I am the only person in my family who is actively trying to learn more about the Cherokee culture by learning the language and reconnecting with extended family in Oklahoma. I am also the only female descendant of my great great grandmother who would be able to pass on our clan- that is, if I knew exactly what that means. I know our clan, because I was able to trace it back through genealogy, but the extent of my knowledge is what I’ve read off the Cherokee Nation website. Others may think I’m just being melodramatic, but to me this is a great tragedy.

Personally, I would love for part of the enrollment requirement to be an understanding of the language, religion, etc. Even if it meant that I had to live in Talequah for two years, I would do it. (Even longer, if I could convince my husband!) My ancestors sacrificed so much to give their descendants a better life. Now that our lives are not threatened as Cherokees, I feel like I would be doing such a disservice to my ancestors if I didn’t try to restore that connection to the culture. There are probably people rolling their eyes when they read this, but I genuinely feel this way.

Now I feel very apprehensive about going to Oklahoma to visit. I am very fortunate to have family still there who will welcome me with open arms, but I no longer have any reason to believe that I will be treated as anything but a “wannabe” by anyone else. And somehow, I’m led to believe that it’s my fault. It is somehow my fault for being “too white” and for not knowing enough about the culture. On top of that, I’m at fault for wanting to know more about the culture while being so white, which clearly makes me a “wannabe.” Nevermind the cultural genocide that my ancestors endured. Nevermind that none of us had any choice in the matter.

I usually walk away from Native American events, like Columbus Day protests, with mixed feelings. Inevitably there is an elder who yells out, “The whites have no culture! White culture is the KKK!” And inevitably, there is a small Native child in the audience who is hearing this. What message does this send to our allies? To our mixed-bloods? I can’t speak for the small child, but my instinct is to feel ashamed of the part of me that’s white. Is that what is expected of me?

I feel like I’ve let my ancestors down, and I don’t even know why I feel this way. I feel so alone.

Yet the overwhelming majority of Cherokee who are like this (and there are many), the ones who are quick to demand their CDIB card but never vote in tribal elections, never attend the stompdances, make no effort to preserve the language or culture, are mixed-blood Whites. If the complaint on the Freedmen is that they don’t “identify with us” (and I am sure that complaint is valid about at least some of them), then why is the same standard not applied to mixed-blood Whites? Perhaps the better standard for tribal citizenship is not blood, but cultural awareness and competency. Maybe applicants should face a panel of full-blood Elders to quiz them on tribal history, language, culture and tradition? Of course, the tribe benefits far too much from it’s size, a size possible only due to a lack of minimum blood quanta required, so it seems unlikely to ever change.

You get no argument from me on this. I am not Native American and I take issue with these charlatans as well be they black or white. Hence I respect your arguments and see why you say what you say in many instances. It just seems that these officials deciding these matters are not doing a thorough of distinguishing the genuine Black Native Americans from the “johnny come lately” Native Americans. This denies the Black-Native Americans their recognition and “benefits” that are truly this! That is my issue. Denying a Black Native American the rightful opportunities to be recognize and able to receive benefits is as bad as denying a reservation Native in true need in favor of a well off “fair weather” Native American. I understand the anger there, I just hope some one Black/Native American do not get denied what is due them on this fear, racism, or classism. The black-white divide should not always be but alot of the people making these calls are rich white mixed breeds that were probably not down for the NDN cause till it was cool and bit influential. I may be generalizing, but I do not rule out this scenario because I see mixed white/people of color do this all the time.

Exactly. One third of the Trial of Tears victims are believed to have been black, many no doubt with Native American blood-and their descendants too with both past/present blood. Which is not surprising because 80 % of African Americans are estimated to have Native American blood-with some of them acquainted with Native Americans and married today. Someone states that Cherokees have the agency to decide who to accept. That is true, but don’t Black Native Americans have a right to acknowledge their dual heritage and fight against marginality-especially if they have the proof of this,documentation, and the knowledge of customs.

Vine Deloria jr, once said in order for African Americans to empower themselves, they must tribalize. For time and space defines who you are. It is impossible to connect to a land that you cannot relate to interms of history; family generations and holy places.

Hopefully our coming generations will get the opportunity to really learn the contributions that our Native American nations have made to Democracy, Nationalism, Socialism and even the convoluted Communism; through the Six Leauge of the Iroquoi, though hotly debated against for it’s multicultural posture, is outright racist. The history of the United States begins with runaway peoples of both European and African peoples seeking refuge within “we the people”.

Volumes of truth lives in the hearts of this generation
One that isn’t afraid to speak, and fears not what a racist will do
The Great Spirit has given me the breath of courage
Do not fear voices of our ancestors speak…for we went down fighting
No time to weep

To this modern generation of today, listen
The voices of our ancestors speak
Speaking to the heart of understanding, even though reason appears deceitful
Fight like the warriors of the past, but do it in a way where mental stimulation
is something,to be feared.
Not giving in to the lust of greed, but let the voices of our ancestors lead
us to freedom

Reason if you must, but with the true spirit, voices of our ancestors
continue to represent truth as it’s constantly brought before the light
and like a flame burning through the night, listen closely…you’ll hear the voices of our
ancestors as they ride furiously, confronting life, ready to do battle!

Sheryl D. Martin Cherokee Citizen
P.S. To be an Indian warrior today one must educate their mind, and the best battles
will be won with ink on paper, without blood!

I agree with everything you’ve said, exept this. Blood quanta restrictions are, ultimately, a suicide pact, unless your tribe is very isolated geographically (like the Dine, for example). And that’s exactly what they were intended to be by the white government that invented the entire concept of blood quanta in the first place. Their plan was to “breed” us out of existence by making us more and more “white” (and thus more “civilized”) with each passing generation. If we applied a 1/4 blood quanta restriction, then the greatest chief in Cherokee history, John Ross, wouldn’t even be a member of the tribe he lead for 30 years, since he was “only” 1/8. Nor do I think we should limit membership to those who live (much less those who own property) in Indian Country. Tribes are sovereign nations, after all; a US citizen can live overseas for most of his life, but he doesn’t stop being a US citizen. I think the determining factor should be culture and involvement in the life of the tribe. I would rather see a “thin blood” of 1/256th who has nevertheless tried to learn the language, participates in tribal life, attends the stomp dances, & teaches his or her children the old stories, then 50 1/4th bloods who regard their CDIB card as just another form of ID, never vote, never participate, and ignore the culture and traditions their forefathers fought and died to preserve.

3). Going back to comment #120 again. I agree, the Nation should have a right to decise who is a member and who isn’t. But don’t you think they should be consistent/fair about it. The 2nd box from the top said it all.

The Dawes Rolls were discrimnatory. How can a person who is 50% be out and a person who is 12.5% be in? Blatant racism/colorism, that’s how.

Just for the record, in case my reasonableness is in question, I also agree that having a great, great great, great whatever shouldn’t count. You should at least 25%. ( applying to those not currently on a rez and/or don’t own property)

Well whatever…!
My grandmother was black Cherokee, now how about that?
If this is what she was—this is what she was. I for one am not about to deny it just because some look down on us for not being fullbloods or you just don’t want other races in your ranks. That’s YOUR issue.
What’s more my fiance’s father was half Seminole. He’s a Floridian. It’s ‘nole country. lol. And I had a friend who was some parts Creek.

Anyway it’s not like any of us are running around trying to join the Cherokee Nation, or Creek and Seminole orgs or anything. It’s not like we consider ourselves to be full-bloods here.
I don’t know anyone with Native blood who claims it for the money and assets. That’s not what it’s about.

I did think this whole incident was sad and uncalled fore…UNTIL I ran into this woman, then I rethought things.
She said that her great great grandfather owned land in a Cherokee reservation and she wanted to know if there was a way that she could prove blood relations with the Cherokees.

So I say, “Well nothing appreciates like real estate but….what a minute–are you of cherokee blood or are you just trying to get at their land?”

I mean how unethical is that? Really…?
I told her about what was going on with Black Cherokees and told her to be wary. I wasn’t sure if white people would face the same issues.
I told her that if she did make it in to at least try to learn about the culture so she could develop some respect for it.
It shameless.
So…I do understand why they did such a thing. They must protect their own interests and people. Would be better if they did it to everyone though.

That is the understatement of the century (literally).

Ah well, the century is only 6 years old.

For example, the Cherokee are entitled through (at least) two treaties to have a delegatre to Congress. Do you see a Cherokee delegate to Congress? Have you ever?

You will no doubt be able to point out others, but I’ve only found one treaty that talks about a Cherokee delegate to Congress (1835), which says that the Cherokee will be entitled to a delegate in the House of Representatives “whenever Congress shall make provision for the same.” So I guess if the Cherokee want their delegate, they’re going to start sending cards and letters to their representatives in Congress. As I said, though, a lot has changed since 1835 (and since 1866), and an argument can be made that since NA’s are now U.S. citizens, they can participate in the election of representatives in the districts where they live and therefore no longer have a need for a delegate to represent them (unlike residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, D.C. etc.).

A similar argument can be made on behalf of those CN members who want to kick out the Freedmen: times have changed since 1866, and the freedmen also are now citizens of the U.S. and of the state where they live, so loss of Cherokee citizenship won’t render them stateless.

Really, the only thing the feds could do is the same thing they did to the Okla. Seminole, claim that a tribal council elected without the Freedmen is fraudulent and cut off their BIA funding. CN, being relatively self-sufficient, could weather that better than the Seminole, but not forever. And I’m sure the UKB would immediately file suit to claim all the federal funds.

First, I’m not convinced that the Feds *should* do anything. If the CN has made a mess (as many people both inside and outside the tribe seem to think), perhaps the best thing is to let them fix it. So, if the Feds do decide to take action, I hope it’s limited to the BIA cutting off funding. However, between Judge Kennedy’s innovative jurisprudence and the Congressional Black Caucus’s taking up the Freedmen’s cause, I wouldn’t count on it. As for the UKB, its disputes with the CN seem like a family quarrel that we outsiders won’t ever really understand.

That is the understatement of the century (literally). For example, the Cherokee are entitled through (at least) two treaties to have a delegatre to Congress. Do you see a Cherokee delegate to Congress? Have you ever?
Really, the only thing the feds could do is the same thing they did to the Okla. Seminole, claim that a tribal council elected without the Freedmen is fraudulent and cut off their BIA funding. CN, being relatively self-sufficient, could weather that better than the Seminole, but not forever. And I’m sure the UKB would immediately file suit to claim all the federal funds.