Associated Press - September 26, 2008 11:55 PM ET
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Actor Danny Glover says other American Indian tribes will follow the example of the Cherokee Nation if it succeeds in blocking tribal citizenship for freedmen descendants. (see how little they understand, not all Tribes are a one size fits all! Freedmen in Oklahoma are the only ones claiming they have *treaty right membership*, when the treaty states no such thing and has been modified and litigated in the courts for a good 100 years now - precedents do not support their position)
Speaking at a forum hosted by members of the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, Glover called on the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma to allow freedmen descendants into the tribe with full citizenship rights. (so how come he's not calling on the Congressional Black Caucus to also allow other than Black congressional members into their caucus)
A March 2007 vote by Cherokee Nation voters to remove freedmen descendants from tribal rolls has been challenged in court. Freedmen are descendants of former slaves owned by the Cherokee Nation. (Freedmen do not have a Cherokee Ancestor, thus they are not Cherokee and no treaty will ever *make* them Cherokee - there is a Black Indian Tribe in this country and they, I'm sure would be welcome to join that - why they want to maintain their own slave roots is puzzling since Blacks won't allow the south to fly the Confederate flag over their capitals - the soldiers of the civil war paid with their blood to free the slaves - I guess they don't appreciate that)
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith says he had asked to be included in the forum's panel but was turned down. (The chief has repeatedly requested a meeting with Rep Watson and to date she has ignored that request - however, they did include David Cornsilk on their panel, who is known for trying to tear the Cherokee Nation down and sees the Freedmen as a voting block which he can use - talk about folks putting their heads in the sand for their own purposes - this is it - I guess they figure if they ignore the facts long enough, they'll go away....)
The Tahlequah-based tribe is 1 of the largest in the nation.
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Actor Danny Glover says other American Indian tribes will follow the example of the Cherokee Nation if it succeeds in blocking tribal citizenship for freedmen descendants. (see how little they understand, not all Tribes are a one size fits all! Freedmen in Oklahoma are the only ones claiming they have *treaty right membership*, when the treaty states no such thing and has been modified and litigated in the courts for a good 100 years now - precedents do not support their position)
Speaking at a forum hosted by members of the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, Glover called on the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma to allow freedmen descendants into the tribe with full citizenship rights. (so how come he's not calling on the Congressional Black Caucus to also allow other than Black congressional members into their caucus)
A March 2007 vote by Cherokee Nation voters to remove freedmen descendants from tribal rolls has been challenged in court. Freedmen are descendants of former slaves owned by the Cherokee Nation. (Freedmen do not have a Cherokee Ancestor, thus they are not Cherokee and no treaty will ever *make* them Cherokee - there is a Black Indian Tribe in this country and they, I'm sure would be welcome to join that - why they want to maintain their own slave roots is puzzling since Blacks won't allow the south to fly the Confederate flag over their capitals - the soldiers of the civil war paid with their blood to free the slaves - I guess they don't appreciate that)
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith says he had asked to be included in the forum's panel but was turned down. (The chief has repeatedly requested a meeting with Rep Watson and to date she has ignored that request - however, they did include David Cornsilk on their panel, who is known for trying to tear the Cherokee Nation down and sees the Freedmen as a voting block which he can use - talk about folks putting their heads in the sand for their own purposes - this is it - I guess they figure if they ignore the facts long enough, they'll go away....)
The Tahlequah-based tribe is 1 of the largest in the nation.