About the Choctaw Indian Fair
An old account tells us that once-upon-a-Choctaw-night - a dreadful, stormy Choctaw night - Chief Pushmataha sprang forth full-grown from the stump of a mammoth oak tree when that same oak was split from top to bottom by a bolt of Mississippi lightning. Apparently no one witnessed whether the chief really did arrive full-grown or not. But we are sure from the historic record that the Choctaw Indian Fair did not arrive full-grown at birth; It did not "spring forth full-grown". It came in "fits and starts".

The tribe traces the beginning of the present series of Annual Fairs to 1949. By this reckoning we are enjoying the 57th observance. But there is word to the contrary in an article in the October, 1950, Neshoba Democrat whose headline proclaims, "Indian Fair is Tremendous Success; First Held in Number of Years".

On That October 11, 1950, Tribal Chairman, Emmett York, was absent because of illness in his family. In his stead, Will Mimmy - oldest member of the Tribal Council gave a word of welcome as did Doyce Stribling, principal of the Pearl River School. Two days later the Democrat celebrated the event with an abundance of photographs showing community exhibits, stickball, speakers, and more stickball. Bok Homma won first place in community exhibits, Pearl River placed second, and Conehatta and Red Water tied for third; Standing Pine was awarded an honorable mention.

In those days, the whole Fair just lasted one exciting day. It's worth taking a look at the activities as recorded in the Democrat: "The gymnasium was filled to capacity with exhibits of basketry, beads, rugs, canning, community exhibits, Scout exhibits, health exhibits, land conservation and forestry exhibits."

"A stickball game was held at 3 o'clock which possibly drew more interest than anything at the fair. The Dance in the original colorful costumes at 8:30 was colorful and exciting beyond description."

"Athletic events of sack race, shoe race, egg race, cracker eating contest for the old folks, milk drinking contest and hog calling contest all contributed to making the day long to be remembered by young and old alike."

So it was recorded. It was obviously just what the folks expected. But there is always a plus or two at the Choctaw Fair. The plus for me from that 1950 fair are the remarks made by Philadelphia attorney, Jim Hillman, who championed the Choctaw cause back then. Agency Superintendent Archie McMullen, introduced Jim whose reminiscences were reported as follows:

He told of his "remembrance of seeing his first Choctaw when he moved to Neshoba County from Georgia when seven years old. Sam Panola with long, gray hair was Indian Chief at that time, he said. He said the old Chief was friendly, coming to see the family soon after they arrived. He told of the Chief's witnessing the raid of Sherman during the Civil War and of the Indians' friendship during this time, hiding the livestock so the raiders would not find them. He told of the Indian ball games that were so much fun and excitement but which were outlawed the State legislature because often even the horse tied to the fence would be left, plus all that one had in his pocket, to pay the winner of the game. They named every stream in this section, even sipsey, he continued. The Choctaw, as well as the white man, he said still remembers the treaty of Dancing Rabbit in which was declared, "So long as the sun shall shine, so long as the grass shall grow, so long as the water shall flow, Indian and white man be big bobasheelas."

Hillman's speech reminds us that stickball was forbidden just as it was once forbidden the Choctaws to govern themselves. "Bobasheeli" was a popular term here once for "brother". In Choctaw it denotes having suckled at the same breast, as in the case of siblings.

The Princess pageant did not become part of the Fair until 1955 when Patsy Sam (Buffington) reigned as the official first princess. The time of her reign and those of her successors are listed in the accompanying sidebar to this article.

But read the Friday, September 13, 1949, issue of the Democrat and you will learn that, "Bonnie Kate Bell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Bell of the Zephyr Hill community was named Princess of the Choctaw Tribe and represented the Mississippi group at the All-American Indian Exposition held in Anadarko, Oklahoma, recently. Bonnie Kate is a member of the senior class of the Chilocco School, Chilocco, Oklahoma." Supt. McMullen of the Choctaw Agency had asked Bonnie (now Mrs. Chief Martin) to represent the tribe for the first time at the Anadarko event. A two column cut (picture) accompanies the article in the Democrat.

Standing Pine won first place for its' community exhibit with Bok Chitto second and Tucker, third. Pearl River community received a Loving Cup for the highest score at the Fair, which included the score on the community exhibit and total score on the individual entries. This cup, presented by agency supt., A. C. Hector, would be rotated to winners of future fairs. The article consulted includes no mention of stickball games, dances, or other cultural events.

The following year, 1938, saw the Fairs, called collectively "The Choctaw Indian Agency Fair" again staged in each community during the finals days of September and early October.

Climax was a two-day Fair at Pearl River, October 5^th and 6^th. It is in the pre-Fair writeup that we learn that the "...present fair program grew from a start made in Tucker when they held a fair in the fall fo 1935. Tucker, Conehatta and Bok Chitto communities held fairs in 1936..." Then, in 1937, all communities met for one big fair as noted above.

"On Thursday morning of the last day of the Fair these prizes and cups were awarded to the respective winning communities and the meeting was conducted by the government farms. Their part on the program was to have talks made to the audience by successful Indian farmers. The following Indians made talks: J. C. Allen of Red Water district, Jim Gardner of Pearl River district, Willie Solomon of Conehatta district. The talks were made in a very cooperative spirit, showing the Indians interest in farming as a whole and displaying farm exhibits. These speakers stated that their people were anxious to cooperate in the future fairs and work for a larger Agnecy Fair for next year. The Choctaw Indian of this jurisdiction were well represented at the Fair and the Fair program. The Fair program was in charge of the agricultural teacher in the absence of Supt. L. W. Page. Other talks were made by Miss O'Quinn, the new home economics teacher, and Mr. Lewis Henderson, editor of the Mississippi Cooperative Farmer of Jackson, Mississippi.

For the next few years the Democrat carries no Fair stories. But in the August 3, 1945 edition, we find a tribal show making headlines: "First All-Choctaw Indian Basket Show to Be Held Friday, August 10." There was more to it was planned, and "...perhaps an old Indian stickball game...." A choctaw dance was proposed to follow the ball games.

The news release said there would be both "old time" and new type baskets on display, and that the public was invited to attend. Some of the baskets were described: "Old Baskets: Pack basket (kishe); Carrying basket (shapotapushik); Elbow basket, berry basket, (taposhake shakapa); Dinner basket, hard basket (halat nowa tapushik)." After judging, the baskets would be sold from 7 to 10 pm.

"All of these elements became part of the Choctaw Fair over the years. In the 50's softball was a regular event. It gradually disappeared as stickball assumed the ascendancy during the next 3 decades. Now there are three full series during the Fair: Adult, or World Championship; and two youth categories. Games are presented each afternoon and at 10pm.

Nashville style country music became part of the fair as a contribution by some entertainers in the mid-1960's. They felt that the Choctaws were doing a great show for themselves and the public, so why shouldn't the Choctaws be entertained by some music folk. Many artists made this free Saturday night contribution over the years Chet Atkins, Connie Smith, Lester Flatt, Mac Wiseman, Jerry Reed, Johnny Gimble, Pig Robbins, Merle Travis, In the 70's the country music shows were expanded by adding paid performers on the last three nights of the Fair, so that top acts headline the activities nowadays.

The Fair also helped stimulate Choctaw dancing so that today the program each morning and afternoon includes dancers from many communties. Dance groups are regularly hired now to perform away from the reservation. The dances themselves, like stickball, are authentic expressions of the very ancient Choctaw culture.

Speciality acts are brought in from other tribes. Seminole, Thomas Storm learned his alligator show from his father. Some years dancers are featured from the southwestern Navajo and Hopi tribes, and from the plains tribes. This year you will see a Choctaw group, which started in the mid 60's, doing the Pan-Indian dances of the northern and southern plains Indians.

So, many of the early elements of the Choctaw Fair are stil included in the program. but what about the "New Corn"? Oh, it's still around. At one of the concessions ask for a bowl of "holhponi" (fresh-made hominy). That's corn prepared the festival way by the Choctaws for holidays, birthdays, and high feast days.

Public speaking was even a part of the Fair. At 6 p.m. each evening, Tribal Chief Phillip Martin, shares with the audience a recap of recent accomplishments by the people and a look at what develpments are underway. He caps it all off with a look at future plans. Other than that, the only speeches are the brief ones by each princess candidate during the Wednesday evening Princess Pageant.

As of yore, the Fair is full of fun and tradition. The only real difference this year is that you are here becoming part of that tradition!