Delaware Tribe sets vote in independence effort

By CLIFTON ADCOCK World Staff Writer
Published: 4/12/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 4/12/2009 3:32 AM

BARTLESVILLE — Members of the Delaware Tribe are to vote on a constitution that would put the tribe on the cusp of regaining its federal recognition.

Although the Bartlesville-based tribe has been associated with the Cherokee Nation for years, it gained federal recognition in the 1990s, only to lose it again in 2004 under a federal court decision. The tribe is a separate entity from the federally recognized Delaware Nation, which has its headquarters in Anadarko.

The election, which is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is set for May 26, but all tribal members who are registered to vote will receive a ballot. It is important for all who receive a ballot to vote, because ballots not returned will count as a "no" vote, the tribe's spokesman Ernest Tiger said.

Tribe members who want to vote in the election must register by April 21, Tiger said.

The Delawares had been in a dispute with the Cherokee Nation over their attempts to break away, and only in October did both of the tribes' councils agree to the split, he said.

With the loss of its federal recognition, the tribe went from about 100 employees to five and had to sell its former headquarters, Tiger said.

Federal recognition will help the tribe regain federal funds and jump-start economic development projects that were shelved, he said.

"We had to scale back and work to this point," he said. "This is a momentous occasion for the tribe. We have our economic development projects on

hold until after we get federal recognition, at which time we'll become very active in advancing the tribe through economic development projects."

The Delaware Tribe, headed by Chief Jerry Douglas, has about 10,800 members.

Oklahoma now has 37 federally recognized tribes.

Clifton Adcock 581-8462
clifton.adcock@tulsaworld.com

By CLIFTON ADCOCK World Staff Writer

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CPT Ron, Lawton (last year)

How can there be a Delaware Tribe and a separate Delaware Nation? I thought that each tribe was a soverign nation.

Why should ballots not returned automatically count as a "No" vote? They should not count at all. That is the way it works in the Democratic Republic of the United States.

The election appears to be stacked in favor of the "No" vote. Everyone knows that the majority of eligible voters do not vote.

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Ed 8 R, Non (last year)

What the ? happened to the notion that Indian Tribes should be able to establish their own policies? Shouldn't the Delaware be able to say if they want to count non-votes as no-votes? Long ago some tribes made decisions by gathering together and each side of the issue would push against the other until the whole Tribe moved in the same direction. I wonder why the Delaware have not challenged the CNO's claim to be the same Cherokee Nation that made the agreement to incorporate them in the first place. After all, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is trying to avoid compliance with the 1866 treaty that establishes citizenship for black Cherokees.

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Ed 8 R, Non (last year)

Well What the ?, when it comes to constitutions and federal recognition I think there is a standard that most of the Tribe has to participate in the reorganization vote or the feds don't accept it. That may be why we see the Delaware asking everyone to register and that everyone who registers vote. Counting non-votes the same as voting no makes sure that all who register participate. That way they only have to get a majority to vote and vote yes to do what they want.

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Ed 8 R, Non (last year)

No, since beating a dead horse is not the subject I must remind you that the Delaware have been wrongfully denied their birth right by the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma an illegitimate entity dressed in injun drag. If you want to see an example of injun drag you could go over to Rezkast and look for Chaboogie.

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Dalequah , Miami (last year)

The Delaware tribe left not only me off the tribal roll they passed on to the BIA, but also the registered voters in my family.

It's a shame they have to be corrupt when it comes to a vote that involves money and federal recognition.

The chief kept telling people not to register if they did not intend to vote because the BIA would consider those ballots as a "no" vote.

I sure hope they don't take my name off the tribal roll for these per-capita payments this vote included.

The idiots and crooks!

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