Descendants of Freedmen to host Nov. 4 virtual conference

The Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes Association and the African Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes Foundation will co-host a virtual zoom conference on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The descendants of freedmen of the five tribes are descendants of Africans who were enslaved by Indians of the five tribes (Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Choctaw, and Chickasaw) or were free mixed African Indians who were legally living within the tribal areas prior to the Civil War. The freedmen and their descendants received tribal citizenship rights through treaties signed by tribal leaders and the US government in 1866.

Many descendants of tribal freedmen now face discrimination in registering as tribal citizens/tribal members, and accessing benefits such as housing and education available to members of federally recognized Indian tribes. Many tribal freedmen descendants battle dis-enrollment movements led by tribal leaders.

Conference presenters will include Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr, attorney and author Hannibal Johnson, law professor Carla Pratt, genealogist and author Angela Walton Raji, genealogist and historian Nicka Smith, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Kenneth Cooper, attorney Bryan Shade, and Descendants of Freedmen Association President Marilyn Vann.

Topics will include The 1866 Treaties, Dawes Tribal Land Allotments, North Tulsa/Greenwood, and Black Indian Territory Soldiers in the Civil War.

Tickets are available thru www. eventbrite.com event “The Descendants of Freedmen of the 5 Tribes Assn 2ND Virtual Conference as well as cash app (dftcta) and paypal (mkvann@africanindians.org). To learn more about conference speakers and to directly reach the Eventbrite link go to www.africanindians.org or www.freedmen5tribes.com.