Native ChocTalk presents: Season 3, Episode 1: “The History of the Issuba Ominili Tvshka (Choctaw Lighthorsemen) with Ryan Spring and Nick Wallace (Choctaws)”    

It was the 1800s and the days of the old wild west. As more settlers inhabited our Choctaw peoples’ lands in Mississippi and later Indian Territory, laws had to be put in place to attempt to tame the incoming unknowns. But who would enforce these rules on Native lands?

Every story needs a hero, and in today’s episode, you’ll hear about our brave Choctaw heroes who rode through the pine wood forests of Mississippi, and later the rolling mountains of southeastern Indian Territory, protecting and serving their Choctaw communities. They were the Issuba Ominili Tvshka – the Choctaw Lighthorsemen - and they WERE the law of our Indian lands during those wild west years.  

Many thanks to my award-winning guests, Historians Ryan Spring from Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Tribal Policeman, Nick Wallace who delve into the worlds and history of these warriors on horses!

You’ll also get to hear excerpts from Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer’s book, “Traitors” from her Choctaw Tribune Series, Book 2 – thank you, Sarah.

Join us, as we honor and learn about these courageous Lighthorsemen and about some fascinating stories of the old wild west!

Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/

Part 2 of 2

At one time, they inhabited 40,000 square miles within the Appalachian Mountains. But in 1835, 12,000 of their people were gathered and placed into stockades until it was time for their removal away from their homelands.

The journey took 6 to 7 months, killing 2,000 of their people on what is now termed “The Trail of Tears”.

Today, they are the largest tribe in the United States, with 440,000 members. They are the Cherokee people, and their endurance and strength continues on today.

Here to talk with us is my guest, Jack Baker, a Cherokee and President of the Board of the National Trail of Tears Association, past president of the Oklahoma Historical Society board, past board member of the Cherokee National Historical Society, and more. Jack’s extensive Cherokee research for over forty years resulted in authoring various articles, editing books on Cherokee history, and assisting with various documentaries on Cherokee history.

Learn more in this episode about:

• The history of the Cherokee
• The Trail of Tears and the graves left along the way
• Jack’s own ancestral stories
• Growing up with no electricity on his grandad’s Cherokee allotment in Oklahoma
• How his 2-room school had only 16 students
• Our “geeking out” over our love of research
• Jack’s library with 700 books related to the Cherokee
• Stories of his “guerilla warfare” research and hanging out in the archives with Angie Debo and Rella Looney (Rella manually indexed all the archives)!

By the way, Jack references a book that you can see on the video on YouTube, but if you’re listening only, the book referenced is “The Journal of Reverend Daniel S. Butrick, Cherokee Removal”.

May we never forget the Cherokee, the Trail of Tears, and the resilience of our ancestors.

Wado, Jack for your many years of research and for sharing your expertise with us!

Learn more about the National Trail of Tears Association here: https://nationaltota.com/

Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/

Part 1 of 2

At one time, they inhabited 40,000 square miles within the Appalachian Mountains. But in 1835, 12,000 of their people were gathered and placed into stockades until it was time for their removal away from their homelands.

The journey took 6 to 7 months, killing 2,000 of their people on what is now termed “The Trail of Tears”.

Today, they are the largest tribe in the United States, with 440,000 members. They are the Cherokee people, and their endurance and strength continues on today.

Here to talk with us is my guest, Jack Baker, a Cherokee and President of the Board of the National Trail of Tears Association, past president of the Oklahoma Historical Society board, past board member of the Cherokee National Historical Society, and more. Jack’s extensive Cherokee research for over forty years resulted in authoring various articles, editing books on Cherokee history, and assisting with various documentaries on Cherokee history.

Learn more in this episode about:

• The history of the Cherokee
• The Trail of Tears and the graves left along the way
• Jack’s own ancestral stories
• Growing up with no electricity on his grandad’s Cherokee allotment in Oklahoma
• How his 2-room school had only 16 students
• Our “geeking out” over our love of research
• Jack’s library with 700 books related to the Cherokee
• Stories of his “guerilla warfare” research and hanging out in the archives with Angie Debo and Rella Looney (Rella manually indexed all the archives)!

By the way, Jack references a book that you can see on the video on YouTube, but if you’re listening only, the book referenced is “The Journal of Reverend Daniel S. Butrick, Cherokee Removal”.

May we never forget the Cherokee, the Trail of Tears, and the resilience of our ancestors.

Wado, Jack for your many years of research and for sharing your expertise with us!

Learn more about the National Trail of Tears Association here: https://nationaltota.com/

Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/

It’s one of the largest all-Native run events in the nation - it’s Anadarko, Oklahoma’s 88^th Annual American Indian Exposition, August 2^nd-5^th, 2023 and YOU are invited!

Check out the event’s Facebook here Anadarko Indian Exposition 1935: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066746045395&sk=photos

• In this episode, I speak with Expo leaders, Tanner Mahseet (Apache), President and Bambi Allen (Kiowa), Secretary about:
• The history of Anadarko, where more American Indians reside per capita than anywhere in the world.
• The history of the Expo itself, the famous people in the Expo parade over the years.
• What the Expo means to our Plains Tribes and other tribes.

Come join us for:

• Our parade (August 2^nd and 5^th at 10:00 am in downtown Anadarko)
• The fair, which includes dancing (gourd dance, fire dancing, traditional, fancy dance, northern), powwows, archery competitions, Indian relay horse racing, art, jewelry, FRYBREAD!,
• This year’s attending “Indian of the Year” – Lane Factor from FX’s Reservation Dogs!
• The always-anticipated mud men!
• The Anadarko Chamber of Commerce will also have a town-wide event featuring live bands, drinks on the patios of the streets and more
• McKee’s Indian Store’s grand re-opening!

Parade Tribal Lineup: Caddo, Fort Sill Apache, Osage, Delaware, Ponca, Wichita, Pawnee, Kiowa, Apache, Comanche, Cheyenne & Arapaho, Iowa, Sac & Fox, Otoe Missouri

If you’d like to be a vendor, contact Tanner Mahseet at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. prior to July 31^st, 2023!

You’ll also hear some tips on:

• What to wear
• Where to park
• Powwow etiquette
• Cost: there’s no charge for the parade, nor for the fair (there is an entry fee for the horse racing and powwow)
• Where to stay (Chickasha, Lawton and camping at the fairgrounds)
• Historical and interesting places to visit while in Anadarko, such as the Southern Plains Indian Museum and more!

This event is for ALL so please join us and I hope to see you there!

Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/