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.