THREE EARLY COMMUNITIES

The Choctaw and the Chickasaw

1 The Choctaw and Chickasaw made use of the natural resources in the regions where they lived. Native Americans had lived in the land that is now called Mississippi for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. Two Native American nations that lived there were the Choctaw and the Chickasaw. The Choctaw were the largest Native American nation in Mississippi. They lived mostly in south and central Mississippi. The Chickasaw lived in northeastern Mississippi.

The People and the Land

2 Mississippi's mild climate, regular rainfall, and rich soil made good conditions for agriculture, or farming. The Choctaw and Chickasaw grew corn, peas, melons, beans and pumpkins. They also gathered grapes, plums, nuts, and onions that grew wild on the land.

3 The Choctaw and Chickasaw hunted animals. Deer was the most important animal the people hunted - nothing was wasted. They ate its meat for food and dried extra meat that they saved for the winter when animals were not as easy to hunt. They used deerskin to make clothes. They used other parts to make arrows, thread, and bowstrings. People also hunted buffalo, bears, and turkeys. They caught trout and shrimp and dug up clams for food.

Shelters

4 The Choctaw lived in south and central Mississippi, where the weather is usually warm. They built round houses with poles made of tree branches that they covered with huge flat leaves. Each shelter held family groups that included grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and children. A hole in the roof let out smoke from a cooking fire.

5 Chickasaw communities were farther north, where the weather was cooler. Thick forests covered the land. The Chickasaw lived in different summer and winter houses. They built summer houses using clay and bark. They covered pine logs with clay and grass to build their winter houses.

Ways of Life

6 The Choctaw and the Chickasaw had similar cultures. A people’s culture includes their beliefs, customs, laws, and ways of life. The Choctaw and the Chickasaw languages were almost the same. Both groups gave children their mother’s family name. Religion was important to both.

7 The Chickasaw were different from the Choctaw in some ways, though. The Chickasaw often fought with other Native American groups over land. The Choctaw settled their disagreements differently. Holding a debate to settle an argument was one of their customs. A custom is a usual way of doing something that is shared by a group of people. For example, shaking hands when people say hello is a custom. The Choctaw were famous for their custom of debating arguments.

The Natchez

8 The Natchez  lived along the Mississippi River near the present day city of Natchez. Though they were related to the Choctaw and Chickasaw, they had a different language and culture.

9 Natchez culture began around 1,300 years ago. The Natchez built giant mounds, or hills. They made the tops of the mounds flat so they could build temples and hold ceremonies there. A ceremony for the Natchez tribe was a formal event where people could gather to express important beliefs.

10 The central town of Natchez, called the Great Village, had two mounds. The ruler of the Natchez was called the Great Sun. The people thought the Great Sun was both a king and a god. He lived on top of one of the mounds in the Great Village. The Great Sun’s family helped him rule. Members of his family served as priests, war chiefs, and temple guards. All the Natchez people had to obey the Great Sun’s orders.

Food and Shelter

11 The Natchez hunted animals, gathered wild plants, and practiced agriculture as the Choctaw and Chickasaw did. Corn was their most important crop.

12 The Natchez held the Green Corn Ceremony each year when the first corn was harvested. It was the most important ceremony of the year. They also held the Deer Feast in the spring.