Interview # 1108
Field Worker: Maurice R. Anderson
Date: April 10, 1937
Name: Mrs. Amanda (James) Smith
Residence: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma
Date of Birth: October 8, 1895
Place of Birth: Calhoun, Indian Territory
Father: Ellis James, born in the Choctaw Nation
Mother: Sealy Mackey, born in the Choctaw Nation
See Photo
of Amanda James Smith
I am a full blood Choctaw Indian. My mother had her own mall and
mortar for beating corn. I used to help her fix "Tomfullah". She
would beat the corn in the wooden mortar and after fanning the husks out of it until it
was clean she would soak as much as she thought she would need and put meat in with it and
boil it. We used pork meat. Then we would put some of the corn in a stone jar
with water over it and set it close to the fireplace and let it sour. This was
called 'sofka'.
My mother made some of our medicine. If we were sick, she would use
a paste made of persimmon and flour baked for a laxative and give us a small amount when
needed. For colds or croup, she would use broom-weed roots boiled and take the juice
and sweeten it with brown sugar or honey to suit the taste.
I remember one time, my sister and tow brothers and I built a big fire and
caught some dry land terrapins, roasted and ate them. As they tried to crawl off we
would throw them back on the fire with a stick. When they were roasted we would take
the hull off and eat the meat. I don't know why we did this. My mother always
had plenty on the table to eat.
I didn't get to go to school much. The little schooling I did get
was after 1907 when we moved to Pauls Valley. I went to Klondike school five miles
southwest of Pauls Valley.
I don't know much about my tribe and I never asked my mother about the
Indian customs. I have heard my older Indian friends tell about the old days and
what they did and the things they saw. If what they say is true, I know that they
had a hard life.
I have always had plenty of clothes to wear and plenty to eat. I
grew up in and around Pauls Valley.
I married Mr. H.W. Smith, a white man, in March 1913. We have
lived either in Pauls Valley or on my homestead, six miles southwest of Pauls Valley ever
since we were married.
Submitted by Connie
Selders
