As the Chickasaw had a matrilineal kinship system of descent and inheritance, children were considered to belong to the mother's clan.

[2] Levi Colbert and his brother George were prominent among the negotiators for the Chickasaw when they met with government officials related to treaties and removal.

[3] A written report given to the Senate on January 15, 1827 noted that commissioners assigned to negotiate a treaty with the Chickasaw Nation had met in parley on November 1, 1826 with members of that tribe.

They wanted to keep peace, and they were suffering from the aggressive and hostile behavior of the Mississippi state government, as well as white settlers in their territory.

In a long letter to President Andrew Jackson in November 1832, Colbert noted the many complaints the chiefs had with the resulting Treaty of Pontotoc Creek.

They had wanted the tribe to keep control of the money resulting from sale of their lands, they were not ready to choose land in Indian Territory, they did not want to share a reservation in Indian Territory with "half breeds" (mixed-race persons they did not consider members of their people), and they were dismayed at the way they had been treated by General Coffee.

"[6] Most of the younger children were educated at Charity Hall school, a mile and a half from their home, (also called Bell Indian Mission).

"[7] Some of Colbert's goals were achieved in a treaty of 1837, which enabled the tribe to control monies resulting from the sale of their homesteads and ensured they would be compensated for improvements.

He wanted to try to preserve his people's rights during negotiations, as they were pressured by increasing conflict with encroaching European-American settlers and governments.