Cherokee Nation Walk of History project

Principal Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation

Block A:	John Ross	Term: 1827-1866
Block B:	William P. Ross	Term: 1866-1867, 1872-1875
Block C:	Lewis Downing	Term: 1867-1872
Block D:	Charles Thompson	Term:1875 - 1879
Block E:	Dennis Bushyead	Term: 1879 - 1888
Block F:	Joel Bryan Mayes	Term: 1888 - 1891
Block G:	Colonel Johnson Harris	Term: 1891 - 1895
Block H:	Samuel H. Mayes	Term: 1895 - 1899
Block I:	T.M. Buffington	Term: 1899 - 1903
Block J:	William C. Rogers A.B. Cunningham Ed M. Frye Richard B. Choate Charles J. Hunt Oliver P. Brewer W.W. Hastings J.B. Milam	Term: 1903 - 1907
Block K:	W.W. Keeler	Term: 1971 - 1975
Block L:	Ross Swimmer	Term: 1975 - 1985
Block M:	Wilma Mankiller	Term: 1985 - 1995
Block N:	Joe Byrd	Term: 1995 - 1999
Block O:	Chad Smith	Term: 1999-

Cherokee History for Capitol Square

BLOCK ONE:

1540: Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto and his party are discovered by the Cherokees in their eastern homeland.

1673: Cherokees begin trading with English settlers.

1721: The Charleston Treaty with the Governor of the Carolinas is thought to be the first cession of Cherokee land. It is the first of 10 treaties with Great Britain.

BLOCK TWO:

1785: Treaty of Hopewell is the first treaty between the Cherokee Nation and United States.

1791: Treaty of Holston signed, which called for U.S. government to advance "civilization" of Cherokees by giving us different farm tools and technical advice and provides that the Cherokee Nation send a delegate to congress.

1802: Thomas Jefferson signs Georgia Compact in support of Indian Removal.

1817: Cherokee lands exchanged for land in Arkansas by treaty. Cherokee 'Old Settlers' begin voluntarily migrate and establish a government there.

BLOCK THREE:

1821: Sequoyah Guess' Cherokee Syllabary completed. Within 10 years, Cherokees are 90 percent of the Cherokee people can read and write the newly devised syllabary.

1822: Cherokee Supreme Court established at New Echota, which is now part of Georgia.

1825: New Echota authorized as Cherokee capital.

BLOCK FOUR:

1828: Cherokee Phoenix, the first Native American newspaper in the Americas is published in Cherokee syllabary and English. Andrew Jackson elected president; gold discovered on Cherokee land in Georgia; 'Old Settlers' are forced to move into Indian Territory from Arkansas.

1828-30: Georgia Legislature 'outlaws' tribal government; asserts authority over Cherokee Nation.

1832: U.S. Supreme Court decision in Worcester vs. Georgia affirms tribal sovereignty, protects Cherokee citizens from Georgia laws. Jackson refuses to enforce this decision and Georgia holds lottery for Cherokee homes and land. 1835: A small minority of 30 Cherokees illegally sign the Treaty of New Echota, giving title to all Cherokee lands in southeast to the United States in exchange for land in Indian Territory. The signers and their supporters are thereafter referred to as members of the Treaty Party.

BLOCK FIVE:

1838-39: U.S. forces removal of 17,000 Cherokee citizens to Indian Territory, with the march ending in the Tahlequah area. More than 4,000 die from exposure and disease before the trip, during the march and after arrival. 1839: Treaty Party leaders -- Major Ridge, John Ridge and Elias Boudinot -- are executed for signing Treaty of New Echota.

New constitution ratified at convention in Tahlequah uniting Cherokees arriving from east with those in the west. However, factionalism between Treaty Party members and supporters of Chief John Ross continued in Indian Territory.

BLOCK SIX:

1844: Cherokee Supreme Court building, the first public building in what is now Oklahoma, opens across from Cherokee Capitol Square; Cherokee Advocate becomes first newspaper in Indian Territory.

1851: Cherokee Male and Female Seminaries open. Female Seminary is institute of higher learning for girls west of the Mississippi River.

1860: Tension mounts between Union and Confederate Cherokee. Cherokee Nation strives to remain neutral.

BLOCK SEVEN:

1861: Chief Ross forced to side with Confederacy as a foreign ally after Union troops abandon Indian Territory. Cherokee Nation torn by a war within a war.

1863: Cherokee Nation tribal buildings, located on Capitol Square, are burned by Confederate Cherokees led by General Stand Watie.

1865-66: Cherokee Nation negotiates peace with U.S. government after the Civil War. New treaty limits tribal land rights, eliminates possibility of Cherokee state, and is a prelude to the Curtis Act and the break-up of Cherokee tribal lands by allotment. John Ross dies in 1866.

1877: General Allotment Act passed which required individual Indian ownership of lands once held in common by Indian nations. Cherokee Nation successfully lobbies to be exempt from the Act.

Female Seminary in Park Hill is destroyed by fire on Easter Sunday.

BLOCK EIGHT:

1889: Unassigned lands in Indian Territory opened to white settlers known as "boomers." Thousands of non-Indian intruders move into Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Nation's attempts to have intruders removed by the U.S. government as required by treaty were ignored.

1892: Cherokee Senator Ned Christie assassinated by U.S. Marshals.

New Female Seminary building opens north of Tahlequah.

BLOCK NINE:

1893: In a notorious land run, Cherokee Outlet opened for white settlement; Dawes Commission lobbies Cherokee citizens to accept individual ownership of tribal lands. Cherokee traditionalists, including the Nighthawk Keetoowah Societies, adamantly opposed the Commission and allotment.

1898: Curtis Act passed mandating allotment of lands and the liquidation of assets of the Cherokee Nation.

1903: William C. Rogers becomes last elected Cherokee chief for 68 years. Subsequently, seven individuals were appointed Chief by the U.S. for as little as a one-day term.

BLOCK TEN:

1905: Land allotment begins after "official" Dawes Commission Roll taken of Cherokee citizens. Many traditionalists were imprisoned and were involuntarily assigned allotments.

1906: The Five Civilized Tribes organize a convention for an Indian state, called the state of Sequoyah. Although the state of Sequoyah Constitution was approved by popular vote, the U.S. Congress refused to consider it.

1907: Oklahoma statehood combines Indian and Oklahoma Territories. The United States attempts to dissolve Cherokee Nation government, but it survived in a modified and restricted form.

BLOCK ELEVEN:

1909: Northeastern State Normal opens in Cherokee Female Seminary building. This building, and many other tribal schools and government buildings were lost at Oklahoma statehood.

1934: Indian Reorganization Act establishes land base for tribes and legal structure for organizations on a corporate model.

1941: J.B. Milam appointed Principal Chief by President Harry S. Truman. He helps revitalize the Cherokee government.

BLOCK TWELVE:

1953: First Cherokee National Holiday held to commemorate 1839 Cherokee Constitution.

1961: Cherokee citizens awarded $15 million by U.S. Claims Commission for forced sale of the Cherokee Outlet lands.

1970: U.S. Supreme Court ruling confirms Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw Nation's ownership of 96-mile segment of Arkansas Riverbed.

1971: W.W. Keeler becomes first elected Principal Chief since statehood.

BLOCK THIRTEEN:

1975: First Cherokee Tribal Council elected since Oklahoma statehood; Congress passed Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.

1976: Cherokee voters ratify new Cherokee Constitution.

1979: Cherokee Nation regains ownership of the original Cherokee Capitol Building, Supreme Court and Advocate Building as well as the National Prison.

BLOCK FOURTEEN:

1988: Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokees leaders gather in Cherokee, N.C., to commemorate beginning of Trail of Tears.

1990: Chief Wilma Mankiller signs historic self-governance demonstration project.

1992: Chief Mankiller signs tribal-state tobacco compact. Law enforcement agreement signed, which provides for cross-deputization between the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service and federal, state and local governments.

BLOCK FIFTEEN:

1993: Cherokee Nation signs self-governance compact with U.S. Government.

1996: Cherokee Nation signs fuel tax agreement with Oklahoma. The agreement allows the tribe to receive quarterly fuel tax rebates from the state.

1999: Cherokee Nation reclaims jurisdiction over Cherokee Nation Capitol Building.

Cherokee Nation establishes Free Press Act and publishes modern day Cherokee Phoenix and Indian Advocate.

2001: Cherokee Nation enacts legislation to issue automobile tags.

Cherokee Nation Walk of History project

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1540:	Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto and his party are discovered by the Cherokees in their eastern homeland.
1673:	Cherokees begin trading with English settlers.
1721:	The Charleston Treaty with the Governor of the Carolinas is thought to be the first cession of Cherokee land. It is the first of 10 treaties with Great Britain.

1785:	Treaty of Hopewell is the first treaty between the Cherokee Nation and United States.
1791:	Treaty of Holston signed, which called for U.S. government to advance "civilization" of Cherokees by giving us different farm tools and technical advice and provides that the Cherokee Nation send a delegate to congress.
1802:	Thomas Jefferson signs Georgia Compact in support of Indian Removal.
1817:	Cherokee lands exchanged for land in Arkansas by treaty. Cherokee 'Old Settlers' begin voluntarily migrate and establish a government there.

1821:	Sequoyah Guess' Cherokee Syllabary completed. Within 10 years, Cherokees are 90 percent of the Cherokee people can read and write the newly devised syllabary.
1822:	Cherokee Supreme Court established at New Echota, which is now part of Georgia.
1825:	New Echota authorized as Cherokee capital.

1828:	Cherokee Phoenix, the first Native American newspaper in the Americas is published in Cherokee syllabary and English. Andrew Jackson elected president; gold discovered on Cherokee land in Georgia; 'Old Settlers' are forced to move into Indian Territory from Arkansas.
1828-30:	Georgia Legislature 'outlaws' tribal government; asserts authority over Cherokee Nation.
1832:	U.S. Supreme Court decision in Worcester vs. Georgia affirms tribal sovereignty, protects Cherokee citizens from Georgia laws. Jackson refuses to enforce this decision and Georgia holds lottery for Cherokee homes and land. 1835: A small minority of 30 Cherokees illegally sign the Treaty of New Echota, giving title to all Cherokee lands in southeast to the United States in exchange for land in Indian Territory. The signers and their supporters are thereafter referred to as members of the Treaty Party.

1844:	Cherokee Supreme Court building, the first public building in what is now Oklahoma, opens across from Cherokee Capitol Square; Cherokee Advocate becomes first newspaper in Indian Territory.
1851:	Cherokee Male and Female Seminaries open. Female Seminary is institute of higher learning for girls west of the Mississippi River.
1860:	Tension mounts between Union and Confederate Cherokee. Cherokee Nation strives to remain neutral.

1861:	Chief Ross forced to side with Confederacy as a foreign ally after Union troops abandon Indian Territory. Cherokee Nation torn by a war within a war.
1863:	Cherokee Nation tribal buildings, located on Capitol Square, are burned by Confederate Cherokees led by General Stand Watie.
1865-66:	Cherokee Nation negotiates peace with U.S. government after the Civil War. New treaty limits tribal land rights, eliminates possibility of Cherokee state, and is a prelude to the Curtis Act and the break-up of Cherokee tribal lands by allotment. John Ross dies in 1866.
1877:	General Allotment Act passed which required individual Indian ownership of lands once held in common by Indian nations. Cherokee Nation successfully lobbies to be exempt from the Act. Female Seminary in Park Hill is destroyed by fire on Easter Sunday.

1889:	Unassigned lands in Indian Territory opened to white settlers known as "boomers." Thousands of non-Indian intruders move into Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Nation's attempts to have intruders removed by the U.S. government as required by treaty were ignored.
1892:	Cherokee Senator Ned Christie assassinated by U.S. Marshals. New Female Seminary building opens north of Tahlequah.

1893:	In a notorious land run, Cherokee Outlet opened for white settlement; Dawes Commission lobbies Cherokee citizens to accept individual ownership of tribal lands. Cherokee traditionalists, including the Nighthawk Keetoowah Societies, adamantly opposed the Commission and allotment.
1898:	Curtis Act passed mandating allotment of lands and the liquidation of assets of the Cherokee Nation.
1903:	William C. Rogers becomes last elected Cherokee chief for 68 years. Subsequently, seven individuals were appointed Chief by the U.S. for as little as a one-day term.

1905:	Land allotment begins after "official" Dawes Commission Roll taken of Cherokee citizens. Many traditionalists were imprisoned and were involuntarily assigned allotments.
1906:	The Five Civilized Tribes organize a convention for an Indian state, called the state of Sequoyah. Although the state of Sequoyah Constitution was approved by popular vote, the U.S. Congress refused to consider it.
1907:	Oklahoma statehood combines Indian and Oklahoma Territories. The United States attempts to dissolve Cherokee Nation government, but it survived in a modified and restricted form.

1909:	Northeastern State Normal opens in Cherokee Female Seminary building. This building, and many other tribal schools and government buildings were lost at Oklahoma statehood.
1934:	Indian Reorganization Act establishes land base for tribes and legal structure for organizations on a corporate model.
1941:	J.B. Milam appointed Principal Chief by President Harry S. Truman. He helps revitalize the Cherokee government.

1953:	First Cherokee National Holiday held to commemorate 1839 Cherokee Constitution.
1961:	Cherokee citizens awarded $15 million by U.S. Claims Commission for forced sale of the Cherokee Outlet lands.
1970:	U.S. Supreme Court ruling confirms Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw Nation's ownership of 96-mile segment of Arkansas Riverbed.
1971:	W.W. Keeler becomes first elected Principal Chief since statehood.

1975:	First Cherokee Tribal Council elected since Oklahoma statehood; Congress passed Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
1976:	Cherokee voters ratify new Cherokee Constitution.
1979:	Cherokee Nation regains ownership of the original Cherokee Capitol Building, Supreme Court and Advocate Building as well as the National Prison.

1988:	Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokees leaders gather in Cherokee, N.C., to commemorate beginning of Trail of Tears.
1990:	Chief Wilma Mankiller signs historic self-governance demonstration project.
1992:	Chief Mankiller signs tribal-state tobacco compact. Law enforcement agreement signed, which provides for cross-deputization between the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service and federal, state and local governments.

1993:	Cherokee Nation signs self-governance compact with U.S. Government.
1996:	Cherokee Nation signs fuel tax agreement with Oklahoma. The agreement allows the tribe to receive quarterly fuel tax rebates from the state.
1999:	Cherokee Nation reclaims jurisdiction over Cherokee Nation Capitol Building. Cherokee Nation establishes Free Press Act and publishes modern day Cherokee Phoenix and Indian Advocate.
2001:	Cherokee Nation enacts legislation to issue automobile tags.