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The Choctaw Trail of Tears |
The Choctaw people are particularly interested in the Trail of Tears because they place a high value on their culture. Here are a few Mississippi Choctaws helping to keep their traditional culture alive.
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The intricate applique on Choctaw traditional dress must be sewn on by hand; the skill is difficult to learn. |
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Choctaw stickball, America's oldest field sport was once was known as the "Little Brother of War" because it was a method of settling disputes among groups of Choctaws and between communities. |
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Choctaw drum maker Benny Willis is also skilled in the art of stickball stick making. |
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The Conehatta dancers perform the traditional Stealing Partners Dance. Click for Stealing Partners Dance sound file. Click for Jump Dance sound file. Click for Walk Dance sound file. |
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A Choctaw woman weaving a swamp cane basket. Skills required for this traditional art form are passed from generation to generation, usually within families. |
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Handcrafted Choctaw baskets, made of swamp cane native to the area, were once used in trading for food and other necessities, but have become a sought-after collectors item in recent years. |
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Chief Phillip Martin works to preserve the traditional Choctaw culture while, at the same time, promoting better education and economic prosperity for his people. |
Photos courtesy of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
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