Background
Green McCurtain was born on November 28, 1848 in Skullyville, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, the third son of Cornelius McCurtain, born in Alabama, and Mayhiya "Amy" Blevins, both full-blood Choctaw.
Green McCurtain was born on November 28, 1848 in Skullyville, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, the third son of Cornelius McCurtain, born in Alabama, and Mayhiya "Amy" Blevins, both full-blood Choctaw.
Green McCurtain represented his tribe as a delegate at the Sequoyah Constitutional Convention, an effort by American Indian nations to create an Indian-controlled state in what is now Oklahoma. McCurtain represented the Tuskahoma, or progressive party of his tribe. He first served as Choctaw National Treasurer for two terms and oversaw the distribution of $2 million in treaty settlements.
Twice he served as a Choctaw Delegate to the United States federal government in Washington, District of Columbia. In 1896 and 1898, McCurtain was elected Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation.
Term limits prevented him for running again immediately. He represented the Choctaw Nation and served as a vice president at the Sequoyah Constitutional Convention in 1905, which laid the groundwork for the Oklahoma Constitution.
Under the Dawes Acting, in 1906 the United States government broke up tribal governments and institutions. The Bureau of Indian Affairs appointed McCurtain as chief, and he acted under BIA supervision until his death.
The Green McCurtain House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 1971.
The house was in ruins at the time and has since been reconstructed. lieutenant is a two-story, L-shaped residence. McCurtain died December 27, 1910 at his home in Kinta, Oklahoma.
He was buried at his old home in San Bois Cemetery in Kinta, Haskell County, Oklahoma.
He served as a member of his district"s board of education within the tribe, and subsequently served as district attorney.