The Gift
Many people are familiar with the connection between the Choctaw Nation and the Irish people. They know how the Choctaws learned of the problems in Ireland and donated money in 1847 ($170 then, $5,000 in today’s money) to the Irish people while they were enduring the potato famine that was ravaging their land.
The Choctaws were still enduring lasting hardships of forced removal from their homelands and had gone through the deadly Trail of Tears, yet they still felt compelled to meet together at Skullyville, Indian Territory, after hearing the news of the Great Famine, to combine their funds to send to Ireland to help others in their time of need.
Almost two centuries later, Ireland has not forgotten the gift. The friendship is still so strong that the Choctaw and Irish people regularly visit and coordinate activities and meetings together. The relationship has become a testimony to what people can do when they support and truly care for one another.
Irish President Mary Robinson visited the Choctaw Nation in 1995 to formally express her country’s gratitude and rekindle the friendship. The historic visit was an honor and highlight for the Choctaw Nation, with a grand celebration, cultural dancing, and a gathering of tribal members who greeted their friends with joy and kindness.
Other Irish dignitaries have visited the Choctaw Nation during the years, and Choctaw dignitaries and delegates have visited Ireland as well.
This continuation is seen through Choctaw members and Irish citizens who enjoy visiting each other’s countries and getting to know one another. It’s a common bond that is unique and special.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the people of Ireland returned the kindness they long ago received and donated more than $3 million to help Native American tribes who were being severely impacted in their homelands.
The friendship continues to grow, and new ways to connect the two nations are celebrated continuously through scholarships, festivals, artwork and tourism. The Choctaw and Irish people greatly respect one another through the bond formed from the original act of kindness.
More information about the gift and Choctaw-Irish timeline can be found here.
The Art
Irish artist Alex Pentek’s “Kindred Spirits” was unveiled and dedicated in Midleton, County Cork, Ireland in 2017. A delegation from the Choctaw Nation attended the unveiling and dedication.
The sculpture reminds us of the connection between the Choctaw Nation and the Irish people. Twenty feet in height, nine eagle feathers curve up from an empty concrete bowl, symbolizing the deadly Irish famine.
During the recent 2024 Choctaw Labor Day Festival, the “Eternal Heart” sculpture was unveiled and dedicated. The sculpture is an eight-foot piece honoring the Choctaw-Irish relationship. Irish and Oklahoma dignitaries, as well as Choctaw tribal members and leaders, gathered in an emotional dedication of the sculpture.
Funds for the project were provided by the Government of Ireland and the Chahta Foundation.
Choctaw Nation tribal artist Samuel Stitt created a Celtic trinity shape intertwined with a heart that purposefully faces the direction of Ireland, with the heart representing the Choctaw Nation. The base is edged with diamonds, a sign of respect to the diamondback snake.
Claire Green Young, Choctaw Nation Public Artist Manager and past Choctaw-Ireland scholarship recipient said that Stitt is known for his handmade regalia and art and that it was great to see his work come to life in the large-scale sculpture, which speaks to the versatility of our Choctaw artists.
“I think that the story of the connection is very provocative and interesting; it grabs your attention,” Young said. “It’s not something everyone knows about, as far as the broader public goes, so I think that it really has the potential to be something that draws people into Tvshka Homma, to our capital, to see our history and our museum in that way. I think that as a public arts symbol, it also covers a lot of weight.”
Young went on to say it is moving to think of it being tied to another piece in the location [Ireland] where the donation was received.
According to Young, she met an elderly couple from Ireland at the unveiling at Tvshka Homma. They had come to witness the unveiling and said it was incredible to see Irish elders standing together with Choctaw elders at the event.
Recently, Stephanie Murray, an Irish-born fine art and portrait photographer based in Chicago, began a new project. Murray is creating an art exhibition to further the education and understanding of the Choctaw-Irish connection.
Murray plans to shoot black-and-white portrait photographs of Choctaw and Irish people that exemplify this powerful story.
She will showcase these images in Chicago, Ireland, and London art exhibitions. She is also working with an academic team to publish an accompanying book to raise awareness and foster further international cooperation.
She said the Choctaw Nation’s compassion and generosity to the Irish people compelled her to undertake the project. “It’s a photographic project. But in essence, I feel like it’s more, I’m a storyteller,” said Murray.
“I wanted to kind of get the humanity across about it. I had read a lot of academic things about it, but it’s about people seeing people. It’s about this line of humanity that was seen,” Murray continued.
The project is aptly named “Echoes of Kindness.” Murray hopes to complete the production stage and begin the photo exhibition and book distribution within a year.
More Choctaw-Irish art projects can be seen on the Choctaw Nation website.
The Scholarships
In 2018, the Irish government announced a new scholarship program for Choctaw Nation members to study at University College Cork in Ireland to recognize the generosity shown towards the people of Ireland and to foster and deepen ties between the two nations. The Choctaw-Ireland Scholarship pays for tuition and expenses for one year of study for each scholarship recipient.
After the first two years, the Chahta Foundation began a matching donation, and two Choctaw students began receiving the scholarship each year.
Scholarship recipients include Jessica Militante, Ciarra O’Donnell, Claire Green Young, Austin West, Skylee Glass, Aurianna Joines, Emily McClaughry, Brice Mayfield, Cayden Keith Cook Kirkpatrick and Jake Martin.
“The most important thing that I learned about the Choctaw-Irish connection is the enduring nature of our relationship,” said scholarship recipient Austin West. “While the Choctaw-Irish connection is often discussed regarding past actions, its effects are felt in the present. From public discussions and side street conversations to public sculptures and diplomatic visits, the Choctaw-Irish connection is alive and well.”
West advises students who might want to apply for the scholarship to be thoughtful and clear-eyed about how the program intersects with their long-term career goals.
According to West, the scholarship changed his life.
“It enabled me to earn a master’s degree, share our culture with others, obtain numerous job opportunities in Ireland and the United States, build my international experience, serve as the basis for additional educational attainment, and more,” said West. “In short, the scholarship fundamentally changed the direction of my life, and it is something for which I will always be grateful.”
Recipient Aurianna Joines spoke of her time in Ireland as a wonderful opportunity.
“There is simply an abundance of gratitude between the Choctaw and Irish people for the generosity and kindness shown to one another. The gift is not forgotten, the people are not forgotten, and the relationship between our people is growing as time goes on,” said Joines. “It is our job to continue that story and foster that relationship between the Choctaw and Irish people for generations to come.”
According to Joines, the scholarship changed her life in many ways.
“This scholarship changed my life in so many different ways. There is so much to learn when you move to another country, and it makes you grow quickly. You are surrounded by so many people with different backgrounds, and it is truly amazing to hear life stories that look so different from your own,” Joines said. “This scholarship changed my perspective of life, raised the bar for what I thought I could accomplish, and opened up doors that I didn’t know even existed. I walked away from my time in Ireland with meaningful friendships, incredible experiences, and a lifelong appreciation for the opportunity to represent the Choctaw Nation and the Choctaw-Irish relationship.”
Friendship Festival
The Choctaw-Irish Friendship Festival is planned for March 14-15, 2025, in Durant at the Choctaw Cultural Center. The event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, will celebrate the special bond between the Choctaw Nation and Ireland.
Tribal members and the public are welcome to participate in activities for the entire family, including an art market and cultural demonstrations, and to see what it is like to be a part of the mutual affection and respect between the Choctaw and Irish people.
For more information on future events and art exhibits happening at Choctaw Cultural Center in Durant, visit https://choctawculturalcenter.com/.