Freedman descendents hope for increased federal care.

[Tanuki]

https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/freedmen-descendants-hopeful-for-increased-federal-care

"Freedmen descendants in Oklahoma tribes are hoping to see an increase in healthcare access and eligibility by the Indian Health Service.

One Freedmen activist group is continuing the battle for equal healthcare access and citizenship rights, while Seminole Freedmen first denied healthcare from their tribal clinic were declared eligible this month by Indian Health Service (IHS).
...
Freedmen descendents
are descended from emancipated slaves who were owned or intermarried with the Five Tribes -- Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole -- whose societies included enslaved and freed African-Americans.

Freedmen activist group Muscogee Creek Indian Freedmen Band has a lawsuit pending in the district court of Muscogee Nation for recognition as citizens of the tribe, an effort to restore rights to citizenship which includes access to healthcare owed to all tribal citizens.
...

Grayson, who is of Muscogee and Chickasaw Freedmen descent, said the group and others have worked with U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and her staff on the Freedmen issue. Waters is leading efforts to hold tribes accountable in honoring the 1866 treaty."...(more)