The Cherokee Nation council will consider proposals to add an "Indian" blood requirement to the tribal constitution.
Citizenship is currently open to anyone whose ancestor appeared on the Dawes Roll. This standard includes Cherokees, Delawares, Shawnees and Freedmen, the descendants of African slaves who were made members of the tribe after the Civil War.
The Cherokee Nation's highest court ruled that the tribe cannot keep Freedmen out of the tribe unless the constitution is changed. So Principal Chief Chad Smith and some tribal leaders are proposing to do just that.
The Seminole Nation previously tried to kick out its Freedmen but it plunged the tribe into a leadership crisis. The Bureau of Indian Affairs ended up suspending the tribe's federal funds.
Get the Story:
Tribe to deliberate a blood requisite
(The Tulsa World 6/12)
Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal Decision in Freedmen Case:
Allen
v. Cherokee Nation (March 7, 2006)
Relevant Links:
Freedmen Of The Five Civilized Tribes - http://www.freedmen5tribes.com
Freedmen
Conference - http://www.freedmenconference.com
Related Stories:
Cherokee Nation's top court approves
constitution (6/9)
Cherokee committee
approves membership proposal (05/16)
About 800 Cherokee Freedmen enrolled since
decision (05/01)
Cherokee chief sued over
vacant legal position (04/13)
Cherokee
chief criticized for stance on Freedmen (4/6)
Two Creek Freedmen apply for citizenship after
ruling (03/22)
Creek Freedmen see
opening in citizenship dispute (3/21)
Cherokee chief calls for an 'Indian' Nation by
blood (3/20)
Cherokee chief criticized
for stance on Freedmen (3/17)
Cherokee
chief wants Freedmen out of tribe (3/15)
Editorial: Victory long overdue for Cherokee
Freedmen (3/10)
Cherokee Nation to
enroll Freedmen descendants (3/9)
Cherokee Freedmen win tribal citizenship lawsuit
(3/8)
Cherokee chief wants to sue BIA
over constitution (02/15)
Freedmen
descendants shut out of Cherokee Nation (11/22)
Trial concludes in Freedmen membership case
(09/15)
DNA tests being used to bolster
Indian heritage claims (08/30)
Ex-Cherokee councilors fined for Freedmen
support (08/23)
Freedmen descendants use
DNA to show Indian blood (06/03)
Column:
Civilized Tribes owe reparations to slaves (03/11)
Cherokee Nation seeks role in Freedmen lawsuit
(02/21)
Cherokee leaders blast Coburn for
'divisive' remarks (9/17)
Cherokee
Freedmen caught in high-level dispute (8/20)
Cherokee Nation chief sworn in for another term
(8/15)
Seminole Freedmen rebuffed by
Supreme Court (06/29)
Cherokee
Freedmen sue BIA for disenfranchisement (8/12)
Court tackles Seminole dispute
(9/24)
The Seminole
Nation's hanging chad (8/8)
Resolution of Seminole dispute
sought in court (5/28)
Court
decision rocks Seminole Nation (5/8)
Seminole's Chief Haney restored to
power (5/7)
Black Seminole
appeal planned (5/1)
Black
Seminoles dealt setback (4/30)
Opinion: Seminole Nation always
black (4/22)
A fight over
funds, race (4/4)
Seminole
Head Start funds OKed (2/6)
Seminole changes sought again
(1/16)
Ousted Seminole leader
sues tribe, BIA (12/14)
Black
Seminole issue still divisive (10/29)
Suspended Seminole Chief to sue
(6/27)
Seminole Chief Haney
suspended (6/26)
Race part of
Seminole dispute (1/29)
Seminole
voters approve changes (7/7)
Seminole vote may affect Freedmen
(7/7)
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