CHICKASAW INDIANS IN OKLAHOMA

IN ANCIENT TIMES THEY WERE REVERED. THEY ALLIED WITH THE ENGLISH DURING THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. OTHER TRIBES THAT WERE FORCED TO RELOCATE IN THE 1930'S WERE THE CHOCTAW, CREEK, CHEROKEE, AND SEMINOLE - THEY WERE CALLED THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES BECAUSE OF THEIR HIGHLY DEVELOPED RULING SYSTEMS. THEY BUILT SCHOOLS, BANKS, AND BUSINESSES. AFTER 1907 WHEN OKLAHOMA GAINED STATEHOOD, THE PRESIDENT OF THE U S GAINED STATEHOOD, THE PRESIDENT OF THE U S APPOINTED THE PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF THE CHICKASAW NATION.

FROM THEIR MIGRATION TO WHAT IS NOW MISSISSIPPI, KENTUCKY, AND ALABAMA, AND TENNESSEE. PREHISTORIC TIMES TO THE PURCHASE OF OUR NEW HOMELAND IN SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, THEIR ROOTS HAVE BEEN IN NATURE. THEY POSSESS A HISTORY OF WARRIORS. IN ANCIENT TIMES THEY WERE CALLED THE SPARTANS. OF LOWER MISSISSIPPI. THEY HAD A SOPHISTICATED RULING SYSTEM WITH LAWS AND RELIGION. THEY HAD GOOD LUCK TRADING WITH OTHER TRIBES, AND WERE FARMERS IN HISTORIC TIMES.

THEY MOVED TO INDIAN TERRITORY DURING THE GREAT REMOVAL ON WHAT WAS CALLED THE TRAIL OF TEARS. OTHER TRIBES WERE RELOCATED. THE CHICKASAW WERE ONE OF THE LAST T5O MOVE. IN 1837 THE CHICKASAW WERE ONE OF THE LAST TO MOVE. IN 1837 THE CHICKASAW MOVED AMONG THE CHOCTAW TRIBE. IN 1856 THEY SEPARATED FROM THE CHOCTAWS AND HAD THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT.

THEY ESTABLISHED A CAPITAL AT TISHOMONGO, OKLAHOMA AND ADOPTED A CONSTITUTION AND ORGANIZED EXECUTIVE AND ELECTIVE DEPARTMENTS. DURING THE CIVIL WAR THE CHICKASAW SIGNED AN ALLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH AND RAISED TROOPS TO FIGHT WITH CONFEDERACY. THEY SUFFERED HARDSHIPS AFTER THE DEFEAT OF THE CONFEDERACY, THEY REGAINED PROSPERITY. THEY BECAME GOOD FARMERS AND RANCHERS. IN 1970 CONGRESS ALLOWED THEM TO ELECT THEIR OFFICER.

LEGEND SAYS THE TRIBE MOVED FROM THE SETTING SUN TO THE EAST AS ORDAINED BY GOD. THEY EXPERIENCED GREAT SORROW BY THEIR ANCESTORS WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED FROM SACRED HOME. TODAY FAMILY HISTORIES CONNECT OUR PEOPLE TO THE NATION.

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