Chickasha owis! (“I am Chickasaw!)
In a May 7th column in the Dallas Morning News, Mr. S.C. Gwynne and Mr. Gary Jacobson posit the question: What is a Chickasaw?
As an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation allow me to respond by saying: Chickasha naget ‘owa? Chickasha owis! (“What is a Chickasaw? I am a Chickasaw!”).
I am a Chickasaw and the reality of my experience is far removed from that portrayed in the article. At base, it appears as though the authors have an expectation that all of us indigenous (Indian/Native American) peoples must necessarily comport to their atavistic and anachronistic definition of what it means to be an indigenous person.
Earth to Mr. Gwynne and Mr. Jacobson: Hiyo Silver! Tonto was but a fictional character in a TV series. [“That right Kemo Sabe”!]
The superimposing of the authors’ flawed notions of “Indianess” over the reality of contemporary indigenous persons (the “Tontoing” of Indian people) engenders additional misunderstandings that manifest themselves throughout the article. In response, I will identify and clarify the more salient errata.
Despite the authors’ assertions to the contrary, I and many Chickasaws do indeed speak (and read and write!) a Native language.
Linguists classify the Chickasaw language as Muskogean, a language family that includes, inter alia, our brothers and sisters the Choctaw, the Seminole and the Mvskoke-Creek (a form of the language that I use in this article).
The authors truly “speak with a forked tongue” when they aver that the Chickasaws don’t speak a native language!
And just what is an indigenous (viz., Indian) person supposed to look like? It appears as though the authors subscribe to the Hollywood Indian stereotype usually found in the older Western movies. These “Indians” were non-Indian actors!
In looking at my own picture above, I doubt that the average American would agree that I look like either a “cross-section of America” or that I fit their expectation of the appearance of an Indigenous person. This despite the fact that I am over ½ Indian by blood that not only includes Chickasaw but also Mvskoke-Creek, Cherokee and Citizen Potawatomi blood.
I am nevertheless authentically Indigenous. The reality is that there is a great diversity between and among the physical appearances of the people who make up our 570+ federally recognized Native Nations. This stark reality doesn’t make any tribal member less authentic.
In my Mvskoke tradition, very much like that of the Chickasaws, we are a matrilineal people. We trace our ancestry from womb to womb to womb all the way back to the time that our ancestors emerged from the womb of Ekvna (i.e., the Earth). Historically, if you are born of an Mvskoke womb, you ARE Mvskoke!
The notions of having to carry papers and a pedigree to “prove” tribal membership are notions that are historically foreign to our native peoples. In addition, the very concept of “blood quantum” is not only anathema to our historic traditions of Native identity but the use of blood quantum is a concept that was superimposed upon Native Nations by the larger non-native society.
The U.S. government promulgates rules and criteria for U.S. citizenship. What is a citizen of the U.S. supposed to look like? Likewise, Native Nations establish rules and criteria for tribal membership. What is a citizen of a Native Nation supposed to look like? Hint: Tonto isn’t in Kansas anymore!
Perhaps more disturbing, the authors make the egregiously erroneous statement that “(Chickasaws) have no special tribal religion”. In fact, Chickasaw religion and spirituality finds full expression in at least three major ways; 1) through our many Indian Christian churches, 2) through our ceremonial or “stomp dance” grounds, and 3) through a Pan-Indian Native American Church. I will comment here only on our Indian Christian churches.
Many Chickasaws, like many Indigenous peoples, are indeed Christians. A great many of our people attend Indian churches. For example, there are many Indian Baptist and Indian Methodist churches here in Oklahoma. You will find these churches in the bigger cities such as Oklahoma City, OK and Tulsa, OK but also in smaller towns such as Ada, OK and Antlers, OK. There is even an Indian Methodist church right there in Dallas (perhaps the authors may wish to visit sometime?).
In these Indian churches the essential theology, the liturgy and deeply rooted faith are pretty much the same as one would find in any Christian church. However, historically the services have been conducted in our native languages and we sing native hymns that reflect both our Christian faith and our unique tribal histories and experiences.
Here is an excerpt from a beautiful and wonderful Chickasaw/Choctaw hymn called Meditation on Death (On the Day I Die):
Chisvs pulla tuk mak ona,
Si ai illi hokmvt,
Uba yakni chukma ka
Ona la hi oke.
This particular stanza of the hymn roughly translates as: Jesus is my guarantee and guide to that good land in heaven above. On the day I die, straightaway, on that day, redeemed by Jesus’ love, I’ll arrive.
In the face of the harsh reality of death, this beautiful Chickasaw/Choctaw hymn manifests hope, inspiration and a sublime Christian faith. How can this NOT BE a special form Indian religion?
Finally the authors make the statement that the Chickasaws are “given Federal money”. The underlying attitude that engenders such a statement might lead one to construe that the authors are Hvtke Emetv (“White Givers”).
Such federal payments perhaps are more properly viewed as payments of a debt owed by the dominant society to native peoples pursuant to solemn and legally binding treaties. These treaties do not carry an expiration date and they certainly aren’t contingent upon Indian peoples looking like Tonto. Surely the authors are men of their word and would not otherwise seek to welch on a legally binding (if not ethically and morally binding) agreement?
We as Indian people must walk in two worlds. Perhaps we have learned to walk so well in the Wvcenv Ekvna (viz., the White World) that the dominant society cannot recognize our Indianess.
I am both a graduate of an Indian Boarding School and also hold a Masters degree from Harvard University. I speak English but also speak my native Mvskoke language. I worship in a Christian Indian Methodist church but also participate in my traditional Posketv or ceremonial stomp dance. I am the face of contemporary Indian peoples in the U.S. There are many more like me.
Chickasha naget’owa? Chickasha owis!
The article Colbert is referring to may be read here: Dallas Morning News