Homesteading laws used to establish a Native American community in the South

What is it about?

Coushattas and Alabamas used homesteading, a law intended to assimilate Native peoples, to establish and maintain a community in Southwest Louisiana. Their resulting private land holdings helped them establish a relationship with the federal government ultimately resulting in federal recognition but also created the inaccurate perception that the community did not need federal assistance or recognition.

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Why is it important?

The article highlights the use of homesteading, a policy intended to break-up Native American community bonds, to develop a Native community in the South.