The Choctaw Nation has two events in October that not only celebrate our sovereignty but also shine a light on the accomplishments and fortitude of the Choctaw people and our culture.
Here at the Choctaw Nation, we celebrate Chahta Nittak (Choctaw Day) on Indigenous Peoples Day, which occurs on the second Monday of October each year (this year’s date is Oct. 13), in place of Columbus Day. By highlighting the strength of our tribe on Choctaw Day, it also shows the resilience of our people who have overcome the sorrow and horrors faced along the Trail of Tears.
We celebrate along with all Native Americans in celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day. In 2021, the federal government issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day. The government statement that the day said the event was meant to “honor America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today.”
All Choctaw Nation administrative offices were closed in recognition of Chahta Nittak (Choctaw Day). I urge all tribal members to take time on this day and remember the trials, sacrifices, and suffering experienced by our ancestors that occurred in past generations so that we can participate in this day as a strong, unified, sovereign nation.
Choctaw Flag Day
On Oct. 16, our tribe celebrates the Choctaw Nation’s Flag Day in honor of the day our Great Seal was introduced as our symbol. The Choctaw Flag is purple and features the Choctaw Nation’s Great Seal, an important image to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
A reminder of our history and traditions is on display in everything we do at the Choctaw Nation through our Great Seal. On Oct. 16, 1860, the Choctaw General Council, led by Chief George Hudson, passed an act at the regular annual session held at Doaksville, that created the Great Seal of the Choctaw Nation.
The Great Seal of the Choctaw Nation, which consists of an unstrung bow symbolizing a peaceful Nation; encompassing three arrows honoring our three Chiefs Pushmataha, Mushulatubbe, and Apukshunabbe; and a smoking pipe-hatchet that represents the desire of the Choctaw people to establish beneficial alliances with neighbors, but also perhaps prowess. The seal has been used on all official papers of the Choctaw Nation since 1860. The seal is a guide for visitors to the Nation to see what we stand for, our traditions and culture.
Choctaw Nation celebrated its Inaugural Flag Day in an official capacity on Oct. 16, 2021. Since then, tribal members have celebrated Choctaw Flag Day by representing the Choctaw Flag Across the world. Get your Choctaw Flag and wave it proudly; it is an honor to fly the flag of our sovereign nation.
Chahta Okla yvt yvmohmi tuklo i minti kvt hvpi kucha pehlichi iksho ya holitoblichi. Chahta okla im vlhtaha, inla ahlakoffi, anonti im aivlhpesa aieninchit oktvnichi.
Chahta Okla ilvppvno, Columbus Day vlhtobachit Indigenous Peoples Day ako Chahta Nittak e holitoblichi. Hohchvffo Iskitini Hvshi, Nittak Hollotuk Onna hitukla ya afvmmi aiyuka yvmohmi.
Himak afvmmi ano, Hohchvffo Iskitini Hvshi nittak awah tuchina ak achi. Chahta Nittak vt hvpim okla im isht ahlampko fehnachi micha hvpim okla im inla ahlakoffi ya oktvnichi. Trail of Tears takla hvpim okla yvt nukhaklo anonti nukshopa ya asvnnit imaiya tok.
Indigenous Peoples Day e holitoblichi kvt Hattak Vpi Homma moyuma ka il ittiba holitoblichi. Afvmmi tahlepa sipokni tuklo, pokoli tuklo akucha achvffa ash, okla ahalaia pehlicheka yvt Indigenous Peoples Day a pehlichi im anumpa vmmona kuchi tuk. Anumpa ikbi hosh ilvppa achi tok; “Miha kvt nittak ma Miliki im vmmona aiasha micha oklushi apehlichi aiokpvcha chi.”
Nittak Hollotuk Onna, Hohchvffo Iskitini Hvshi nittak awah tuchina onak ma, Chahta Nittak holitobli kvt Chahta Okla im apesvchi atoksvli moma kvt vlhkvma chi. Himak nittak a, hvpi hattak tikba yvt momaka pisa, isht aiokpvchi, anonti ilbvsha pihisa tuka okla ibafoka moma kvt hvsh ikhaiyana chi ka hvchi miha li. Yvmmvt yohmi na, hlampko, ittachaka, anonti i kucha pehlichi iksho hvpia kvt nittak ilvppa il ittibafoka hinla.
CHAHTA I SHVPHA NITTAK
Hohchvffo Iskitini Hvshi nittak awah hannali onak ma, hvpim okla yvt Chahta Okla I Shvpha Nittak a holitoblicha chi. Hvpim Isht Inchuwa Ahli yvt hvpim isht vlhpisa toba tok a nittak a il aiokpvchi. Chahta I Shvpha yvt homakbi micha Chahta Okla im Isht Inchuwa Ahli ya na fehnvchi.
Hvpim Isht Inchuwa Ahli, hvpi hopaki isht anumpa micha hvpim anumpa isht auehinchi yvt Chahta Okla ya nana moma il akaniohmi ka pisachi atuk. Hohchvffo Iskitini Hvshi nittak awah hannali, tahlepa sipokni achvffa, tahlepa untuchina, pokoli hannali ash, Chahta Aianumpuli Aivlhpesa yvt Doaksville ai ittvfama tok. Miko George Hudson vt pehlichi ho, aianumpuli yvt akaniohmi ahnichi na, Chahta Okla Im Isht Inchuwa Ahli yvt toba tok.
Chahta Okla Im Inchuwa yvt ilvppa aieninchi: iti tanampo isht tvllakchi shufa osh nan aiya ahobvlli; uski naki tuchina hosh miko tuchina holitobli, Pushmataha, Moshlatubbee, micha Apakshunnubbee; anonti hakchuma ashuka iskifushi ittvchaka osh ittvhoba achukmali hilechi bvnna ka ahobvchi. Tahlepa sipokni achvffa, tahlepa untuchina, pokoli hannali hiket minti kash, isht inchuwa yvt Chahta Okla i holisso nana fehna moma ka inchunli. Nana il ahobvchi ka isht inchuwa yvt hvpi nowvt aya vhleha pilechi na pisa.
Hohchvffo Iskitini Hvshi nittak awah hannali, tahlepa sipokni tuklo, pokoli tuklo akucha achvffa ash, Chahta Okla yvt i Shvpha Nittak vmmona holitoblichi tuk. Yohmih ma, okla ibafoka vhleha yvt yakni moma paknaka ya Chahta I Shvpha Nittak a holitoblichi. Hvchi Chahta Shvpha eshi cha fehnvchit fahli! Hvpim okla pehlichi iksho i shvpha hikachi kvt holittopa hoke!
Yakoke anonti Chihowa hvt hvchi holitoblashke!
