The MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians is a state-recognized tribe located in southwest Alabama, with a population largely based in southern Washington County. The website of the MOWA is https://mowachoctawindians.com/ In 1978, the Choctaws of Washington County, Alabama became recognized under Legislative Acts of the State of Alabama and further that all laws to the contrary were made null and void with regard to the Choctaw under the Code of Alabama of 1975, as amended. In 1983, the Attorney General of State of Alabama confirmed that the MOWA were eligible for federal programs and services as Indians. In 1984 the legislature passed the Davis-Strong Act to set up a commission to represent Native American interests in the state. The commission established rules for recognition, and included the MOWA Band among the first seven tribes to be recognized. Since that time, another two tribes have been recognized by the state.
History
The historic Choctaw people occupied extensive territory in what later became the states of Alabama, the original Mississippi Territory and the original Louisiana Territory. The US Congress passed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, authorizing the federal government to arrange for exchanges of land in order to remove the Five Civilized Tribes from the Southeast and to territory west of the Mississippi River. The Choctaw were not eligible for land exchange under the terms of the Indian Removal Act. A portion of the Choctaw were the first to be voluntarily removed along with the Wea, Ohio, and some Cherokee Indians, believing they had ceded their land under various treaties. They were removed to Indian Territory in the State of Mississippi, such as the case of Greenwood LeFlore and Peter Pitchlynn or else Arkansas along the River, later the state of Oklahoma. The MOWA Band of Indians is composed of descendants of Native American Indians who remained in Alabama. In the late 20th century, the MOWA Band and several groups of Native Americans in Alabama pressed for recognition by the state. The Choctaws Indians of Mobile had been continuously recognized since at least the 1700’s by primarily the same names and surnames used by the Choctaws today. The same people who continuously survived and maintained their own distinct communities. The state legislature passed the Davis-Strong Act in 1984 and established the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission to represent Native Americans in the state. Made up of leaders of several tribes, the Commission created rules for recognition, and recognized seven tribes at the time, including the MOWA Band. The Commission has since recognized two more Tribes. The Alabama Inter-Tribal Council was established for Indians by Indians and is composed solely of the Indian Tribes not presently administratively recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs under 25 CFR 83. The Sovereignty of these same Tribes has been formally acknowledged by the United States Federal Courts. The MOWA Indians have primarily and nearly exclusively intermarried with other known Choctaw families since at least 1800 when records became prevalent. Prior to 1800, it would have been nearly impossible to produce a family with a non-Indian outside of white traders and missionaries who were also known to have been white.
Organization
Historical records note the presence of the Choctaw in the southwest region of Alabama since pre-historic Times. The MOWA have most of their territory in Washington County, Alabama. In 1979, the MOWA Indians organized as the MOWA Band of Indians of South Alabama. The MOWA incorporated as an Alabama non-profit corporation in Washington County, Alabama. While most of the MOWA reside inside Washington County, some members have moved and live in other locations across the entire United States. Some have pursued education and employment opportunities. The MOWA has a chief, a tribal council of eleven members, and a tribal judge. According to their constitution, the chief and members of the tribal council are elected. The tribal judge is appointed by the chief with the approval of the tribal council. The MOWA have an annual Pow Wow each year, typically in the fall.
