California Muscogee (Creek) Association

Annual Gathering

by Rebecca Landsberry
MNN Editor

LOS ANGELES — Sunny, warm and inviting - all words that could be used to describe the city of Los Angeles in general. The same could be said for the Mvskoke citizens inhabiting the state of California, where the tight-knit group calls home.

On Saturday, Oct. 10, over 400 attendees passed through the doors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at the annual gathering, according to CMCA Historian and MNN Contributor George Windes.

A number of tribal representatives were invited to attend the meeting this year including Chief of Staff Mike Flud, Executive Director Claude Sumner, Deputy Director of Community Services Danette McIntosh along with representatives from Muscogee (Creek) Nation Language, Higher Education, Social Services, Citizenship and Human Development programs.

Along with presentations from each of the departments explaining services available to those living outside the Creek boundaries, Language instructors held a Mvskoke language class for children from 2-4 p.m., after everyone enjoyed a potluck lunch.

Acclaimed Creek author Billy Jane McIntosh traveled from Arizona to participate in the event where she and her son sold copies of her book detailing the life of Chilly McIntosh.

Participants also had the opportunity to enroll on the spot and update their tribal citizenship cards, by adding a color photo.

Executive Director Claude Sumner also reminded everyone of their opportunity to vote in the upcoming General and Special Elections set for Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 where all registered voters will vote on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation constitutional amendments passed at the convention last year.

President of the California Creek Association, Eli Grayson, also addressed the participants, urging them to become active not only in their own tribal government, but also in the U.S. government by contacting perspective state representatives and senators as well.

“The tribes have a lot of power today and members of Congress need to hear from them,” Grayson stated.

For more information on the California Creek Association, contact Eli Grayson at (760) 534-1632.