"When most Americans are reminded of the "Trail of Tears," the forced migration of Native Americans from their ancient homelands to what is now the state of Oklahoma, they conjure up images of thousands of downtrodden, defeated Cherokee suffering and dying as they trudged into the wilderness. Few know that also on that slow and deadly trek were roughly two thousand African-American slaves, the property of wealthy Cherokees.
The surviving Cherokee and slaves first settled near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, later the capitol of the Cherokee Nation and home to many of the descendants of the slaves, known as Cherokee Freedmen.
In 1863, the Freedmen were made citizens by an act of the Cherokee National Council, which awarded them all the rights and privileges afforded members of their tribe. Three years later, the Freedmen's standing as Cherokee citizens was further strengthened: a treaty solidified their rights giving federal protection to them and their descendants. This was meant to put an end to any lingering discriminatory practices.
It allowed Freedmen and their descendants to hold positions in tribal government and share in tribal resources demonstrating, in terms of human rights, a generosity far beyond the dreams of any newly freed slave in the South.
Then as abrupt as the snap of a broken arrow, it ended. Citizenship was terminated. Last week, the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court ruled to uphold a tribal constitutional amendment to take away the citizenship of 2,800 descendants of the Freedman."
Get the Story:
Vivian Glover: Is the Cherokee Nation cutting off its black roots?
(The Grio 8/29)
Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Decision:
Cherokee
Nation Registrar v. Nash (August 22, 2011)
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Turtle Talk: Tribal
courts, treaty rights and treaty rights disputes (8/25)
Cherokee Freedmen lose right to vote in upcoming
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Decision allows
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