Choctaw Oral History

Ryan L. Spring, Historic Preservation Dept.

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

We are ChahtaChoctaw Artifacts

Nvnih Waiya

Echospace.org

Nvnih Waiya Cave

Gritsandsoul.blogspot.com

Creation of the Black Belt Prairie

mississippientomologicalmuseum.orgLiatris aspera

Asclepias viridis

Silphium tet

Creation of the Black Belt Prairie

American Mastodon Nan ishtpela

smithsonianmag.com

Chukka (House)

National Anthropological Archives Bushnell

1909

Chahta Ohoyo Im Isht Ahalaia(Choctaw Women’s Responsibilities)

• Life-givers• Foundation of the community• Home-owners• Agricultural producers• Domestic activities

Bushnell 1909

Chahta Lukfi Nan Isht Toba (Choctaw Pottery)

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Ohoyo Osh Chishba

Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia 24450

naturemappingfoundation.org

Tapushik(River Cane Basket)

Emerson's Magazine 1857 NO MktMuseum of the Red River

National Museum of the American Indian

National Museum of the American IndianChoctaw Nation of Oklahoma Council House Museum

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Ilefoka (Clothing)

Chahta Hattak Im Isht Ahalaia(Choctaw Men’s Responsibilities)

• Hunting• Protecting the community• Playing Stickball• Interacting with other groups• Doing heaviest work • Serving as orators/historians

Bushnell 1909

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Uski hlumpa (Blowgun) Shomo naki (Dart)

Tapena (War Club) Uski bashbo (Cane knife)

Iti tanampo (Bow) Uski naki (Arrow)+ -

Issi Owvtta(Deer Hunts)

De Bry 1591

Ruby Bolding 2011

Du Pratz 1758

Chahta Ishtaboli(Choctaw Stickball)

“Tullock-chish-ko, Drinks the Juice of the Stone”

George Catlin 1834-1835

Choctaw Stickball Player George Catlin 1834

Mosholeika(to put out)

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Hobachit Ikbi(Colonization)

• Spanish, French, English, United States• Thousands of Choctaw died from disease and war• Land base reduced by 99.84%• Ecosystem destruction• Choctaw family and governmental structures altered• Tribe fragmented• Language, people, and traditional

knowledge marginalized

Hererra y Tordesilla 1615)

Tvnvp (Warfare)

De Bry 1591

Yakni Awehli (The Taking of Land)

After DeRosier 1970:29

Nishkin Okchi Í Hinoshi (Trail of Tears)

Bossieu 1847

Hobachit Ikbi (Assimilation)

Gast 1872

National Anthropological Archives

Falvmmint Ishi (Recovery)

• A reassertion of sovereignty and self-determination• Development of Tribal social programs• Culture camps• Language classes• Tribal fairs• Revival of Choctaw Stomp Dance• Revival of Choctaw Pottery• Revival of Stickball• Southeastern Native Seed Bank• Rehabilitation of Mississippi

canebrakes• Recovery of Nvnih Waiya