I would like for you to learn a little bit about the Choctaw Nation and have included some interesting bits of information, including the fact that the Choctaw were the "first" Code Talkers. Much has been written about the Navajo and Code Talking and even a movie was made about it called "Windtalkers". Most people don't even know about the Choctaw Code Talkers. As I only have 1 page that I can do on this, I will try to pack as much information about the history of the Choctaw people on it as I can. I hope you enjoy it.





The Choctaw seal is Indian in motif that symbolizes tradition and history in the tribe, for the old custom of smoking the calumet or pipe in the council circle during deliberation of important matters was particularly significant of Choctaw character. The pipe-hatchet in the center of the seal represents this, the pipe-hatchet introduced by European traders having generally taken the place of the old calumet among the American Indians. This trade pipe, called the "tomahawk", had been first manufactured in war-minded Europe. The calumet o­n the other hand was not an instrument of war but purely ceremonial, with a pipe bowl of red or black stone and a stem decorated with feathers and sometimes with rare fur. Calumets for peace council were decorated with white feathers, and those for war, with red.



CHOCTAW HISTORY

The Choctaws though peaceable in nature were noted for their strength as a tribe in defending their homes and country, having produced many great warriors in historic times. The unstrung bow in their national seal represented peace yet preparedness for defense, with three arrows ready. These symbolized a united people, o­ne arrow for each of three great chiefs, in history, Apuckshunnubbee, Pushmataha, and Mosholatubbee. They had signed the Treaty of Doaks Stand in Mississippi, in 1820, the terms of which provided for the exchange of valuable tribal lands in Mississippi for a vast domain in the West including Southwestern Arkansas, all of Southern Oklahoma, across the Panhandle of Texas to the headwaters of the Red River in Eastern New Mexico. When this country within the confines of present Oklahoma, lying south of the Arkansas and the Canadian Rivers to Red River, was organized under the Choctaw government after the Indian Removal from Mississippi, it was divided into three districts named for these three noted chiefs.

The Choctaw was the first of the Five Civilized Tribes from the Southeastern States granted a domain in Oklahoma. The Nation was organized in 1834 under a written constitution, the first constitution written within the boundaries of this state, adopted in a council held o­n the location which was named the Capital, Nunih Wayah. Before the Great Seal was adopted in 1860, there were a number of changes in the constitution: The first change was made in 1842, incorporating the Chickasaws as a forth district of the Choctaw Nation and providing for the organization of a General Council composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate. A new building was erected for the meeting of the House. The Senate met in the original council house which was accidentally destroyed by fire in 1849.

The following January a convention of Choctaws, with Peter P. Pitchlynn as President, met at Doaksville, and adopted constitutional changes that provided the organization of counties and county courts in the four districts. The General Council met annually o­n the first Wednesday of November at the new capital at Doaksville, beginning in 1851.

The founding of a separate government by the Chickasaws in the western part of the Choctaw Nation in 1856, called for another Choctaw constitution, known as the Skullyville Constitution adopted the next year, patterned after state governments, and providing for o­ne executive to be called "Governor". These innovations and the fact that the old districts were done away with roused much opposition among the Choctaws for fear that these were the first steps to take away their country as had been done in Mississippi at the time of the removal Treaty at Dancing Rabbit Creek in that state, in 1830. Determined opposition to the Skullyville Constitution resulted in a convention of Choctaw citizens held in 1860, at Doaksville where necessary changes were made and a constitution finally drafted, referred to as the Doaksville Constitution, which remained in full force and effect in the Nation until its close in 1907.

The executive was henceforth titled the Principal Chief, with three district chiefs in an advisory capacity, o­ne for each of the three districts designated in the written law: Mosholatubbee District, Pushmataha District, Apuckshunnubbee District. And the Great Seal was provided by law in the first meeting of the General Council under this Doaksville Constitution.

During the nearly three quarters of a century under their own government in Oklahoma, the Choctaws experienced periods of trouble, especially the time of the War between the States, yet they advanced and developed in American civilization: farms and plantations were opened, trading stores were operated, towns grew up, churches and schools were established, newspapers and books were published, coal mining and timber industry were carried o­n.

As the years passed, boys and girls who attended the Choctaw national academies and were prepared in their studies were sent to colleges in the states for higher education. When Oklahoma became a State, many Choctaws were counted among its leading citizens in the professions and in official life. The design of the Choctaw seal within the Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma fittingly symbolizes the history of this Indian Nation.



The Choctaw Trail of Tears

The Choctaws were the first and largest of the five great southern tribes to be moved as a nation to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). The removal continued through the Fall and Winter seasons for three years (1831-34), Many hundreds died o­n the way through the wilderness. There was terrible suffering from blizzards in the winter, epidemics of cholera, other diseases and lack of supplies. For several years in the new country, the death rate was high and there were instances where whole communities of Choctaws were wiped out as a result of the hardships endured during the journey. However, the enterprising Choctaws established their government and erected a substantial brick capitol at Tushahoma, in what is now Pushmataha County. It is still in use. They engaged in various businesses: trading stores, coal land, timber, extensive arms, owned Negro slaves and large herds of livestock. The were noted for their educating systems and substantial residences.

The Civil War brought disaster, but again the Choctaws made remarkable progress. The nation was dissolved to become a part of the new State of Oklahoma, but they still maintain an elected principal chief for tribal affairs. Many Choctaws are influential leaders in Oklahoma today, a large number engaged in the professions: law, medicine, teaching and business.

Oklahoma is a Choctaw word meaning "Red People" and was given by o­ne of the later chiefs, Kiliahote (or his other name, Allen Wright).



THE ORIGINAL CODE TALKERS

The Choctaws were the original Code-Talkers, the very first soldiers to use their native language to transmit messages to confuse the enemy. The Choctaw language used in WWI was the o­nly “code” never translated by the German Army. In the closing days of World War I, Choctaw Indians were instrumental in helping the American Expeditionary Force to win several Key battles in the Meuse-Argonne Campaign, which proved to be the final big German push of that war. These valiant Native American soldiers were the now famous Choctaw Code-Talkers.

At least one Choctaw man was placed in each field company headquarters. Not o­nly did these Choctaw men handle military communication by field telephone, the also translated radio messages in to the Choctaw language and wrote field orders to be carried by “runners” between the various companies. Having the messages written in Choctaw was a great asset to the Americans, as the Germans were capturing about o­ne out of every four messengers sent out as runners between the various companies o­n the battle line. The German Army never did decipher the messages given in Choctaw.

The Choctaw Code-Talkers received praise from their company commanders and the battalion commander. Although the code-talkers were promised medals for their contributions to end the war, they were never received. In 1986, during the annual Choctaw Labor Day Festival, posthumous Choctaw Nation Medals of Valor were presented to the families of the original code-talkers.

The Choctaw Nation takes great pride in accepting the honor of the “Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite” from the French Government in recognition of the important role the Choctaw Code-Talkers played in the successful conclusion of WWI. This was given in November of 1989 at a ceremony o­n the front steps of the Oklahoma State Capitol building. This is the highest honor France can bestow from their nation to another.



Pictured above are some of the Choctaw Code Talkers and their commanding officer. Pictured left to right are Solomon Louis, Mitchell Bobb, James Edwards, Calvin Wilson, Joseph Davenport and Capt. E.H. Horner.



I hope I have enlightened you somewhat on the Choctaw Nation and also that you have visited our other wonderful tribal sites done by the Native Pride Team at The Wild Frontier. We have had a lot of fun doing this. Please sign the Native Pride Guestbook below and let us know what you think. Thank You.

Cherokee Spirit - Team Leader - The Native Pride Team

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