Members of the Cherokee Nation will go to the polls next February to decide whether to deny citizenship to the Freedmen, the descendants of African slaves.
Last March, the tribe's top court ruled that the Freedmen are part of the tribe. But some, including Principal Chief Chad Smith, say only those with Indian blood should be entitled to citizenship.
Not all Freedmen can document Indian blood. They only need to show their ancestor appeared on the Dawes Roll in order to qualify for citizenship.
The tribe has enrolled about 1,000 Freedmen since the court decision. About 20,000 could be denied citizenship if voters change the constitution.
Get the Story:
Chief seeks vote on 'freedmen' (The Oklahoman 10/7)
pwpwd
Cherokee chief approves special vote on membership
(The Tulsa World 10/7)
Cason Letter:
Cherokee Nation
Constitution (August 30, 2006)
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:
Cherokees defend right to kick Freedmen out of
tribe (09/21)
Cherokee chief rejects need to approve
constitution (09/11)
Cherokee Nation
questioned on Freedmen vote (9/7)
Petition to oust Cherokee Freedmen submitted
(08/15)
Petition seeks vote on ousting
Cherokee Freedmen (07/31)
Cherokee
Nation to vote on blood quantum change (6/13)
Cherokee Nation council debates blood quantum
(6/12)
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)
Stay Connected
Contact Us
indianz@indianz.com202 630 8439 (THEZ)
Search
Top Stories
Trending in News
1 Tribes rush to respond to new coronavirus emergency created by Trump administration
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'
More Stories
Jodi Rave: Tribe rallies against drugs and abuse Charges dismissed in Northern Arapaho eagle killing
News Archive
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000