[bert]

The Cherokee nation is nationalist to prevent interlopers from diluting the body politic

[Reno89519]

Sorry, they are racist (as well). They actively deny membership to otherwise qualifying people if they are also of African black descent. This has been long-time controversy--Indians mixed with Europeans okay, those mixed with African slave roots not so okay. Call that what you want, but it is racist.

I figure they don't want DNA tests (and create a reference DNA pool) in part because some it would not only force them to accept these Native Americans but would also out that many of their members have little or no Native American roots.