Mississippi Choctaw release new digital dictionary to strengthen language preservation

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has launched a new online Choctaw Dictionary Project to support language learners and document the Mississippi dialect of the Choctaw language, according to the Mississippi Free Press. The digital resource, released in September, includes more than 5,000 words along with recorded stories and histories. Jason Lewis, who works in cultural content development for the tribe’s Choctaw Tribal Language Program, said earlier dictionaries reflected the Oklahoma dialect recorded after removal, not the language spoken today in Mississippi.

The Tribal Language Program has worked since 2019 to collect stories and develop a consistent writing system. Program Director DeLaura Saunders told the Mississippi Free Press the goal is to provide resources for younger tribal citizens who are no longer hearing the language daily. Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben described the language as “the living spirit of our identity” in a Sept. 8 statement. The tribe plans continued additions to the dictionary as staff complete interviews, transcriptions and new entries.