Parker Rossman

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

In 1640, French explorer LaSalle was astonished to find a royal Native American kingdom northeast of New Orleans. Moving along the social and political wire, many of that Nachay tribe owned plantations with both white and black slaves by the early 1700s. One hundred and fifty years later, Major Elias Paix and his wife, Princess Melissa, along with the chief of the tribe, sold their plantations to purchase a paddle steamer and supplies in order to establish a new town as the capital of an all-Indian state. Paix fought for the South alongside Robert E. Lee, and after the war he traveled with Chief Mather to establish the town of Yellow Creek. A few years later Prince Dell, son of the Major and Melissa, sets off on the expedition at age fourteen. He exhibits unwavering duty to his tribe and has to cope with the fallout from a hasty decision made in disobedience, the loss of a beloved family member, and white men encroaching upon this new settlement. In fulfilling his unique punishment, Dell embarks upon a political career that may just facilitate much-needed unity among the Nachay tribe and other Indians.