Atoka Agreement signed by Chickasaw, Choctaw and Dawes Commission

Background. The U.S. Dawes Commission, authorized in 1893, aimed to convince the Five Civilized Tribes to cede tribal land titles and adopt allotment policies similar to the 1887 Dawes Act. The Atoka Agreement specifically addressed the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations, providing for the allotment of their communal lands to certified citizen households. Land exceeding these allotments could be sold to non-natives, setting the stage for later legislative actions.

Ratification and Legal Context. The Atoka Agreement was ratified by the two tribes in November 1897. Provisions of this agreement were later incorporated into the Curtis Act of 1898, which mandated widespread allotment of communal tribal lands. The Curtis Act required the Atoka Agreement to be resubmitted to voters, who approved it in a joint election on August 24, 1898.

Precursor to Statehood. The Atoka Agreement was understood as a step towards statehood, with provisions specifying that lands occupied by the Five Civilized Tribes would be prepared for admission as a state. This understanding led to the Sequoyah Constitutional Convention, which drafted a constitution for the proposed State of Sequoyah. However, there was significant objection to inclusion in a state where whites would have controlling political influence.