Companion Article for Melissa Payne’s Presentation
National Trail of Tears Association 28th Annual Conference & Symposium
When people hear the term Cherokee Freedmen, many realize they know very little about the history behind it. During her presentation at the National Trail of Tears Association’s 28th Annual Conference and Symposium, Melissa Payne, Community Liaison for the Cherokee Nation Freedmen, introduced audiences to a chapter of Cherokee history that is both complex and deeply significant. Her presentation sought to provide historical context, explain the origins of the Cherokee Freedmen community, and encourage a fuller understanding of the Cherokee Nation’s shared past.
Payne began by explaining her role within the Cherokee Nation, where she serves directly under the administration of Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. She emphasized that her goal was not to cover every aspect of Freedmen history—an impossible task in a single presentation—but to introduce attendees to a story that deserves greater recognition.
At its simplest, the term Cherokee Freedmen refers to African American men, women, and their descendants who were enslaved by Cherokee citizens prior to the Civil War and later became part of the Cherokee Nation following emancipation.
Understanding this history requires recognizing that Cherokee history, like American history, includes difficult chapters alongside remarkable achievements.
One of the central themes of Payne’s presentation is that slavery was not solely an institution of the United States. Following relocation to Indian Territory, some Cherokee citizens adopted aspects of the Southern plantation economy, including the enslavement of African Americans.
While many Cherokee families never owned slaves, others did. Payne explained that acknowledging this reality is essential to telling an honest and complete history of the Cherokee Nation.
Historical understanding, she noted, is strengthened—not weakened—when uncomfortable truths are addressed openly.
The Civil War dramatically affected the Cherokee Nation, dividing families and political leaders while bringing widespread destruction throughout Indian Territory.
Following the war, the Treaty of 1866 became one of the defining moments in Cherokee Freedmen history. Among its provisions, the treaty required the Cherokee Nation to emancipate formerly enslaved people and recognize the Freedmen and their descendants as citizens of the Cherokee Nation with the same rights as native Cherokees.
This treaty fundamentally reshaped the Nation and remains central to discussions of Cherokee citizenship today.
Payne devoted significant attention to the distinction between ancestry, race, and tribal citizenship.
Cherokee Freedmen families have maintained deep connections to Cherokee communities for generations. Many lived, worked, worshipped, attended schools, and built families alongside other Cherokee citizens throughout Indian Territory and modern Oklahoma.
She explained that the history of Cherokee Freedmen is not separate from Cherokee history—it is an integral part of it.
Understanding that shared experience helps explain why citizenship questions have remained important within the Nation for generations.
Another important portion of the presentation explored how historical records continue to influence modern discussions of citizenship.
Payne discussed the Dawes Commission and the creation of the Dawes Rolls, which categorized citizens into various enrollment groups, including “Cherokee by Blood” and “Cherokee Freedmen.” While these classifications were administrative decisions made by the federal government, they have had lasting consequences for descendants researching their family histories today.
She encouraged attendees to recognize that historical recordkeeping often reflected government policy rather than the full complexity of family identity or community relationships.
Throughout her presentation, Payne stressed the importance of education and historical preservation.
Much of Cherokee Freedmen history has received relatively little public attention, despite being intertwined with larger stories of Cherokee removal, reconstruction, tribal sovereignty, and citizenship.
By sharing these stories through community outreach, genealogy, education, and public history programs, the Cherokee Nation is helping preserve a more complete understanding of its own history.
Rather than focusing solely on historical controversy, Payne emphasized the value of learning from the past.
Understanding Cherokee Freedmen history requires acknowledging both hardship and resilience while appreciating the diverse experiences that have shaped today’s Cherokee Nation. She encouraged listeners to approach the subject with curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to learn.
As historians continue uncovering documents and families continue researching their ancestry, the story of the Cherokee Freedmen remains an essential part of understanding the broader history of the Cherokee Nation.
Melissa Payne’s presentation reminded conference attendees that history is rarely simple. The story of the Cherokee Freedmen reflects themes of removal, slavery, emancipation, citizenship, identity, and perseverance—all woven into the larger history of the Cherokee people.
By examining these interconnected histories honestly and thoughtfully, we gain a richer understanding not only of the Cherokee Nation but also of the diverse people whose lives have shaped its past and continue to shape its future.
Companion Article for Melissa Payne’s PresentationNational Trail of Tears Association 28th Annual Conference & Symposium When people hear the term Cherokee Freedmen, many realize they know very little about the history behind it. During her presentation at the National Trail of Tears Association’s 28th Annual Conference and Symposium, Melissa Payne,
