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Choctaw
Sign in to saveAlso known as Chahta, Chactas, Tchakta, Chocktaw, Chactaw, Chactaw Indians, Chactaws, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The Choctaw ( ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States, historically based in what is now Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The Choctaw language is a Western Muskogean language. Today, Choctaw people are enrolled primarily in three federally recognized tribes: the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians in Louisiana. The Yowani Choctaw, a historic Choctaw band, are federally recognized as a people within the Caddo Nation and are also enrolled as citizens of the Choctaw Nati
Key facts
- Ethnic group.group
- Choctaw
- Ethnic group.native_name
- Chahta
- Ethnic group.native_name_lang
- cho
- Ethnic group.population
- Approximately 214,884 total212,000 (Nation of Oklahoma 2023)11,000 (Mississippi Band 2020)284 (Jena Band 2011)
- Ethnic group.regions
- United States(Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama)
- Ethnic group.languages
- American English, Choctaw
- Ethnic group.religions
- Protestant, Roman Catholic, formerly Indigenous religion, including Southeastern Ceremonial Complex
- Ethnic group.related
- Chickasaw, Muscogee, Natchez, Alabama, Koasati, and Seminole
- Ethnic group.image
- File:Peter perkins pitchlynn.jpg
- Ethnic group.caption
- Hatchootucknee, creator of the Choctaw Lighthorse as painted by George Catlin, 1834
- Ethnonym.people
- Chahta
- Ethnonym.language
- Chahta anumpa,Hand Talk
- Ethnonym.country
- Chahta Okla
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Official website
- www.choctawnation.com
- Image
- Choctaw portraits.jpg
Show 2 more facts
- Commons category
- Choctaw
- native label
- Chahta
via Wikidata · CC0
~27 min read
Article
23 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Language
- Orthography
- Byington (Original)
- Byington/Swanton (Linguistic)
- Culture
- Traditional religion
- Traditional tribal structure
- Traditional communal economy
- Historical architecture
- Historical clothing
- Indigenous games
- History
- Treaties
- Population history
- Tribes and organizations
- Historical leaders
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
- Choctaw governments
- History and culture
The Choctaw ( ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States, historically based in what is now Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The Choctaw language is a Western Muskogean language. Today, Choctaw people are enrolled primarily in three federally recognized tribes: the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians in Louisiana. The Yowani Choctaw, a historic Choctaw band, are federally recognized as a people within the Caddo Nation and are also enrolled as citizens of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Choctaw descendants are also members of other tribes.
== Etymology == The Choctaw autonym is Chahta, while "Choctaw" is an anglicized spelling. Several theories exist regarding the origin of the name Chahta. According to anthropologist John R. Swanton, the Choctaw derived their name from an early leader of the Choctaw people named Chahta. Another theory, proposed by Henry S. Halbert, suggests that Chahta is a blended form of the Choctaw phrase hvcha hattak, meaning "people of the river", a reference to early Choctaw towns located along the Tombigbee River.