The People's Voice:
by A ge ya
Copyright © 1998 Ageya
Copyright © 1998 Muskogee Phoenix
There was an a brief editorial on Monday, Feb. 2, 1998 in the Muskogee Phoenix.
"Think Twice:"A simple -- and correct -- ruling could mean last August's clash over control of the Cherokee Nation Courthouse in Tahlequah will have major implications far beyond Indian Country.
"The Cherokee Judicial Appeals Tribunal ruled last week that, yes, the tribe's courthouse in downtown Tahlequah is Indian Country.
"This could prove quite inconvenient to the law enforcement community in northeastern Oklahoma because of its involvement in the Aug. 13, 1997, confrontation at the courthouse. Officers from five Oklahoma counties and the Highway Patrol blocked Cherokee citizens, including tribal officials, from entering their own courthouse.
"These officers acted on behalf of Cherokee Chief Joe Byrd, but the tribunal's ruling certainly revives disturbing questions about the propriety of having state officers intervening in a tribal dispute on Indian land.
"No doubt the tribunal's ruling will lead to a burst of litigation about the riot. It also should give pause to state and county officials the next time they are asked to involve themselves in internal tribal affairs."
As to the burst of litigation mentioned in the above editorial... yes that ruling will prove to be more than a little inconvenient to all those law enforcement officials who should have known better then to follow "illegal" orders of Byrd and cohorts, and the burst of litigation started within days after the June 20th and August 13th melees on the courthouse grounds is the first clue to that inconvenience. More than 18 Cherokee citizens who filed a $Million civil rights lawsuit against those city, county, state , fed and Byrd so-called law enforcement officials including the D.A., Dianne Barker-Harrold will have their day in court thanks to Chad Smith and a few other attorneys who have been working hard to make sure Cherokee citizens have a legal voice. The editorial is correct when it said that the ruling should make those law enforcement agencies think twice before interfering with internal tribal affairs.
It is just my opinion, but it appears that the local law enforcement officials, along with Byrd's attorney, Rex Earl Starr and all the rest of the attorneys that Byrd has placed on the tribal payroll are all under the impression that the tribal government including the judicial branch is "not really a government". They act like Indian sovereignty is a "tongue & cheek" play acted pretense that has no "real" credibility.
Attorney Bill Bliss said in court early on in the Byrd orchestrated crisis to one of our JAT Justices... "your honor if this were a "real" court.", and Rex Earl Starr said, "we have had a lot of problems with this court's jurisdiction in "our" district courts"...(meaning in his county). Some friends of mine taped their statements before our JAT. You can tell from their statements that they have no respect for our tribal courts or government. I don't know when the last time all these good ole boys in law enforcement were challenged in court for violating people's civil rights, but, I do know that win, lose or draw the more than 18 Cherokee citizens who have stood up and demanded justice in the civil rights law suit will leave a message for years to come that when you abuse your authority you are going to hear about it from some Indian people who respect who they are and what Indian Country means!!
It appears that Indian tribal sovereignty is just fine and dandy with these city, county and state (and in this case Chief Byrd) when they are getting what they want on the backs of Indian people, but let the Indian people try to exert their legal rights and demand respect of those rights or suddenly object loudly to abuse, they all start trying to prove that our sovereignty isn't real... only a "token" title or right.
There was a great letter to the editor in the same Muskogee Phoenix paper by a Don Quinton of Vian. In one part of his letter he said in response to Calvin Rock's letter of Jan. 20th... "Byrd can be Rock's chief and that of the eight who call themselves council members. But it will be a cold day in hell before I refer to Byrd as my chief." ...." Since Byrd has came to office, he had done more to embarrass, divide and regress the Cherokees than anyone since the people who signed land away before the Cherokees were removed from the East." He ends the letter by saying... "You may ask how I have the audacity to write a letter of this nature. By using the same audacity that people referred to in this letter could have in doing what they have done and then defending themselves. I'll remember Byrd and his cohorts when election time comes."
Looks like there is no doubt that the "vocal majority" are increasing in numbers as more and more people are stepping forward to tell the truth about what has gone on out their at that complex with a dictator in charge. Byrd should think twice about ever running for another office in the Cherokee Nation... the word all over 14 counties is that they have had it with him and he will not see another elected office again!
Muskogee Phoenix
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Muskogee, OK 74402-1968
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