| The following was written by Chadwick Smith, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Published November 19, 2006 07:10 pm - Of the 2007 Centennial, we will be judicial and polite in our recognition of the ongoing activities, but will never forget Oklahoma's history - all of it. In commemorating the Centennial, remember all of Oklahoma's history. As the state of Oklahoma kicks off its much anticipated centennial celebration, it's a good time to pause and reflect on what we Oklahomans are "celebrating. " While I cannot speak for all, I believe it is safe to state that many American Indian tribes, who have helped make the state of Oklahoma what it is today, may well have mixed reactions to all the hoopla. For me, it is an opportunity to educate my fellow Oklahomans on the full history of the state, commemorate that history and look forward to an enriched future. Our true history includes a public school system that has oversimplified Oklahoma's past, starting with elementary school playground re-enactments of the land run. The common, disgraceful, sight was of small children streaking across the playground to stake their claim of Indian Territory. True Native Americans who are proud of their heritage would never allow their children to participate in such degrading activities. Rarely taught was that the land was being taken away from its American Indian owners. When I learned in September 2000 that Oklahoma intended to create a huge bronze monument to Oklahoma's land run, I questioned the value of this monument in correspondence to the governor. He fired back a comment that I was holding what he called a "historical grudge." No grudge intended, but I believe that a memorial should reflect a truth and should honor a significant individual or event such as the tragic loss of life in Oklahoma City in 1995. The oft-missed truth of Oklahoma history is that there were several land runs and a lottery held for lands that already had lawful owners - American Indian owners. Instead our history has been rewritten to reflect a more romantic version of the settlement of Oklahoma Territory. Rather than celebrate the centennial of an act intended to destroy nations, we choose to commemorate the event. The Cherokee Nation has existed as a constitutional form of government since 1827, and Cherokee people have existed on this continent for millennia. Perhaps a brief historical review of our state's history is in order. Indian nations are sovereign nations with rights that have been in existence for thousands of years, and these rights have never been extinguished. For instance, the Cherokee Nation executed the first of its 10 treaties with Great Britain in 1721, to be followed by another 13 treaties with the United States. What this tells us is the world community continuously recognized the Cherokee Nation as a sovereign government 176 years before the state of Oklahoma ever existed. Each of the Five Civilized Tribes - Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole and Cherokee nations - signed removal treaties in which the United States guaranteed that their lands would "... never be included in any state or territory, without their consent." It was this treaty that was often cited by the five tribes in their arguments against placing their tribal boundaries within the boundaries of a state. In 1905 these politically sophisticated tribes proposed an Indian state, to be called the state of Sequoyah. A constitution for the state of Sequoyah was drafted, an official seal created and the legislation was submitted to the U.S. Congress. Unfortunately, the legislation to create the new state was ignored by Congress, where it languished and died in committee. What many do not realize is that the proposed seal for the great state of Sequoyah was modified to create the current seal of the state of Oklahoma and lives on today. Interestingly, Oklahoma proudly claims Will Rogers as a favorite son even though he "technically" was never a resident of the state. Will Rogers is a beloved figure in Cherokee and U.S. history. He was born in 1879 in the Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, and moved out of the area prior to Oklahoma statehood. Will Rogers' statue is used to represent the state of Oklahoma in the U.S. Capitol. Upon learning of Oklahoma's statehood, the political satirist said, "We spoiled the best territory in the world to make a state." The Oklahoma Centennial is but one event in our long history of interaction with our fellow tribal nations, Great Britain and the United States. We, too, are proud of our state. We accept the good and bad things that happened in our history - more importantly, we look forward to the next 100 years of better relations with our fellow Oklahomans. Of the 2007 Centennial, we will be judicial and polite in our recognition of the ongoing activities, but will never forget Oklahoma's history - all of it. |