Per Fox News:
In a statement on its Web site, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians said it gave Ward Churchill an “honorary associate membership” because he promised to write a tribal history. …
The Keetoowah statement, first reported by the Rocky Mountain News, said the tribe “has no association with Churchill in any capacity whatsoever” and called his comments about the Sept. 11 victims offensive.
Here’s what the Cherokees had to say:
… Mr. Churchill was never able to prove his eligibility in accordance with our membership laws, but was to be honored because of his promise to write our history, and his pledge to help and honor the UKB. To date, Churchill has done nothing in regards to his promise and pledge.
The United Keetoowah Band, a sovereign Nation, has the sole right to determine our membership and interpret our laws. The term “Indian” refers not only to an ethnic category, but it is also a political determination based on our unique relationship with the Federal Government. Mr. Churchill mocks the basic fundamental principles of Tribal Sovereignty when he consistently refers to enrollment as a “pedigree” and compares enrollment to “dogs” and “Nazi policies.” Additionally, his rhetoric did not prevent him from approaching the UKB and seek a so-called “dog pedigree.” …
Obviously, Churchill (photo) has pointed the way for the White Man to get hired in by a university to head an Ethnic Studies dept. Go to a costume shop, buy yourself a Tonto wig, and make your petition thus:
“Greetings, He Who Suffers White
Liberal Guilt. Me authentic Indian
man. Me want-um *giggle* Ethnic
Studies job. Heap big wampum, too.”
