Tribal Council approves Official Choctaw Flag Salute

On October 14, 2023, the Choctaw Nation Tribal Council approved the Resolution adopting the Official Flag Salute of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

The Salute honors the Choctaw flag and will immediately follow the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance at official meetings.

The Pledge in Chahta reads:
Chahta okla i̱ shvhpa aiokpvchi li; yakni yvt Chihowa i̱ yimmi hokmvt hlampko hosh hiki̱a chi̱. Ibai achvffa vhleha yvt Na Yimmi, Chukkachvffa, Micha Aiimvlhpesa ya̱ isht o̱ hiki̱a hosh holittobli bilia chi̱.

The English translation states:
I salute the flag of the Choctaw Nation; a nation characterized by belief in God, tenacity, and resilience, whose members will forever honor its representation of Faith, Family, and Culture.

The Resolution, proposed by Chief Gary Batton and introduced by Councilmember Ron Perry, was approved unanimously during the October 14 meeting.

The Choctaw Flag is purple and features the Choctaw Nation’s Great Seal, an important image to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

“A reminder of our history and traditions is on display in everything we do at the Choctaw Nation through our Great Seal. On October 16, 1860, the Choctaw General Council, led by Chief George Hudson, passed an act at the regular annual session held at Doaksville, that created the Great Seal of the Choctaw Nation, said Chief Batton. “The Great Seal of the Choctaw Nation, which consists of an unstrung bow symbolizing a peaceful Nation; encompassing three arrows honoring our three Chiefs Pushmataha, Mushulatubbe, and Apukshunabbe; and a smoking pipe-hatchet that represents the desire of the Choctaw people to establish beneficial alliances with neighbors, but also perhaps prowess. The seal has been used on all official papers of the Choctaw Nation since 1860. The seal is a guide for visitors to the Nation to see what we stand for, our traditions and culture.”

Choctaw Nation celebrated its Inaugural Flag Day on October 16, 2021. Since then, tribal members have celebrated Choctaw Flag Day by representing the Choctaw Flag Across the world. Below are a few photos from previous years.