Culture of the Choctaw
Clans
Clans
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Within the Choctaws were two distinct [moieties](/wiki/Moiety_%28kinship%29 "Moiety (kinship)"): Imoklashas (elders) and Inhulalatas (youth). Each moiety had several clans or Iksas,

 it is estimated there were about 12 Iksas altogether. Identity was established first by Moiety and Iksa, so a Choctaw identified himself first as his Iksa, for example Imoklasha or Inhulata, and second as Choctaw. Children belonged to the Iksa of their mother meaning they are [matrilineal](/wiki/Matrilineal "Matrilineal"). The following were some major districts:

* Okla Hannalli (people of six towns)
* Okla Tannap (people from the other side)
* Okla Fayala (people who are widely dispersed)

John Swanton writes "there are only the faintest traces of groups with truly totemic designations, the animal and plant names which occur seeming not to have had a totemic connotation."

 Swanton also adds '[Adam Hodgson](/wiki/Adam_Hodgson "Adam Hodgson") ... who "spoke English very well," told ... "that there were tribes or families among the Indians, somewhat similar to the Scottish clans; such as, the Panther family, the Bird family, Raccoon Family, the Wolf family."' The following are possible totemic clan designations:

* Wind
* Bear
* Deer
* Wolf
* Panther
* Holly Leaf
* Bird
* Raccoon
* Crawfish

Did the Choctaws have any system of inheritance based on totemic clans?