March 13, 2026
Cultural Affairs Program, Choctaw, MS
The Chahta Kabotcha Ikbi Project highlights the shared experiences of the Kabotcha Ikbi alhiha and introduces a new generation to the craft of Choctaw stickball stick making. Over the course of 5 days, 15 Choctaw Central High seniors will work with 5 stickball artisans to learn the history and philosophy of Chahta Kabotcha and the process of creating stickball sticks. The project will culminate in a stickball shootout at the Choctaw Arts and Crafts Market.
This program is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
Photo credit: Jim Tubby, Mississippi Choctaw, preparing for a stickball game in 1908, via Smithsonian.
