Meeting of Nations

In this building in September 1865, the Fort Smith Council brought delegates of twelve Indian nations together with representatives of President Andrew Johnson to establish relations after the Civil War. Bitterly divided, Indians had fought on both sides in the war, but the United States treated them all as defeated enemies. The tribes were told that their rights had been forfeited, their slaves had to be freed, and their property could be confiscated. Little was resolved, and because they had not expected to sign treaties and feared for tribal sovereignty, the Indians only pledged allegiance to the United States. A year later, in Washington, D.C., the tribes signed separate treaties with the federal government.

Moffett, Oklahoma · United States