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The Indians in Oklahoma
The Indians in Oklahoma , a survey of the sixty-seven tribes residing in the state, explains the colonizing process that populated Indian Territory (the future Oklahoma) with American Indians from all parts of the United States during the nineteenth century and interprets the striking cultural diversity of the Indian communities thus formed. The author separates the Native American experience in Oklahoma into four periods. This book is one of a series entitled "Newcomers to a New Land" which analyzes the role of the major ethnic groups that have contributed to the history of Oklahoma.
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168 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 1980
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August 18, 2023Although from the title, The Indians of Oklahoma would seem to narrow an impossibly complex subject down to a reasonable subject for a book, the author has only barely skimmed the surface of our numerous native tribes, their fascinating multiple origins, heart-breaking stories of coming to this state and struggle for survival since.
Many simply translate Oklahoma as ‘Red’ – ‘People’ but if you go back to the original Choctaw language as this article explains, a more correct explanation of the name becomes obvious:
However, where Strickland’s effort is far from complete, he does an excellent job making the point that the first Americans have much to teach those of us who have followed them here to this geographical area now known as Oklahoma. He admits in the beginning that he has written a ‘personal book, a brief chronicle that attempts to capture the life and spirit of Oklahoma’s Indian people. Because more than sixty-five Indian tribes, each with a distinctive history, have been located within the state’s boundaries, this narrative can only be illustrative ... (its) heritage only suggestive.’ The book contains a plethora of unique stories, some tragic, others poignant, beautiful, impressive and disturbing.
The book contains original native Oklahoma poetry and famous Oklahoma Indians from all walks of life, military, law, politics, the arts and science. Although written in 1980, it was already obvious that white ‘civilization’ was in trouble and stood to gain much from those it had ‘conquered’ in the 20th and early 21st century. While we have been busy destroying nature to find a ‘better way’ of life, we have ignored our native brothers and sisters who are willing to show us how-to live-in harmony with nature.
When the book, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI came out, everyone made such a big deal of it and yet it is just another sensational diversion, an opportunity to chastise our ancestors and ignore our own responsibilities and self-destruction. Our ancestors were not perfect. Neither are we. But we cannot fix them. There is something we can do about today and we need to look to what we are doing today and learn from those cultures who have so much to teach us about the natural environment.
A good beginning.
NOTES FROM READING:
August 8, 2023: Chapter 3, THE LONG SPRING OF TRIBAL RENEWAL is a more optimistic title than the timeframe warrants. It covers the time period post-statehood for Oklahoma, 1907, pp. 69-102. The impetus during this time was acculturation, a euphemism for trying to destroy tribal customs and beliefs and bring Indians into the white world. For Oklahoma this was such a mixed bag it is hard to gauge how well the overall effort succeeded because individual and their tribes responded so differently. There was much intermarriage across tribes and with the white population. The resultant children had their own feelings about how they wanted to live, as Indians with one tribe or another, as whites or some modified version of both. Some tribes did an excellent job of preserving their history, language and culture. Some of the smaller ones died out altogether. Many Indians were desperately poor. Others were independently wealthy.
From pages 79-80: "In an age of increased Indian militancy the Oklahoma Indians are a paradox. No Indian peoples have been as outspoken or as successful in the use of the white man's court and government system. A further and equally important factor in the Oklahoma brand of Indian militancy is the absence of the traditional reservation to which the young Indians from urban areas return, often alienated from the outside world and hostile to an entrenched, often religiously dominated traditional power structure. ... The 2 state statues in the US Hall of Fame (for Oklahoma) are Indians: Sequoyah as creator of the Cherokee syllabary is credited with bringing literacy to his people. Will Rogers is credited with bringing laughter to all people."
Other famous Indians from Oklahoma include: 1) the great Sac and Fox athlete Jim Thorpe; 2) the Indian Robert L. Owen was chosen the first US senator from Oklahoma and 3) Maj Gen Clarence W. Tinker, of the Osage tribe, commanding general of the air forces in Hawaii during WWII was killed in action in 1942. Tinker AFB, Midwest City, OK, where my husband used to work, and my daughter now works was named after him. Tinker Air Logistics Center is the largest of 3 ALCs in the Air Force Materiel Command and provides depot maintenance, product support, services and supply chain management, as well as information support for 31 weapon systems, 10 commands, 93 Air Force bases and 46 foreign nations. It does all that plus much more.
Part of a larger series entitled "Newcomers to a New Land" and ironically in the case of the tribal (over 60!) peoples who came to the area now known as Oklahoma, most of them were not native to this area. This book is over 40 years old and desperately needs updating, but still contains good information and numerous fascinating old photographs. It has been on my shelf for years. Still reading...
Many simply translate Oklahoma as ‘Red’ – ‘People’ but if you go back to the original Choctaw language as this article explains, a more correct explanation of the name becomes obvious:
‘Oklahoma means:And this is just one small, but also HUGE mistake we make when we cross cultural lines assuming (danger-danger) that others think and see as we do.
• “honorable Nation”
• “a brave people” (not “some brave people”)
• “courageous Nation”
There is simply no room in the Choctaw language for “Oklahoma” to mean “people who are red.”’
However, where Strickland’s effort is far from complete, he does an excellent job making the point that the first Americans have much to teach those of us who have followed them here to this geographical area now known as Oklahoma. He admits in the beginning that he has written a ‘personal book, a brief chronicle that attempts to capture the life and spirit of Oklahoma’s Indian people. Because more than sixty-five Indian tribes, each with a distinctive history, have been located within the state’s boundaries, this narrative can only be illustrative ... (its) heritage only suggestive.’ The book contains a plethora of unique stories, some tragic, others poignant, beautiful, impressive and disturbing.
The book contains original native Oklahoma poetry and famous Oklahoma Indians from all walks of life, military, law, politics, the arts and science. Although written in 1980, it was already obvious that white ‘civilization’ was in trouble and stood to gain much from those it had ‘conquered’ in the 20th and early 21st century. While we have been busy destroying nature to find a ‘better way’ of life, we have ignored our native brothers and sisters who are willing to show us how-to live-in harmony with nature.
When the book, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI came out, everyone made such a big deal of it and yet it is just another sensational diversion, an opportunity to chastise our ancestors and ignore our own responsibilities and self-destruction. Our ancestors were not perfect. Neither are we. But we cannot fix them. There is something we can do about today and we need to look to what we are doing today and learn from those cultures who have so much to teach us about the natural environment.
A good beginning.
NOTES FROM READING:
August 8, 2023: Chapter 3, THE LONG SPRING OF TRIBAL RENEWAL is a more optimistic title than the timeframe warrants. It covers the time period post-statehood for Oklahoma, 1907, pp. 69-102. The impetus during this time was acculturation, a euphemism for trying to destroy tribal customs and beliefs and bring Indians into the white world. For Oklahoma this was such a mixed bag it is hard to gauge how well the overall effort succeeded because individual and their tribes responded so differently. There was much intermarriage across tribes and with the white population. The resultant children had their own feelings about how they wanted to live, as Indians with one tribe or another, as whites or some modified version of both. Some tribes did an excellent job of preserving their history, language and culture. Some of the smaller ones died out altogether. Many Indians were desperately poor. Others were independently wealthy.
From pages 79-80: "In an age of increased Indian militancy the Oklahoma Indians are a paradox. No Indian peoples have been as outspoken or as successful in the use of the white man's court and government system. A further and equally important factor in the Oklahoma brand of Indian militancy is the absence of the traditional reservation to which the young Indians from urban areas return, often alienated from the outside world and hostile to an entrenched, often religiously dominated traditional power structure. ... The 2 state statues in the US Hall of Fame (for Oklahoma) are Indians: Sequoyah as creator of the Cherokee syllabary is credited with bringing literacy to his people. Will Rogers is credited with bringing laughter to all people."
Other famous Indians from Oklahoma include: 1) the great Sac and Fox athlete Jim Thorpe; 2) the Indian Robert L. Owen was chosen the first US senator from Oklahoma and 3) Maj Gen Clarence W. Tinker, of the Osage tribe, commanding general of the air forces in Hawaii during WWII was killed in action in 1942. Tinker AFB, Midwest City, OK, where my husband used to work, and my daughter now works was named after him. Tinker Air Logistics Center is the largest of 3 ALCs in the Air Force Materiel Command and provides depot maintenance, product support, services and supply chain management, as well as information support for 31 weapon systems, 10 commands, 93 Air Force bases and 46 foreign nations. It does all that plus much more.
Part of a larger series entitled "Newcomers to a New Land" and ironically in the case of the tribal (over 60!) peoples who came to the area now known as Oklahoma, most of them were not native to this area. This book is over 40 years old and desperately needs updating, but still contains good information and numerous fascinating old photographs. It has been on my shelf for years. Still reading...
June 21, 2009
a brief encounter with oklahomas diverse indian history. exceptionally potent quotes emphasize a personal bent to the varied indian experience. it is a quick read with a lasting message.
February 24, 2013
Might have to re-read this. Read it once in Uni and had some interesting points. Some info I never knew about some of my own heritage as well
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