Verdie Triplett, Founder
of the
Choctaw-Chickasaw Freedman's Association
A life long resident of the historically black town of Ft. Coffee Oklahoma, Verdie Triplett is an energetic man who has become invigorated in the effort to explore and to educate himself and his community on the history of the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations, particularly of the Freedmen of the two nations, of which he has a close tie. A Choctaw descendant by blood to the Darneal line of the Choctaw Nation, he is also a direct descendant of Freedmen from the Chickasaw Nation. His interest has been stimulated in recent times in learning more about this history, and he has emerged as a dynamic and leader in this LeFlore County community.
Mr. Triplett graduated from Spiro High School, and attended Langston University with a major in history. For most of his professional life, he has worked with Schlumberger Oil Company drilling for oil and natural gas. He also puts considerable energy into his life as a cattle rancher, working on old family land, received decades ago. Free time is spent in his native community attending events and pursuing more activities stimulated by a profound interest in local history and heritage. Many in the historically black community live on land allotments received as Freedmen of the Choctaw Nation while others acquired land in the 1920s and 1930s.
Working with a local genealogist and a researcher in Maryland, Triplett became more interested in the history of the Freedmen of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. His grandmother Ardena was the daughter of a Choctaw Indian Silas Darneal, and a Chickasaw Freedwoman Hettie Reynolds Lucas. Discovering this history has further stimulated interest in the preservation of a history long considered lost and erased by many. He encouraged others in the community to look further into their own family history and what has emerged has been an entire community now researching and looking into their own past and their ties to the land. Recent months have taken Mr. Triplett to historical society events in nearby Ft. Smith, Arkansas to bring a proposed national museum honoring US Deputy Marshals. At that luncheon, Verdie Triplett took time to speak out honoring the legacy of the black US Deputy marshals from Indian Territory and of Bass Reeves, noted US Marshal who rode for Judge Parker.
A natural outlet for his historical interests, Mr. Triplett encouraged others to organize themselves, to focus on their unique and valuable history in Indian Territory and to take steps in insuring that the Freedmen from the two nations would not be forgotten. In December 2006, he convened a meeting to organize the Choctaw Chickasaw Freedman's Association.
March 2007 brought about a unique set of circumstances, when friends and relatives from the Cherokee Nation suddenly found themselves expelled in a special vote to eliminate Freedmen from the tribe. Verdie Triplett led members of his community in bringing this action to the attention of the Congressional Black Caucus. A petition drive was organized to request that Congressional members look into this dramatic act to expel citizens of African ancestry.
His drive to educate the community continues, and his commitment to the preservation of history is evident to all who know him. The community is now looking at itself with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and self pride, and Triplett's future as a leader leaves most acquaintances looking forward to future endeavors of this emerging leader.