The Choctaws Won This One, but Barely
'The Choctaws Won This One, But Barely' recounts a challenging period for the Choctaw people following the passage of Public Law 280 in 1953. This law subjected certain Native American tribes, including the Choctaw, to state jurisdiction in specific areas, leading to significant concerns about the potential loss of their land, legal rights, and access to federal services like healthcare and education. What happened was a typical case of someone doing Washington a favor by doing something, and when it was done by Washington, it was not all the way it was intended.
The Choctaw Nation's initial lack of understanding regarding the law's implications. Some Choctaws, exercising their right to sell their own lands, did so without fully grasping the long-term consequences, leading to what was termed 'too watered down' protection by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
In 1959, Robert Beams, director of the Dallas Field Employment Assistance Office for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, voiced his strong opposition to how Public Law 280 was being implemented. He argued that the intended federal protection for the Choctaw people was being undermined, leaving them vulnerable in areas of legal jurisdiction, social services, and overall well-being. Beams asserted that if the law remained as it was, the Choctaw people would face a future with diminished rights and benefits.
By 1948, a tribal referendum, sparked by the original 'half-rule' measure, had been overturned. Chief Hollis Roberts, who had initially backed the self-rule provision but later recognized its harmful impact, stated, 'I refused to put it into operation, and can remove me as Chief before I'll let it hold them. I didn't intend for them to kill the Choctaw Nation.' Roberts was subsequently re-appointed as Chief of the Choctaws.
A letter from Wallace W. Gates, the Nineteenth District Attorney, expressing gratitude for the support he received in Bryan County and his commitment to assisting the Choctaw people within his jurisdiction. He specifically mentions Mr. Oliver, an Assistant District Attorney, praising his fine young attorney, wife, family, and strong money, adding that they bring great happiness and prosperity to the area.
Excerpt taken from Atoka County Times, September 1970
