One of the most popular forms of social entertainment of the American Indians was storytelling. Gathered near a camp fire the Native American would recount past heroic exploits of great leaders and warriors or would endeavor to establish the orgins of their race with creations or migrations legends. The young would take delight at an elder's stories concerning the magnificence of nature which often presented a lesson as well as an explanation of natural phenomenon.

The Choctaw believed that their people came forth from the sacred mound of Nanih Waiya. In relation to this creation myth is the legend of the Choctaw tribe's migration under the leadership of Chata. Several versions of their creation and migration legends have been perpetuated by the Native Americans and remain very popular among contemporary Choctaws, especially the elderly. The young, however, have a more active interest in the mischievous deed of various forest animals or in stories about the creation of the wild forests. Some of the most popular of these Choctaw fables are as follows:

When a few moons elapsed, Possum returned to the designated place. There say rd after friendly greetings, the subject of the beautiful tail was brought to the attention of Raccoon. Of course, Raccoon remembered it. He told Possum to go with him into the woods, and they set out. They traveled a long trail before they came to a large hickory tree, whose top had been knocked off. There was a hole on one side of the old battered tree. Raccoon told Possum that this was the place where latter's tail would be made longer and more beautiful. He told Possum to stick his tail into the hole in the hickory tree. The Possum did as instructed, and soon Possum found himself being tied to the tree. He became angry and attempted to get away, but Raccoon convinced Possum that this was necessary to make his tail outstanding.

Once Raccoon had tied Possum to the tree, he went on the other side of it. Within a few minutes Possum began feeling pain and heat in his tail. After a while the pain and heat disappeared, and Raccoon returned and told Possum to wait a while longer. He would out him loose upon his return. Possum waited and waited, but Raccoon did not return. Possum called for help and Squirrel showed up to set him free. When he pulled his tail out of the tree, Possum discovered it had been burned to a crisp. To this day the Choctaws believe that Raccoon burned Possum's tail because of envy and jealousy.

On the designated day, the small, but brave animal carefully climbed to the peak of the highest mountain. As he approached the lion's den, he noticed something walking through the weeds. It was the mountain lion with its long, hanging teeth and claws that were as sharp as blades. Quickly the small chipmunk started to run, but the lion's big claws were too swift, and they caught the animal's back. After a bitter struggle, the chipmunk set itself free, but the marks of the lion's claws remained on the bushy tailed animal's back, which characterizes the animal today.

The possum threw the lean wolf a piece of venison. The hungry wolf ate it all and then asked for more. The gray possum told him to close his eyes, hold his head up, and open his mouth. The wolf did as told. The possum threw a bone which struck the wolf and killed him. The victorious possum then cleaned and dressed the dead wolf, be preparing a mud pie to camouflage it.

On his way home, the possum was met by a pack of wolves which were out searching for their lost comrade. When they asked the possum what he was carrying, he answered that he was carrying materials to make a plate. One of the wolves, however, saw through the disguised pie and informed the others that it was the possum that had been eating the pack. The angry wolves agreed to kill the possum, but the animal said that the only thing that could kill him was a pine knot. The wolves agreed to get such a knot while one of the animals kept watch over the possum.

When all but one of the wolves had left, the possum told his guard that he did not mind being killed, but that he would like to eat at least one more good meal of hickory nuts before he died. Besides, he knew where there was a pine knot close to a huge hickory tree that was loaded with nuts. The vigilant wolf agreed to go after the nuts and knot, but when he returned, the possum had run to safety. This tale shows the craftiness of the possum.

On a particular spring day, a big Tom turkey came upon a green turtle along a road side. The proud turkey asked the slow pacing turtle what the latter was good for. The turtle replied he could do many things, including beating the turkey in a race. Tom turkey's gobble echoed all over the forest. He told the turtle that he would beat him by at least half a mile, and the boastful bird accepted the challenge. It was agreed that the turtle would have a white feather in his mouth so the turkey could identify him from other turtles along the race track.

When the day of the big event approached, the turtle found another turtle to help him trick the turkey. The second turtle was to be placed at the end of the race track, and, of course, he was to have a white feather in his mouth.

The two contestants met on the designated day. The turkey was about 100 yards behind the turtle. At the turkey's gobble, the race was on. The turkey soon passed up the slower turtle, and after a while, the big Tom decided to eat some tempting green grass on a hillside. He always kept his eyes on the road, and after his meal, he again started on his course. He could not see anything of the turtle. He increased his speed to over take the terrapin, but without success. When he reached the finish line, the turtle was already there. This, of course, was the second turtle. The moral of this tale is that the proud and scornful are often outwitted by those they look upon with contempt and disdain.

Randy Jimmie, Leonard Jimmie