The Cherokee Nation council approved a constitutional amendment to require Indian blood for citizenship.

Voters will be asked to amend the constitution to keep out Freedmen who cannot show they have Indian blood. Currently, citizenship is open to anyone -- Cherokee, Delaware, Shawnee and Freedmen -- whose ancestor appeared on the Dawes Roll regardless of blood quantum.

The council approved the election for July 2007. But some tribal members are circulating a petition to call a special election sooner.

The tribe's highest court ruled that Freedmen are entitled to citizenship because the current constitution does not contain an Indian "by blood" requirement.

Get the Story:
Cherokee Nation Considers Changes To Enrollment (AP 6/13)
Cherokees to vote on whether to admit Freedmen (The Muskogee Phoenix 6/13)

Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal Decision in Freedmen Case:
Allen v. Cherokee Nation (March 7, 2006)

Relevant Links:
Freedmen Of The Five Civilized Tribes - http://www.freedmen5tribes.com
Freedmen Conference - http://www.freedmenconference.com

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