Letter: Chief Smith brings down the Cherokee Nation

Tuesday, October 2, 2007  

"How will history remember Cherokee Nation Chief Chad Smith? Will he be remembered as the chief who restored the 1866 treaty rights of the Cherokee Nation freedmen as members of the Cherokee Tribe with full tribal membership? Or will he be remembered as the chief who brought down the Cherokee Nation?

If he truly is a chief who cares about the “needy, hungry and ill” Cherokees he speaks about, then he would restore the Treaty of 1866 instead of breaking it. He tries to blame the issue on the election in March, which he orchestrated after the Cherokee court’s ruling. He doesn't seem to realize, as a leader, he’s responsible for breaking a treaty with the U.S. Government.

Smith is at a crossroad as chief of the Cherokee Nation. Which road will he take the Cherokee tribe? Back on the right path, helping all Cherokees? Or a path where only the few true followers will benefit from his “seed money” when he brings down the Cherokee Nation?"

Get the Story:
Billy R. McCoy: Chief hurts nation over freedmen issue (The Muskogee Phoenix 10/2)

Cherokee-Related Legislation:
H.R.2786 | H.R.2895 | H.R.2824 | H.R.3002

BIA Letters:
August 9, 2007 | July 11, 2007 | June 22, 2007 | May 21, 2007 | March 28, 2007 | August 30, 2006

Sovereign Immunity Court Decision:
Vann v. Kempthorne (December 19, 2006)

Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal Decision in Freedmen Case:
Allen v. Cherokee Nation (March 7, 2006)

Relevant Links:
Cherokee Nation - http://www.cherokee.org
Freedmen Of The Five Civilized Tribes - http://www.freedmen5tribes.com
Freedmen Conference - http://www.freedmenconference.com

Related Stories:
Cherokee Nation faulted on Freedmen (10/1)
Opinion: Racism in removal of Cherokee Freedmen (9/27)
Congressional Black Caucus to host Freedmen panel (9/26)
Cherokee Nation hurt by Freedmen dispute (9/24)
Chief Smith: Cherokee Nation helps UKB members (9/17)
Editorial: Wait for courts on Freedmen dispute (9/17)
Editorial: Common sense in Freedmen dispute (9/11)
House approves NAHASDA reauthorization (9/7)
Column: Cherokee citizenship about sovereignty (9/6)
Cherokee chief blasts 'hostile' members of Congress (9/4)
Rep. Watson: Congressional oversight of Freedmen (9/4)
Opinion: Cherokee Nation wrong on Freedmen (8/31)
NAACP denounces Cherokee Nation over Freedmen (8/27)
Editorial: Cherokee Nation takes the heat (8/24)
Editorial: Rep. Watson roars through Oklahoma (8/23)
Rep. Watson, Chief Smith face off over Freedmen (8/22)
Rep. Watson holds forums on Cherokee Freedmen (8/21)
Graham: Facts and fiction on Cherokee Freedmen (8/16)
Rep. Watson schedules meetings on Freedmen (8/15)
Cherokee Nation chief sworn into another term (8/15)
BIA opposes Congressional oversight on Freedmen (8/13)
Opinion: Cherokee Nation punished for ancestry (8/13)
BIA changes course on Cherokee Nation amendment (8/10)
Sen. Coburn backs Cherokee Freedmen citizenship (8/10)
Opinion: Cherokee Nation can't win on Freedmen (8/10)
Cherokee Nation given a month on Freedmen issue (8/3)
Rep. Boren claims agreement on Cherokee funding (8/2)
Graham: Bill seeks to terminate Cherokee Nation (8/2)
Bill cutting Cherokee Nation funds faces vote (7/30)
House panel votes to cut funds to Cherokee Nation (7/27)
BIA official backs change to Cherokee constitution (7/23)
Column: Treaty at issue in Freedmen dispute (07/16)
Opinion: Let Cherokee Nation decide citizenship (7/10)
Cherokee Nation chief addresses citizenship (7/9)
Editorial: Cherokee Nation like an all-male country club (7/2)
NCAI opposes bill to cut Cherokee funding (6/27)
Cherokee Nation voters re-elect Smith (6/25)
Cherokee Nation faces funding cut amid election (6/22)
Letter: Cherokee Nation and treaty negotiations (6/22)
Rep. Watson to introduce Cherokee Freedmen bill (6/21)
UKB Chief: Cherokee Nation can't break treaty (6/20)
Blog: Cherokee chief offers Freedmen a deal (6/20)
Letter: Cherokee citizenship not about blood (6/20)
Editorial: No reason to remove Cherokee Freedmen (6/18)
Bill would cut funding to Cherokee Nation (6/18)
Chad Smith: Cherokee Nation exercises sovereignty (6/15)
Federal court won't halt Cherokee election (6/14)
Cherokee Nation defends upcoming election (6/12)
Letter: Change in leadership for the Cherokee Nation (6/12)
Chad Smith: Cherokee sovereignty at stake (6/11)
Cherokee Freedmen headed to court for injunction (6/11)
Editorial: The Shame of the Cherokee Nation (6/8)
Cherokee Nation to vote on constitution again (6/7)
Letter: A new leader for the Cherokee Nation (6/6)
Cherokee Nation wants election to go forward (6/1)
Cherokee Nation blasts BIA over constitution (5/23)
BIA rejects 2003 Cherokee Nation constitution (5/22)
Cherokee Nation worried about Freedmen fallout (5/18)
Cherokee Freedmen restored to membership for now (5/15)
Cherokee Freedmen protest ouster from tribe (5/14)
Cherokee leader: Freedmen case not winnable (5/11)
Cherokee Freedmen back in court over ouster (5/11)
Freedmen ouster stirs passions at law conference (4/26)
Cherokee Nation considers anti-Freedmen funds (4/18)
Cherokee Nation chief took money from Abramoff (4/12)
Freedmen protest removal at BIA office in Oklahoma (4/11)
Rolo: Cherokee Nation blasted for ousting Freedmen (4/4)
Graham: Cherokee Nation tarred with 'racist' label (4/2)
Cherokee Freedmen protest ouster from tribe (3/28)
Opinion: Ouster of Freedmen is Cherokee business (3/23)
Opinion: Outrage over ouster of Cherokee Freedmen (3/22)
Marilyn Vann: Loss of Cherokee Nation citizenship (3/21)
Website Review: The revolt of the Black Seminoles (3/20)
Column: Freedmen still slaves to Cherokee Nation (3/19)
Opinion: Cherokees have a right to oust Freedmen (3/19)
Opinion: Cherokee Freedmen play the race card (3/19)
Opinion: Racism exists within Cherokee Nation (3/15)
Congressional Black Caucus backs Freedmen (3/14)
Tim Giago: Cherokee Nation votes out Freedmen (3/12)
Opinion: Cherokee Nation ignores own treaty (3/12)
Opinion: Cherokee Nation takes the lower road (3/12)
Chad Smith: Cherokee Nation tolerant of many (3/9)
Column: Cherokee Nation loses moral ground with vote (3/9)
Editorial: Ouster of Freedmen a low point for Cherokees (3/8)
Freedmen to challenge ouster, Cherokee funding (3/7)
Commentary: Cherokee blood spread far and wide (3/7)
Slate: What's so good about being Cherokee? (3/6)
Cherokee Nation kicks out Freedmen descendants (3/5)
Cherokee Nation heads to polls to decide on Freedmen (3/2)
Chad Smith: Cherokee Nation not based on race (3/2)
Editorial: Ouster of Freedmen a sign of elitism, fear (3/2)
Voice of America: Cherokees to vote on Freedmen (2/27)
Judge won't halt Cherokee Freedmen vote (2/22)
Freedmen in court to halt Cherokee Nation vote (2/21)
Freedmen ask federal court to halt Cherokee election (2/5)
Cherokees in California want to be part of community (01/16)
Ouster of Cherokee Freedmen an issue in California (1/15)
Election to oust Cherokee Freedmen delayed (1/3)