Muscogee Nation Judge Grants Citizenship to Creek Freedmen Descendants
A judge for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma ruled in favor of granting citizenship to two descendants of Black slaves, known as freedmen, potentially opening the door for hundreds of other descendants. The ruling reverses the tribe's citizenship board's decision and orders a reconsideration based on the tribe's Treaty of 1866, which states that descendants listed on the Creek Freedmen Roll are eligible for tribal citizenship. The issue of freedmen citizenship has been contentious among tribes, with some granting full citizenship while others argue for tribal sovereignty in determining eligibility. The Muscogee Nation plans to appeal the ruling to its Supreme Court.