Four Mothers Society facts for kids
The Four Mothers Society or Four Mothers Nation is an important group for Muscogee Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Natchez people in Oklahoma. It is a religious, political, and traditional organization. It started in the 1890s to oppose new US government rules that wanted to divide up tribal lands.
The society was against these rules because sharing land was a big part of their culture. They also worried that if the land was divided, some of it would be sold to people who were not Native American. This would mean losing their ancestral lands. At its largest, the organization had more than 24,000 members.
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How the Four Mothers Society Began
The Four Mothers Societies might have existed in some form even before the 1800s, but they were officially started around 1895 in Sulphur Springs, Indian Territory. This group collected dues from its members and continued to be active for many years.
The name "Four Mothers" is very meaningful. For the Cherokee, mothers are linked to Selu, the Corn Mother, who is important for life and food. The name might also refer to the Four Directions, which are sacred in many Native American religions.
Fighting for Land Rights
In the late 1800s, the US government passed laws like the Curtis Act (1898) and the Dawes Act. These laws forced Native American tribes to divide their shared lands into individual plots. This policy was called "allotment." The government also made lists of tribal members to decide who would get land.
Many members of the Four Mothers Societies were very upset about this. They believed that breaking up their shared lands went against their traditions and way of life.
Key Leaders and Actions
Chitto Harjo was a leader who strongly opposed allotment. He set up a new Creek government in Henryetta, Oklahoma. Many Creek people who were against the land division saw his government as the true one. In 1900, Harjo's followers met and said that the existing Creek government had broken their 1867 Creek Constitution. They declared Harjo their new principal chief.
Another important leader was Redbird Smith. He was a traditionalist and started the Nighthawk Keetoowah Society. He also became involved with the Four Mothers Society.
In 1906, the group sent a petition with 186 signatures to the US Congress. They wanted to send a group to Washington, D.C., to talk about broken treaties and their concerns about tribal leaders. Chitto Harjo spoke to the Senate, supported by the Four Mothers Nation.
The Four Mothers Society also supported the idea of a State of Sequoyah. Instead of joining Oklahoma Territory to become part of the United States, they wanted a separate state just for Native Americans.
Cultural Traditions
Beyond their political actions, the Four Mothers Societies also keep many cultural traditions alive. They hold ceremonial gatherings for stomp dances, stickball games, feasts, meetings, and other ceremonies.
In the late 1980s, the Chickasaw and Cherokee each had at least one active dance ground. Today, in the early 21st century, there are several Four Mothers Society grounds across eastern Oklahoma. Many Muscogee (Creek) ceremonial grounds are still active, and the Cherokee also have an active ground.
Four Mothers Society in Books
Author LeAnne Howe, who is Creek, writes about the Four Mothers Society in her novels. She shows how it connects to traditional matriarchal (mother-led) culture. She explores this topic deeply in her book Miko Kings.
Images for kids
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Portrait of Chitto Harjo, a leader of the Four Mothers Society, around 1900.
