The Choctaw, or Chahta in the language of the people, originally lived in southeastern North America, in the area which is now in the states of Alabama and Mississippi. The language spoken by the people is from the parent language known as Western Muskogean and sharing this language group with the Chickasaw and Chacato.

The Choctaw today are federally recognized in three tribes: The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and Jena Band of Choctaw Indians in Louisiana.

As of early 2023, the total population is from 215,000 to as many as 228,000 enrolled in the Choctaw nation as a whole. The largest group of about 212,000 are in the Nation of Oklahoma; the Mississippi Band is in next with about 11,000 enrolled; The MOWA Band of Alabama has just under 4,000 enroled and the Jena Band of Louisiana has about 300 enroled.

In 1675, the French recorded that the Choctaw considered Nanih Waiya as the original mound of the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes. This mound is an earthwork platform located in Central Mississippi (32.921389, -88.948611).

The Nanih Waiya mound is about 25 feet tall, 140 feet wide and 220 feet long. There is some evidence that suggests this mound was originally larger but has eroded into the present size and shape. Too, at one time, this platform mound was bounded on three sides by a circular earthwork enclosure of about ten feet tall, which was about one square mile in total area.

The Choctaw lost control of this earthwork during the 1830s when they were removed to Indian Territory. The site of the earthwork was afterward privately owned, the under the ownership of the state of Mississippi and later maintained as a park. In 2973, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 2008, the site was deeded to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

The Choctaw believe that Nanih Waiya is the Mother Mound, (Inholitopa iski) and the stories told vary greatly but one in particular is worthy of considering. This story is that Nanih Waiya is the location where the Choctaw tribe ceased their wandering from the west and settled in this location for it to become their homeland.

The Choctaws a great many winters ago commenced moving from the country where they then lived, which was a great distance to the west of the great river and the mountains of snow, and they were a great many years on their way. A great medicine man led them the whole way, by going before with a red pole, which he stuck in the ground every night where they encamped. This pole was every morning found leaning to the east, and he told them that they must continue to travel to the east until the pole would stand upright in their encampment, and that there the Great Spirit had directed that they should live.

They story says that Nanih Waiya could possibly means Leaning Hill or Stooping Hill, or Place of Creation in the Choctaw language, but one thing is consistent in all variations of the origin story, and that is Nanih Waiya was the final destination of their migration.

The earliest archaeological evidence of occupation at Nanih Waiya is dated to about 300 to 600 CE during the middle Woodland Period when it was probably built.

However, the dating was based on surface artifacts, as no archeological excavation of the mound has ever been undertaken. Its occupation apparently continued at least until 700 CE, well into the Late Woodland period.

Nanih Waiya is contemporaneous with the other southern (lower Mississippi valley) Hopewell cultures, including ancient sites such as the Pinson Mounds in Tennessee and Ingomar Mound in Mississippi both of which mounds were further north of Nanih Waiya in the Miller cultures.

Another Hopewell area culture that Nanih Waiya is contemporary with, is the Marksville culture in the lower Mississippi valley, the Porter culture to the east and the Swift Creek cultures further to the east.

All of the above cultures were located on all sides of Nanih Waiya making this culture somewhat as set apart from the other Hopewell southern cultures.

My alarm awakens me at six, but I turn it off and sleep for another hour. Upon arising, I walk to the restroom, then back to the jammer, climb inside, start the engine and drive out of the campground. I then turn south on Natchez Trace Parkway and begin my drive to the w-mart in Jackson, Mississippi.

Since it is somewhat of a short drive, I stop at a few of the exhibits along the way to take some photos, including: Yocanookany Trailhead; Choctaw Boundary; Cypress Swamp; Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and the West Florida northern boundary. Wow, was that a bunch of stuff to learn.

After 1800, treaties between the Choctaw and the US government whittled away tribal rights and land.

Finally, in 1830, the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was negotiated at a council house near this spot. All of the remaining Choctaw homeland -- nearly 10.5 million acres -- was taken.

From 1831 through 1834, thousands of Choctaw trekked over 500 miles to "Indian Territory." The US War Department had promised in 1830 to "be kind and brotherly to them... to furnish them with ample corn and beef, or pork for themselves and their families."

Instead, the Choctaw had inadequate clothing and supplies. Heavy rain, blizzard-like snowfall, and a shortage of wagons turned the forced removal deadly.

The line of trees crossing the Parkway (Natchez Trace) immediately to your left marks a section of the boundary accepted by the Choctaw Indians and an American Commission under Andrew Jackson in the treaty of Doaks Stand, October 20, 1820. You are on the Choctaw side of the boundary.

The Choctaws reluctantly gave to the United States the land west of the line from White Oak Spring on the old Indian path... "northwardly to a black oak standing on the Natchez Roaa about forty poles eastwardly for Doaks fence, marked A.J and blazed.."

The area surrendered by the Choctaw Nation amonted to some five and a half million acres, about one third of their land. Ten years later, in 1830, the Choctaw were forced to give up all their lands. Other Indians were forced to do the same by 1834, thus clearing for white settlement all areas of the three states crossed by the Natchez Trace.

About 1812 William Doak established his stand or tavern on the Natchez Trace which is five miles north of the Parkway at this point. The treaty of Doaks Stand was signed there in 1820.

Because "he conducted himself respectfully toward those who called at his house... and made considerable improvemnt on the land" Doak was given sole right to purchase his land after it was opened for settlement. When the Robinson Road took traffic from the Natchez Trace, the stand was moved to the crossing of the Choctaw Boundary and the new road -- about half a mile north of here.