Choctaw Code Talker Sculpture Honors Chahta Bravery

Chahta Anumpa Luma Anumpuli Tvli Bvshvt Holbvt Toba yvt Chahta Aiyimita Aiokpvchi

Published May 23, 2025

By Chief Gary Batton

Audio in Choctaw Language

On May 22, 2025, the Choctaw Code Talkers sculpture was dedicated on the grounds of the Choctaw Cultural Center, please look at the video above for highlights from the event. This time of year, on this Memorial Day, is especially fitting to unveil the sculpture honoring our brave Chahta who laid down their lives so our people could thrive.

The 19 young Chahta soldiers, who are being honored by the sculpture, were the first to use their native language to confuse the enemy, essentially turning the tide during World War I.

It has been more than 90 years since the Choctaws of WWI volunteered their service to the United States and joined the Army to travel across the ocean to foreign land. Some of the Choctaw men were over-heard speaking their Native language amid battlefields in France and an officer immediately had a brainstorm.

Training the Choctaws to use their words as “code,” they were placed strategically on front lines and at command posts so that messages could be transmitted without being understood by the enemy. Nineteen Choctaw men have been documented as being the first to use their own language as a “code” to transmit military messages.

During the first world war, with the tapping of the American Army’s phone lines, the Germans were able to learn the location of where the Allied Forces were stationed, as well as where supplies were kept. When the Choctaw men were put on the phones and talked in their Native speech, the Germans couldn’t effectively spy on the transmissions.

Choctaws were citizens of the U.S. before 1924. Only about a fourth of Natives in the U.S. were not citizens when the 1924 citizenship act passed, and the Choctaws were both patriotic and valiant, with a desire to serve in the war effort. Choctaws were citizens because of the Curtis Act and Oklahoma statehood, which made them U.S. and state citizens. Many Choctaw men volunteered in WWI to fight for our country. Choctaw Code Talkers of WWI were instrumental in ending war. Members of Choctaw and other Tribal Nations also served with distinction, with Choctaws serving as code talkers in WWI and WWII.

Today we honor the sacrifices of the soldiers who laid down their lives in the struggle for freedom. Without the bravery of these soldiers, the Choctaw Nation would not be a sovereign nation, and we would not live in a free society in the United States. We owe a great deal of thanks and reverence to our brave military to keep this country safe and free.

It is my duty as a Chahta and a U.S. Citizen to honor these brave soldiers who used our native language to help bring about an end to the conflicts. We honor those who served, lives lost and the promise of America on this Memorial Day. It is no greater honor than to remember those who sacrificed all so that we could remain the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Yakoke and God Bless!

Bihi Hvshi nittak pokoli tuklo akucha tuklo, tahlepa sipokni tuklo, pokoli tuklo akucha tahlapi ash, Chahta Im Aivlhpesa Aboha i yakni ya Chahta Anumpa Luma Anumpuli tvli bvshvt holbvt toba ya okla aiokpvchi tuk. Holbvt toba kanvlli hvsh pisa cha, yvmohmi na fehnachi hvsh pisa chike. Tvli bvshvt holbvt toba oktvnichi ya himak Akshuchi Nittak vt hvshi kanvlli vlhpesa. Chahta chilita yvt im okchaya imissa tok o, tvli bvshvt holbvt toba yvt holitobli.

Tvli bvshvt holbvt toba yvt Chahta tvshka chipota himitta vbih chakkali ho holitobli. Yvmmak osh vmmona im anumpa anumpuli hosh tvnvp haksubachi tok. Nana yuhmahe vhlpesa hosh World War I takla ittibi i hina fololichi tok.

World War I i Chahta vhleha yvt ilap ahni hosh United States i toksvli tok a afvmmi pokoli chakkali atampa. Tvshka chipota ibafoka cha, okhvta chito tanapolit yakni inla aiona tok. France anukaka aiittibi takla ya, Chahta nakni kanohmi kvt im anumpa anumpuili ho pehlichi yvt haklo tok. Pehlichi yvt im anukfila imponna ihshi tok.

Chahta vhleha ya im anumpa isht tiwa hobachi ikhvnanchi cha im anukfila fehna hosh tikba bachaya hiohlichi tok. Tvshka chipota aheli ya anumpa apilah kia tvnvp vt ik akostinincho tok. Chahta nakni vbih chakkali hosh tikba im anumpa anumpuli hosh tvshka chipota im anumpa pila tok a holisso takali tok.

World War I takla German vhleha yvt Miliki tvshka chipota i tvli aianumpuli ya lumvt hvklo tok. Kanimma ho Allied Forces vt ahikia anonti kanimma ho vlhpoyak vt asha ka okla ikhvna tok. Chahta nakni yvt im anumpa ya tvli aianumupili aianumpulih ma, German vhleha yvt aiahlit lumvt hvkla he keyu tok.

Tahlepa sipokni achvffa, tahlepa chakkali, pokoli tuklo akucha ushta ik ono kisha kash Chahta yvt United States im okla attok. Tahlepa sipokni achvffa, tahlepa chakkali, pokoli tuklo akucha ushta kash, Citizenship Act aiokpvchih ma aivtta aiushta achvffa illa hosh United States im okla kiyo tok. Chahta vhleha yvt aiahli anonti aiyimita kvt tanampi ibawichi atia bvnna tok. Curtis Act micha Oklahoma Statehood ak tuk o Chahta vhleha yvt United States im okla anonti Oklahoma im okla toba tok. Chahta nakni lawa hosh ilap ahnit World War I aiittibi tok. Chahta Anumpa Luma Anumpuli yvt World War I vhlichi ibafoki tok. Chahta Okla anonti Oklushi Inla ibafoka vhleha yvt tikba hosh atia tok. Chahta Anumpa Luma Anumpuli vhleha yvt World War I micha World War II ittatuklo ka atia tok.

Himak nittak a, tvshka chipota isht aiokpvchi e holitobli. Tvshka chipota vhleha im aiyimita yvt iksho tuk ma, Chahta Okla yvt okla i shahli ahe tuk kiyo. United States anuka iksa yuka kiyo il aiasha he tuk kiyo. Hvpi tvshka chipota aiyimita ya yakoke ahli anonti aiokpanchi il im ahika.

Chahta anonti United States im okla sia kvt tvshka chipota hoyopa ilvppa holitobli vm aivlhtoka. Pim anumpa anumpuli hosh ittibi ont vhlichi isht apela tok. Himak Akshuchi Nittak a, okla atia tuk micha okla okchaya i kvnia tuk a e holitobli. Mominchit isht aiokpvchi tuk vhleha ya ahlichit e holitobli cha il ikhaiyana. Atuk o, yuka kiyo i yakni micha chilita i chukka il aiasha hoke!

Yakoke anonti Chihowa hvt hvchi holitoblashke!