Black Cherokees Seek Tribal Recognition

Some Interesting and Famous People Are Described as Black Indians

On February 12^th the Raleigh News & Observer published and article by Associated Press writer Adam Geller.

Geller begins with the story of Lucy Allen who needed to find an empty room with a large table so that she could show the contents of two large black suitcases of documents that support her contention that she should be admitted into the Cherokee Nation. 

Her story began with the picture of a man she describes as her father. He had told her stories of Indians who she had descended from.

When she had children she realized that the stories had elements that she had not considered.

She knew she had Cherokee in her veins but her records could not provide the proof she needed to satiisfy the Cherokee authorities. (The stipulation at the time of this hearing required proof of a certain percent of Cherokee blood relationship.)

The records show that her ancestor was owned by Captain Joseph Martin, a Cherokee slave holder. One of the slaves bore Captain Martin a son who was named Joe Martin. Joe Martin is Lucy Allen's great grandfather.

For many people it may come as a shock that Indians like Captain Joseph Martin owned slaves. Captain Martin not only owned 103 slaves, he also is said to have owned a 100,000 acre ranch.

In the case of Lucy Allen the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council rejected her most recent appeal for recognition. This action led to a lawsuit, Lucy Allen vs. Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, which resulted in a 2 to 1 decision in favor of Allen's position.

Allen was elated and tried to register her and her sons as citizens only to be disappointed yet again.

The tribe, instead of accepting her bid to be recognized, has scheduled a vote on March 7^th, 2007 on the issue.