History

Holy Rosary Indian Mission was founded in 1884. The majority of Choctaw Tribe had been removed to the Indian Territory in Oklahoma, but some remained behind refusing to leave their ancestral land. They lived in abject poverty and endured severe trials. The Church raised funds to purchase land where Choctaw tribal members could come and live safely. Each family was given land and a cabin and the tools to raise crops for food. At one time the mission owned over 2,000 acres and over 1,000 Choctaws lived on “mission land”. When the Bureau of Indian Affairs discovered that so many Choctaws remained in Mississippi, an Indian agent was appointed. Holy Rosary Indian Mission gave all but 100 acres of the mission land in Trust for the needs of the Choctaw people. What is now the Tucker Community and part of the Pearl River and Conehatta Communities of the reservation were once “mission land.” Today 11,000 Choctaw tribal members live on 35,000 acres located in ten different counties in Mississippi.