Cherokee Nation faulted for ousting Freedmen

by angryindian | October 1, 2007 at 01:20 pm

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Indianz.Com > News > Cherokee Nation faulted for ousting Freedmen A former leader of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma faulted his tribe on Friday for ousting the descendants of former African slaves.

Former principal chief Joe Byrd said the tribe's March referendum to deny citizenship to the Freedmen smacked of racism. He called on his successor, Chad Smith, to "do the right thing" and put an end to an issue that has generated significant national legal and political controversy.

"We were all created equal," Byrd said at a Congressional Black Caucus panel in Washington, D.C. "Do not look at the color of ones' skin to justify or try to rationalize your decisions."

Byrd said tribes have a right to define their membership. But the Cherokee Nation's 1866 treaty with the United States requires the Freedmen and their descendants to be treated just like other Cherokees, he said.

"The Freedmen came with us on the Trail of Tears," he recalled. "They delivered babies with us. They died with us. They ate with us. They buried our dead. They were one of us."

Watson invited Joe Byrd as a panelist at her CBC legislative conference. Watson aligned has herself with former Principal Chief by default, Joe Byrd, a disgruntled Cherokee Nation political loser who has not only attacked the candidate to whom he lost his bid for re-lection, Principal Chief Chad Smith, but also former Cherokee Nation Principal Chiefs Wilma Mankiller and Ross Swimmer. Joe Byrd voted in 88, 92 and 93 to require "by blood" to be a citizen". Byrd denied it to reporters today. Byrd was responsible for one of the worst constitutional crisis in modern day Cherokee history. Citizens who don't know their history, are bound to repeat it. The summary attached clears up why Byrd would align himself with Watson... Byrd's denial to reporters today regarding his "by blood" citizenship vote are typical of Byrd who has a pathological problem with "lying."

Watson also invited David Cornsilk to her panel. David Cornsilk, like Joe Byrd is a malcontent candidate who lost his race for a seat on the Cherokee Nation Council, and a disgruntled former employee of the Cherokee Nation with a long history of fabricating the truth about individuals, leaders and elected officials of the Cherokee Nation. He has never held a steady job for very long with any company. He has spent more than a decade criticizing every Cherokee Nation leader in modern time including his co-panelist on Watson's panel today former Cherokee Chief by default Joe Byrd, Chad Smith, Wilma Mankiller and Ross Swimmer.
Watson also invited Ed Crittenden to her panel. Ed Crittenden has been arrested for possession of illegal drugs. He has threatened and accosted Cherokee representatives. Cherokee County public records show a restraining for one Eddie Crittenden.

Each have a common goal and that is to by hook or by crook run the Cherokee Nation without the constitutional required common consent of the Cherokee people or respect for the law.

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Cherokee Nation faulted for ousting Freedmen

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