Before we talk about removal and the Trail of Tears, I want to make a note about our creation story for the Choctaw people. We are directly tied with our land and landscape. For most indigenous people, you can’t separate us from our natural environment. Our language, culture, history—everything is tied to it. So, that’s where I want to start.

I’m going to talk about the creation of the Choctaw people and why it was so important for us to stay in Mississippi, why we wanted to stay in our homelands, and why it was very hard for us to move. Even though we are still spiritually connected, it’s been a struggle to be physically disconnected from our homeland.

Our story starts at Nanih Waiya Cave. The Creator had made the world and the land, and He wanted to create people to act as stewards, to take care of the land, the animals, and the plants. He went to a nearby stream and grabbed yellow clay, then went to the ground and a hill, and started forming people out of that clay. He made an opening in the hill, and the clay people started walking out. As they came out, they lay on the side of the hill, and their skin dried, becoming like our skin today. This all happened at Nanih Waiya Cave, located in Winston County, Mississippi, which still exists today. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians owns this sacred area, making it one of the few sacred areas still owned by Choctaw people today.

Just a few miles away, in honor of the Creator, we built Nanih Waiya Mound, our Mother Mound. This mound is the center of the Choctaw homeland, and we still visit it regularly. It is part of our direct connection with the Creator and our stewardship of the land, even though we are now removed from our homelands.

These are the Choctaw homelands, encompassing parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, as they were in the 1750s. Over time, our homelands have changed, just as our identity as Choctaw people has changed. Originally, we were a small tribe, but throughout the 1600s and 1700s, we absorbed other tribes displaced by disease, warfare, and other factors. Together, we created a sustainable way of life that honored us and our lands, which we had to give up later but still fight to protect today.

Throughout the 1800s, the Choctaw people tried to protect their homeland by creating a strong relationship with the United States. We wanted to be allies and partners. We fought in the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Pushmataha, a brigadier general in Jackson’s army, and other leaders like Shelotubby and Peter Pitchlynn, worked to create this relationship. They were present at almost all our treaties and helped guide our people through difficult times.

From 1786 to 1830, we were forced to cede much of our land. By 1820, after ceding land at the Treaty of Doak’s Stand, we saw Andrew Jackson’s true agenda when he threatened our tribe with destruction and enslavement. Despite this betrayal, we were given lands in Arkansas and Oklahoma in 1820. But after the Indian Removal Act, we were forced to sign the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. Although our Chiefs initially refused to cede our lands, they eventually agreed to move to ensure our sovereignty. This decision led to their replacement, but they did it for the greater good of the community.

Choctaw removals began soon after, with self-removal being a common method. There were over 27 different routes taken from 1830 to 1903. Many Choctaws died due to disease, weather, and the negligence of the United States government. Despite the hardships, Choctaw people remained connected to their homeland, and many stayed behind, forming the Choctaw of Mississippi who are still there today.

In 1832, George Harkins wrote a farewell letter to the American people, expressing the foresight and resilience of the Choctaw people. He knew it would be a hard time for the Choctaw, but he believed we would be successful again. Today, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is strong, with over 200,000 tribal members and a thriving economy. Our cultural and historical preservation efforts empower our people and help us understand our identity.

As we share this history, we hope to honor our ancestors and ensure that their stories are remembered. Understanding the past helps us prevent the same mistakes from happening again. Thank you all for coming and listening. We’ll be here for questions and the remainder of the week.