Rhonda Grayson, a Black Creek Native American of Oklahoma, is one of many tribal descendants who are actively fighting to regain their citizenship in the Creek tribe.

In Okmulgee, Oklahoma, there are more than 86,000 citizens enrolled in the Creek Nation–one of the largest recognized tribes in the United States.

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Grayson, 51, told NBC News that she was aware of both her Black and Native heritage growing up in Wewoka. Her great grandmother of Black Creek descent was names America Cohee.

According to NBC News, Cohee was originally enrolled in the tribe and for generations, fellow Black Creeks like her were recognized until one day, it came to an end.

Alaina E. Roberts, assistant history professor at the University of Pittsburgh, noted that the tribe capitalized on chattel slavery in the late 1700s.

“The tribe really began to pick up on Black enslavement,” Roberts said.

Source: Black Native American descendants fight for recognition