"It should come as no surprise that the federal government is trying to influence the Cherokee Nation into accepting the freedmen as full tribal citizens.

Freedmen, descendants of Cherokee slaves, were granted full rights of blood Cherokees under an 1866 treaty with the U.S. government.

Cherokee voters passed a Constitutional amendment in 2007 requiring Cherokee blood lineage to qualify as a Cherokee citizen.

The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court ruled Aug. 22 that tribal courts have no jurisdiction to overturn a constitutional amendment that was validly passed by voters.

That ruling has prompted quick response from the federal government."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Cherokees, feds at odds over freedmen (The Muskogee Phoenix 9/14)

Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Decision:
Cherokee Nation Registrar v. Nash (August 22, 2011)

Related Stories:
Acting Cherokee Nation chief vows to protect tribe's interests (9/14)
BIA warns Cherokee Nation about disenrollment of Freedmen (9/13)
Lawmakers want HUD to restore funding to Cherokee Nation (9/12)
HUD won't release funds to Cherokee Nation in Freedmen flap (9/8)
Judge sets hearing on Freedmen motion for Cherokee election (9/6)
Freedmen eye lawsuit in federal court over Cherokee election (8/30)
Freedmen seek appeal for loss of Cherokee Nation citizenship (8/29)
Jay Tavare: Divide and conquer -- disenrollment among tribes (8/25)
Turtle Talk: Tribal courts, treaty rights and treaty rights disputes (8/25)
Cherokee Freedmen lose right to vote in upcoming chief election (8/24)
Decision allows Cherokee Nation to remove Freedmen from rolls (8/23)