The everfaithful Lily Wanda

from Choctaw Children's Legends by Norvella Goodman Martin

The ancient Chief was pleased to see his people with hearts full of love and gratitude to Great Spirit who had given them plenty. He delighted in the songs and dancers of thankfulness at the Green Corn Festival. The choice of their queen of the festival was right; Lily Wanda was the most beautiful of all the maidens. Yet his heart was heavy. Was there a young man brave enough to undertake the task he would set before them?

Time came for him to speak. The people were quiet.

"My people," he said, "Great Spirit has been good to us. Green Corn Goddess has watched over our corn. Rain God watered it and Father Sun warmed it. We give them thanks."

The Indians loved their chief and they liked his words.

"There is one thing more I wish for," he continued slowly. I have watched Father Sun day after day as he goes from our sight. I have wondered where he sleeps. To find the answer one must journey with him. This traveler will meet danger and hardships. He may never return. If he can find the place, he will be great among men."

The chief was silent. The silence was unbroken but for the wind that was like a sigh through the trees.

"My Chief," spoke Oklawana with the strength born of adventure, "I will find where Father Sun sleeps!" "No, no, do not go, Oklawana! You will never return!" cried out Lily Wanda. The startled Indians looked at each other but spoke no word.

"You are brave, my son," said the chief. "We shall ask Great Spirit to help you."

Oklawana turned to Lily Wanda. Their eyes met but for a moment he could not speak. "I must go! Our great chief wishes it. I must win honor before I marry. I will return with great honor and claim you for my bride!"

Lily Wanda could not cry or speak. She was hardly aware that her sweetheart had taken her hand.

"I leave my wampum belt with you. It tells the story of our people's councils. Guard it well until I return." Then he made four bundles of sticks for the four seasons of the year. "Count these for me as the seasons pass," he said as he gave them to Lily Wanda.

"I do as you ask," she barely whispered as she took the sticks. "Go!" she quickly added.

Oklawana made ready food, bows and arrows. At the rising of the sun his sweetheart watched him start his long journey.

Day by day Lily Wanda prayed to Great Spirit to send him back. She counted the bundle of sticks as the seasons passed. In the evenings she sat in her doorway watching in the direction he should return. In time, she went up on the mountain and built signal smokes. Perhaps he was lost.

Seasons came and went. Lily Wanda grew old. She still counted the sticks and guarded the belt. She watched and prayed. One day as she prayed at the mound of Nanih Waya, a stranger came to her.

"I saw the signal smoke and came to you," he said. She showed no interest. "You are Lily Wanda. I am Oklawana. I have looked for you for many seasons. Without your signals I would never have found you!" He saw his words meant nothing to the woman.

"Don't you remember Oklawana who went in search of the sleeping place of Father Sun? I am Oklawana. I could not find the place but I have come back to you," he pleaded.

"That is not true," she replied. "Oklawana has been dead for many years. He can not return; you are some other," she continued listlessly.

"Is this the belt he gave you?" he asked as he pointed to her waist.

"Yes, I have kept it for him but he does not return."

"I gave you the belt. Don't you remember me?"

"No, you are Halava, the story teller. Leave me," she breathed.

She was fainting as Oklawana took her in his arms. Her sorrow was too great. He saw she had died of a broken heart. Sad and distressed, Oklawana went into the village. He found no one he knew. When he told his story, some remembered they had heard of him.

"I traveled with Father Sun day after day, season after season. Finally I saw him sink into a great blue lake. I could not follow him," He was growing weary but he went on, "I have wandered many years trying to find my people. You do not know me. My Lily Wanda did not know me. Now she is dead," he said in despair as he sank upon the earth. He too had died of grief.

"It is Oklawana!" the people cried. They buried him and his faithful Lily Wanda together.

Choctaw Legends

by Rita Laws

When Parents Ask Children To Be Noisy

Do you know what an eclipse is? Today we know that when the moon passes in front of the sun and blocks it out, all is still safe. But our ancestors believed that an eclipse was dangerous. They thought a black squirrel was nibbling at the sun!

They knew that noise frightened squirrels. So, whenever a solar eclipse began, all of the people would make a terrible noise until the squirrel was frightened away from the sun.

Children were asked to scream, shout and yell. Grown-ups shot rifles into the air and banged pots and pans together. It was a frightening racket! And do you know what? It always worked.

The Gift of Tanchi (Corn)

Once upon a time there were two Choctaws camped out under a summer moon when they heard a beautiful but sad sound. They walked along the river's edge following the sound until they came upon a woman standing on a mound of earth. She was very beautiful, surrounded by light, and wore a dress of white decorated with delicate flowers. Now these two Choctaws had very good manners so they asked her right away how they could help her. ."I am hungry," she said with a small sad voice. The men did not have much food but they gave her their entire supper, and they gave it to her happily. The lovely lady ate only a little and thanked them with a promise.

"If you will go and tell no one you saw me, I will ask my father, the Great Spirit, to give you a great and wondrous gift. Return to this exact spot at the next moon." A little breeze suddenly blew by and she was gone. The Choctaws returned to their families and said nothing, even though they wanted to.

At the next moon, they quickly returned to the spot but were saddened to see that Hashtali's daughter was not there. But on the exact spot where she stood was a tall green plant with leaves that looked like the swords of the white men. The food this plant gave could be eaten in many different ways, all of which were delicious. The children like liked the popcorn it gave best. That plant was the corn plant, of course, a great gift, indeed.

Where Do Ants Come From?

The great Spirit made the very first people at the same time he made the grasshoppers, and both from yellow clay. They were born in an underground cave and then walked to the surface through a large tunnel. People and grasshoppers emerged together and traveled off in all directions. But the people were much bigger than the insects and trampled many of them.. Some even killed the great mother grasshopper who lived in the cave! Fearing they would be wiped out, the grasshoppers called out to Hashtali and asked that no more people be allowed to come forth. Now, the Great Spirit hears the cries of all living things and he took pity on the grasshoppers. He made the tunnel much smaller and turned the remaining people into ants so that they could no longer trample the grasshoppers. The ants you see today are those people. Don't step on them!

Choctaw Legends Re-Told

By Rita Laws

THE MAGIC RED POLE

The grass has died and been reborn many times since our people moved the long distance from the First Place to the ancient Motherland. A great alikchi, or medicine man, guided them with a red pole. Red, you know, is the sacred color of the Choctaws.

Hashtali, the Great Spirit, directed the alikchi to push the pole into the ground every night. Whatever direction it leaned the next morning, was the direction the people would go. For many years, the pole leaned to the east and the people traveled across great rivers and over high mountains covered with snow. BBRRR!

Then, at last, one morning, a small child awoke with the first light of day, and left her parents' side to look at the red pole. She could hardly believe her eyes because it was standing straight up! They would not have to go anymore. She woke up the camp with clapping and shouts of laughter. There was great rejoicing as the people unpacked their belongings for good. They were home!

A FRIENDLY HELLO

Long ago, the Choctaws appeared on Earth very suddenly. The ground opened one day and there soon was a very large hole. People who lived in nearby areas slowly gathered around. They were curious and a little frightened, all at once.

Later that day, the tops of many heads could be seen at the bottom of the hole. Those who were watching gasped in surprise!

Then the entire Choctaw people climbed out of the hole, men woman and children. They were not dressed for war. None were carrying spears or arrows.

They greeted their neighbors in chulosa, or peace, and their neighbors left them to live in peace.

And that is why our people prospered in the time before the white man.

Choctaw legends re-told:

by Rita Laws

STORMS AND NIGHTMARES

The Choctaws of long ago did not know what caused thunder and lightning. Nor did they know that nightmares are really harmless. They made up explanations for these things and we call them legends. Legends are an important part of the history of every group of people. The Choctaws believed that thunder was a great bird. Every time she laid an egg in a cloud, thunder would sound! This bird was also blamed for minor storm damage of homes and crops. Lightning was thought to be an even larger bird who did greater damage. Lightning destroyed whole trees and even forests! It was said that during a nightmare, the inside shadow or ghost left a person's body to roam the earth. This was considered to be very dangerous and people counted themselves lucky when they awoke from a nightmare still in possession of their souls.

FIRE IS A SPY!

The word for the Great Spirit, Hashtali, means "noon day sun." It was believed the sun holds the power of life and death over people. There is a legend that says Hashtali and Fire are friends. In fact, it was believed that they are always in touch with one another. Fire tells the sun about everything it hears and sees on Earth, especially when it learns of wrong-doing. The people knew that if they did anything naughty near a fire, Hashtali would know of it before they could take even one step. Choctaw children were always very good around a fire!

SUPERSTITIONS

Today, some people think that the number 13 is unlucky. This is called a superstition. Choctaw superstition said that when a sapsucker bird lands on a tree in your yard, you will receive some news soon. It may be good or it may be bad but you would hear of it that day if you saw the news bird.

Others thought that if a rooster crowed at an unusual time, there was danger nearby, or bad weather on the way. But the most common superstition was the idea that it was bad luck to say your own name! Choctaws of old never told anyone their own names. If you wanted to know what to call a new friend, you had to ask someone else for that person's name!

The BISHINIK thanks Rita Laws of Harrah, Oklahoma for submitting the Choctaw legends for publication.

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Choctaw Legends re-told

BY Rita Laws

TELLING THE TRUTH

Choctaws have always held honesty in highest regard. At one time, telling a lie was considered a crime! Choctaws would not speak to a liar except to call the person "Holabi minko." This was a name you would not want to hear because it means "Liar Chief." In the olden days, if a Choctaw needed to swear an oath that he or she was telling the truth, these words would be spoken: "I promise in the face of the sun!" In this way, the sun called to be a witness to the truth. And the sun could see all.

A CALENDAR OF STICKS

At one time, there was little need to know which day it was. Choctaws had no calendars or alarm clocks. These were not necessary because parents worked at home and there were no schools as we know them today. But when someone did need to know when a certain day had arrived, a simple but ingenious "calendar" was used. A Choctaw gathered the same number of sticks as the number of days ahead, and then tossed out one stick for each day that passed. When only one stick was left, the time was up! The names of the twelve months were known to Choctaws by different names than we know them today. Can you find the month of your birthday?

January - Cooking month

February - Little Famine month

March - Big Famine month

April - Wildcat month

May - Panther month

June - Windy month

July - Crane month

August - Women's month

September - Mulberry month

October - Blackberry month

November - Sassafras month

December - Peach month

TWO SHADOWS FOR ONE PERSON

The Choctaws once believed that everyone has two shadows, not just one. The inside shadow is a ghost which travels to another faraway place when the body dies. "The Land of The Ghosts" as it was called, was thought to be a giant playground where people played and danced and had fun forever! No one was ever sick or cold or hungry in this place. There were plenty of melons and other delicious foods for all. It was believed that everyone would be allowed inside this "heaven", everyone that is, except anyone who had ever murdered a Choctaw! Murderers had to stand outside and watch the games for eternity. The second shadow, the one on the outside which we can see, sometimes remained on earth after a person died. These shadows were able to roam at night and even hoot like an owl!

Choctaw legends re-told -Why The Flowers Grow

A story by Mrs. Josephine Latimer

One day little Josephine went with her Aunt Selee to look at her grandmother's flower garden. Josephine thought her aunt would like some of the flowers so she started picking some. When her aunt saw Josephine, she called, "Sutapa, sutapa! (You hurt; quit)." Then she began to cry.

Josephine was distressed and puzzled. She ran into the house to her grandmother. "Grandmother," she said, almost in tears, "why is Aunt Selee crying? I did not touch her but she called to me, "You hurt, quit!"

"I understand," replied her grandmother as she saw the flowers in Josephine's hand.

"Would you like to have these flowers, Grandmother?" Josephine asked when she saw her looking at them. "I broke them for Aunt Selee but I don't think she would want them now."

"No, Josephine, she wouldn't. The Indians love the wild and the garden flowers but they never pick them."

"But, Grandmother, they are so pretty!"

"You do not understand, child. Let's sit here and I'll tell you why." Long ago when the world was young, there was in the heavens a constellation where shone the brightest star in all the sky. This beautiful star, Bright Eyes, was happy because earth people loved her beauty. After many years a star that made Bright Eyes dim came into the sky. This made her sad because people could not see her face. She called to her sisters, "Come, sisters, let us go down to earth where we can live with the earth people and make them happy. The new star has hidden my light and the sky does not need us any longer."

"On their way to earth, Bright Eyes and her sisters stopped on Mount Joy where lived Uncta, the great bronze spider, spinner of finest webs. "We must learn to spin if Uncta will teach us," said Bright Eyes. He was proud of his spinning and weaving and was glad to teach the maidens. He set them to work and soon they were able to spin beautiful threads and weave them into fine cloth. "You and your sisters have done well," Uncta told Bright Eyes."

"How did they get to earth?" asked Josephine.

"Bright Eyes said to Uncta one day, "Will you help us get to earth? We want to teach the people how to spin and weave." He wove a basket and fastened it to a strong thread to lower them to earth.

"When they touched the earth, they became the Little Folk. They loved the forests; and there they lived, working, dancing and playing. Earth people learned quickly to spin and weave. Then the Little Folk taught them how to make bright colors and use them in weaving their rugs and blankets. Earth people, Indians, loved these Little Folk who helped them and Bright Eyes was happy again.

"Bright Eyes and her sisters assisted the Indians when they were sick. They went into the forests to pray to Great Spirit to protect the Indians. They told the people to pray to Great Spirit too.

"All of the prayers went up to Sandlephone who sat on a great ladder high in the sky. As soon as the prayers had come into his hands, they were changed into lovely flowers. He closed the blossoms and dropped the seeds upon the earth while the perfume was carried on into the heavens where Great Spirit was.

"The Little Folk cared for the seeds as they fell and from them sprang the wild flowers. They watched and tended the flowers. The Indians loved them but never hurt them. They called the flowers "Tokens of Love from Great Spirit."

"Oh," said Josephine, "after this I shall not break them."

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Have you heard these Choctaw legends?

Why Rabbit Is So Lean

Have you heard these Choctaw legends?

Why Rabbit Is So Lean

Bear and Rabbit met at Bear's cave and had conversation just like our folks.

"How your folks getting along, Bear?" asked Rabbit.

"Fine. How your folks?"

"All well," was the reply. Bear and Rabbit, just like folks, talked all morning about nothing much. Finally Rabbit said, "I must go home."

"Wait till I have dinner," Bear urged. He got big knife and whetted it sharp. He cut a piece off his side and fried it for dinner.

"Come see me, Bear," said Rabbit as he started to leave.

"Where do you live, Rabbit?"

"On old field with tall corn."

One day when Bear was walking along, he remembered Rabbit had invited him to come see him. Bear walked through tall corn but could not find Rabbit until he stepped on him and Rabbit went, "Squash, squash! "

Bear said, "Hok, hok, hok! How you getting along, Rabbit?"

"All right. How you, Bear?"

"Fine! "

"I'll get dinner," said Rabbit. He got his big knife and cut a piece off his side just like bear did. He fried it and gave it to Bear.

Rabbits side is still lean.

Why The Owls Stare

Once upon a time Owl and Pigeon met and talked just like folks.

"There are more owls than pigeons," boasted Owl.

"No," said Pigeon, "Many more pigeons. I challenge you to count numbers!"

"Agreed," responded Owl. "The big woods is fine place. Plenty trees for everybody."

"Fine. A week from today will give time to notify all owls and pigeons," Pigeon said.

On day to count owls come first. Trees were full of owls. They laughed and said, "Oowah - wah - wah! " They were sure there could not be as many pigeons. Owls were all over the place.

Soon they heard roar from east, then roar from south and roar from north. Pigeons covered trees so limbs broke.

Owls could not believe there could be that many pigeons. They sat still moving their heads back and forth staring with wide eyes. Pigeons kept coming.

"Oo! Wee!" said owls darting under trees and flying away. They travel at night so they will not meet pigeons. Owls stared so long and hard at pigeons their eyes just stayed that way.

 

Why the Possum's tail has no hair now

Coon and Possum met one day and had talk. As talk went on, Possum couldn't keep eyes off Coon's tail.

"How's your folks?" asked Coon.

"Fine," replied Possum.

"How you?" continued Coon.

"Fine," came the same reply. Possum was so busy admiring Coon's tail, he couldn't think of anything else.

"Where you going?" Coon asked.

"On way to mountain," answered Possum who had come out of bottom.

"What for?"

"Hunting persimmons. Might find some," Possum answered, still looking at Coon's tail.

"Just passed persimmon grove on way down," Coon told him.

"Any persimmons?" asked Possum beginning to show a little interest.

"Trees full."

"Where you going, Coon?"

"To bottom to look for crawdads."

"Noticed them in every slew, lots of them," said Possum and with that his eyes were back on Coon's tail. "Your beautiful tail, Coon! How did you get it?" he had to ask.

"Took hickory bark, wrapped it around tail then singed it. That is way I got colors," explained Coon.

They separated, each going own way. Possum kept thinking how he could have tail like Coon's. He got hickory bark and wrapped tail. He built fire to singe tail but he burned all hair off.

Ever since possums have had no hair on tails. That is reason they travel at night. They still sulk because no hair on tails.

The Little People

A long time ago in ancient time, while the Choctaw Indians were living in Mississippi, the Choctaw legends say that certain supernatural beings or spirits lived near them. These spirits, or "Little People," were known as Kowi Anukasha or "Forest Dwellers." They were about two or three feet tall. These pygmy beings lived deep in the thick forest, their homes were in caves hidden under large rocks.

When a boy child is two, three, or even four years old, he will often wander off into the woods, playing or chasing a small animal. When the little one is well out of sight from his home, "Kwanokasha", who is always on watch, seizes the boy and takes him away to his cave, his dwelling place. Many times his cave is far away and Kwanokasha and the little boy must travel a very long way, climbing many hills and crossing many streams. When they finally reach the cave Kwanokasha takes him inside where he is met by three other spirits, all very old with long white hair. The first one offers the boy a knife; the second one offers him,a bunch of poisonous herbs; the third offers a bunch of herbs yielding good medicine.

If the child accepts the knife, he is certain to become a bad man and may even kill his friends. If he accepts the poisonous herbs he will never be able to cure or help his people. But, if he accepts the good herbs, he is destined to become a great doctor and an important and influential man of his tribe and win the confidence of all his people.

When he accepts the good herbs the three old spirits will tell him the secrets of making medicines from herbs, roots and barks of certain trees, and of treating and curing various fevers, pains and other sickness. That is the reason the "'Little People" take the boy child to their home in the wilderness, in order to train Indian doctors, transmitting to them their special curative powers and to train them in the manufacture of their medicines. The child will remain with the spirits for three days after which he is returned. He does not tell where he has been or what he has seen or heard. Not until he becomes a man will he make use of the knowledge gained from the spirits, and never will he reveal to others how it was acquired.

It is said among the Choctaws that few children wait to accept the offering of the good herbs from the third spirit, and that is why there are so few great doctors and other men of influence among the Choctaws.

It is also said the the "Little People" are never seen by the common Choctaws. The Choctaw prophets and herb doctors, however, claim the power of seeing them and of holding communication with them.

During the darkest nights in all kinds of weather you can see a strange light wandering around in the woods. This light is the Indian doctor and his little helper looking for that special herb to treat and cure a very sick tribesman.

Eclipse of the sun blamed on black squirrel

In Choctaw history, solar eclipses were attributed to black squirrels, or a black squirrel, supposed to be eating the luminary, and they must be driven off if mankind were still to enjoy the heat and light. Cushman says:

The Choctaw . . . attributed an eclipse of the sun to a black squirrel, whose eccentricities often led it into mischief, and, among other things, that of trying to eat up the sun at different intervals. When thus inclined, they believed, which was confirmed by long experience, that the only effective means to prevent so fearful a catastrophe befalling the world as the blotting out of that indispensable luminary, was to favor the little, black epicure with a first-class scare; therefore, whenever he manifested an inclination to indulge in a meal on the sun, every ingenuity was called into requisition to give him a genuine fright so that he would be induced, at least, to postpone his meal on the sun at that particular time and seek a lunch elsewhere. As soon, therefore, as the sun began to draw its lunar veil over its face, the cry was heard from every mount from the Dan to the Beersheba of their then wide extended territory, echoing from hill to dale, "Funi lusa hushi umpa! Funi lusa hushi umpa," according to our phraseology, the black squirrel is eating the sun! Then and there was heard a sound of tumult by day in the Choctaw Nation for the space of an hour or two. Far exceeding that said to have been heard by night in Belgium's Capital, and sufficient in the conglomeration of discordant tones terrific, if heard by the distant, little, fastidious squirrel, to have made him lose forever afterward all relish for a mess of suns for an early or late dinner.

The shouts of the women and children mingling with the ringing of discordant bells as the vociferous pounding and beating of earsplitting tin pans and cups mingling in "wild confusion worse confounded," yet in sweet unison with a first-class orchestra of yelping, howling, barking dogs gratuitously thrown in by the innumerable and highly excited curs, produced a din, which even a "Funi lusa," had he heard it, could scarcely have endured even to have indulged in a nibble or two of the sun, though urged by the demands of a week's fasting.

But during the wild scene the men were not idle spectators, or indifferent listeners. Each stood a few paces in front of his cabin door with no outward manifestation of excitement whatever - so characteristic of the Indian warrior but with his trusty rifle in hand, which so oft had proved a friend sincere in many hours of trial, which he loaded and fired in rapid succession at the distant, devastating squirrel, with the same coolness and calm deliberation that he did when shooting at his game. More than once have I witnessed the fearful yet novel scene. When it happened to be the time of a total eclipse of the sun, a sufficient evidence that the little, black epicure meant business in regard to having a square meal, though it took the whole sun to furnish it, then indeed there were sounds of revelry and tumult unsurpassed by any ever heard before, either in "Belgium" or elsewhere.

Then the women shrieked and redoubled their efforts upon the tin pans, which, under the desperate blows, strained every vocal organ to do its utmost and whole duty in loud response, while the excited children screamed and beat their tin cups, and the sympathetic dogs (whose name was legion) barked and howled - all seemingly determined not to fall the one behind the other in their duty since the occasion demanded it; while the warriors still stood in profound and meditative silence, but firm and undaunted, as they quickly loaded and fired their rifles, each time taking deliberate aim, if perchance the last shot might prove the successful one; then, as the moon's shadow began to move from the disk of the sun, the joyful shout was heard above the mighty din "Funi-lusa-osh mahlatah! " The black squirrel is frightened.

But the din remained unabated until the sun again appeared in its usual splendor, and all nature again assumed its harmonious course.

From: "Source Material for the Social and Ceremonial Life of the Choctaw Indians" by John R. Swanton,

 

Why the rabbit has a short tail

A very long time ago it is said that only the Red people and wildlife were on this land. It is also said at that time the rabbit had a long tail.

Early one very cold morning he was out hopping and playing. He looked toward the trail and saw a fox coming up the trail. The fox had some fish with him. Wow, I'll ask him where he caught those fish. When the fox got there the rabbit said, "Fox, where did you get those fish?" The Fox said, "I caught them at the branch." The branch is frozen over, however, I dug a small hole in the ice and put my tail down through the hole and I sat there for quite a while. My tail began to get heavy so I pulled my tail out and the fish were hanging on my tail.

The rabbit started hopping very fast toward the branch. When he got to the branch he dug a small hole in the ice and dropped his tail through the hole. It was very cold but the rabbit kept sitting on the frozen ice. He thought he had enough fish so he gave his tail a pull, but it would not come out. He pulled again, but the tail had frozen to the ice and wouldn't come out. So he gave a hard jerk and the tail snapped off. That's why the rabbit has a short tail today.

Katihmi Ho

Chukfl Hasimbish Ut Tilofa?

Hopaki fehna kash yakni ilappa hatak api homa micha nan nukshopa bieka hosh aiyasha tok mia. Yammak fokali ma, Chukfi i hasimbish ut falaya bieka tok mia.

Nitak onnahinli kapassa fehna tok yohmi kia Chukfi ut kocha ma tolupli micha washohash ahanta tok mia, hatok osh hini ushi imma pisa ma Chula ut hina ushi ma minti tok. Chula ut nani kanohmi ishi hosh minti ho pesa mut. Yaki! Nani ma Kanima a hokli tuk a impanaklo la chi achi tok osh.

Chula hut alah ma. Chukfi ashosh, Chula, nani ma katima ish ahokli tu im achi ma? Chula hash osh anumpa falama imma mut bok ushi mak atok.

Bok ushi mut kalampi fehna yohmi kiya okti ma Chiluk iskitini kulilish sa hasimbish a pit foki li tok, micha ma binili tok osh hopakit taha ma sa hasimbish ut wikit isht ia ma halat kochi lih ma nani yakomih hosh sa hasimbish a takohmaya tok im achi ma. Chukfi ash osh tushpa fehna hosh tolupi bok ushi ia tok osh onah mut okti kalampi yumma chiluk kuli cha imi hasimbish a okti chiluk ma lhpulli chit pit i takalichit tok.

Nitak mut kapassa fehna tok. Yohmi kia Chukfi ash osh pi okti kalampi ma binili tok osh hopakit taha ma. Himak foka kano nani ut takomaya ahni mut i hasimbish kocha chi tok ako kocha hi keyu tok, yohmi ma haksichi hosh halali ma hasimbish ut okti ma akalampi tok osh litafa tuk. Yohmi hatok o himmak a Chukfi hasimbish ut tilofa osh yohmi.

Choctaw story version and translation by Charley Jones

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Supernatural beings in our past

Some early writers, and in later times, Cushman and Bushnell, report that the Choctaws believed in a great good spirit and a great evil spirit. It seems that there were a number of supernatural beings mentioned in historical accounts of Choctaws over the past few hundred years.

Several different terms were applied to the great good spirit, Nanapesa, Ishtahullo-chito, Nanishtahullo-chito, Hushtahli and Uba Pike. The terms lshtahullo or nanishtahullo is applied to anything thought to possess some occult or superior power - such as a witch.

Shilup chitoh osh is a term anglicized to mean The Great Spirit. Chitokaka means The Great One.

Hushtahli is from Hashi, "Sun" and Tahli, "to complete an action".

In addition to the native language for what would today be termed God and Devil, the Choctaws believed they had many other "powerful beings" in their midst.

They believed in a little man, about two feet high, who dwelled alone in the thick, dark woods. The little man was called Bohpoli or Kowi anukasha, both names being used alone or together. The translation of Bohpoli is the "Thrower". The translation of Kowi anuskasha is "The one who stays in the woods", or to give a more concise translation, "Forest Dweller".

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

Bohpoli was never seen by the common Choctaws, only the prophets and doctors. The Indian doctors would report that Bohpoli assisted them in the manufacture of their medicines. Some stories even give the account that bohpoli would "steal" little children and take them into the woods, to teach them about herbs and medicines. After returning the children to their homes, Bohpoli would leave them alone, letting them grow up to become doctors of the tribe.

An interesting being mentioned in some of the history writings is Kashehotapalo, a combination of man and deer who delighted in frightening hunters. He was much admired for his speed and agility. If the Choctaws angered Kashehotapalo, he would race ahead of them and warn the enemy or animals being hunted.

Okwa Naholo or Oka Nahullo - 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.

Hoklonote' she was a bad spirit who could assume any shape he desired, as well as being able to read people's thoughts.

Nalusa Falaya, "The long black being" resembled a man, but with very small eyes and long, pointed ears. He sometimes frightened hunters or transferred his power of doing harm. Some believed that Nalusa Falaya preferred to approach men by sliding on his stomach like a snake.

Hashok Okwa Hui'ga, translated into Grass Water Drop, was believed to have a connection to what is termed will-o'-the-wisp. Only it's heart is visible, and that only at night. If anyone looks at it he is led astray.

Ishkitini, or the horned owl, was believed to prowl about at night killing men and animals. Many believed that when ishkitini screeched, it meant sudden death, such as a murder. If the ofunlo (screech owl) was heard, it was a sign that a child under seven in that family was going to die, because in size, it is a small owl. If opa (a common owl) perched in a barn or on trees near the house and hooted, it foreboded death among the near relatives.

Biskinik, the sapsucker, was known as the newsbird. If he landed on a tree in their 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.

Heloha (thunder) and Melatha (lightening) were responsible for the dramatic thunderstorms. In Choctaw mythology, they were two huge birds. Heloha would lay her giant eggs in the clouds and they would rumble as they rolled around atop the clouds. Despite his size, her mate, Melatha, was extremely fast and left a trail of sparks as he streaked across the sky.

Na-lusa-chito was the soul eater. If you allowed evil thoughts or depression to enter your mind, he would creep inside you and eat your soul.

It was also believed that every man had a shilombish, the outside shadow, which always followed him, and shilup, the inside shadow, or ghost, which after death goes to the land of ghosts. The shilombish was supposed to remain upon the earth, and wander restlessly about its former home, often moaning, to frighten its surviving friends, as 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 Choctaws could tell between the shilombish and animals it imitates. When a fox barks, or an owl screeches, another fox or owl replies. But when the shilombish imitates the sound of either animal,  no response is given.

 

Legend of two brothers

If you go to your library and check out a book by H.B. Cushman, The History of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Natchez Indians, published in 1899, you can read a great deal about the past of our tribe. On page 197 of this book, Cushman details the story of Tashka and Walo.

Tashka and Walo were brothers who lived long ago. Every morning they saw the sun rise above the horizon, pass high overhead, and late in the day die in the west,

When the boys were about four years old they conceived the idea of following the sun and seeing where he died. So the next day, when he was overhead, they started to follow him; but that night, when he died, they were still in their own country, where they knew the hills and the rivers. Then they slept, and in the morning when the sun was again overhead they once more set off to follow him. And thus they continued for many years to wend their way after the sun in his course through the heavens.

Long, long afterward, when the two boys had become men, they reached a great expanse of water, and the only land they could see was the shore on which they were standing. Late that day, when Sun died, they saw him sink into the water; then they also passed over the water and entered Sun's home with him. All about them they saw women - the stars are women and the moon is Sun's wife. Then Moon asked the brothers how they had found their way so far from their home. They told her how for many, many years, ever since they were mere boys, they had followed Sun in his daily journey.

The Sun told his wife to boil water. Into this he put the boys and rubbed them; this treatment caused them to turn red and their skin to come off.

Sun then asked them whether they knew the way to return to their home, and they said, "No"; so he took them to the edge, whence they looked down to the earth but they could not distinguish their home.

Sun asked why they had followed him, as it was not time for them to reach heaven. They replied that their only reason for following him was a desire to see where he died.

Sun then told them that he would send them home, but that for four days after reaching their home they must not speak a word to any person. If they spoke during the four days they would die, otherwise they would then live and prosper. A large buzzard was then called by Sun and the two boys were placed on its back. Buzzard then started toward the earth. The clouds are midway between heaven and earth; above the clouds wind never blows. As buzzard flew from heaven to the clouds the brothers could easily keep their hold; but from the clouds to the earth the buzzard was blown in all directions. All reached the earth in safety, however, and the boys recognized the trees that stood about their old home.

They rested beneath the trees, and while there an old man passed by who knew the brothers. He continued down the road and soon meeting the boys' mother, told her the boys had come back. She hastened to see them. When she saw them she began to talk and made them answer her. Then they told her that, as they had spoken during the first four days after their return, they would surely die. Knowing she had forced them to speak, on hearing this the mother was greatly worried. Then all went to the mother's home, and the brothers told her of all they had seen and how they had followed Sun during many years. After they had told all, they died and went up to heaven to remain forever.

Choctaw Legends

Nature's Signals

The Indians loved nature and lived close to it. They observed carefully the happenings that occurred before weather changes. Their understanding was attributed to Great Spirit's teachings.

The little loksa or terrapin lives near the water but he cannot live in it. He knows days ahead if there is to be a flood and moves to high ground. When the Indians see the terrapin moving, they know they must move too.

The Indians say saw grass, one of the sedges, blooms every hundred years unless a wind and rain storm is coming. The terrapin does not like the odor of the blossoms, so as soon as the blooming begins, he moves to higher land where there is no grass.

The blossoms and the moving terrapin tell the Indians of the approaching storm.

They say if the wind blows from the east for three consecutive days, rain will fall.

At times when rain is needed, the Indians may try to bring rain. If a snake can be found, it is killed and left with its stomach up to the sun. This will surely bring rain.

The Indians call the redheaded woodpecker the signal bird. If it pecks on the house or a tree near the house, that is the signal danger is near and they must use precaution. Should a signal bird fly in front of one who has started on a trip, he knows danger lies ahead and he should return home.

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Legends of the Choctaw Nation remembered

In stories collected by Henry S. Halbert in the 19th century regarding the beliefs of the Choctaws, supernatural beings are mentioned, such as Kashehotapalo, a combination of man and deer who delights in frightening hunters, Okwa Nahola (or Oka Nahullo), "white people of the water," who dwell in deep pools and have light skins like the skins of trout and sometimes capture human beings whom they convert into beings like themselves; Hoklonote' she, a bad spirit who can assume any shape he desires and is able to read man's thoughts; Nalusa Falaya, "the Long Black Being,: which resembles a man, but has small eyes and long, pointed ears and sometimes frightens hunters or even communicates its own power of doing harm; and Hashok Okwa Hui'ga, "grass water drop," which seems to have some connection with the will-o'-the-wisp. Its heart only is visible and that only at night, and if one looks at it he is led astray. Ishkitini, the horned owl, was believed to prowl about at night killing men and animals. This sinister character was undoubtedly due to the association of the bird with witchcraft.

One Choctaw named Simpson Tubby claimed that the jack-o'-lantern was called "nightmare" by the Indians (and) was believed to plait up the tails of horses during the night and to ride them about until they could hardly be used next day and many died from the effects. They also upset a horse's stomach so that an Indian doctor had to be called in to treat him.

He said that when the horned owl (ishkitini) screeched it meant a sudden death, such as a murder. If the screech owl (ofunlo) was heard, it was a sign that a child under seven among the connections of that family was going to die, because in size this is a baby owl.

If a common owl (opa) alighted on a barn or on trees near the house and hooted, it foreboded death among the near relatives.

The sapsucker (biskinik) is the "newsbird". He brings news both bad and good. If he lights on a tree in your lot early in the morning, some "hasty" news will come before noon. If he does this late at night, the news will come before morning.

They believed that the chicken had been put into their yards to give them a friendly warning of danger. If a chicken crows outside of its usual time, it is because it foresees bad weather. If one comes up to the doorstep or into the gallery and crows, it means hasty news. If a chicken files up on the roost and crows after reaching it, there will be trouble in the family. If a hen crows, that means that the women of the neighborhood are going to fall out.

The old Choctaw claimed that the male eel acted also as the male of catfish and fish of other kinds. If one had intercourse with a female eel, the offspring would naturally be eels; if with a mud catfish, the offspring would be blue catfish; if with any scale fish, the young would be channel catfish. It was claimed the different species of fish were made by intermarriages.

They claimed that though the blacksnake would not harm anyone, it would try to scare a person. The coachwhip snake would wrap itself around a person and whip him with its tail, and if a hawk tried to carry one of these serpents off, it would whip him until the feathers flew and make him let it go.

The world "Nahullo" (something supernatural or sacred), which appears above, was probably a generic term applied to spirits that had never existed as human beings, although Cushman speaks of them as a race of gigantic hunters who lived in western Tennessee and the northern parts of Alabama and Mississippi at the period of the Choctaw immigration. Later the term was applied to the white people, probably on account of the lightness of their skin.

Information from: "Source Material for the Social and Ceremonial Life of the Choctaw Indians" by John R. Swanton,

Choctaw Legend

in the beginning, Choctaw people were hungry. "We have nothing to feed our little ones and our old people are starving. They can no longer chase the deer." Then one day , birds came from the south. They flew over the place where the Choctaws were camped. Something the birds carried in their claws and beaks were truly remarkable. They dropped this thing into the Choctaw fields. Soon a beautiful and mysterious plant began to grow. Because of the long stalks, the green coating and the the silken covering, the Wise men knew it was corn. A gift of the Spirit, brought on the wings of the birds. Before long, the Choctaws had new life. They were no longer hungry, their journey was over and they could live in the place where the Choctaw Spirits had brought them.

Wow, great, Mam.  Thank you.

 

with respect

Linn