Week #4 - Choctaw Indian Fair

At the fairgrounds.

The Choctaw Indian Fair is one of the largest annual events in the Choctaw, MS area. People come from all over the state--and elsewhere in the country--to experience some of the most dynamic and beautiful aspects of Choctaw culture: social dancing, stickball, traditional regalia and foods, etc.

Millie busy with fair prep.
(Photo by Priska Lamera.)

Additionally, the fair is the CBTC's main event as far as raising support and distributing materials, so everyone was in high gear getting ready for this week. Priska and I spent a good bit of time sorting through the CBTC's existing inventory and then made additional copies of items needed for the fair.

Setting up the booth.
(Photo by Priska Lamera.)

We also assisted Millie (the CBTC's office assistant) as she made plans for the CBTC's fair booth, gathering materials and communicating with CBTC members to create a schedule of who would be taking turns in the booth throughout the week. 

Chris and Millie at the booth.

After helping with some of the booth set-up, Priska and I were responsible for a couple slots at the booth. We also served as gofers, running back and forth between the booth and the office, and making more CDs, etc. as needed.

  

Laura Christel and Becky at the booth. 

During one shift at the booth, I had the opportunity to assist an elderly lady with some of the Choctaw materials. She didn't speak much English, so we communicated mainly through some younger people who came with her. She looked through the CBTC's hymnbook and she was also curious about some of the hymn CDs. Thankfully, we had a CD player at the booth, so I was able to play a few of them for her. She was really hoping to find the song Sweet By and By. After we 

eventually found out which disc the song was on, she happily purchased that CD as

Talking with the Choctaw lady.
(Photo by Del Archer.)

well as a Choctaw hymnbook. It was neat to see how much the old songs and the Choctaw language meant to her, and it was an indication of how important the CBTC's work is. A few younger people also came by the booth wanting help with learning more of the Choctaw language, so the CBTC actually has the potential to serve multiple generations in various ways. 

Arts & crafts pavilion.

We also got some time to see the sights at the fair, which was a lot of fun!! At the arts & crafts pavilion, a bunch of Choctaw individuals had their beading, dresses, baskets, stickball paraphernalia, and other assorted items for sale. 

  

Choctaw social dance group.

Throughout the afternoons/evenings, different Choctaw groups took turns demonstrating and explaining their social dances. Each dance represented a different animal or theme and they were a lot of fun to watch.

Accompanied by drummers, this
caller (middle) kept the beat
using his stickball sticks.

Despite the heat, participating individuals dressed in their traditional regalia and eagerly stepped to the beat of the caller and drummers.  

  

Choctaw social dance group.

Most groups had people of all ages. Also, men and women participate together in all of the dances, including the war dance—Choctaws make a point of saying that they are unique in this, since most Native American groups only allow men to participate in their war dances. 

  

Choctaw social dance group.

One day we got to see Millie and Chris’ son, Ale, participate in the dancing! He’s great fun and a bit of a ham, so he smiled for the camera as he went by. :) 

Ale's the one with the grin. :)

Choctaw Princess contestants.

One of the main events at the fair is the Choctaw Princess contest. The young woman who is chosen as the Choctaw Princess serves as an ambassador for the tribe for the next year, attending events and acting as a role model for young Choctaw women in particular.

Jasmine Hickman

Earlier in the summer, we had been given the opportunity to help one of the contestants, Jasmine Hickman, practice answering interview questions. We were excited to see that she placed 3rd in the contest. :)

Some of the kids scrambling to gain
control of the ball.

Another one of the central parts of fair week is the stickball championship games. We got to see Ale play in one of the youth games, and then we also got to watch a couple of the adult games, including the final World Series Stickball game. 

Hitting each others' stickball sticks
in an act of good sportsmanship
after the game.

Stickball is a fast-paced game
where teams attempt to hit each other's goalposts with a ball that is only slightly larger than a golfball. A total of 60 players are on the field at all times, 30 for each team.

Elijah Ben (#56) played in one of
the final games.

During the fair, the youth games were held during the day and then the adult games started at 10:00pm. One evening we had to leave the fairgrounds around that time and we were amused by the fact that the only people leaving were non-Choctaws; all the Choctaws were heading the other direction, toward the game. :)

A huge crowd gathered for the
stickball championship game.

Although generally a very reserved people, the Choctaws become very animated when stickball is involved! I really enjoyed the chance to watch the games, especially because they are so important to the Choctaw people.

Victoria and Priska watching the game.