The names of the complainants contained in the brief to Equity Case 7071; Bettie Ligon et al., is provided for descendants who may have an ancestor among this class of individuals.
Everyone listed sought to be transferred from either the Choctaw or Chickasaw Freedmen Roll to their respective nation as "Citizens by Blood." This case following the decision in the test case of Joe and Dillard Perry were important in demonstrating that there were many individuals among the Five Civilized Tribes who possessed a blood connection to their respective Nation. Unfortunately the prevailing "Southern" view that a person was considered the "race" of their mother, these individuals who were fathered by Choctaw and Chickasaw men, were considered black, negro, colored and possessing "no" Indian blood worthy of noting.
It was the blatant racist views that the Indian blood was contaminated by the African blood and therefore made these individuals unworthy of their rightful birthright as "descendants" of a blood citizens on the Dawes Rolls.
The effort to prevent them from being placed on the blood roll is said by some apologist for the tribes to be based on the "custom" of "matrilineal descent." However this argument would not and should have not been a part of the decision making process. The custom of matrilineal descent was used mainly for purposes of ignoring the Choctaw and Chickasaw blood of the so called freedmen. Also this custom of matrilineal descent was used to determine a persons clan, not their "race."
The political construction of "race" was only used as a means to ensure for the slaveholding class of "Southerners" along with the Choctaws and Chickasaws to maintain the institution of slavery, and allow the slaveholding men liberties with their female slaves without bestowing the rights of an heir. The argument does not have anything to do with a persons genealogical descent which was the basis for this lawsuit.
In an effort to develop a full list of complainants with their Dawes Card we ask that researchers who have an interest in the case take the time to look over the list of names and should you have a Dawes packet for that individual it would be appreciated if you forward a copy of that material to be included in the database. All submissions will be given credit for the researcher who submitted the information.
The information we are looking for is their oral interviews, parents, siblings, enslaver, residence (county and post office,) Dawes enrollment number and Dawes Card number. In cases where names are common, it is important to determine the exact individual(s) involved with this case. All assistance is appreciated.
You can submit your information to:
Estelusti Foundation c/o Terry J. Ligon P.O. Box 4366 Antioch, CA 94531