Evolution of the American Indian and the impact on modern Oklahoma

Abstract

The word Oklahoma comes from a Choctaw word that means, "Land of the Red People." Our state is undoubtedly influenced by the Native American culture, but in order to fully understand the depth of this impact one must understand how the American Indian has evolved through our nation's history. Throughout this thesis, I will examine major eras of tribal history and also assess the modern economic impact these nations have on Oklahoma.

The historical eras researched are early Federal Indian Policy, Indian removal, Indian Territory, termination, and self-determination. The topic of tribal sovereignty, and often the lack thereof, is addresses often throughout the thesis, and is used to document and illustrate the transformation of Native Americans. I strive to prove that American Indians not only affect Oklahoma's cultural landscape, but also make major economic contributions to our state.

As a Land Grant institution, I believe that Oklahoma State University could benefit from more research in the field of American Indian studies. While using the library resources, I was able to find many texts covering certain aspects of American Indian policies and influences, but nothing that had compiled research from colonialism to present day. I wanted to use my thesis as an opportunity to give a brief history of the Native American evolution.