Native ChocTalk Present: Part 2 of “A Fascinating New Look at Our Choctaw History by the Decade: Megan Baker (Choctaw), Historic Preservation Dept., Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma”

Most people have heard of the Removal, or what's called, "the Trail of Tears", in which our Indigenous people were removed from their lands beginning in the early 1800s and were relocated to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).

The Choctaw were the very first to make the trek from Mississippi to their new home. The journey was deadly for some. Many of our people passed away due to harsh weather conditions, illness, starvation, and at the hands of the soldiers who were transporting them.

But what happened next, once the Choctaw arrived in Indian Territory? And what became of the Choctaws who refused to be removed and to those who ran away into the swamps to hide?

These questions have come to my mind over the years, and I’ve found answers here and there, but I needed to learn more. And not only that, I’ve probably pondered hundreds of other questions too.

Enter Megan Baker.

Although Megan may not realize it, she’s my new best friend in all things Choctaw history and has graciously put up with the many – ok, hundreds – of questions I’ve sent her way (yakoke for putting up with me, Megan). By the way, I don’t just like her for her history expertise – she’s also equal parts really cool AND a level 5 history nerd like me (only she’s actually getting her PhD in the subject and all – ok maybe she’s a level 10).

Meagan is a Research Assistant for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Historic Preservation department and is currently working on her PhD in Anthropology from UCLA. Her masters is in American Indian Studies from UCLA and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnicity and Race Studies from Columbia University. Yep, she’s definitely a level 20.

I’ve eagerly followed Megan’s monthly series in the “Iti Fabvssa”, a column in our Choctaw Nation’s Biskinik paper for quite a while, soaking in our history that she has tirelessly broken out by decades. But not only that. She has studied thousands of original documents, records and accounts by the Choctaw themselves (not just the history books) to bring us a very different viewpoint than what we’ve heard before. So it was an honor when she agreed to join me in this special 2-part Native ChocTalk episode.

Did you know….

• Life for the Choctaw wasn’t all rosy once they settled into their new land? Not surprisingly, they were placed into the lands of the Caddo, Osage and Comanche. So naturally, villages were raided, cattle was stolen and yep, life was pretty scary and contentious.
• That Mark Twain met Chief Peter Pitchlynn?
• Choctaw coal mining used to be a big deal in Oklahoma?
• 9 TONS of Choctaw records were purposely destroyed (does it make you want to cry too)?

After listening to this episode, who else wants to watch Megan roller skate to work? Let me know!

Whether you are Native or non-Native, if you love history, but want to see it in a new light, you’ll love this conversation too!

So please join Megan and me in this journey through each decade with the Choctaws after their removal to Indian Territory. And yakoke to Megan for her hundreds of hours of research that came in handy when I asked my yhundreds of questions – keep up that great work for our tribe and for future generations to come!

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

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

Native ChocTalk Present: “A Fascinating New Look at Our Choctaw History by the Decade: Megan Baker (Choctaw), Historic Preservation Dept., Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma”

Most people have heard of the Removal, or what's called, "the Trail of Tears", in which our Indigenous people were removed from their lands beginning in the early 1800s and were relocated to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).

The Choctaw were the very first to make the trek from Mississippi to their new home. The journey was deadly for some. Many of our people passed away due to harsh weather conditions, illness, starvation, and at the hands of the soldiers who were transporting them.

But what happened next, once the Choctaw arrived in Indian Territory? And what became of the Choctaws who refused to be removed and to those who ran away into the swamps to hide?

These questions have come to my mind over the years, and I’ve found answers here and there, but I needed to learn more. And not only that, I’ve probably pondered hundreds of other questions too.

Enter Megan Baker.

Although Megan may not realize it, she’s my new best friend in all things Choctaw history and has graciously put up with the many – ok, hundreds – of questions I’ve sent her way (yakoke for putting up with me, Megan). By the way, I don’t just like her for her history expertise – she’s also equal parts really cool AND a level 5 history nerd like me (only she’s actually getting her PhD in the subject and all – ok maybe she’s a level 10).

Meagan is a Research Assistant for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Historic Preservation department and is currently working on her PhD in Anthropology from UCLA. Her masters is in American Indian Studies from UCLA and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnicity and Race Studies from Columbia University. Yep, she’s definitely a level 20.

I’ve eagerly followed Megan’s monthly series in the “Iti Fabvssa”, a column in our Choctaw Nation’s Biskinik paper for quite a while, soaking in our history that she has tirelessly broken out by decades. But not only that. She has studied thousands of original documents, records and accounts by the Choctaw themselves (not just the history books) to bring us a very different viewpoint than what we’ve heard before. So it was an honor when she agreed to join me in this special 2-part Native ChocTalk episode.

Did you know….

• Life for the Choctaw wasn’t all rosy once they settled into their new land? Not surprisingly, they were placed into the lands of the Caddo, Osage and Comanche. So naturally, villages were raided, cattle was stolen and yep, life was pretty scary and contentious.
• That Mark Twain met Chief Peter Pitchlynn?
• Choctaw coal mining used to be a big deal in Oklahoma?
• 9 TONS of Choctaw records were purposely destroyed (does it make you want to cry too)?

After listening to this episode, who else wants to watch Megan roller skate to work? Let me know!

Whether you are Native or non-Native, if you love history, but want to see it in a new light, you’ll love this conversation too!

So please join Megan and me in this journey through each decade with the Choctaws after their removal to Indian Territory. And yakoke to Megan for her hundreds of hours of research that came in handy when I asked my yhundreds of questions – keep up that great work for our tribe and for future generations to come!

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

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

Native ChocTalk Presents: “Terry Ware (Kiowa & Comanche) On The History of Riverside Indian School, Wares Chapel, O Ho Mah, Hog Creek & Our Love of Sonic Drinks”

Listen to the episode here: https://tinyurl.com/bde93y64

I stopped by Riverside Indian School in my hometown, Anadarko, Oklahoma last summer to hang out with my friend, Terry Ware and I can’t help but share our conversation with you. You’ll hear:

• Terry singing a Kiowa hymn and the happy birthday song in Kiowa (love this!)
• About Riverside Indian School’s upcoming 150-year celebration in May of 2022!
• The history of Riverside including about the feral hogs that used to come around (until a fence was put up)
• How Terry is a coach at Riverside, but before that, he was my dad’s student there at the school
• How he’s a legacy student at Riverside, as his grandmother, mom, daughter and grandson attended
• About his family’s church - Wares Chapel - in Hog Creek where we grew up, and where my sister got married. And about the Chapel’s inception in the 1800s and gathering of and transporting stones from Chickasha to Hog Creek.
• About the Kiowa tail bustle and the history from the Omaha tribe in Nebraska to the Cheyenne to the Kiowa
• What his research on the Carlisle Indian School Journals uncovered
• Why the O Ho Mah hid their drums and pipes in the caves in Ridge Stone, west of Hog Creek
• His love of singing and drumming in the O Ho Mah Lodge Singers group
• His ancestors’ names, such as “The Day the Sun Died” because his great great grandmother was born during the eclipse
• About the Fort Sill vs Riverside rivalry (know what I’m talkin’ about, Braves?) 😉
• That “Indian perfume”, which comes out with the full moon in June, is what I should include with my eagle feathers to decrease the strong smell
• Jerry’s Fruit Stand in Hog Creek
• About those pesky poisonous bull nettles in Oklahoma pastures such as in front of my home
• And – we discuss the serious topic of our mutual adoration of Sonic drinks

Yakoke, Terry for your time and for sharing so much with me and my listeners. Blessings to you!

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There was something comforting about the familiar scent of cedar that permeated from the wood burning stove inside the hogan each evening (“hogan” being the traditional home for the Navajo, in this case built of wood, with a dirt floor). The stove had 3 vents. And little sleepy James would watch the shadows from the vents on the walls, like fire dancing. As his heavy eyelids would slowly cover his eyes (despite trying to keep them open), he felt a sense of security as he couldn’t help but listen to his family members all snug inside talking about the day, the sounds and smells lulling him to sleep.

It was years later when James realized the significance of being surrounded by multiple Code Talkers as he was growing up (including his grandfather, Lemuel Yazzie) as they would all sit around talking about their time as Code Talkers. Even the Medicine Man who spoke many prayers for James was a Code Talker.

In Winslow, Arizona sits the Navajo Reservation, where my guest, Coach James Nells – Navajo, Salt Clan born for Under his Cover Clan – was born and raised. Life on the Reservation wasn’t always easy. Despite no electricity, herding sheep and hauling water, being surrounded by familiar centuries-old traditions and culture, somehow nearly kept intact despite the force of time and assimilation, was always “home”.

I know you’ll be touched by James’ story, as he shares about:
• Breaking the cycle of alcoholism
• Running away from foster care
• Attending boarding school, where Coach Dewey Bohling inspired him to start running
• Winning state champion in high school, and All-American in college
• Serving our country in the Army
• Being a Coach at Riverside Indian School

You’ll hear Coach Nells speak in his Navajo language (and maybe you’ll hear a little smack talk to his fellow Kiowa coach at Riverside, Terry Ware.)

Coach Nells leaves us with some inspiring thoughts. He fought in Iraq, loves our country and suggests that we cannot make excuses in life and blame others. And to, “Remember the Creator above and be strong”. Yakoke, Coach Nells!

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