About the Office of the Chief Justice and Trustee

The Office of the Chief Justice and Trustee serves as the present steward of the historical, governmental, judicial, and trust responsibilities carried forward by the Mathias El Tribe.

The Office exists to preserve the continuing history of the families represented by the Tribe; administer the affairs entrusted to its care; maintain the integrity of the Tribe's governmental and judicial records; and safeguard those records for the benefit of present and future generations.

This Office does not exist to create a people, a history, or an identity.

Its responsibility is to faithfully preserve what already exists.

The families represented by the Mathias El Tribe have maintained continuity across generations despite changing governmental policies, migrations, and historical classifications.

Our documented family history extends across Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, California, and other regions of the United States.

Among the direct ancestral family lines preserved through the Tribe are the Allen, Morant, McCaster, Watson, Campbell, Newsome, Jemison, Bell, Smith, Bryant, Ross, Swanson, and related families. 

Together, these records contribute to a continuing historical record that the Office preserves with care and responsibility.

Throughout history, governments and record keepers have applied different names, legal classifications, and administrative descriptions to Indigenous families and communities. Those classifications changed over time. The families remained.

The work of this Office is therefore not to create a new identity, but to preserve the continuity of an existing family community and to ensure that future generations inherit a clearer understanding of their history.

The Office of the Chief Justice and Trustee is responsible for the stewardship of the Tribe's governmental and institutional records and supports the continuing work of the Mathias El Tribe through responsibilities that include:

• Preserving historical and genealogical records. 
• Maintaining judicial opinions, public notices, and constitutional documents. 
• Administering the Mathias El Tribe Trust and related trust responsibilities. 
• Preserving governmental archives for future generations. 
• Supporting educational initiatives concerning Indigenous history, constitutional structure, and Federal Indian law. 
• Promoting responsible stewardship of community resources and historical records. 
• Encouraging peaceful cooperation with neighboring Indigenous communities, governments, institutions, and the public. 

The present Office is held by Chief Mathias El (Mathew-Allen McCaster).

As Chief Justice and Trustee, he serves as the current steward of the Office and carries out its present responsibilities on behalf of the Mathias El Tribe.

His work includes the administration of the Tribe's governmental affairs, preservation of historical and genealogical records, oversight of judicial proceedings, trust administration, constitutional education, and the continued development of institutions intended to serve present and future generations.

The Office exists independently of any one individual. Those who occupy it are entrusted with preserving the historical record, administering the Tribe's responsibilities, and faithfully carrying forward the work entrusted to the present generation.

The work of this Office is guided by several enduring principles:

• The continuity of the family community deserves faithful preservation. 
• Historical records should be preserved with accuracy and integrity. 
• Trust responsibilities should be administered responsibly for present and future generations. 
• Constitutional and statutory questions should be examined through the words enacted by Congress and other applicable sources of law. 
• Education strengthens communities by preserving knowledge and encouraging thoughtful discussion. 
• Institutions exist to serve the People entrusted to their care. 

The work of the Office continues through the preservation of family history, the development of educational resources, judicial administration, historical research, trust stewardship, and lawful governmental administration.

As additional historical records become available, they are carefully preserved and incorporated into the continuing record maintained for the benefit of future generations.

The Office remains committed to preserving history with accuracy, administering its responsibilities with integrity, and contributing to a fuller understanding of the continuing history of the families represented by the Mathias El Tribe.

Office of the Chief Justice and Trustee
Mathias El Tribe

"Preserving the historical record. Administering the trust. Serving present and future generations."