Chickasaw Heritage Festival

Saturday, October 26th, 2024 

8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the Chickasaw heritage Festival will be open to the public, in Cloud Field near the Native American Indian Mounds Site.  

PROGRAM SCHEDULE: 

9:30 AM to 9:50 AM – Archeology 

                                 Story Telling 

                                 Prehistoric Weaponry 

10:00 AM to 10:20 AM – Stickball  

                                    Stomp Dance 

10:45 AM to 11:00 AM – Music 

11:30 AM to 12:15 PM – Indian Mounds Hiking Tour (NPS Ranger Timothy Arnold) 

11:30 AM to 11:50 PM – Archeology 

                                    Story Telling 

                                    Prehistoric Weaponry 

12:00 PM to 12:20 PM – Stickball  

                                    Stomp Dance

12:45 PM to 1:00 PM – Music 

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM – Lunch for the Presenters 

1:45 PM to 2:00 PM – CHC and CIF presentation (VC) 

1:30 PM to 2:15 PM – Indian Mounds Hiking Tour (NPS Ranger Paul Holloway) 

2:30 PM to 2:50 PM – Archeology 

                                Story Telling 

                                Prehistoric Weaponry 

3:00 PM to 3:20 PM – Stickball  

                                Stomp Dance 

Stickball: 

Chickasaws have a long history of playing the traditional game of stickball. Itti’ kapochcha to’li’ or stickball, also known as “little brother of war,” has been handed down from generation to generation and was historically played to settle conflicts over land and politics between Native American tribes. Recorded accounts of stickball date back to the early 18th century. 

Stomp Dance: 

Stomp dancing is an important aspect of Chickasaw culture. Historically, stomp dancing has its roots in the Green Corn Ceremony, springtime celebrating harvest, redemption, and forgiveness.  Chickasaws believe that the fire at the center of the dance circle is the embodiment of Aba’ binni’li’ (God) on earth and that the smoke carries our prayers to the Creator. Stomp dances move counterclockwise around the fire, which mimics the counterclockwise movement of the sun (unlike powwow dancing). 

Story Telling: 

Storytelling preserves Chickasaw history. It unites the Chickasaw people through their common ancestry. The tradition of storytelling connects the Chickasaws of the past with modern-day members of the tribe. 

Fee Information

Always Free!