Descendants of Freedmen Associations
5th
Annual Conference
“Freedmen Saga:
The
Black Indian experience
in
Indian Territory”
Langston University
OKC Campus
4205 N. Lincoln
Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK
73105
June 7, 2008
The Plight continues
in the Descendants of Freedmen 5th annual
conference. The conference will be held at Langston University,
(OKC campus). The conference is co-sponsored by Langston
University and the African Indians of the 5 Civilized Tribes
Foundation. The conference is scheduled between the hours of
10:00AM – 4:00PM on Saturday, June 7, 2008.
The Key-note speaker
for this event is the honorable Congresswoman Diane E. Watson.
Watson was born in Los Angeles and is a lifetime resident of
California’s 33rd Congressional District. Watson attended Los
Angeles City College and matriculated at UCLA, where she
received a B.A. in Education. She also holds a M.A. in School
Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, and a
PH.D. in Educational Administration from the Claremont Graduate
School. Last fall the Congresswoman introduced legislation,
H.R. 2824, that removes federal funding from the Cherokee Nation
of Oklahoma until it agrees to accept the black freedmen
descendants of the Cherokees as full participating citizens of
the Cherokee Nation.
In addition, the
2008 conference will feature authors, professional genealogist,
and attorneys. The conference will focus on the Black Indian
experience in Indian Territory. Subject matter will focus on
land fraud, the practices and tactics that the Dawes commission
used to enroll people of African descent, by placing one sibling
on the Freedmen roll and the other on the by blood roll.
Discussions will also focus on history, culture, and federally
funded program that exclude Freedmen descendants.
This conference
supports the primary goal of this Black Indian organization
which is to enhance public awareness of Black Indian Freedmen
and Native American cultures by educating our members,
supporters, and the general public regarding the history and
cultures of the two groups. It is our desire that Freedmen’s
rich culture be recognized and represented in our historical
museums.
The Association is a
nonprofit 501 (c) 4 corporation based in Oklahoma City.
Association members are of mixed Black and Native American
Indian heritage and are descendants of ancestors designated as
Freedmen by the Dawes Commission in the late 1800’s.
Association President, Marilyn Vann, is of Black Cherokee,
Choctaw, and Chickasaw lineage.
The 2008 conference
has attracted an impressive cadre of speakers:
Key Note Speaker:
Congresswoman Diane E. Watson
-
Dr, Gary Zellar, Author of
African Creeks
-
Lay advocate, David Cornsilk
(Lucy Allen V. Cherokee Nation)
-
Attorney, Jon Velie
(Cherokee Freedmen)
-
Ms. Brenda Golden, Muscogee
Creek Tribal member
-
Ms. Gail Jackson,
Genealogist
-
Mr. Ron Graham,
Genealogist/Vice President of the Descendants of Freedmen
-
Mr. Reginald Meeks, Assco.
Director of External Programs University of Louisville
-
Ms. Kendra Fields, (Featured
graduate student) New York University
Additional speakers
and program details are forthcoming.
Registration: $35.00
On site: $45.00
For additional
information regarding the conference you may contact conference
chair, Rhonda Grayson by email at
dof5ctac@yahoo.com or (405) 514-3518 after 6PM. You may
also visit the conference website at
www.freedmenconference.com
