Search Results for: CHEROKEE FREEDMEN

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A new federal court ruling says Cherokee Freedmen are entitled to tribal citizenship. The Cherokee Nation attorney general says the tribe will not appeal the ruling. The Freedmen are decedents of former slaves. In the 78 page ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas F. Hogan said a treaty signed in 1866 clearly guarantees them citizenship. He also states “The Cherokee Nation’s sovereign right to determine its membership is no less now, as a result of this decision, than it was after the Nation executed the 1866 Treaty.” We’ll explore what this ruling means for the Cherokee Freedman and tribal sovereignty.

Guests:

Marilyn Vann (Cherokee Nation) – president of the Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes association

Todd Hembree (Cherokee Nation) – Attorney General for the Cherokee Nation

Matthew Fletcher (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians) – law professor at Michigan State University-College of Law and author of the Turtle Talk blog

Break Music: Urban Crow Dance (Of The Bird Kind) (song) Joy Harjo (artist)Red Dreams, A Trail Beyond Tears (album)

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After the recent historic change in the Cherokee constitution opening the door to Black Cherokee citizenship, the Choctaw Nation is now facing a fight pitting sovereignty against formal recognition for Choctaw Freedmen. The chief of the Choctaw Nation opposes proposed language in congressional legislation that would require the tribe to allow Freedmen enrollment. The bill is in response to Freedmen—descendants of slaves who also claim Choctaw heritage—who say they are denied citizenship because of their race. But Choctaw Chief Gary Batton says the tribe, not Congress, determines enrollment. We’ll get an update on the status of the ongoing Choctaw Freedmen issue.

Guests: 

Marilyn Vann (Cherokee Nation) – president of the Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes Association

Shelby Ward (Choctaw Freedman) – co-founder of the Oklahoma Freedmen Collective and Tennessee Representative for the Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes Association

 

Break 1 music: Red Man Groove Thing (song) Anthony Wakeman & Aaron White (artist) Handprints Of Our People (album)

Break 2 music: The Unforgotten (Stars Mix) (song) Iskwé (artist) The Stars (album)