The Choctaw Indian Nation traces its ancestry to Mississippi and some sections of Alabama. Legends tell that the Choctaw People originated from "Ninah Waya", a sacred hill near Nozapter, Mississippi. The name "Ninah Waya" means "Productive Mountain" and is often referred to as "The Mother Mound".
  Culturally, the Choctaws have always honored their women as the head of every family household. They were, and still are today, considered the care-takers of our children, our elders, and the home.
   In 1830, the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek forcibly relocated the entire Choctaw nation from their homeland in Mississippi west to what is now known as Southeastern Oklahoma. Over twenty thousand Choctaws were moved on this long journey. Seven thousand survived this removal on what has come to be called "The Trail of Tears".
  The Choctaw population has grown from the original seven thousand survivors to more than seventy thousand. The Choctaw People have overcome enormous obstacles in their quest for self-reliance in a changing and often hostile world.
  During the 1970's, The elected Tribal Chief had the difficult task of re-establishing the sovereignty of the Choctaw Nation. Under the leadership of Chief Hollis Roberts and a progressive twelve elected Tribal Council Representatives, the Choctaw Nation has established a positive direction of Tribal Government of the benefit of the Choctaw People.
  In 1975 the Chief wished to establish the Choctaw Nation administrative offices at the historic Presbyterian College building in Durant, Oklahoma. This building was originally established in 1894 as a school for Indian youths and was known as the Calvin Institute. Support for the school came from the Choctaw Nation and the Presbyterian Churches until it was closed in 1960 due to financial difficulties.
  Reacquisition and renovation of the building allowed the centralization of the Choctaw Government which permits more effective Choctaw Government Administration. Guests are always welcome and tours are available by contacting the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
   Chief Hollis Roberts and the Twelve Tribal Council Representatives meet at the historic Choctaw capitol Building located in Tuskahoma, Oklahoma. In September of 1884, construction of the Choctaw Nation's capitol was completed. The Choctaw capitol Building was the center of government for the Choctaw Nation until 1907. That year, the State of Oklahoma attempted to dissolve the Choctaw Nation Government and the Choctaw citizens were declared general citizens of the State of Oklahoma.
   In 1977, a group of Choctaws petitioned the Federal court, asking that the 1860 Choctaw Constitution be legally declared the valid Constitution of the Choctaw Nation. the Choctaw people voted in 1979 for and adopted the document which would serve as a guide for the government and proposed constitution. In 1981 the Federal Courts did declare that the 1860 Choctaw Constitution was valid.
   The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma operates under a written Constitutional form of Government ratified by the Choctaw people on July 9, 1983.
    The Historic Choctaw Capitol Building houses the Choctaw nation's National Museum and Judicial Department Court System. The Choctaw national Museum has a wide assortment of historic and cultural exhibits which include information and displays on the Choctaw Light Horsemen and the original Choctaw Code Talkers from World War I and World War II. I November 1989, France presented the highest honor that country can bestow, "knight of the National Order of Merit of France" to the Choctaw Code Talkers for their efforts in World War I.