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Congresswoman Riles Cherokee Nation With Proposed Law

by NAM (reposted)
Originally From New America Media

Friday, August 17, 2007 : WASHINGTON, D.C. – A California congresswoman has introduced a bill to cut federal funding to the Cherokee tribe until it restores tribal citizenship to a group of African Americans known as Freedmen. Congresswoman Diane Watson with 11 other lawmakers introduced the law in recognition of the claims made by the Freedmen, descendents of slaves held by the Cherokee tribe.
A judge recently held that the Freedmen could sue to regain property and other rights denied to them after the Civil War. Cherokee spokesman Mike Miller said, “Congress is taking a step toward telling the tribes how to run their nations and going so far as to tell a tribe who is ‘Indian’ and who is not.” The Cherokee Nation has 280,000 members including more than 1,500 citizens who are descendants of Freedmen who have proven their Indian ancestry. For full membership in the tribe, the Cherokees insist on a bloodline connection.

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