- Lived in modern-day Mississippi and Alabama
- Part of the Mississippian culture
- Constructed earthen mounds
- Engaged in complex social and political systems
- Extensive trading network
- Subsistence based on agriculture (maize, squash, sunflowers) and hunting/gathering
On the Trail of Tears
- Removed from their ancestral homeland in the Southeast
- Forced to relocate to present-day Oklahoma
- Harsh journey of 800 miles
- Approximately 4,000 Choctaw died
- Many suffered from disease, starvation and exposure
After Removal
- Reestablished their communities
- Adopted many aspects of European-American culture
- Intermarried with other Native American tribes
- Became active in politics and other spheres of society
Notable contributions to American society:
- Language preservation
- Established educational institutions
- Significant contributions to the economy
- Military service
Present Day:
- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is the largest federally recognized tribe in Oklahoma with over 200,000 citizens
- Their culture is still vibrant with language, traditions, and ceremonies being passed down from generation to generation