An author talk and book signing featuring Donald L. Fixico (Muscogee, Seminole, Shawnee, Sac and Fox) will take place on Thursday, January 21, at 5:30 p.m., at the Oklahoma History Center. Fixico will present his latest work, The Lighthorse Police: A History of Tribal Justice (University of Oklahoma Press, 2026), which provides a comprehensive history of the Five Tribes’ law enforcement organizations. The book examines their origins, operations, and persistence from the late 18th century to the present.

Before Oklahoma statehood in 1907, cattle rustlers, horse thieves, and other criminals exploited the region’s resources and sought to evade capture. In the post–Civil War outlaw era, Indigenous police officers, including mounted Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Muscogee, and Seminole Lighthorse units, played a crucial role in enforcing justice.

The Lighthorse Police opens with an examination of the Five Tribes’ justice systems prior to their removal to Indian Territory in the 1830s, highlighting the transition from clan-based law to national legal frameworks. Following Oklahoma statehood, the Lighthorse organizations declined but experienced a resurgence in the 1970s. Today, Lighthorse officers use modern patrol vehicles to serve their communities. The book offers an Indigenous perspective on law and order, addressing themes of sovereignty, violence, contrasting justice systems, and the enduring camaraderie and pride among law enforcement personnel.

Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served. The Oklahoma History Center Museum store will have copies of The Lighthorse Police for purchase. OHS Members receive a 15% discount.

About the author:

Donald L. Fixico (Muscogee Creek, Seminole, Shawnee, Sac and Fox) is a Regents’ and Distinguished Professor of History; Distinguished Scholar of Sustainability; and Affiliate Faculty of American Indian Studies at Arizona State University. He was born in Shawnee and graduated from Muskogee Central High School. A first-generation college graduate, Fixico attended Bacone College before transferring to the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a PhD in history. He is the author and editor of over twenty books on the American West and American Indian history.

Center image: Four members of the Choctaw Lighthorsemen. Seated L to R: Ellis Austing and Stanley Benton. Standing on the left is Peter Conser, c. 1928 (2641, Otis Leader Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society).