Near Calvert in Washington County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians
— Mount Vernon History Trail —
Photographed By Mark Hilton, May 2, 2020
1. MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Marker
Inscription.
MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. . Aiokpanchi, "Welcome,” to the Official Tribal Reservation of the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. Chata hapia hoke! "We are Choctaw.” We are glad you are able to visit us and hope your visit to our Tribal Reservation is both rejuvenating and educational. We are all very proud of where we are today and excited about where we are headed. Please take a few minutes to read about us.
The MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians consists of over 3,600 tribal members who live in Mobile and Washington Counties, Alabama, where the Tribal Reservation encompasses 300 acres of land. Several pow-wows, open to the public, are held here each year. The Tribe provides numerous services for its members, and is governed by a Chief and an eleven-member Tribal Council. Our leaders and members have the vision, the knowledge, the ability, and the experience to help us make a better future. Tribal members are truly our greatest asset today and tomorrow.
Here are a few terms highly important to our Choctaw culture: , Alito - Hello (in Alabama Choctaw) , Halito - Hello (in standard Choctaw dialect) , Iksa Alhiha - Community , Chata Immi - Choctaw culture , Alhichi - Honesty , Shilombish immi - Spirituality , Ittikana - Kindness , Itti kashkoa - Sharing , Na-mihiksho - Patience , Achonachi - Effort , Iyikowa - Generosity , Momit holitobli - Love , Ayoppachih - Respect , Alhtampa - Balance , Aiahli - True, the truth , Noktala - Peace
According to tribal legend, “The Great Spirit" created the Choctaw people on a high hill, Nana Chafa. The Yowanni Choctaws lived in this area for many centuries, defending their homeland and way of life from intrusions by Spanish, French, and British colonists. With the arrival of thousands of American settlers in the early 19th century, conflicts arose over land. With the 1830 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, the Choctaws ceded almost all their lands east of the Mississippi River to the United States. Some Choctaws who had neither the heart nor the desire to leave their beloved Alabama moved to remote communities in north Mobile and south Washington Counties (from which their name MOWA derives).
After the United States forcibly removed most Indian peoples from their eastern homelands, the Alabama Choctaws became more and more isolated from their relatives in Oklahoma and Mississippi. Between 1830 and 1890, our ancestors lived close knit lives with little intrusion by outsiders. To improve social and economic conditions for themselves and their children, they allowed Christian missionaries into their communities. This period saw the creation of tri-racial schools, a completely autonomous school system with instruction provided by the missionaries.
From 1888 to 1910, a second Indian removal profoundly affected the Choctaws. The Dawes Act in 1887 attempted to do away with Indian reservations by dividing tribal lands into individual family allotments. Many Choctaws living in the east relocated to Oklahoma, but some filtered back to Alabama and Mississippi. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Choctaws in Alabama lost most of their land to unscrupulous white businessmen. Logging then became the primary occupation for many Indians. Poverty existed among the small communities in north Mobile and south Washington Counties.
From the 1930s to 1950s, educational opportunities were very limited for the MOWA Choctaws, but some managed to receive a higher education. Among the first college graduates were some who became teachers and returned to help educate more of their own people. The passage of civil rights laws in the 1960s represented a turning point for the MOWA Choctaws of Alabama. With the disappearance of societal barriers based on color, expressions of Indian identity among the Choctaws intensified. The members of the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians are proud descendants of brave individuals who resisted oppression and would not leave their beautiful land. Today we draw strength from our ancestors to face the future with confidence and determination.
The MOWA Choctaw Cultural Center has displays on our history and present-day culture. Tours are available upon request by calling 251-829-5500.
Photo captions: , [Top center:] In 1922 William Weaver donated a deed for one acre and this building, thereafter known as the Indian Schoolhouse, to the Mobile County School Board. At that time Indian children could not hope for more than a seventh-grade education, since no high school was available to them. (Courtesy of the Historic American Building Survey) , [Top right] The MOWA Choctaw Cultural Center is located in the Becker-Heard House, a Creole-style structure built between 1855 and 1860 by Christian Becker, a native of Germany and one of Mount Vernon's earliest settlers. Originally standing in Mount Vernon until the early 1990s, it was donated to the MOWA Choctaws by Mr. Cecil Jordan and moved to this spot, which is historically known as The Old Stomping Grounds.
Aiokpanchi, "Welcome,” to the Official Tribal Reservation
of the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. Chata hapia hoke!
"We are Choctaw.” We are glad you are able to visit us and
hope your visit to our Tribal Reservation is both rejuvenating
and educational. We are all very proud of where we are today
and excited about where we are headed. Please take a few
minutes to read about us.
The MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians consists of over
3,600 tribal members who live in Mobile and Washington
Counties, Alabama, where the Tribal Reservation
encompasses 300 acres of land. Several pow-wows, open to
the public, are held here each year. The Tribe provides
numerous services for its members, and is governed by a
Chief and an eleven-member Tribal Council. Our leaders and
members have the vision, the knowledge, the ability, and the
experience to help us make a better future. Tribal members
are truly our greatest asset today and tomorrow.
Here are a few terms highly important to our Choctaw culture:
Alito - Hello (in Alabama Choctaw)
Halito - Hello (in standard Choctaw dialect)
Iksa Alhiha - Community
Chata Immi - Choctaw culture
Alhichi - Honesty
Shilombish immi - Spirituality
Ittikana - Kindness
Itti kashkoa - Sharing
Na-mihiksho - Patience
Achonachi - Effort
Iyikowa
Click or scan to see this page online
- Generosity
Momit holitobli - Love
Ayoppachih - Respect
Alhtampa - Balance
Aiahli - True, the truth
Noktala - Peace
According to tribal legend, “The Great Spirit" created the
Choctaw people on a high hill, Nana Chafa. The Yowanni
Choctaws lived in this area for many centuries, defending their
homeland and way of life from intrusions by Spanish, French, and
British colonists. With the arrival of thousands of American settlers
in the early 19th century, conflicts arose over land. With the 1830
Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, the Choctaws ceded almost all
their lands east of the Mississippi River to the United States.
Some Choctaws who had neither the heart nor the desire to leave
their beloved Alabama moved to remote communities in north
Mobile and south Washington Counties (from which their name
MOWA derives).
After the United States forcibly removed most Indian peoples
from their eastern homelands, the Alabama Choctaws became
more and more isolated from their relatives in Oklahoma and
Mississippi. Between 1830 and 1890, our ancestors lived close
knit lives with little intrusion by outsiders. To improve social and
economic conditions for themselves and their children, they
allowed Christian missionaries into their communities. This period
saw the creation of tri-racial schools, a completely autonomous
school system
Photographed By Mark Hilton, May 2, 2020
2. MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Richard Shelby Center, Tribal Office & Marker.
with instruction provided by the missionaries.
From 1888 to 1910, a second Indian removal profoundly
affected the Choctaws. The Dawes Act in 1887 attempted to do
away with Indian reservations by dividing tribal lands into
individual family allotments. Many Choctaws living in the east
relocated to Oklahoma, but some filtered back to Alabama and
Mississippi. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the
Choctaws in Alabama lost most of their land to unscrupulous
white businessmen. Logging then became the primary occupation
for many Indians. Poverty existed among the small communities
in north Mobile and south Washington Counties.
From the 1930s to 1950s, educational opportunities were
very limited for the MOWA Choctaws, but some managed to
receive a higher education. Among the first college graduates
were some who became teachers and returned to help
educate more of their own people. The passage of civil rights
laws in the 1960s represented a turning point for the MOWA
Choctaws of Alabama. With the disappearance of societal
barriers based on color, expressions of Indian identity among
the Choctaws intensified. The members of the MOWA Band
of Choctaw Indians are proud descendants of brave
individuals who resisted oppression and would not leave their
beautiful land. Today we draw strength from our ancestors to
face the future with confidence and determination.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, May 2, 2020
3. Orientation Map of the Mt Vernon History Trail (#8 on top left).
Map (marker) is located at intersection of US-43 and Coy Smith Hwy. Marker has not weathered well. Attempts to clean it were not successful.
The MOWA Choctaw Cultural Center has displays on our
history and present-day culture. Tours are available upon
request by calling 251-829-5500.
Photo captions:
[Top center:] In 1922 William Weaver donated a deed for one acre and this building, thereafter known as the Indian Schoolhouse, to the Mobile County School Board. At that time Indian children could not hope for more than a seventh-grade education, since no high school was available to them. (Courtesy of the Historic American Building Survey)
[Top right] The MOWA Choctaw Cultural Center is located in the Becker-Heard House,
a Creole-style structure built between 1855 and 1860 by Christian Becker,
a native of Germany and one of Mount Vernon's earliest settlers. Originally
standing in Mount Vernon until the early 1990s, it was donated to the MOWA
Choctaws by Mr. Cecil Jordan and moved to this spot, which is historically
known as The Old Stomping Grounds.
Erected by Town of Mount Vernon. (Marker Number 8.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Native Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.
Location. 31° 8.423′ N, 88° 3.703′ W. Marker is near Calvert, Alabama, in Washington County. Marker is on Red Fox Road, 3.2 miles west of U.S. 43, on the
right when traveling west. Located at Tribal Offices & Cultural Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1080 Red Fox Rd W, Mount Vernon AL 36560, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 635 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on May 3, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
