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Watson bill - H.R. 2824

Well, just exactly what does this bill say? It starts like this:

To sever United States ’ government relations with the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma until such time as the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma restores full tribal citizenship to the Cherokee Freedmen disenfranchised in the March 3, 2007, Cherokee Nation vote and fulfills all its treaty obligations with the Government of the United States,and for other purposes.

No mention of any obligations the U.S. has under the treaty obligations? So do we still have a one sided treaty platform, do as we say, not what we do?

Currently all Freedmen are enrolled citizens and will remain so until the matter has been resolved. The distinction comes between those Freedmen that can prove they have a Cherokee Ancestor on the Cherokee Base roll, commonly refered to as the Dawes Roll. There are both Freedmen who can not prove they have a Cherokee Ancestor on this roll and many Cherokee that can not prove they have an ancestor on this Dawes Roll.

As of this posting the bill is in the House's committees of Natural Resources and Judicary. Only time will tell, if we as a nation (both the U.S. and the Cherokee Nation) have passed out of the dark ages of the 1850s and into a more enlightend era of the 21st century.

So what about this 1866 post Civil War Treaty - good grief, isn't it time for some change?

There is a Cherokee Court case pending on this issue as well.

(In order to view the progress and bill text, click on the title above)
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