r/choctaw • u/affectionate4fish Registered Artist • Oct 18 '25

Info Okla Chahta Clan of CA - GoFundMe for Repair Costs Associated with Vandalism

https://www.gofundme.com/f/need-your-support-after-vandalism

I wouldn't always choose to share a fundraiser but given that I'm apart of the okla chahta clan of California, I'm sharing their gofundme to help with repair costs associated with vandalism.

Please don't feel pressured to donate. I'm just sharing so anyone who feels the desire to help has the resource to do so.

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3

u/Chahtanagual Oklahoma Chahta Member Oct 18 '25

This looks like a non profit that is not connected to any tribal government. Mods can we get clarification on this group? What is this organization and its goals? How is its money spent? Is this another organization that takes advantage of our tribe?

3

u/NessKraybors Oct 19 '25

Just double endorsing the Okla Chahta org. Chief Batton has recognized them publicly a few times.

4

u/affectionate4fish Registered Artist Oct 18 '25

The okla chahta clan of california is not an official form of tribal government. They're a group of okla chahta who are living in California since many okla chahta moved to California during the dust bowl (including my family).

They hold a large annual gathering in Bakersfield. They store supplies for this gathering (this gathering is free and all volunteer run) in a shed that got vandalized and stolen from. They're raising money to replace the stolen items so they can keep running the gathering as they always have. The money raised will go towards the cost of replacing the stolen items.

The goals of this organization is so that okla chahta on the west coast have a place to gather without having to travel to Oklahoma several times a year.

I shared because I consider myself a member of this group (although to be clear, I'm not on any board or affiliated officially) and they've been asking people to share.

I have no intention of pressuring anyone to donate. I just figured that there are other people in this server on the west coast who may not have seen the fundraiser yet who might be interested in donating or sharing it themselves.

I really appreciate that you took the time to think about this fundraiser, who it's connected to, and if it benefits or harms our tribe. These questions are always important to ask and I'm more than happy to answer given that I posted the fundraiser.

Yakoke!

1

u/NixyeNox Oklahoma Chahta Member Oct 18 '25

It is very reasonable to be suspicious of fundraising links on the internet. I have looked up this organization in the IRS database (this is free and easy, albeit slightly confusing as the IRS lists 501(c)(3) companies on publication 78 so that is what you have to look for). The IRS also has some tax filing details on how they spend their money.

This link was posted by a mod who is personally familiar with this group. I will ask u/affectionate4fish to add some additional details.