Statement from Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith

Statement from Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith:

"The Cherokee Nation knows Senator Obama understands Native American issues and will be a good President for Indian Country. This statement confirms these facts."

"We agree with Senator Obama's overall position that the courts should decide these issues and wish other CBC Members would agree. The Congress should not subvert the courts and judge the Cherokee Nation without considering the facts or the law, which is exactly what some Members have done. The Cherokee Nation has followed federal court orders and federal law with its Constitutional amendment regarding citizenship. However, some members of Congress are poised to ignore the law in the same kind of reckless and coercive way that Andrew Jackson ignored a Supreme Court order in the 1830s and forcibly removed the Cherokee people, against federal law, on the Trail of Tears. In this case, it will lead to federal funding cuts of nearly $300 million that will eliminate federal health care, education and housing assistance for thousands of young, poor and infirm Cherokees."