The Cherokee Nation wants a representative in Congress, taking the US government up on a promise it

[riversedge]

Source: CNN




The Cherokee Nation wants a representative in Congress, taking the US government up on a promise it made nearly 200 years ago

Updated 2:40 AM ET, Sun August 25, 2019


(CNN)The Cherokee Nation announced Thursday that it intends to appoint a delegate to the US House of Representatives, asserting for the first time a right promised to the tribe in a nearly 200-year-old treaty with the federal government.


It was a historic step for the Oklahoma-based Cherokee Nation and its nearly 370,000 members, coming about a week after Chuck Hoskin Jr. was sworn in as principal chief of the tribe. The Cherokee Nation says it's the largest tribal nation in the US and one of three federally recognized Cherokee tribes.......................................

As a result of the 1835 Treaty of New Echota, the Cherokee were ultimately made to leave their homes in the Southeast for present-day Oklahoma in exchange for money and other compensation. Nearly 4,000 members of the tribe died of disease, starvation and exhaustion on the journey now known as the Trail of Tears............................

..............................


What power would a delegate have?

The treaty doesn't specify whether or not the Cherokee Nation's delegate would be a voting member of the legislature. But Hoskin said the position might look something like the non-voting members that represent Washington, D.C., and five US territories.
...........................................................

There are currently six non-voting members in the House. Washington D.C. and four permanently inhabited US territories -- American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the US Virgin Islands -- are represented by a delegate, who serves a two-year term. Puerto Rico is served by a resident commissioner, who is elected every four years.

Those representatives can't vote on the House floor, but they can vote in committees that they are on, introduce legislation and engage in debate. Hoskin said he hoped the Cherokee Nation's delegate would help advance the interests of the tribe and, more broadly, all Native Americans.......................................

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/25/politics/cherokee-nation-congressional-delegate-treaty/index.html

---

I say Welcome to Congress. Way past due.






The flags of Oklahoma, the United States and the Cherokee Nation fly behind a sculpture of Lady Liberty at the Cherokee Capitol Square in Tahlequah.



Deb Haaland redefines Congress: 'She'll help us see what Native Americans mean'

[rampartc]

1. surelly the "great white fathers" can keep 1 little part of 1 treaty?

why not allow the Cherokee a representative?

[klook]

2. Damn right. They need two U.S. Senators, too.

Or maybe, since they’re a nation, they should have 50. Works for me.

[Farmer-Rick]

3. Hmmph, it makes so much sense, I'm surprised they don't have representative.

Kind of one of those things you think is already a thing because it's obviously necessary.

[yellerpup]

4. Most likely, Kim Teehee will be appointed.

She is/was in charge of Cherokee Business (in OK) after she served as advisor to the Obama administration. She's a young, dynamic lawyer who knows the ropes in Washington. Good choice!

[jberryhill]

30. Would an election be too much to ask?

[yellerpup]

31. Not for me.

I'm new to the politics of the Nation. Love living here, though.

[Tarc]

5. Intersting. Article 7 of the treaty, page 442-3

Congress may allow a delegate form the Cherokee nation

ARTICLE 7.

The Cherokee nation having already made great progress in civilization
and deeming it important that every proper and laudable inducement
should be offered to their people to improve their condition
as well as to guard and secure in the most effectual manner the rights
guarantied to them in this treaty, and with a view to illustrate the liberal
and enlarged policy of the Government of the United States towards
the Indians in their removal beyond the territorial limits of the States,
it is stipulated that they shall be entitled to a delegate in the House of
Representatives of the United States whenever Congress shall make
provision for the same.

https://americanindian.si.edu/static/nationtonation/pdf/Treaty-of-New-Echota-1835.pdf

Despite "Congress shall make", I believe the House has sole say on rules for an admissions of non-voting delegations. This could happen right now with a stroke of Speaker Pelosi's pen.

[maxsolomon]

20. that doesn't say non-voting.

the Cherokee should press for voting rights.

[FBaggins]

21. It doesn't say voting either

It's interesting because representatives in Congress are not delegates (by design). And those already in the House as delegates (Guam, D.C., Virgin Islands, etc.) are all non-voting.

Previous strolls down this road have met with multiple objections, one of which was that the Constitution would need to be amended in order for members to be other than representatives of the states.

[maxsolomon]

22. I'm ready for that fight. Let's have it.

No taxation with out representation, etc.

[FBaggins]

23. When did they lose representation?

They're US Citizens and are already represented in Congress like anyone else in their state. In some sense at least, giving them voting representation would be an equal protection violation against everyone else.

It isn't a fight they have any ammunition for. This issue has been raised multiple times over decades and nothing much has ever come of it. The problems are not insignificant. Despite being called "Cherokee Nation", they are not actually the same entity that has rights under the treaty... because there are three recognized Cherokee tribes. Granted that this is the largest of the three... but they can't speak for all (and thus cannot appoint someone who represents all Cherokee). Then there's the fact that the Cherokee sided with the Confederacy (violating their treaties and arguably losing the ability to enforce them later) and lost much of their governing power.

[maxsolomon]

24. Never said they lost it.

I'd just like to see them push the definition of "delegate". See what might happen. Fuck shit up.

[jberryhill]

26. In fact, they vote Republican

The only two elected representatives from Oklahoma who are Native Americans, Mullen (Cherokee) and Cole (Chickasaw), are Trump-loving Republicans.

It's a shame how liberals fetishize Native Americans with the "Noble Savage" mythology.

[Turin_C3PO]

33. Nonetheless, most Native Americans

are smart enough to vote Democrat. People are individuals, of course, but most tribal members are liberal. Not saying the Cherokee are... I honestly have no idea as to their particular voting habits.

[jberryhill]

34. Do you have any particular data on your first assertion?

Generalizations about “most Native Americans” is simply a pointless generalization across radically different groups of people with very different circumstances. Fact: the specific population under discussion here demonstrably votes Republican, just like the rest of Oklahoma.

Native Americans are no “smarter” or less so, than anyone else.

If you were aware of the particular bitterness of the Cherokee toward Andrew Jackson, then you might understand why the continued tradition of having a “Jefferson Jackson Dinner” by many state Democratic parties is a specific “fuck you” to the Cherokee by Democrats on a regular basis.

[Volaris]

6. I'll take that, for any number of reasons...

The least of which, is that we signed a damned treaty that SAID WE WOULD; secondarily is the fact that how boneheaded does one have to be to pass up good PR when its willing to walk through the door?

[OKNancy]

7. Don't be thinking this would mean support for Democrats

Cherokees don't live on separate land. They are in every community especially in NE Oklahoma. Most mimic the voter sentiments of the Oklahoma population... that is Republican.

ETA: for example Markwayne Mullin a rabid tea party jerk is the Congressperson who represents the 2nd district and a member of the Cherokee nation. Tahlequah is in the 2nd district.

[RainCaster]

11. It should not matter - they were promised a representative position

The are smart people, able to understand cause and effect. I look forward to seeing what they bring to our nation.

[jberryhill]

27. What's wrong with Markwayne Mullen?

There IS a Cherokee from Oklahoma in the US Congress.

He is a Trump-loving Republican, just like most of the Cherokee in Oklahoma.

[DURHAM D]

12. This nt

[obamanut2012]

15. Same in NC

They tend to be very conservative in their voting.

[SergeStorms]

8. I'm glad they're renewing the fight.

Let's really make America great again and include the indigenous people of this land in the decision making process. We've crapped on these people for far too long, and it's time we pay a bill that's long overdue!

[RT Atlanta]

17. thank you for saying this

agree 100%

[Igel]

9. Do they already have representation?

If yes, then they'd be double-represented in some ways, ways that the typical other citizen wouldn't be represented in.

The fix for a problem shouldn't be a problem itself.

[FBaggins]

18. Both yes and no

They can of course vote in the Congressional district that they reside in and are thus represented just like anyone else.

But they aren't represented as a people (though "delegate" doesn't necessarily mean a voting member-representative in the House).

[jberryhill]

28. Yes. They vote Republican

There are two Native American elected representatives from Oklahoma - Markwayne Mullen (Cherokee) and Tom Cole (Chickasaw). They are both knuckle-dragging Trump-lovers.

Only because of a "Noble Savage" fantasy, do liberals think that Native Americans from Oklahoma don't vote like most people in Oklahoma.

[Bayard]

10. About time

They, and The Territories, should also have a vote on the House floor.

Make it so.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

13. K&R

[democrank]

14. Recommended

[roamer65]

16. Each Native American reservation should have a voting member of Congress.

[FBaggins]

19. There are over 300 reservations

Some with populations barely into the double digits...

...and roughly another 250 recognized tribes that do not have a reservation.

[roamer65]

32. Good. The land belonged to them first.

[Mike_DuBois]

35. Rediculous

[Brainfodder]

25. Sounds good to me!

[Frustratedlady]

29. Absolutely! This should have been done long ago.

The American Indians are the true non-immigrants of this land and should be given a seat at the table.