Chickasaw Homeland
Learn about the rich history and culture of the Chickasaw people.
Long before the first Europeans set foot in North America, the Chickasaw creator AbaꞌBinni’liꞌ guided his people east. Shortly after journeying across the Mississippi River, they were given a sign they had arrived home.
The Chickasaw Homeland would eventually grow to encompass some of the areas within the regions we now call Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and even Kentucky, with multiple village sites clustered around Tupelo. Here, the Chickasaw thrived within a matrilineal society guided by tribal laws. They lived a largely agrarian lifestyle, cultivating crops, fishing, and hunting deer, bear, buffalo, and turkey. Different housing styles for the seasons provided shelter from the elements. Many leaders became known for their work to maintain peace but were quick to defend their land if the need arose.
Throughout times of peace and times of struggle, courageous Chickasaw moments have shaped not only the history of the Southeastern U.S., but the history of the world. Though forced from their Homeland to present-day Oklahoma beginning in 1837, the Chickasaw connection to the Homeland is undergoing a renaissance. Thanks to the bold steps taken by members of the Chickasaw Nation, we are gaining a better understanding of our shared history. We’re proud of their work that helps us all to build a more positive tomorrow.
When you have the chance, come visit us in Tupelo where you can learn about the rich history and culture of the Chickasaw people. Take what you learn with you as you explore the Americana Music Triangle and beyond.
The Battle Of Hikki’ Ya’ (Ackia): Shifting Colonial Powers
After European arrival in North America, nations often entered into trade alliances with each other. For the most part, the Chickasaw allied with the British and established an extensive trading network where goods like deer skins and small mammals were exchanged for cloth, farming equipment, silver, copper kettles, weapons, and more. The French established similar networks with the Choctaw and wanted to prevent them from becoming too dependent on the British. But these friendships were never simple.
Before both the Seven Years War and the American Revolution, any remaining Natchez Tribal members sought refuge with the Chickasaw after an attack on a French fort in 1729. Seeking revenge on the Natchez, and therefore the Chickasaw, the French began to stoke hostilities between the Chickasaw and the Choctaw.
At the same time, it was in the economic interests of the French to connect their colonial holdings in North America. Their settlements stretched along portions of the Gulf of Mexico in the south and their northern reaches dipped southward from Canada into the Ohio River Valley. Control of the Mississippi River offered a tempting opportunity to unite two regions for trade and development. But a wide stretch of land between had yet to be proclaimed French – and the Chickasaw were standing in the way.
In 1736, the French were determined to destroy the remaining Natchez and Chickasaw while claiming the land as their own. A group of soldiers set out from the north, as another contingent marched from the south. Aided by the Choctaw, they sought to meet at Chokkilissa’, the current site of modern-day Tupelo.
However, as the contingent from the south was delayed, the army from the north felt pressure to attack sooner, rather than later. At the battle of Chokkilissa’ (Ogoula Tchetoka), Chickasaw warriors, aided by British-provided arms and ammunition, decimated the French threat. Two months later, at the Battle of Hikkiya’ (Ackia), the other French cohort met a similar fate.
These battles had global impacts for the world. The French defeat meant they would never have full control of the Mississippi River as a major trade route. Their defeat at Ackia was so pivotal that it was reported in British newspapers, and marked the beginning of the end of their empire in North America. Some historians surmise that if the French had defeated the Chickasaw and benefitted from the wealth of a Mississippi trade route, the French Revolution might not have ever come to be.
The battle weakened the French and further solidified Britain’s occupation of North America… if only for two decades.
Learn about how the Chickasaw and the Americans worked together in a young country.
To dive deeper into the history and culture of the Chickasaw Nation, we recommend starting your journey at the Chickasaw Village Site. If you’re at home, Chickasaw.tv is a great source for videos to expand your knowledge. Follow the Chickasaw Inkana Foundation for developments on the Chickasaw Heritage Center and information on how to learn more about connecting with Chickasaw history in the Homeland.
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