Choctaw mythology

325px|thumb|Mississippi Choctaw in traditional clothing, c. 1908

thumb|325px|Eagle Dance, Choctaw, painted by [[George Catlin near Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, 1835–1837]]

Choctaw mythology is part of the culture of the Choctaw, a Native American tribe originally occupying a large territory in the present-day Southeastern United States: much of the states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. In the 19th century, the Choctaw were known to European Americans as one of the "Five Civilized Tribes" even though controversy surrounds their removal.

Today the Choctaw have three federally recognized tribes: the largest is the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, next is the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, made up of descendants of individuals who did not remove in the 1830s, and the smallest is the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, located in Louisiana. Also, the Choctaw Apache Tribe of Ebarb, state recognized by Louisiana and resides in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. In addition, the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians is state-recognized by Alabama, but it has not achieved federal recognition. It, too, is made up of descendants of individuals who remained in the Southeast in the 1830s.

The Choctaw and their ancestors have lived in the Mississippi region in what is now the southeastern region of the US for centuries. Thousands of years of myth and story-making have contributed to a rich collection of history. The Choctaw continue to tell and write about their legends.

Choctaw migration

The Choctaw tell the following creation story of their coming to this land, and how Nanih Waiya Mound, built of earthwork by ancestors, came to be.

Two brothers, Chata and Chicksah

After travelling for a mind-bogglingly long time, they finally came to a place where the pole stood upright. In this place, they laid to rest the bones of their ancestors, which they had carried in buffalo sacks from the original land in the west.

The earthwork mound developed from that great burial. After the burial, the brothers discovered that the land could not support all the people. Chicksah took half the people and departed to the North, where they eventually emerged as the historic Chickasaw tribe.

Chata and the others remained near the mound, which became known as Nanih Waiya (The mound of all creation), and became known as the Choctaw tribe.

Choctaw Creation story

At the beginning there was a great mound. It was called Nanih Waiya. It was from this mound that the Creator fashioned the first of the people. These people crawled through a long, dark cave into daylight and became the first Choctaw. For many years they lived in this area until a great shift occurred. At this time a great flood arose covering the lands. The Choctaw people had to flee by canoes to an island as guided by a dove. They prospered and then over populated the island. They then traveled back to the coast of Turtle Island. Once they arrived again the people who remained were not friendly. They then traveled for hundreds of years down the coast down south. They finally traveled across what is now the Yucatán again in canoes. Once they landed up on the land of giants and fought for territory. They then rebuilt their sacred Nanih Waya and found a sacred home for their ancestor's bones that they lovingly carried with them all those many years. (Caitlin, Letters and Notes, 1841)

Supernatural Native America

thumb|Effigy pipe from the [[Nacoochee Mound in Georgia, U.S.]]

Some early writers, and in later times Cushman and Bushnell, report that the Choctaw believed in a great good spirit and a great evil spirit. Choctaw oral histories mentioned numerous supernatural beings. In addition to their terms for what might also be called the Great Spirit or God and the Devil, the Choctaw believed they had many other "powerful beings" in their midst.

Ancient religion

The Great Spirit of the Choctaw was referred to by various names. Rev. Alfred Wright wrote that the Great Spirit was referred to as , , or , , and or . is a term anglicized to mean The Great Spirit. means The Great One. The terms or are applied to any person or object thought to possess some occult or superior power – such as a witch.

is from (sun) and (to complete an action). is believed to have originated as a Choctaw term without European influence; the Choctaw were believed to be Sun worshippers. Fire was the "most striking representation of the sun"; it was believed to have intelligence, and was considered to be in constant communication with the Sun.

Interactions between animals and people

right|thumb|225px|A digital graphic based on a ceremonial stone palette found at the [[Moundville Archaeological Site in Moundville, Alabama]]

The Choctaw venerated , a horned serpent that visited unusually wise young men.

Little people and other human-like creatures

They believed in a little man, about two feet high, who dwelled alone in the thick, dark woods. The little man was called or , both names being used alone or together. The translation of is the "Thrower". The translation of is "The one who stays in the woods", or to give a more concise translation, "Forest dweller". Little man can be compared to the European counterparts- dwarfs, elves, gnomes, and leprechauns.

The little wood sprite () was known to be rather mischievous, but not malicious. The Choctaw believed that he often playfully threw sticks and stones at them. All unexplained sounds heard in the woods were attributed to Bohpoli. The Choctaw believed that he took a special pleasure in hitting the pine trees to create noise.

was never seen by the common Choctaw, only by the prophets and shaman. The Indian shamans or doctors would report that Bohpoli assisted them in creating their medicines. Some stories said that would "steal" little children and take them into the woods, to teach them about herbs and medicines. After returning the children to their homes, would leave them alone, letting them grow up to become doctors of the tribe.

Some of the history writings refer to , a combination of man and deer who delighted in frightening hunters. He was much admired for his speed and agility. If the Choctaw angered , he would race ahead of them and warn the enemy or animals being hunted.

or (white people of the water) dwelled in deep pools and had light skins like the skins of trout. They were believed to sometimes capture human beings, whom they converted into beings like themselves.

was a bad spirit who could assume any shape it desired; it was believed to read people's thoughts.

Shadow-like beings

The Choctaw have stories about shadow beings. , also known as a , was the soul-eater, a great black being. He sometimes frightened hunters or transferred his power of doing harm. Some believed that preferred to approach men by sliding on his stomach like a snake. It is believed that the Nalusa Falaya have many children which, when quite young, possess the peculiar power of removing their viscera at night, and in this lightened condition they become rather small, luminous bodies that may often be seen, along the borders of marshes.

(Grass Water Drop) was believed to have a connection to what is termed will-o-the-wisp. Only its heart is visible, and that only at night. leads astray anyone who looks at it.

It was also believed that every man had a (the outside shadow) which always followed him, and (the inside shadow, or ghost) which after death goes to the land of ghosts. The was supposed to remain upon the earth, and wander restlessly about its former home, often moaning, to frighten its surviving friends. It tried to make them forsake the spot, and seek another place to live. It was also supposed to assume the form of a fox, or owl; and by barking like the one, and screeching like the other at night, cause great consternation, for the cry was considered ominous of bad things. The Choctaw could differentiate between the and the animals it imitates. When a fox barks, or an owl screeches, another fox or owl replies. But when the imitates the sound of either animal, no response is heard. The shadow-like beings would often stalk children of younger adult age.

The is a creature that is neither man nor beast. While having the legs and hoofs of a deer, its body is that of a man. His head and face are small and shriveled, and it is said that a person who looks at it will be visited by evil. When hunters go near the swamps it inhabits, it sneaks behind them to call loudly before quickly fleeing. Although it does not harm man, it takes delight in their fright as it yells a sound that resembles a woman's scream. For that reason it was named (, "woman"; , "call").

Birds of the dark

, or the horned owl, was believed to prowl about at night killing men and animals. Many believed that when screeched, it meant sudden death, such as a murder. If the (screech owl) was heard, it was a sign that a child under seven in the family was going to die. Such a child was likened to a small owl. If (a common owl) perched in a barn or on trees near the house and hooted, its call was a foreboding of death among the near relatives of the residents.

, the sapsucker, was known as the news bird. If he landed on a tree in a family's yard early in the morning, some "hasty" news would come before noon. If he perched there late at night, the news would come before morning.

Animal-explained occurrences

Animals figure significantly in Choctaw mythology, as they do in most Native American myth cycles. For example, in Choctaw history, solar eclipses were attributed to black squirrels, and maize was a gift from the birds.

Brothers Tashka and Walo

Two brothers named Tashka and Walo followed the sun for many years from childhood to adulthood. They would follow it throughout its life in the day, until it died over the horizon in the evening. One day, the sun rested over a great expanse of water, and the boys swam into it, going underneath.

They emerged in the home of the sun, finding women all around. These women were the moon and the stars. The moon was the sun's wife and asked the brothers how they entered this realm. The brothers said that they followed the sun for many years since they were boys. The sun asked if they knew their way back home. The boys replied "no", as they looked over the edge of the sky, seeing land, but were not able to discern their home from such a height.

The sun asked why they had followed him for all these years, to which the brothers replied only to see where he had died. The sun agreed to send them home, but instructed them not to talk for four days after they returned, or they would surely die. He called a giant buzzard to fly them home, and after they had landed, an old man recognized them and went to tell their mother. The mother, frightened since she had not seen them for many days, made them tell her where they had been. They told her of their journey and said that they will now surely die because they did not keep their promise to the sun of silence for four days.

After this the mother was very worried, but they all returned home. The brothers told the tales of the many years they had followed the sun. After telling all of what they knew, they died and entered heaven.

Dog's Lifespan

Soon after the Great Spirit created all the animals and humans, he asked each how long their lives should be. The dog was the first to respond, excited by the promise of a long life, and asked for 10 years. The rest of the animals did not know how long they wanted, so the spirit gave them the years he thought was best.

He gave humans three centuries of life and told the dog that, although its life was short, its quality of life will be determined by its master. If the master was good to the dog, feeding, loving, and caring for it, it will prosper and live long. If the master neglected and abused it, it will live a short and miserable life.