Choctaw Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Choctaw
Total population
160,000
Regions with significant populations
United States (Oklahoma, California, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama)
Languages
English, Choctaw
Religion
Protestantism, traditional beliefs
Related ethnic groups
Chickasaw, Five Civilized Tribes other Native American groups

The Choctaw are a Native American people. They originally lived in the southeastern United States. This area includes parts of what are now the states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana.

Who Are the Choctaw People?
Images for kids
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Who Are the Choctaw People?

The Choctaw are one of the largest Native American groups. They have a rich history and culture. Today, many Choctaw people live in Oklahoma and Mississippi. They also live in other parts of the United States.

Where Did They Live?

The Choctaw people lived in large villages. These villages were often near rivers and streams. They built their homes from wood and mud. Their lands were fertile, meaning good for farming.

What Was Their Culture Like?

The Choctaw culture is very old and special. It includes unique traditions, stories, and art. Family and community are very important to the Choctaw people.

Daily Life and Traditions

Choctaw people were skilled farmers. They grew corn, beans, and squash. These crops were a big part of their diet. They also hunted deer and other animals. Choctaw women were known for making beautiful baskets. They used natural dyes to color cane strips.

Games and Sports

A very important game for the Choctaw was stickball. It is sometimes called "the little brother of war." This game was played with sticks and a ball. It was very physical and exciting. Stickball was used to settle arguments between villages. It also helped train warriors.

Important Moments in Choctaw History

The Choctaw people have a long and interesting history. They have faced many challenges. They have also shown great strength and resilience.

Early Days

For thousands of years, the Choctaw lived in their ancestral lands. They developed complex societies. They had their own governments and laws. They traded with other Native American groups. They also interacted with European explorers.

Moving West: The Trail of Tears

In the 1800s, the United States government wanted the Choctaw's land. They forced many Choctaw people to move west. This forced journey is known as the Trail of Tears. It was a very difficult time for the Choctaw. Many people suffered and lost their lives. Despite this, the Choctaw rebuilt their communities in Oklahoma.

Choctaw Today

Today, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a large, self-governing tribe. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians also thrives. Both nations work to preserve their culture and language. They also provide services for their people. Many Choctaw people serve in the military. They have even used their language for secret codes in wars.

Famous Choctaw People

Many Choctaw individuals have made important contributions.

Pushmataha

Pushmataha was a famous Choctaw chief. He lived in the late 1700s and early 1800s. He was known for his wisdom and leadership. He worked to protect his people's rights.

Peter Pitchlynn

Peter Pitchlynn was another important Choctaw leader. He served as Principal Chief. He also worked as a delegate in Washington, D.C. He fought for Choctaw rights for many years.

Images for kids

The Willoughby Disk, a ceremonial stone from Moundville Archaeological Park.
Choctaw Village near the Chefuncte, by Francois Bernard, 1869. Women are preparing dye for baskets.
The Choctaw Nation in relation to the U.S. state of Mississippi.
Pushmataha, a famous Choctaw chief.
Kutteeotubbee was a noted warrior, 1834.
Choctaw chief Greenwood LeFlore's plantation home, Malmaison, built in 1852.
Jackson McCurtain, Lieutenant Colonel of the First Choctaw Battalion, CSA.
Choctaw girls in 1868.
Peter Pitchlynn was a Choctaw Principal Chief and delegate.
Faunceway Baptiste, a Choctaw man, 1868.
Choctaw Nation senate in 1898.
Chief Wesley Johnson and delegates.
Louisiana Choctaws in front of their cabin in 1909.
Choctaws in training in World War I for coded radio transmissions.
Wounded Choctaw soldier in World War I, France.
Group of Mississippi Choctaw males in the late 1950s or early 1960s.
Phillip Martin and family in the late 1950s or early 1960s.
Norma Howard, an award-winning watercolor painter, with stickball sticks.
Image from a Senate Indian Affairs Committee Hearing in 2004.
Tullockchishko (Drinks the Juice of the Stones) was a great Choctaw stickball player, 1834.
An engraved shell from the Mississippian era.
Mississippi Choctaw group wearing traditional clothing, c. 1908.