawrence County, Alabama during the 2000 Halloween fiasco sponsored by Lawrence County Jaycees. This despicable event was called the "Trail of Fears" in mockery of our tragic page in American history that we now know as "The Trail of Tears".

During our non-violent protest of this Halloween event, two of of our peaceful protestors were pepper sprayed, very roughly handled, hand-cuffed, arrested and taken to jail by the Lawrence County Sheriff's deputies.

The Lawrence County Jaycees were given permission to hold this horrible event at the Oakville Mounds Park by Mr. Butch Walker, who is the director of the park and who is also the Director of the Lawrence County Indian Education Program for Lawrence County. Anyone of Indian Heritage would think that Mr. Walker would know better than be part of a Burial Grounds and Sacred Site desecration event. He could have easily stopped the entire fiasco by simply saying NO!!

Instead, Butch Walker continued to show disregard, disrespect and contempt toward the Indian Community by giving permission to hold a cross-country race through the Oakville Mounds Park as reported in the Thursday, September 13, 2001 edition of The Moulton Advertiser on page A-6.

Mr. Jack Stone, Vice Chief of the Blue Clan and myself had visited the Oakville Mounds Park and were stunned when we saw a race track had been layed out about 1/3 the way upon the side of the large Ceremonial Mound at the front of the park and continued on through the park and ran with-in approximately 100 feet of the Burial Mound.

NOW, Butch Walker again continues to show disrespect, contempt, and disregard toward the feeling of the Indian Community by again giving permission to Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) to hold TWO (2) more cross country races through our Burial Grounds and our Sacred Site. The first scheduled race is to be held on September 7, 2002 and has the title " CHICKASAW TRAILS RUN “ This title is a slap in the face of all Indian People, especially the Chickasaws, to use the name of one of the Five Civilized Tribes to promote the Desecration of our Sacred Grounds!!!!

The second race to be run is scheduled to be held on October 5, 2002 and has the title of "JESSE OWENS CLASSIC " Butch Walker can, with out a doubt, be called a " TRAITOR " to the entire Indian Community as he has continued to show disrespect to our heritage and culture and to the Burial Grounds that is the final resting place for the Ancient Ones.

Butch Walker has shown that he will do anything within his power to further his personal or political agenda. I ask that all Indian Communities come together to SHOUT loud and clear against these despicable acts toward our People.

You can do so contacting the AHSAA by phone at 334-242-5654.Fax 334-240-3389 or by e-mail at Staff@AHSAA.com

I would also suggest that contact be made with Butch Walker’s direct supervisor, Mr. Dexter Rutherford, who is the Superintendent Of Education for the Lawrence County, Alabama school system. He can be contacted by phone at his office: 256-905-2400, home: 256-974-7777 or by e-mail. His e-mail address is: drutherford@lawrenceal.org FEEL FREE to forward this to anyone or any site that you feel can help with this continuing struggle for our People.

Wado and Sincerely
Millard Shelton
Chief Blue Clan Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama Cherkeesunspirit@charter.net