Nice save: Maneuver by Boren buys tribe time

The Oklahoman Editorial

Published: September 11, 2007

Watson's been raising a ruckus about a March vote in which Cherokees voted to change the tribe's constitution to limit membership to those who have Cherokee blood. Doing so would exclude about 2,800 descendants of "freedmen,” or slaves once owned by Cherokees. Watson sought to have all the tribe's federal funding — about $300 million — cut off until this wrong was righted.

Last week Watt, who like Watson and the freedmen is black, gained approval of an amendment that would deny federal housing assistance to the tribe. Watt and Watson each contend the tribe is violating an 1866 treaty with the United States, which is only a tad ironic considering how many times the U.S. government has broken treaties with tribes through the years.

Boren brought a little common sense to the discussion with an amendment to let the tribe continue to receive the federal housing funds until the matter is settled in court. (After the March vote, a tribal court said the freedmen descendants may remain on the tribal rolls pending adjudication of the case, something the grandstanders in Congress apparently fail to realize or recognize.)

Boren pointed out that "in this country, we have a judicial process in place that should be honored before Congress steps in to act.” His concern about Congress' meddling is on target, as is that of a Cherokee official who worries about Congress punishing tribes "on a whim” whenever it disagrees with something they do.

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