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And that is a real question, I would like some insight into. I was reading Mediatakeout when I came across this post:

The nation's second-largest Indian tribe formally booted from membership thousands of descendants of black slaves who were brought to Oklahoma more than 170 years ago by Native American owners. The Cherokee nation voted after the Civil War to admit the slave descendants to the tribe.

But on Monday, the Cherokee nation Supreme Court ruled that a 2007 tribal decision to kick the so-called "Freedmen" out of the tribe was proper.

The controversy stems from a footnote in the brutal history of U.S. treatment of Native Americans. When many Indians were forced to move to what later became Oklahoma from the eastern U.S. in 1838, some who had owned plantations in the South brought along their slaves.

Wait, What!?!

Let me begin on what I do know about relationship between Native American and African during slavery: First, both were oppressed people, who were driven/captured from their homelands by mostly Europeans. In the early days of slavery, indigenous peoples of the Americas and Africans were enslaved together. Those who escaped slavery, found themselves welcomed in the Seminoles tribe, which had refused to give them up when whites came demanding the return of fugitive slaves. There were regular intermingling between Native Americans and Africans, which is why today, there are large numbers of black Americans of Native American ancestry.

Now, what I didn't know: There were actually Native American tribes, which partook in the enslavement of Blacks in America?   Needless to say that this article has sparked my interest in the topic and I certainly have some reading and research to do.  Besides the history, I am most curious of this decision by the Cherokee tribe, particularly their treatment of their Black slaves (if true) and what this expulsion means in terms of reparations to the Blacks to which they once, possibly, owned.

Got any insight to this?  Reading suggestions will be very much appreciated.
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Comments

Apuch link
08/25/2011 10:33

This article looks pretty thorough.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/655380/posts

I know that some Native American tribes would take slaves of other NA's as a result of conflicts between tribes. I imagine the treatment of these slaves varied. I once read about the NA's of the great northwest who would take slaves, often woman and children during skirmishes. From what I read they were not held long and often traded for other slaves lost in the struggle. It seems all peoples who strive for the good life somehow enslave others whether on their own property or through the elaborate structure of money in far away lands. What to do about it? Not sure. I just strive to be somewhat self reliant but in a world where I do not know how to make 95% of the things I use (car, tv, clocks, gas coming right into the house, etc) I find that I too sometimes feel like my lifestyle translates into a burden for others either in location or time.

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charing
08/25/2011 13:17

Thanks so Much Apuch. So far, this is a very interesting read. Oh, BTW, the cakes on your site look very yummy. Might have to make a trip soon to the Night Kitchen.

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A friendly person
11/09/2011 16:41

I think that someone taking interest in Americas history beside the stuff shown in the fiction movies on television is rare.
Absolutely North American Indian tribes owned slaves. And not because of infirmity supposedly caused by white people. Most larger Indian tribes meaning over 50 thousand tribal members were more than eager to fight for the confederate rise during the civil war, but you already know this. How couldn't you? You web search. Most Native Americans are white people. Don't believe this is true? I'm white. I live on Indian land, I'm a tribal member, and I hate it here. I don't hate white people, but I hate hunters and redneck cowboys, and that type of white people, and that description is exactly what Indians are. White cowhand hunters.
Seriously. I live on Indian land in Oklahoma where most Indian Nations are, and Indians have you all blinded because you believe they are somehow pure and violated. Unbelievable.
Indians are not pure. My other blood line card of another tribe I burned after cutting it up, because I know what kind of problems I'm going to have with them, and I hate the Native American spin enjoying the white thing, while at the same time spinning the victim status. Native Americans are not victims, most helped kill other Indians with ease, and have more in wealth and privilege than you will ever see in your life maybe. Plus they are all cowboy hunters. Of course you will never know that because you are an African American female and live on the coast away from Oklahoma. We do have a few people that look like traditional Native Americans, but they are probably truthfully not of this tribe and have been given tribal membership by the white people to prep the tribe, and those people who look Indian may or may not be it's hard to tell, because Indians decide how much Indian you are going to be in the tribe. And these look like Indians enjoy it here most because it's easier living around the white Indians like bigger Indians with more privileges in the community.
I am canceling my membership with this tribe the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma because of problems from them, once that I can move away from here, because they continually pick on this house, file false complaints with their family cops who are more than happy to come to our door,, help the hillbilly animal killers bother us too whom happen to be part of their family gang connection, and have their cops visit as much as possible, and not just them, the other tribal Nation cops from other tribal Nations as well, but believe me. You should stop thinking Indians are pure. These people are white, mostly only white, and hunters, I am a vegan, and animal lover.
And I hate cowboys. And these people are bad news for the United States of America, and are bad for the future of your freedoms, because left up to them you will not have any freedom because they act when you are part of the tribe they own you. Like a slave.
They could care less about you or your freedoms or anyone else's.

I am giving you an old email because you could be friends or one of these people although you are an African American female which we don't have here, but if you come on this site and verify you are not one them, and not their friends I can give you my real email and email you some photos of the area, my tribal tags, the tribal center, my tribal card, picture of the the tribal people living on Indian land whom you probably couldn't post on the Internet, because it is probably illegal to do without their permission, and show you a sign the Eastern Shawnee posted on their property, whose system is also a police state, how that they claim they are Federal Police.
Okay friend. I will prove my word. After reading this they will know who I am, and they are dangerous, and the tribe is small, and there is only one of me who is not part of their gang family circle. Okay. Love your site.
Thank You. And take care.
Let me know.
Other wise don't worry about it.
And that will be it.
Good bye.
If you don't post this that is fine.

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Susan link
01/05/2012 15:59

Heck, yeah! My people have been in the southeast for ages. One of my ancestors was the first cherokee woman to own black slaves. The cherokees were particularly brutal, from what i've read, much worse than white owners. Also their laws were VERY strict. NO having sex with a slave. 1/2 kids are ALL black (Ok that bit there does sound familiar from the south.) I read more but would have to find that for you.

One amazing book I'd recommend - not really related to indian/black stuff but still great - is 1491.

The whole idea we grew up with - the noble savage at one with the land - is...wrong. A very pretty story. There were likely far more indians that we were told about in grade school, & they managed the land & had very complex societies. They were not necessarily kindly. They considered blacks as useful & there is no reason to think they were benevolent overlords. Also they were very prejudiced against the spaniards, who had darker skin, so the indians ranked them as less human.

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