I am aware of Theda Perdue's book Slavery and the Evolution of Cherokee Society which documents the ownership of black slaves by the Cherokee. The Cherokee Phoenix carried ads for slave sales in the 19th century. The Cherokees were also excellent trackers who were hired to catch Black runaways by their white owners. I also understood that free blacks were allowed to own black slaves in every state except Delaware and Arkansas. Am I misinformed? See, Ira Berlin, Slaves Without Masters: The Free Negro in the Antebellum South. The Choctaws reluctantly freed their slaves in 1866. To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html