Oka Homma Alla Hilha Alhiha

For thousands of years, the Choctaw have danced in the place we call Mississippi today. Chahta Hihla, or Choctaw dancing, is participatory; men and women stand together in traditional dress made of ribbons and ruffles, and wait for the chanter to begin a song or clack a rhythm with their striking sticks. Then, they begin to dance, creating fellowship for the community.

Hihla is comprised of war, social, and animal dances. War dances were historically performed in preparation for battle; social dances celebrate important life events, from friendship to courtship and marriage; and animal dances establish harmony with the natural world. The dances are communal, without individual dancers taking the spotlight. During the Stealing Partners Dance—a crucial way for Choctaw youth to interact and prepare for courtship—even audience members are invited to join.

Choctaw dances begin with the Jump Dance, which symbolizes the beginning of life. The dances always move counterclockwise, an expression of reverence for the Creator. The chanter guides the movement of the dancers with their singing, while the two pieces of wood they tap together, known as striking sticks, create the rhythm and cadence of the dance. The final dance of the night is traditionally the Walk Dance, a slow, walking dance as the sun rises in the east. The dance recognizes the forced migration of the Choctaw, says Choctaw elder Curtis Billy, but also shows that the Choctaw today are walking in the footsteps of their ancestors.

The Oka Homma Alla Hilha Alhiha dance group was founded by Virginia and Ryan York in 2013. Today, they have more than 40 dancers, ranging in age from four to older adults, but focusing on teaching traditions to young adults.