E-Hihla Moma... / Still We Dance

For centuries, Choctaw social dances have expressed a unique relationship to the earth and nature by imitating animal movements and recognizing the usefulness and resources provided by the natural world. The Turtle Dance recognized the longevity of life, the Raccoon Dance celebrated recreation, the Duck Dance joined knowledge of the duck's resources with honor for the delicate ecological balance between humans and nature, and the Snake Dance imitated the snake coiling and uncoiling while recognizing its value in controlling pests and rodents that could destroy crops. Central to Choctaw custom and belief is that the earth provides all things needed for natural human existence, including food, clothing, and shelter. Unlike Plains style dances, Choctaw footwork stays close to the ground. A distinctive feature of Choctaw dances is that women participated in the War Dance; in Choctaw matrilineal society, women were considered givers of life and men takers of life, while most tribes on the North American continent did not allow women to take part in the War Dance. Choctaw dance music uses no drums, relying instead on a pair of claves or sticks to keep beat and rhythm, and these customs, lifeways, and cultural practices reflect the Choctaw traditional belief system.

Tuskahoma, Oklahoma · United States