Choctaw Treaties: A GIS Approach

Ryan L. SpringHistoric Preservation Dept.

Cultural ServicesChoctaw Nation of Oklahoma

PresentationTopics

ResearchCreationLayoutBenefitsContinuation

Research Overview Maps Collaboration Background

Wikipedia.org

Research: Overview

Wikipedia Choctaw Treaties

ChoctawNation.com

Research: Maps

Choctaw Lands in the East Showing Cessions to the United States

Charles C. Royce

Land Cessions and AcquisitionsArthur H. DeRosier, Jr.

vaiden.net thebicyclingguitarist.net

Research: Collaboration

Chickasaw Nation: Geospatial Information (GSI) Historic Preservation

Chickasaw.net

Research: Background

The Removal of the Choctaw IndiansArthur H. DeRosier

The Rise and Fall of the Choctaw RepublicAngie Debo

Choctaws and Missionaries in Mississippi, 1818-1918

Clara Sue Kidwell

Amazon.com

CreationGeo-Referencing

• Mississippi• Alabama• Arkansas• Indian Territory

Cross-Referencing• Treaties

• United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Hydrology Dataset (NHD)• ESRI USA Topo Maps Service

Creation:Geo-Referencing

Indian Territory Arkansas Mississippi Alabama

Creation:Cross-Referencing

Drawing Features

Creation:Cross-Referencing

United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Hydrography Dataset (NHD)

Treaties

Beginning on the Choctaw boundary, East of Pearl River, at a point due South of the White Oak spring, on the old Indian path; thence north to said spring; thence northwardly to a black oak, standing on the Natchez road, about forty poles eastwardly from Doake's fence, marked A. J. and blazed, with two large pines and a black oak standing near thereto, and marked as pointers; thence a straight line to the head of Black Creek, or Bouge Loosa; thence down Black Creek or Bouge Loosa to a small Lake; thence a direct course, so as to strike the Mississippi one mile below the mouth of the Arkansas River; thence down the Mississippi to our boundary; thence around and along the same to the beginning.

Creation:Cross-Referencing

ESRI USA Topo Maps Service

LayoutTitle

BackgroundColors

LegendExtent Indicator

Scale

GraticuleLiability

Seal & Logo

Benefits

Tribe and Community• Visual representation of the

Choctaw treaties• Promotes leading edge

technology use by the Tribe• Promotes GIS within the Tribe

and community

Historic Preservation• Improved efficiency of 19th

century education to Tribe and community

• Cultural research stored and easily accessible for future use

• Helps protect Choctaw Archaeological & Sacred Sites

What’s Next?

• Research– 1802 Treaty of Fort

Confederation• Publishing

– Graphic Design– TerraGo– FLEX Map

• Advertising– Websites– Social Media

Terragotech.com

www.ChoctawNationCulture.com