Chickasaw

The Chickasaw are an Indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands from the United States. Their traditional home was in northern Mississippi, northwestern and northern Alabama, western Tennessee, and southwestern Kentucky. They speak a language from the Muskogean family and today are organized as the Chickasaw Nation, a group recognized by the U.S. government.

Their stories tell of moving from lands west of the Mississippi River to their traditional areas. During the time when Europeans came to America, the Chickasaw met French, English, and Spanish explorers. The U.S. government considered them one of the Five Civilized Tribes because they took on some ways of European settlers. Later, they were required to leave their homes and move to what is now Oklahoma in the 1830s.

Today, most Chickasaw people live in Oklahoma, where the Chickasaw Nation is one of the larger groups recognized by the U.S. government. They are closely related to the Choctaw. Traditionally, the Chickasaw had two groups and traced family ties through their mothers, with important decisions often made by women.

Etymology

The name "Chickasaw" comes from a Chickasaw leader. It means "comes from Chicsa" in their language. An old history book from 1890 said the word might mean "rebel" in a related language. Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto wrote about them as "Chicaza" in 1540, making him the first European known to meet them.

The ending "-mingo" was used for chiefs. For example, a well-known Chickasaw chief was named Tishomingo. Some towns and a county are named after him, like Tishomingo County in Mississippi.

History

The Chickasaw are an Indigenous group whose origins are not fully known. Scholars think that they and the Choctaw may have separated from a common group in the 17th century, coming from people who lived along the Mississippi River for thousands of years. When Europeans first arrived, the Chickasaw lived in villages in what is now northeastern Mississippi.

The Chickasaw believe they moved into Mississippi from the west. They share a history with the Choctaw, but the two groups separated at some point. Their culture connects them to the Mississippi River, which they call “scored bluff waterway.” The Chickasaw met Spanish explorers in 1540, led by Hernando de Soto, and there was conflict between them. Later, the Chickasaw traded with English colonists and sometimes fought with nearby tribes. They were allies of the British in wars against the French and their allies. After the American Revolutionary War, the Chickasaw also helped the United States in battles against other Native groups.

Trade

The Chickasaw were a smaller group than many around them, but they became important in trade. Because they lived near the Mississippi River, they could trade with people nearby. In 1755, a British leader named Edmund Atkin said their location was very important.

The Chickasaw first met the British after a town called Charles Town was founded in 1670. They traded deerskin with the British, even though Charles Town was far away. Later, they also traded with the French when they came to Louisiana.

In Chickasaw society, trade was split into two kinds: peaceful trade and trade during war. Special leaders, called War Chiefs and Peace Chiefs, managed these trades. Over time, the Chickasaw chose to work more with the British than the French, even though the French were closer. This helped them get weapons to protect their land from rivals.

Tribal lands

The Chickasaw are a group of Native Americans whose traditional home was on the east side of the Mississippi River. They lived in areas that are now part of northern Mississippi, northwestern and northern Alabama, western Tennessee, and southwestern Kentucky.

In the late 1700s, a person named Abraham Bishop described their land as flat with good water from springs and fertile soil. They had seven towns and about 575 men able to fight.

As more settlers moved into Chickasaw lands, the United States made treaties with them. One treaty in 1786 promised peace between the United States and the Chickasaw. Later treaties caused the Chickasaw to give up more land. By the 1830s, they were forced to leave their homes and move west of the Mississippi River. This journey was very hard, and many Chickasaw died along the way.

During the Civil War, the Chickasaw chose to support the Confederate States because they felt the U.S. government had treated them badly. After the war, they were required to free any enslaved people and offer citizenship to those who wanted to stay, though not all were accepted as citizens by the Chickasaw Nation.

State-recognized groups

The Chaloklowa Chickasaw Indian People is a group that says it is made up of descendants of the Chickasaw people who stayed in the Southeast. In 2005, South Carolina recognized them as a "state-recognized group." Their main office is in Hemingway, South Carolina. Some people questioned if they were truly connected to the Chickasaw people, but they are still recognized by the state as of 2023. In 2003, they tried to get federal recognition from the US Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, but were not successful.

Culture

For many tribes in the area, corn was a very important food. The Green Corn Ceremony happened every year when the corn started to grow, usually in late June or early July. This ceremony celebrated the corn and brought the tribe together. It was also a time to start fresh. Villages were cleaned, old pottery was broken, and old fires were put out. Many people fasted to feel pure, and the Chickasaw would fast from the afternoon of the first day until the next sunrise.

In 2010, the tribe opened the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma. The center has a Traditional Village, an Honor Garden, a Sky and Water pavilion, and many exhibits about Chickasaw culture. The Traditional Village includes a Council House, houses for winter and summer, a replica mound, a corn storage area, and a stickball field. There are often dances, demonstrations, and performances showing traditional Chickasaw art, cooking, language, and stories.

The Mississippi River was very important to the Chickasaw, helping define where they lived and their history. It was used for trade, travel, and watering crops. The Chickasaw used the river to control movement of Europeans in the area.

Marriage traditions

In traditional Chickasaw culture, before marriage, a man would send a gift through his mother or sister to the parents of the woman he wished to marry. If the parents agreed, they would give the gift to the woman. If she accepted, the man’s family member would return with the good news. The man would then wear his best clothes and apply vermilion, a special paint linked to love and respect. He would visit the woman’s home and have dinner alone with her future father-in-law. The woman’s bed would be prepared, and she would go to sleep before the man joined her. Once they were together in bed, they were considered married.

Religion

The Chickasaw people had ancient beliefs about four important "Beloved Things": the sun, the clouds, the sky, and Aba' Binni'li, known as "He Who Sits Above." They believed He created light, life, and warmth and lived in the clouds and in holy fire. Because of this, fire was very respected, and it was not allowed to put out any fire with water, as this was thought to be bad. They also believed bad weather like rain and thunder was holy spirits fighting in the sky. Warriors would sometimes shoot their guns up at the sky to show they were ready to help the holy spirits.

Repatriation efforts

After signing the treaty of Pontotoc Creek in 1832, the Chickasaw people were forced to leave their homeland in Mississippi and moved to Oklahoma. Even though they now live in Oklahoma, many of their ancestors' remains are still kept in places like Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama. In 2021, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History returned 403 Chickasaw ancestors to the tribe. The director of archaeology, Meg Cook, talked about their work, saying they are trying to make things right and tell the full story of Mississippi, including difficult parts.

Notable Chickasaw

The Chickasaw people have many notable individuals who have made important contributions in different fields. Some of these individuals include:

• Bill Anoatubby, who has been the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation since 1987.
• Kaylea Arnett, a professional sporting diver.
• Jack Brisco and Jerry Brisco, who were known for their work as a pro wrestling tag team.
• John Herrington, an astronaut and the first Native American in space.
• Leona Mitchell, an opera singer.
• Te Ata, a traditional Indian storyteller and actress.

These individuals represent the diverse talents and achievements within the Chickasaw community.

Population history

The Chickasaw people have a long history of changes in their population size. Long ago, they were said to have around 10,000 men ready for war. In the late 1600s and early 1700s, estimates suggested their numbers were much lower, and they faced difficult times, including moves forced by others. By the mid-1800s, their numbers grew again.

In recent times, the Chickasaw population has grown strongly. By 2020, there were about 70,096 Chickasaw people, with many living in Oklahoma.