Tuesday, March 27, Mike Wahlder donated 41 to the Jena Choctaw Band of Indians. Forty of the acres are located in southern Grant Parish and the other one acre is adjacent land in Rapides Parish. The land is adjacent to the Cougar Stop Truck Stop on U.S. Hwy 167 north of the Alexandria/Pineville area. Except for the truck stop and a trailer park the area is undeveloped.
The Jena Choctaw Band is comprised of only about 220 members living in Grant, LaSalle and Rapides Parishes. Until this donation, the tribe did not collectively own any land. The tribe has not yet formulated a plan for the 41 acres, and are just grateful for the donation.
Mr. Wahlder has indicated that he would donate more land if the tribe wanted to build a church, but according to Herman Jackson, Tribal Council member, the tribe has no plans to build a church. He said that many tribal members are practicing Baptists. Since they are members of existing churches there would be no need to build a church on tribal land.
Mr. Wahlder is not a Jena Choctaw Indian, but is a friend and sympathizer of the tribe.
Despite their lack of land in the past, the tribe has maintained an office in Jena, Louisiana. And cultural activities and tribal traditions have been passed down from generation to generation.
With the support of the Louisiana Regional Folklife Program and a grant from the U. S. Forest Service, tribe member Rose Fisher Blassingame recently completed a film of Choctaw Split Cane Basketry.
The donation of the 41 acres will provide a central location for tribe activities and education within the tribe and with those of us outside the tribe.
More Info about the Jena Choctaw
- 1992 Presidential Memorandum rejecting Senate bill to accept Jena Choctaw as a federally recognized Indian tribe, from Bush Library
- Congressional Bills for tribe recognition sponsored by Louisiana Representatives and Senators, 1993 Legislative History
- The Jena Band, Choctaw Traditions Hold the Tribe Together, 1996 Baton Rouge Advocate Magazine article
- Evidence for Finding Jena Band of Choctaw Indians a Tribe by Federal Government, 2001, Documentation required by Federal Government before recognition as a an official band of Indians
- Folk Artists fron Jena Band of Choctaws
- Contact the Jena Choctaw at
P. O. Drawer 14
Jena, LA 71342
Phone (318) 992-2717
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