Marvel Studios' “Echo” brings a powerful and authentic representation of Native American culture to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Echo filmmakers worked with the Choctaw Nation during all stages of production to ensure the Choctaw culture, language and history were accurately represented.
While pretty much a flop, Echo did have a few positive notes worth mentioning. First, show producers did strive to depict the Choctaw Nation accurately. They paid close attention to cultural details in this area. This made it more reassuring that things like the powwow at the end were a realistic setup.
The opening moments of Echo episode 1, "Chafa," explored the Choctaw Nation's creation myth and stayed true to real-world mythology while adding some of the MCU's typical supernatural elements.
It was good to have it be about the Choctaw Nation. Good story, great acting. It was so cool to see the Choctaw Nation being represented. Marvel has been doing great with bringing in different Indigenous people...the Mayan and Mohawk.
Marvel Studios' new series, Echo, is an exciting project where Native representation, specifically Choctaw representation, has been placed squarely at the forefront of creative development.
Marvel Studios' Echo | This Is Choctaw | Disney+ & Hulu
Is Echo Cheyenne or Choctaw?
In the comics, Echo was originally a member of the Cheyenne Nation of the Great Plains. For her MCU induction, Echo was altered to become a member of the Choctaw.
In order to be more authentic to the story and the character of Lopez, we leaned into the specificity of her being from one tribe only. To give her a fresh start, and given we had Choctaw writers in the writers room, that meant she became Choctaw instead of Blackfeet or Cheyenne."
Echo incorporates authentic Choctaw mythology, honoring the heritage of the Choctaw people in Oklahoma. Maya Lopez's powers are connected to her Choctaw heritage, allowing her to "echo" the abilities of her ancestors and confront her enemies.
Alaqua Cox (born February 13, 1997) is a Native American (Menominee) actress. She landed her breakthrough role – her first ever acting experience – as Maya Lopez / Echo within the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the Disney+ series Hawkeye (2021), continuing as the protagonist in the spin-off series Echo (2024).
Pushmataha ( c. 1764 – December 24, 1824; also spelled Pooshawattaha, Pooshamallaha, or Poosha Matthaw) was one of the three regional chiefs of the major divisions of the Choctaw in the 19th century. Many historians considered him the "greatest of all Choctaw chiefs".
Others use a tiered system, with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma using lineal descent for general enrollment, but requiring a BQ of "at least one-fourth" for all tribal council candidates.
Studies show some members of the Choctaw Tribe in Oklahoma have blood characteristics not found in any other part of the world. This discovery was made in 1997 at Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI). The “type” or minor blood group is known scientifically as ENAV(MNS42).
To prove tribal heritage with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, you must be a descendant of a Choctaw or Mississippi Choctaw with a blood quantum listed on the Final Rolls of Citizens of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory (also known as the Final Dawes Rolls.)
There is no blood limit with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. If you have a direct ancestor who was enrolled on the Choctaw Final Dawes Commission Rolls, you are eligible for a Choctaw Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood Card (CDIB).
Chafa was the first Choctaw woman and ancestor of Maya Lopez who helped her family escape the collapsing Nanih Waiya. She then was able to echo to many of her descendants and help them in times of need.
Although "Echo," like most Marvel projects, was filmed primarily in Georgia, much of the action is set in Maya's rural Oklahoma community of Tamaha, which is based on a real eastern Oklahoma town formerly in the Choctaw Nation.
Choctaws are Native Americans who traditionally lived in what today is part of the southeastern United States. Before 1820 Choctaw territory encompassed more than 23 million acres, primarily in present-day Mississippi, and extended into sections of present-day Alabama and Louisiana.
The show has its messy moments but triumphs in its representation of Indigenous, deaf and disabled people. Marvel Studios trades superhero excess for quiet grit in its decidedly dark new miniseries, “Echo,” out now on Disney+ and Hulu.
Choctaw, North American Indian tribe of Muskogean linguistic stock that traditionally lived in what is now southeastern Mississippi. The Choctaw dialect is very similar to that of the Chickasaw, and there is evidence that they are a branch of the latter tribe.
The most popular and predominate word used for the ancient Choctaw deity as “Hashtahli,” which Swanton says was derived from the word “hashi” which means sun and “tahli,” which meant “to complete the action.” Other words used by our forefathers when speaking of their God were Achafa Chito (great one), Chictokaka (might ...
To the Choctaw, Biskinik, the friendliest of birds, was accorded special treatment and be- came known as “the little Chahta news bird.” Biskinik would live around Choctaw homes and let them know whenever someone was ap- proaching.
Set in Oklahoma's Choctaw Nation, Marvel Studio's new miniseries Echo follows Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) as she returns home and connects with her Native American roots after a bounty has been placed on her head in New York — and the cast is full of Indigenous people from this side of the border.
