Cherokee chief blasts 'hostile' members of Congress

Tuesday, September 4, 2007  

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith compared the U.S. to a "bully" and described his tribe as a "victim" in the dispute over the citizenship of the Freedman.

Smith delivered his annual State of the Nation address on Saturday. He said "hostile" members of Congress are trying to prevent the tribe from deciding who can and cannot be a citizen.

"It's the bully crying foul because the victim defended itself. The U.S. is not just," he said, The Tahlequah Daily Press reported.

In March, the tribe voted to deny citizenship to the descendants of African slaves. The slaves were included in an 1866 treaty but the tribe says they don't have Indian blood.

Get the Story:
Native holiday (The Tahlequah Daily Press 9/4)

Cherokee-Related Legislation:
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

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