How the Cherokee Nation case may affect civil rights
How the Cherokee Nation case may affect civil rights
By Larry Levy
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Published: August 21, 2007
Modified: August 22, 2007 at 10:14 am
Modified: August 22, 2007 at 10:14 am
TULSA — The controversial status of freedmen in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma was characterized as the "most significant civil rights movement of this century” at a town hall meeting headed by a member of the California congressional delegation.
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Treaty violation?
Watson said actions resulting from the March election were in violation of an 1866 treaty and for that reason, the United States should not be providing funds to the Cherokee Nation.
"The law says we can't use U.S. dollars to violate the law,” Watson said. American money can't be used to "discriminate.”
The California representative told the group the only way to resolve this issue is to "return to full status” the freedmen.
In response
Chad Smith, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, said later in a telephone interview that the proper place to settle the issue is in the courts, where there are three lawsuits pending in federal courts and one in a Cherokee tribal court.
Until those lawsuits are settled, the freedmen retain previous rights and benefits in the Cherokee Nation. Smith said if the lawsuits support the election, the Cherokee Nation will help the freedmen transfer to other health care providers and ongoing treatment will "absolutely” continue.
Passage of the bill would eliminate 6,500 jobs at Cherokee casinos and other businesses with a payroll of more than $184 million.
Federal funds are used for health, housing and education, Smith said.
Income from tribal businesses is divided, with 70 percent going into reinvestment and 30 percent to augment social programs and also to fund community projects such as roads and water systems.
Verdie Triplett of the Choctaw-Chickasaw freedmen association, said historically, the black congressional caucus has always supported tribes in getting federal money.
"Congress is the only locomotive monster they respect,” Triplett said. It is not a freedman issue "but an American issue because all Americans pay taxes,” he said.
David Cornsilk said the March vote was illegal and "should have never happened.”
Watson was scheduled to hold a similar forum Monday night in Muskogee.
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Police, Public Finance, Federal Budget, Special Interest Groups, Civil Trials, Trials, Government Spending, Native American Issues
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Because the Oklahoma congressional congregation do not care.