b'Obama & The Native AmericansWhat About Us?By The Harvest InstituteO n September 26, 2016, two days afterinauguratingtheNational Museum of African American History and Culture, the Obama administra-tion announced it has settled lawsuits with17IndianTribesandwillpay them $492 million dollars to end their longstandinglegaldisputesabout mismanagement of Treaty assets. The casebroughtbyfamiliesofBlack IndianFreedmenslavesformerly ownedandheldinbondagebythe tribesalsoaboutmismanagement ofTreatyassets,wasnotincluded.andthereasonsfortheirnon-stop They have been in litigation with thelegalbattleagainstthefederalgov-U.S.DepartmentofInteriorsinceernment. Indian Freedmen were enti-2006overfailureofthegovernmenttledtomeaningfuloversightoftheir to enforce the provisions of the 1866assets by the Department of Interior IndianTreatiesandgrossmisman- justastheTribeswithwhichthis agementoftheirrealestate,leasesAdministration has settled. The gov-and royalties and other assets. ernment has recognized the misman-The lawsuit of the black Indian fam- agementofIndianTribeassetsbut ilies, Leatrice Tanner-Brown and Thehas refused to even acknowledge that Harvest Institute Freedmen Federationithasalsomismanagedtheassets (HIFF), LLC v. Sally Jewell, Secretarythat belonged to the Indian Freedman, ofInterior,UnitedStatesCircuitinstead opposing the families at every CourtfortheDistrictofColumbialegal step they have taken. CaseNo.16-5040,issponsoredbyIn response to Court encouragement theHarvestInstituteFreedmanthat both the Department of Interior Federation, a non-profit collaborationandHIFFmediate,theDepartment of The Harvest Institute, a black thinkapproachedtheHIFFaboutsettle-tankbasedinWashington,DCandmentmeetings,butlaterrescinded the Black Indian United Legal Defensetheinvitation.TheFreedmenfami-andEducationFundbasedinEnid,liesareblackcitizens.Theyhave Oklahoma. been opposed, ignored and excluded TheAdministrationhasprovidedbecauseoftheirraceandtreated morethan$8billiontotheFivein an unconstitutional discriminatory Civilized Tribes who were slave-hold- manner by their government. ersandalliedwiththeConfederacyThe Obama Administration contin-duringtheCivilWarbutcontinuesues the 150 year racial pattern in this the 150 year pattern of opposing andmatter.At the White House confer-ignoring the Indian Freedmen permit- ence, Obama said to the Indian Tribes ting the travesty to their descendantgathered: Ive heard you, I have seen families to continue.you.AndIhopeIvedonerightby Dr.ClaudAnderson,presidentyouIhopeIhavesetadirection ofTheHarvestInstitutebasedinthat others will follow.Has the first Washington,D.CandtheHIFF.BlackPresidentheardorseenthe said:Inthe1866treaties,thefed- plightofthedescendentsofBlack eral government forced slave-holdingIndian Freedmen for legal redress? IndianTribestoreleasetheirslavesACTIONSTEPS:Youareurged aftertheCivilWarandmandatedtocontactPresidentObamaand that the Freedmen and their descen- demand that he treat the Black Indian dants,receivemonetary,land,otherFreedmenatleastaswellashe economicbenefitsandequaltribalhas treated Indians and to settle the membership. Later laws required theIndian Freedmen law suit.assetsoftheFreedmentobeman-aged and protected by the Secretary oftheInterior.Thatdidnothappen andthegovernmentallowedpreda-torstoacquirethoseassets.TheThe Administration recentsettlementsacknowledgethat theDepartmentofInteriorgrosslyhas provided more mismanagedtheaccountsofIndian TribesbuttheAdministrationhasthan $8 billion to the totallyignoredtheexploitationthat theDepartmentpermittedupontheFive Civilized Tribes far more vulnerable former slaves of those same Indian Tribes. ownedwho were slave-The facts that Indian Tribes slaves,thattherewereTreatiesandholders and allied lawsintendedtoprotecttheBlack IndianFreedmen,aremostoftenwith the Confederacy omitted from history books. The HIFF has taken deliberate actions to briefduring the Civil War.and inform the Obama administration and the public about these facts, the plight of the Indian Freedmen families BODY OF CHRIST NEWS AUGUST 2021 9'