Texas Cherokee

Texas Cherokee | Native American | American Indian

Deanna Wood Priddy is one of the 54 members of the Tsalagiyi Nvdagi (Texas Cherokee Tribe) who volunteered their DNA profiles in a project to document the group’s ethnic composition for posterity. Copyright D. Priddy 2024. Used with special permission of the photographer. Forbidden to copy or reproduce by any means, mechanical or digital.

Memories run deep and true with the Texas Cherokees (Tsalagiyi Nvdagi in their language). Their settlement in Texas (then Spanish territory, later the Texas Republic) goes back to at least 1819, with grants from Spain in what is now East Texas, where many of their descendants remain. With headquarters in New Summerfield, the small tribe has a detailed history, complete with laws and charters, though it does not have U.S. Federal recognition like the larger three better-known Cherokee tribes, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (CNO), United Keetoowah Band (UKB), or Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). Nor does it wish U.S. recognition. It is recognized by the Federal government of Mexico, Mexican state of Coahuila de Zaragoza and Governor of the State of Texas (2019) and considers its origins as predating U.S. oversight. In 1839, their aged, unarmed chief, The Bowl, guarding the rear of the whole tribe’s retreat on his horse, was shot down by the Texas Army and the remnants of the tribe chased from their homes. The Bowl’s body was left on the battlefield and his bones lay unburied for a number of years. He was 83 years old. The dispersed families in good part drifted back from forced exile and hid, often identifying as Black Dutch, Spanish, Sabine or Hispanic American to survive persecution and death.Two hundred years has hardly lessened the Texas Cherokees’ pride in their identity. The top modal matches in DNA testing in 2024 were U.S. Cherokee Enrolled (#6), Mexico’s Cochimi Indians, Native American – Minnesota, Native American – Saskatchewan, Lumbee Indians, Melungeon and Florida – Hispanic. Notable Texas Cherokees • The Bowl Duwali, (d. 1839), Texas Cherokee chief and military leader. Treacherously murdered by the Texas Army, July 16, 1839. • Stand Watie (1806-1871), Brigadier General Confederate States of America; Principal Chief of the Southern (Confederate) Cherokee (including the Mount Tabor Community) 1863-1865. His wife (Sarah Caroline Bell-Watie) remained a part of the Mount Tabor Community in Rusk County, Texas for most of the war. Continued as leader of the Southern Cherokee following the war until his death in 1871. • Jesse Bartley Milam (1884–1949), Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1941–1949. • W. W. Keeler (1908–1987), Texas Cherokees and Associate Bands Executive Committee Chairman 1945-1972 (Replaced by Judge Foster T. Bean) Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation 1949-1975 (Replaced by Ross O. Swimmer). • William Penn Adair (1830-1880), Colonel, Confederate States of America. Second in Command under General Stand Watie; Texas Cherokees and Associate Bands Executive Committee Chairman 1871-1880 (Founded the Texas Cherokees and Associate Bands out of the descendants of the Mount Tabor Indian Community, along with Clement Neely Vann in 1871.) • John Martin Thompson (1829-1907), Texas Cherokees and Associate Bands Executive Committee Chairman 1880-1907 (Replaced by Claude Muskrat). Source: Known as the Texas Cherokee Reference Population STR Profile DNA Project, the study began in January of 2024 and concluded in July. It was administered by Chief William P. Hoff. Name of population: U.S./Mexico – Texas Cherokee (n=54). [Pop. 540]