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Showcase Videos - Cousin Lucille & Cousin Clara Sue

WHO WE ARE -

Choctaw Freedmen are former enslaved African-Americans who were enmancipated and granted citizenship in the Choctaw Nation after the Civil War, which were the requirements of The Treaty of 1866 that was signed by the U.S. Government and the Choctaw Nation. 

> > >   Read The Treaty of 1866 – Choctaw and Chickasaw Nation – Article 3 & 4

The Choctaw Freedmen were officially adopted as full members and citizens into the Choctaw Nation in 1885. However, ninety-eight (98 years) later in 1983 “the Choctaw Nation added a ‘by-blood’ requirement [for membership] into the constitution that excluded many Choctaw Freedmen from the tribe. Like other American Indian tribes, the elite in the Choctaw Indians adopted elements of the European culture. They developed large farms and plantations, and began adapting their system to using the customarily purchasing and holding chattel slave workers of African-American descent.  Slavery lasted in the Choctaw Nation until after their signing of the 1866 Reconstruction Treaty. The former slaves of the Choctaw Nation were called the Choctaw Freedmen compared to the African-American freedmen in the United States

Delia Coleman-Burris (Born 1874 in Indian Territory – Died 1966) Mother of Duke Burris. Lucille’s Great – Grandmother (Delia) as stated in the videos above was a Choctaw Freedmen Roll# 2860. ***Read below – McCurtain Gazette News Article

Duke Burris – Choctaw Freedmen Roll# 2865 (Born 1899 in Indian Territory – aka Oklahoma) Son of Delia and John Burris (Choctaw Freedmen Roll# 2859). Duke Burris is Lucille’s Grandfather as stated in the videos above.