HIST105 IP5

Choctaw Indians

HIST105 IP5

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Choctaw Indians

Choctaw Indians are a Native American tribe in the United States becoming officially recognized as a tribe by the American government in 1936 and receiving lands in ten counties in Oklahoma and all land to the north of the South Canadian, Canadian and Arkansas Rivers. Choctaw people lives on reservations and are governed by a Choctaw Constitution ratified in 1984. Similar to the American government there are three branches of government with the Chief serving as President of the tribe. The tribal council is the legislative branch of government voted into this position by the people. While Choctaws engage in a democratic process in current society this was not always the case.

Pre-Columbian

Choctaw Indians were one of the five largest tribes in the nation before Columbus arrived and the country was forever changed. The Choctaw Indian tribes began as nomadic hunters who travelled over the Bering Strait land bridge into Alaska. Choctaws created what is known as Clovis points used to hunt large game. Clovis points have been found throughout the Americas but Choctaw mostly hunted and lived in the Great Plains area (Boykin, 2013). Similar to other societies there was a caste system within the Choctaw clans with chiefs at the top and slaves in the bottom caste.

Choctaw Indians were highly skilled in creating crafts and objects out of wood from boats they used to hunt whales and other sea animals to spears used to hunt land animals. Choctaws cooked lavish feasts to thank the Gods for the food they provided and to celebrate the social status of the wealthy or the higher castes. Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Choctaw for hundreds of years before the colonists arrived but the celebration was for the harvesting of the corn known as the Green Corn Ceremony. Choctaw Indians had a complex agricultural system in place when colonists arrived and lived in well built wood cabins. The Choctaws were the most modern tribe when settlers arrived.

Cultural and Religious Beliefs

Choctaw Indians believed God is in everything from the animals to the earth to the sun. they believe supernatural forces connect everything in nature requiring respect and love for the and all of the animals on the land. The goal of the tribe was to maintain harmony with the land in order not to anger the Gods or the ancestors. The ancestors are the Choctaw tribe members that passed on before. Choctaw see their ancestors in all ling things and believe in respecting the land. They also believe no one can own the land as it already belongs to God. Prior to the settlement Choctaw worshipped spirits and respected nature.

After the colonists settle in the Americas in area such as, Oklahoma and Mississippi, the tribe quickly converted to Christianity. Mostly out of force and not by choice but currently a large majority of Choctaw Indian practice Christianity with many being Baptists. Before Choctaws converted to Christianity their main focus was spirituality and giving thanks for what bounty they received from the earth. The Choctaw enjoyed having celebrations with other members of the tribe and played a complicated game known as lacrosse.

Choctaw Indians are responsible for creating all types of beautiful art out of pottery and woven grasses but these pieces were used for day to day needs rather than just to look upon. Choctaws wove beautiful grass mats used for the floors but also for decoration on the walls of their wood cabins. Choctaws loved to sing and weave elaborate stories. Many of these stories involved the hunting journey of the warrior of the tribe. Choctaw also had a Shaman responsible for curing people of all their ailments. This usually involved an elaborate chanting ceremony and the use of herbal remedies.

After Contact

Although their first encounter with Europeans ended in a bloody battle with Hernando de Soto’s fortune-hunting expedition in 1540, the Choctaw would come to embrace European traders who arrived in their homeland nearly two centuries later (Choctaw nation, 2010). After the colonists began to arrive in the America’s the life of the Choctaw changed. People once free to roam the land to hunt and celebrate were now confronted by white man determined to take their land and force them to conform to the new traditions of European settlers.

When the European settlers originally arrived in America they had very little problem with the Choctaw and in fact pilgrims and the Choctaw began on friendly terms. The biggest problem was settlers brought disease which quickly spread through the tribes causing major death and destruction. Despite the harm caused by the settlers, the members of the Choctaw Nation were willing to negotiate with the newly arriving colonists and were considered one of the five civilized Indian nations. This did not stop the Choctaw people from suffering great tragedy and pain at the hand of the colonists.

After years of fighting and trying to protect what was theirs many Indian nations fell. The Trial of Tears is the result of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek of 1830. This was the first official treaty signed under the Indian Removal Act. This Act allowed the President to negotiate with Indian tribes living within the boundaries of existing U.S. states to voluntarily exchange their lands for unorganized territory west of the Mississippi River (Choctaw Nation, 2010). Choctaw Indians were given two weeks to gather their belongings and to wither walk or get on a wagon heading west. During this journey, thousands of Choctaws died of starvation or they froze to death because they were not prepared for the cold weather.

Choctaw that were taken to camps after the long journey from their homeland to their new lands were placed in camps. At these camps the Choctaw were given blankets ridden with disease and starved to death. Many Choctaw died at the camps and would have their children taken so they could be sent to missionaries were they learned the Christian religion. The relocation of the Choctaw resulted in widespread death but this nation continued to remain peaceful and negotiate with the American government despite the deaths and failure by the government to safely transport the Choctaw people.

Unlike other Indian tribes the Choctaw people were willing to negotiate with the government in order to ensure there was no unnecessarily loss of life. Despite their willingness to negotiate with the American government the Choctaws suffered horrible abuses at the hands of the settler. Thousands of Choctaw died after settlers arrived and their lives were forever changed. Despite their peaceful actions many were slaughtered at the hands of the British Army while others died of the disease brought to the country by colonists.

The Choctaw Nation still exists today despite the many hardships they suffered after colonists arrive but the numbers of Choctaw have continued to decrease. Currently Choctaw still live on the lands negotiated in the Treaty but there number continue to dwindle and there cultural heritage continues to slowly disappear. The Choctaw Nation continues to exist despite what happened to their people when colonist first arrive in America and instead of reverting to their old religious ways continue to accept and embrace Christianity.

Important Historical Figure

There were many important historical figures in the Choctaw Nation. The land received by the Choctaw was negotiated through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the military, and the great leaders of the Choctaw people. One of the greatest and well known leaders of the Choctaw Nations was Pushmataha. Pushmataha was responsible for negotiating treaties between America and the Choctaw nation. This great leader understood the Choctaw and their traditions and embraced their spiritual beliefs but was also able to see that the colonists were not going away and the wars would never end unless the Choctaw conceded and moved their lands. Pushmataha was a great warrior but also a great politicians.

Apuckshunnubbe “Miko was the first chief of the Choctaw nation during the Trail of Tears. He was born in a log cabin before the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek and travelled to the new land along with his people. He was considered a famous warrior and a much loved and respected chief. The Choctaw people considered the chief to be an intelligent man and respected the decision he made for the nation. Chief Moshulatubbee Amosholi led the Choctaw people who were relocated to the Northern districts. He was responsible for creating law forbidding the consumptipn of alcohol (Batton, 2007).

Moshulatubbee was one of the three head chiefs who signed the early Choctaw treaties with the United States (Batton, 2007). Pushmataha was one of the other chiefs who signed the treaty that led to the trail of tears along with Miko (chief) Apuckshunnubbe. There were many great leaders and chief throughput the history of the Choctaw nation but these leaders played a powerful role in the lives of the Choctaw once the treaty was signed and they were forever removed from the land their ancestors had lived on for centuries. Despite the many hardships they faced there Chiefs successfully led them through these complicated times.

Conclusion

The Choctaw Nation continues to thrive hundred years after their lives were forever disrupted by the arrival of colonists in America. The Choctaw lived on the American continent for thousands of years before the settlers arrived and forever changed the Choctaw, their customs and traditions, and were they would reside. The Choctaw were one of the Five Civilized Tribes that assisted in negotiating a way to live side by side with arriving colonists. If the colonists had never arrived the Choctaw would continue to live peacefully and thrive with no disease, alcoholism, or need to conform to the ways of European colonists.

References

Batton, G. (2007). Chiefs of Choctaw Tribe. Retrieved March 13, 2014 from

http://www.choctawnation.com/history/people/chiefs/

Choctaw Nation. (2010). History of Choctaw. Retrieved March 13, 2014 from

http://www.choctawnation.com/culture-heritage/choctaw-traditions/

Richardson, L. (2004). Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. Retrieved March 13, 2014 from

http://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/1046