The Philanthropist | Trustee | Tribal Government

I am an Ally, and I am reconnecting: Chief Mathias El, born Mathew Allen McCaster on February 6, 1985, in Detroit, Michigan, is the Chief of the Mathias El Tribe. His ancestors have a deep and continuous presence across the ancestral lands of Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Virginia, and the Carolinas, traditionally known as the southeastern parts of the United States. These areas have long been home to cultures associated with the Mound Builders and descendants of the Mound Builders, Egyptians, and Mayans, historically recognized as copper-colored people indigenous to America.

The identity of Chief Mathias El and his family is deeply rooted in their rich cultural heritage. Early European explorers like Christopher Columbus and Américo Vespucci in the 15th century documented their encounters with the indigenous peoples of these regions, referring to them as “Indians” due to Columbus’s mistaken belief that he had reached the Indies. This term persisted, and the indigenous peoples of the Americas, including the southeastern United States, were broadly referred to as “Indians.”

Ignatius Donnelly, a notable figure in the late 1800s, contributed significantly to the understanding of the connections between various ancient cultures. His work, “Atlantis: The Antediluvian World,” posits that the pyramid builders of Mexico and the Mississippi Valley were descendants of the same race as the pyramid builders of Egypt, suggesting a common origin. Donnelly theorized that these civilizations were descendants of Atlantis, which became isolated from the East by the catastrophic sinking of the island described by Plato. He believed that the traditions and architectural knowledge shared between these pyramid builders indicated a common ancestry, further supported by the use of metals and the art of metal plating found in the Americas.

It is also important to note the accounts of early historians like James Adair, who in his 1775 work “The History of the American Indians” described the indigenous people as being of a copper color, distinct from Africans. This distinction is crucial in understanding the unique identity and heritage of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, including the Mathias El Tribe.

The region known as the West Indies, which included the Bahamas and extended into parts of the southeastern United States, further connects the historical narrative of the Mathias El Tribe. According to sources like Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary and Black’s Law Dictionary, the term “Indian” was used to describe the native inhabitants of these lands, affirming their identity and presence in the broader historical context.

Chief Mathias El’s family has a long history of residing in Choctaw County, Alabama, maintaining their cultural heritage and identifying as Choctaw descendants. During the 1956 Indian Relocation Act, his father, along with other members of the Choctaw community, including his grandparents, were relocated from Alabama to Detroit, Michigan, where most of the tribe has remained through four generations.

In 1978, a landmark Supreme Court decision recognized the Choctaw communities in Mobile and Washington Counties, Alabama, and Neshoba County, Mississippi, as part of the Federally Recognized Choctaw Nation. This ruling was based on extensive research and documentation by the American Indian Policy Review Commission (AIPRC) in 1977, which highlighted the continuous presence and identity of these communities. The court affirmed that even if a tribe has ceded land, the people still retain their inherent sovereignty, and the remnants of the tribes maintain their sovereignty and tribal treaty rights.

Applicable Provisions for Claiming Treaty Rights:

Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek (1830): This treaty, which led to the removal of the Choctaw people to Indian Territory, included provisions for land and rights that continue to be recognized today.

Treaty with the Choctaw and Chickasaw (1855): This treaty reaffirmed the rights of the Choctaw people to their lands and included provisions for self-governance and protection of their rights.

Supreme Court’s McGirt Decision (2020): This landmark ruling affirmed that the Muscogee (Creek) reservation still exists under U.S. law, which has implications for the Choctaw Nation as well, reinforcing their treaty rights and sovereignty.

Today, as a descendant of the Choctaw people, Chief Mathias El proudly acknowledges his federally recognized status and treaty rights as part of the Choctaw Nation. This recognition, along with the historical struggles faced by his forebears, inspires him to honor and preserve their traditions, ensuring that the rich history of the Choctaw Nation continues to thrive for future generations. 

Sponsored by:  NATIONAL INDIGENOUS AMERICAN COMMITTEE (NIAC) / AMERICAN INDIAN PARTY