Support - Choctaw Freedmen in our Bid to Reclaim Citizenship-Choctaw Nation
Support - Choctaw Freedmen in our Bid to Reclaim Citizenship-Choctaw Nation
The Issue
(Halito - Hello) Choctaw Freedmen Descendants & Supporters: *NO DONATIONS ARE REQUIRED for signing this Petition....
The Choctaw Freedmen descendants of the Burris-Coleman-Butler-Cole Family, Choctaw Freedmen Citizenship Footprints (CFCF) organization & Supporters are collecting signatures to secure a meeting with Chief Gary Batton of the Choctaw Nation. We want to discuss making changes to the Choctaw Nation Constitution to reclaim our Citizenship which was lost in 1983.
Choctaw Freedman were former enslaved people who lived, dressed, spoke the language, practiced the foods and traditions, and even married members within the Choctaw tribe. And, still today... many of these Freedmen descendants still practice the traditions!
In 1885, full Citizenship was given to the Choctaw Freedmen & their descendants as listed in "Choctaw & Chickasaw Treaty of 1866" Article #1-4.
However, in 1983 some 98 yrs later the Choctaw Nation held a "special" election to change their constitution. And, it was during this time that the Choctaw Freedmen & their Descendants who showed up to vote had their voting card(s) taken. The Choctaw Nation didn’t allow the Freedmen descendants to vote on the issue about their own fate.
On May 27th & July 01, 2021 Chief Gary Batton published two (2) "Open Letters" on his Choctaw Nation blog post and website promising to hold meetings with the Choctaw Freedmen Descendants - "The Choctaw Nation Was Taking first step to grant citizenship to Freedmen descendants" www.ChoctawNation.com
CFCF Inc. have been advocating and asking Chief Gary Batton to meet for over three (3) years now. We've sent registered letters, emails, made phone calls, etc. As of today... we have not received 1 response or phone call from the Choctaw Nation offering to meet to discuss this important issue. Additionally, we're also still waiting on the GOA (Govt' Office Accountability) study which was promised by US Senators/Reps. Committee Members during the "US Senate of Indian Affairs on 1866 Reconstruction" Hearing that I attended on July 27, 2022 in Washington, DC.
Let's remember the "1887 Dawes Act" used "blood quantum" as a qualification for the number# of acres of land Dawes applicants (including the once Enslaved Choctaw Freedmen) received. (Verses)
Choctaw Freedmen & their Descendants gained their full Citizenship from the "Choctaw & Chickasaw Treaty of 1866" in Articles #1-4. And no where in the 51 Articles in this treaty does it mention or use "blood quantum" as a qualification for "full" citizenship for the Choctaw Freedmen & Their Descendants.
In closing...please take a moment to "ADD" your name to our petition stating you agree & support the CFCF organization to have a "seat at the table" to address reclaiming "FULL" citizenship for their Choctaw Freedmen Descendants as written & promised in the treaty.
Yakoke (Thank you) for Your Support!
Doris Burris Williamson - President of Choctaw Freedmen Citizenship Footprints, Inc. 501(c)3 IRS Organization
P.S. Listen -Audio recording Articles 1-4 Choctaw Treaty of 1866 on YouTube.com.
2,636
The Issue
(Halito - Hello) Choctaw Freedmen Descendants & Supporters: *NO DONATIONS ARE REQUIRED for signing this Petition....
The Choctaw Freedmen descendants of the Burris-Coleman-Butler-Cole Family, Choctaw Freedmen Citizenship Footprints (CFCF) organization & Supporters are collecting signatures to secure a meeting with Chief Gary Batton of the Choctaw Nation. We want to discuss making changes to the Choctaw Nation Constitution to reclaim our Citizenship which was lost in 1983.
Choctaw Freedman were former enslaved people who lived, dressed, spoke the language, practiced the foods and traditions, and even married members within the Choctaw tribe. And, still today... many of these Freedmen descendants still practice the traditions!
In 1885, full Citizenship was given to the Choctaw Freedmen & their descendants as listed in "Choctaw & Chickasaw Treaty of 1866" Article #1-4.
However, in 1983 some 98 yrs later the Choctaw Nation held a "special" election to change their constitution. And, it was during this time that the Choctaw Freedmen & their Descendants who showed up to vote had their voting card(s) taken. The Choctaw Nation didn’t allow the Freedmen descendants to vote on the issue about their own fate.
On May 27th & July 01, 2021 Chief Gary Batton published two (2) "Open Letters" on his Choctaw Nation blog post and website promising to hold meetings with the Choctaw Freedmen Descendants - "The Choctaw Nation Was Taking first step to grant citizenship to Freedmen descendants" www.ChoctawNation.com
CFCF Inc. have been advocating and asking Chief Gary Batton to meet for over three (3) years now. We've sent registered letters, emails, made phone calls, etc. As of today... we have not received 1 response or phone call from the Choctaw Nation offering to meet to discuss this important issue. Additionally, we're also still waiting on the GOA (Govt' Office Accountability) study which was promised by US Senators/Reps. Committee Members during the "US Senate of Indian Affairs on 1866 Reconstruction" Hearing that I attended on July 27, 2022 in Washington, DC.
Let's remember the "1887 Dawes Act" used "blood quantum" as a qualification for the number# of acres of land Dawes applicants (including the once Enslaved Choctaw Freedmen) received. (Verses)
Choctaw Freedmen & their Descendants gained their full Citizenship from the "Choctaw & Chickasaw Treaty of 1866" in Articles #1-4. And no where in the 51 Articles in this treaty does it mention or use "blood quantum" as a qualification for "full" citizenship for the Choctaw Freedmen & Their Descendants.
In closing...please take a moment to "ADD" your name to our petition stating you agree & support the CFCF organization to have a "seat at the table" to address reclaiming "FULL" citizenship for their Choctaw Freedmen Descendants as written & promised in the treaty.
Yakoke (Thank you) for Your Support!
Doris Burris Williamson - President of Choctaw Freedmen Citizenship Footprints, Inc. 501(c)3 IRS Organization
P.S. Listen -Audio recording Articles 1-4 Choctaw Treaty of 1866 on YouTube.com.
2,636
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Petition created on August 2, 2021