Treaty of Camp Holmes with the Comanche, Wichita and others, 1835
The 1835 Camp Holmes treaty promised peace and safe passage among the United States, Comanche, Wichita and neighboring nations, with no land cession.
- Signed
- August 24, 1835
- Senate
- Ratified
What happened
What happened
On August 24, 1835, the United States signed a treaty at Camp Holmes, near the Canadian River in the Muscogee nation. The commissioners were Governor M. Stokes, Brigadier General M. Arbuckle and F. W. Armstrong. Representatives of the Comanche and Witchetaw (Wichita) nations and their associated bands signed. Chiefs of the Cherokee, Muscogee, Choctaw, Osage, Seneca and Quapaw nations were also parties, and the treaty aimed to bring peace among all of them.
The treaty contains no land cession. Article 1 sets perpetual peace and friendship. In Article 3, the Comanche and Witchetaw nations agreed that United States citizens could pass through their settlements or hunting ground without molestation on their way to Mexico or back. The United States guaranteed them full indemnification for stolen horses or property, if the property could not be recovered and proof showed a United States citizen stole it within the United States. Article 4 gave all parties free permission to hunt and trap in the Great Prairie west of the Cross Timber.
Article 8 says the Comanche and Witchetaw had freely and willingly entered the treaty, the first they had made with the United States or any of the other parties. They were to receive presents after signing, and the United States asked nothing in return except to remain at peace. The treaty was proclaimed on May 19, 1836.
Summarized with AI assistance from 3 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error
What the sources say, and how this was checked
Well supported by the sources below.
freely and willingly entered into this treaty, and it being the first they have made with the United States
Treaty with the Comanche, etc., 1835 (OSU Tribal Treaties Database)free permission to hunt and trap in the Great Prairie west of the Cross Timber
Treaty with the Comanche, etc., 1835 (OSU Tribal Treaties Database)freely and willingly entered into this treaty
Treaty with the Comanche, 7 Stat. 474 (govinfo)
Research notes. No land cession, so there is no Royce number. The sources used here do not show whether the indemnity and presents promises were carried out.
What happened next
Everything the record holds about this land and this treaty, in order: what earlier agreements said, what this one did, and what the United States, the courts and the nations did afterwards.
Who is doing the work today
The nations connected to this treaty come first, then groups returning land and defending treaty rights. Support goes directly to them.
Who is doing the work
This history belongs to living nations. Start with them:
- Cherokee Nation
- Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
- United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians
- Choctaw Nation
- Jena Band of Choctaw Indians
- Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
- Comanche Nation, Oklahoma
- Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town
Working with these nations
- Oneida Indian Nation Nation government About 18,000 acres in trust (2022 est.), 25,000-acre cap under 2013 agreement
- Rematriation Native-led Indigenous women-led media, education, community advocacy Give on their site Website
- The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Allied land trust Funder/partner in several tribal land returns Website
Native legal and land defense, nationally
- Native American Rights Fund (NARF) Native-led Litigation and legal advocacy for tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, land and resources Give on their site Website
- NDN Collective (LANDBACK Campaign) Native-led LANDBACK campaign (launched 2020; Mount Rushmore closure and return of Black Hills public lands), Indigenous… Give on their site Website
- Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) Native-led Land recovery and control by tribes and individual Indian landowners Website
- Decolonizing Wealth Project (Indigenous Earth Fund; California Tribal Land Return) Native-led Reparative philanthropy Give on their site Website
Gifts go straight to each organization; this atlas takes nothing. Listing is not endorsement: how organizations are listed.
Sources
Sources
- digitreaties.org/treaties/treaty/147968177reference work
Research notes
First-treaty characterization; Stat./Kappler pages verified.
Shapes are approximate and are not legal descriptions of land, title or jurisdiction.