The Choctaw are a North American Indian tribe that traditionally inhabited the Southeastern Woodlands region of what is now central and southern Mississippi, western Alabama, and parts of eastern Louisiana.
Today, there are three federally recognized Choctaw tribes: the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians in Louisiana.
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma was formed by more than 13,000 Choctaw people who had been removed from their homeland during the 1830s Trail of Tears. Today, it is the third-largest federally recognized tribe in the United States and the second-largest reservation, in area, after the Navajo Nation. It borders the Chickasaw, Muscogee, and Cherokee reservations, as well as the U.S. states of Arkansas and Texas.
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians was formed by about 6,000 Choctaw who refused to be relocated to Oklahoma. The terms of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, ratified in 1831, specified that the Choctaw were to emigrate in three stages between 1831 and 1833. However, while Indian removals continued into the early 20th century, a sizable number of Choctaw remained in their ancient homeland in Mississippi, becoming citizens of the state.
As citizens of Mississippi, the Choctaws participated in the American Civil War on the side of the Confederates, forming the 1st Choctaw Battalion. Conditions for the Choctaw deteriorated during Reconstruction. Working to restore white supremacy, conservative white Democrats passed a new constitution in 1890 that disenfranchised blacks and included all people of color into that category.
By the turn of the 20th century, the number of Choctaw in Mississippi was in decline. During the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Indian Reorganization Act, which allowed the Mississippi Choctaw recognition as the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
Based in La Salle, Catahoula, and Grant parishes in Louisiana, the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians gained federal recognition in 1995 and has a reservation in Grant Parish. Members of the Jena Band are descended from the Choctaws who remained behind in Mississippi when the remainder were removed to Indian Territory in the 1830s. The ancestors of the Jena Band left Mississippi between 1870 and 1880 to settle in central Louisiana. Well into the 1930s, most members of the Jena Band spoke Choctaw and no English, while maintaining Choctaw traditions. The tribe is headquartered in Jena, Louisiana.
Historically, the Choctaw were settled rather than nomadic. This enabled them to practice agriculture, grow food to feed themselves, and trade with other tribes.
Sports has also had a place in Choctaw culture. Stickball was a favorite and is still played today. Interestingly, the game was often used to settle disputes between different tribes and families, creating friendly competition in lieu of warfare and violence.
Nevertheless, the Choctaw were known as fierce warriors. In the early years of colonization, the Choctaw often allied with Europeans in battles against other American Indian tribes, providing a measure of security in a time of European dominance. In the early 1700s, in an alliance with the French against the Natchez, the latter tribe was decimated as a tribe, while survivors were forced to join other tribes.
However, due to a demand from American settlers for more and more land, American Indian peoples were displaced from their homelands, by treaty, political manipulation, or by force, which were often the same thing. The 1801 Treaty of Fort Adams forced the Choctaw to cede more than 2.5 million acres of land, and we've already discussed the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, which led to the Indian Removal Act, which was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by only five votes.
Traditionally, the Choctaws believed in a good spirit and an evil spirit and may have also been sun worshippers. Choctaw stories describe the evil spirit as appearing in the form of a shadow person.
The Choctaw also had stories about little people, speaking of a race of little people. One such story speaks of a little man, about two feet high, who lives in the thick woods, and often throws sticks and stones at people. The little people were also said to take young children into the forest to teach them how to be medicine men.
Storytelling was a popular source of entertainment, but it was also used to convey the tribe's history, culture, and important morals and values. The Choctaw told stories about their ancestors and heroes long gone, but they also told stories about animals and birds.
The Choctaw language is in the Muskogean family, which includes that of the Alabama, Chickasaw, Creek, Koasati, Mikasuki, and Seminole. The Chocktaw language was robbed of much of its retention by boarding schools, in which children were forced to speak English.
Recommended Resources
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma operates several casinos and resorts within the Choctaw Nation, including combination casinos and resorts in Durant, Grant, and Pocola, and casinos in Broken Bow, Idabel, McAlester, and Springtown, as well as travel plaza casinos in several other locations, which are listed here and shown on a map, with introductions to each, a list of amenities, and online bookings, where applicable. Its Rewards Club is introduced, and a brochure may be downloaded from the site.
https://www.choctawcasinos.com/
Stemming from the traditions of the Mississippi Choctaws, who have long gathered at the ripening of the first corn, in what was known as the "New Corn Ceremony" or the "Green Corn Festival," the current event has roots in this ancient tradition. A schedule of events is published on the site, emphasizing cultural exhibits and events, family fun, stickball competitions, the Choctaw Indian Princess pageant, other competitions, online ticket sales, and contacts.
https://www.choctawindianfair.com/
Choctaw Nation Business & Economic Development
The Choctaw Nation BED is a regional economic development partnership within the Choctaw Nation, created to facilitate and promote a strong, sustainable economy. Working together with local cities and counties, the BED advances a collaborative strategy, coordinating a regional brand, and establishing business retention, expansion, and recruitment programs. Its key industries and properties are highlighted, along with regional data, partnership opportunities, and contacts.
https://www.growchoctaw.com/
Headquartered in Durant, Oklahoma, the Tribal Legislature meets at the Council House in Tuskahoma, the former seat of the Choctaw Nation government prior to statehood. The Choctaw Nation occupies an area of about 6,952,960 acres. The Nation's mailing and physical addresses are posted, and its governmental structure, culture, language, history, commerce, and health services are featured, along with a calendar of events, news, election data, tribal codes, and career opportunities.
https://www.choctawnation.com/
Choctaw Nation Small Business Development
The Choctaw Nation SBD provides business planning, business training, marketing assistance, mystery shop and ribbon cutting, minority business registration, general business registration, and certification information for tribal member-owned businesses. The SBD can also assist with marketing material, logo graphic design, furniture fixtures, training scholarships, connecting small businesses with Nation retail and procurement, a forgivable loan program, and other assistance.
https://choctawsmallbusiness.com/
Grandmother Spider Steals the Fire
Hosted on a site specializing in documenting indigenous stories, this is a creation story of the Choctaw people of Tennessee and Mississippi. Contributed by Three Feathers, the page tells the story as Choctaw children may have learned it from their parents or elders of the community. The story is populated by the Choctaw People, the council members of the Choctaw People, the Bird People, the Animal People, the Insect People, and the Human People, while featuring Grandmother Spider.
http://www.indigenouspeople.net/spider.htm
One of three recognized Choctaw tribes in the United States, the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians (Jena Chahta) is based in Catahoula, Grant, and La Salle parishes in Louisiana. Headquartered in Jena, the Band received federal recognition in 1995 and has a reservation in Grand Parish. Its culture, history, tribal leadership, and services are featured on its official site, which includes member benefits and enrollment, an event calendar, tourism information, and contacts.
https://www.jenachoctaw.org/
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
Organized in 1945 under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (Mississippi Chahta), have reservation lands in Attala, Kemper, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott, and Winston counties, and regained stewardship of their mother mound, Nanih Walya mounds and cave, in 2008. The history of the MBCI is featured on its official website, which includes an introduction to the offices of the tribal chief and council, partnerships, businesses, and services.
https://www.choctaw.org/
