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Artman's tenure marked by Freedmen dispute
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Filed Under: Politics

Assistant secretary Carl Artman cited "many accomplishments" in his resignation letter on Monday but one controversial matter remains unresolved.

As Artman came on board in March 2007, voters of the Cherokee Nation amended their constitution to deny citizenship to the Freedmen, who are the descendants of former slaves. He told the tribe that an 1866 treaty protected the Freedmen's rights.

Artman later accepted the constitution after the tribe allowed the Freedmen to vote on a different amendment that eliminated Bureau of Indian Affairs review of future changes. But that didn't end the dispute and the status of the Freedmen remains a politically hot issue on Capitol Hill.

Get the Story:
BIA leader resigns amid controversy (The Tulsa World 4/30)

Cherokee-Related Legislation:
H.R.2786 | H.R.2895 | H.R.2824 | H.R.3002

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) Related Stories:
Artman resigns after a year as head of BIA (4/29)
Opinion: Cherokee Nation's boat of federal funds (4/25)
Cherokee Freedmen dispute a threat to NAHASDA (4/24)
Opinion: The history of the Cherokee Freedmen (4/23)
Rep. Frank backs Freedmen in Cherokee funding fight (4/22)
Freedmen issue weighs heavy on Capitol Hill (4/14)
Tim Giago: CBC goes after Cherokee Nation (4/14)
Cherokee tribes denounce Freedmen legislation (4/10)
Cherokee chief to address Freedmen at conference (4/7)
Black lawmakers press Senate on Freedmen (4/4)
Cherokee Freedmen dispute up for hearing (3/27)
Opinion: Being Cherokee more than the blood (3/26)
Lawmakers press Artman on Freedmen issues (3/19)
Freedmen protest outside of Rep. Boren's office (3/3)
Black lawmakers to meet with Artman over Freedmen (1/23)