United Keetoowah Band warns members about dual issue

Friday, April 15, 2011  

The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians is warning members that they will lose services and benefits if they are enrolled in another tribe.

Anyone who enrolled in the UKB after September 15, 1990, can't be a citizen of another tribe, namely the Cherokee Nation. One man, John W. Cornsilk, said he lost his UKB privileges after he announced that he was running for Cherokee Nation public office.

“I’m a proud UKB member. I’m also a proud CNO member because I am a Cherokee, and it’s my right to be both of them,” Cornsilk told The Cherokee Phoenix. “They are treating me as if I have been disenrolled and I haven’t been."

The UKB published a "Membership Exclusivity" note in the February 2011 issue of Gaduwa Cherokee News to warn people about the dual enrollment issue.

Get the Story:
UKB citizens could lose services by voting in CN election (The Cherokee Phoenix 4/15)