Fort Smith Council facts for kids

The Fort Smith Council, also known as the Indian Council, was a series of important meetings. They took place in Fort Smith, Arkansas from September 8 to 21, 1865. The United States government organized these meetings. They were for Indian tribes living east of the Rocky Mountains. Many of these tribes lived in what was then called Indian Territory.

The main person from the U.S. government was Dennis N. Cooley. He was the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Other important people with him included:

• Elijah Sells, who managed Indian Affairs for the Southern region.
• William Harney, an Army officer.
• Ely S. Parker, a Seneca chief and Army officer who worked closely with General Grant.
• Charles Mix, who was the council's secretary.

Dennis N. Cooley started the second day of the council with a speech. He reminded everyone why they were there. The purpose was to discuss future treaties and land plans. This was happening right after the American Civil War ended.

All tribes that had signed agreements with the Confederate government had to attend. These included the Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, Cherokee, Shawnee, Delaware, Wichita, Comanche, Great Osage, Seneca, and Quapaw tribes.

The U.S. government told these tribes that because they had sided against the United States, their old treaties were cancelled. This meant they might lose some of their lands and payments. The goal was to talk about the terms of new treaties. Cooley mentioned that a law passed in 1862 already allowed this. The council also informed tribes in Indian Territory that some of their lands might be given to tribes moving from Kansas.

New Rules for Treaties

Cooley explained that new treaties would be made with each tribe. Each new agreement had to include certain rules from the U.S. government. These rules were:

Peace and Friendship

• Every tribe had to agree to lasting peace and friendship. This included peace with each other, with other tribes, and with the United States.
• Tribes living in Indian Territory had to promise to help the government. They would help make sure the Plains Indians stayed peaceful.

Ending Slavery

• Slavery, which existed in some tribes, had to end right away.
• All enslaved people had to be freed. They also needed to become full members of the tribes, or be provided for in other ways.
• The new treaties had to state that slavery would never exist in the tribe again. The only exception was as punishment for a crime.

Land and Government Changes

• A part of the tribes' current lands had to be set aside. This land would be for friendly tribes from Kansas and other places. The terms would be agreed upon or set by the government.
• The government wanted all tribes in Indian Territory to form one combined government. This was a plan proposed by the U.S. Senate.
• No white people, except government workers, would be allowed to live in the territory. The only other way was if they officially joined a tribe.

Many of these rules were new to the tribes. They caused a lot of worry and arguments. The tribes already knew the government planned to take some of their land. They understood they had little power to stop this. They were ready to make peace with each other. (They had tried this before at the Camp Napoleon Council, but the government didn't accept it). They also knew slavery was being outlawed.

However, they were not ready for the demand that freed slaves become full tribal members. They also strongly opposed forming one big government. They saw this as destroying their individual tribal governments and their unique identities.

Treaties of 1866

Before the Fort Smith Council ended, everyone agreed to meet again. They would gather in Washington D.C. in early 1866. There, they would finish their individual treaties with the government.

• The Seminoles had clear agreements. They finished their treaty first, on March 21, 1866.
• The Choctaws and Chickasaws worked together on their treaty. They completed it on April 28, 1866. It became official on July 10, 1866.
• The Creeks finished their treaty on June 14, 1866.
• The Cherokees agreed to terms on July 19, 1866. Their treaty was officially put into effect on August 14, 1866.