Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Hi there,

I have just very recently learned about an event from back in 1847, which truly amazed me. The Choctaw people donated seven hundred dollars to aid starving famine victims in Ireland. This was such a hugely selfless,generous and kind act, especially considering the plight of the Choctaw people at the time and the extreme hardships that they had to endure.

I am Irish and have lived in Ireland all of my life. There are still remiders of the famine all over the country: abandoned villages, mass graves, Famine workhouses and even effects from the Famine on our present day health.(Cystic Fibrosis occurance is the highest per capita in the world in Ireland). On the street where I live there is a building used as a Soup Kitchen and an Almshouse next to it which were used during the Famine.

I am in awe of how kind and compassionate this donation was, especially considering the hardships of the Choctaw people at the time. Another amazing thing that occurred to me was that even though we were separated by thousands of miles, over the Atlantic Ocean, the Choctaw people still put the welfare of others before their own, On the other hand,some of our closest neighbouring countries failed to help the starving Irish population.

I am glad that our Country officially recognised the contribution the Choctaw Nation made to the welfare of the Irish in 1847, when our President visited with the Choctaw People and thanked them in person.

https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/michael/www/choctaw/robinson.html

I will never forget the generosity of the Choctaw Nation and i will remind everyone I know of the history between our two nations.

Your Sincerely,
Alan Thorpe
Kildalkey
Co. Meath,
Ireland