Wampum

I hope none of this is true. Because the Freedmen did more than bite, they showed that at least some of them were interested in money and gaming. Pretty shrewd . I don't have a dog in this fight, but it is disconcerning when there are members of congress ready to punish a whole tribe for the actions of a few. Are the rest of us next?
So I pray for respect for all parties and healing.

Chad Smith is who introduced it. Marilyn Vann won't bite. It's a set-up and desperate manuever on Smith's part because Smith doesn't even have the authority to offer any of it. But it does drag the Freedmen down into the dirt with him.

It's a no go and a distraction, and that's about it.

Louis, I hope I'm wrong, but I did confirm information in the first paragraph with Congresswoman Watson's office (in fact, I wrote the post after speaking (twice) with her aide.)

Whenever a Chief calls a meeting and is ready to talk consolations and negotiate a deal, the other party would be remiss not to attend. I know Smith did call such a meeting. But I see it as just a political tactic to keep a damaging Bill off of the floor of Congress for a week just before an election that will determine Smith's political destiny.

Smith used this same tactic with the Delaware in the 2003 Election promising them their freedom from the Cherokee Nation. After the election he reneged and destroyed the Delaware Tribe.

Keeping Watson's Bill off of the floor was a shrewed tactic by a shrewed tactician, Smith. He is ruthless and without conscience. That is all that voters need to know about Chad Smith. He will sell us all out in the end. Smith is risking the sovereignty of all Indian Tribes by thumbing his nose at the Sec. of Indian Affairs concerning the required federal approval on a Constitutional Amendment that the Sec. has disapproved.

The Cherokee people must get out the vote on Saturday and vote this crook and his "SLATE" out or Organized Crime Will Take Over The Cherokee Nation COMPLETELY!

I have been following the story about the Freedmen since 2003. I am really hoping that their fight does not stop because of words that come from such a man as Chad Smith. They are just words and though he is chief as of right now one day like us all he will stand and give an account of his deeds before a real chief that does not judge his those he call his own by the color of their skin but by their good deeds which I see he has very few to account for anything.

Give me a break!!

The Freedmen are black, Maxine Waters is black and the Federal Judge hearing the Freedmen case is black! So just exactly who IS playing the race card!

The Freedmen have no Cherokee Ancestor to trace back to in order to be Citizens of the Nation. Not the Chief's or the Nation's fault the Dawes Commission screwed up!!

So is Maxine Waters also going to include in her Bill that the ENTIRE 1866 treaty has to be enforced!!

The only thing the Freedmen are doing is reenforcing what we already know about congress - SPECIAL INTERESTS RULE!!

I just can't believe anyone with even a passing knowledge of Indian law could fall for this. There is simply no way to create a separate tribal identity for the Freedmen since, among other things, they have no separate history apart from the Cherokee (which is kind of the point of the whole election) and no land base (and I've got a full-color, laser quality picture of Smith volunteering to give them any when he wouldn't even do that for the UKB) and thus no gaming. It's absolutely ridiculous.

"The Freedmen have no Cherokee Ancestor to trace back to in order to be Citizens of the Nation"

This is manifestly not true. The Freedmen do, in fact, have enrolled ancestors on Dawes; the only difference is the white racists on the Dawes Commission refused to enter a blood quanta for them, due to the prevailing racist belief at the time that "one drop" of "negro" blood made you a "negro." While it is true that not all Freedmen have "Indian blood," many do and can document it through secondary sources, including the Cherokee Nation census. So who do you prefer to believe? Senator Henry Dawes' pack of racists whose mission was explicitly to destroy the Cherokee Nation and drive all its members to extinction? Or the records of the Nation itself?

Ms. Coats:

If you call yourself Cherokee, the likelihood is you have Black ancestry. I live in the Cherokee Nation; I know how much it galls some of y'alls in the cough Upper Classes cough of the Cherokee Nation to face that simple fact. But it is just that: a simple fact, like it or not.

More important, however, if the Cherokee Nation is unwilling to abide by its treaties, then the United States is under no obligation whatsoever to abide by its treaties with the Cherokee Nation. You do realize the consequences of that, don't you?

A lesson in democracy: Maxine Waters is only a congresswomen, so her bill would have to pass the house, then go to the senate and it would have to pass the senate. Not to mention it might very well get lost in a committee somewhere along the line. Then it goes to the President to sign.

Now, do you really think, based on Maxine Waters and a few Freedmen, that this Bill is actually going to pass?

Mr. Crank:

The Freedmen got played by the master himself.

However, even though the rumors are flying, I'm unwilling to pass judgment until I hear what Marilynn Vann has to say. It was my understanding this all happened just a day or so ago, so it's entirely possible we're not talking a week of negotiations, but only a meeting.

Do you realize that the Federal Government has never honored our Treaties - they call it a Trail of Broken Treaties!!

So, how come y'all aren't fighting to see that the whole treaty is enforced...why, because you only care about you and not the Nation!!

And quite frankly, we all trace to one black tribe in Africa!! So don't play that game with me. It's about Cheroke Blood, nothing more and if you aren't Cherokee by Blood then where's your beef?

Ms. Coats:

First, it's Watson, not Waters.

I hope you read The Thief of the Cherokee Nation's materials a bit more closer than this blog posting.

Second, I'm so pleased to know that, unlike what's going on in those closed doored meetings with various council persons and high falutin' thin bloods, you aren't sitting around talking about the damned [begins with an n and no, I won't write it] and that you don't approve of the inflammatory campaign materials sent out which played on the old {begins with an n and no, I won't write it] lover terminology of KKKers and the like.

Third, like it or not, Cherokee Nation is a conquered Nation and really has no option but to honor the treaties. You might be surprised to know just how much the Feds put out to keep the wheels going. You will certainly be surprised if this passes and the Complex shuts down.

Fourth, you might want to read up on the Seminoles. In other words, it's been done before. It t'weren't pretty.

Charlotte, as an At-Large LaLaLand voter, just how tuned in are you to what is actually going on in the nine districts? Personally, I think that if Freedmen are to be disenfranchised, At-Large voters should be as well. Is being Cherokee really about being descended from a blood-quota (including 1/32s) Dawes ancestor, or is it being part of a living, growing community, 24/7?

I belive it's Diane Watson and Maxine Waters...

Hmmm, there is a Seminole tribe in FL or are you talking about the one in Oklahoma ... the Feds pretty much skattered us during the removals...

Sorry, I just don't buy into your race nonsense. You're only using that as a crutch...in South Carolina the Confederate Flag was considered by the NAACP as a badge of slavery, so they had to take it down from the Capital...so I'm really surprised you don't consider that 1866 Treaty a badge of slavery....

And guess what, the political darlings of today are the hispanics...seen any sports news of late...blacks complaining that hispanics are edging them out of sports, sorta like the blacks did to the whites...:)

This Freedmen issue by the way has been around for a very long time. In the years before descendants of dawes enrollees could be Cherokee Citizens, black slaves were Cherokee Citizens when a good many of todays Cherokees could not be...

Y'all just don't have any complaint as far as I can see...

Oh and thin blood...sorry, that doesn't work on me either...that blood quantum thingy...that's a 1700s White European concept that were forced onto the Indian Tribes...I'm a Cherokee Nation Citizen and Proud of it....:)

I'm having a really hard time believing that the Freedmen would try to broker a deal with Smith. Why would anybody trust the same guy that is trying to kick them out of the Nation? Moreover, Smith can't grant any "federal" recognition, and given all of the rules Local Crank set out they can't even qualify. (I don't think they are that naive.)

Smith just didn't want that bill before Congress because it would make him look bad before the election.

I smell a big old rat....

Actually, Charlotte, I didn't take issue with your blood quantum, as I too see that as a European construct. I took issue with non-residents making decisions for residents. It's rather hard to understand what's really going on unless you're there, particularly if all the info you get is Chad's slick mailings and DVDs.

You are familiar with his Abramoff dealings, neh? If you're a regular Wampum reader, and not merely a drive-by, then you would have some insight into pay-to-play.

Oh, my mistake, I see you have Diane Watson recruited as well. Or I guess it's Diane Watson, she's from California as well. Maxine Waters sent the letter to the BIA...forgive my mistake....:) Congress doesn't pay much attention to anything except special interest groups, of which the Freedmen would qualify.

This bill appears to be an economic coercive measure...give us what we want or we'll take away your funding...good thing we have a few casinos....:)

The Federal Government can't even trace the Indian Trust Accounts...you think they can handle all this....:) They can't even secure our borders!!! you really think this is going to happen....:)

Reserved your private right to action, how nice....:)

And on the at-large issue thingy...I suppose you'd oust everyone living outside the 14 counties....after all blood has nothing to do with it....

Craig County Oklahoma by the way, was named after my Cherokee family line....:) so my roots run deep....

Oh, I see, so if you as a Freedmen could vote and oust those Citizens living outside the 14 county area, you'd vote for that...most interesting....:)

So it's ok to be a Cherokee Citizen even though you aren't Cherokee by Blood but you live in Oklahoma - however it's not ok to live outside of the Oklahoma boundary lines even if you are Cheokee by Blood...and those of us living outside of Oklahoma shouldn't be citizens either...that imaginary boundry line is another Federal concept forced on the Nation....ah, those European fences....:)

Hey, I was Indian before Indian was popular....:)

Actually, Charlotte, as far as I'm concerned, blood doesn't have anything t do with it. See, I come from a culture where non-tribal members, Indian or otherwise, were constantly "abducted and adopted", and they became full tribal members, generally replacing a member lost to disease or war. That member was never considered anything but Abenaki, from the moment they became part of the tribe. Their children were not "half-breeds", there was no such thing. If you don't believe in blood quantum, how can you believe that "blood" even matters? I mean, if any Indian "blood" is good, isn't being a "full-blood" the best, and a "thin-blood" a reason for disenfranchisement?

Your tribe engaged in slavery. My tribe did essentially did too (the "slaves" were usually Mohawks et al.,) but they were always considered members of the tribe, and if they did not return to their own tribe once their servitude was up (usually as payment for some infraction, such as killing a band member), they were full members of our tribe. That you would believe that the Cherokee owed nothing to those they enslaved for generations is frankly beyond comprehension. Do you also believe that the US had no duty to make free slaves of Southern whites citizens of the US, or should they all have been sent to Liberia?

As sovereign nations, we are still responsible for our past transgressions, and as domestic dependent nations, the US Constitution is still the law of the land. Until the Cherokees possess enough nuclear weapons to truly ensure they're complete and utterly sovereign, that's reality. And the US Constitution is not on your side when it comes to disenfranchisement of the Freedmen. Get used to it, or suffer the consequences, e.g., termination.

And, yes, while I wouldn't "disenroll" non-residents, I wouldn't let them vote absentee. If you really maintain a connection to the nine districts, then save up your pennies and buy a bus ticket every four years to show up to vote in person.

Non-resident vs resident: now that's an interesting concept...that sounds like another European concept, I didn't realize the Cherokee Nation had boundries, but I'm sure to use federal funding that restriction of non-resident vs resident is a federal one....:)

This issue has nothing to do with the upcoming election for me...this issue has been around since I was a kid!! Geessshhh, give it a rest!! Find a life...start your own group, that's what the other Cherokees who can't trace their ancestors do...

And on the issue of a conquered people...hey, this is 2007...and we've survived...much to the chagrin of the Federal Government....:)

Take the casino Chad is offering and run with it...you ain't going to get any thing nearly as good from the Federal Government...unless of course you just want to fight with the Nation....

Uh, Charlotte - my spouse and children are descendents of Nancy Williams, roll 5334, of Tahlequah District, born December, 1837, Clarksburg, TN (on the Trail, you know, where Nancy Ross is buried.) However, being a traditional Cherokee, he joined his wife's band (also matrilineal.)

Except for Qualla Boundary, the Cherokee Nation is a product of white intervention, so, yes, you are constrained by modern boundaries. If not, then you all would have travelled back to your traditional lands. So Euro constructs like residency should be familiar - that was how you all got onto the Dawes Rolls in the first place, wasnt' it?

I really disagree...we are not responsible for the transgressions of our ancestors....you think the state of South Carolina should be shut out of the union because they had slaves and fought in the civil war? Give me a break here?

Blood Quantum and Cherokee by Blood are two entirely different concepts...sorry, like comparing apples and oranges...and I suspect you don't know the difference between the two...Cherokees never called European Traders, Cherokee just because they lived among them....they were Europeans...they were recongized as a separate peoples...

I'm not French, so why would I want to demand to be called French ...

With your reasoning, I could just call myself, French, Italian, English or whatever...and I may or may not be of those nationalities...but if I lived say in France but was of German descent, I could still say I was French...which wouldn't be true...

Why do you want to be part of a people which is not your descent? That has always puzzled me?

BTW, "securing our borders" is a pretty freaking white construct. What borders are those? The Americas en toto, from non-natives, or protecting white Americans from native brown ones who happen to currently reside below the Rio Grande?

Oh, I get it, you're using European concepts and attitudes to force the Cherokee Nation to do what you want...that doesn't sound too Indian to me....

And force us to go to Oklahoma to vote, tsk tsk...the Feds aren't even that mean...

Give me a break!! Ya'll need to get a life!!

"It's about Cheroke Blood, nothing more and if you aren't Cherokee by Blood then where's your beef?"

Uhm, but many (perhaps most) of the Freedmen are "Cherokee by blood" (as am I, incidentally, though I'm not a Freedmen) so, uh, what's YOUR beef?

And, out of enlightened self-interest if nothing else, I have no problem with Cherokee outside of the Nation voting. In fact, I wish more of them did. This is a Nation, after all. You don't lose your right to vote in American elections just because you are living in Paris. On the other hand, do I wish more Cherokee treated their citizenship as more than just another card in their wallet? Am I concerned that even as the tribe adds an average of a 1,000 new citizens a month more and more of our culture is vanishing? Ho wa! But I'm not sure what to do about it. Do we require than in addition to a direct lineal ancestor on the Dawes Roll you also have to speak Cherokee to become a citizen? Know your clan? Have to demonstrate you not only know what kanutche is but like it? Can stomp dance? I don't have an answer to that, other than to observe that kicking the Freedmen out is not going to make those that remain any more Cherokee.

I'm speaking of Illegal Immigrants...

So on the positive side:

Are you going to insist that Diane Watson and Maxine Waters demand that the ENTIRE 1866 Treaty is going to be enforced...?

No, Charlotte, from this entire conversation, it's pretty darn clear that you are in fact a "racist" - you believe being Indian is about "race" (a European construct) not community. You could live on Mars and never see another Cherokee for your entire life, but as long as you had a gr-gr-gr-grandparent on the Dawes Rolls, you'd consider yourself "Cherokee". Frankly, I'm not that kind of Indian. It's not who my ancestors were, but who my family and band are. And having just returned from Tahlequah, I think many of the Cherokees I met there feel the same way.

"Oh, I get it, you're using European concepts and attitudes to force the Cherokee Nation to do what you want...that doesn't sound too Indian to me...."

But...the entire notion of "Cherokee blood" is a "European concept" and you seem to be insisting (it's actually getting kind of hard to tell at this point) on "Cherokee blood" as a condition of citizenship. Cherokee NEVER thought that way historically, which is why Sam Houston and Will Thomas were both considered Cherokee. So if "Cherokee blood" is a "European concept" and many Freedmen do, in fact, have "Cherokee blood," what exactly is the basis of your opposition to them as tribal citizens?

So what rule on citizenship, do you think the Cherokee Nation should have? Half the United States has a Cherokee Princess in their ancestry...I guess that would qualify...

It's all about proof...some can prove it, some can't...go to congress or the BIA and complain they made and kept the records...

Not the Cherokee Nation or Cherokee People's fault the Federal Government screwed up...just ain't our fault...sorry...not our fault all your ancestors didn't participate in the Dawes Roll...it appears your ancestors decision affects you more than anything the Cherokee Nation or people did...we aren't responsible for your family's decision...

Based on Culture, well, those who were *assimilated* would be out...those Christianized would be out...

Gee whiz, maybe the traditionalist and Freedmen would be the only members....:)

Illegal Immigrants? You mean all of your European ancestors?

No one who has indigenous American ancestry can be termed "illegal".

Actually, before there was an At-Large designation, I recall you did have to return to vote. Those mean Cherokees.

Well, I'm assuming those Freedmen that meet citizenship criteria are citizens of the Cherokee Nation...

Yes, the Cherokee adopted folks in as *Cherokee*...but you know what, the BIA stopped that...the *Cherokee's* adopted notice I said...not the BIA, not Congress, the Cherokee's adopted them into the tribe...or they were considered Cherokee if they were intermarried...those by the way are BIA or Federal government concepts as well...in the 1900s the BIA or Indian Commission said sorry, no more Cherokee by intermarriage...so that was stopped...so I think what a lot of folks today think of as *Cherokee* really is not...it was just that the BIA *allowed* it....

But the decision was up to the Cherokee people...that's the point...we still have that right to determine who should and who should not be Citizens of our own Nation...

Well, if I had my way, Christianiseds and assimilateds would be out, as both of those generally require you give up your culture, community and traditions, neh? But then, you're arguing being Indian is about blood, not culture, community and tradition, right?

Dawes Rolls were a distinctly "Indian Territory" (Oklahoma) thing - out of the 500 nations, all but five tribes (your's included) didn't have that forced upon us. As those Cherokees above have stated, where you were placed on the rolls had nothing to do with reality in many cases - the "one-drop" rule and all being enforced and all. BTW, Maine had a one-drop rule for Indians which was used from 1821 - 1884 to enforce anti-miscengany laws and destroy most tribal vital records. Nasty business, all that.

"No, Charlotte, from this entire conversation, it's pretty darn clear that you are in fact a "racist" - you believe being Indian is about "race" (a European construct) not community. You could live on Mars and never see another Cherokee for your entire life, but as long as you had a gr-gr-gr-grandparent on the Dawes Rolls, you'd consider yourself "Cherokee". Frankly, I'm not that kind of Indian. It's not who my ancestors were, but who my family and band are. And having just returned from Tahlequah, I think many of the Cherokees I met there feel the same way."

Yep, you are right about that...but I don't think that makes me a racist....just makes me proud of my ancestry....:) Three generations of my family were born and raised in Craig County Oklahoma ... but you know what, the Cherokee Nation had freedom of travel as well...so we can't have a Cherokee Community in California or to live in California makes me not Cherokee...not to mention the Cherokee people have had a long history with California...so this you gotta live, eat and breath in Tahlequah to be Cherokee is a modern concept that has no place in the Cherokee Nation either....:) Historically the Cherokee Nation was a large number of communities all over the South Eastern US...there wasn't ever just ONE city that you had to be from, live, eat or breath in to be Cherokee...so that's not very Cherokee either....so I'm Cherokee whether I live in Tahlequah or anyway...

I suspect it is political reasons why most folks in the Tahlequah area don't like those of us outside the area...nothing to do with our Indianness....:)

Well, if I had my way, Christianiseds and assimilateds would be out, as both of those generally require you give up your culture, community and traditions, neh? But then, you're arguing being Indian is about blood, not culture, community and tradition, right?

I don't think this is true either....:) this is an old idea as well...I mean as an individual it's my choice where I want to go culturally, community or tradition wise...in other words you have to be a traditionist to be Cherokee...I don't think that's true...

So when you say, give up your culture, what exactly are you talking about...I go to church, you go to a stomp dance...my choice right, so that makes me less Cherokee if I go to church, I don't think so...if those things are important to you, then there is the UKB right? Your choice...my family lost the language because we were not allowed to speak it in years gone by...so again, not my fault or my families fault we don't speak Cherokee...and if you think meeting another Cherokee on Mars is remote...try finding a Cherokee outside of the traditionalists probably that speak the language...or those that grew up in families where the language was spoken and those are growing few and far between...

Think of the Cherokees in California as modern Cherokees....:)

"But then, you're arguing being Indian is about blood, not culture, community and tradition, right?"

Noooo...that would actually be the complete polar opposite of what I'm arguing.

"not our fault all your ancestors didn't participate in the Dawes Roll"

Okay, I'm really honestly having a hard time understanding what point you are trying to make. First, as I mentioned earlier, I'm not a Freedman. Second, again as I mentioned earlier, but let me repeat, THE FREEDMEN ANCESTORS ARE ON THE DAWES ROLL. You can look them up yourself. The ONLY difference is that they don't have a blood quanta listed, but (again as I mentioned several times before) many of the Freedmen DO in fact have "Cherokee blood" and can document it through references to sources other than the Dawes Roll. So, just to try one more time to understand your position, IF the Freedmen ARE on the Dawes Roll, and if some of them DO have "Cherokee blood," (and can prove it) then what is your opposition to allowing them to be tribal citizens?

Yes, but Patrick, even if a Freedman cannot demonstrate "blood" ancestry, the 1866 is still in force and, according to Stacy, provides CN citizenship for all Freedmen. I personally agree with such a ruling, as it is also compatible with the US Constitution, which is still supreme (the Cherokee constitution, even amended, still says it is.) But I think we agree on most counts, even that one (because at the 1/256ths level, even DNA "proof" would be hard for some enrolled Cherokees.)

I'm done with Charlotte. This is an Indian site, not CNE. Ross declared the CN a corporation - I think we just saw the results of that this evening.

"Noooo...that would actually be the complete polar opposite of what I'm arguing"

Okay ignore what I wrote there. I was getting confused over who had said what. Sorry about that. It's late. The rest of the post below that is valid, though.

"Yes, but Patrick, even if a Freedman cannot demonstrate "blood" ancestry, the 1866 is still in force and, according to Stacy, provides CN citizenship for all Freedmen."

No, you are absolutely right, and I agree with you. The historical evidence is clear that CN between 1866 and 1907 was a multi-racial, multi-cultural republic, the only one in North America at the time. My only point was, if the anti-Freedmen folks are as fixated on "Cherokee blood" as they claim, how can they oppose membership for Freedmen who can prove they have "Cherokee blood"? My own view is that if we are going to continue to use only the Dawes Roll (and it's really, warts & inaccuracies and all, the only viable option. A blood quanta cutoff is a suicide pact), then EVERYONE with a direct lineal ancestor on the Roll should be a citizen. Period. And I think you and I see eye to eye on that. I mean, hell, if language proficiency and the ability (as opposed to the willingness) to stomp dance were the criteria, then I'm well and truly screwed.

Mike, things which are said in private in campaign offices do not end up here.

Well, I am most certain done with this group...anyone that is so selfish as to try and hurt another group of peoples because *they can't get what they want* is really beyond my realm of understanding...

Why aren't you fighting Bush for more Indian Health Care Funding!! or fighting to see more Native American Programs on Television!! or helping to stop the use of Indian Names as sports mascots! or fighting to see that Native Americans are not mistreated at the hands of the U.S. Government....put your mouth somewhere where it will benefit the Nation, not just a small fraction of a group!!

Nope, ya'll are fighting for something you figure everyone OWES you because your ancestors were slaves!! Well, I gotta tell you, my ancestors were on the Trail of Tears as well...and a good many Native American were slaves - so sorry, you'll get no sympathy here...

And like I said: are you fighting to see that the entire 1866 Treaty is enforced!!

Wow, you're so right, Charlotte. We here at Wampum have never fought for a single American Indian issue other than reinstatement of the Freedmen. Not a word on Cobell, violence against women, suicide on reservations, Indian Health, mascots, toxic poisoning, extraction-industry leases and right-of-ways, Interior and DoJ corruption, desecration of tribal lands, racism against undocumented native workers, etc., ad five years worth of nauseum. Nothing but picking on poor thinblood Cherokees who hide their racism behind arguments of "sovereignty".

Born in California, you get to use your Dawes Rolls ancestors low BQ to sell your baskets as "native-made", but aren't even willing to allow other Dawes Rolls descendents to have any benefits of citizenship.

"Nope, ya'll are fighting for something you figure everyone OWES you because your ancestors were slaves!!"

Oh good God. I AM NOT A FREEDMAN! NEITHER IS MB! Which of these words do you not understand? How many times do I have to say it? And since you are "done with this group" I guess you never will answer my question about why you insist the Freedmen should be kicked out of the tribe when at least some of them are "Cherokee by blood." I kind of suspect I already know the answer, though.

Local Crank:

"Oh good God. I AM NOT A FREEDMAN! NEITHER IS MB! Which of these words do you not understand? How many times do I have to say it? And since you are "done with this group" I guess you never will answer my question about why you insist the Freedmen should be kicked out of the tribe when at least some of them are "Cherokee by blood." I kind of suspect I already know the answer, though."

It's because she would rather they had white blood in them to lighten the "race" as opposed to having black blood. Plus, it is so much easier to disenfranchise and throw out a people who've had the Cherokee's back for over 2oo years, instead of doing right by the Freedmen/women, like sharing with them ALL that the Cherokee have earned as citizens of the CN.

Everything.

Obviously doing right by the Freedmen/women in Charlotte Coats eyes would be too much of being decent towards the Freedmen/women; better to treat them like shit now, and have the CN face the dire painful consequences later. Charlotte has swallowed racist white supremacy and it shows in her inhumanity towards her fellow Cherokees (Freedmen/women).

Charlotte, God don't like ugly.

And she also has reading comprehension skills; you never said you were a Freedman.

Charlotte, there are some nice "See Spot Run" "Tom and Jane" reading primers out there. I strongly suggest you invest lots of time brushing up on your remedial reading skills.

Sigh.

"or helping to stop the use of Indian Names as sports mascots!"

Hmm.

Well, Charlotte Coats, check this out:

http://kathmanduk2.wordpress.com/2007/06/04/petitions

And Charlotte, lay off the hateful viciousness.

You wouldn't want your blood pressure to explode at 250.

Wouldn't make for a pretty sight.

I don't mean to butt in to your discussion on the Freedmen issue but MB Williams made a comment about LaLaLand voters I just have to speak to. This is a comment I hear all too often.
As a Cherokee, I don't speak for anyone but myself but I know many who agree with me.

You ask how tuned in "We" are here in LaLaLand. We are as tuned in as we can be living away from home and getting treated as outsiders by our own people. The people out here I talk to speak of how their Tribal Councilors ignore their letters, emails or phone calls when we contact them for news of vital issues in the nation (Yes my former Tribal Councilor only contact me or answered me when he needed to ask for my vote and then he didn't give me any answers). Some have expressed that even their own family members won't speak to them on the issues because they don't live in the nation. The Phoenix doesn't tell us anything. The people are afraid to tell us anything for fear (so we hear) of loosing badly needed jobs with the nation or they don't want to talk to us because we left and now we are outsiders. I am one of the lucky ones I guess. I was born and raised in the Vinita area. I may not live in the 14 county area now but my Dad, 3 brothers, numerous cousins, Aunts, Uncles and friends, do. Yes, that and my blood and roots makes it my business.

I want to let you know that there are a lot of Cherokees (some say about 15,000 registered voters) here in California, that are thinking, intelligent people. What they lack is being educated to what is happening there. The only thing most of them hear is when the politicians come and blow sunshine up our pants leg to get our vote. Even then all we hear is what they want us to hear.

If you enlist their help, educate them, treat them as the larger Cherokee family we are, you build yourself a very strong ally who can change our Cherokee world into a Nation we can be proud of. To do differently would be like being involved in a war that you will loose because you don't like the caliber of gun you had to use and refused to shoot it.

According to the CN website the Chief's race drew 13710 votes total. Less than 14,000 voters made the Tribal decisions for the whole nation? Excuse me how many Cherokee Nation citizens are there???? Around 250,000???? I read somewhere that only 4% of the eligible voters actually voted. We can do better than that can't we? What message does that send? It sounds to me that what the Nation really needs is for all its citizens to stand up like real human beings, organize, and put this thing back on track. It would take all of us not just the folks in the Nation.

If we don't do anymore than sit and gripe or remain separated because some think others who don't live in the Nation should not be able to vote absentee, we will see change alright. We will see it change for the worse.
EW Carey

[I've substituted apostrophies for some non-printable characters. ebw]