Claremore Daily Progress

Chelsea

September 8, 2011

Federal housing agency suspends funds to Cherokees

Staff Reports Claremore Progress

TAHLEQUAH — Federal housing authorities are suspending payments to the Cherokee Nation until a funding law can be reviewed in the wake of a court decision that terminated tribal citizenship for about 2,800 descendants of tribal members' former slaves, a Cherokee official said late Wednesday.

The Cherokee Nation has enough funding to last for a few months without affecting services or employment positions related to funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, tribal acting principal chief Joe Crittenden said in a written statement.

"The attorney general for the Cherokee Nation and my legal team are working aggressively to resolve this matter, including defending and resolving the ongoing litigation in Washington, D.C.," Crittenden said.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Jereon Brown said the funding freeze was related to an "unclear statute" involving the "freedmen," whose ancestors were the slaves of members of the Cherokee Nation, the Tulsa World reported.

The tribe's Supreme Court last month overturned a lower tribal court decision that nullified a 2007 constitutional amendment that required a person have a Cherokee ancestor listed on the Dawes Rolls in order to be a member. The Dawes Rolls were lists created in the 1890s to assign land allotted to Native American tribal members.

The tribal district court ruled earlier this year that the amendment violated an 1866 treaty between the federal government and the tribe that said the freedmen and their descendants "shall have all the rights of native Cherokees."

Litigation over the descendants' membership also is pending in federal court in Washington D.C.

A call made after hours by The Associated Press to HUD's office in Washington seeking comment wasn't immediately returned.

Crittenden said the tribe is in compliance with HUD provisions and officials have presented legal arguments to officials at the department.

"We are confident that future federal funding will continue once the issues are resolved," Crittenden said in the statement.

Text Only
Chelsea
  • Ribbon cutting set for District 1 bridge

    Rogers County District 1 Commissioner Dan DeLozier will host a ribbon cutting ceremony  at 2 p.m. Monday at Bridge #79 over Dog Creek on E450 in Rogers County.

    May 18, 2013

  • Send A Kid to Camp Send a Kid to Camp fundraiser begins

    With school now out for most of Rogers County, it’s that time of year when many families are planning their summer activities.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • UPDATE: Recent county tax vote could be invalid

    Voters went to the polls on Tuesday passing the renewal of the Rogers County One-Cent Sales Tax, however doubts over legal publication of the election are creating concern that the election could be invalid.

    May 16, 2013

  • RSU to host Cherokee council election forums

    The June 22nd Cherokee tribal council elections will be the subject of a series of forums produced by RSU Public Television.  The forums will be at 6 p.m. on June 3 in the Baird Hall Performance Studio on the Rogers State University Claremore campus.

    May 15, 2013

  • Voters to decide One-Cent Sales Tax
    Rogers County voters go to the polls today to decide if a  One-Cent Road Tax will be renewed.
    Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

    May 14, 2013

  • Early voting Early voting on 1-cent tax begins Friday

    Early voting for the Rogers County Special 1-cent Tax election begins at 8 a.m. Friday at the Rogers County Election Board located at 415 West 1st Street in Claremore.

    May 8, 2013 1 Photo

  • Cowling's editorials wins 1st place at AP/ONE

    Claremore Daily Progress Editor Randy Cowling captured first place for editorials Saturday during the Associated Press/Oklahoma News Executives competition in Norman.

    May 6, 2013

  • Progress Sports Editor Ritter wins 1st place at AP/ONE

    Claremore Daily Progress Sports Editor Tim Ritter was awarded first place for his photography Saturday during the Associated Press/Oklahoma News Executives competition in Norman.

    May 6, 2013

  • Progress Reporter Wilken named Best New Journalist at AP/ONE

    Claremore Daily Progress reporter Salesha Wilken was named the Best New Journalist of the Year Saturday during the Associated Press/Oklahoma News Executives competition in Norman.

    May 6, 2013

  • Seniors 2013 Senior to Senior: Soon-to-be grads get advice from elders

    As another school year comes to a close, high school seniors prepare themselves for life after graduation. Faced with more responsibilities and decisions, the transition can be a difficult one to make for students.

    May 3, 2013 1 Photo