Delaware voters approve constitution and bylaws
http://www.cherokeephoenix.org/3781/Article.aspx
By Jami Custer
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. Citizens of the Delaware Tribe of Indians recently voted to approve their constitution and bylaws, bringing them closer to once again being federally recognized.
More than 1,100 voters approved the tribes constitution to only 19 no votes. The Bureau of Indian Affairs managed the election.
This election was after the Delaware Tribe and the Cherokee Nation drew up a memorandum of agreement in October to allow the Delaware separation from the CN.
According to a treaty, the Delaware became citizens of the CN in 1866.
The Delaware have had trouble getting and keeping federal recognition in the past. After being connected to the CN for years and gaining recognition in the 1990s, the tribe lost that federal recognition in a federal court decision in 2004.
After losing the case, the Delaware were left to sell their headquarters and release nearly 100 employees.
With federal recognition the tribe would have the opportunity to receive federal funds from the government. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has the final decision on approving the election and granting the tribe its federal recognition.
Steve Osburn, Delaware citizen, said overall he was happy with the vote, but thinks the memorandum made with CN is limited.
I think we are really limited as to what we can do and what the Cherokee have to approve, he said. I think in the end its the best we could do under the circumstances. As long as (CN Principal Chief Chad) Smith is chief, its the best deal we could get.
He said the funding the Delaware could receive if the vote is approved would allow the tribe to do a little, but not what it could have in a normal situation for a federally recognized tribe.
The tribe is made up of nearly 11,000 citizens and is based in Bartlesville. It is separate from the federally recognized Delaware Nation in Anadarko.
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