“Freedmen” Is a Reclassification — Not a Heritage: The Truth About Tribal Disenrollment of Black Native Americans

Michael Lane
Apr 8
3 min read

Most people hear the word Freedmen and immediately think “former African slaves.” But in the context of the Five Civilized Tribes, that label is far more complicated—and often, intentionally misleading.

"Freedmen" was a racial classification imposed during the Reconstruction era. It didn’t mean someone was African or enslaved. It meant someone was dark-skinned—and in many cases, it was used to separate Black Indigenous people from their tribal identity.

Many of the Freedmen listed on the Dawes Rolls were not Africans or African descendants. They were full-blooded Native people—Muscogee Creek, Cherokee, Seminole, and others—who had been reclassified simply because they were copper-colored, had tightly coiled hair, or didn’t “look Indian enough” in the eyes of government agents.

This reclassification wasn’t a mistake. It was part of a broader strategy to erase Black Native Americans from tribal rolls, land claims, and historical records. And it continues to affect people today.

Blood Quantum: The Setup for Future Disenrollment

After the Civil War, the U.S. government forced new treaties onto the Five Civilized Tribes. These treaties required the emancipation of slaves and the enrollment of their descendants as tribal citizens.

But when it came time to record these new citizens, the government created two separate lists: one for "By Blood" tribal members, and one for Freedmen.

Tribal members listed "By Blood" were assigned a blood quantum, which later became the standard for tribal enrollment. But Freedmen? They were intentionally denied a blood quantum, even when they were biologically related to those on the "By Blood" roll.

This distinction laid the groundwork for tribes to later say: “You’re not on the blood roll—so you’re not one of us.”

Tribal Disenrollment in the 1990s

In the 1990s, some tribes—particularly the Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, and Muscogee (Creek) Nation—amended their constitutions or policies to require proof of “Indian by blood” from the Dawes Rolls for citizenship.

The problem? Many Freedmen descendants were never given that designation—even when they were direct descendants of Native ancestors.

Thousands of Native Black Americans were suddenly disenrolled—cut off from tribal benefits, denied recognition, and erased from their ancestral communities.

But Not All Tribes Turned Their Backs

Thankfully, not every tribe participated in this discriminatory disenrollment.

The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, despite historical conflicts over the status of Freedmen, does accept Freedmen descendants as citizens—and recognizes their ancestral and cultural ties to the tribe.

The Cherokee Nation, after years of legal battles, reinstated Freedmen citizenship rights in 2017 following a landmark federal court ruling.

And while the Muscogee (Creek) Nation has been slower to act, growing pressure from Freedmen descendants and activists is forcing important conversations about restoration and justice.

Genealogy Is the Key—But It’s Not Always Simple

Every tribe has its own rules for citizenship. Some require you to trace your lineage to the Dawes “By Blood” Roll. Others, like the Seminole Nation, recognize the Freedmen Roll as a valid path to citizenship. Some offer full benefits. Others do not.

This patchwork of rules and historical trauma makes genealogy research both powerful and complicated.

That’s why having expert guidance makes all the difference.

Many Freedmen Were Reclassified Natives—Not Africans

It’s time to clear up a major myth: not all Freedmen were descended from African slaves.

Many were Native Americans reclassified as “Freedmen” based solely on their appearance. This is why you can’t rely solely on surface-level documents when researching your ancestry. The deeper you dig, the more you uncover the truth: your people didn’t disappear—they were erased on paper.

And I’m here to help you reclaim them.

I Can Help You Reclaim What Was Stolen

If you’re a descendant of someone listed as a Freedman—or if your family oral history says you’re Native but the paperwork doesn’t match—you’re not alone.

I offer personalized genealogy consultations to walk you through every step, including:

✅ Uncovering hidden records & reclassification tactics✅ Understanding tribal enrollment rules across different nations✅ Revealing overlooked tribal ties✅ The exact 3-step process my family used to gain citizenship with the Muscogee Creek Nation

This work has changed lives—and it can change yours too.