I wote the guy. Have to say he sounds "legit" from genealogy and Choctaw history perspective, but what he said was a bit troubling considering "chocolate" and his desire to ?learn or teach? "shamanistic" traditions.
He mentions Masonic Lodges. Masonic Lodges were really big in the early days of Indian Territory by "bigshot, wealthy" Indian families, most -- no pretty much all -- of whom sided with the Confederacy during the American Civil War -- The sword Duwali had when he was killed near Tyler Tx in 1839 is in one of those Masonic Lodges.
Basically I was pretty blunt, and he responded about like I thought he would if he was for real, sorta defensive yet telling a little of his family history. I should have asked him about his "regalia" in those photos online -- not Choctaw at all, that's for sure -- forgot to tho, darn it.
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Here is his reply --
Halito, Chim Achukma;
My wife received your messege and I am happy to respond to your questions. I
am a CDIB registered and recognized member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
with 1/4 blood quantum recognized by the BIA as such. I am also of
Scandinavian and French ancestry whose family origins were also from
Mississippi. My father was an original enrollee of the Choctaw Nation. My
grandfather and father were fluent Choctaw speakers and I have some
familiarity with the language but find it difficult to find anyone with whom
to speak. Choctaw Imanumpa Ish Anumpoli Hinla Ho? I was raised in Oklahoma
until the age of 13 and was then relocated due to personal situations. I am
currently a member of the Skiatook Masonic Lodge in Skiatook, Oklahoma and
was initiated into the Lodge by the Oklahoma Masonic Indian Degree Team
composed of CDIB registered Indians. This group was founded by Will Rogers
and is a carry over of the Grand Lodge of Indian Territory composed of the
Choctaw, Cherokee and Muskogee Creek Lodges which was disrupted by the Civil
War, the Charter of said Lodge is still in the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma in
Guthrie. One of the founders of the Choctaw Lodge was Chief Peter Pitchlynn
who was also the first Indian Knight Commander in Royal Arch and is known to
be instrumental in establishing the Choctaw Lighthorsemen all of which my
family were participants. I have subsequently, returned to Oklahoma on many
occasions one of which is to assist Indian Degree Team director, Terry
Adams, to put on their grand yearly Pow Wow at the Tulsa Civic Center.
Currently, being that I am derived from the Louisiana and Gulf Coast
Choctaws, I am honing my skills in split cane basketry. Do you have any
skills in this area?
As to the theory of chocolate it has the same relationship to the Americas
as Tea does to Asia or Coffee to Africa being indigenous to the Western
Hemisphere. It was known to be used as an instrument of trade and monetary
exchange as such. There are many theories which abound concerning the
origins of the Okla Choctaw. One is that they came from the west led by the
two brothers Choctaw and Chickasaw who were led by a kohta (flagstaff),
probably some form of gnomen, terminating in Nanih Waiya. Another as told by
Peter Pitchlynn is that they came from the Okhata Chito Nutaka ( the Under
Sea), the Caribbean Sea. Apparently the Okla Choctaw had different origins
one of which may be that which is implied by Chief Pitchlynn. I am
interested in communicating with any truly serious people concerning the
traditional, shamanic history and beliefs of the Okla Choctaw. Hope to hear
from you soon.
Chim Anya Achukma Hoke
Clifton Aduddell
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Conclusion --
He is Choctaw, but that "Choctaw Chocolate concept" still troubles me. Sounds fishy. I really didn't see where he tied Chocolate to the Choctaw people. Says it was used in trade. Maybe in Southern Mexico and the Yucatan, but I doubt it was "traded in as currency" in Mississippi, where the Choctaw lived.
He mentions his skills in basketry -- I thought that was "woman's work" in earlier times. Well, we do live in the 21st century . . .
He said he was interested in "serious" people concerning the "shamanistic traditions" of the Oklahoma Choctaw. Thought that was a bit odd, and possibly the most troubling thing he said . . .
vance
