By Tony Choate, Media Relations Specialist
Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office
Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby visits with Daisy Blackbird during her 105th birthday celebration Friday.
Chickasaw original enrollee Daisy Blackbird celebrated her 105th birthday today in Oklahoma City.
"Most people say when you get old you have to give things up," said Mrs. Blackbird. "I think you get old because you give things up.
"Cherish all your happy moments," she added. "They make a fine cushion for old age."
Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby was among the guests at a birthday party for Mrs. Blackbird.
"It is a privilege to be among those honoring Daisy today," said Gov. Anoatubby. "We treasure Daisy, and all of our elders."
In 2001, Gov. Anoatubby presented Mrs. Blackbird with a specially designed medal honoring her as an original enrollee on the Dawes Commission rolls.
Daisy was born Jan. 18, 1903 in Tupelo, Indian Territory to Arthur E. and Elizabeth Hawley. She was enrolled as a Chickasaw citizen in 1905.
Mrs. Blackbird is the widow of Oklahoma Chief Justice W. H. . Blackbird.
After spending her early years on the farm, Daisy became a career woman at a time when that was quite unusual.
She taught school in Coalgate and Tupelo after graduating from Tupelo high School and Pittsburgh Teachers' College in Kansas.
Daisy later took a job as a clerk for the Oklahoma Supreme Court where she met Justice William H. Blackbird. The two were later married.
Somewhat ironically, Mrs. Blackbird's parents came together as a result of the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889.
Daisy's grandfather, Edwin Hawley, made the land run and settled near Britton, Indian Territory. Later, he moved to a farm near Byrd's Prairie, IT, where Edwin's son, Arthur worked for William Colley. That is where he met and later married Elizabeth Colley, who became mother to Daisy.
"Daisy's life is symbolic of how American Indians and pioneers have united families, married cultures and joined together to create a truly unique heritage in the state of Oklahoma," said Gov. Anoatubby.
Dawes Commission
The Dawes Commission was created to dissolve tribal governments and divide tribal land among individual members of the Five Civilized Tribes. The Dawes Commission failed in the task of dissolving tribal governments.
All those tribal governments are in operation today, and the Dawes Commission rolls still serve as the basis for tribal citizenship. To be eligible for a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood and citizenship in one of these tribes, an individual must establish that they are a lineal descendant of an original enrollee.
According to Dawes Commission records, 5,914 individuals were enrolled as Chickasaw citizens by blood. This included 578 newborns and 324 minors.
Virtually all of these individuals were enrolled between June 28, 1898 and March 5, 1907.
