UKB Chief Responds to CNO’s Public Statement
01/18/2008
Tahlequah, Okla. -- “To protect any interest which the United Keetoowah Band or
its members may have in treaties made with the Cherokee Nation,” appears in the charter
of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma (UKB), approved by
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the Assistant Secretary of the Interior.
Subsequently, the Constitution was ratified by Keetoowah Cherokee voters in 1950.
The Keetoowah Cherokee Constitution, which all Department of Interior officials and
employees are mandated to follow, also gives the Keetoowah Cherokee the power to
“negotiate with the Federal, State, or local governments and to advise or consult with the
representatives of the Interior Department on all activities of the Department that may
affect the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.”
“Recently, a spokesman for the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma stated that the United
Keetoowah Band has ‘no right or ability to run a hospital’, adding that it does not have
‘the governmental authority to dispense aspirin, much less do surgery.’ On behalf of all
people of Cherokee ancestry, I deeply regret the disrespectful comments made by the
local CNO spokesman. The spokesman's blatant disrespect for the tribal membership of
the United Keetoowah Band of Indians is unfortunate, at best. I take great comfort in the
knowledge that tribal sovereignty is revered by the membership of the CNO and the
United Keetoowah Band, and that the comments of people, like the CNO spokesperson,
(who is a non-Indian) who poke fun at it are instantly disregarded by those who hear
them,” said UKB Chief George Wickliffe.
“Our constitutional authority to negotiate with the federal government and enter into
binding contracts regarding matters routinely dealt with by Tribal governments are
beyond question among people of good faith. Indeed, during a recent tour of some of our
lands with the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, the strength of our government-togovernment
with the United States was manifestly clear. Indeed, it may have been the
impetus for the childish remarks that have caused me to have to make my statement
today,” continued the chief.
“Of course, the leadership of the United Keetoowah Band is dedicated to ensuring health
care services to those who need them in Oklahoma through the Indian Health Care
Service. We are as committed to protecting our tribal members' rights to health care as
we are to ensuring that no Indian person is denied services for not being a member of the
CNO. If getting into the business of administering hospital health care services at the
Hastings Hospital is the only way to assure that, then we shall work toward that end,”
said Wickliffe.
“The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is not in a legal or official position to judge our level
of capabilities. This will be performed by qualified government program and contracting
officials,” stated Don Ade, a retired Indian Health Service (IHS) administrator. Ade is an
exclusive Cherokee speaking UKB tribal member currently working for the Keetoowah
Cherokees.
Through an Act of Congress known as the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act, the UKB was
federally-recognized in 1950. The governmental organic documents also establish a
jurisdictional area.
“The fact that our jurisdictional area is termed the ‘nine districts of the old Cherokee
Nation’ substantiates the fact that Cherokee Nation does not exist, and Cherokee Nation
of Oklahoma is a new entity,” Wickliffe said. The nine districts include all or portions of
14 counties in Northeastern Oklahoma; Cherokee, Adair, Sequoyah, Muskogee,
McIntosh, Wagoner, Mayes, Delaware, Ottawa, Craig, Rogers, Nowata, Tulsa and
Washington.
Cherokee Nation was terminated through a legal agreement with the United States called
the “Cherokee Agreement,” which was ratified by voters in 1902. The agreement clearly
states that the tribal government would be terminated on March 4, 1906. The only
legislation which has been offered to recognize tribes is the Oklahoma Indian Welfare
Act, under which the Keetoowah Cherokees as well as other tribes in the state have done.
Cherokee Nation has not applied for reorganization under this provision.
Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma developed at a much later date, after Congress passed an
act allowing the Five Civilized Tribes to ‘popularly select’ their own Chiefs solely to
manage remaining assets for the Dawes enrollees. After 1906 and until the enactment,
the Principal Chief was appointed by the President of the United States. Under the Ross
Swimmer administration, a new Constitution was drafted without a convention being
called, as prescribed in the existing Constitution. This document titled the new entity,
“Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.”
“The tired rhetoric of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma which continually attacks the
United Keetoowah Band is not our concern. What is our concern is that our tribal
members and all Native Americans receive quality healthcare that is non-discriminatory
and non-political and we are committed to that goal. Our organic documents ensure the
privilege of securing benefits, rights, and powers provided by law which are administered
by the United States. This includes health programs,” Wickliffe clarified.
