Lots to see and do in the Choctaw Nation during the eclipse

Hvshi kvnia takla ka Chahta Okla anukaka ya nana pisa anonti akaniohma hinla kvt lawa

Published April 1, 2024

By Chief Gary Batton

Audio in Choctaw Language

A total solar eclipse (some refer to it as the “Great North American Eclipse”) will cross the Choctaw Nation on April 8, 2024, bringing many out-of-state viewers to the reservation to see this special, celestial event.

The Oklahoma Department of Safety is expecting a flood of cars to the state’s highways before and after the event so plan accordingly. For instance, the 2017 eclipse created one of the largest traffic jams in U.S. history on the eclipse’s path.

Idabel and Broken Bow are in the direct path of the eclipse and as a result are expected to have thousands of visitors. State officials estimate more than 100,000 people will visit the Idabel and Broken Bow area due to the towns’ being in eclipse totality for more than 4 minutes during the afternoon of April 8. Towns within the Choctaw Nation and along the eclipse path have been preparing for this day. The towns have been coordinating with local and state law enforcement and with the Choctaw Nation Office of Emergency Management team and have a plan in place to handle the extra people that will be in the area to witness this unusual event.

We have created a Solar Eclipse 2024 Activities webpage that gives tips for safe travel, viewing and all the activities planned that day within the reservation.

Science has shown what causes an eclipse. It is the perfect time that the Moon moves between the Earth and the sun to block the sun’s rays from portions of the Earth. Some parts of the eclipse’s path will see partial darkness while others will achieve total darkness.

Our Choctaw ancestors experienced an eclipse in a much different way. When an eclipse occurred, legend has it that our ancestors believed hungry, large black squirrels would emerge and eat the sun to quell their hunger pains. The tribe would yell, throw sticks and rocks, shoot arrows, and throw spears toward the darkened sun to scare away the hungry squirrels. Every tribal member was counted on to do their part to frighten away the squirrels and save the sun from being devoured.

When the sun eventually came out of eclipse, the tribe would rejoice in a job well done at saving the sun from the hungry squirrels. Don’t be surprised if you visit the Choctaw Nation and see a few tribal members re-enacting these “eclipse traditions” by yelling and throwing sticks at the eclipse as some tribal members enjoy reliving our past by carrying on traditions, even those connecting to something as rare as an eclipse.

The last time Oklahoma was in the direct path of the eclipse was more than 100 years ago. So, you can see why the eclipse is such a big deal here in Southeastern Oklahoma. The Choctaw Nation is expecting to welcome people from outside the state as well as visitors from other parts of the state who will come here and witness the eclipse and learn about the Choctaw Nation’s culture. We welcome everyone to our reservation to witness this once in a lifetime spectacle for Oklahoma and enjoy all that the Choctaw Nation has to offer.

I urge you to be prepared for the trip. Bring lots of food and water, gas up your car every chance you get along your journey and make sure your vehicle is ready in the event of an eclipse-caused traffic jam along the way. And if you’re driving in the daytime darkness during the moments of the eclipse, don’t forget to turn on your lights as you navigate the roads during this unique timeframe.

We can’t wait to see you enjoy the eclipse at many of our great locations throughout the reservation. After the eclipse, see what the Choctaw Nation has to offer and immerse yourself in the tribe’s culture. You will be glad that you did – learning new information about our self-empowered tribe, our sovereignty and the history and culture of our people is always time well spent.

Yakoke and God Bless!

Hvshi momichit luhmi (kanimi kvt “Great North American Eclipse” achi) yvt Tek I Hvshi nittak untuchina, tahlepa sipokni tuklo, pokoli tuklo akucha ushtak ma Chahta Okla vbanvbla chi. Naksika amintit yopisa lawa hosh yakni ilatomba vlvt vba yvmohmi fehna ilvppa pisa chi.

Oklahoma Department of Public Safety yvt yvmohmi itikba anonti i himmak a ashali lawa hosh hina vlottoa chi ahni hatuk o vlhpesa hosh nana hvsh apesa chike. Yakohmi, tahlepa sipokni tuklo akucha awah untuklo ash hvshi kvnia yvt ashali oktvbli chito moma i shahli achvffa ka tobachi tok.

Idabel micha Broken Bow vt hvshi kvnia i hina taloha hatuk osh nowvt aya tahlepa sipokni kanohmi hoyo. Nan vlhtuka vhleha yvt okla tahlepa sipokni tahlepa achvffa atampa hosh Idabel micha Broken Bow aivla chi ahni. Tek i Hvshi nittak untuchina tabokoli ont iak ma tvmaha yvt hvshi mominchit luhmi ya holisso ushta atampa ho imomaka chi. Chahta Okla anukaka tvmaha vhleha yvt hvshi kvnia i hina asha kvt nittak pa apoksiachi tuk. Okla vlhchakaya yosh yvmohmi yohmi fehna kiyo ant yopisa chi ka tvmaha yvt nan vlhtuka kashkoa micha Choctaw Nation Office of Emergency Management ittibatoksvli hosh isht vlhpisa atahli tuk.

Yakni ilatomba anukaka ya atukkochit ittvnowa, apisaka, anonti akaniohmi moma kvt nittak ma vlhpisa chi ka Chahta Okla yvt holisso ikbi tuk.

Vnnoa i shahli: Solar Eclipse 2024 Activities

Nana hosh hvshi kvnia aiohmichi ka ikhana yvt oktvnichi tuk. Hvshi ninak aya yvt yakni lumbo micha hvshi ittitakla onak mvt yakni lumbo kashkoa ya hvshi tomi im oktvbli. Hvshi kvnia i hina kanimi kvt okhlili kanimmvchi pisa chi, inla yvto momvt okhlili pisa chi.

Chahta pi tikba yvt inlachi hosh hvshi kvnia imomaka tok. Nan vnnoa hopaki yvt ilvppak o achi; Hvshi kvniak ma fvni lusa hocheto yosh kuchvt hvshi vpa ka tikba vhleha yvt yimmi tok. Fvni hohchvffo mahlalichi kvt okla yvt hvshi okhlili imma ya tahpala, iti tvpa micha tvli pila, oski naki hossa, anonti na haluppa pila tok. Ibafoka aiyuka anukcheto hosh okla yvt fvni mahlalichit hvshi hlakoffichi tok.

Hvshi yvt haiakah ma okla yvt hvshi ya fvni ahlakoffichi tukvt na yukpa tok. Chahta Okla hvsh i nowak mvt ibafoka vhleha yvt nana vlhpisa ya atuklant apesa ka ish pisak mvt hvchi nukhlakancha nna. Ibafoka kanohmi kvt tahpalvt iti tvpa ya hvshi kvnia imma pit pila kvt na yukpa hosh nana vlhpisa yvt hvshi kvnia ittvtakali kia isht mahaya.

Oklahoma yvt hvshi kvnia i hina apissanli tok a afvmmi tahlepa achvffa atampa. Yohmi tok a Southeastern Oklahoma pa hvshi kvnia yvt nana fehna ka ish pisa hinla. Nowvt ittvnowa naksika aminti ya Chahta Okla yvt aiokpvcha chi hosh hoyo. Ilvppa aivlvt hvshi kvnia yopisvt Chahta im aivlhpesa imma ikhvna chi. Pi yakni ilatomba aivla ka mominchit il aiokpvchi. Oklahoma i nam pisa okchaya takla himonnaha ant yopisvt Chahta Okla yvt nana moma imissa ya ayukpa chi.