The Storyteller: Lowak Shoppala' Costume

Margaret Roach Wheeler

Margaret Wheeler introduces this costume she designed for the Lowak Shoppala’ Storyteller, who tells a turtle tale. She uses a post-removal dress and apron style drawn from the boarding school era, but cloth with turtle-like markings, reflecting the ancient clan era. Chickasaw Children’s Choir sits around the Storyteller.

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Margaret Wheeler introduces the Squirrel Clan leader costume she designed for the Lowak Shoppala’ theatrical production.

The Bird: Lowak Shoppala' Costume

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Margaret Wheeler introduces the Bird Clan leader costume she designed for Lowak Shoppala', with feathers embedded in hand-woven silk wool.

The Removal: Lowak Shoppala' Costume

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Margaret Wheeler reflects on meeting Jerod Tate during which she equated Removal with stripping color from the lives of the Chickasaw people.

Costumes for Lowak Dance Troupe, Scene 1

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Margaret Wheeler shows us the costumes she designed for six Chickasaw Dance Troupe couples who dance in two numbers.

The Panther Clan: Lowak Shoppala' Costumes

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Margaret Wheeler shows us this stunning costume, remembering when she realized that in Linda Hogan’s poem, this clan leader was a woman.

The Skunk Clan: Lowak Shoppala' Costumes

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Margaret Wheeler shows us the Skunk Clan costume and how she worked with felted silk wool.

The Minko: Lowak Shoppala' Costumes

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Margaret Wheeler notes the mannequins for her costume exhibit at the Cultural Center were designed to represent copper.

Lowak Costumes: Detail on Clans

Margaret Roach Wheeler
Margaret Wheeler provides some background on the clans, which governed and provided social structure to early Indian villages.