Alabama Quassarte Tribal
Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town (AQTT) is headquartered in Wetumka, Oklahoma. Its tribal jurisdictional area spans Creek, Hughes, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Rogers, Seminole, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties in Oklahoma. Their traditional languages include Alabama, Koasati, and Mvskoke. As of 2014, the tribe includes 369 enrolled members, all of which live within the state of Oklahoma.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama-Quassarte_Tribal_Town
Prior to the removal of the Muscogee Confederacy from their Southeastern homelands in the 1820’s and 30’s, the Alabama and Quassarte people each had a distinct identity as a Tribal Town of the Confederacy. The Confederacy consisted of more than 44 of these “Towns” scattered throughout the Southeastern woodlands.
With the advancement of European settlers into the region, many members of these two groups, in an attempt to avoid contact with the “invaders”, migrated Southwest into Louisiana and Texas in the 1790’s and early 1800’s where they remain today (Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana & Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas). Those members who did not leave formed an alliance and became the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town. Pre-removal tribal government was traditional and its leaders were the ceremonial leaders.
This body participated in the old Muscogee Nation Confederacy government and were subsequently included in the Removal Act of 1830. The group settled into Indian Territory in what is now Hughes, Okfuskee, McIntosh and a portion of Seminole Counties of Oklahoma. Following the Dawes Act of 1888 and the consequent individual Allotment Act, the old Muscogee Confederacy and Creek Nation constitutional government was disbanded. Elections were no longer held and the President of the United States appointed a Chief for the Creeks every four years. The ceremonial government, however, continued through the Alabama Ceremonial Grounds near Wetumka, OK.
https://www.aaanativearts.com/us-tribes-a-to-b/alabama-quassarte-tribal-town
In 1936, congress passed the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act which contained provisions for Indian Tribes to reestablish their legal identities through federal recognition by the Secretary of the Department of Interior. In addition, lands were allocated to be placed in trust for those Tribes. Visionary members of the Tribal Town saw the opportunity, organized themselves and adopted a constitutional form of government. The Department of Interior approved the Constitution in April of 1939 and the Tribal Town was given federal recognition in the form of government that stands today. As a component of the original Creek Confederacy, AQTT’s members enjoy dual citizenship as Muscogee (Creek) Tribal members as well.
Today the government stands as a beacon with a clear direction of forward progress into the 21st century. The government operates several federally contracted and grant programs and has acquired more lands and facilities than ever before. The Tribe owns enterprises and generates substantial revenues for itself. Economic Development in several forms are being pursued which will assure the long term growth needed for its members and future generations.
Tarpie Yargee (Chief)
Tel: (405) 452-3987
Fax: (405) 452-3968
PO Box 187
Wetumka, OK74883-0187
Website: http://www.alabama-quassarte.org
The Quassarte and Alabama were originally two distinct tribes, who both lived on the banks of the Alabama River from Mobile, Alabama to the upper reaches of the river. Both the river and the state are named after the Alabama.[6] The Quassarte are also known as the Coushatta or Koasati, in their own language.
The two tribes shared many similarities in their language and culture, as they were both Muskogean-speaking.[7] In the early 17th century, after a conflict with French settlers, the tribes formed an alliance. They intermarried freely and became active trading partners. In 1763, the two tribes joined the Muscogee Nation Confederacy (also called the Creek Confederacy).[6]
Before removal of the Muscogee Creek people from Alabama in the 1830s, the Muscogee Nation Confederacy included over 44 different tribal towns. The Alabama and Quassarte peoples made up six to eight of those towns.[6] Facing increasing encroachment by European-American settlers, some of the Quassarte and Alabama peoples moved into Louisiana and Texas in the late 18th century and early 19th century. These emigrants and their descendants formed what are today the federally recognized Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas.[7]
Those who stayed in Alabama joined forces and became a single town.[7] The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced the tribal town, along with the rest of the Muscogee, to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. They settled in what would become Hughes, McIntosh, Okfuskee, and Seminole counties.[7] The Dawes Allotment Act of 1887 and the Curtis Act of 1898, intended to increase assimilation, provided for allotments of land to individual households from the communal reservation lands and sale of the “surplus”; in addition, it required the extinguishing of tribal governments and courts. The Bureau of Indian Affairs took an increased role on the reservations.
The Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town maintained its cultural identity. It practiced traditional dances and beliefs at the Alabama Ceremonial Grounds near Wetumka.[7] Other Native American peoples also survived culturally and preserved their religious practices. The town took the opportunity afforded by the federal Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 under the President Franklin D. Roosevelt administration and the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of 1936 to set up a government. It organized as a distinct, federally recognized tribe in April 1939. Due to its historic relationship with the Muscogee Creek Nation, which became federally recognized in 1972, tribal members can maintain dual citizenship in both tribes.[7]
The Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town is headquartered in Wetumka, Oklahoma. Its tribal jurisdictional area spans Creek, Hughes, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Rogers, Seminole, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties in Oklahoma.
101 E. Broadway,
Wetumka, Ok. 74883
The The Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town traditional languages include Alabama, Koasati, and Mvskoke.
Today the The Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town government stands as a beacon with a clear direction of forward progress into the 21st century. The government operates several federally contracted and grant programs and has acquired more lands and facilities than ever before. The Tribe owns enterprises and generates substantial revenues for itself. Economic Development in several forms are being pursued which will assure the long-term growth needed for its members and future generations. For example, they operate a tribal housing program and a gaming center (Red Hawk Gaming) in Wetumka.
Tarpie Yargee (Chief)
Tel: (405) 452-3987
Fax: (405) 452-3968
PO Box 187
Wetumka, OK74883-0187
Website: http://www.alabama-quassarte.org
Their webpage is down or under construction.
