Chief Wickliffe's Open letter to the People (re: Cherokee Freedmen)

[CountAllVotes]

>> One of the government functions that was taken away from the Cherokee Nation by the Curtis Act was the right for the tribal citizens to vote for their own leadership. This right was restored, however, in 1970 with the Principal Chief's Act, made by Congress. The Department of the Interior stated in 1971 that there were conditions fundamental to the regulations for the democratic selection of a principal tribal official, "and will be considered to be essential to the approval of any proposed selection regulations." One of the main conditions cited was "Voter qualifications for the Choctaw, Seminole, Cherokee and Creek people must be broad enough to include the enrolled Freedmen citizens of the respective nations, together with the descendants of such enrollees."

The language used in the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, makes the treaties binding. As with other legal documents, decisions and agreements, this becomes binding to all Treaties. The Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty states: "all laws except such as from time to time may be enacted in their own National Councils, not inconsistent with the Constitution Treaties, and Laws of the United States; and except such as may, and which have been enacted by Congress, to the extent that Congress, under the Constitution are required to exercise a legislation over Indian Affairs."

Tribes have worked hard to hold the United States to the promises made in Treaties. One thing that we Indians have always been able to stand proud and say is, "The United States has broken some treaties with us, but we have broken none." Unfortunately, if the Smith administration succeeds in their illegal attempt to disenfranchise a class of citizens, we will never be able to say this again. All tribes in the United States will be affected, and will be put into the same category of "treaty breakers." I fear this for all our Native Americans.

The Smith administration evidently believes itself to have more power than United States Congress by deciding to change the terms of a Treaty on their own, and eliminating citizenship and the right to vote for Freedman descendants. All Cherokees should stand together and protect their good name for the benefit of all Native Americans.

To break a treaty will affect every federally recognized tribe in the United States. Let's leave the language that binds treaties as written because a treaty (all treaties) are BINDING for as long as "the SUN COMES up in the EAST, SETS in the WEST, the GRASS GROWS, and the WATERS FLOW" and because of this language, the U.S. Government is much less likely to BREAK ANOTHER TREATY…

BUT LET THE CHEROKEE NATION OF OKLAHOMA BREAK the 1866 treaty and it could open the door for other treaties to be broken. Let's keep our tribal governments', governments to governments relationships with the U.S. GOVERNMENT as written, and keep all our treaties intact. This is the way we honor and protect our tribal sovereignty.

link: http://www.unitedkeetoowahband.org/

I am proudly affiliated with these particular Cherokee (the Keetoowah). They've got it right on the issue of the Freedmen. They have never broken any treaty made and if they do this, it will open the door for more is the thought.

I believe this is correct. All Federally recognized tribes should be very concerned about this situation!

Thoughts?

CountAllvotes

[turtlelowe]

1. George is a good man...

As a member of the UKB (Keetoowah) I have never failed to be amazed by George. My mom grew up with him in Kenwood and she said that he is one of the most honest and sincere people she has ever met. I know that there are many differences between the views of CNO (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) and the UKB and do not want to get into arguments about them. But I can say one thing, George speaks from his heart and has a passion for NDN people. His motives purely surround doing what is right for the people. And in this case, I think he is right on. I have worked with George on a couple of projects involving our Associate Resource Group and his love of the people has always been paramount in his discussions. He works to help people move forward, individually and as a nation. And I believe that it is this concern that comes forward in his speech, your honor rests in being able to stand true to your words and commitments.

As far as the freedman issue, I guess it depends on where your motives lie in whether or not you agree with their enrollment status. Like I said earlier, George's motives revolve around standing behind your word and commitments and working for the good of all people. While I do not know Chad Smith's motives the fact that he is not willing to stand behind his commitments is of great concern to me. I feel bad for the CNO freedmen because I feel they are fighting a losing battle. However, I do agree with their cause.

Wado,
Tammy