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The Jena Band of Choctaw Indians are one of three federally recognized Choctaw groups in the United States. They are located in La Salle, Catahoula, and Grant parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana.
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The Jena Band received federal recognition in 1995 and has a reservation in Grant Parish, with their headquarters at Jena. Tribal membership totals 241.
Government
The tribe is headquartered in Jena, Louisiana. Their current Principal Chief of the Jena Band is Cheryl Jackson Smith.
Reservation
The Jena Band of Choctaw Reservation (31°26′16″N 92°29′56″W) is located in two separate parts in Grant Parish, in and near the village of Creola. The larger section is located northwest of the village, while the smaller section is located within the village.
Culture
Choctaw culture has greatly evolved over the centuries absorbing mostly European-American influences. It was also shaped by and contributed to Spanish, French, and English colonial cultures. They were known for their rapid incorporation of modernity, developing a written language, transitioning to yeoman farming methods, and accepting European Americans and African Americans into their society by birth, adoption or marriage.