The Choctaw Nation is a Native American group in Oklahoma with 12 tribal districts and a population of 250,000. It has a three-branch government and a four-judge judicial system. The Choctaw are descendants of the Hopewellians and were targeted for removal from their lands after supporting the American Revolution. They joined the Confederacy during the Civil War and were essential to the war effort in World War II. Today, the Choctaw operate successful industries and preserve their language and culture.
The Choctaw Nation is a Native American group based in the state of Oklahoma. Like many other American Indians, it is an autonomous corporation operating as a protectorate of the United States on land provided by treaty. The Choctaw nation has its government segmented into 12 distinct tribal districts. According to US Census Bureau statistics, a quarter of a million people live in the Choctaw Nation, of which 70,000 are federally recognized members. A total of eight Oklahoma counties, as well as portions of five others, make up the nation’s 11,000 square miles (about 28,000 square km) of total land area.
Durant, Oklahoma is the capital of the Choctaw Nation. On June 9, 1984, the nation established a constitution defining the governmental organization. Like the federal government of the United States, it is structured with three branches of government: an executive, legislative, and judicial system. The executive branch is headed by a chief and an assistant chief, who are elected to four-year terms. Legislative actions are managed by the Tribal Council, a 12-person commission representing each tribal district. The Choctaw also uses a Court of General Jurisdiction, a four-judge system using the rules of the Court of Federal Settlements and overseen by the United States Supreme Court, as its judicial system.
Traditionally speaking a derivative of the Muskogean language, the Choctaw people are descendants of the Hopewellians, a Native American culture in the Southeast, particularly along the Mississippi River. During the early days of European contact, the Choctaw were known to have adopted Spanish technology before their neighbors. Before missionaries converted much of the culture to Christianity, the Choctaw believed in a good spirit in the form of the sun and an evil spirit that took the form of a shadow person. They also believed in little people who lived in the woods and played tricks on them.
After supporting the American Revolution, the Choctaw were targeted for removal from their lands. A large portion of the tribe traveled the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma in the 1830s, while many stayed on and became American citizens. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is still federally recognized today. During the American Civil War, the Choctaw joined the Confederacy, offering support in both manpower and health care.
In modern times, the Choctaw Nation has garnered national attention during World War II when tribes were essential to the war effort, providing interlocutors for the military. The language could not be broken by the Axis Powers. Today, the nation operates vast industries in their area of Oklahoma. They are very successful in the electronics market, producing American-made products. A concerted effort has also been made since the late 20th century to preserve the language and culture for posterity.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
