Hignight

Elizabeth Hignight and her family applied for Choctaw Nation citizenship in 1896, citing descent from Patsey Jane West, a full-blood Choctaw. Initially denied by the Dawes Commission, they appealed to the U.S. court, which ruled in their favor in 1898. However, in 1902, the Citizenship Court vacated this decision, and in 1904, it denied their enrollment. Despite unchallenged evidence of Choctaw ancestry and long-term residence in Indian Territory, they were ultimately excluded from the final rolls. Their counsel argued they were entitled to enrollment, as previous rulings had recognized their claims.