Indian Territory Land Lost to Oklahoma, 1889 to 1907

Keywords: Indian Territory, Indigenous Geography, Cartography, Imperialist Nostalgia
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 57

Abstract

After the passing of the Indian Removal Act in 1830, more than 46,000 Native Americans were forced to leave their homes to move to a new region deemed Indian Territory. For almost 60 years, this land remained occupied by various tribal nations. After the Civil War, the U.S. government decided to slowly begin to parcel up land to provide to American settlers through a series of events known as the Oklahoma Land Runs. Over the span of 18 years, the entirety of Indian Territory was colonized piece by piece before ultimately dissolving into Oklahoma Territory. Through cartographic critique, it can be noted that land was divided and taken by specific tribal nations for each event. A map was designed to demonstrate the Oklahoma Land Runs through an Indigenous narrative of displacement and stolen land rather than a colonized narrative of conquering the land. The actions leading up to the Oklahoma Land Runs, as well as their lasing impacts, can be linked to feelings of imperialist nostalgia among settlers and in broader American culture. This research shows the historical context and background leading to the Oklahoma Land Runs as well as cause and effects that may have occurred in regard to imperial nostalgia.