Choctaw in Alabama

The Choctaw were a large Native nation whose homeland covered much of Mississippi and western Alabama. By the turn of the nineteenth century they numbered at least 15,000 people, claimed millions of acres, and lived in some 50 towns [1]. They spoke dialects of a Muskogean language and called themselves Chahtas. A series of treaties between 1801 and 1830 transferred their land to the United States, and most Choctaws moved west to Indian Territory. Today the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is federally recognized, and the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians holds state recognition in Alabama.

Homeland in western Alabama

The Choctaw homeland centered on Mississippi, but towns of the eastern division lay along the lower Alabama and Mississippi border. The Tombigbee River valley and the lands near present-day Tuscaloosa and the Gulf coast were part of their claimed territory. Choctaw towns were organized into districts, and the people farmed corn, beans and squash, hunted deer and traded with the French, British and Spanish [1].

Early agreements

In 1765, Choctaw and Chickasaw leaders signed a treaty with British negotiators at Mobile. After the United States took control of the region, the Choctaws signed their first land cession in 1801. The Fort Confederation Treaty (1802) ceded land in southwest Alabama north of the 31st parallel, and the Mount Dexter Treaty (1805) ceded land bordering that cession. The Treaty of Fort St. Stephens (1816) transferred millions of acres in Alabama, including the area of present-day Tuscaloosa [1].

Doak’s Stand and Dancing Rabbit Creek

The Treaty of Doak’s Stand (1820) required removal to land in what is now Arkansas, where white Americans already lived. The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, signed on September 27, 1830, ceded all Choctaw lands east of the Mississippi River, including the last Alabama portion. It was the first removal treaty under the Indian Removal Act of 1830 [1].

Removal

Removal to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, began in 1831 and was overseen that winter by George Strothers Gaines. A few thousand Choctaws remained in Mississippi and Alabama. Those who stayed faced pressure from settlers and the loss of land, but they preserved their identity in small communities [1].

The MOWA Band

The MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians takes its name from its location in Mobile and Washington counties. Members claim descent from Six Towns Choctaws who joined the Red Stick Creeks and hid in the swamps and forests of southwest Alabama. The band holds state recognition and does not hold federal recognition. Readers who want current programs should consult the band directly [1].

Other Choctaw communities

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is federally recognized. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, whose citizens descend from those who moved west, is among the largest Native nations. Other Choctaws live in Texas, Tennessee and elsewhere across the United States. Readers can compare the Choctaw story with that of the neighboring Chickasaws in Chickasaw in Alabama and with the Creeks in Muscogee (Creek) People in Alabama [1].

Language and culture

Choctaw belongs to the Muskogean family, together with Chickasaw, Creek, Alabama and Koasati. These languages share many words and grammatical features. Choctaw today is taught in schools and programs in Oklahoma and Mississippi. For more on how the nations fit into the state’s history, see Indigenous Peoples of Alabama (Overview) [1].

FAQs

What did the Choctaws call themselves? Chahta.

Which treaty ended Choctaw claims in Alabama? The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, September 27, 1830.

What is the MOWA Band? A state-recognized Choctaw community in Mobile and Washington counties.

When did Choctaw removal begin? In 1831.

Is the MOWA Band federally recognized? No. It holds state recognition.

Sources

1. Encyclopedia of Alabama: Choctaws in Alabama
2. Encyclopedia of Alabama: Indigenous Alabamians (collection)

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 10, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue