"Creek Indian Removal from Alabama" by Christopher Haveman

The views and opinions expressed in this presentation do not necessarily reflect those of the Alabama Department of Archives and History. The Creek Nation was once one of the largest and most powerful Indian groups in the Southeast. At their peak, the Creeks controlled millions of acres of land in the present-day states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. Much of this land, however, was lost or stolen as the federal government sought land for white settlement after the American Revolution. By the mid-1830s, most Creeks were relocated west to Indian Territory. This month, Dr. Christoper Haveman discusses the emigration, relocation, and removal of over 23,000 Creek Indians from Alabama and Georgia between 1825 and 1836. His presentation will focus on diplomatic efforts to stave off removal, as well as the experiences of the Creek people as they made the long and dangerous journey to present-day Oklahoma. Dr. Christopher D. Haveman holds a Bachelor of Arts from Western Washington University, a Master of Arts from Marquette University, and a Master of Arts and PhD in History from Auburn University. He has focused extensively on the history of southeastern Native American tribes and is the author of Rivers of Sand: Creek Indian Emigration, Relocation, and Ethnic Cleansing in the American South (University of Nebraska Press, 2016) and Bending Their Way Onward: The Creek Indians and the Long Journey West (University of Nebraska Press, 2017). Haveman is an Assistant Professor of History at The University of West Alabama. Admission to Food for Thought presentations is always FREE. The public is invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Complimentary beverages will be provided. For additional information call (334) 353-4689. Food for Thought 2017 is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Alabama Archives and the Alabama Humanities Foundation, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Alabama Department of Archives and History is the state’s government records repository, special collections library and research facility, and is home to the Museum of Alabama, the state history museum. It is located in downtown Montgomery, directly across the street from the State Capitol. The Archives and Museum are open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 to 4:30. The EBSCO Research Room is open Tuesday through Friday and the second Saturday of the month from 8:30 to 4:30. To learn more, visit www.archives.alabama.gov or call (334) 242-4364.