International Indian Council (Held at Tallequah, Indian Territory, in 1843)

About this artwork

In the mid-nineteenth century, the United States government moved tribes from the Southeast to Indian Territory, which later became Oklahoma and Kansas. In 1843, Cherokee principal chief John Ross called a meeting of the tribes at Tallequah (also spelled Tahlequah) to “renew their ancient customs, and to revive their ancient alliances.” Hundreds of Native Americans attended, as did several United States government officials. John Mix Stanley was there, and a contemporary newspaper reported t...