Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben, Choctaw Indian Princess Leilani Elyse Allen, and Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians ambassadors visited Armstrong Junior High School last week.
"Halito!"
That's how the afternoon began, as both Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben and 2024-2025 Choctaw Indian Princess Leilani Elyse Allen addressed the Armstrong Junior High School student body in their native Choctaw language.
On Thursday, Chief Ben, Princess Leilani and other ambassadors from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, visited AJHS to speak to eighth graders about the Choctaw Nation as part of an emphasis on Native American History Month. The learning experience was organized by the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District's Reading 2 Succeed grant program.
After sharing a few more statements spoken in the Choctaw language, Chief Ben also explained how many of the place names we know in Mississippi and Alabama are actually Choctaw names that have been anglicized in their pronunciation. Place names like Tuscaloosa, Bogue Chitto, Noxubee and even Oktibbeha are actually Choctaw words with meanings that identify their location or proximity to natural elements.
Chief Ben and Choctaw Princess Leilani shared some of the history and cultural influence of the Choctaw Nation in Mississippi and the Southeast. Ambassadors from the Mississippi Band brought examples of woven baskets, hunting sticks, blow darts and stick ball sets to show students how the traditional cultural arts and practices are still being taught today as the Choctaw Nation preserves its heritage.
Chief Ben also spoke to students about how many of the old ways of agriculture and industry have been updated to meet modern demands for goods. He also shared how the gaming industry has provided new revenue for the Mississippi Band.
Choctaw Indian Princess Leilani Elyse Allen dressed in a traditional Choctaw Princess ensemble and shared the symbolism found in various parts of her attire. She also explained how some of her jewelry and headwear were made. Allen was named the 2024-2025 Choctaw Indian Princess in July at a pageant that is traditionally part of the annual Choctaw Indian Fair held in Neshoba County, the seat of the Mississippi Band. She has taken a year off from her studies at Belhaven University to devote time to touring the state as an ambassador for the Mississippi Band – a part of her duties as the reigning Princess.
"Do you see the diamond pattern on my dress?" she asked AJHS students. "For the Choctaw Nation, the diamond represents the diamondback rattlesnake. Our people were not afraid of the rattlesnake, but honored it as a protector of our crops."
Chief Ben and Princess Leilani also demonstrated how the game of stickball is played and spoke about the game's prominence in the Choctaw culture. They showed students sticks that had been made by cutting, soaking and bending hickory wood. Chief Ben also shared how balls are traditionally made by wrapping a stone in string and then leather cord until a hard ball is formed. Students had the opportunity to see the sticks and balls up close to feel their materials. Because there were traditionally very few rules in stickball, the sport could be tough for young players.
"Stickball is played on a large field and players do not wear any pads," he said. "It includes many skills like running, throwing and catching that are foundational elements of other sports. And it can be a rough sport. I still have scars on my forehead from my time playing stickball when I was younger."
The visit from Chief Ben and other Choctaw Ambassadors was arranged as part of an initiative by the SOCSD Reading 2 Succeed grant program as a way to educate students about our neighbors in Neshoba County during November, which has been designated as Native American History Month. As part of the initiative, Reading 2 Succeed purchased copies of several age-appropriate books about the Choctaw Nation and Native Americans in general, and distributed the books to each AJHS English and History classroom as well as the Armstrong library.
Reading 2 Succeed is one of more than a dozen grant-based programs housed at the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District's Discovery Center, a hub of services, adult education, and workshops designed to help the district make connections between home, school and community. Reading 2 Succeed began in 2018 through a grant and continues its work to develop and improve literacy skills for children from birth to 12th grade.
Chief Ben ended the afternoon by answering questions from Armstrong students who were curious about how Choctaw members learn stickball and dart blowing. He left students with an encouragement to learn and seek more about the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
"We are a part of Mississippi," he said. "When you go to Mississippi State, we are there. When you go to other areas around the state, we are there. I encourage you to ask questions about our culture and about how we are described in your history classes."