November is Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly referred to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

“Native American Heritage Month” had its beginning in 1986 when Congress passed Public Law 99-471 which authorized and requested the president to proclaim the week of November 23-30, 1986 as “American Indian Week.” As directed by Congress, President Ronald Reagan issued Presidential Proclamation 5577 in 1986 proclaiming the first American Indian Week.

This month we celebrated the rich and diverse cultures, traditions and histories of Native people. Being a citizen of the Muscogee Creek Nation, my Creek ancestors are a part of the Creek history.

The McNacs, Greenleafs, Kings, Hopes and Graysons are all a part of my Native American Heritage. I would like to share some of the contributions of my great-great uncle, Alexander (Alex) McNac.

Alexander McNac EARLY LIFE

Alexander (Alex) McNac was born Jan. 1, 1866, to Dicey McNac and Wallace C. McNac, whose Creek name was Hotulgee Fixico. He was born in Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma. He was a member of the Creek tribe and a member of the Cussetah tribal town. His father was a member of the Tuckabatchee tribal town. Creek children take the tribal town of their mother.

Before going to Carlisle (Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pa.) he was a student at Tullahassee Mission School in the Creek Nation.

The Tullahassee Mission was a Presbyterian mission and school founded on March 1, 1850, by Rev. Robert Loughridge. The mission was originally built for Muscogee Creek Indians, but after the main building was destroyed by fire in 1880 the Muscogee Creeks gave it to the Creek Freedmen. Most of the children relocated to another boarding school, the Wealaka Mission.

In 1881, 25 children transferred from the Tullahassee Mission in Indian Territory to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pa. My great-great uncle, Alexander McNac and his sister, Elizabeth were among those 25. There were 15 girls and 10 boys.

LIFE AT CARLISLE

Alex and his sister, Elizabeth (Lizzie) entered Carlisle School on Jan. 22, 1881. He was 14 and she was 16. Reports of the Creek children were sent to the Indian Journal Newspaper in Muscogee, Indian Territory. One such report reads as follows: Report of the Creek Children at Carlisle, for the Month of April. Carlisle, Pa.. May 9. 1981.

Editor of the Indian Journal: I send you a report of the Creek children for April. Almarine McKellop and Robert Stewart have been promoted from the ranks to be corporals; Elli Childers is assistant janitor; Samuel Checote is learning to be a shoemaker; Benjamin Marshall is doing well in the printing office, and Alex McNac is learning to be a baker.

Respectfully, Alice M. Robertson

While at Carlisle, Alexander went on three outings and Elizabeth went on two. The Outing System was an apprenticeship program that originated with Richard Henry Pratt, the founder. He believed that Indian contact with a white environment would help with assimilation. His program sent Indian children to live with white families.

The Carlisle Industrial Indian School opened in 1879 and operated for nearly 30 years with a mission to “kill the Indian to save the man.” This meant the students were forced to speak English, wear Anglo-American clothing and act accordingly.

The school is located on the site of an army barracks in Carlisle, Pa. The school was founded by Richard Henry Pratt, an army officer.

The purpose of the school, the first nonreservation Indian School funded by the government, was to “civilize” Natïve American children by removing them from their reservations, immersing them in the value of white society and teaching them a trade.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE

Alexander McNac returned to Indian Territory and made his home in Hitchita. He married Mary Gray and to this union four children were born: Alice, Myrtle, Albert and Mary. When the land allotments for the Five Civilized Tribes began, he selected an allotment for himself and his family. He received 160 acres.

Alex’s second marriage was to Vicey Beaver and to this union four children were born, two daughters and two sons – Bessie, Nora, Buster and Walter.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Alex McNac was successful in farming and in community affairs. The McNac name was very influential in Hitchita. He became involved in the tribal affairs of the Creek Nation, following in the footsteps of his dad, Wallace C. McNac, who was a judge in the Creek Nation.

Alex McNac died in 1966 at the age of 100.