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This video was created by the students from the Mississippi Band of the Choctaw Indians at Choctaw Central High School, Choctaw, Mississippi. This video was completed as part of a joint project with the Natchez Trace Parkway.

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[Chanting in Choctaw language, throughout, with stick percussion, throughout.]

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The Snake Dance imitates the movement of the reptile as it

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slides through the fields feeding on insects and rodents that constantly threaten the

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Choctaw's harvests and crops.  This dance concludes with the dancers coiling and 

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uncoiling like that of a snake. 

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This dance is a favorite among
several

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animal dancers of the Choctaw people. The Snake Dance. 

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[Chanting in Choctaw language, throughout]

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[Chanter begins stick percussion]

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[Dancers giggle a little, off and on.]

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This next dance is the social dance that
enables each dancer to choose as many

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partners as he or she would like.

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Since all the dancers are equally able to
choose, this dance can involve many changes in partners.

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The  significance and popularity of this
dance is that it permits

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the young warriors of the tribe to look over
the field

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eligible young girls, and vice versa. This dance concludes with a joyful jump dance.

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The Stealing Partners Dance

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[Chanting in Choctaw language, throughout]

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[Dancer shouts, "Woo!"]

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[Occasional giggle and murmuring by dancers]

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[Dancer shouts, "Woo!"]

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[Chanter begins stick percussion]

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[Dancers giggle occasionally]

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The next dance has brought sorrow to
many brave mothers.

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She, like mothers of today, saw her son go
to the battlefield.

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She suffered then, as mothers of today suffer when her loved ones

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go to war, because it was part of life
just as it is today.

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The Choctaws would dance for eight
days prior to battle for purification,

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and prepare the young braves and warriors 
for war.

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The Fast War Dance. 

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[Chanting in Choctaw language and dancers respond]

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[Chanting in Choctaw language with stick percussion, throughout.]

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[Dancer shouts, "Woo!"]

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[Several dancers shout, "Woo!"]

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[Dancer shouts, "Woo!]

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[Dancer shouts, "Woo!]

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As was the age of our fore-bearers,
centuries ago,

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a series of dances were carried on throughout the evening,

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in the same order each occasion. The Walk Dance marked the end of the night of dancing

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which must be finished before sunrise so
that all would be quiet as the sun rose. 

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The Walk Dance. 

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[Chanting in Choctaw language, throughout, with occasional percussion.]