Chickasaw matriarchal leaders stand strong with the core tribal values passed from generation to generation. They are the keepers of the stories. They are the guardians of tradition – the foundation of the family. Explore their stories – a testament to the surviving spirit of the nation.
Joshua Hinson, Language Department Director for the Chickasaw Nation Division of Culture and Humanities, explains that traditionally, Chickasaw heritage descended solely from the female. If the mother was not Chickasaw, the child would not be seen as Chickasaw. Fortunately, that is no longer the tradition today, and Chickasaw culture is embraced among all types of people.