The Choctaw by Kelsey

                Have you heard of the group who hunted rabbits? Well, the tribe is called the Choctaw. The

Choctaw not only hunted rabbits, but they also fished, grew crops, and made their own foods. The

Choctaw were peaceful people and tried not to get into wars and make enemies with other

tribes.          

                The Choctaw hunted, fished, grew crops, and made their own recipes. Some of their recepies are cornbread, soups, and stews. However, their favorite was sassafras tea. The Choctaw hunted deer, bear, rabbit, and turkey. They grew squash, corn, melon, beans, and sunflowers.  Still the Choctaw were mainly farmers. Most of the women did the farming while the men fished and hunted.

Choctaw Pumpkin Cake

                Although the Choctaw didn’t want to be in wars, they still were in a few wars. In a war in 1812, the Choctaw warriors helped America defeat the British. In the 1700s, the Europeans fought for control over North America. The Choctaw sided with France and Great Britain in the French and Indian War. For the wars, Choctaw made blow guns and darts. Some of the darts were poisonous small darts that were used to kill animals.  In more recent history, the Choctaw used their language as codes during the World Wars. They used it because it was so different from Chinese and Europeans. Experts in other countries could not even crack the codes!

                Even though the Choctaw didn’t have any enemies, they still had some friends. Some of the friends were the French fur traders, missionaries, and settlers who followed explorers. Another famous friend of the Choctaws was Andrew Jackson. The Choctaw helped him sign the Treaty of the Indian Removal Act in 1813. The Choctaw are really friendly people, so they did not have enemies. They wanted people and tribes to treat each other respectfully so everyone could just get along.

                The Choctaw made a game called Ishtobloi which now is called lacrosse. Ishtobloi was a very famous game for the Choctaws. They used a stick with a hole at the end and the hole had part of a fishing net connected to the stick. They had 100 or more people on each team!  The way they played was they tossed a leather ball down the field into the opponent’s goal. No one could touch the ball with his hands but he could kick, tackle, push, and trip the other opponents. Most injuries were caused by this game. First, the men took the field,  and then after half time, the women took over. The Choctaw thought “Cheering brings luck to the field.”

                For injuries and other things, the Choctaw made medicines. Some of the medicines were for stomach aches, fever, snake bits, arthritis, and pneumonia. The medicines were made from herbs and other plants. The Choctaw always got injuries, so they thought that they could start making medicines for daily injuries.

                Next, the Choctaw also had houses. The house was a circular shape with a thatched roof. The shape was made of mud, sticks, and clay. The roofs were made of hay and sticks with a hole in the top for smoke to get out, of the house in the winter when there were fires.  In the winter they used animal fur for the doors and bed so they could be warm in the winter.

                The Choctaw also had clothing for summer and winter. In the summer men and boys wore breed cloths, which are skirts with only front and back flaps. Women and girls wore short deerskin dresses. In the winter, women and girls wore long deerskin dresses. Men and boys wore breed clothes with leggings and a deerskin shirt. Everyone wore the same kind of shoes. The shoes were called moccasins. Moccasins were made of a leather material. For decorations, Choctaws wore earrings, nose rings, paint, tattoos, and hats with feathers.

                Now last is some general information. The Choctaw live in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. They owned 23 million acres of land. They were one of the largest tribes in the region. They spoke Muskogee. They didn’t shave their heads like other tribes, but they braid their long hair. They lived in harmony. They had dances for friendship, weddings, war, green corn, and for animals. They also wrote music, and if somebody spied or tried to take their music, they called them “song thieves.”

                Today the Choctaw live in the United States. Every year the Choctaw have a fair. In the fair they dance, have pageants, dress in traditional costumes and make original foods. Every year thousands of Choctaw go to the fair. They celebrate the fair to remind them of how their ancestors live.

                The Choctaw have their schools and education. They have elementary schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. In the elementary school they teach them their native language and history of their ancestors. The Choctaw teachers think it’s very important for the kids to learn about their ancestors and how they should be proud of who they are. The schools have a basketball team called the Slamming’ Choctaw. There are books about how their ancestors live and what they did as a living. They want kids to grow up and teach their kids about their ancestry.

                As you can see, the Choctaws hunt, fish, grow crops, and were peaceful people. They also had their good and their bad times, but they just went with everything and did their own thing. Today there are still Choctaw living in the United States, trying to live and learn about their ancestors.

References 

Dithchfeild, Christian. The Choctaw. Danbury, Connecticut: children’s press.2005

Walden, Carl. The “Choctaw” Encyclopedia of Native Americans tribe 3^rd edition New York: Facts on files, Inc.2006. American Indian history online. Facts otile, Inc. Http://www.fofeb.com/activelink 2 asp? Item ID =WE43 &: pin =ind12338 & single record= true Lacrosse 6ot 30 2007

“Choctaw”. American the beautiful. 2008. Grolier online 29oct. 2008<http://www.atg.groliloer online.com/emir= bin/ article? Template ename =tryonic.htm asset=at63879&9stgre=17                                                                                                                                            

The Choctaw by: Alexis

                Have you ever heard of the Choctaw? The Choctaw is a very interesting tribe. They grew many different crops and hunted different animals. Every person in the Choctaw community had different  roles in life. They also had different parts of government, and they had many beliefs and religions. The way they got their food then is both similar and different from how people do today.

                First, the Choctaw hunted deer and bison as well as turkey and rabbit. They also hunted bear. They grew peas and potatoes as well as pumpkins and melons. They also grew beans and corn.  Women would have to cook and also farm. Men would make tools and hunt. They were good friends with the English as well as the French.

Corn Muffin

                There was always one chief as well as always one assistant chief. In the tribal council there were only twelve members included. The chiefs were in charge of all the land in his district. The chief was very well respected and honored. The chiefs were elected for four-year  terms.

                Lastly the Choctaw believed that everyone had an inner and outer spirit. They also gave up many beliefs. They did not worship one particular god or spirit. Most of them believed in Christianity. When they died, they where wrapped in animal skin or tree bark. They also believed that some of them had special powers.        

                As you can see the Choctaw had a very interesting life. All their styles are very amazing. They also had friends and foes. They had cool foods, beliefs and religions, government, and people.

“Choctaw” America the beautiful 2008.Grolieronline.29 October 2008 http://atb. grolier.com/cg:-bin/article? template name=tropics. htmt assetid=atb3 879assttype=+

 Lassieur, Allison the Choctaw nation .Minnesota: capstone press.2001

Mckee, Jesse. The Choctaw. Philadelphia: Chelsea  house punlishers,2005

Sherrow,Victoria the Choctaw Vero beach, 1997

Walden,Carl  “Choctaw.”encylopdia of native American tribes new York facts on file.2006

last updated Dec. 10, 2008