TULSA – A motion to compel was filed in Muscogee (Creek) Nation Supreme Court on Tuesday Oct. 14 by Rhonda Grayson and Jeffrey Kennedy, the two plaintiffs in the Freedmen case. The motion to compel demands that MCN Principal Chief David Hill and the MCN Citizenship Board comply with the MCN Supreme Court’s decision. In that ruling, it was determined that descendents of Creek Freedmen must be admitted to the MCN as citizens. Court documents accuse Chief Hill of obstructing the citizenship application process by issuing Executive Order 25-05, a directive that allowed the board to accept Freedmen descendent applications, but not issue them citizenship cards.
According to a press release from Justice for Greenwood, it describes EO 25-05 as “unlawful” and that it defies the authority of the MCN Supreme Court. It claims that it has been almost eight weeks since Kennedy and Grayson originally applied for citizenship. Neither have been issued a citizenship card. According to lead counsel for the plaintiffs Demario Solomon-Simmons, they will continue to fight until Grayson and Kennedy officially receive citizenship.
“The Treaty of 1866 is binding, and the law is clear,” Solomon-Simmons said in the press release. “Chief Hill’s executive order is unconstitutional and unlawful. The Citizenship Board admitted they could complete this process weeks ago. These continued delays are deliberate, coordinated obstruction—and they will be held accountable.”
According to the Nation, the directive was issued because new code amendments compliant with the Treaty of 1866 are in development. A time table of how long it will take to develop and implement the new code amendments has not yet been announced.
Mvskoke Media reached out to the MCN Executive Branch on the motion to compel. Press Secretary Jason Salsman made the following statement:
The Muscogee Nation is committed to implementing all treaty obligations in a manner that is fair, transparent, and consistent with our Nation’s laws. We are developing code amendments to ensure that all individuals who may qualify under the Treaty of 1866 are treated equitably and with respect. Our government’s priority is to ensure that any determinations regarding citizenship are based on careful review, sound documentation, and responsible governance. The Nation’s Supreme Court has acknowledged that this process will take time, and we are proceeding with great care to uphold both the spirit and the letter of its decision. We understand that some individuals may feel frustrated by the pace of this work. However, impatience cannot replace the careful deliberation and integrity required to carry out our Nation’s sovereign responsibilities. We remain steadfast in pursuing a process that honors our treaties and our duty to future generations.
Mvskoke Media will continue to provide developments on the Freedmen case.
