One key takeaway is that oral history allows individuals to tell their own stories in their own words, making it different from traditional historical records that often rely on secondhand accounts. As Baxter York stated in his interview, “Creator give all the Tribal name to the Indian people all over in the United States, and they shouldn’t forget their culture and their language and their name.” This quote shows the importance of oral history in preserving cultural identity and traditions.
Another takeaway is that oral history can reveal perspectives that might not be found in written records. York’s discussion about the historical relationship between the Choctaw and Whites provides insight into how history is remembered by the people who lived it. He shares a belief passed down through generations that Chief Pushmataha was poisoned in D.C., rather than dying from overeating, as some secondhand records suggest.
This version of history might not be found in official documents, but it is an important part of how the Choctaw people understand their past.
The technique of the interview in this project seemed to be more of a monologue rather than a dialogue. The interviewers allowed York to speak freely, only stepping in occasionally. This approach let him tell his story in a natural, uninterrupted way. However, the quality of the sound may have interfered with the flow, or it may have been an intentional choice made during editing.
One thing I took away from this interview is the importance of using high quality recording equipment. Their equipment may have been limited at the time, but today, we have better tools available. Using tools that allow the interviewee could be clearly heard is crucial for accuracy. Adding subtitles to oral history projects can also help make them more accessible.
I enjoyed the structure of this interview. Allowing the interviewee to speak at length without too many interruptions helped capture a more natural version of his thoughts which if I were conducting an oral history interview, I would apply this technique.
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