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SR132 • 2026

A RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Joel Barrow and the Choctaw Academy as the first Indigenous American to become a college-educated medical doctor in the country and the first federal Native American boarding school that empowered him.

A RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Joel Barrow and the Choctaw Academy as the first Indigenous American to become a college-educated medical doctor in the country and the first federal Native American boarding school that empowered him.

Education Healthcare
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
M. Nunn
Last action
2026-03-27
Official status
03/27/26: adopted by voice vote
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

A RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Joel Barrow and the Choctaw Academy as the first Indigenous American to become a college-educated medical doctor in the country and the first federal Native American boarding school that empowered him.

A RESOLUTION honoring Dr.

What This Bill Does

  • A RESOLUTION honoring Dr.
  • Joel Barrow and the Choctaw Academy as the first Indigenous American to become a college-educated medical doctor in the country and the first federal Native American boarding school that empowered him.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-27 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    adopted by voice vote

  2. 2026-03-04 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    to Senate Floor

  3. 2026-03-03 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    introduced in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)

Official Summary Text

A RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Joel Barrow and the Choctaw Academy as the first Indigenous American to become a college-educated medical doctor in the country and the first federal Native American boarding school that empowered him.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2016
Page 1 of 2
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A RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Joel Barrow and the Choctaw Academy as the first 1
Indigenous American to become a college-educated medical doctor in the country and the 2
first federal Native American boarding school that empowered him. 3
WHEREAS, Dr. Joel Barrow was a visionary scholar who paved the way for future 4
generations of Native American medical professionals in the Commonwealth of 5
Kentucky and the nation; and 6
WHEREAS, Dr. Joel Barrow was a proud member of the Potawatomi tribe, where 7
he was known as Arcmuggue before later changing his name; and 8
WHEREAS, Arcmuggue, an orphan, was selected by his tribe to attend the 9
Choctaw Academy in Scott County, Kentucky, which was the first secular, federal, 10
Native American boarding school, built by Vice President R. M. Johnson in 1825, and, 11
uniquely, at the request of Native tribes; and 12
WHEREAS, the Choctaw Academy would become known by historians as "the 13
most important place in Antebe llum America," having educated 600 Native Americans 14
from 17 different tribes; and 15
WHEREAS, young Arcmuggue overcame great distress, as his arrival coincided 16
with the Potawatomi period of removal, the "Trail of Death"; and 17
WHEREAS, Dr. Joel Barrow would lat er be remembered as among the most gifted 18
students ever to attend this special school; and 19
WHEREAS, Dr. Joel Barrow overcame barriers and would go on to receive a grant 20
from the United States War Department to pursue a medical degree from Transylvania 21
University in Lexington, Kentucky, which he earned in 1844, making history as the first 22
college-educated and college-trained Native American doctor in the country; and 23
WHEREAS, after completing his education, Dr. Joel Barrow went west to the 24
Potawatomi tribe, utilizing his hard -earned skills for the benefit of his Native American 25
brethren; and 26
WHEREAS, Dr. Joel Barrow was among those who recognized that education is 27
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the key to progress for all people, and he worked tirelessly in pursuit of this most 1
worthwhile goal, thereby bringing tremendous honor and pride to his people and all 2
citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky; 3
NOW, THEREFORE, 4
Be it resolved by the Senate of th e General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 5
Kentucky: 6
Section 1. The Senate is honored to pay a well -deserved tribute to the legacy of 7
Dr. Joel Barrow and the Choctaw Academy. 8
Section 2. The Senate remembers Dr. Joel Barrow and the Choctaw Academy 9
with the utmost respect and admiration for the historic achievement and the profound 10
impact that they have had and will have on generations to come. 11
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 12
Resolution to Senator Matt Nunn for delivery. 13