Comments on: Freedmen Facts you Won’t Learn from the News

By: hflanagan

hflanagan — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:33:30 +0000

In the case of the Cherokees, what makes this about greed? Unlike some California tribes who are disenrolling members so that they can make their tribe smaller and therefore get bigger share of casino profits, the Cherokees do not do not disperse per capita funds to individual citizens. Also in the case of the Cherokees, what makes this about race? Cherokees of all races are undeniable citizens of the Cherokee nation because they can prove ancestry to a “By Blood” Cherokee. It is only those individuals who CANNOT prove ancestry to a by blood Cherokee who are not considered citizens by our nation. My nephews are African American AND they are Cherokee citizens BECAUSE they can prove ancestry to a Cherokee as listed on the Dawes Rolls. If this was about race, they would be disenrolled simply because they are black. But that is NOT how it works. So again, what makes this about greed and race? In the words of our brother, “make it plain” to me, cause I just don’t get where you’re coming from.

By: Denise Abdul Salaam

Denise Abdul Salaam — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:57:10 +0000

I ‘m sick and tired of this controversy! It’s a shame that this will be settled in the court system once and for all! I’m definitely in support of H.R.2824 since it had to come to that because of GREED and RACE! Let’s make it Plain as Malcolm X said!!!!!!!

By: Black Tsalagi by Blood

Black Tsalagi by Blood — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:15:01 +0000

Just what sort of proof did our ancestors need to prove to Dawes they were Indians? This reminds me of European Jews who arrived barely alive , with no documents to prove they were Jewish. Yet, they became the State of Israel. When you consider that many Indians had the skin on their bones and nothing else by way of legal papers because they were constantly being displaced, it’s not difficult to see why some might have been placed on Freedmen Rolls, esp. our darker fullblood brethern. What about those with 1/2 Black children? Many of those fullblood spouses were suddenly “Freedmen.” I am opposed to H.R. 2824. 99% of Freedmen descendants are not in need of a financial handout and are doing well. It’s a cultural issue for those whose ancestors were erroneously declared “Freedmen.” But this issue cannot be resolved by “any means necessary” considering the poor state that so many of our Cherokee people live in. We should not hurt our elders, children and infirmed to resolve this issue. The Dawes was seriously flawed but H.R. 2824 is not the solution. Shame on the Congressional Black Caucus! This is all any of us need. For there to be such a fight in the face of a white government that is ultimately looking into dissolving all Tribal Nations…to save some bucks. Imagine people who know nothing and care nothing about the history of the Cherokee and the U.S. Government and see that we’re in danger of losing 300 million in funding.

By: D. Fixin

D. Fixin — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:02:07 +0000

Thank you for taking the time to expain this issue in plain language. As usual, the media has placed the most “newsworthy” spin on the issue – using race to grab the public’s attention. When, the truth is that it is not an issue of race, but an Indian tribe’s inherent right to determine its membership.
It is unfortunate that Ms. Watson is not taking the time to focus on the major issues in California regarding its tribes as well as other residents in that state.
I regard to the Freedmen issue, she should, at the very least, make a sincere effort to listen to and/or look at the truth of the matter. Instead, it appears that she came to a conclusion, and is using whatever she can to support to her conclusion/agenda, totally disregarding the truth of the matter or investigating the facts. One would hope that someone in her position and other members of the CBC would exercise some due diligence and conduct a minimal amount of research before jumping to the conclusion that this is a racial issue.
I agree with Cherokee Rosa, that when Congress learns the truth about 2824,they will squash it in its tracks. I sincererly hope that its members will take the time to learn the truth.
Thanks again for taking the time to write your informative, straight forward article.

By: Daniel Thornton

Daniel Thornton — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:15:31 +0000

Thank you for your informative post. One of the hardest things about this issue is seeing the bias that permeated the media coverage. Americans are woefully ignorant about Indian identity and Indian rights. They do not understand that our indigenous nations must survive, not just colorful “Indians” that they can pay to watch dancing at a powwow. If people truly understood that modern Indian law is still guided by the racist language of 19th century Supreme Court decisions and the so-called “plenary powers” of Congress, then maybe there would be the political will to see that indigenous nations are given the same protections of our rights that others have.

If you read the recent Appeals court decision in this case, there is a quote that is blood-chilling…”Congress can whittle away the sovereignty of tribes at will.” This same premise has been the concern of the UN Committee to Eliminate Racial Discrimination every time the US comes up for periodic review of it’s compliance with the International Convention to End All Forms of Racial Discrimination. To infringe on the self-determination of our nation, through the courts or Congress, is to practise racial discrimination, no matter who does it.

By: Tsalagi Ageyv

Tsalagi Ageyv — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:24:03 +0000

Back when I grew up here most of our Cherokee people were living in abject poverty and many were forced to move out of state just to find work to feed their families. I never knew of anyone back then suing the tribe so that they could be citizens. However, today the Cherokee Nation is prospering and employs around 7,000 people and oddly enough it appears many people want to be a citizen of this tribe. This is the same for many tribes around the country today, not just the Cherokee Nation.

In 2006 one group of so-called non-Indian Freedmen descendents filed a law suit against the U.S. demanding land allotments, $50 million, and the right to own and operate a casino in the middle of Cherokee Nation’s jurisdictional boundaries. One group filing a lawsuit against the Cherokee Nation, it’s tribal officers and the U.S. demanding citizenship in the tribe have arbitrarily formed their own band calling themselves the United Cherokee Freedman Band.

There are volumes of present time and historical documents in which one can find facts regarding this issue from all perspectives including the U.S., Cherokee Nation and non-Indian Freedmen history. Informed debate on the issue requires having documentable facts to begin with. Really appreciate the facts that you have presented here.

The following article by a Cherokee citizen proud of both her Afro-American and Cherokee ancestry shares some facts around the issue and her personal thoughts. Facts clearly prove this is not racial issue. It is however a sovereignty issue. Perhaps we all can learn something that unites us makes us better people.

Again, appreciate the information you have shared here.

Tsalagi Ageyv

UNITY
http://unitynews.org/2008/07/25/emotions-flare-during-naja-panel/#comment-112
What gathers people, nations, and cultures together-shared views, blended life experiences, or the desire to have an understanding of the other, insight…
Each of us could bring elements and ideas, adding definition of what unity means to them.
As the grandmother and mother of Afro-American and Cherokee by blood children, and citizens of Cherokee Nation, our families are defined by those relationships we build into our lives and communities. Tribal citizenship starts with blood-ties, then you build the culture.
The media and public has neglected to see and hear from those of us who are Black-Cherokee by blood citizens in Cherokee Nation. Thereby failing to recognize that we existed before and will continue to long after this ‘issue’ has settled.
Some will walk away and find another task to attach themselves to and wage war, again. But many of us will walk throughout our life time and our descendents’ in the footsteps of being a blended family of both Afro and Cherokee by blood.
I am not aware of our journalists of color seeking out the diverse communities within Cherokee Nation beyond a PR spin, yet are quick to proclaim what is happening within our neighborhoods, homes, governments, and thinking in regards to how we live. I’d like to see and acknowledge how the Black politicians (CBC), representatives, and speakers have come into our nation and homes, to spend time with our families to see the exchange of relationships that better represent those portrayed as being “kicked out and purged” from the rolls and nation, in the mis-informed words of Congresswoman Diane Watson, who has refused multiples invitations to come visit our homelands and people.
We are still here as Black-Cherokee citizens before and after the March 3, 2007 vote, which defined and further embraced our rich cultures, diversity, and acknowledged the unity which can exist between people.
My children, and theirs, can return to the communities of their ancestors in eastern Oklahoma and still be at home with their relatives. That’s unity! tp
Twila Pennington
Cherokee Nation citizen, Blue Clan.

By: Ga-li-lo

Ga-li-lo — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:44:34 +0000

How nice to see there is someone out there who can express themselves in a civil manner while discussing this controversy. Your article is documented well and I found it easy to follow with the links you provided.

I would like to see this whole mess settled soon in court. I believe Diane Watson is wrong to be doing what she is doing with legislation to cut off funding to the Cherokee Nation when it is plain to see that the Cherokee Nation has the sovereign right to abide by its own constitution. Which, I might add, is no different from other tribes I am familiar with.

Barack Obama has already said that congress should wait for the courts to decide this one and I think he is right.

Thanks again for such an informative article.

By: Josie

Josie — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:38:11 +0000

Wow! This is good stuff!

And thanks for letting us know about the Wikipedia page. I wondered why the information there was always wrong about the Freedmen and the Cherokee Nation and it never seemed to get corrected.

You did a great job of explaining all the facts here. This makes it easy to see why the Cherokee Nation will win their case in court. The Cherokee Nation should hire you. Thanks!

By: Cherokee Rosa

Cherokee Rosa — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:30:36 +0000

Thank you so much for this article that covers this controverial subject in such a well written and easy-to-understand way. I agree with Ah-ga-li. It is sad to see so much descension from some of our people.

It is my hope that Diane Watson and others will see how they are being used by some of these “nationalists” to further their own agendas. I believe once those in Congress learn the truth, just as you have laid it out here, they will squash HR 2824 in its tracks.

Thank you again for putting the truth and the facts out there regarding this ugly attack on the Cherokee Nation.

By: ah-ga-li

ah-ga-li — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:55:17 +0000

Thank-You so much for laying this subject out so plainly. As a Cherokee citizen, I have wished that someone could. It bothers me that our tribe is so divided. It seems that it is always the same few who want to create a negative and destructive force against their own tribe. A long time ago I learned that it was not the old timers sitting on the bench outside of the Mill criticing the new barn going up, that were getting things done. It was the ones who were putting up the boards, hammering the nails and actually building that were accomplishing something. I guess there will always those that obviously produce positive changes and those who work to tear things down.