Congratulations to NATO for helping to oust Moammar Ghadafi from tribal Libya. Now, if we can get the BIA and Department of Interior to show the same backbone with some of the tyrants in our sovereign Indian Nations...
Deny federal funds to tribes that harm their own people.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
CA Tribes Don't Want Enterprise Rancheria to Have Gaming Like They DO. Oppose the Competition, Not Enterprise's Civil Rights Abuses
A group of tribes, including several with casinos near Yuba-Sutter, have written Gov. Jerry Brown a letter opposing the Enterprise Rancheria casino in Yuba County. None raise the spectre of the civil rights abuses that the Enterprise Rancheria has heaped on their people.
Specifically, the letter opposes what its authors call "reservation shopping," or the practice of a tribe looking for lands to build a casino far from where it is based.
"A tribe should not be permitted to acquire land for gaming anywhere it chooses within the State," the letter to Brown, dated Sept. 30, states. "Substantial weight should be given to a tribe's historic connection to the land because to ignore a lack of connection would seriously undermine tribal sovereignty."
Among those listed as signatories to the letter are chairs for the United Auburn Indian Community, Mooretown Rancheria and Colusa Indian Community, which operate casinos in Placer, Butte and Colusa counties, respectively.
Rancheria tribal members have said Yuba County is within their tribal boundaries, while pointing out their true ancestral home is now covered by Lake Oroville.
Specifically, the letter opposes what its authors call "reservation shopping," or the practice of a tribe looking for lands to build a casino far from where it is based.
"A tribe should not be permitted to acquire land for gaming anywhere it chooses within the State," the letter to Brown, dated Sept. 30, states. "Substantial weight should be given to a tribe's historic connection to the land because to ignore a lack of connection would seriously undermine tribal sovereignty."
Among those listed as signatories to the letter are chairs for the United Auburn Indian Community, Mooretown Rancheria and Colusa Indian Community, which operate casinos in Placer, Butte and Colusa counties, respectively.
Rancheria tribal members have said Yuba County is within their tribal boundaries, while pointing out their true ancestral home is now covered by Lake Oroville.
Cherokee Nation Supreme Court DENIES Chad Smith Appeal; Cites Math Issue
In a SWIFT DECISION, The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court has dismissed former principal chief Chad Smith’s appeal in the tribe’s special election, apparently ending the months-long contested principal chief's race.
Chief-elect Bill John Baker will be sworn in at 7:30 p.m. today on the steps of the Cherokee Nation Courthouse, said his attorney, Kalyn Free.
Earlier this week, Baker had announced inauguration plans for Nov. 6. However, Cherokee election law allows a candidate to take office once the appeal period is over. Election law only allows for one appeal.
At 1:30 p.m., the court issued the order denying Smith’s appeal and his request for an expedited appeal hearing, claiming Smith had not shown sufficient cause.
The appeal, filed Monday, contested the election’s certified results due to the inclusion of votes cast by freedmen descendants and additional ballots cast after Sept. 24. Those ballots were allowed as part of a federal court order.
Chief-elect Bill John Baker will be sworn in at 7:30 p.m. today on the steps of the Cherokee Nation Courthouse, said his attorney, Kalyn Free.
Earlier this week, Baker had announced inauguration plans for Nov. 6. However, Cherokee election law allows a candidate to take office once the appeal period is over. Election law only allows for one appeal.
At 1:30 p.m., the court issued the order denying Smith’s appeal and his request for an expedited appeal hearing, claiming Smith had not shown sufficient cause.
The appeal, filed Monday, contested the election’s certified results due to the inclusion of votes cast by freedmen descendants and additional ballots cast after Sept. 24. Those ballots were allowed as part of a federal court order.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Theft of Large Amount of Money from Santa Ysable Casino; Will Pale in Comparison to What Tribes Steal from Their People
Authorities are investigating the theft of what they called a large amount of money from the Santa Ysabel.
Deputies were called to the casino on Highway 79 southeast of Lake Henshaw Monday just after 8 a.m., sheriff’s officials said. Investigators with the Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and the California Department of Justice are investigating.
They have not said how much money was stolen or how the theft was discovered.
We wrote about former chairman Johnny Hernandez here
Deputies were called to the casino on Highway 79 southeast of Lake Henshaw Monday just after 8 a.m., sheriff’s officials said. Investigators with the Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and the California Department of Justice are investigating.
They have not said how much money was stolen or how the theft was discovered.
We wrote about former chairman Johnny Hernandez here
Yes, As Expected, Chad Smith SUES to Stop Bill John Baker from Being Sworn in As Principal Chief: UPDATE: SMITH MATH CHALLENGED
See UPDATE Below! LOL
To nobody's surprise, the Cherokee Indians' FORMER principal chief, who led a campaign to remove African-American slave descendants, knows as the Freedmen from the tribe, filed an appeal on Monday to stop his successor from taking office after losing a reelection bid, by a huge margin.. We believe that ALL federal monies be withheld from the Cherokee Nation until the Freedmen have resumed their proper place.
Chad "Corntassel" Smith wants an injunction to bar Bill John Baker, elected to replace him as chief, from being sworn in until a federal court determines if black members of the tribe known as "freedmen" are entitled to citizenship in the nation's second largest Indian tribe.
Smith, who lost the leadership poll by more than 1,500 votes, filed the appeal with the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court, whose judges he appointed during his 12-year administration.
Baker, a longtime member of the tribal council, said he was disappointed by Smith's move.
"It's time for him to abide by the will of the people," he said. As we who are descended from original Pechanga people, we know that the "will of the people" means very little to corrupt tribal councils.
The Cherokee election has been unusual from the start. An initial election in June featured four recounts that yielded differing results. Charges of vote tampering were raised but never proven, but, really, WHO had the power to do it?.
The Cherokee Supreme Court then ordered a new election for September, but added fuel to the political fire with an August ruling that banished 2,800 black members from the tribe in a move seen as aiding Smith.
The freedmen supported his challenger, Baker, because of Smith's efforts to ban the descendants of slaves owned by tribe members in the pre-Civil War era from citizenship. They see Baker as less hostile to their membership.
The freedmen, backed by the federal government, say they are guaranteed tribal citizenship by the Treaty of 1866 with the U.S. government, while Smith and some other Cherokee believe all members should have an ancestral Indian blood link.
The freedmen eventually regained their voting rights with the help of the federal government, which withheld funds from the tribe to pressure it into an out-of-court settlement. But the status of the freedmen is expected to remain an issue in the courts.
Smith said the agreement violates tribal law, while Baker said he would have won the election even if the freedmen had not been allowed to vote.
Face it Chad Smith, YOU ARE NOT WANTED.
EMBARRASSING UPDATE FOR CHAD SMITH:
Even if votes from every eligible descendant of slaves once owned by the Cherokee tribe are not allowed to count in a special election for chief of the tribe, challenger Bill John Baker still would unseat Former Chief Chad Smith by more than 300 votes.
About 1,233 of the 2,800 freedmen were eligible to vote in the contest, which began Sept. 24 and ended Oct. 8. Many of the freedmen were figured to have supported Baker in his race against Smith.
To nobody's surprise, the Cherokee Indians' FORMER principal chief, who led a campaign to remove African-American slave descendants, knows as the Freedmen from the tribe, filed an appeal on Monday to stop his successor from taking office after losing a reelection bid, by a huge margin.. We believe that ALL federal monies be withheld from the Cherokee Nation until the Freedmen have resumed their proper place.
Chad "Corntassel" Smith wants an injunction to bar Bill John Baker, elected to replace him as chief, from being sworn in until a federal court determines if black members of the tribe known as "freedmen" are entitled to citizenship in the nation's second largest Indian tribe.
Smith, who lost the leadership poll by more than 1,500 votes, filed the appeal with the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court, whose judges he appointed during his 12-year administration.
Baker, a longtime member of the tribal council, said he was disappointed by Smith's move.
"It's time for him to abide by the will of the people," he said. As we who are descended from original Pechanga people, we know that the "will of the people" means very little to corrupt tribal councils.
The Cherokee election has been unusual from the start. An initial election in June featured four recounts that yielded differing results. Charges of vote tampering were raised but never proven, but, really, WHO had the power to do it?.
The Cherokee Supreme Court then ordered a new election for September, but added fuel to the political fire with an August ruling that banished 2,800 black members from the tribe in a move seen as aiding Smith.
The freedmen supported his challenger, Baker, because of Smith's efforts to ban the descendants of slaves owned by tribe members in the pre-Civil War era from citizenship. They see Baker as less hostile to their membership.
The freedmen, backed by the federal government, say they are guaranteed tribal citizenship by the Treaty of 1866 with the U.S. government, while Smith and some other Cherokee believe all members should have an ancestral Indian blood link.
The freedmen eventually regained their voting rights with the help of the federal government, which withheld funds from the tribe to pressure it into an out-of-court settlement. But the status of the freedmen is expected to remain an issue in the courts.
Smith said the agreement violates tribal law, while Baker said he would have won the election even if the freedmen had not been allowed to vote.
Face it Chad Smith, YOU ARE NOT WANTED.
EMBARRASSING UPDATE FOR CHAD SMITH:
Even if votes from every eligible descendant of slaves once owned by the Cherokee tribe are not allowed to count in a special election for chief of the tribe, challenger Bill John Baker still would unseat Former Chief Chad Smith by more than 300 votes.
About 1,233 of the 2,800 freedmen were eligible to vote in the contest, which began Sept. 24 and ended Oct. 8. Many of the freedmen were figured to have supported Baker in his race against Smith.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Redding Rancheria Tribal Council Member Jack Potter Jr. Arrested for FTA
Another of Northern California's Tribal Council members, this time from Redding Rancheria has a mugshot for his arrest. Shasta Mugshots has it up. Jack PotterJr. is the offender
The Redding Rancheria is well known for terminating the family of their original tribal chairman, after forcing them to dig up their ancestors gravesites to provide DNA. Does Jack look like the type that would go along with that?
 |
| Jack Potter Jr. who won't win any photogenic contests. |
Elouise Cobell, Victorious In Fight to Have U.S. Government Account for Indian Land Royalties, Dies at 65
Elouise Cobell, the Blackfeet woman who led a 15-year legal fight to force the U.S. government to account for more than a century of mismanaged Indian land royalties, died Sunday. She was 65.
Cobell died at a Great Falls hospital of complications from cancer, spokesman Bill McAllister said.
Cobell was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed in 1996 claiming the Interior Department had misspent, lost or stolen billions of dollars meant for Native American land trust account holders dating back to the 1880s.
After years of legal wrangling, the two sides in 2009 agreed to settle for $3.4 billion, the largest government class-action settlement in U.S. history. The beneficiaries are estimated to be about 500,000 people.
Asked what she wanted her legacy to be, Cobell said in a 2010 interview with The Associated Press that she hoped she would inspire a new generation of Native Americans to fight for the rights of others and lift their community out of poverty.
"Maybe one of these days, they won't even think about me. They'll just keep going and say, 'This is because I did it,'" Cobell said. "I never started this case with any intentions of being a hero. I just wanted this case to give justice to people that didn't have it."
President Barack Obama released a statement that said Cobell's work provided a measure of justice to hundreds of thousands of Native Americans, will give more people access to higher education and will give tribes more control over their own lands.
Cobell died at a Great Falls hospital of complications from cancer, spokesman Bill McAllister said.
Cobell was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed in 1996 claiming the Interior Department had misspent, lost or stolen billions of dollars meant for Native American land trust account holders dating back to the 1880s.
After years of legal wrangling, the two sides in 2009 agreed to settle for $3.4 billion, the largest government class-action settlement in U.S. history. The beneficiaries are estimated to be about 500,000 people.
Asked what she wanted her legacy to be, Cobell said in a 2010 interview with The Associated Press that she hoped she would inspire a new generation of Native Americans to fight for the rights of others and lift their community out of poverty.
"Maybe one of these days, they won't even think about me. They'll just keep going and say, 'This is because I did it,'" Cobell said. "I never started this case with any intentions of being a hero. I just wanted this case to give justice to people that didn't have it."
President Barack Obama released a statement that said Cobell's work provided a measure of justice to hundreds of thousands of Native Americans, will give more people access to higher education and will give tribes more control over their own lands.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Violent Offenders Taken Down at Pechanga Resort and Casino. Who says casinos Don't Bring Crime
Riverside Sheriffs took down a violent offender at the Pechanga Resort and Casino. And no, they weren't tribal members, although there are several felons from the tribe who are always around. You may recall the recent meth-related arrest of one tribal member in recent months.
Deputies shortly after 6 a.m. went to the casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, because security there said that one of the suspects from a theft that ocurred Friday had reappeared on the reservation, sheriff's Sgt. Will Edwards said.
The suspect was identified as 43-year-old Oceanside resident Thomas Paul Allen.
As deputies were sorting Allen out, casino security officers advises them that a second suspect was headed their way. Deputies collared a suspect who provided a false name but was later identified as David Roll, 49, of Fallbrook.
"As deputies were detaining Roll, he began to pull away from the deputies in an attempt to flee," Edwards wrote in a released statement.
During a brief struggle, Pechanga Casino security officers helped deputies detain Roll. Excellent work by both, we'll have a story up next week on the anniversary of the beating of a Pechanga Casino patron, at least this time, it was bad guys.....
During the struggle, a loaded gun dropped from his waistband, Edwards said.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Roll has an outstanding felony warrant out of San Diego for a weapons and explosive charge and is a convicted felon, according to the sergeant.
Deputies shortly after 6 a.m. went to the casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, because security there said that one of the suspects from a theft that ocurred Friday had reappeared on the reservation, sheriff's Sgt. Will Edwards said.
The suspect was identified as 43-year-old Oceanside resident Thomas Paul Allen.
As deputies were sorting Allen out, casino security officers advises them that a second suspect was headed their way. Deputies collared a suspect who provided a false name but was later identified as David Roll, 49, of Fallbrook.
"As deputies were detaining Roll, he began to pull away from the deputies in an attempt to flee," Edwards wrote in a released statement.
During a brief struggle, Pechanga Casino security officers helped deputies detain Roll. Excellent work by both, we'll have a story up next week on the anniversary of the beating of a Pechanga Casino patron, at least this time, it was bad guys.....
During the struggle, a loaded gun dropped from his waistband, Edwards said.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Roll has an outstanding felony warrant out of San Diego for a weapons and explosive charge and is a convicted felon, according to the sergeant.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Carter Center Urges Former Cherokee Principal Chief Chad Smith to Accept Results of Special Election
Time to end this Chad.
The Center congratulates Principal Chief Elect Bill John Baker on his successful campaign. The Center encourages Chadwick Smith to once again demonstrate his proven leadership by accepting the results and working with Mr. Baker to restore the confidence of the Cherokee people in the electoral process.
The Center congratulates Principal Chief Elect Bill John Baker on his successful campaign. The Center encourages Chadwick Smith to once again demonstrate his proven leadership by accepting the results and working with Mr. Baker to restore the confidence of the Cherokee people in the electoral process.
Tribal Leaders Try to Present United Front; Lack of Attendance Noticeable
Less than 150 tribal representatives from the more than 550 tribes in the United Stated tried to present a "united" front to Congress. It really shows the apathy and difficulty of standing together as a group.
It does point to the need for those disenfranchised Indians, including those in moratoriums, unlawfully banished and those who have been stripped of their citizenship, to stand together. AIRRO is an organization that stands up for those of us wh have been disenfranchised.
Dozens of tribal leaders embarked on the nation’s capital this week in an effort to present a united front to Congress on a swath of issues impacting Indian country—most important among them, protecting Native programs from cuts in the current budgetary climate.
The three-day gathering, hosted by the National Congress of American Indians, culminated October 11 in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing room in the Dirksen Senate Office Building with a sometimes-tense strategy session. Among the top issues discussed were protecting the Indian affairs federal budget; securing a congressional Carcieri fix to the land-into-trust mess created by the Supreme Court in 2009; and best practices for uniting the divergent interests of 565 unique federally-recognized tribes. Ideas for preventing violence toward Indian women were also highlighted. See Story on Tribal Lobbyists HERE
On the federal budget, tribal leaders generally appeared apprehensive because they know that the current atmosphere in Washington is filled with a desire by lawmakers to cut funding to a variety of programs in an attempt to make up the large budget shortfall. In many cases, tribal leaders feel that some uninformed Congress members do not understand how much good funding for tribal programs does—and how much more is needed to rectify issues of poverty on many reservations.
“There is still an effort to do away with [federal] trust responsibility for tribes,” said Jefferson Keel, president of NCAI, in a speech kicking off the session. He was referring to specific proposals released this year by some Republican lawmakers that would slash funding to Indians—without regard to the unique constitutional- and law-based status that is supposed to protect tribes.
Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., a member of the all-important congressional “super committee,” charged with finding an additional $1.5 trillion in debt savings over a ten-year period, told tribal leaders that there is “nothing like pressing the flesh” to be sure they are heard. “Make sure you explain how much folks where you live have sacrificed,” he said in remarks.
Most of the tribal leaders in town visited congressional offices throughout Capitol Hill to do just that—with talking points in hand. Their main messages on the budget, Carcieri, and other issues were highlighted in a letter sent from NCAI members to Congress members, which noted, “Tribes and tribal entities have patiently participated in the political process, but recognizing the urgency of these pressing issues, we are now increasing our call for congressional action.” The letter said, too, that tribes expect Congress to “act in a timely manner” on issues of tribal sovereignty and governance. A Carcieri fix, supported by the Obama administration even when Democrats were in control of both congressional chambers, has already been stalled for over two years and counting.
It does point to the need for those disenfranchised Indians, including those in moratoriums, unlawfully banished and those who have been stripped of their citizenship, to stand together. AIRRO is an organization that stands up for those of us wh have been disenfranchised.
Dozens of tribal leaders embarked on the nation’s capital this week in an effort to present a united front to Congress on a swath of issues impacting Indian country—most important among them, protecting Native programs from cuts in the current budgetary climate.
The three-day gathering, hosted by the National Congress of American Indians, culminated October 11 in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing room in the Dirksen Senate Office Building with a sometimes-tense strategy session. Among the top issues discussed were protecting the Indian affairs federal budget; securing a congressional Carcieri fix to the land-into-trust mess created by the Supreme Court in 2009; and best practices for uniting the divergent interests of 565 unique federally-recognized tribes. Ideas for preventing violence toward Indian women were also highlighted. See Story on Tribal Lobbyists HERE
On the federal budget, tribal leaders generally appeared apprehensive because they know that the current atmosphere in Washington is filled with a desire by lawmakers to cut funding to a variety of programs in an attempt to make up the large budget shortfall. In many cases, tribal leaders feel that some uninformed Congress members do not understand how much good funding for tribal programs does—and how much more is needed to rectify issues of poverty on many reservations.
“There is still an effort to do away with [federal] trust responsibility for tribes,” said Jefferson Keel, president of NCAI, in a speech kicking off the session. He was referring to specific proposals released this year by some Republican lawmakers that would slash funding to Indians—without regard to the unique constitutional- and law-based status that is supposed to protect tribes.
Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., a member of the all-important congressional “super committee,” charged with finding an additional $1.5 trillion in debt savings over a ten-year period, told tribal leaders that there is “nothing like pressing the flesh” to be sure they are heard. “Make sure you explain how much folks where you live have sacrificed,” he said in remarks.
Most of the tribal leaders in town visited congressional offices throughout Capitol Hill to do just that—with talking points in hand. Their main messages on the budget, Carcieri, and other issues were highlighted in a letter sent from NCAI members to Congress members, which noted, “Tribes and tribal entities have patiently participated in the political process, but recognizing the urgency of these pressing issues, we are now increasing our call for congressional action.” The letter said, too, that tribes expect Congress to “act in a timely manner” on issues of tribal sovereignty and governance. A Carcieri fix, supported by the Obama administration even when Democrats were in control of both congressional chambers, has already been stalled for over two years and counting.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Sen. Dianne Feinstein OPPOSES Enterprise Rancheria Casino, But for the Wrong Reasons. Barbara Boxer also Silent on Civil Rights Issues In Indian Country
Senator Feinstein should oppose this casino because Enterprise Rancheria has violated the civil rights of it's own people and because they are not good citizens. If they cheat their own people, like other tribes such as Pechanga, Redding, Picayune do here in CA, won't they cheat their customers? We wrote about Senator Feinstein’s bill here Our Senator's Feinstein and Barbara Boxer have been sadly silent on the civil rights issue.
"The Department of Interior's conclusion that the proposed casinos enjoy 'strong community support' is simply false," she wrote in the letter. "Of the 21 local officials polled by the Department of the Interior on the Yuba Casino, only one (Yuba County) supported the project ..."
Feinstein also noted a 2005 advisory vote in Yuba County in which 52 percent opposed the casino, and the 2000 statewide proposition giving the OK to Indian casinos referred to them being on Indian lands.
The Yuba County casino and another one she opposes in Madera County are being built outside those lands, she wrote. Enterprise Rancheria, based in Oroville, has said Yuba County was part of its ancestral tribal area.
With 67 new casinos since 2000, Feinstein also said in the letter, California is significantly saturated.
Among those Feinstein listed as locals opposed to the casino is Supervisor Roger Abe, who said he hopes the letter carries weight with Brown.
"I'm not sure what's going to have the biggest influence on Gov. Brown," he said, adding that 60 percent of voters in his district, which includes Wheatland and the casino site, opposed it in the 2005 vote.
Others listed as opposing the casino are former supervisor and now-Assemblyman Dan Logue and Supervisor Andy Vasquez.
Read more about the leadership of Enterprise Rancheria Chairman Glenda Nelson here
The Appeal Democrat has the story
We wrote about gaming compacts that misfired: Sycuan Bails On Gaming Compact
And also what some tribes have stolen which is now reaching $500 BILLION in California alone
"The Department of Interior's conclusion that the proposed casinos enjoy 'strong community support' is simply false," she wrote in the letter. "Of the 21 local officials polled by the Department of the Interior on the Yuba Casino, only one (Yuba County) supported the project ..."
Feinstein also noted a 2005 advisory vote in Yuba County in which 52 percent opposed the casino, and the 2000 statewide proposition giving the OK to Indian casinos referred to them being on Indian lands.
The Yuba County casino and another one she opposes in Madera County are being built outside those lands, she wrote. Enterprise Rancheria, based in Oroville, has said Yuba County was part of its ancestral tribal area.
With 67 new casinos since 2000, Feinstein also said in the letter, California is significantly saturated.
Among those Feinstein listed as locals opposed to the casino is Supervisor Roger Abe, who said he hopes the letter carries weight with Brown.
"I'm not sure what's going to have the biggest influence on Gov. Brown," he said, adding that 60 percent of voters in his district, which includes Wheatland and the casino site, opposed it in the 2005 vote.
Others listed as opposing the casino are former supervisor and now-Assemblyman Dan Logue and Supervisor Andy Vasquez.
Read more about the leadership of Enterprise Rancheria Chairman Glenda Nelson here
The Appeal Democrat has the story
We wrote about gaming compacts that misfired: Sycuan Bails On Gaming Compact
And also what some tribes have stolen which is now reaching $500 BILLION in California alone
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Cherokee Freedmen DEMAND Federal Protection after Tribal Court Order
The Federal Government, which supplies nearly 70% of the funding for the Cherokee Nation, should step in an protect the decendents of Cherokee Slaves and not allow them to break a treaty and be rewarded with our money.
Here is a press release from The Cherokee Freedmen:
On October 11, 2011, in the middle of counting ballots in the Cherokee Principal chiefs election, the Cherokee tribal supreme court attempted to overturn an order in the case Vann versus Salazar signed by Federal judge Kennedy, as well as the US Department of Interior which insured participation by Cherokee freedmen citizens in the election for Principal Chief and continued citizenship of the freedmen unless otherwise ordered by the Federal Court. On October 11 2011 tribal Supreme Court struck the Federal order as being unenforceable as being binding on the Acting Principal Chief and not the tribe itself. The Tribal court also held Judge Kennedys order to be a violation of the tribal Supreme Court order filed August 22 2011 which removed citizenship from the freedmen.
Subsequently, tribal Attorney General Hammonds stated that the tribal court could not set aside orders by a federal judge and that Freedmen citizenship would continue under Federal court order approved on September 21 2011 in Cherokee Nation Vs Nash Federal case.
Marilyn Vann, a Cherokee freedmen citizen and President of the Descendants of Freedmen Association stated: “The freedmen people are tired of tribal leaders who play the race card and manipulate tribal elections to block freedmen participation in the Principal Chief election. Freedmen people have driven on their own funds from as far away as Dallas, Kansas City, and Nashville to exercise their rights to vote. I myself drove 160 miles each way to vote.
The tribe is subject to US law, just as individuals who don’t control hundreds of millions of casino dollars. It is a violation of the tribal constitution to not follow US laws. I believe that it is not a coincidence that the tribal court attempted to block the freedmen from voting this year just prior to absentee ballots being sent out and now in the middle of the count tries to stop our votes from being counted. Tribal court judges who don’t want to follow the law should resign from the bench. We remind the public that the tribal court judges were appointed by the former principal chief and may very well fear losing their positions if he is not reelected. Most of these same judges counted un-notarized ballots and refused to hear evidence of fraud in order to allow an anti freedmen petition to be placed on the ballot before tribal voters in 2007. We call upon the Department of Interior to not recognize the election of any principal chief who is elected without freedmen participation.
The US government must be willing to protect the 1866 treaty in Federal court in 2011 just as they did when the Seminole nation blocked freedmen citizens from voting several years ago in tribal elections. Assistant Interior Secretary Echo Hawk publicized his willingness to protect the 1866 treaty on September 9th.
Is this a nation where only poor freedmen widows and disabled veterans must follow the law and not those who control casino wealth? That remains to be seen.”
Here is a press release from The Cherokee Freedmen:
On October 11, 2011, in the middle of counting ballots in the Cherokee Principal chiefs election, the Cherokee tribal supreme court attempted to overturn an order in the case Vann versus Salazar signed by Federal judge Kennedy, as well as the US Department of Interior which insured participation by Cherokee freedmen citizens in the election for Principal Chief and continued citizenship of the freedmen unless otherwise ordered by the Federal Court. On October 11 2011 tribal Supreme Court struck the Federal order as being unenforceable as being binding on the Acting Principal Chief and not the tribe itself. The Tribal court also held Judge Kennedys order to be a violation of the tribal Supreme Court order filed August 22 2011 which removed citizenship from the freedmen.
Subsequently, tribal Attorney General Hammonds stated that the tribal court could not set aside orders by a federal judge and that Freedmen citizenship would continue under Federal court order approved on September 21 2011 in Cherokee Nation Vs Nash Federal case.
Marilyn Vann, a Cherokee freedmen citizen and President of the Descendants of Freedmen Association stated: “The freedmen people are tired of tribal leaders who play the race card and manipulate tribal elections to block freedmen participation in the Principal Chief election. Freedmen people have driven on their own funds from as far away as Dallas, Kansas City, and Nashville to exercise their rights to vote. I myself drove 160 miles each way to vote.
The tribe is subject to US law, just as individuals who don’t control hundreds of millions of casino dollars. It is a violation of the tribal constitution to not follow US laws. I believe that it is not a coincidence that the tribal court attempted to block the freedmen from voting this year just prior to absentee ballots being sent out and now in the middle of the count tries to stop our votes from being counted. Tribal court judges who don’t want to follow the law should resign from the bench. We remind the public that the tribal court judges were appointed by the former principal chief and may very well fear losing their positions if he is not reelected. Most of these same judges counted un-notarized ballots and refused to hear evidence of fraud in order to allow an anti freedmen petition to be placed on the ballot before tribal voters in 2007. We call upon the Department of Interior to not recognize the election of any principal chief who is elected without freedmen participation.
The US government must be willing to protect the 1866 treaty in Federal court in 2011 just as they did when the Seminole nation blocked freedmen citizens from voting several years ago in tribal elections. Assistant Interior Secretary Echo Hawk publicized his willingness to protect the 1866 treaty on September 9th.
Is this a nation where only poor freedmen widows and disabled veterans must follow the law and not those who control casino wealth? That remains to be seen.”
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Unofficial Cherokee Election Results BILL JOHN BAKER WINS!
UNOFFICIAL CHEROKEE CHIEF RESULTS: Bill John Baker wins, 10,633, to Chad Smith's 9,099. That's 53.89 percent, to 46.11 percent. This does not include approximately 150 challenged ballots, which will be tallied later today.
Tahlequah Daily Press has the story. It appears the vote total was over 19,000 versus about 15,000 the last election. Strong feelings of shenanigans seems to have brought the voters to cast out Chad Smith
Tahlequah Daily Press has the story. It appears the vote total was over 19,000 versus about 15,000 the last election. Strong feelings of shenanigans seems to have brought the voters to cast out Chad Smith
UPDATE to BREAKING NEWS: Cherokee Nation Supreme court INVALIDATING Freedmen agreement with Tribe
The Tahlequah Daily Press is reporting that: The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court just issued an order saying the agreement between the tribe and the plaintiffs in the federal court case – namely the Freedmen – is in direct violation of the CN Constitution. In other words, the CN Supreme Court will NOT recognize the Freedmen. If the Freedmen votes are counted today, they will be in direct violation of the Supreme Court order. No word yet from the Election Commission on how this will be handled.
Developing.
Decision will NOT affect outcome of the election.
UPDATE: AG Diane Hammons says the ruling on the Freedmen will NOT affect the outcome of the election: "Our Cherokee Supreme Court ... cannot set aside a federal court order. The orders ... temporarily gave the Freedmen their citizenship rights back. ... The Election Commission is proceeding with counting absentee ballots... until a certified result is reached. ... [We in] the Cherokee Nation... pride ourselves on being true to [our] laws. Chief Crittenden and I agreed to the temporary order because it was far less intrusive ... to our tribal government than what the plaintiffs had sought. We faced the potential loss of federal funding, interference with our governmental relationship with the U.S., and the prospect of not having a determinative election for our chief. ... The temporary order merely restored the disenrolled Freedmen to the status quo they had enjoyed at the time of the original election in June. We had first asked our own Court to reconsider its original decision and restore the status quo, so the issue could be settled under tribal law, as it should be, but the court declined to act."
Developing.
Decision will NOT affect outcome of the election.
UPDATE: AG Diane Hammons says the ruling on the Freedmen will NOT affect the outcome of the election: "Our Cherokee Supreme Court ... cannot set aside a federal court order. The orders ... temporarily gave the Freedmen their citizenship rights back. ... The Election Commission is proceeding with counting absentee ballots... until a certified result is reached. ... [We in] the Cherokee Nation... pride ourselves on being true to [our] laws. Chief Crittenden and I agreed to the temporary order because it was far less intrusive ... to our tribal government than what the plaintiffs had sought. We faced the potential loss of federal funding, interference with our governmental relationship with the U.S., and the prospect of not having a determinative election for our chief. ... The temporary order merely restored the disenrolled Freedmen to the status quo they had enjoyed at the time of the original election in June. We had first asked our own Court to reconsider its original decision and restore the status quo, so the issue could be settled under tribal law, as it should be, but the court declined to act."
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