To the Lawmakers of the United States of America

  We,  the descendents of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole, and Choctaw), as well as their supporters, call for legislation  to enforce the rights  of descendents of freedmen which were agreed on between the United States and the Five Civilized Tribes in the treaties of 1866. (Prior to 1866, the 5 tribes did not allow persons of African descent to become tribal citizens, regardless of their  "blood" Indian descent)   These  1866 treaties required that the 5 tribes give the freedmen and their descendents rights of native tribal citizens. 

The Freedmen and freedmen descendents were adopted  by  the tribes  to comply with the treaties.   Freedmen and  Descendents of the  freedmen of the 5 tribes were  separately  listed   on the Dawes Rolls from other  tribal citizens (who were "full bloods)" or were mixed bloods (Indian and Caucasian  mixture),  whom  were listed on "Indian by blood " rolls, in which an Indian blood degree was listed.  Again, we emphasize that many of these Freedmen descendents did  have Indian blood,  although blood degrees were not listed  on the Dawes   freedmen rolls . 

At the present time, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) refuses to issue certificate of Indian blood  (CDIB) cards  to Freedmen descendents, which are required to participate in BIA administered programs.  Furthermore, the 5 tribes, in violation of the 1866 treaties, have passed tribal constitutions and tribal acts which  specifically require potential enrollees to provide CDIB cards prior to enrollment and or specifically allow the enrollment of only those descended from the Dawes "blood rolls". 

We call on lawmakers to pass legislation which will establish a  blood quantum of "full blood " equivalent to those freedmen descendents whom are listed on the Dawes Rolls of the 5 tribes  for purposes of the US government.  Furthermore,  we call on the US government to not recognize those tribal governments which currently  refuse to  allow the enrollment  and which do not allow participation in tribal  elections  for the descendents of those tribal citizens who were listed on the Freedmen rolls by the Dawes Commission and  for the BIA  to directly administer tribal programs  for these illegal tribal governments..

 

Print Name                    Signature               Address/ZIP                       Phone number

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Please return signed Petition to:

Descendants of Freedmen  of the Five Civilized Tribes Association 

PO Box 42221

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123 

For more information, please contact  freedmen5nations@yahoo.com