Native Americans could not be U.S. citizens when the country ratified its Constitution in 1788 because under Article One, Native Americans, were classified as “Indians not taxed,” and were governed by distinct tribes, which functioned in a political capacity.
Under the Treaty between the Delaware Indians and the United States on July 4, 1866, the Delaware Agency of Kansas was to provide for the removal of the Delaware Indians from Kansas to Indian Territory. Article 3 of the Treaty allowed for any adult Delaware who chose to remain in Kansas and become a United States citizen, to do so. Article 9 of the Treaty stipulated that a registry of those remaining in Kansas would be filed in the office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The registry was compiled and sent to the Commissioner by Indian Agent John G. Pratt on December 9, 1867.
Therefore, the 20 Kansas Delaware adults who remained in Kansas became United States citizens on December 9, 1867. They were some of the very first Native Americans to become United States citizens.
The Dawes Act in 1887, gave American citizenship to all Native Americans who accepted individual land grants under the provisions of statutes.
The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, was passed under the leadership of President Calvin Coolidge on June 2, 1924. This granted citizenship to all non-citizen Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States.
The main reason it was passed was to recognize the thousands of Native Americans who risked their lives serving in World War I.
Therefore, members of the Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma did not become United States citizens until June 2, 1924. This was 57 years after the ancestors of the current members of the Kansas Delaware Tribe of Indians became United States citizens. We should be proud of this fact!