This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: SandraWright500 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.ethnic.natam.nations.choctaw.choctawnat/2847.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Although the Choctaw Slaves were freed in 1866, their status in the Choctaw Nation became that of FREEDMEN of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes in the Indian Territory and were listed on the final Dawes Rolls in the FREEDMEN index. These Choctaw citizens and their descendants could legally lay claim to citizenship of the Choctaw Nation with the same rights and privileges. Many of these FREEDMEN stayed on with their original owners as paid employees while others settled on their own land. There is an account in the Oklahoma Pioneer Papers archives of a freedmen of the Roebuck family that wrote about his life and that of his parents living in the Roebuck family and being treated like family. This was not an exception but the rule with the Choctaw culture. The families that were determined to be of Choctaw Heritage whether on the Dawes Rolls or Freedmen Rolls at the time they closed the census rolls at the turn of the century were declared members of the Choctaw Nation and each given a set amount of land allotment. This land allotment was extended to every member down to a newborn. After the final rolls were closed, no one could make additional claims. The Choctaw Nation today considers anyone who can show documentation of direct descendants from any of those people who were listed on that Final Dawes and Freedmen Rolls can become a registered member of the Choctaw Nation. There are several sites on the Internet, libraries and National Archives that have copies of these Dawes and Freemen Rolls. The LDS Churches in many areas also have genealogy research facilities to help you with you research. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.