History Muscogee (Creek) Nation

after defeating confederacy, united states required new peace treaties 5 civilized tribes. treaty of 1866 required creek abolish slavery within territory , grant tribal citizenship creek freedmen chose stay in territory; citizenship included voting rights , shares of annuities , land allotments. if creek freedmen moved out united states territory, granted united states citizenship, other emancipated slaves.

the creek established new government in 1866 , selected new capital of okmulgee. in 1867 ratified new constitution. built capitol in 1867 , enlarged in 1878. today creek national capitol national historic landmark , houses creek council house museum. nation built schools, churches, , public houses during prosperous final decades of 19th century, when tribe had autonomy , minimal interference federal government.

at turn of century, congress passed 1898 curtis act, dismantled tribal governments in attempt @ assimilation; , dawes allotment act, broke tribal landholdings allot communal land individual households encourage adoption of european-american style of subsistence farming , property ownership. in hasty process of registration, dawes commission registered tribal members in 3 categories, distinguishing between creek blood, creek freedmen, category put visible african ancestry, regardless of proportion of creek ancestry; , intermarried whites. classified members of same families different groups. 1906 5 civilized tribes act (april 26, 1906) passed congress in anticipation of approving statehood oklahoma in 1907. during time, creek had lost more 2 million acres (8,100 km) non-native settlers , government.

later, when creek communities organized , set governments under 1936 oklahoma indian welfare act, former muscogee tribal towns gained federal recognition.

the muscogee (creek) nation did not reorganize , regain federal recognition until 1970. in 1979 tribe ratified new constitution replaced 1866 constitution. pivotal 1976 court case harjo v. kleppe helped end federal paternalism. ushered in era of growing self-determination. using dawes rolls basis determining membership of descendants, nation enrolled on 58,000 allottees , descendants.