100 signatures reached
To: U.S. Representatives Sharice Davids, Kansas and Deb Haagland, N.M.
Stop a racially discriminatory bill from Passing
Oklahoma U.S Representatives MikeWayne Mullins and Tom Cole are introducing a bill to codify the rule that the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) must consent to all trust acquisitions by the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. UKB predecessors have resided in the jurisdiction that CNO erroneously claims to be solely their jurisdiction, over ten years prior to the arrival of Cherokee Nation ancestors. One 76 parcel has already been placed in trust, by the latest ruling of the Supreme Court denying CNO's petition to stop it. Both are federally recognized tribes and it's a sad story of the larger tribe trying to oppress the smaller tribe, a clear case of discrimination as prohibited by the Indian Reorganization Act. Please stop this bill from passing.
Why is this important?
I am a member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma (UKB) and stand on the history of the UKB, and their rights and liberties that are afforded to them by an Act of Congress, by virtue of the tribe's organization under the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act. I have watched for years the discrimination policies of the Cherokee Nation as they have withheld critical health benefits from UKB members, prevented UKB young people from higher education scholarships, and refused to grant employment to our tribal members unless they switched to CNO. CNO has the service area contract that is not benefiting the UKB Cherokee members. The UKB are an impoverished tribe, while the CNO are flourishing, with ten or more casinos in operations, operating on the very lands that the UKB are entitled to.