Creek Freedmen
Encyclopedia
Creek Freedmen are African American
people who were former slaves of Muscogee Creek tribal members before 1866; they were freed (emancipated
) by the 1866 treaty with the United States and granted citizenship in the Creek Nation. The Creek Freedmen had lived and worked the land in Indian Territory
prior to the American Civil War
. The term also includes their descendants. Many have been of partial Creek descent by blood.
s were common during this time, and many Creek Freedmen were partly of Creek Indian ancestry.
Because the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
mostly allied with the Confederacy
, after the Union
victory in the Civil War, the United States
in 1866 required a new treaty
with the Creek Nation. It required the emancipation of slaves and the inclusion of Freedmen as full citizens of the Creek nation, eligible for voting rights and shares of annuities and land settlements. The treaty called for the setting aside of the western half of the territory (thereafter called Unassigned Lands) for the United States to use for the settlement of freedmen and other American Indian tribes. The Creek were forced to cede 3250560 acres (13,154.6 km²), for which the United States agreed to pay the sum of thirty (30) cents per acre, amounting to $975,165 USD. The 1866 U.S. treaty article 4 said the US would conduct a census of the Creek tribe, to include the Freedmen.
In 1893, the United States Dawes Commission
under the direction of Henry L. Dawes
was established by an act of Congress. The Dawes Act
, in a continuing effort at assimilation of American Indians, directed the break-up of communal tribal lands and the allotment of plots to individual households. All members of each tribe had to be registered for land allotment. The change to communal lands was an attempt to force the Native Americans to assimilate and adopt European-American methods of land use. In 1898, the US officials created the Dawes Rolls
to document the tribal membership for such allotments, including the Creek Freedmen citizens, in the Creek nation. The enrollment for the Dawes rolls lasted until April 26th, 1906. The final Dawes rolls constitute a record of the documented ancestors of Creek Freedmen.
The dawes Rolls have assumed great importance as tribes have increasingly relied on them as records of ancestors for determining ssues of descent and tribal membership for land claims and other benefits. Critics charge that many mistakes were made in how individuals were recorded. For instance, although many Freedmen were of Creek descent, they were included only on Freedmen rolls, which reduced their qualification for tribal membership in later years. The peace treaty of 1866 granted them full citizenship and rights regardless of proportion of Creek or Indian ancestry. Since the changes in Creek code in 2001, changing the rules for membership in the Nation, the issues have become more controversial.
Most of the Creek Freedmen were farmer
s. They cultivated the land and some owned bee
s and made honey
, such as Tartar Grayson, known as the "Great Bee Man." The children of Creek Freedmen attended racially segregated schools but lived on Creek territory as citizens of the Creek nation.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
people who were former slaves of Muscogee Creek tribal members before 1866; they were freed (emancipated
Emancipation
Emancipation means the act of setting an individual or social group free or making equal to citizens in a political society.Emancipation may also refer to:* Emancipation , a champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse foaled in 1979...
) by the 1866 treaty with the United States and granted citizenship in the Creek Nation. The Creek Freedmen had lived and worked the land in Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
prior to the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The term also includes their descendants. Many have been of partial Creek descent by blood.
History
Most of the Freedmen were former slaves of tribal members who had lived in both upper and lower Creek territories in the Southeast. In some villages, Creek citizens married enslaved men or women, and had mixed-race children with them. Interracial marriageInterracial marriage
Interracial marriage occurs when two people of differing racial groups marry. This is a form of exogamy and can be seen in the broader context of miscegenation .-Legality of interracial marriage:In the Western world certain jurisdictions have had regulations...
s were common during this time, and many Creek Freedmen were partly of Creek Indian ancestry.
Because the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
The Muscogee Nation is a federally recognized tribe of Muscogee people, also known as the Creek, based in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. They are regarded as one of the historical Five Civilized Tribes and call themselves Este Mvskokvlke...
mostly allied with the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, after the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
victory in the Civil War, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1866 required a new treaty
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
with the Creek Nation. It required the emancipation of slaves and the inclusion of Freedmen as full citizens of the Creek nation, eligible for voting rights and shares of annuities and land settlements. The treaty called for the setting aside of the western half of the territory (thereafter called Unassigned Lands) for the United States to use for the settlement of freedmen and other American Indian tribes. The Creek were forced to cede 3250560 acres (13,154.6 km²), for which the United States agreed to pay the sum of thirty (30) cents per acre, amounting to $975,165 USD. The 1866 U.S. treaty article 4 said the US would conduct a census of the Creek tribe, to include the Freedmen.
In 1893, the United States Dawes Commission
Dawes Commission
The American Dawes Commission, named for its first chairman Henry L. Dawes, was authorized under a rider to an Indian Office appropriation bill, March 3, 1893...
under the direction of Henry L. Dawes
Henry L. Dawes
Henry Laurens Dawes was a Republican United States Senator and United States Representative, notable for the Dawes Act.-Biography:...
was established by an act of Congress. The Dawes Act
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act, adopted by Congress in 1887, authorized the President of the United States to survey Indian tribal land and divide the land into allotments for individual Indians. The Act was named for its sponsor, Senator Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts. The Dawes Act was amended in 1891 and again...
, in a continuing effort at assimilation of American Indians, directed the break-up of communal tribal lands and the allotment of plots to individual households. All members of each tribe had to be registered for land allotment. The change to communal lands was an attempt to force the Native Americans to assimilate and adopt European-American methods of land use. In 1898, the US officials created the Dawes Rolls
Dawes Rolls
The Dawes Rolls were created by the Dawes Commission. The Commission, authorized by United States Congress in 1893, was required to negotiate with the Five Civilized Tribes to convince them to agree to an allotment plan and dissolution of the reservation system...
to document the tribal membership for such allotments, including the Creek Freedmen citizens, in the Creek nation. The enrollment for the Dawes rolls lasted until April 26th, 1906. The final Dawes rolls constitute a record of the documented ancestors of Creek Freedmen.
The dawes Rolls have assumed great importance as tribes have increasingly relied on them as records of ancestors for determining ssues of descent and tribal membership for land claims and other benefits. Critics charge that many mistakes were made in how individuals were recorded. For instance, although many Freedmen were of Creek descent, they were included only on Freedmen rolls, which reduced their qualification for tribal membership in later years. The peace treaty of 1866 granted them full citizenship and rights regardless of proportion of Creek or Indian ancestry. Since the changes in Creek code in 2001, changing the rules for membership in the Nation, the issues have become more controversial.
Most of the Creek Freedmen were farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s. They cultivated the land and some owned bee
Bee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
s and made honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
, such as Tartar Grayson, known as the "Great Bee Man." The children of Creek Freedmen attended racially segregated schools but lived on Creek territory as citizens of the Creek nation.
External links
- Muskogee County Indian Journal, Local Happenings, 22 Jun 1876