Choctaw
Search the Dawes Rolls 1898-1914
The Dawes Roll (Final Rolls) is a list of those members of the Five Civilized Tribes who removed to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) during the 1800’s and were living there during the above dates. If your ancestor was not living in Indian Territory during 1898-1914 they will not be listed on the Dawes Roll! Only those Indians who RECEIVED LAND under the provisions of the Dawes Act are listed. It also lists those Freedmen who received land allotments as provided for in the Dawes Act. These pages can be searched to discover the enrollee’s name, age, sex, blood degree, type, census card number and roll number. Check the headings in each column. Type denotes whether the record is from a Dawes card.
Dawes Final Rolls Index
This is the index to the Dawes Final Rolls, listing individuals eligible for enrollment in the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory. Each entry includes the enrollee’s name, final roll number, blood quantum, and index page.
Choctaws west of the Mississippi Genealogy Research
This page serves as a resource for individuals researching their Choctaw ancestry west of the Mississippi, incorporating content from Ruthie McLillan’s genealogical site. It stresses that establishing Native heritage does not guarantee any government benefits but enhances understanding of one’s lineage. Researchers are advised to trace their family history through the 1900 Federal Census, the Dawes Commission, and other resources, while acknowledging the importance of familial oral histories and documentation. The post highlights the necessity of thorough record-keeping and knowledge of key historical rolls for effective genealogy research.
Choctaw Dress and Personal Decoration
The Choctaw utilized natural materials for personal decoration, such as cypress bark for cords and hammered silver coins for ornaments. Men’s hairstyles featured long braids, while women wore their hair long and styled it traditionally. Both genders engaged in body painting using vivid colors for ceremonial occasions, with no specific designs or meanings. Tattooing was limited and primarily ornamental, featuring simple patterns. The Choctaw’s fondness for bright colors extended to their use of glass beads, ribbons, and brass bells in their attire.
Louisiana Choctaw Habitat
St. Tammany Parish, located on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, features bayous, marshes, and forests home to diverse wildlife, including deer and various bird species. The climate is generally mild with long, hot summers. Within this region, the Choctaw tribe maintains two small settlements: one near Bayou Lacomb and the other at Pearl River station, housing only a small remnant of their population today. This area showcases the rich natural habitat that characterizes the historic presence of the Louisiana Choctaw.
List of Words used by the Choctaw
This post provides a brief list of words utilized by the Choctaw community at Bayou Lacomb, including terms for various objects and colors. Notable entries include “arrow” (ino’keb), “black” (losab), and “blue” (ocha). Such vocabulary reflects the cultural and practical aspects of the Choctaw language, showcasing their connection to the environment and daily life.
Choctaw Artifacts
The Choctaw currently produce a limited range of artifacts, many of which reflect a decline in ancient artistic traditions. By 1900, the primary items crafted at Bayou Lacomb included wood artifacts such as mortars, pestles, drums, and blowguns; leather items like straps and skins; stone tools such as arrowheads and knives; as well as pottery and baskets. Modern tools have largely supplanted traditional methods, indicating a significant shift in their craftsmanship practices.
Choctaw Divisions of the Year
The women of Bayou Lacomb assert that the Choctaw year was traditionally divided into thirteen moons, though twelve is often cited. The year begins in December rather than January, and while many names of the moons have been forgotten, a few are recalled, such as the Corn Planting Moon in April and the Cold Moon in December. The Choctaw year is also divided into two main seasons, further subdivided into four: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
History of the Bayou Lacomb Choctaws
The history of the Bayou Lacomb Choctaws is closely intertwined with that of the Acolapissa tribe, who inhabited St. Tammany parish during French colonization. They spoke a similar language and shared customs with the Choctaw. References from early explorers indicate their presence along the Pearl River and nearby bayous. Although the exact lineage of the modern inhabitants remains unclear, they claim ancestral ties to these tribes and have maintained a continuous presence in the area since European contact, highlighting their historical significance.
Choctaw Beliefs Concerning Eclipses
The Choctaw people perceive solar eclipses, referred to as ashe okleleqa, as the sun becoming dirty from its daily toil. They believe the eclipse allows the sun to rest and cleanse itself, resulting in a brighter appearance afterward. Similarly, lunar eclipses are understood through the term nînaahukwa oklelega, where the moon is also seen as dark and in need of cleaning. This reflects the Choctaw worldview linking celestial events to the maintenance of cosmic order.
Choctaw Tanning Method
The Choctaw tanning method involves processing skins through several stages. Initially, the hair is removed, and the skin is beaten with a mixture of eggs and cornmeal before being stretched between two posts for scraping. To soften the skin, it is worked over a smooth stake. Optional smoking enhances durability, with skins placed over a pit filled with hot ashes and rotten oak. Historical references note similar methods among other Southern tribes, indicating a shared tradition in skin preparation.
Choctaw Pottery
The Choctaw people hold a superstition regarding pottery-making that forbids anyone but the creator from seeing the object before it is fired, as it may crack otherwise. While pottery bowls are no longer made, pipes continue to be crafted, notably by Ahojeobe, using locally sourced white clay. The process involves shaping the clay, drying, decorating, and then firing it in hot ashes before immersing it in grease to create a distinctive black finish. This tradition connects to the historical use of similar materials by other Indigenous groups.
Choctaw Beliefs Concerning Thunder and Lightning
In Choctaw mythology, thunder and lightning are represented as two birds: Heloha, the female thunder, and Mcda’tha, the male lightning. A loud noise indicates Heloha is laying an egg in the clouds, her nest. Severe tree damage is attributed to Mcda’tha due to his strength, while minor damage is linked to Heloha. Additionally, the appearance of a comet was seen as a portent of great trouble or war.
Louisiana Choctaw Mounds
The Bayou Lacomb area contains several mounds, with the largest located near Chinchuba Creek, north of Lake Pontchartrain. This circular mound, approximately 90 feet in diameter and 4-5 feet high, was excavated revealing two fire beds indicative of habitation. Artifacts included shell deposits from edible clams, animal bones, and fragments of pottery, suggesting food preparation and use. Notably, a biconical clay pipe was discovered, marking it as an early type from the region. Other shell deposits and pottery were also found nearby, hinting at the Choctaw’s historical presence.
Choctaw Usage of Horns
The Choctaw traditionally create spoons from cow horns, known as wak lape’she sti’mpa. Historical references, such as James Adair’s 1775 work, mention their use of wooden and buffalo horn utensils, highlighting that spoon-making is a long-standing cultural practice among the Choctaw.
Choctaw Death and Burial Practices
Choctaw burial practices generally involved minimal mourning, with bodies interred quickly, though important figures were displayed for a day. Objects like a hunter’s gun were buried alongside the deceased. Mourning durations varied by age, lasting up to a year for parents and three months for children. Beliefs about the afterlife included notions of a good spirit, Aba, and a bad spirit, Nanapolo, with violent deaths preventing entry to heaven. Mourning involved specific rituals, including public expressions of grief and ceremonial gatherings to mark the end of mourning.
Choctaw Baskets
The Choctaw are skilled basket makers, though their craft has declined in quality compared to previous generations. Traditionally made from narrow strips of cane, they now often use palmetto due to the scarcity of local cane. The baskets have become crude, with vibrant aniline dyes replacing natural colors. Common forms include small handled baskets exchanged in local stores. While some older basket styles, such as covered and wall-hanging baskets, are no longer produced, their historical significance remains.
Choctaw Dyes
Before acquiring aniline dyes, the Choctaw solely used yellow, red, and black for their crafts, along with natural cane for color combinations. Yellow dye came from the roots of Rumex crispus, while red was derived from ashes of red oak and black gum mixed with yellow-dyed material, altering its hue. Although the Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb currently do not produce black dye, historical accounts suggest it was made from northern tree bark. They also crafted a red paint from various oak barks, primarily for decoration.