I agree about the art - and the many traditions and stories of the "feathered Serpent" or "flying serpent"so similar to the South American native cultures. In my own family I was taught never to cross the Mississippi River (I lived 10 miles from Natchez) without making tobacco offering to the horned serpent who lives at the bottom of the river in order to prevent him from being restless and causing floods, a practice I carry out today when I'm visiting there. I've heard the "mirgration from the West with Sacred Pole" stories and the Nanih Wayah stories, just never had heard the "under the sea" version. Good to know. Thanks. dustyc@microgear.net -----Original Message----- From: Taloah@aol.com <Taloah@aol.com> To: CHOCTAW-L@rootsweb.com <CHOCTAW-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, April 08, 2000 5:32 PM Subject: Re: [CHOCTAW] CREATION STORIES >Dusty, >I suppose the first I read of the Choctaws coming from "under the sea" was >probably in Angie Debo's works, however since I have done a fair amount of >time slaving over Mexican/American literature and ethnology and such. I >thought that might be a possibility. We have known for a long time the >Aztecs and even before them ranged very far in trading. To me there is a >physical resemblance and I think there is also a language similarity. I >can't be the only one who sees a great deal of resemblance in the art of the >Spiro mound builders to the Mexican Indians. We also know that the Choctaw >hunted in what was to become Indian Territory so it was not completely new to >many of them. How about the blow gun used extensively by the early Choctaw? >I wonder if there any other Indian tribes in North American that perfected >that weapon for hunting? Very common in South American. In looking at the >Natchez Trace, it is amazing just how far the Indians traveled from season to >season following the buffalo. We may not be giving them enough credit. The >latest work I think on this theory was by a woman researcher/professor from >North Carolina. I recall it was published in about 1997, but I don't know >who or where. I can probably find a reference in time. For Pitchlyn >descendants the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, OK having an extensive collection >of Peter P. Pitchlyn papers. They are very delicate and you use them with >white gloves on, under the watchful eye of the archivist/curator (The copy of >the first Choctaw Constitution, June 1834, is there, drafted at Turnbull's >(Anthony's married to Hannah Long) stand where the Kiamichi River crosses >Horse Prairie Road)...Like about 14' feet of library shelving. There are >many letters between he and his father, Old John. There are some of the most >wonderfully poignant and passionate protestations of the old man trying to >get Peter to come back "home." He just couldn't understand why Peter wanted >to stay in that "sickly Red River territory." He never gave up and Peter >never went back. Someone should probably write a historical musical about >Peter Pitchlyn's life. There is such a wealth of material. Frankie James > > >==== CHOCTAW Mailing List ==== >Your donations to RootsWeb makes OKGenWeb and this Choctaw list possible. RootsWeb Gen. Data Coop. Box 6798 Frazier Park, CA 93222 > http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html >