Linda, I'm not sure about the Choctaws. I've read that the Creeks, when in I.T., did not punish whites in their nation, because of complications (treaties, fear of retaliation...) with the U.S. They referred such cases to the Indian Agent, or to the court at Ft. Smith. The "Intruder Lists" referred to so much in this forum are one form of this action. Some Indian punishments were pretty harsh. The Creeks used whipping, mutilation (removal of ears...) and death for some infractions we consider civil misdemeanors today. Since the Creeks were matrilineal (you belonged to your mother's family, not your father's) when they came to I.T., it doesn't seem likely that the nation would go along with a mother's story denying her son's birth. Unless his mother was white? I'm not sure how the Choctaws looked at family matters. Angie Debo wrote a lot about the 5 Civilized Tribes. I've learned a lot about I.T. and the 5CT's by looking at her works. Grant Foreman is another author who's written a lot about the tribes. I'd recommend either one of them as a starting point for learning more about customs, politics and history of I.T. Chuck Miles -----Original Message----- From: Lincat14@aol.com <Lincat14@aol.com> To: Indian-Territory-Roots-L@rootsweb.com <Indian-Territory-Roots-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Sunday, March 07, 1999 12:19 AM Subject: Crimes >Can anyone tell me how the Choctaw punished within the tribe? Old family story >relates that an ancestor, half breed, committed a crime, and to keep him from >being punished by the Indians, his mother said he was white. Anybody know >anything that might help clear this up some for me? Surely the indians were as >fair as the whites when choosing punishments for the crimes.....Thanks if >anyone can help.... >Linda >Oklahoma > >______________________________