Oklahoma Native American Data




The forming of Indian Territory in 1899
That for the purpose of facilitating the organization of a temporary government in the Territory of Oklahoma, seven counties are hereby established therein, to be known, until after the first election in the Territory, as the First County, the Second County, the Third County, the Fourth County, the Fifth County, and the Sixth County, the boundaries of which shall be fixed by the governor of the Territory until otherwise provided by the legislative assembly thereof. The county seat of the First County shall be Guthrie. The county seat of the Second County shall be at Oklahoma City. The county seat of the Third County shall be be at Norman. The county seat of the Fourth County shall be at El Reno. The county seat of the Fifth County shall be at King-[fisher] King]fisher City. The county seat of the Sixth County shall be at Stillwater. The Seventh County shall embrace all that portion of the Territory lying west of the one hundredth meridian, known as the Public Land Strip, the county seat of which shall be at Beaver: Provided, That the county seats located by this act may be changed in such manner as the Territorial may provide.
   At the first election for members of the legislative assembly the people of each county may vote for a name for such county, and the name which receives the greatest number of votes shall be the name of such county. If two or more counties should select the same name, the county which casts the greatest number of votes for such name shall be entitled to the same, and the names receiving the next highest number of votes in the other counties shall be the names of such counties. An apportionment shall be made by the governor as nearly equal as practicable among the several counties or districts for the election of the council and house representatives, giving to each section of the Territory representatives in the ratio of its population (excepting Indians not taxed) as nearly as may be, and the members of the council and house of representatives shall reside in and be inhabitants of the district for which they may be elected, respectively. Previous to the first election the governor shall cause a census or enumeration of the inhabitants of the several counties or districts of the Territory to be taken, unless the same shall have been taken and published by the United States, in which case such census and enumeration shall be adopted, and the first election shall be held at such times and places and be conducted in such manner, both as to the persons who superintend such election and the returns thereof, as the governor shall appoint and direct, and he shall at the same time declare the number of the members of the council and house of representatives to which each of the counties or districts shall be entitled, as shown by the census herein provided for. The number of persons authorized to be elected, having the highest number of legal votes in each of said council districts for members of the council, shall be declared by the governor to be duly elected to the council, and the person or persons authorized to be elected, having the greatest number of votes for the house of representatives equal to the number to which each county or district shall be entitled, shall be declared by the governor to be elected members of the house of representatives: Provided, That case two or more persons voted for have an equal number of votes, and in case a vacancy otherwise occurs in either branch of the legislative assembly, the governor shall order a new election, and the persons thus elected to the legislative assembly shall meet at such place an on such day as the governor shall appoint, but after such first election, however, the time, place, and manner of holding elections by the people, and the apportionment of representation, and the day of the commencement of the regular sessions of the legislative assembly shall be provided by law: Provided, however, That the governor shall have power to call the legislative assembly together by proclamation, on an extraordinary occasions at any time.

The Chickasaw people moved to Indian Territory during the "Great Removal," on what was later  called the "Trail of Tears."  The other tribes forced to relocate were the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole, called the "Five Civilized Tribes" because of their highly developed ruling systems.  The Chickasaws were one of the last to move.  In 1837, the Treaty of Doaksville called for the resettlement of the Chickasaws among the Choctaw tribe in Indian Territory.  In 1856, the Chickasaws, in order to restore direct authority over their governmental affairs, separated from the Choctaws and formed their own government.  Tribal leaders established the capital at Tishomingo, adopted a constitution and organized executive, legislative and judicial departments of government with the offices filled by popular election.  At the outbreak of the Civil War, the Chickasaws signed an alliance with the South and raised troops to fight with the Confederacy.  The respected Choctaw/Chickasaw Mounted Regiment, headquartered at Fort Washita, fought some of the last battles of the Civil War.  Although suffering hardships after the defeat of the Confederacy, the tribe regained prosperity.  Many Chickasaws became successful farmers and ranchers.  Chickasaws built some of the first schools, banks, and businesses in Indian Territory.  After Oklahoma statehood in 1907, the President of the United States appointed the principal officers of the Chickasaw Nation.  In 1970, Congress enacted legislation allowing the Five Civilized Tribes to elect their principle officers.  In 1983, a new Chickasaw constitution was adopted.

Their were several treaties between the White man and the Chickasaw Nation.  These treaties are too long to be listed here so I will place the links here for those that I have found.

Chickasaw Treaty of 1805 - - - - - - - - - - - - - --http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/ntreaty/nt003.htm

TREATY WITH THE CHICKASAW -- 1818 - -http://www.chickasawhistory.com/t7.htm

TREATY WITH THE CHICKASAW -- 1834 - - http://www.chickasawhistory.com/t12.htm

TREATY WITH THE CHICKASAW - - 1852- -http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Treaties/TreatyWithTheChickasaw1852.html




 



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