Storytelling

Chickasaw citizen Dixie Brewer shares her passion for Chickasaw history and culture in many ways, including art demonstrations, agricultural lessons and storytelling. Today, Dixie shares the story “Flint Visits Rabbit.”

History of Stickball

Chickasaws have a long history of playing the traditional game of stickball. Join Clovis Hamilton, Halley Taylor and Brandon White Eagle as they explore the history of stickball, “little brother of war.”

Foster Care

The Chickasaw Nation Foster Care and Adoption Program provides both temporary and permanent care for First American children. Since its inception, the Chickasaw Nation has diligently worked toward a goal of providing safe and nurturing care for children.

The Chickasaw Nation is continually seeking foster care and adoptive parents. If you would like to learn more about providing a cultural connection while caring for a Chickasaw child, call (580) 272-5550 or visit Chickasaw.net/Foster.

Rosetta Stone Level 4

Lokosh (Joshua D. Hinson) is a Chickasaw linguist, artist and cultural historian dedicated to the perpetuation of the Chickasaw language. He serves as director of the Chickasaw Language Revitalization Program and is here today to share details about level 4 of the Rosetta Stone Chickasaw program.

To learn more about levels 1-3 of Rosetta Stone Chickasaw and the Rosetta Stone mobile app, go to Chickasaw.net/RosettaStone.

Pony Bead Necklaces

Cultural demonstrator Dixie Brewer returns to share her knowledge of beading and its historical and cultural significance to the Chickasaw people. Let’s join Dixie and learn together!

Spider Brings Fire

"Spider Brings Fire" is a story of how animals risked their lives to bring fire to mankind. It teaches that even the very small can accomplish great things. Follow along as Stephanie Scott shares “Spider Brings Fire,” the book written by Chickasaw author Linda Hogan and illustrated by Chickasaw artist Dustin Mater. Learn more about the book and shop online at ChickasawPress.com.

KNCP

The KCNP Chickasaw Community Radio network provides news, public affairs programming, weather coverage and a wide variety of music for citizens across south-central Oklahoma. Listening to KCNP puts you at the center of all that is happening within the Chickasaw Nation! 

Listen now at KCNP.org.  

Telehealth

Virtual Visit is an audio/video communication service that offers appointments to patients unable to travel to the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center or to tribal health clinics. This service minimizes wait times, allows more convenient access to health care and eliminates exposure to airborne illnesses. 

To continue to care for your family in the best way possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chickasaw Nation has expanded telehealth capabilities, making it easier to connect with your health care provider virtually. Let’s learn more about these innovative services.

White House Tour

Considered a mansion of its time, the Chickasaw White House was home to Chickasaw Nation Governor Douglas H. Johnston and his family from 1898 to 1971. Today, it serves as a museum, teaching visitors about an important time in the history of the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory and Oklahoma. Learn more at Chickasaw.net/WhiteHouse.

History of Stomp Dance

Our celebration of Annual Meeting and Festival continues with a closer look at an important aspect of Chickasaw culture. Chickasaw Nation Cultural Resources Manager Jason Eyachabbe and Chickasaw Nation Cultural Activities Manager Dixie Brewer are here to explore the history, traditions and cultural significance of stomp dancing.

Deer Toe Shakers

Stomp dance shakers were traditionally made from deer toes and turtle shells. Today, the shakers are also made of tin cans. Women play an integral role in stomp dancing. While wearing shakers, they provide the necessary beat of the dance. LaDonna Brown, director of research and cultural interpretation, demonstrates the steps to create your very own deer toe shakers.

Mini Moccasins

Pucker toe moccasins have been worn by Chickasaw people for centuries and are still popular today. Tamara Upchurch explains materials and techniques you can use to make your own mini moccasins.

Chickasaw Institute

Take your career to the next level by obtaining certification, training and career development through the Chickasaw Institute. Available courses feature instruction in nursing, HVAC, construction technology, medical coding, commercial driving and more. Learn more and apply online at Chickasaw.net/ChickasawInstitute.

Princess Pageant

The prestigious tradition of the Chickasaw Nation Princesses dates to 1963 when Ranell (James) Harry served as the first princess. Today, Chickasaw royalty crowned each year includes a Chickasaw Princess, Chickasaw Junior Princess and Little Miss Chickasaw.

Here, we explore the history of the Chickasaw Princess pageant and celebrate our current royalty: Chickasaw Princess Markita McCarty, Chickasaw Junior Princess Brenlee Underwood and Little Miss Chickasaw Kensey Carter.

Feather Art

Tamara Upchurch is a talented Chickasaw artist who currently serves as the assistant curator at the Chickasaw White House museum. Tamara joins us today to demonstrate the beautiful medium of feather art!

Elders Paintings Tour

Acclaimed Chickasaw artist Mike Larsen and his wife, Martha, spent two years producing the third set in the portrait series “Listening to Our Elders.” Follow along as we explore these portraits together.

“Listening to Our Elders” Series III showcases portraits of Chickasaw elders Brenda Kingery, Stan Smith, Mary Smith, Neal McCaleb, Sue Simmons, Floyd Parnacher, Mary Jo Green, Shirley Stark, Dawatha Easterling, Charles Tate, Ruby Horse, Pauline Brown, Sam Johnson, Tim Colbert, Margaret Roach Wheeler, Russell Anoatubby, Gene Anoatubby, Ted Anoatubby, Othalee Manning, Lilian Underwood, Rose Shields-Jefferson, Towana Spivey, William Paul, Homer Paul, Nathaniel Thomas, Linda Briggs, Willarene Amos, Winnie McNeeley and Geraldine Brown.

Mental Health and Wellness

Mental health is a vital part of overall wellness that many of us overlook, especially during times of stress, anxiety or uncertainty. Because strong mental health is the foundation for overall health, happiness and well-being, the Chickasaw Nation has developed many programs to serve Chickasaw children and families, First Americans and tribal employees. Visit Chickasaw.net or contact (580) 272-1180 to learn more.

Chickasaw Nursery Rhymes

Listen and learn as cultural demonstrator Sheina Wind recites a popular nursery rhyme in Chickasaw. This short story is an excellent introduction to the Chickasaw language for children and parents alike!

Chickasaw Language Dance & Games

Join Chickasaw language instructors Kendra Farve and Margeaux Smith as they demonstrate a fun dancing game you can use to improve your Chickasaw language skills!

Chickasaw Clothing

From breechcloths and gorgets to beaded collars and ribbon shirts, Chickasaw clothing has evolved, but has remained beautiful, unique and deeply meaningful to the person wearing it. Chickasaw experiential researcher Lori White Buffalo joins us to explore the history and significance of Chickasaw clothing and how it has changed throughout time.

Housing Services

To continue our mission of enhancing the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people, the Chickasaw Nation is committed to providing quality housing programs and services to meet a variety of needs. Visit Chickasaw.net/Housing to learn more about these programs.

Language Lessons: Greetings

Chokma (hello) and chinchokma (how are you?) are two greetings many of us use every day! In this language lesson, Brandon White Eagle discusses these common greetings and teaches other Chickasaw phrases you can share with family, friends and co-workers.

Language Lessons: Audio Flashcards

Using Chickasaw language is a fun and meaningful way to connect with our heritage and share Chickasaw culture. Follow along as we learn together! To explore more language resources, including Rosetta Stone Chickasaw, go to Chickasaw.net/Language.

Story time with an Elder

Our exploration of Chickasaw language continues as Joshua D. Hinson, director of the Chickasaw Language Revitalization Program, presents story time with an elder.

Chickasaw Council House Museum Tour

Located on the Capitol Square in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Council House Museum contains a large collection of Chickasaw art, artifacts and archival materials. During this virtual tour, Ann Fink, curator for the Chickasaw Council House, will provide an in-depth look at the first Chickasaw Council House built in Indian Territory, artifacts tracing the history and culture of the Chickasaw people, contemporary Chickasaw artwork and more.

Monochromatic Painting

Chickasaw Nation Fine Arts Director Brent Greenwood is of both Chickasaw and Ponca heritages. Because of this distinct cultural background, he expresses his artistic narratives through both the Southeastern and Plains tribal lens. Brent loves to implement new ideas and paint with enthusiasm to capture the essence of the unknown.

Brent Greenwood is a graduate of the renowned Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and Oklahoma City University. His paintings have received numerous accolades and awards, and have been featured in publications such as Southwest Art and Oklahoma Today. Throughout the past two decades, his art has appeared in exhibits across North America and abroad in Paris, France.

Pharmacy

In November 2019, the Chickasaw Nation opened a state-of-the-art, 32,862-square-foot pharmacy with four drive-thru lanes, audio and video capabilities and cutting-edge pharmacy robotics. Its construction marked a new milestone in the advancement of our health system and a new level in patient service.

Services complimenting the new pharmacy include our Elder Prescription Program, Non-Elder Prescription Program, Native and Non-Native Spouse Prescription Program and the Chickasaw Nation Refill Center among others. Connect with these services at Chickasaw.net/Pharmacy.

Fort Washita Tour

Join us for a tour of Fort Washita with Jim Argo. He is the site manager at Fort Washita and has a wealth of historic and archaeological knowledge from his participation in trainings, class reenactments and digs all over Oklahoma. To learn more about Fort Washita and this presentation, go to Chickasaw.net/FortWashita.

Oath of Office

Chickasaw Nation elected officials taking the oath of office today are: Supreme Court Justice Cheri L. Bellefeuille-Gordon and legislators Connie Barker (Pickens District Seat 2); Dr. Karen Goodnight (Pontotoc District Seat 4); J. Lisa Impson (Pontotoc District Seat 3) and Steven Woods (Tishomingo District Seat 3).

Chickasaw National Capitol Tour

Tribal Health

Because creating and maintaining a strong and healthy lifestyle is important to the overall quality of life of Chickasaw people, the Chickasaw Nation is committed to providing quality health care services that promote health, wellness, education and prevention. Learn more about these tribal health services at Chickasaw.net.

Aging, Senior and Long Term Care

The Chickasaw Nation is devoted to providing programs and services to enhance the health and well-being of its elders. The amount and type of services offered through the aging program have grown to include the elderly energy assistance program, the assisted living program, chore programs, over-the-counter medication assistance and more. Visit Chickasaw.net/Elders to learn more about the programs and services described here.

Cultural Evening

Our virtual Cultural Evening includes many of your favorite Annual Meeting and Festival traditions and celebrations. Cultural Evening begins with a welcome, invocation, recognition of several outstanding individuals, including the Chickasaw Nation Dynamic Woman of the Year and the 2020 Silver Feather Award recipient, SEASAM and SEASAM youth winner and the 2021 Chickasaw Press Book releases. We will share the traditional cooking of pashofa and conclude with a special stomp dance.

SEASAM Promo

This year marks 15 years of the Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM)! Since being instituted in 2005, SEASAM has honored the finest Southeastern First American art and remains committed to providing a marketplace where artists may flourish. For 2020, SEASAM is offered entirely virtual. Visit SEASAM.net to learn more and explore new art and artists! 

Nutrition Services

Through a variety of school programs, distribution services, education initiatives and WIC services, the Chickasaw Nation makes it easier to receive nutritious foods that Chickasaws of all ages need to live their healthiest lives. Visit Chickasaw.net to learn more about Chickasaw Nation Nutrition Services and its programs.

Cultural Identity

What does it mean to be Chickasaw? Director of research and cultural interpretation, LaDonna Brown, sheds light on this question with an examination of Chickasaws’ cultural identity, including a historical look at clan systems, spirituality and traditional roles.

Butterfly Mask Making

Chickasaw Cultural Center ecological resource coordinator Rhonda Sellers shares a fun craft for all ages: butterfly mask making! Follow along as we create masks together.

History of Chickasaw Annual Meeting

The Chickasaw Annual Meeting is in its 60^th year. In this presentation, we look back to the event’s origins at Seeley Chapel in 1960 and highlight other Annual Meeting milestones in the past six decades.

Regalia Traditions

Traditional regalia gives a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of our tribe. Colleen Chadwick, Chickasaw Cultural Center research assistant, joins us to discuss how the Chickasaw people have created and sustained these regalia traditions throughout history.

Mini Stickball

Cultural activities manager Dixie Brewer teaches us how to make our very own mini stickball sticks. These stickball sticks make great keychains, toys and personalized gifts. They are a fun and easy way to share Chickasaw culture.

Education Services

Whether you are studying online or on campus, working toward an advanced college degree or beginning elementary school, the Chickasaw Nation is committed to helping you achieve your education goal. Go to Chickasaw.net/Education to explore our many education resources.