Freedmen to challenge ouster, Cherokee funding

Wednesday, March 7, 2007  

Descendants of the Cherokee Freedmen won't give up their citizenship in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma without a fight

The Freedmen plan to file a challenge to the election in which 77 percent voted to deny them citizenship. They also plan to lobby the federal government to cut funding to the Cherokee Nation, as the Bureau of Indian Affairs did when the Seminole Nation denied citizenship to its Freedmen.

The Freedmen are descendants of former African slaves who were made members of the tribe by an 1866 treaty. Their ancestors appeared on the Dawes Roll, but their Indian blood was not recorded.

Get the Story:
Descendants of freed slaves to challenge special election (AP 3/7)

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

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

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