‘Defend the Cherokee Nation'
‘Defend the Cherokee Nation'
By Sheila Stogsdill
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Published: August 15, 2007
TAHLEQUAH — Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith urged tribe members Thursday to avoid internal pettiness that could undermine the country's second-largest American Indian tribe.
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Oaths taken on courthouse lawn
With temperatures climbing over 100 degrees, Cherokee Principal Chief Chad Smith and Deputy Chief Joe Grayson Jr. took their oaths of office for new four-year terms. Several newly elected tribal councilors also took oaths.
Smith was first elected in 1999. The tribe has experienced unprecedented growth in federal money and gaming revenue during his two four-year terms, tribe spokesman Mike Miller said.
The ceremony opened with traditional cleansing ceremony and the Cherokee National Youth Choir singing hymns in Cherokee and English.
An empty chair was placed on the platform to honor ancestors. A rose placed on the chair represented the many Cherokee generations to come, said Jay Hannah, master of ceremonies.
Hundreds of Cherokee Nation members gathered on the courthouse lawn. The only empty seats were those not covered by the shade of the courtyard's oak trees.
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Constitutionality disputed
In May, a tribal court issued a temporary injunction allowing the freedmen to maintain their citizenship while they appeal the constitutionality of the March election.
In June, Cherokee Nation citizens approved, for a second time, a 2003 constitutional amendment that removes the need for Bureau of Indian Affairs approval on future constitutional changes, such as the freedmen issue.
The BIA approved the amendment last week, but its director, Carl Artman, said that doesn't mean the tribe can remove the freedmen.
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U.S. Government, Special Interest Groups, U.S. Congressional News, Native American Issues
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I really can't understand why Rep. Watson
can't look at herself and see what she is
creating. While she is charging the
Cherokee Nation with discrimination toward
alleged black Indians, she is showing discrimination herself toward Indians. I
thought Congressional people was put in
office to represent ALL citizens but she
has chosen to divide and conquer repeating
history for the Indians.
As far as Treaties go, how many has been broken by the United States? Could Indians do anything about that, like send them back to Europe or Spain? I don't think so!
How can Rep. Watson feel justified in her
actions and talking discrimination when
this is exactly what she is doing against
Indians. isn't she showing some prejudice
there
Letter to honorable representatives & senators,
Subject: Termination Bill H.R. 2824
I strongly resent our federal elected representatives actions toward the Oklahoma Cherokee Nations right to determine who can and should not be a citizen of their nation.
The federal government from it's formation years has had a government to government relationship with the Cherokee Nation and it's people. That relationship has never been based on treaties. In March of 2007, Cherokee citizens voted to reinstate an "equal standard requirement" for all persons requesting citizenship to their nation.
No where in the treaty of 1866 does it state "Granted citizenship" for people going by the name of "Freedmen." It does state (Equal rights and protection under tribal government laws). That wording would also cover a Japanese tourist back then and now, while on Cherokee Nation land. But, that wording does not make them a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
Today, their are millions of Americans that have Cherokee blood heritage, they are required to prove their heritage blood relationship to a person listed on the nations roll books. The Freedmen affected by the March citizenship vote have not proven their blood heritage to a person listed on the nations roll books. Allowing them to remain a citizen under those's terms in it's self would be supporting racial bias within the nation.
Congresswoman Watson's bill leaves the false impression that the Cherokee Nation's constitutional amendment expelled all African Americans from citizenship in the Cherokee Nation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Facts concerning the Cherokee Nation are that they proudly count thousands of African Americans with Cherokee heritage among its citizens. Including more than 1,500 citizens who are descendants of Freedmen who have proven Indian ancestry to the Cherokee Nation.
Citizen voting groups around the country are framing this issue as (Do as we say, not as we do) Coming from the federal government. The federal government broke all treaties made with the Cherokee Nation! To include the 1866 treaty at question covering this issue.
The federal government has no "right" to demand of the Cherokee Nation that they fully honor a treaty that the federal government broke and abandon it's self.
This bill will essentially punish the Cherokee Nation for requiring its citizens to have Indian ancestry, the same requirements enforced by more than 500 other Indian tribes in the United States.
Indian Nations in Congresswoman Watson's own state of California have recently elected to change their tribal citizenship requirements, all without fan fair or concerns coming from Congresswoman Watson.
This issue is not about race, discrimination, civil rights or racism toward others. It's all about a sovereign Indian nations right and it's citizens to determine by their laws who can be a citizen of their nation.
The U.S. government supports other world governments that restrict their citizenship, through race and blood heritage with U.S. tax dollars.
Oklahoma Cherokee Nation citizens have conducted a just and legal vote under their tribal nations sovereignty laws to reinstate their nations historic citizenship requirement laws. They did so without prejudice, fear of reprisal or harm from others. It is their request, that all concerned persons and governments honor the will of the nations citizens.
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