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In a historic ruling on Feb. 22, the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court struck the term “by blood” from its constitution and laws.
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Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story originally appeared on KOSU. It has been updated with additional material for its airing on The World.
In a historic ruling on Feb. 22, the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court struck the term “by blood” from its constitution and laws.
The decision effectively ends a decadeslong debate over citizenship status in the largest tribe in the country.
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Citizenship in the Cherokee Nation is not based on blood. Still, the language in the tribe's laws, constitution, and policies is central to an ongoing cultural and legal debate over whether the descendants of Cherokee Freedmen, who were formerly enslaved by the tribe, should be considered tribal members. The recent ruling upholds the 1866 treaty that the tribal nation signed with the federal government affirming their right to citizenship.