Regalia

A Legacy of Artistry and Tradition

Traditional Chickasaw regalia gives a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of this great nation. View the elaborate feather capes, beaded kilts, and other traditional garments still appreciated by modern-day Chickasaws.

23 Items

Beadwork

S3 • E4
Chickasaw beader Courtney Parchcorn explains different traditional beading techniques and how they tell stories.

Beaded Collars

S2 • E8
Chickasaw bead artist Kelly Reynolds shares her love of the traditional beaded collar.

Regalia

S1 • E4
Chickasaw elders Pauline Brown and Rose Jefferson continue the tradition of hand-sewing Chickasaw regalia as a way to honor their ancestors.

Beading

S1 • E3
Chickasaw citizens and brothers Brandon "Jay" Roberts and Brad "Ace" Greenwood practice beadworking.

April 15, 2013 - Beading

Chickasaw Nation News
Tribal beading is a very important part of Chickasaw culture.

Margaret Roach Wheeler

S4 • E2
Margaret Roach Wheeler has known she wanted to be an artist since the first grade.

The Squirrel: Lowak Shoppala' Costume

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

The Bird: Lowak Shoppala' Costume

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

The Raccoon: Lowak Shoppala' Costume

Margaret Roach Wheeler
Margaret Wheeler introduces the Raccoon Clan leader costume she designed for Lowak Shoppala’.

The Removal: Lowak Shoppala' Costume

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

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.

The Alligator Clan: Lowak Shoppala' Costumes

Margaret Roach Wheeler
Margaret Wheeler shows us this costume, inspired by a shell carving she found at the Smithsonian.

The Skunk Clan: Lowak Shoppala' Costumes

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

Costumes for Lowak Dance Troupe, Scene 1

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

Costumes for Lowak Dance Troupe, Scene 2

Margaret Roach Wheeler
Margaret Wheeler shows us her costumes for the second number performed by the six couples, reflecting 18th century dress.

The Panther Clan: Lowak Shoppala' Costumes

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

The Minko: Lowak Shoppala' Costumes

Margaret Roach Wheeler
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.

Lowak Shoppala' Costumes: Worn by Modern Chickasaws

Margaret Roach Wheeler
Margaret Wheeler describes the array of costumes she designed for the Lowak Shoppala’ production to represent each scene.

Using Research to Design Costumes

Margaret Roach Wheeler
Margaret Roach Wheeler describes how she used her research to design costumes for Lowak Shoppala'.

Lowak Shoppala': Costumes for Scenes Before and After European Contact

Margaret Roach Wheeler
Margaret Roach Wheeler describes the costumes for the scenes before and after European contact in Lowak Shoppala'.

Lowak Shoppala': Costumes and Choreography for the Removal Scene

Margaret Roach Wheeler
Margaret Roach Wheeler describes the costumes she designed for the removal scene in Lowak Shoppala'.

Lowak Shoppala': Creating 76 Costumes

Margaret Roach Wheeler
Chickasaw weaver Margaret Roach Wheeler describes the components of the Chickasaw production, Lowak Shoppala'.