This week, Jess tackles one of Oklahoma’ s many instances of the US Government going back on a treaty made with Native Tribes…

Chitto Harjo, also known as Crazy Snake, was born in 1846 into the Muscogee Creek Nation, which held onto important ceremonial roles even as other Native tribes faced significant changes due to U.S. policies. The Muscogee people, descendants of a rich culture that once thrived across the Southeastern United States, constructed impressive ceremonial complexes and formed a sophisticated political confederacy. However, in the early 19th century, U.S. Indian policy aimed to remove the Muscogee and other tribes from their ancestral lands. This led to a forced relocation, with many Muscogee settling in Indian Territory, where they established farms and a new governance structure. Harjo emerged as a prominent figure opposing land allotment policies that threatened tribal sovereignty and cultural identity, advocating for the restoration of traditional customs.

As tensions escalated in the late 19th century, Harjo led a faction known as the Snakes, which opposed the Dawes Commission's allotment system. Their resistance involved organizing a separate government and engaging in protests rooted in ancient Muscogee traditions. Despite initial successes, including establishing jurisdiction over a small area, Harjo's movement faced significant backlash from both tribal governments and U.S. authorities. The situation intensified with violent confrontations, ultimately leading to Harjo's arrest and imprisonment. Although he was never captured after his release, his life took a mysterious turn, with rumors of his death in various locations. Harjo's story exemplifies the broader resistance of the “Five Civilized Tribes” against U.S. encroachment and the struggle to maintain their identity and autonomy.

Join us this week as we examine Chitto Harjo and the Crazy Snake Uprising. 

Sources:

• OHS - Chitto Harjo

• OHS - Crazy Sanke Uprising

• OHS - Smoked Meat Rebellion  

• OHS - Allotment 

• Wikipedia - Chitto Harjo

• Wikipedia - Crazy Snake Rebellion

• FindAGrave.com

• Marietta Monitor

• JSTOR.org

• Oklahoma Originals: Early Heroes, Heroines, Villains & Vixens by Jonita Mullins 

• FiveCivilizedTribes.org