Welcome Message

Halito! Hachimachokma. (Hello! How are you? In the Choctaw Language)

My name is Dr. Kennith H. York. I was born on May 15, 1948, to Baxter and Grace Sam York. My parents were the epitome of the Choctaw culture, language and history. We grew up in Mississippi which is our indigenous Choctaw land. My family and I live on the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians reservation (MBCI) near Philadelphia, Mississippi. MBCI became Federally-recognized American Indian Tribe in 1945. Baxter York was instrumental in getting the tribal constitution and by-laws approved by the tribal members, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U. S. Department of the Interior.

No one really knows where the Muskogeans and the Choctaw people originated. Historians believe Choctaws, Chickasaws and Creeks may have been the part of Otomi/Olmec Civilization in Mexico. It is believed that the Otomi arrived in California 30,000 years ago and migrated to Mexico about 20,000 years ago. Recent studies on Native Americans indicate Choctaws and Alabamu may have been part of the ancient migration of indigenous people from Taiwan to what is now Chili and Peru in South America. Then, they migrated to the various places until they arrived in the Southeast and the Gulf of Mexico. The Choctaws have been in the Southeast, at least, 15,000 years ago.

This Web Site will be continuously developed referencing the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. It will also include the Muskogean Indians (current members are Alabama, Apalachi, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Coushatta, Miccosukkee, Muskogee, and Seminole). There are other related tribes. All of the Muskogean Tribes are descendants of the Mound Builders known in history as the Mississippians. Mississippians  will also be included in the Web Site.   Lastly, language is very important to the Indigenous people, so inclusion of the Mobilian Trade Language will be included. The Mobilian Trade language developed from Alabama, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Coushatta Tribes and was spoken by numerous other tribes from the Gulf of Mexico, up the Mississippi River Valley on up to Canada. Mobilian was also known by the tribes in Central America.