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Who belongs in the Cherokee Nation?

Jul 20, 2022
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ANECDOTE

Marilyn Van's Rejection

  • Marilyn Van, a woman of Cherokee and African descent, always identified with her Cherokee heritage.
  • She applied for official Cherokee Nation citizenship but received a surprising rejection.
INSIGHT

Cherokee Nation's History of Slavery

  • Marilyn Vann discovered that the Cherokee Nation, despite being victims of oppression themselves, had also enslaved Black people.
  • This revelation was deeply disappointing and added another layer to her struggle for recognition.
INSIGHT

Cherokee and the Civilization Policy

  • The Cherokee Nation adopted slavery as a survival tactic against white encroachment and as part of a US 'civilization policy'.
  • This policy, promoted by figures like Thomas Jefferson, linked power with slave ownership.
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