Another vote on Cherokee constitution proposed

Friday, May 25, 2007  

The council of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma will meet June 6 to consider another vote to amend the tribal constitution.

The tribe's 1976 constitution requires federal approval for any changes. In 2003, voters approved an amendment to remove the federal review provision.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs on Monday rejected the 2003 amendment. Assistant secretary Carl Artman said he was concerned that the Cherokee Freemen, the descendants of African slaves who were made citizens by an 1866 treaty, weren't allow to vote in that election.

Artman was also concerned that the 2003 amendment could be used to justify the removal of the Freedmen from citizenship.

But if the tribe holds another election and allows the Freedmen to vote, Artman might approve it, according to council attorney Todd Hembree. The council will consider placing the issue in the upcoming June 23 ballot.

Get the Story:
Tribe considers vote on amendment (The Muskogee Phoenix 5/25)
Attorney seeks list of tribal clients (The Muskogee Phoenix 5/25)

BIA Letters:
May 21, 2007 | March 28, 2007 | August 30, 2006

Sovereign Immunity Court Decision:
Vann v. Kempthorne (December 19, 2006)

Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal Decision in Freedmen Case:
Allen v. Cherokee Nation (March 7, 2006)

Relevant Links:
Cherokee Nation - http://www.cherokee.org
Freedmen Of The Five Civilized Tribes - http://www.freedmen5tribes.com
Freedmen Conference - http://www.freedmenconference.com

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