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"If we take the full meaning of the term society into consideration, it will be seen that till now human beings have not been able to form a real society. If India builds a society for only Indians, Pakistan for only Pakistanis, and England for only the English, then these three separate societies will exist, but we cannot look upon them as the society of humanity. Because humanity is divided into groups, one society will naturally try to thrive by exploiting the vitality of others. �You will notice that efforts are being made to establish so-called societies in some particular part of the world, for some particular section of the people, and based on some particular 'ism" or faith. A social consciousness based on such divisions lies latent in the minds of the people, whether they are Indian, Pakistani or English, so they remain absorbed in thoughts of their smaller groups." - Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar


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"Human beings have still not been able to form a human society, and have still not learned to move with the spirit of a pilgrim. Although many small groups, motivated by self-interest, work together in particular situations, not even a small fraction of their work is done with a broader social motive. By strict definition, shall we have to declare that each small family unit is a society in itself? If going ahead in mutual adjustment only out of narrow self-interest or momentary self-seeking is called society, then in such a society, no provision can be made for the disabled, the diseased or the helpless, because in most cases nobody can benefit from them in any way... in that case there always remains the possibility of some people getting isolated from the collective. All human beings must attach themselves to others by the common bond of love and march forward hand in hand; then only will I proclaim it a society." - Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar

"Power concedes nothing without a demand.' The struggle for justice must never be adjourned. The forces of injustice do not take vacations. Societies are not static in this regard. They await the political and civic energies of individuals who engage the arenas of power, multiply their numbers and emblazon in deeds and institutions the immortal principle that "Here the People Rule." - Ralph Nader

The Cherokee Nation: A CASE OF FREEDMEN


It had been pointed out at that time that Freedmen who might enroll that they could be a powerful "voting block" in the Cherokee Nation. When Ross O. Swimmer dismissed the Freedmen from the citizenship rolls of the Cherokee Nation in 1983, illegally stripping them of their civil rights in the Nation, not a single Freedmen was consulted, even though a large number of Freedmen were enrolled citizens of the Cherokee Nation and had actually voted in the 1970 and 1975 elections. Wilma Mankiller followed up to cement the ousting of Cherokee Freedmen when she and her coucil adopted legislation defining Cherokee Citizenship on having a Certificate of Degree in Indian Blood, thus legislatively booting the Freedmen from the tribe. - Angela Walton-Raji

Angela Walton-Raji
Feb 8, 2008

The Freedmen were ostracized and prevented from voting in the 1970s when Ross Swimmer, realized that a number of Freedmen voters were supporting the opposition.

The by blood/CDIB rule brought on by Mr. Swimmer has prevented freedmen from registering to vote.

Then in 1988 Wilma Mankiller realized there was no law for what they were doing to the Freedmen so she had her controlled Council pass a Resolution adopting the Rules Which you can see here:

CHEROKEE NATION OF OKLAHOMA COUNCIL OF THE CHEROKEE NATION RESOLUTION NO. 21-88 - Supporting the Guidelines: Rules and Regulations of the Cherokee Registration Committee

NOTE----
Prior to 1983, Freedmen enrolled as Cherokee citizens and voted. Fearing their vote as a block against him, Swimmer began a campaign requiring a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) card to be required to obtain membership.

It had been pointed out at that time that Freedmen who might enroll that they could be a powerful "voting block" in the Cherokee Nation.

When Ross O. Swimmer dismissed the Freedmen from the citizenship rolls of the Cherokee Nation in 1983, illegally stripping them of their civil rights in the Nation, not a single Freedmen was consulted, even though a large number of Freedmen were enrolled citizens of the Cherokee Nation and had actually voted in the 1970 and 1975 elections.

Wilma Mankiller followed up to cement the ousting of Cherokee Freedmen when she and her coucil adopted legislation defining Cherokee Citizenship on having a Certificate of Degree in Indian Blood, thus legislatively booting the Freedmen from the tribe.

The basis for determining the blood was the Dawes Rolls that segregated the citizens by color and race. Included on the "BLOOD ROLLS" were adopted "Intermarried Whites." Many of the Freedmen were related to those on the blood rolls since many of the slave owners had children with African slaves.

HOWEVER----BLOOD blurs the issue-----the Freedmen and thier ancestors EARNED their citizenship through DECADES of SLAVERY!!

Their Indian blood was NEVER checked on the auction block!!!

Their Indian blood was NEVER checked when they remained in the nation---speaking only Cherokee, and living by Cherokee custom.

Their Indian blood was NEVER checked when they had to adhere to Cherokee law---yet NOW---

The Cherokee Nation is paid millions of dollars by the U.S. for being victims.

And Cherokee Freedmen are expelled by popular vote for being the victims of Cherokee slaves owners. Freedmen are being punished by having slaves as ancestors.

By requiring provable "blood" the Freedmen portion of the Dawes Rolls---which did prove that they were Cherokee citizens----and Wilma Mankiller stood by this, and even stated that Freedmen should not be citizens because of their blood.

It was apparently their AFRICAN blood that Mankiller and Swimmer chose to erase from Cherokee presence. Their Cherokee history, heritage, language, culture and in many cases blood as well---meant nothing. Mankiller agreed that their African blood was justification enough to strip their citizenship.

The Cherokee Nation signed a treaty in 1866, to admit the Freedmen as citizens. They have now proven that they have no more obligation to adhere to treaties.

In every case where Cherokees have sued for treaty violation--they have won. They have now indicated that they can freely violate treaties, violate people and violate law.

This legislation began with Wilma Mankiller, a woman who made history beyond being the first female principal chief of a Native American tribe. Her legacy now stands to be one of expulsion based on a flawed roll to grant priveleges to their slave owning legacy.

This story, it must be stated is repeated with the other slave owning tribes as well---the Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks and Seminoles have all embraced this new "tradition" of punishing the children of slaves.

-The Cherokee vote March 3 called for an amendment to the tribal constitution that stipulates that only those on the "by blood" lists of the 1906 Final Dawes Rolls and their descendants are eligible to be members of the tribe.

-The approved constitutional amendment removed from the Cherokee Nation rolls about 2,700 freedmen who were given citizenship by the tribe's high court in March 2006.

Angela Walton-Raji
Choctaw Freedman Descendant
Author, Black Indian Genealogy Research. African American Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes.
www.afrigeneas.com/forume

Last Updated February 8, 2008 12:42 PM

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