“Oklahoma Freedmen of the Five Tribes,” Program by Angela Walton-Raji

Author and genealogist Angela Walton-Raji has written extensively on the Black Indian and Freedmen experiences among the Native tribes of Indian Territory and in Arkansas. In this presentation, she will explore some of the stories of Cherokee Freedmen told in her books, such as “Oklahoma Freedmen of the Five Tribes” (2023) and “Freedmen of the Frontier, Vols. 1-2” (2019-20). Based on Walton-Raji’s research, this presentation recounts the history of men and women enslaved by Cherokee Nation citizens, the Freedmen’s fight to be recognized as tribal citizens, and their acceptance by the tribe in 2017.

Cost: $10/adult, $5/child, Members free.