Freedmen vs Cherokee Nation

The following article can be located at: http://diverseeducation.com:80/artman/publish/article_10687.shtml Congress May Apologize to American Indians by Associated PressFeb 20, 2008, 11:58 WASHINGTON A resolution that formally apologizes to American Indians for years of government mistreatment and abuse will be part of an Indian health care bill expected to pass the Senate later this month. Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who has pushed the measure since 2004, said he hopes the measure``helps heal the wounds that have divided America for too long.'' ``For too much of our history, federal-tribal relations have been marked by broken treaties, mistreatment and dishonorable dealings,'' said Brownback, a Republican. ``We can acknowledge our past failures, express sincere regrets and establish a brighterfuture for all Americans.'' (I guess as soon as they pass this, they then turn to the Watson termination bill)

(my comments in green or whatever color it shows up on your monitor) Congresswoman takes heroic freedmen stance (heroic - congress has been doing this for 200 years) Muskogee Phoenix Muskogee, OK 02/21/2008 By Marilyn Vann Guest Columnist Cherokee Nation Chief Chad Smith and his supporters denounced HR 2824 by U.S. Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif. The bill is designed to strip federal funding from the tribe if it denationalizes Cherokee freedmen citizens. (for the 21st Century this is a draconian measure in order to allow the Freedmen to continue their slave status under a Civil War Treaty and to continue to enslave the Cherokee people to a Civil War Treaty; denationalize? you're already US citizens, that's your nation, why do you want to be Cherokees, something you're not?) An ethics complaint against Watson states the bill oversteps her authority. Smith called the congresswoman an outsider who misrepresents facts, and stated that the 1866 Treaty was forced on the Cherokee Nati...

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415884 Watson has introduced legislation that would strip the Cherokee of $300 million in federal funds and suspend the tribe's authority to operate a casino until the status of the Cherokee freedmen is settled to the satisfaction of Congress. Penal amendments have been prepared for other funding bills, again pending court decisions. Watson criticized the nation sharply for characterizing her bill as a ''termination'' bill (a reference to the mid-20th century ''termination era'' of congressional policy toward tribes). The word does not appear anywhere in the bill, she said, repeating several times that it is nothing of the sort. (when you cut off the revenue sources, you have terminated us!!)