Freedman have rights, court rules.

Cherokee freedman won a partial victory in their struggle against the officials of the Cherokee Nation who seek to disenfranchise them. 

he District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals on July 29 by its decision that the

1866 treaty between the Cherokee and the United States,promised ''all the rights of native Cherokees'' to the former slaves - and their descendants, ''who came to be known as freedmen.'' 

And it held that individual officers of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma ''cannot seek shelter'' from freedmen legal action within the tribe's sovereign immunity.   Thus the leadership can be held liable for their actions against the Freedman.  This ruling also opens the door to efforts by the Congressional Black Caucus to apply economic pressure against the leadership of the Cherokee Nation by denying federal benefits until they recognize the rights of the Cherokee Freedman.