Freedmen were listed separately from “by blood” tribal members in the census. The Native tribes now face pressure from two branches of government to recognize the Freedmen. The Biden administration has encouraged the tribes to voluntarily restore their citizenship and grant them equal rights. These four tribes received a combined $27.7 million in housing funds from the federal government this year. Chuck Hoskin Jr., the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, attended the hearing as a witness in support of equal citizenship for Freedmen in the other tribes.

Source: New York Times July 27, 2021 23:26 UTC