Two descendants of Black people once enslaved by the Muscogee Nation have taken their dispute with tribal officials to federal court, asking a judge to order the issuance of tribal citizenship cards that a Muscogee Nation court said they are owed.
Legal fight follows tribal court ruling
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City, names Principal Chief David Hill and the Muscogee Nation Citizenship Board as defendants. It was brought on behalf of Rhonda Grayson and Jeffrey Kennedy, who say the board denied their applications in 2019 after concluding they could not identify a lineal descendant of the tribe.
In July 2025 the Muscogee Nation Supreme Court ruled that Grayson and Kennedy are entitled to citizenship under the tribe’s laws and the 1866 treaty with the United States. The lawsuit alleges tribal leaders have not complied with that order by issuing the physical citizenship cards that would restore voting rights and other benefits of membership.
“We are committed to ensuring that the Muscogee Nation’s Constitution and laws are followed fairly and consistently,” the Muscogee Nation said in a statement. “Getting policies right is always more important than getting them done quickly. Anything less would undermine the integrity of our governmental processes and the rights of our citizens.”
The complaint asserts that by withholding cards, Chief Hill and the citizenship board are denying Grayson and Kennedy their ability “to participate fully as members of the Nation.” Last August, Hill halted the issuance of citizenship cards pending deliberations about constitutional changes, the suit says.
Local impact and wider context
The Muscogee Nation, headquartered in Okmulgee, is one of five tribes in Oklahoma with histories of practicing slavery. The question of Freedmen descendants’ rights has reverberated across the state and follows similar disputes in other Native nations where descendants of those once enslaved have sought recognition and voting access.
For Grayson and Kennedy, the stakes are immediate and practical: citizenship cards confer the right to vote in tribal elections and access to services and tribal governance. The lawsuit asks the federal court to enforce the Muscogee Nation Supreme Court’s decision and compel the issuance of the cards.
- Applicants denied citizenship in 2019 by the Muscogee Nation Citizenship Board.
- Muscogee Nation Supreme Court ordered recognition in July 2025.
- Principal Chief halted card issuance in August 2025 pending constitutional review.
- Federal lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City on behalf of the two applicants (filed Thursday, per the complaint).
| Year | Action |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Citizenship applications denied by the Muscogee Nation Citizenship Board |
| July 2025 | Muscogee Nation Supreme Court orders recognition of the applicants |
| August 2025 | Principal Chief halts issuance of citizenship cards pending constitutional review |
| Thursday (filed) | Federal lawsuit seeks court order to compel issuance of cards |
The Muscogee Nation told reporters it had not yet been served with the complaint and emphasized that internal tribal institutions should address governance questions, noting federal law and precedent recognize tribal mechanisms for such matters. The statement stressed care in changing policies so as not to undermine citizens’ rights.
This case will test the interplay between tribal court rulings, executive actions by tribal leadership and federal court authority — and it will have tangible consequences for those who seek restoration of membership rights tied to a complex history of enslavement and treaty guarantees.
Anyone with information about the case or the citizenship process within the tribe can follow developments through the U.S. District Court filings and statements from Muscogee Nation officials.
