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The Choctaw Tribe is an indigenous American Indian nation of the southeastern region of the United States. They are related to the Muskogean family and relied on agriculture and hunting for survival. The origin of their name is uncertain. Religious beliefs and practices play an important role in their culture, including the myth of emergence. They had a tradition of purifying the bones of the dead and raising stakes near graves. In the 1830s, they were relocated to Oklahoma, along with members of other tribes, in a forced migration known as the “Trail of Tears.”
The Choctaw Tribe is an indigenous American Indian nation of the southeastern region of the United States, including parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama. Today, many members of the tribe live in Oklahoma and Mississippi. The Choctaw tribe is ethnically and linguistically related to the Muskogean family. When Europeans formed settlements in this area near the Mississippi River in the 16th century, the Choctaw relied on agriculture and hunting for their survival.
Historical accounts differ on the origin of the Choctaw tribe name. Some propose that its derivation comes from Hacha hatak, which in the Muskogean dialect used by the Choctaws means “river people.” Another theory is that it is an altered form of chato, the Spanish word meaning “flat” or “flattened.” This refers to the custom of flattening the head, which was said to be a practice of the Choctaw tribe. A further supposition is that “Choctaw” was the name of a chief of the tribe.
Religious beliefs and practices play an important role in the culture of the Choctaw tribe. These sacred and spiritual beliefs revolve around the devout belief that humans and other living beings are intrinsically linked to the forces of the supernatural world. Choctaws hold harmony with nature, people, and the supernatural as core beliefs. Another important aspect of the Choctaw tribe that could be considered as a religious belief is their myth of emergence. They believe that the Choctaw and some other tribes arose from a mound in Mississippi called the Nanih Waiya or “Productive Mountain.”
It was customary for the Choctaw tribe to purify the bones of the dead before placing them in “bone houses”. This work was typically done by tribal elders who grew long fingernails specifically for this ritual. The tribe is also said to have observed the tradition of raising stakes near newly dug graves. These poles were later adorned with garlands and other ornaments believed to aid the spirit in its ascent.
In the 1830s, many members of the Choctaw tribe were relocated from their southwestern homelands to Oklahoma, which was called “Indian Territory” at the time. Moved in with the Choctaw were members of the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole tribes. This massive forced migration proved fatal for many members of every tribe. Disease, famine, and violent attacks by hostile white and American Indian men were some of the hardships that eventually overwhelmed the procession, which has come to be known as the “Trail of Tears.”
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