The Cherokee Nation Council's rules committee on Monday approved a proposal to deny citizenship to the Cherokee Freedmen.

The tribe's highest court ruled that the Freedmen, the descendants of former slaves, are eligible for citizenship because their ancestors appear on the Dawes Roll.

But the committee approved a proposal to restrict citizenship. Only people whose ancestors were on the Dawes Roll and who have Cherokee, Delaware or Shawnee blood will be eligible.

The full Cherokee council still has to approve the measure before it can be sent to Cherokee voters as a constitutional amendment.

Get the Story:
Cherokee proposal could ban Freedman (The Muskogee Phoenix 5/16)

Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal Decision:
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

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