Choctaw and Chickasaw Origins

I think that it's important for us to realize that the various Indian tribes of North America each had very complex cultures. They had histories and traditions which had been handed down for many years. Each tribe spoke a separate language so that they needed interpreters to translate for them.  Some tribes had lived in their domains for centuries, they had holy places that they honored, and they believed the spirits of their ancestors still dwelled nearby.

There were conflicts between tribes, but over the years the Indians developed traditions for dealing with each other: traditions for handling disputes and traditions for maintaining the peace. These systems worked for the Indians, and maintained a balance between the literally hundreds of tribes native to the North American continent.

The white men's coming totally disrupted the Indians' world. Many tragedies were caused by the contact between cultures, some of which we know about and most of which we don’t. What we do know comes mostly from the writings of white men, who had no understanding or respect for the people they were writing about. The Indians themselves had only an oral history, much of which is considered legend and much of which has been forgotten.

There's a benefit, I believe, in hearing the story of the Indians. For society, learning to appreciate the beauty and the humanity of these people who were pushed aside to satisfy the greed of so called civilized men, can hopefully provide society with better goals for the future. For Native Americans, learning about our ancestors can give us pride and inspiration.

I started the history of the Removal with the story of the Seminoles. They were actually the last to complete their removal, but their struggles began so early, and went on for so long, it just seemed right to begin with them.

The next tribe I want to talk about is the Choctaws. The Choctaws and my tribe, the Chickasaws, are closely related; their languages are almost the same, and their histories have been interconnected since their beginnings. 

Probably most well known legend among the two tribes concerns their origins:

The Choctaws and the Chickasaws began as one tribe. This tribe's original home was far to the west, beyond the Mississippi River. They were content there until a powerful enemy came and made war on them. After many years of war the tribal council met to deliberate on the matter.

The wise men of the council discussed their dilemma and they sought guidance from Ubabaneli the creator. Finally it was decided that the tribe would never have peace unless they moved far away. 

Ubabaneli gave them the Kohta Falaya, or "long pole" to guide them on their journey. Each evening they were to drive the Kohta Falaya straight into the ground, and the next morning they were to travel in the direction it leaned. Ubabaneli told the people that when the Kohta Falaya remained straight, they would know they had reached their new home.

Ubabaneli also gave the tribe a large white dog to protect them on their journey. As they travelled, the dog would scout the trail ahead warning them of enemies. When anyone became sick or was injured the white dog would come and lick the afflicted person and make him well.

The tribe travelled in two groups each led by a chief. The two chiefs were named Chikasa and Chahta and they were brothers. Each morning the groups would travel separately in the direction indicated by the Kohta Falaya, and each evening they would gather together again. After the people had travelled for many months they arrived at a great river they called Misha Sipokoni, which means "beyond all age."

At first the people thought they had come to the end of their journey, but the next morning the pole still leaned eastward, so they set about building rafts, and soon they were crossing the river. When the rafts reached the middle of the river, the one carrying the big white dog capsized, and although the people were rescued, the dog was swept downstream. They never saw him again.

After resting on the other side of the Misha Sipokoni the brothers continued their journey towards the east. One morning when they came to see the Kohta Falaya, it was swaying back and forth. This had never happened before. When the swaying stopped the two chiefs examined the pole but they could not agree on its position.  Chief Chahta thought it stood straight, but Chief Chikasa believed that the pole still leaned to the east.

When no agreement could be reached, Chief Chikasa pulled the Kohta Falaya from the ground and led his people on. Chief Chahta and his followers remained where they were. They called the place Nanih Waya, or "leaning mountain."

Chief Chikasa continued to follow the Kohta Falaya until it stood straight again about 100 miles to the north. He and his people stopped there and built a town which became known as Oklah Sepokny or "Old Town."  

From that time on those who remained with Chief Chahta were called Chahtas, or Choctaws, those who followed Chief Chikasa were called Chikasas, or Chickasaws. Nanih Waya is located in Winston County, Mississippi, and remains to this day the Choctaws' holiest place. The Chickasaws' Oklah Sepokny or "Old Town" is now included in an urban development.