HALITO
(Hah-lih -toh)
[‘hello’ in Choctaw language]
The Choctaw people of North America have a history dating back to the 16th century.
Actually, their oral traditions are much older than that. As noted in written history of invaders, the Choctaw are distinctive in song, dance, dress, beadwork, pottery, basketry and stickball. This holds true today. The Choctaw language is a living language. That means that there are people right now speaking it, and not because they have to in a school room. (Think Latin).
Choctaw and Chickasaw languages are very closely related, with even creation stories having them both come from the same ancestors. This Muskogean language group also includes Creek, Seminole and Natchez people groups.
When conflicts among the community needed to be resolved, a non-lethal game of stickball was played! There could be anywhere from 20 - 300 players. Wish more people resolved conflict that way, today.
Early Choctaw ancestors believed in a benevolent spirit, and a malevolent spirit. Think ‘good guy’ versus ‘bad guy’. They regarded the sun as a deity with the power of life and death. They used mounds of dirt/grass as part of their religious ceremonies.
Choctaw communities were hunters and farmers. They planted crops together, such as corn, beans and pumpkins; and hunted for fish, deer and bear. Their diet included nuts and wild fruits. Everyone helped, and everyone shared in the harvests.
They built thatch roof homes with mud plaster walls. There were summer homes and corn houses that were oblong or square in shape. Then the winter homes were circular, known as ‘hot houses’.
Choctaw were known to be fierce warriors, and skilled traders with other tribes. They had a reputation as being very sports-oriented (stickball). They located in Southeastern woodlands of what is known today as Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. Of course back then there were no states or boundaries like we have today. They were not nomadic, and stayed with their communities and crops.
By the 1700’s there were enough ‘strangers’ here that they found it prudent to ally with the French. However by 1795 Spain was in control of their ancestral lands, and the Spanish ceded the land over to the Americans. Most Choctaw had already by then sided with the Americans during the American Revolution and then in the War of 1812, so it shouldn’t have been a big change.
Perhaps not, but soon Andrew Jackson would be voted in as America’s seventh president, and General Jackson had very strong opinions on where Indians belonged in the USA. White immigrants that wanted to settle on tribal lands had the highest priority. The Indians would have to move, whether they wanted to or not.
In 1830 the Choctaw Nation signed a treaty with the United States of America called the “Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek”. They ceded their traditional lands in Mississippi over in exchange for new land in the West.
Some Choctaw chose to stay in Mississippi instead of traveling west. Chief Mushalatubbee was elected to preside over the Choctaw moving to new lands.
‘The Trail of Tears and Death’
Before the forced removal of Choctaw people there were around 15,000 - 17,000 tribal members.
After The Trail of Tears and Death anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 had died along the way. It is estimated at a minimum 25% - 35% of the tribe perished. Many died from malnutrition, starvation, exposure and disease. The US government couldn’t wait for indigenous peoples to move, and forced the removal during brutal winter conditions. There was also a cholera epidemic that took many lives along the way.
These death marches took place over 3 years’ time. Around 2,000 - 5,000 Choctaw remained in the Mississippi area. (The estimated numbers are wildly different on the internet!). These later formed The Mississippi Band of Choctaws and they became the first major non-European ethnic group to be recognized as US citizens.
The (Chief)Greenwood LeFlore plantation prospered with many acres of land, 400 slaves, and a fabulous mansion built in the French style called ‘Malmaison’. It’s interior was almost exclusively imported from France with rich woods, furniture and silver.
It was quite a sightseeing destination until it burnt to the ground in 1942.
Several tribal members have been recognized for their military service and outstanding bravery.
There are other ‘famous’ Choctaw that have contributed to this nation, such as Norma Howard, a painter of traditional Choctaw life; and George Quincy, a composer, conductor and music educator.
In 2017 Ireland established a monument called
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