My oldest Son wanted to spend his birthday "out" by going to a Museum. Museum's are his new thing. So we went to the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur. Now, if you want to go to a town in Oklahoma that not only has a gorgeous museum and National Recreation area go to Sulphur.
I appreciated the video that they play as you enter the museum and its emphasis on Tribal Sovereignty. I think that most people need to understand that being a member of a tribe, is representative of a special relationship with the United States Government. A political relationship formed by treaties which were in existence prior to Native Americans holding citizenship in this country. Some aspects of sovereignty are "inherent" they existed before any of the colonizers arrived, one of those is water rights (which is currently a hot topic). So, remember the tribes relationship with the United States is not an issue of "race" - it is an issue of Sovereignty and Nation to Nation relations. So enjoy the gaming, enjoy the museums and appreciate all of the wonderful economic developments our other nations are doing for the state of Oklahoma's economy. Because of the tribes we are not struggling like so many states are.
The traditional Chickasaw Village is pretty cool. Now, the Chickasaws and the Choctaws were once the same tribe. Two brothers split and went in different directions. They have also been enemies. Their language is very similar. The Chickasaws came from northern Missisippi while the Choctaws were further south. The Chickasaws formed Alliances with the English/Americans while the Choctaws sided with the French.
This beautiful 44 million dollar facility holds the archives of the Chickasaw Nation.
Recreation of the mound building culture. Moundbuilders were found all throughout the central United States, from Wisconsin- where we find effigy mounds to the giant Emerald Mound in Mississippi. Some of them are more like pyramids than mounds.
My "little baby" is all grown up looking now! Time goes so fast. He has been learning Choctaw with his Grandma and was speaking Choctaw to the Chickasaw guides. I was impressed. He is really interested in his Choctaw heritage.
Look at how tall my baby is. He's a half a foot taller than I am now and taller than his Dad!
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