Some More Cherokee Election News

George Wickliffe, Chief of the United Keetoowah Band, denounces Chad Smith (who is also a UKB member) for endangering tribal sovereignty by violating the 1866 Treaty and disenrolling the Freedmen.

Pre-election rumors are flying around Tahlequah. The latest claims that Chief Smith has held out the prospect of some kind of Freedmen Tribe with gaming rights in exchange for Congress calling off the dogs until after the election. Frankly, while I certainly respect the source, this sounds way too ludicrous to be believed. There is simply no lawful way to fabricate a "Freedman Tribe" out of thin air, and even if you could, they would have no land base and thus no gaming. If Chief Smith won't let the UKB build casinos on CN land, can you really imagine him letting the Freedmen do it?

UPDATE: More to the rumor as Cong. Diane Watson confirms that "negotiations" are going on and Chad Smith, as expected, denies offering the Freedmen their own band. Like Wampum, though, I'm not really sure what these "negotiations" can actually accomplish, given that yet another constitutional amendment would be required to allow the Freedmen back in.