On March 13, 2008 a meeting between the Honorables
Congresspersons Barney Frank, John Conyers, Diane
Watson,and Mel Watt was held with the Assistant
Secretary of the Interior Carl Artman in Washington
DC. The Congresspersons held the meeting to determine
the DOI position on the freedmen and the DOI plans to
resolve the issue.

http://64.62.196.98/News/2008/007711.asp

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080319_1_A9_spanc00421

Oral arguments have been set at the Washington DC
court of Appeals on the Vann versus Kempthorne case
for May 6th 2008. The Appeals court is reviewing the
district court judge's denials of motions to dismiss
the case which were filed by the Cherokee nation. The
order can be reviewed at the pacer service center

http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/

Marilyn Vann will be featured on www.kkfi.org show
"Guess whose coming to Kansas City on Saturday March
22 2008 at 5pm central time. THose with the internet
can listen online at http://www.kkfi.org/

Mark your calendars for the Descendants of freedmen
genealogy workshop set for April 26th at the Langston
University Oklahoma City campus. The workshop will
begin at 11am and end at 3pm. (The workshop will break
for lunch (participants will be on their own for lunch
as it is not included in the registration fee)).
Registration fee is $15 for non members/non official
supporters. 10 for members and official supporters.
For more information, contact Rhonda Grayson:
dof5ctac@yahoo.com

Freedmen in Muskogee will begin meeting every 2nd
Saturday to share information and learn important
news updates . Meetings will be at the King center.
Please contact Mr HIghtower for more information
Hax.Muskogee@yahoo.com


Our next freedmen meeting will be on Saturday May 17th
at the Rudisill library in TUlsa Oklahoma.

Please visit our conference website for updates on our
June 7th 2008 freedmen conference.
http://www.freedmenconference.com/index.htm
Our conference Chair MS Grayson can be reached at
dof5ctac@yahoo.com

Visit the website: www.thecreekfreedmen.com for
additional news on freedmen issues

WE hope everyone will support the Coffeyville Kansas
Stomp Dance and Powwow on April 18th-April 19th
http://www.coffeyville.edu/news/08powwow.htm

We thank those who attended town hall meetings of
Oklahoma Senator Coburn this week. Our Descendants of
Freedmen Vice President Ron Grahamas well as Senator
Coburn was shown on OETA TV discussing the issue on
March 18th in Okmulgee. Senator Coburn again expressed
his belief in the freedmen treaty rights. Next week,
Oklahoma Congresspersons Cole, Lucas and Fallin will
host Town hall meetings. we encourage constituents to
attend if possible and express your views on the
freedmen issue. http://www.okgop.com/Calendar/

Marilyn Vann
President - Descendants of Freedmen association
www.freedmen5tribes.com 
 

Descendants of Freedmen Association, Freedmen Band of
Cherokee nation and Project A Corporation will host a
Treaty rights demonstration in front of Oklahoma
Congressman Dan Borens Muskogee Office at 431 W
Broadway, Muskogee Oklahoma on Friday February 29th
2008 between 3pm and 5pm.

Boren has been publically outspoken against
legislation such as HR 2824 which ties Cherokee nation
federal funding to continuing freedmen tribal
citizenship. A statement of Support by Oklahoma State
NAACP President Anthony Douglas will be read to the
attendants as well as the National NAACP resolution
supporting HR 2824 which was passed in 2007.

All who support Freedmen treaty rights are invited to
take part in the Demonstration. The attendants will
pass out literature on the freedmen issue.
Additionally, Oklahoma voter applications as well as
Cherokee nation citizen voter applications will be
available for distribution.

A recent column on Freedmen issues by Marilyn Vann was
published in the Muskogee Phoenix:

http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/archivesearch/local_story_052181025.html

We are introducing you to a new website focusing on
Creek Freedmen issues which was started in February
2008
http://www.thecreekfreedmen.com/

Our next Descendants of Freedmen Association meeting
will be on March 15, 2008 in Muskogee Oklahoma at the
Faith Deliverance Christian Center, 901 D Street
Muskogee Oklahoma beginning at 1:30pm. That meeting
will be followed by a meeting of the Freedmen band of
Cherokee nation. Both meetings are free and open to
the general public.

Marilyn Vann
President - Descendants of Freedmen Association
www.freedmen5tribes.com 

  Published February 21, 2008 06:10 pm -

Congresswoman takes heroic freedmen stance


By Marilyn Vann
Guest Columnist


Cherokee Nation Chief Chad Smith and his supporters denounced HR 2824 by U.S. Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif. The bill is designed to strip federal funding from the tribe if it denationalizes Cherokee freedmen citizens.


An ethics complaint against Watson states the bill oversteps her authority. Smith called the congresswoman an outsider who misrepresents facts, and stated that the 1866 Treaty was forced on the Cherokee Nation. Some Cherokee leaders even called HR 2824 a “termination” bill. Smith supporters stated Cherokees want only “Indians” in the tribe. Smith stated that Cherokee freedmen who received land allotments received “reparations.”

The U.S. Supreme Court upholds Congress’ right to pass laws affecting Indian tribes, including federal funding. Cherokee leaders never classed congressional members as “outsiders” who supported bills they requested — including an act which removed United Keetoowah Band’s federal funding.

In 1866, to re-establish relations with the United States, the Cherokee Nation signed a reconstruction treaty granting “the rights of Native Cherokees” to slaves and free blacks living within the tribe in 1861 and their descendants. Federal cases (Redbird, Whitmire) have held that Cherokee freed-men were granted citizenship by treaty and that freedmen citizenship was not forced on the tribe.

Chief Smith states the treaty agreement was forced. Does he believe in the Confederate’s policy of slavery and that the tribe should still have that right?

Smith falsely states that Cherokee freedmen received tribal allotments as reparations. Historically Cherokee citizens owned land in common. Cherokee freedmen received shares of common lands just as other Cherokee citizens — which is no different than that of freed slaves of Confederates who received U.S. citizenship and could receive federal land under the Homestead Act.

Clearly, Cherokee freedmen, whose ancestors came across the Trail of Tears on foot, carrying baggage, shackled and who toiled unpaid for generations, receiving the same equal rights as native Cherokee was reasonable by both the Cherokee Nation and the United States. Both Cherokee Indians and freedmen received U.S. citizenship in 1901.

Smith’s references to Cherokee freedmen as “non-Indians” are misleading. Cherokee freedmen, regardless of “Indian ancestry” or lack of, have legal citizenship guaranteed by the tribe and America. The Dawes rolls listed Cherokee tribal members living between 1902 and 1906 for land allotment purposes and were not simply lists of Indians and non-Indians.

HR2824 is not a termination bill. If passed it will not shut down the tribal council or courts, or remove the chief. The tribe is not forced to continue freedmen citizenship. But if passed the tribe loses federal funding and casino operation rights if not in compliance with the 1866 Treaty. Funding and casino rights will continue after legal compliance.

Cherokee freedmen have treaty rights of federal intervention to protect our tribal citizenship. The Cherokee Nation, which annual receives $300 million in federal funding, has spent millions lobbying Congress under Smith’s leadership to denationalize its slave descendants.

Congresswoman Watson’s brave decision to help the freedmen is like members of Congress who helped black citizens of Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement. She is a heroine for justice of people who have been overlooked and discarded.

If Smith succeeds in breaking the treaty agreement for freedmen citizenship, he will send a termination message to those who desire to have the United States end tribal governments by declaring all Indian treaties void.

No tribe will be safe.


Marilyn Vann
is president of the Descendants of Freedmen Association
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