Choctaw Culture

 

Weaving

 

 

The Choctaw people made baskets from swamp cane from the river banks. They gathered the cane from wet, swampy areas. They cut the cane strips, then dyed the cane with natural materials. They can create several patterns with the natural and dyed cane strips.

 

 

 

 

The baskets were both beautiful and practical, as they often held food and other necessities.

 

Several colors were used in the Choctaw baskets. They often used plants and trees to create the natural dyes.

Yellow- the root of the puccoon plant

Red- came from the top, or sumac, of the puccoon plant

Purple- alder bark or maple (also produced lavender, red, and gray depending on the time of year)

Brown- walnut tree, usually the bark or husk

Black- ashes of Post Oak or Blackjack oak and boiled with copper

 

 

Pottery

 

The Choctaw people of Mississippi often made pottery as well. Their pottery is characterized by dark clay. They used pottery to store things.