BY Allen Roark
DBJ Contributing Writer
This past October, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, located primarily
on the Pearl River Reservation just outside of Philadelphia, Mississippi,
purchased an 856-acre site in Carroll County just outside of Greenwood. The
Tribe purchased the land from Memphian Ann Shook Canale, after being contacted
by Greenwood attorney Lee Abraham, who had an option to purchase the property.
According to accounts in published news reports, current Chief Phillip Martin
has said that the Tribe’s motivation in making the $1.7 million purchase
of nineteenth century Choctaw Chief Greenwood Leflore’s lands was to
recapture a significant part of their history and heritage.
The son of a French trader and Choctaw maiden, Leflore rose to prominence
in the 1820’s when he replaced Pushmataha as the principal chief of
the Mississippi Choctaws. After losing favor with the tribe for ceding all
remaining tribal lands to the U.S. in the 1830 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek,
Leflore became a leading citizen of Carroll County, where he owned 15,000
acres of farmland and 400 slaves to work them.
Leflore was elected U.S. Senator in 1835, and built his wife Priscilla a magnificent
French Colonial/Colonial Revival mansion called Malmaison, which, according
to Mississippi River Country Tales author, Jim Fraiser, had a Louis XIV parlor
that was finished in gold leaf, upholstered in red damask, and decorated with
over $10,000 worth of furnishings.
Fraiser relates that Lefore was a strong leader, once traveling to Washington
where he successfully prevailed upon President Andrew Jackson to replace a
corrupt Indian Agent. Leflore supported many Choctaw reforms including the
adoption of Christianity, and end to witchcraft, and trial by life an death
contest.
Fraiser also notes that Leflore was an important member of the local community,
serving as U.S. citizen and engaging in numerous acts of charity for citizens
of all races. He ultimately lost favor with the locals, Fraiser says, when
he remained fervently loyal to the Union during the Civil War. Chief Martin
has also become a major player in Mississippi, bringing industry and gaming
to the Philadelphia reservation. He has brought in two top-flight golf courses
and the Pearl River Resort, which now has the $20 million family-oriented
Geyser Falls Theme Water Park, and will soon offer the new Golden Moon Casino
and Lake Pushmataha resort.
Although some Carroll countians have speculated that the Choctaws may put
a casino on the property, Martin has denied any such intentions during interviews
with the Greenwood Commonwealth and Memphis Commercial Appeal. Because of
current state and federal law, no casino could be built there unless the tribe
successfully petitions the U.S. government to make the newly purchased property
part of Indian trust land.
A recent Neshoba Democrat article reported that the Choctaws were considering
building a tribal history museum or tour-quality golf course on the acreage.
However, Martin has publically stated that he will conduct a feasibility study
before making any decision on what use the tribe will make of its new property.
DBJ