Banistor

Allen Banistor Dawes Commission Examination

On April 11, 1901, Banistor Allen applied for identification as a Mississippi Choctaw for himself and his four minor children, claiming ¼ Choctaw ancestry through his mother. During the Dawes Commission examination, he revealed a lack of formal proof supporting his claim, stating that neither he nor his ancestors had ever benefited from government aid or land. Allen expressed willingness to relocate to the Indian Territory if identified as a Choctaw. The Commission requested further evidence to support his claim.

Allen Banistor Dawes Decision

On April 15, 1902, the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes ruled against the identification of several applicants, including Banistor Allen, as Mississippi Choctaws entitled to land rights. The evidence presented was deemed insufficient. This decision was subsequently affirmed by the Secretary of the Interior on June 5, 1902, confirming the refusal of the applications. The case underscores the rigorous scrutiny faced by those claiming Native identity and rights in relation to the Choctaw Nation’s lands.