Parker Rossman

Kingdom of Weeds: an Oklahoma Prince Dreams of an All-indian State Parker Rossman

In 1640, French explorer LaSalle wasastonished to find a royal NativeAmerican kingdom northeast of NewOrleans. Moving along the social andpolitical wire, many of that Nachay tribeowned plantations with both white andblack slaves by the early 1700s. Onehundred and fifty years later, Major EliasPaix and his wife, Princess Melissa,along with the chief of the tribe, sold theirplantations to purchase a paddle steamerand supplies in order to establish a newtown as the capital of an all-Indian state. Paix fought for the South alongsideRobert E. Lee, and after the war hetraveled with Chief Mather to establishthe town of Yellow Creek. A few yearslater Prince Dell, son of the Major andMelissa, sets off on the expedition at agefourteen. He exhibits unwavering dutyto his tribe and has to cope with thefallout from a hasty decision made indisobedience, the loss of a beloved familymember, and white men encroachingupon this new settlement. In fulfilling hisunique punishment, Dell embarks upon apolitical career that may just facilitatemuch-needed unity among the Nachaytribe and other Indians.