In 1830 Andrew Jackson signed "The Indian Removal Act" which made members of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Seminole, Creek and Choctaw tribes move out of their homelands. It started on November 1st 1831 with the removal of the Choctaw nation in Mississippi. They were forced to move approximately 1,200 miles to Oklahoma. They were promised food and blankets. An empty promise and an estamated 4,000 innocent lives were lost on the trail.
You may think that this has nothing to do with the Potato Famine but in 1847 after hearing of the troubles in Ireland the Choctaws gathered up $710 and sent it to the starving country. This was unexpected and very generous. It is one of the most beautiful stories of giving I have ever heard and it is not very well known. I feel as though everybody should know this story and realize it's impact. I feel grateful to the Choctaw people.
This song is by Damien Dempsey and it is really cool. It's called "Choctaw Nation"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtLqnHFG3_8