I finally got Angie King on the phone today. She said basically that the Tenn. Bureau of Investigation was working on the case and agrees that getting the Cherokee Nation, east and west, involved is a wonderful idea. Their angle is to try to prove ownership of the statue the get it return in that way. My biggest fear is that is will disappear again before the current holders of the statue can be told/warned/advised to not let it get away. I am not sure of who to contact within the Cherokee structure but I'm hoping that some of you will help us get the ball rolling on this project A good friend, Donna Delgadillo, advises getting the folks at NAGPRA involved. This is the Native American Graves Protection Repatriation Act. She also recommends trying to learn if there is a American Indian Movement (AIM) in the state or region. I'd venture to guess that once the Nation's leaders learn of the find they will do what they can to see it returned. For those of you who aren't aware,I got an email from the nephew of the man who carved the statue. He said that his uncle would be flattered but wonder what all the fuss was about. He'd always intended for it to be on Nancy's grave site but had sold it to Mr. Farmer for his wife's grave (Maggie). The nephew agrees that it should be placed on the grave. Maggie Farmer was a Walker by birth. This week's Polk County News article goes thru more of the history of the search for the statue. Any of you who know who to contact within the governing structure of the eastern and western Cherokee bands could you please tell me so I can contact them and let them know what is going on. As stated earlier the most immediate problem of making SURE the current owners know there is a movement underway to get it, somehow, returned. Scotty, let me know what you find out from your friend. Joyce Gaston Reece