In ancient times, Chickasaws placed great importance and meaning on those locations defined as important by history and tribal religion. The great migration legend, describing how the tribe moved from the "place of the setting sun" to the east as ordained by Aba Binili (God), was central in explaining the importance of the homelands. One can only imagine the sorrow experienced by our ancestors when it was determined that they would have to be "removed" from their sacred home.

Explanations of natural phenomena and descriptions of one's place in the universe were common themes as well. Chickasaw elders conveyed ancient knowledge as a sacred obligation, thereby instilling in younger generations cultural identity and tribal cohesiveness. The stories of the elders had significance in describing tribal history, not in terms of chronological dates, but more in terms of how events and locations impacted nature and people.

Family histories have become increasingly important for Chickasaws in today's society. As enhanced technology creates greater distances between tribal members, family histories connect our people to the nation. Like language, the preservation of family information is fundamentally important in understanding our culture, and, like oral tradition, it must be passed on to future generations of Chickasaws.

by Jeannie Barbour