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33-629: The Fort Smith Council (September 21, 1865), also known as the Indian Council , was a series of meetings held at Fort Smith , Arkansas from September 8–21, 1865, that were organized by the United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Dennis N. Cooley, for Indian tribes east of the Rockies (and particularly those living in what was then defined as Indian Territory). Other members of Cooley's party representing

66-687: A Bachelor of Arts in July 1852 and joined a fraternity. In September 1852 Wright entered Union Theological Seminary in New York City . He earned a Master of Arts degree in Theology in May 1855. He was the first Native American student from Indian Territory to earn this degree. After graduation from the seminary, he was ordained as a minister by the Presbyterian Church . He returned to

99-575: A small town developed around the fort, with people attracted for business. In addition, court operations continued at a courthouse built in town for the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas , which presided over the western half of Arkansas and all of Indian Territory. It was first held at the fort, as noted above. The first federal district judge here was Isaac C. Parker , who presided over

132-551: The Camp Napoleon Council , which the government refused to recognize), and they knew, of course, about the outlawing of slavery. They were unprepared for the demand that the freed slaves (freedmen) be made full members of the tribe who had formerly owned them. And they were equally opposed to forming one consolidated government, which they recognized as dissolving tribal government outright, effectively extinguishing their identities. Choctaw Chief Allen Wright suggested

165-787: The Indian Champion . He was a charter member of the first Masonic lodge in Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma. He was also a member of the Royal Arch Masons in Maryland, which he had joined in 1866. Wright served as superintendent of schools for the Choctaw Nation from 1880 to 1884. Wright died in Boggy Depot, Indian Territory on December 2, 1885. He had been riding a circuit to evangelize

198-664: The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas , which had jurisdiction over federal cases in Indian Territory . Fort Smith was also notable as a major stop for the Choctaw and Cherokee people along the "Trail of Tears." during the period of Indian Removal from the Southeast. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. The original fort was established on December 25, 1817, by Major William Bradford in order to maintain harmony between

231-709: The Arkansas River includes wayside exhibits on the Trail of Tears . Congress authorized acquisition of land on the Oklahoma bank of the Arkansas River to be included in the National Historic Site, in order to preserve a historic viewshed , but it has not been acquired. The park visitor center is now located in the old Barracks/Courthouse/Jail building. Exhibits in the visitor center focus on Fort Smith's military history from 1817 to 1871, its role in

264-519: The Choctaw Nation and became the principal instructor at Armstrong Academy during the 1855–1856 school term. This was a school for Choctaw boys in Chahta Tamaha , operated by Presbyterian missionaries. On February 11, 1857, Wright married Harriet Newell Mitchell , a European-American woman from Ohio whom he met at the Choctaw Nation. Born August 16, 1834, in Dayton, Ohio , she had been sent by

297-570: The Presbyterian Board of Missions to the Choctaw Nation in 1855 to serve as a missionary. The couple had eight children together: One of their sons, Eliphalet Nott Wright (1858–1932), became a medical doctor and later also served as president of the Choctaw Oil Company. One of their granddaughters was Muriel Hazel Wright , who became a noted Oklahoma author and historian and another was Harriet Wright O'Leary , who

330-738: The Treaty Commission, D. N. Cooley started the second day with his opening address. First, he reminded all present of the reasons for the meeting. The purpose was to discuss the future treaties and land allocations following the close of the American Civil War . Attendance was mandatory for all the tribes that had signed treaties with the Confederate States government — Creek , Choctaw , Chickasaw , Seminole , Cherokee , Shawnee , Delaware , Wichita , Comanche , Great Osage , Seneca , and Quapaw . The purpose

363-651: The U. S. government were: Elijah Sells, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Southern Superintendency; William Harney, an Army officer who had spent most of the Civil War in Europe; Ely Parker , a Seneca chief and U. S. Army officer who had been the military secretary for General Grant; Charles Mix, secretary of the council and long-time chief clerk at the Bureau of Indian Affairs . As president of

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396-695: The United States. Wright served as superintendent of schools for the Choctaw Nation from 1880 to 1884. Allen Wright was born Kiliahote ("Come, let's make a light") in Attala County, Mississippi , in November 1826, at that time still a part of the Choctaw Nation . His father was Ishtemahilvbi , and his mother a full-blood Choctaw who died in June 1832. The father and surviving members of

429-687: The age of 20, he joined the Presbyterian Church. He began later to consider a career in the ministry and ultimately went to seminary. Wright was one of four students chosen by the Choctaw Council to attend college in an eastern state of the United States. Wright attended Delaware College in Newark, Delaware , from 1848 to 1850; that year the school closed. He enrolled at Union College in Schenectady, New York , where he earned

462-431: The appointment of Isaac C. Parker as the first federal district judge here. The town of Fort Smith, Arkansas developed around the fort. The site includes the second historic fort constructed at this place. In addition, located on the grounds are the foundation remains of the first Fort Smith (1817–1824), the commissary building (c. 1838) and a reconstruction of the gallows used by the federal court. A walking trail along

495-653: The court from 1875 to 1896. Source: "List of Butterfield Overland Mail Stations "Itinerary of the Route" " (PDF) . New York Times. October 14, 1858. Allen Wright Allen Wright ( Choctaw : Kiliahote ) (born November 1826 – December 2, 1885) was Principal Chief of the Choctaw Republic from late 1866 to 1870. He had been ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1852 after graduating from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He

528-651: The family left Mississippi in October 1833 and settled in what is now McCurtain County, Oklahoma , in March 1834, during the period of forced Indian Removal by the federal government from the Southeast. According to a biography published by the Chronicles of Oklahoma , Kiliahote's father died in 1839. The youth was taken in by Reverend Cyrus Kingsbury near Doaksville , and attended a mission school at Pine Ridge . He

561-557: The government, or of any internal improvement authorized by the government, will be permitted to reside in the territory, unless formally incorporated with some tribes, according to the usages of the band. Several of these stipulations were new to the tribes, and caused much consternation and argument. They were already aware that the government planned to take part of their lands in the territory, and realized that they had no bargaining power on that point. They were prepared to make peace with each other (they had agreed to that in principle at

594-456: The government, to aid in compelling the Indians of the plains to maintain peaceful relations with each other, with the Indians in the territory, and with the United States. 3. The institution of slavery, which has existed among several of the tribes, must be forthwith abolished, and measures taken for the unconditional emancipation of all persons held in bondage, and for their incorporation into

627-482: The increased tensions Indians following the Indian Removal Act of 1830 , and local white settlers who encroached on their territory, the U.S. Army created a second Fort Smith in 1838 near the original's ruins. This is the beginning of the historical "Second Fort" period. During General Zachary Taylor 's command of the fort in the 1840s, it became a supply depot for other forts within the Indian Territory. It

660-402: The local Osage Indians, who had long been dominant in this territory, and a band of Cherokee who had migrated west, under pressure from European Americans, from their traditional territory in the Southeast. This time would later be historically referenced as the "First Fort." It ended in 1824 when the U.S. Army abandoned Fort Smith after constructing Fort Gibson further west. As a result of

693-533: The parties and approved by government, or such as may be fixed by the government. 6. It is the policy of the government, unless other arrangement be made, that all the nations and tribes in the Indian territory be formed into one consolidated government after the plan proposed by the Senate of the United States, in a bill for organinzing the Indian territory. 7. No white person, except officers, agents, and employes of

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726-649: The term Oklahoma as the name for the Indian Territory under an intertribal council. Before the Fort Smith council adjourned, it was agreed that the delegations would reconvene in Washington D. C. in early 1866 to complete their individual treaties with the government. Fort Smith National Historic Site The fort was the first site of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas , which had jurisdiction over western Arkansas and all of Indian Territory. It began operations in 1875 with

759-453: The tribes on an equal footing with the original members, or suitably provided for. 4. A stipulation in the treaties that slavery, or involuntary servitude, shall never exist in the tribe or nation, except in punishment of crime. 5. A portion of the lands hitherto owned and occupied by you must be set apart for the friendly tribes in Kansas and elsewhere, on such terms as may be agreed upon by

792-488: The tribes who were being relocated from their reservations in Kansas . Cooley pointed out that the new treaties would be executed with individual tribes, and that each must address the following stipulations: 1. Each tribe must enter into a treaty for permanent peace and amity with themselves, each nation and tribe, and with the United States. 2. Those settled in the Indian territory must bind themselves, when called upon by

825-488: The western expansion of the United States, Federal District Judge Isaac C. Parker and the federal courts ' effects on justice in Indian Territory , the U.S. Deputy Marshals and outlaws, Federal Indian policy, and Indian Removal , including the Cherokee Trail of Tears . The site was established in 1961 in order to protect the remains of two 19th-century U.S. military forts, including a building that once housed

858-780: Was a polyglot, speaking in addition to his native Choctaw, English , Greek , Latin , and Hebrew . Wright represented the Choctaw Nation at the Fort Smith Council and signed the Reconstruction Treaty of 1866 . When the Federal commissioners proposed to consolidate all of the Indian Territories tribes under an intertribal council, he suggested the term Oklahoma as the name for the Territory. In 1885, Wright served as editor and translator of

891-580: Was among the signatories to the 1861 treaty that allied the Choctaw Nation with the Confederate States of America . The Choctaw and some of the other Southeast tribes believed the Confederacy's promise of establishing a Native American state if they won the war. Subsequently, Wright he joined the Confederate Army. Wright joined Captain Wilkin's Company of Choctaw infantry on July 25, 1862. He

924-545: Was captured during the Civil War from Confederate forces in 1863 by Union troops. The majority of the Cherokee and other Five Civilized Tribes had initially allied with the Confederacy, and supplied warriors to its forces. The fort continued in use as a supply depot to other forts in the region until it was no longer occupied in an official capacity by 1871; historically the end of the "Second Fort" era. As often happened,

957-565: Was given his English name, Allen Wright, by the Presbyterian missionaries. The surname honored Reverend Alfred Wright, a noted Presbyterian missionary to the Choctaw. After four years, Wright entered Spencer Academy , the main Choctaw tribal school, where he studied from 1844 to 1848. Kiliahote was raised in Choctaw traditions. He had begun to learn about Christianity from missionary teachers, especially Presbyterians. In April 1846, at

990-623: Was the first woman elected to serve on the Choctaw Tribal Council. Wright became a member of the Choctaw Council in 1856. He was elected treasurer of the Choctaw Nation in 1859, and a member of the Choctaw Council in 1861. According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture , he was elected to two terms in the Choctaw House of Representatives and to three terms as treasurer of the Choctaw Nation. Wright

1023-455: Was to notify them that, by taking up war against the United States, they had abrogated all their previous treaties and forfeited all their lands and annuities, and to discuss terms of the new treaties. He noted that Congress had already passed a law to that effect on July 5, 1862, forming the starting point for any new treaties. It was also to notify those tribes living in Indian Territory that some of their previous lands were to be turned over to

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1056-499: Was transferred to Company F of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles on June 13, 1863. When the war ended, Choctaw Chief Peter Pitchlynn sent him as a delegate to the Fort Smith conference, where an armistice was signed with the United States. Wright was elected Principal Chief of the Choctaw Tribe in 1866, and served until 1870. Some of his major accomplishments were based on his extensive education and included: Wright

1089-557: Was very active in the Choctaw government, holding several elected positions. He has been credited with the name Oklahoma (Choctaw word meaning "Home of the Red Man" in English) for the land that would become the state. After serving in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, Wright was elected as Principal Chief, serving from 1866 to 1870. He was among the signatories of the Reconstruction Treaty of 1866 to re-establish peace with

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