Wilson Cedars

Duly Elected October 25th, 2025 – Present Day

When I was approached to attend the first tribe meeting, I began to research my heritage and found the following connections to the Apalachee tribe. My 2nd great grandfather was Chief Benoit Vallery. He died in 1840. My 2nd great grandmother was Marie Frances Vallery Kerry, daughter of Chief Benoit Vallery. She died in 1944. Her daughter, Lodie Kerry Cedars was my grandmother. She died in 1972. My 2nd great uncle and brother to Marie Frances was Chief Gilmer “Boy” Vallery who died in 1952. As a teenager I suspected my grandmother was Indian, but this was never confirmed nor denied. I later learned the language they spoke to keep the children from knowing what they were conversing about was not Cajun French as I thought, but perhaps Apalachee.

My goal is to keep the culture of the tribe alive by helping to procure a place where we can facilitate the sharing of heritage to fellow tribal members and our decendants.