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Chickasaw Tribe

History >> Native Americans for Kids

The Chickasaw Indians originally lived in the Southeast in areas of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky. In 1832 they migrated to Oklahoma after being forced to sell their land to the United States government. The Chickasaw were known as some of the fiercest warriors in all of the Americas and earned the nickname as the "Spartans of the Lower Mississippi Valley."

History

According to the Chickasaw migration story, the Chickasaw and the Choctaw were once a single tribe. They were led by two brothers, Chickasaw and Choctaw. The group set out to find a new home and fresh hunting grounds. At one point in their journey they split up. Part of the group wanted to stay with Choctaw, they became the Choctaw tribe. The rest of the group continued traveling with Chickasaw. They settled in northern Mississippi and became the Chickasaw tribe.

What kind of homes did the Chickasaw live in?

The original Chickasaw Indians lived in small villages. Their homes were one room wattle and daub homes made with a wood frame covered with a plaster of mud and straw. Typically the homes would be laid out in an oval with the center of the village being the main meeting place. They also enjoyed a form of the game lacrosse called stickball and most villages had a stickball field.

What language did they speak?

The Chickasaw spoke their own language. It is very similar to the language of the Choctaw and is part of the Muskogean group of languages.

What was their clothing like?

The clothing of the Chickasaw people was made by the women. They used animal skins and hides to make deerskin breechcloths and shirts for the men. The women wore skirts and dresses.

The men generally shaved most of their hair, but left a long lock of hair at the very top of their head called a scalp lock. The women wore their hair up on their head using strings of beads.

What type of food did they eat?

The Chickasaw were both farmers and hunters. They farmed the three main crops grown by many Native Americans including corn, beans, and squash. They also hunted game like deer and fished in the lakes and rivers.

Government and Chief

The Chickasaw had a fairly democratic government. They called their chief the minko. Each clan was led by a minko and a council of elders. The minko then reported into the high minko that led the entire Chickasaw nation. The second in command was the war chief.

Trail of Tears

When the United States passed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the Chickasaw were forced to relocate to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Other Indian nations from the southeast were also required to relocate including the Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, and Choctaw. The path they traveled has become known as the Trail of Tears.

Interesting Facts about the Chickasaw Tribe
Activities For more Native American history:

Culture and Overview
Agriculture and Food
Native American Art
American Indian homes and Dwellings
Homes: The Teepee, Longhouse, and Pueblo
Native American Clothing
Entertainment
Roles of Women and Men
Social Structure
Life as a Child
Religion
Mythology and Legends
Glossary and Terms

History and Events
Timeline of Native American History
King Philips War
French and Indian War
Battle of Little Bighorn
Trail of Tears
Wounded Knee Massacre
Indian Reservations
Civil Rights

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Tribes and Regions
Apache Tribe
Blackfoot
Cherokee Tribe
Cheyenne Tribe
Chickasaw
Cree
Inuit
Iroquois Indians
Navajo Nation
Nez Perce
Osage Nation
Pueblo
Seminole
Sioux Nation

 People
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Crazy Horse
Geronimo
Chief Joseph
Sacagawea
Sitting Bull
Sequoyah
Squanto
Maria Tallchief
Tecumseh
Jim Thorpe
Works Cited



History >> Native Americans for Kids


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