Chickasaw

The Chickasaw are a Native American people of the Southeastern United States. Historically they inhabited the region that is now northern Mississippi and parts of Alabama and Tennessee. They speak Chickasaw, a Muskogean language, and refer to themselves as Chikashaa’ or Chikasha, meaning “the people.” Their ancestors are associated with the Mississippian cultural complex and built ceremonial and political centers in their homeland, including mound sites such as Emerald Mound.

In precolonial times, the Chickasaw formed complex communities with farming, hunting, and trade networks. After contact with Europeans, they maintained alliances and conflicts within the colonial system. In the 18th century they often aligned with the French against rival groups, including the Choctaw, and negotiated with British and American powers as they navigated shifting empires.

In the 1830s, the U.S. government compelled removal of many Chickasaw from their ancestral lands to Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma. The relocation, part of the broader forced removals of the period, began in earnest in 1837 and resulted in significant hardship. The Chickasaw Nation was reorganized in Indian Territory and, with the passage of time, established a semi-sovereign government.

Today the Chickasaw Nation is a federally recognized tribe headquartered in Ada, Oklahoma. It is one of the Five Civilized Tribes, with a constitution and elected government. The nation maintains cultural and language programs and operates businesses, including gaming and health services, contributing to the region’s economy while preserving Chickasaw heritage.