FACT: Slavery was a grave injustice and a painful chapter in our nation's history. With respect to citizenship, we have justly defined our own identity through the exercise of our cherished democratic freedoms. Our people voted, and they voted their passionate belief that you must be an Indian to be in an Indian tribe. Descendants of slaves who also have an Indian ancestor on our base rolls continue to be eligible for citizenship, as they always have been.
My Truth!
The first sentence is accurate, then it all goes to pot! the second sentence would be good were it not for the blatant lie, nothing has been justly defined, we did attempt to demonstrate we have the right to determine our citizenship criteria, and true that is a Sovereign Right of a Peoples Government just like the U.S. of A, the Cherokee Nation is no different, the CNO has NO such Sovereign right But that’s another saga for another Article...
Actually People, what we premised with the BOGUS vote was, we will racially discriminate against a class of our own people on the Federal Governments dime, and Congresswoman Watson simply says no you will not. The last sentence is absolutely 100% correct, though I don't believe Smith intended it to be read that way, it quite simply states by the fact of the 1866 Treaty, they are Cherokee and have always been, and by the amendment of the 1839 Constitution of the Cherokee shows this at Article III Section 5.
8. MYTH: The Cherokee Nation broke the Treaty of 1866.
FACT: The Cherokee Nation honored the treaty by giving former slaves and other non-Indians in our region the same rights as Cherokees to benefits that included land and cash payments. With all due respect to those who seek to join the Nation, citizenship in a sovereign nation is not determined by a treaty with another government. The Cherokee Nation re-asserted its sovereignty and self-determination in 1975, and our Constitution grants us the freedom to determine for ourselves who is a Cherokee.
My Truth!
The First part of the first sentence is correct, Yes the Cherokee honored the Treaty and amended their Constitution to reflect the premise of the Treaty See Excerpt pertinent to the Freedmen Nothing of the sort happened in 1975, only that an Oklahoma Corporate entity the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) was born...Once again this is another saga for a later Article.
The Truth About Our Motives
9. MYTH: Cherokees are motivated by racism to want only full-blooded Indians in the tribe.
FACT: On the contrary, we welcome every eligible Cherokee citizen regardless of his or her other racial heritage. The Cherokee Nation embraces its thousands of citizens who share African-American, Latino, Asian, white and other ancestry. It doesn't matter what you look like. If you have one Indian ancestor on the base roll, you are a member of the Cherokee family.
My Truth!
Simply see my Truth at Number 2.
10. MYTH: The Cherokee Nation wants to keep more gaming revenues for itself.
FACT: This is about weaving together a great, multi-ethnic nation through one common thread – a shared connection to our Indian ancestors. The Cherokees don't distribute gaming revenues to individuals. Gaming revenues benefit the entire community beyond the Cherokees, as we invest gaming revenues in services like health care and education.
My Truth!
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