The story of the Choctaw people is an oral history, passed down through countless generations. This story begins with a sacred land, called Nanih Waiya, located in what is known today as Winston County, Mississippi. As with any long-told tale, there are slight variations, but the essence is the same – Nanih Waiya is the place where our story began.It is said that two brothers, Chahta and Chiksa’, led their people in search of a safe place to establish their community. While traveling in search of this “promised land,” each night, a holy man would place a sacred pole in the ground, and each morning, the direction the pole leaned would determine the direction for that day’s travel. When they eventually wound up at Nanih Waiya, the next morning half of the people – the followers of Chahta – believed the pole to be upright, meaning they should stay, while the other half – the followers of Chicasa – believed it still leaned a bit, and so continued on north. Those who stayed at Nanih Waiya became the Choctaw people, and those who traveled north became our brother Tribe, the Chickasaw.But how did we wind up in Oklahoma?Skip ahead a few (or more) thousand years to the early 1800s, when the tensions between indigenous Americans and the United States government came to a head. After a series of treaties that gradually stripped the homeland from the Choctaw people, the final blow came with the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Our people – and many other tribes – were forced to pick up their lives and relocate by means of a grueling 550-mile journey, now aptly known as the Trail of Tears.While there is much more to our chronology than this brief summary – more than can be fit on this page – one of the most important parts of our story is this: we lived to tell it. We survived.The Choctaw record doesn’t end in the pages of history books. It continues today in the communities we build, the relationships we foster and the traditions we weave into our daily lives. To learn more about this living legacy, we invite you to dive into the heart of Choctaw Country as we honor all indigenous Americans this November.ATTEND THE CHOCTAW POWWOWOne of the best ways to kick off Native American Heritage Month is to join the festivity at the Choctaw Powwow. This annual powwow attracts tribes from all over the country and is one of the largest events of its kind in the nation. Expect to see exciting stickball matches, Tribal singing and dancing, authentic Choctaw arts and crafts, incredible food vendors and so much more. Everyone is welcome to join us at the Choctaw Event Center for this highly anticipated event, and admission is free!VISIT THE CHOCTAW CULTURAL CENTERIf you have yet to visit the Choctaw Cultural Center, you’re truly missing out on an unforgettable experience. Each interactive exhibit has been designed to pull you into the vibrant story of the Choctaw people in a way that incorporates all of your senses. There are even more opportunities to immerse yourself in the Choctaw culture with a tour of the living village, stickball demonstrations and hands-on classes for basketweaving or beadwork. And your visit won’t be complete without experiencing the delicious indigenous cuisine, like Indian tacos and tanchi labona, offered daily at Champuli Café.TOUR THE ART HIKE AT CHOCTAW LANDINGChoctaw’s newest resort property, Choctaw Landing offers a seamless integration of indigenous culture throughout the premises. The Art Hike, featuring 40 distinct pieces of publicly accessible art, is one of the unique ways to lose yourself in the world of Choctaw culture. This self-guided tour, activated by scanning QR codes at each piece of artwork, will take you on an incredible journey told through the work of over 20 local Choctaw artists. And when you’re ready to explore even more, Beavers Bend State Park is literally right outside the door.