Chickasaw are a Native American tribe that originally lived in the Southern United States. Their territory included northern Mississippi, northwestern Alabama, and western Tennessee and Kentucky. In the 1830’s, the U.S. government relocated the tribe to what is now Oklahoma.
The Chickasaw lived in several villages of small, one-room log cabins. Each village was headed by a chief. The people supported themselves by farming, fishing, hunting, and trading with neighboring tribes.
The Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto was the first European person to come into contact with the Chickasaw. He and his group spent the winter of 1540-1541 in one of their villages while searching for gold. Before leaving, de Soto demanded that some of the Chickasaw join him to help carry supplies. The Chickasaw became angry and attacked de Soto’s expedition, killing about 12 of his men.
The Chickasaw were known as fierce warriors. They helped Britain fight France and Spain for control of what is now the southeastern United States. They also supported the British in the Revolutionary War in America (1775-1783). In the American Civil War (1861-1865), the tribe fought for the Confederacy.
In 1837, the government moved the Chickasaw west to the Indian Territory to make room for additional white settlement in the South. Thousands of Native Americans died on the forced march to their new territories. In 1907, the Chickasaw territory became part of the new state of Oklahoma.
According to the 2020 census, there are about 30,000 Chickasaw. About 18,000 people of Chickasaw descent live in Oklahoma. A tribal government elected by the Chickasaw helps provide for the general welfare of the tribe.
See also Five Civilized Tribes; Indian Territory.
