To the Choctaw Nation - Thank You

To any members that may be Choctaw, thanks to your people, I wish more knew of your generosity. Your people had been treated horribly by the United States and forced to endure the Trail of Tears. Most of my family came here because of the famine in Ireland and when I was young I heard about how your people sent money when your people had little. I think that the Irish in America and Ireland need to remember your giving. I am a Christian and there is story in the bible about a woman who gave a penny to the church, while another gave a thousand dollars (just for comparison, not the real amounts). Jesus said that woman who gave the penny gave the most because she gave all she had rather than from her wealth. I cannot thank those who contributed as they are dead; but, the gesture should live on and be a reminder to all of us that we can feed someone.

On a regular basis I give food or money to charity, I like the ones that feed people the best. I think about my family members that starved to death in Ireland and how the Choctaw sent from their little. We can all do something. If anyone reading this has never really been hungry, it is not fun.

I am Choctaw, I am so glad feel honored that you are acknowledging the generosity of my people, my great grandmother walked the trail of tears. Her story breaks my heart every time my grandfather tells her story. The Choctaw people truly care for this world and it is very nice to here that someone is posting their appreciating for them, so thank you very much!

reply to post by AQuestion


It's so nice to read a post of gratitude. I had not heard of this story, so thanks for posting it. Can you substantiate it with a link? (not to be critical at all. I just would like to read more about this)

reply to post by antinwo101


Dear antinwo101,

Thank you so much, I always wanted to say thank you since I found out from mother as a child what your people did. It makes me cry and smile at the same time. I am sorry for your grandmother having to endure such a wrong. It is the good things that people do that we should focus on and your people have, they focused on what they could do rather that what they endured. May God thank you and yours. Be well.

The trail of tears is truly one of the saddest episodes of American history.

Moved by news of starvation in Ireland, a group of Choctaws gathered in Scullyville, Okla., to raise a relief fund. Despite their meager resources, they collected $170 and forwarded it to a U.S. famine relief organization

What made the Choctaw donation so extraordinary was the tribe's recent history. Only 16 years before, President Andrew Jackson (whose parents emigrated from Antrim) seized the fertile lands of the so-called five civilized tribes (Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, and Cherokee) and forced them to undertake a harrowing 500-mile trek to Oklahoma known as the Trail of Tears. Of the 21,000 Choctaws who started the journey, more than half perished from exposure, malnutrition, and disease. This despite the fact that during the War of 1812 the Choctaws had been allies of then General Jackson in his campaign against the British in New Orleans..

pantherfile.uwm.edu...

reply to post by aboutface


Dear aboutface,

Wikipedia - Great Famine (Ireland)

You have to scroll down the article a bit; but, it is true. Newspapers falsely reported the amount, the Wikipedia article more accurately reports it. It may be hard to understand the amount; but, the Choctaw were very poor and lost everything and then were forced to be relocated.

reply to post by Maluhia


Dear Maluhia,

It was actually $710, the original newspaper reports had transposed the numbers. If you ever set type (and I did), it is easy to do. Be well.

reply to post by AQuestion

Thank you for the clarification. An heroic effort by an amazing people.

I have cherokee, choctaw, and german roots. I never knew of this story.. I always wanted to find out my history, but never had a starting point, now I do! So thank you!

reply to post by showintail


Dear showintail,

It is an amazing story. My children (because of the ex) are part Sac and Fox. I personally have no American Indian in me, I am of Irish decent. You should know your history and I am glad that I had anything to provide to you. My family did not arrive to the United States until the early 1900's; but, I always remember what my mother told me about your people. Be well.

reply to post by NuroSlam


Dear NuroSlam,

Thank you so much for providing that imbed. Be well.

reply to post by antinwo101


your peoples gesture has not been forgotten by the irish there has been a documentury on TG4 about the generosity of the Choctaw to the irish during the famine and this generous deed has been mentiond in a lot of irish documentries about the irish famine but please lat me as a full blooded irishman thank you and your ancestors for their act of kindness

You all truly have brought tears to my eyes tonight! I hope the kindness in your hearts continues to pay forward! god bless!

im chickasaw/choctaw and recently moved to the chickasaw nation in oklahoma. the two tribes use to be arch enemies but are now arch allies.

great people, horrible past.

they certainly can recognize and sympathize for poverty when they see it.

living out here with the indians is the first time ive ever experienced a government that actually functions for its people. they seem to have better morals/values than my state and federal governments.

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id also like to add that its the trail of tears that makes many indians very opposed to lax/illegal immigration. my people had to endure being forced into assimilation and werent even allowed to speak their native tongue, and here we have various kinds of forigners just allowing themselves into society without even attempting to learn the culture or language.

trail of tears vs trail of cheers.