What is a treaty?
A treaty is an agreement between sovereign nations. See American Indian Treaties at the National Archives.
What treaties are included in this database?
A significant portion of this database is sourced from Charles J. Kappler's renowned "Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties, Volume II," a foundational reference for treaties between Native American tribes and the United States government. However, recognizing the limitations of any single source in capturing the full breadth of Native American treaty history, this database extends beyond Kappler's compilation. We have diligently incorporated a variety of additional treaties and agreements sourced from historical records and scholarship to present a more complete and inclusive picture.
What makes this database different from others?
Many resources include information about treaties in a variety of formats. For example, in 2020, the National Archives released hundreds of digitized treaties and made them available online through their catalog and the Treaties Explorer database.
Oklahoma State University Library's Tribal Treaties Database complements existing work undertaken by other academic, non-profit, and governmental agencies. It is curated with an emphasis on accessibility, offering intuitive search functionality. Further, the identification of key provisions and successors-in-interest tribes helps enrich a user's understanding of these complex documents. This commitment to comprehensiveness and user experience sets the Tribal Treaties Database apart as a leading resource for researchers, educators, students, and anyone interested in the intricate history of Native American treaties.
In the identifiers field, I notice RIT and NAI numbers. What do they represent?
RIT stands for Ratified Indian Treaty, while NAI represents National Archives Identifier. RIT numbers are created and assigned by the State Department, while NAI numbers are created by the National Archives.
I would like to learn more about tribal boundaries. Any suggestions?
Begin with the Library of Congress’ Indian Land Cessions in the United States, 1784-1894, the U. S. Forest Service’s Tribal Connections Viewer, the National Tribal Geographic Information Support Center, or the Native Land Digital map. Additionally, please contact local tribal offices.
I noticed an error. Who should I contact?
We welcome your feedback. Please contact us.