ELLISVILLE — Some local residents learned the beauty of Choctaw dances during a gathering at West Ellisville Baptist Church Thursday.
Members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Bogue Homa Choctaw Social Dancers of Sandersville participated in the church’s monthly Senior Adult Ministry (commonly referred to as the Joy Club) luncheon.
Pearlier Thomas, who works with the Cultural Affairs Program with the Mississippi Choctaw Indians and coordinates the Bogue Homa Choctaw Social Dancers, said dancing is a tradition for Indians.
Choctaw dances are intended for participation and not performance, she said.
Thomas, who has been working with the dance group for about 11 years, said traditional dance fosters a pride in being Choctaw.
“We usually go to schools and community events,” she said. “We love to dance. We have children ages three and up. We include all people.”
Monzo Anderson, leader of the dance group, said dancing allows the group to exercise it’s tradition. He said he “likes dancing because it’s our heritage.”
According to Choctaw Indians’ literature, contemporary social dance groups represent most of the Choctaw communities and their styles of dancing will often reflect their community of origin. Sometimes the difference may be in a dance step, other times, in the chant.
Only rarely are actual Choctaw words heard in the chants. The dancers are led by the rise and fall of the chanter’s voice. The chanter usually keeps time by striking together a pair of sticks, called striking sticks.
Hugh King, a chanter from the Conehatta Reservation in Newton County, chanted for the group Thursday.
Choctaw dances also exemplify a spirit of cooperation, because of the way the chanters, dance leaders and dancers work together. There are three kinds of Choctaw dance: war dances, social dances, and animal dances that recognize creatures that were important to the Choctaw people.
Thursday, the dancers presented the Jump Dance, War Dance and Snake Dance.
Five-year-old TeAnna Thomas said she especially likes doing the “snake dance and mosquito dance.”
Twelve-year-old Tamaran Thomas said she loves dancing.
“I’m suppose to be going to the Slow Pitch World Series in Tupelo today, but I had to come here first,” Tamaran Thomas said. “I just like dancing. I started when I was 18 months old and have just stayed with it.”
The Choctaw dancing has become a way of life for Shan and Vita Johnson’s family.
“My whole family dances,” Vita Johnson said. “My husband, Shan, and my three children — Tamara Thomas, 12; Kristeena Thomas, 9 and Jase Johnson, 13 months — all dance. We all love it. ... It’s our culture.
“We started dancing and liked it,” she added. “It’s a part of our heritage and it’s one way of sharing our culture with others.”
Vita Johnson said a lot of people still think of Native Americans of being difference.
“They think we still live in teepees, but we have houses. ... We are like normal people,” she said. “We eat normal foods, as well as our traditional foods.”
Tina Thomas Turner, the mother of three of the dancers, said dancing is a way to keep the young people involved and knowledgeable about their heritage.
“I’m glad that they get to perform,” she said. “By dancing they get to learn more about their traditions and culture.”
Blanche Christian, coordinator of the church’s Joy Club, said she learned a lot from the group’s presentation.
“We have really enjoyed having this group,” Christian said. “It was good to see what their culture is like and how they live.
“We just love the colorful outfits,” Christian added. “This monthly luncheon is the church’s way of spreading the gospel.”
Anyone wanting more information about the Choctaw Indians’ culture or the dance group can call Thomas at (601) 428-7174 or (601) 649-2779.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Photo/Eloria Newell James
Cultural exchange
Choctaw dancers perform for local church group
- Local News
-
-
Get ready for control burns in the area
Area motorists and residents may notice a lot of smoke coming from some of the county’s heavily wooded areas in the coming weeks.
-
Officials pleased with Chancellor’s appointment
At 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Lance Chancellor became the new executive director of the Jones County Emergency Management Agency.
-
Heidelberg has a new police chief
A longtime Jasper Countian has been named the head law enforcement official in this Jasper County town.
Huey Powe is now the Police Chief for the Town of Heidelberg. -
Annual Rotary Club Spaghetti dinner Saturday
The Laurel Rotary Club will conduct its annual Spaghetti dinner this weekend at the YWCO.
-
American Red Cross looking for local volunteers
The East Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross is looking for a few good men, women, boys and girls to join its team of disaster volunteers.
-
Officials put a name with scammer
Jones County officials have now released the name of a man they are seeking in connection with a recent fire scam in the area.
-
Family barely escapes mobile home fire
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, a family of five was awaken by the smell of smoke quickly filling their 28 x 70 doublewide mobile home located at 39 Ellisville Junction Road in Jones County.
-
Farewell and Hello
Well-wishers from near and far gathered in Laurel to say farewell to longtime Jones County Emergency Management Executive Director Don McKinnon, while his replacement — a familiar face among emergency officials — was welcomed earlier in the day Tuesday.
-
Cobb’s bond set at $250K
A $250,000 cash bond has been set for a 19-year-old Jones County man jailed at the Jones County Adult Detention Center in connection with a vicious attack on a woman in the Sharon Community.
-
Laurel man has given over 33 gallons of blood
Local residents gave blood Tuesday at Laurel City Hall as a part of the City of Laurel’s blood drive.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
