Free Speech
Tribe Clarifies Churchill Relationship
By Amy Herdy
May 20, 2005, 9:47am

Reprinted from the Denver Post

In an abrupt change of tone, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians replaced its harshly critical statement regarding Ward Churchill with one that acknowledges the professor's "alleged ancestry" of being Cherokee.

"Because Mr. Churchill had genealogical information regarding his alleged ancestry, and his willingness to assist the UKB in promoting the tribe and its causes, he was awarded an 'Associate Membership' as an honor," the tribe's website said Thursday. "However, Mr. Churchill may possess eligibility status for Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma,

The new statement, while stopping short of endorsing any of Churchill's heritage, veers from the sharp rebuke posted Tuesday on the tribal website. The website said "Mr. Churchill mocks the basic fundamental principles of Tribal Sovereignty when he consistently refers to enrollment as a 'pedigree' and compares enrollment to 'dogs' and 'Nazi policies."'

The University of Colorado professor has been at the center of controversy since statements he made comparing some victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to a Nazi became public.

In the ensuing furor, CU began an investigation of Churchill that included allegations of plagiarism and of falsely identifying himself to be Indian. That inquiry is ongoing.

The conflicting views on Churchill within the Keetoowah band are a likely indicator of the difficulty a CU committee faces in rendering a decision on his ethnicity and how it relates to his scholarship.

On Thursday, Churchill said that while the new statement supports his contention that the tribe verified his genealogy, it changes nothing. "As it stands now, I am an enrolled associate member of the UKB," he said. "If they would like to disenroll me, they have the prerogative, but they haven't done so."

Or, he said, "I'll resign. All you ever had to do was ask. If you're so ashamed of me, hell, I don't want anything to do with you. But it was never honorary," Churchill said of his associate membership, "and it did require enrollment."

One point in which Churchill and the tribe appear to agree is that Churchill did not meet the standard to be a full member.

"He was not eligible for tribal membership due to the fact that he does not possess a 'Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB), which is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Interior/Bureau of Indian Affairs," Thursday's statement said.

Churchill has repeatedly said he has never asked for a CDIB as the idea of being "vetted" by the U.S. government is offensive.

Former tribal chief John Ross, who issued Churchill the associate member degree in 1994, could not be reached for comment. Chief George Wickliffe did not return repeated phone calls Thursday, and a woman who answered the phone at the tribal office said the statement spoke for him.

Staff writer Amy Herdy can be reached at 303-820-1752 or aherdy@denverpost.com.

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Statement from the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Regarding Ward Churchill

May 19, 2005

Ward Churchill received an "Associate Membership" from the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma (UKB) council in May, 1994. He was not eligible for tribal membership due to the fact that he does not possess a "Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood" (CDIB) which is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Interior / Bureau of Indian Affairs. Because Mr. Churchill had genealogical information regarding his alleged ancestry, and his willingness to assist the UKB in promoting the tribe and its causes, he was awarded an 'Associate Membership' as an honor. However, Mr. Churchill may possess eligibility status for Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, since he claims 1/16 Cherokee.

"Associate Memberships" were only issued during the term of former Chief John Ross (1991 until the council voted to approve no more such memberships in July, 1994). It was made clear to all such members that they were not eligible to vote or receive any benefits. Federal law requires recipients of any benefits available to Native Americans to have a CDIB, which Mr. Churchill indicated he did not possess. The UKB's eligibility for enrollment is based on providing documented evidence of direct lineage to the Dawes Roll enrollees, or to the 1949 UKB roll. Receiving an Associate Membership is akin to receiving an honorary doctorate, and then claiming to have received eight years worth of university education.

Employers regularly contact the tribal office to verify candidate employees' claims of being American Indian through the tribal issuance of an Indian Preference letter, which is also approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Because Mr. Churchill does not have a CDIB, the UKB would not issue such a letter, if requested. There is no legal record of Mr. Churchill being a federally recognized Native American in the tribal office. Associate memberships are awarded to non-tribal applicants, while eligible tribal members are enrolled into the tribe. Mr. Churchill was never enrolled as a member, but was awarded an "Associate Membership."

The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma hopes this statement clarifies the facts as we know them. It is our desire to not be distracted by such matters and continue helping our Elders and families here in our Nation.

For further information regarding Mr. Churchill's status as a Native American, please contact the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington , D.C.

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