The Choctaw People of the Mississippi
The Choctaw people, who were members of the Muscogee tribe of Native Americans, had an important relationship with the Mississippi River. As members of the Muscogee tribe of Native Americans, the Choctaw people were the earliest inhabitants of what would later become the Mississippi valley, settling along the banks of the mighty river in the late 1600s. Throughout their history, the Choctaw people utilized the Mississippi River in numerous ways in order to meet their day-to-day requirements, while also living in harmony with the river.
The Sacred Name of the Mississippi
In the Native American language of the Choctaw people, the Mississippi River was also known as “Ikatubbe Hapaha,” meaning “Cleansing Waters” in English. This appellative was used by the Choctaw people in order to venerate the river, and to emphasize the spiritual importance of the body of water in their culture. The religious value of the river was related to the Choctaw belief that Earth was made up of four elements: fire, water, air, and earth. While the religious heritage of the Choctaw culture is not known in full detail, it is possible that the Mississippi River was held especially sacred, due to its importance in Choctaw life.
The Role of the Mississippi River in Choctaw Life
The Mississippi River was a fundamental part of Choctaw life and culture. A historical account of the Choctaws notes that they treated the river as one of their own, embracing it as “a spiritual part of their homeland and an integral part of their lives” (Johnson, 2005). As the oldest continuous settlement of indigenous people in the Mississippi valley, the Choctaw revered the river as a source of sustenance for all aspects of their existence. It was not only a source of food and fishing, but also provided drinking water, transportationaid in hunts, and even served as a spirit guide for the fortunes of the tribe.
The Familial Bond of the Choctaw to the Mississippi
The Choctaw people had a strong familial bond with the Mississippi River, referring to it affectionately as Grandfather or Grandmother. “Grandfather” in particular was an appellative used to denote respect and a sense of closeness, suggesting that the Choctaw not only felt an affiliation with the river, but a deep emotional connection with it as well. For example, one Choctaw tribe, the Red Sticks, was so named as they were said to have got their distinctive red colored spears from a “spiritual quest to the bend in the Mississippi River” (Johnson, 2005). This indicates the intense personal connection the Choctaw had with the Mighty Mississippi.
The Spiritual Influence of the Mississippi in Choctaw Culture
The spiritual significance of the Mississippi River in Choctaw culture cannot be understated. In the language of the Choctaw, the Mississippi was referred to as ” Chatuhv Lavika,” meaning “Great Father” or “Sacred River” in English. This is an indication of the profound veneration for the river as both a spiritual entity, as well as the source of sustenance and life. Choctaw chants sometimes included references to the Mississippi, blending the physical, spiritual, and ecological significance of the river in their songs and ceremonies.
The Impact of Damming and the Decline of the Choctaw
In the 19th century, the Choctaw people began to suffer under the pressure of new settlers, and their ancient spiritual relationship with the Mississippi River was strained by the imposed changes in their way of life. In 1937, the construction of the Rankin-Hinds Pearlington Reservoir began, marking the drastic alteration of the Mississippi River and its ecology. This culminated in the dispossession of their ancestral homeland and disrupted their spiritual bond to Grandfather Mississippi.
The Resurgence of the Native American Bond to the Mississippi
Despite the immense changes to their way of life resulting from new settlers and discriminatory practices, the Choctaw people have rejuvenated and rekindled their spiritual relationship to the mighty Mississippi. In 2000, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI) was established to rebuild the Choctaw Nation, and with it, a renewed respect for the sacred Mississippi. The MBCI believe that the mighty river is a source of strength, prosperity and faith for the Choctaw people, continuing to sustain them to this day.
Contemporary Choctaw Attitudes Towards the Mississippi
The essence of traditional Choctaw culture has been carefully preserved through stories and songs passed down generations and can still be seen on reservations today. Contemporary Choctaw attitudes towards the Mississippi River are based on respect and admiration, recapturing the spiritual bond the ancient tribes shared with the river. Each year, the Choctaw Nation join with the Natchez and other Native American tribes for the traditional ‘Weya-Tabee’ ceremony, a three-day event of canoeing and singing in honor of the Mississippi.
The Significance of the River In Choctaw Art
The Choctaw people have kept their strong spiritual relationship to the Mississippi alive in contemporary art. In 2018, the Choctaw Nation held a group exhibition showcasing art inspired by the Mississippi River and its many spiritual associations. Painter and Choctaw artist Sarah Deere-Jones holds that the Mississippi “was a means of navigation, sustenance, and spiritual healing for our people” (Rowland, 2018). She paints abstract images of the river’s curves and eddies to capture the enduring spiritual bond between her people and the river.
The Everlasting Legacy of the Mississippi for the Choctaw People
For generations of Native Americans, the Mississippi was and is still seen as a powerful force of nature, with immense spiritual significance for the Choctaw. The Mississippi River has functioned as a pathway for discovery and exploration for the tribe, providing access to distant lands and facilitating cultural exchange, while also purifying and enriching the soil of their ancestral homeland. As much as it is a source of nourishment and sustenance, it is also an integral part of Choctaw identity, culture and spirit. The Choctaw Nation’s reverence, admiration and respect for Grandfather Mississippi has a lasting legacy that will surely endure for generations to come.
