In this case, the question is actually this: Who speaks for the descendants of Powhatan and his Empire?

The question is significant given the fact that the media is literally besieged this week with spokesmen claiming to be the true representatives of the descendants of American Indians and providing novel and sometimes fantastical interpretations of history — and demanding a non-celebration of our birthday.

In my weekly article for Worldnetdaily, I discuss the controversy regarding the Queen’s visit and the call of the Native Americans to have her apologize for the “invasion.”

One of the problems is the rise of the “new mythology” — an approach to history that openly rejects the academic, written, and primary source approach to historical interpretation in favor of the oral tradition of individuals claiming to be the true heirs and spokesmen for the Powhatan tradition.

A second component of the new mythology is the idea that there is one uniform voice of historical interpretation for the descendants to the Jamestown area Indians. My article addresses the problem with both errors in the new mythology of Jamestown.

Even the question of what constitutes a real American tribe, or a descendant of American Indian tribes, remains highly controversial. There are numerous applicants for federally recognized tribal status who have been rejected. The rejection means no reservation land, no financial benefits, and no possibility of becoming millionaires through Indian gambling casinos.

As to the question of who constitutes a descendant, huge controversies exist. Recently, the Cherokee nation voted out of their tribe a group of individuals who had previously been recognized as members of their nation — black Cherokee descendants of former Cherokee slaves. By denying these black Cherokees their tribal status, they prevent them from the possibility of cashing in on the tribal gambling benefits.

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