Mike Graham: The Cherokee Nation's Wounded Knee

Opinion

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

"Congresswoman Watson of California, (a member of the Congressional Black Caucus that excludes non Black U.S. House members), also supported with tax payers dollars is crying foul play "Civil right's violation" over the Cherokee Nation citizenship vote last March, 2007 to require Cherokee Blood quantum proof to the nations roll books before anyone regardless of race can become a citizen of their Indian nation.

Watson and CBC caucus members are claiming the Cherokees are violating the civil rights of those going by the name of "Freedmen" in saying an 1866 U.S. treaty gave them citizenship whether they had Cherokee heritage or not. Watson and the CBC has spent the past year enacting new bills and demanding fellow House and Senate members block federal funding going to the Cherokee Nation; to include blocking funds to all Indian nations until the Cherokees reinstate the non-Indian heritage Freedmen as citizens of their Indian Nation.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has joined with Watson and CBC members stating no federal funding going to any Indian Nation will come out of his house committee without wording blocking Cherokee funding. Oklahoma U.S. Representative Tom Cole calls Barney Frank's statements "legislative blackmail" by threatening to keep an Indian housing bill from a final vote.

Former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell stated "Despite my years in politics, I'm still surprised by Congresses inability to learn from past mistakes and tendency to interfere where it should not." The National Congress Of American Indians representing over 350 Indian Nations support the Cherokees citizenship vote and the nations rights under tribal nation sovereignty without reckless federal interferences. Harmful ramifications on both sides do not warrant federal intrust in subverting the will of Native Americans sovereign rights.

CBC and U.S. House members are fully aware that the federal government today is still enforcing its citizenship termination of Uinta Band Indians of Utah with less than 50 percent Ute Indian heritage. The CBC has seen fit to remain silent on this "federal" Indian termination issue. The Ute's Uinta Band of Indians issue goes to the heart of federal hypocrisy in dealing with Native American issues like the Cherokee Nation's citizenship requirements of Indian heritage."

Get the Story:
CBC Demands U.S. Government Commit Another Wounded Knee Against Indians (WEBCommentary 5/19)

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

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)