We are a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation. Our founding chief, Chief Dragging Canoe, never signed a Treaty with the United States Government and therefore the Tribe remained non-federal. The Chickamauga People have remained free for all these years and will remain to do so.
Note: Since we are not a federal tribe, we do not receive checks from the government and the tribe does not issue any either.
We have our own government which is made up of our Principal Chief, Vice Chief, War Chief, Beloved Head Mother, Medicine Man, Faith Keeper, 7 Clan Chiefs and 7 Clan Mothers.
The language of the Thunderbolt People is an Ancient Cherokee dialect called “Giduwa” (ᎩᏚᏩ), which is close to the Eastern Band dialect of the Eastern Band Cherokee which live in Cherokee, North Carolina.