Choctaw Topics – Page 26 of 26

Choctaw Games

The Choctaw appear to have had rather few games of chance. Among those described to the writer is one that closely resembles the moccasin game of the Algonquian and other widely separated tribes in America. This is said to have been played by the “old people” and is probably one of the oldest Choctaw games. It was described thus: Lake’lomi Twelve men were required in playing this game. They knelt or sat on the ground in two rows, or sides,” facing each other, six players in each row. Seven hats were placed on the ground in a line between the … Read more

Hunting and Fishing Among the Bayou Lacomb Choctaws

The primitive blowgun was used until recently in hunting squirrels, rabbits, and various birds. Only one specimen was found at Bayou Lacomb; this was said to have been made some ten years ago. The man Toshkachîto (Joe Silestine) is shown holding the blowgun in position for shooting in the image below. The blowgun (kaklu’mpa) is about 7 feet in length; it is made of a single piece of cane (Arundinaria macrosperma; Choctaw, uske),formed into a tube by perforation of the joints, which was given a smooth bore of uniform diameter throughout. The darts (shurma’nte) are made of either small, slender … Read more

The Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb

Toshkachîto Demonstrating Usage of a Blowgun

This collection depicts the specific culture and history of the Choctaw tribe residing within Bayou Lacomb, Louisiana. Included are the geography, history, society, language, ethnology, and myths, legends and religion of the Choctaws who resided within the area of Bayou Lacomb. By the people of the tribe, or, more correctly, that portion of the tribe now under consideration, they themselves are called the Chata’ogla or the Chata’ people or family. According to them, the first word can not be translated as it is merely a proper name.

Choctaw Medicinal Plants and Treatment

The Choctaw make use of a large variety of plants in the treatment of various ailments and exhibit a wide knowledge of the flora of the region. The plants enumerated in the following list were all collected in the vicinity of Bayou Lacomb between January 1 and April 15. It is highly probable that a larger number could be obtained later in the year. Beshu’kchenokle (Smilax tamnoides). The stems are boiled and the extract is taken as a general tonic. Chilo’pîmtobét (Erythrina herbacea), spirit beans – The leaves are boiled in water. The liquid is strained off and again boiled. … Read more

Choctaw Dances and Music

The following are various forms of dances described by the Choctaw members of Bayou Lacomb. 1. Nanena hitkla (Man dance) All lock arms and form a ring; all sing and the ring revolves rapidly. No one remains in the ring. 2. Shatene hitkla (Tick dance) The dancers lock arms and form in straight lines. First they move forward two or three steps, then backward, but they gradually advance. When they take the forward step they stamp with the right foot, as if crushing ticks on the ground, at the same time looking down, supposedly at the doomed insects. During the … Read more

Witchcraft Among the Choctaws of Bayou Lacomb

Witchcraft (ItoUckunda) was practiced by many persons, both men and women. It was never definitely known whether a person possessed the power to bewitch or when one was making use of it. Old people of both sexes, however, were most often suspected of possessing this power. The manner of exerting this evil influence against others was believed to be after this fashion: Those having proper knowledge could remove at night their viscera, thus reducing their weight to so great an extent that they could fly through the air to the individual they wished to harm. Accompanying them always were several … Read more

Choctaw Indian Bands, Gens and Clans

The Choctaws were divided into various clans called Iksa, established and regulated upon principles of unity, fidelity and charity. They held this to be a necessary and important custom to be sacredly kept and inviolably observed by them at all times and under all circumstances, and never to be forgotten. If one should be found in a strange place far from home, and should be placed in a situation to need assistance, all he had to do was to give the necessary intimation of his membership of one of those Iksas, and upon the mention of the name of that clan he would never fail to meet one or more, who would immediately extend to him the hand of friendship.

George Rogers Clarke’s Campaign

It was evident that these attacks were inspired, and munitions supplied, by the British stationed at Kaskaskia and Vincennes. George Rogers Clarke, who had visited Kentucky in 1775, had taken in the situation from a military standpoint, and had conceived a plan by which the infant settlements of Kentucky might be freed from this additional source of danger. He communicated it to Gov. Henry of Virginia, and had no difficulty in impressing him with the advantages of its successful prosecution. But the colony was then in common with the other twelve engaged in the stirring scenes of the Revolution. This … Read more

Choctaw Citizenship Litigation, Names A -Z

List of Mississippi Choctaw Indians in whose behalf scrip was issued under the provisions of the act of Congress of August 23, 1842 (5 Stat. L., 513), in lieu of land to which they were entitled under article 14 of the treaty of September 27, 1830 (Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek) (7 Stat. L., 333-335). A Names A-be-ha-ya A-bon-wa-te-mah A-cha-i-a-tubbe A-cha-la A-che-ho-ka A-hath-la A-he-ah-tubbee A-hu-ta A-low-a-ho-nah A-mah A-num-brilla A-o-nah-ha-mah A-po-la-tubbee A-to-ni-cubbee A-ya-to-na Ab-a-wa-la Ab-be-bo-ka Ab-be-coo-chah Ab-be-ish-ti-yah Ab-cha-kab-hoo-nah Ab-cha-pa-ho-nah Ab-che-ah-so-nah Ab-che-tubbe Ab-chuk-ma-tubbe Ab-chunk-ma-ho-ka Ab-he-ho-nah Ab-ho-tu-nah Ab-it-ti-yah Ab-man-to-lah Ab-moon-pis-ah-cha (or He-tuck-loo-ab) Ab-no-la-che-mah Ab-no-la-tubbe Ab-noo-tom-be Ab-pa-la-ho-nah Ab-pa-sa-tam-he Ab-pa-sam-la (or Pa-samlee) Ab-pa-san-tubbe Ab-take-ah-ho-nah Ab-to-be-tubbe … Read more

Day Schools Choctaw Nation – A-B

Alamo Day School, Choctaw Nation, September 1904 Male Indian Pupils Name Age Frank McKinney 14 Lige McKinney 12 Ed McKinney 6 August Zanola 9 Female Indian Pupils Annie Zanola 9 Lily McKinney 8 Ada Sorrells 16 Dora Sorrells 13 Irma Sorrells 11 Minnie Sorrells 8 Male White Pupils Thomas Wallace 11 Carl Tate 8 Baxter Hayes 6 Cleveland Hayes 9 James March 10 Willie Cottier 11 Berl Cogburn 6 Hiram Franklin 11 Guy Dority 13 Archie Williams 9 Mack Carr 6 Bram Conley 6 Charlie Yeager 8 Roy Dodd 12 James Wallace 6 John Winsleet 13 Alex Wallace 6 Jim … Read more