The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) will commemorate Juneteenth with a free educational program at the Oklahoma History Center on Thursday, June 18. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the panel discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Juneteenth commemorates the momentous occasion of emancipation in the United States after the Civil War. On June 19, 1865, US Army General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and proclaimed freedom for all enslaved people in the state. News of emancipation spread to the enslaved people of Indian Territory throughout that summer, igniting hope and an ongoing pursuit for justice and civil rights. The courageous efforts of Freedmen and their descendants to achieve and protect their rights became a central theme of Reconstruction and continue to shape Oklahoma today, reminding us of the enduring legacy of Juneteenth and its significance for future generations.

A panel featuring Eli Grayson (moderator), LeEtta Osborn-Sampson, Dr. Carla Pratt, and Marilyn Vann will discuss the history of Freedmen in Indian Territory and provide context to contemporary debates surrounding tribal citizenship.

Eli Grayson is the host of African and Indian Table Talk on KBOB 89.9 FM in Tulsa. A Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen, historian, activist, and advocate for Creek Freedmen rights, Eli is widely recognized for his advocacy regarding tribal citizenship for descendants of formerly enslaved people.

LeEtta Osborn-Sampson is a General Council representative to the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and chief of the Caesar Bruner Band. An activist for the Seminole Freedmen of Oklahoma, LeEtta has an associate degree in early childhood development and holds a certificate in tribal law from Oklahoma City University.

Dr. Carla Pratt is the Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Chair in Civil Rights and Justice in Law at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Professor Pratt has served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Standing Rock Sioux and held leadership positions at Washburn University School of Law and Penn State Dickinson Law.

Marilyn Vann is president of the Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes Association. Marilyn was appointed to the Cherokee Nation Environmental Protection Commission in 2021, becoming the first person of Cherokee Freedmen descent appointed to serve on a Cherokee Nation board or commission.

This event is sponsored by the OHS Black Heritage Committee. Light refreshments will be available during the event (first-come, first-served). No registration is required.

Clockwise from top left: Dr. Carla Pratt, LeEtta Osborn-Sampson, Marilyn Vann, and Eli Grayson.