Muscogee Nation Court Affirms Citizenship Rights for Descendants of Enslaved Ancestors

The Muscogee Nation Supreme Court declared on Wednesday that two individuals descended from ancestors once enslaved by the tribe are eligible for tribal citizenship. The court identified that the tribe’s citizenship board breached an 1866 treaty by denying Rhonda Grayson and Jeffrey Kennedy's applications in 2019 due to their inability to identify a direct ancestor. The court's opinion affirmed, “Are we, as a Nation, bound to treaty promises made so many years ago? Today, we answer in the affirmative, because this is what Mvskoke law demands.” The ruling remands the case back to the tribe's citizenship board, instructing it to adhere to the Treaty of 1866 for Grayson and Kennedy's applications, potentially opening pathways for thousands of new members. Grayson expressed that the victory honors their lineage and fosters healing and unity. The court also deemed references to “by blood” in the constitution unlawful, indicating possible substantial revisions ahead. Muscogee Nation Chief David Hill mentioned they will review the ruling for its implications.