Pronounced by some as "Hono-bee" or "Hon-nubee" or even "Hono-beah". Depending if you are from Honobia or have heard others say it. The truth about the proper name of Honobia rest in the traditional nature of the Choctaw people. Honobia is a Choctaw word, but with the traditional nature of many languages from the around the world. One word (Name) can have several meanings depending in what text it was meant to have or at what situation it was named for. One indication by some historical records it was named after a Choctaw Indian that was one of the original "allotee's" just after the "Trail of Tears". Years of research have discovered there are many maps with Honobia listed and there are maps that jump several decades with Honobia not listed. (See maps below for examples) Earliest map with Honobia is 1922, several older maps indicated that there were no roads in and out of the Honobia area. Some Choctaw Nation oral history indicates that there was a settlement of the Choctaw people in Honobia (that suggest where Christ 40 acres, Kiamichi Mountains Christian Mission is now) as early as 1830-1831. Oral history also suggest that there was evidence of people that had lived in the region well before the Choctaw people. Historical records view that the Caddo Indians were habitants of the regions hundreds of years before the Choctaw Indians. Research from talking with Caddo elders and historians are reluctant to say but suggest that there were "tall-hairy" people like creatures that roamed the SE Oklahoma and East Texas areas.
Most Indian Nation Tribes rely on oral history for documentation. How much is error or how much is fact? That is the question, regardless of what is said and not said, just about 6 out of 10 North America Indian Tribes of Nations give accounts to "tall-hairy" people like creatures that their ancestors came across through the decades. Honobia, Oklahoma has deep and very old history still awaiting to be discovered. It is one of the last areas of S.E. Oklahoma that is coming into the 21st Century. The Honobia Valley area just received a cell phone tower just couple of years ago. 50% of people in the area do not have internet and there are no grocery stores, no gas stations, and no traffic. It is one of the most remote locations in the state for the experience of seeing bear, mountain lions, elk, and even maybe a Bigfoot cross in front of you as you drive down the road. There are many local Honobians (Residents of Honobia) that are working very close with the conference, along with several historians of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma to verify the actual naming of the community of Honobia. Come to the story telling so you can experience the history and the current traditions of Honobia, Oklahoma.
Choctaw Nation (1887) (Notice the Seven Devils Mountains in the right corner of the map)
Another map of the Honobia Valley. (Notice the name Hatobi, that is were Honobia is south of Talihina)
Kiamichi Mountains-Honobia Valley (1893)
Honobia Valley Today (2014)
