The Chickasaw Nation
Chikashsha I̠yaakni (Chickasaw) | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location (red) in the U.S. state of Oklahoma | |
| Constitution | August 30, 1856 |
| Capital | Tishomingo, Oklahoma (historically); now Ada, Oklahoma (1907–present) |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Bill Anoatubby |
| Area | |
• Total | 19,810 km2 (7,648 sq mi) |
| Population (2023) | |
• Total | 80,000 |
| Demonym | Chickasaw |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 580, 405 and 572 |
| Website | chickasaw |
The Chickasaw Nation (Chickasaw: Chikashsha I̠yaakni) is a federally recognized Indigenous nation with headquarters in Ada, Oklahoma, in the United States. The Chickasaw Nation descends from an Indigenous population historically located in the southeastern United States, including present-day northern Mississippi, northwestern Alabama, southwestern Kentucky, and western Tennessee.[1] Today, the Chickasaw Nation is the 12th largest Indigenous nation in the United States, with a population exceeding 80,000 citizens, most of whom reside in Oklahoma.
The Chickasaw Nation’s reservation[2] spans approximately 7,648 square miles in south-central Oklahoma. It is divided into four districts: Pontotoc, Pickens, Tishomingo, and Panola, which include counties such as Bryan, Carter, Coal, Garvin, Grady, Jefferson, Johnston, Love, McClain, Marshall, Murray, Pontotoc, and Stephens counties.[3]
During the 18th and 19th centuries, several Indigenous nations, including the Chickasaw Nation, were noted for adopting centralized governments, written constitutions, and participating in agricultural economies. These nations, historically referred to as the Five Civilized Tribes, also engaged in cross-cultural exchanges, such as intermarriage and the integration of educational and religious practices, as part of their adaptive strategies to navigate changing political and social conditions.[4]
The Chickasaw language (Chikashshanompa’) is part of the Muskogean language family. It is primarily an oral language, and much of the Chickasaw cultural heritage is preserved through intergenerational storytelling.[5] The linguistic similarities between Chickasaw and Choctaw have led to various theories about their shared origins, though definitive conclusions remain uncertain.[6]
The Chickasaw Nation’s societal structure is based on matrilineal clans, with two traditional moieties: the Imosak Chá'a' and the Inchokka' Lhipa'. Clan leaders hold significant roles in maintaining the cultural and organizational integrity of the nation.[7]
Clans within the Chickasaw Nation are separated into two moieties: the Imosak Chá'a' and the Inchokka' Lhipa', with each clan having their own leaders. Their tradition of matrilineal descent provides the basic societal structure of the nation, with children becoming members of and under the care of their mother’s clan.[8]
- ^ "Homeland". Chickasaw Nation. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ "Geographic Information". chickasaw.net. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ "Districts". Legislative. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
- ^ "Five Civilized Tribes". The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
- ^ "Language". Chickasaw Nation. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
- ^ Atkinson, James R. (2004). Splendid Land, Splendid People: The Chickasaw Indians to Removal. University of Alabama Press.
- ^ "Chickasaw Clan System". Chickasaw Nation. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
- ^ Bander, Margaret. “Glimpses of Local Masculinities: Learning from Interviews with Kiowa, Comanche, Apache and Chickasaw Men.” Journal of the Southern Anthropological Society, vol. 31, 2005, www.southernanthro.org/downloads/publications/SA-archives/2005-vol31.pdf#page=2.