Native American Rights Activist. 'Uncle Joe Bruner' was believed to have been the first baby born in Tulsa, Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). His parents, Lucy and John Bruner, were full-blooded Creek who came from Alabama when Tulsa was still just a settlement known as Lokerbroker, or as they pronounced it, "Lochopoke," Turtle Clan. Ark-tar-yah-cho-chee was the tribal name given to the first baby. Bruner was educated in the Creek National School in Wealaka and later attended Bacone College at Muskogee. In 1887, he was elected to the "House of Warriors," took office, and served in the old Council House in Okmulgee. For six years, he was a Creek councilman in the House of Kings, and he resigned in 1903. In 1892 he married Marguerite Elma Dart. They had one daughter, Josephine Esther (Batese). The tribe called her "Lochochee." She had one son, Stanley. Bruner was an organizing officer of the American Indian Federation, and on June 1, 1934, he became its first president. He fought for Indian rights but also was a champion of tribal customs and traditions. He was a constant battler for Indian self-expression, for a fair share of educational facilities for tribesmen, against discrimination of any kind, and against any attempt to dictate financial policies for the tribes, individually or collectively. He publicly advocated for the abolishment of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He made many trips to Washington on behalf of Indian rights, and his relations with the Interior Department often were less than cordial as he entered into warm debates with agencies governing tribal matters. As an advocate for the rights of Indians and an adviser to the Five Civilized Tribes, he was referred to as "Fatcher Johka," which translates to "honest Joe." At age 74, he suffered a massive stroke and spent much of the rest of his life in poor health, suffering several small subsequent strokes. He died at 84 at Indian Hospital in Claremore, Oklahoma.