A petition seeking a vote on removing the Freedmen from the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is due to be turned in this week.

Former deputy chief John Ketcher says he has gathered nearly 2,100 signatures on the petition to deny citizenship to the Freedmen, the descendants of former African slaves who were made members of the tribe in a post-Civil War treaty.

The tribe's highest court ruled that the Freedmen are entitled to citizenship if they can show their ancestor appeared on the Dawes Roll, the same roll used to determine Cherokee ancestry.

The tribe has since enrolled hundreds of Freedmen but top officials, including Chief Chad Smith, have questioned their inclusion if they don't have Indian blood.

Get the Story:
Petition seeks to eliminate freedmen from Cherokee membership (AP 7/29)

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

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