Creek Indians seek federal, state recognition

MILTON — After gaining support from the Board of County Commissioners in February, the Santa Rosa County Creek Indian Tribe is officially starting the process of seeking federal recognition.

“After being silenced for more than 100 years, we have an opportunity for our voices to be heard by the government,” Vice Chief Dan Helms said in an email to his tribal members. “But, we must take action now.”

The Santa Rosa Creek Indian Tribe has been working for the past few months towards recognition of their tribe by the federal and state government. The tribe strives for governmental recognition in order to protect and preserve artifacts in their museum and for financial and other resources which would be made available for the preservation of their language, heritage and culture, according to Helms.

“A once in a lifetime opportunity for our tribe to receive both state and federal recognition is within our grasp, but it will take your action for it to happen,” Helms said.

Helms urged tribal members to contact legislators asking for support.

The Santa Rosa County Creek Indian Tribe is a nonprofit organization that teaches the community about Native American culture via educational programs, traditional events and a Native American Cultural Center that broke ground Aug. 1, 2017.

Their tribal grounds — located at 4358 Willard Norris Road in Milton — consist of approximately 95 acres. Descendants of Creeks that lived in the area founded the organization in 1990. The tribe currently has more than 1,300 members and donates thousands of hours a year teaching and making presentations in the community.

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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Creek Indians seek federal, state recognition