subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Nov 10 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Published June 06, 2007 10:32 pm -

Cherokees add amendment to cut Fed oversight to June 23 election


By Liz McMahan
Phoenix Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH — Cherokee citizens will be asked to vote June 23 for a constitutional amendment they overwhelmingly approved four years ago.

The tribal Council voted unanimously Wednesday afternoon to place a measure on the ballot that will remove the federal government’s Bureau of Indian Affairs’ oversight of the tribe’s constitution, said Todd Hembree, attorney for the Council.

Last month, the BIA ruled not all Cherokees were given the opportunity to vote on the amendment when it was presented in May 2003.

“At that time, freedmen were not recognized as citizens,” Hembree said.

Freedmen are the descendants of the tribe’s slaves.

In March, the tribe gave a 70 percent margin to a constitutional amendment prohibiting freedmen from holding tribal membership. That amendment has been challenged in the tribal courts, and freedmen will have the right to vote in the June 23 election, Hembree said.

In that election, the Cherokee voters will decide tribal leadership, electing their chief and all council members, Hembree said.

The BIA has told tribal leaders that they will make a decision on the legality of a new constitutional amendment within 30 days if it is passed in the June 23 election.



print this story    email this story   






autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide


Premier Guide

Premium Jobs

5372-Attention:

ATTENTION:
Aviagen, Inc. is seeking potential contract growers for poultry breeder operation in Muskogee, Okm
...>MORE

5351-Hospital Openings
HOSPITAL OPENINGS

WAGONER COMMUNITY
HOSPITAL
WCH has immediate openings for the following positions
...>MORE

5336-Piano player
Piano Player
Needed for Methodist Church. Salary negotiable. Call 918-781-9669.
...>MORE

5376-Accountant
ACCOUNTANT
Connors State College is seeking qualified applicants for the following position:
Accountant
O
...>MORE

5349-Marketing Manager

MARKETING MANAGER
J. Herzog & Sons, a national commercial real estate management company, is currently seekin
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Autos

5335-2008 Yamaha
2008 Yamaha Rafter 700 SC Red & White, $6,000 - 2007 Yamaha Rafter 700 Blue - $5,000 or both $10,000 OBO. Great conditio...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Extras

5361 two sorrell horses
two sorrel horses stud male & female, call Anthony for details 918-391-1424.918-683-8364 leave message...>MORE

5363 3 yr old solid red
3 year old solid red pure bred Simmental Bull,excellent calving ease. Son of Dream On. Must see to believe! $2000. 918-4...>MORE

5341 2004 mercury grand
2004 Mercury Grand Marquis, LS, V8, estate sale, gold, leather, 35,000 miles, too much to list! $11,500. 918-348-2932....>MORE

5378 1993 motor home
1993 Motor Home, 21ft, sleeps 6, Toyota 6 cyl., powered fully equipped with generator $7000. 2 Suzuki ATV, 500cc, 4 whee...>MORE

5340 country check sofa, .
Country check sofa, wingback chair & ottoman, ex cond $275. Antique treadlesewing machine ex cond. $75. 918-687-1891....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index