Choctaw Mortuary Practices and Life Beyond The estimated population after initial European contact was between 15,000 and 20,000 people and was the second largest group of Native Americans in the Southeast (Blitz 1988:127). The Choctaws of the Southeast were a matrilineal society. Traditionally, women carried out tasks related to domestic life. Among these responsibilities were the creation of pottery and utensils, the preparation of food, and the planting and harvesting of crops. The majority of their diet consisted of agricultural products such as corn, pumpkins, squash, and beans. Women also accompanied men on hunting excursions to prepare food. After the hunt, the women were responsible for bringing the killed animal back to the village to process the skins, bones and meat (Carson 1995: 495-6). The Choctaw men's greatest responsibilities were hunting and war. During the fall and winter months, their primary food source was deer. Their accomplishments during hunting adventures directly reflected their social status and importance within the tribe. When a member of the Choctaw tribe became terminally ill, it was common for the medicine man to inform the family of their impending death (Swanton 1931:170). Upon death, the Choctaws believed that the spirit of the dead continued its journey to the good or bad hunting grounds. This trip would take several days, requiring appropriate provisions. A dog was sometimes killed to accompany its master on the long journey. After the horses were introduced, they too were killed so that the spirit would have the means to express itself amidst the paper, guilt or fear, and attempt to dodge the stones. Slipping off the log, he fell into the raging river and over the waterfall, landing in a rapidly swirling pool of water. Pulling its battered, tattered and undressed body from the water, the shilup begins its journey into the bad hunting grounds. Every step is filled with pain caused by heather, thorny trees, chestnut strawberries. The sun never shines and the cold winds are always present. Every spirit encountered is an enemy with no safe place to hide. Food is scarce due to infertile soil and hunger is constant. Bad hunting grounds are perpetually lonely, with only happy sounds coming from the other side of the mountains. The doomed spirits constantly struggle to climb the dangerous mountains, but in vain. They are eternally destined for a life after desolation (Campbell 1959:149-52).

Essay / Choctaw Mortuary Practices and Life Beyond The estimated population after initial European contact was between 15,000 and 20,000 people and was the second largest group of Native Americans in the Southeast (Blitz 1988:127). The Choctaws of the Southeast were a matrilineal society. Traditionally, women carried out tasks related to domestic life. Among these responsibilities were the creation of pottery and utensils, the preparation of food, and the planting and harvesting of crops. The majority of their diet consisted of agricultural products such as corn, pumpkins, squash, and beans. Women also accompanied men on hunting excursions to prepare food. After the hunt, the women were responsible for bringing the killed animal back to the village to process the skins, bones and meat (Carson 1995: 495-6). The Choctaw men's greatest responsibilities were hunting and war. During the fall and winter months, their primary food source was deer. Their accomplishments during hunting adventures directly reflected their social status and importance within the tribe. When a member of the Choctaw tribe became terminally ill, it was common for the medicine man to inform the family of their impending death (Swanton 1931:170). Upon death, the Choctaws believed that the spirit of the dead continued its journey to the good or bad hunting grounds. This trip would take several days, requiring appropriate provisions. A dog was sometimes killed to accompany its master on the long journey. After the horses were introduced, they too were killed so that the spirit would have the means to express itself amidst the paper, guilt or fear, and attempt to dodge the stones. Slipping off the log, he fell into the raging river and over the waterfall, landing in a rapidly swirling pool of water. Pulling its battered, tattered and undressed body from the water, the shilup begins its journey into the bad hunting grounds. Every step is filled with pain caused by heather, thorny trees, chestnut strawberries. The sun never shines and the cold winds are always present. Every spirit encountered is an enemy with no safe place to hide. Food is scarce due to infertile soil and hunger is constant. Bad hunting grounds are perpetually lonely, with only happy sounds coming from the other side of the mountains. The doomed spirits constantly struggle to climb the dangerous mountains, but in vain. They are eternally destined for a life after desolation (Campbell 1959:149-52).

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