Oklahoma's Juneteenth Celebrations Focus on Descendants of Tribal Slavery

Juneteenth, recognized as the day in 1865 when enslaved individuals in Galveston, Texas, learned of their emancipation, holds a dual significance for many in Oklahoma. While it is a day of celebration, it also underscores the ongoing struggle of thousands of individuals who are descendants of those enslaved by tribal nations and are still seeking full citizenship rights within those communities.

Historically, several tribes in Oklahoma, including the Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Muscogee nations, practiced slavery. In 1866, these tribes signed reconstruction treaties with the United States that abolished slavery, granting citizenship to the formerly enslaved individuals, commonly referred to as Freedmen. However, only the Cherokee Nation currently upholds these citizenship rights fully.

For descendants of enslaved individuals, Juneteenth represents both a celebration of freedom and a poignant reminder of their ongoing fight for recognition within the Indigenous communities with whom they share a historical and ancestral bond.

In the Muscogee Nation, Freedmen commemorate emancipation on August 4, the date when the tribal council enacted a law to declare them free. Rhonda Grayson, director of the Oklahoma Indian Territory Museum of Black Creek Freedmen History, traces her heritage to those listed on a 1906 U.S. census - the Dawes Rolls - which classified individuals by their perceived racial identity. Those with African ancestry were designated as Freedmen, despite many having Native American lineage as well.

Recently, the Muscogee Nation Supreme Court heard a case led by Grayson and another advocate, Jeff Kennedy, who are asserting their rights to citizenship within the tribe. They argue that their ancestors were originally Muscogee people of African descent and were unjustly categorized as Freedmen by the Dawes Commission.

These individuals suffered through the Trail of Tears and subsequently gained citizenship, contributing to the tribe's legislative processes. However, a constitutional amendment in 1979 limited citizenship to those with Muscogee ancestry "by blood," leading to a legal challenge by Grayson and Kennedy, who contend that this restriction contravenes the 1866 treaty. A district court agreed in 2023, but the Muscogee Nation's citizenship board has appealed the decision.

The anticipated ruling from the Supreme Court could potentially allow thousands of new members to join the tribe. Grayson emphasizes that this legal battle extends beyond mere citizenship; it seeks to rectify historical narratives and educate future generations about their true heritage.

In the Seminole Nation, Freedmen have faced challenges regarding their citizenship rights. Although they were initially granted citizenship, a 2000 vote restricted this to those with a minimum of one-eighth Seminole ancestry, disenfranchising over 1,000 individuals of African descent. Following advocacy efforts and health service access issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, Freedmen were granted some healthcare rights, but many still lack full citizenship and access to tribal services. LeEtta Osborne-Sampson, a Freedmen member of the Seminole Nation, highlights the disadvantages faced by her community as they navigate these restrictive policies.

Similarly, the Choctaw Nation, which had once recognized Freedmen as citizens starting in 1885, enacted a constitutional change in 1983 to limit membership to those with Choctaw ancestry. This decision has led to conflicts over treaty obligations, prompting discussions about the historical context of these citizenship laws. Chief Gary Batton has acknowledged the need for dialogue regarding the status of Choctaw Freedmen, although many advocates feel that meaningful discussions have yet to materialize.

The Chickasaw Nation, unlike the Choctaw, never recognized those it enslaved as citizens, a decision that has left their descendants without any status or claim to tribal membership. This lack of recognition has created significant barriers for those seeking to assert their rights within the Chickasaw Nation.

As the Cherokee Nation has recently amended its constitution to grant full citizenship to Freedmen descendants, there are growing calls for other tribes to follow suit and meet their moral and legal obligations to these individuals. The situation highlights the broader issues of identity, history, and rights within tribal governance.