When we think about our Native neighbors here in Texomaland, we are blessed to have the Chickasaw and Choctaw Cultural Centers in Sulphur, and Calera, Oklahoma, respectively. These historical institutions are within a short drive from almost anywhere in Texomaland and offer quality entertainment and educational opportunities.

The Chickasaw and Choctaw host annual tribal celebrations, feature museums with permanent and temporary rotating exhibitions, offer workshops and demonstrations that focus on tribal traditions, staff their libraries for genealogical and historical research, and more. Today, laketexoma.com wants to focus on the Chickasaw Cultural Center.

What Can I Explore at the Chickasaw Cultural Center?

Opened in 2010, the Chickasaw Cultural Center offers visitors an opportunity to explore and celebrate the rich heritage and traditions of the Chickasaw Nation. Situated in south-central Oklahoma, at the heart of the Chickasaw Nation, it is one of the largest tribal cultural centers in the United States.

The center utilizes immersive environments, interactive media, and cutting-edge technology to showcase Chickasaw culture. Highlights of the campus include the Chikasha Poya Exhibit Center, the Kochcha' Aabiniili' Amphitheater, and the Chikasha Inchokka' Traditional Village, Holisso: The Center for Study of Chickasaw History and Culture, along with many other remarkable attractions.

Begin your adventure at the Welcome Center year-round, and you can also check out Veteran's Lake, a small, scenic reservoir within the boundaries of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. People collect water from the natural springs that feed into Veteran's Lake. Their clean, cool, and mineral-rich waters are historically valued for their purported health benefits.

Chickasaw Cultural Center Campus Grounds

The Cultural Center’s campus grounds cover 184 acres. These grounds incorporate modern architecture with the natural landscape. The campus grounds reflect Chickasaw cultural values and the importance of harmony with nature, with features like native plants, stone pathways, and water-inspired elements.

The grounds of the Chickasaw Cultural Center feature lifelike statues and sculptures that vividly depict the story of the Chickasaw people. Created by acclaimed artists such as Joanna Underwood, James Blackburn, Enoch Kelly Haney, and Mike Larsen, these striking works enhance the campus with their artistic presence, adding depth and a sense of enduring significance to the vibrant culture they celebrate.

Gardens

Three large gardens grace the campus grounds. The Chickasaw people spiritually hold agriculture and a deep connection to the earth as essential aspects of life and heritage. The gardens at the Chickasaw Cultural Center reflect this harmonious relationship with nature.

The Three Sisters Garden celebrates corn, beans, and squash, three plants that support each other to flourish. The Cultural Center hosts an annual event celebrating this Chickasaw tradition. The Butterfly Garden is one of 45 gardens full of milkweed and other pollinator plants that provide support and nutrition to butterflies. This garden features butterfly statues.

Situated just east of the Chikasha Inchokka' Traditional Village, the distinctive Spiral Garden is a highlight of the grounds. Designed in a spiral shape to symbolize life’s continuous journey, it features winding rows of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The garden supplies fresh ingredients for many dishes served at the Aaimpa’ Café.

Kochcha' Aabiniili' Amphitheater

The stunning Kochcha' Aabiniili' Amphitheater, meaning "a place for sitting outside," is centrally located on the campus to inspire community gathering. This open-air venue hosts a range of events, such as stomp dance demonstrations, concerts, and cultural presentations. Nearby, the issobinnochi' bell rings during special occasions, paying tribute to Sunday church bells that traditionally call people to gatherings and meetings.

Inkana Bridge

Spanning 195 feet over the flowing Rock Creek, the Inkana Bridge provides visitors with easy access to explore the western and northern regions of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Positioned at the southeastern edge of the Chickasaw Cultural Center campus, just past the Chikasha Inchokka' Traditional Village.

The Inkana (friend) Bridge connects the Cultural Center to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. This bridge symbolizes the collaboration between the Chickasaw Nation and the National Park Service while serving as a physical link between the two destinations.

Chikasha Inchokka' Traditional Village

Experience what life was like for the Chickasaw people in the 1700s by visiting the historically authentic Chickasaw village. Accessible via the stunning 40-foot Aba' Aanowa' Sky Bridge, the Chikasha Inchokka' (Chickasaw house) Traditional Village replicates a historical Chickasaw village

The reconstructed village features a Council House, two summer houses, two winter houses, a replica mound, a corncrib, a stickball field, and a stockade fence. The village is open and free to explore whenever the Chickasaw Cultural Center campus grounds are open.

As you wander through the village, you might encounter cultural demonstrations such as stomp dances and stickball games, as well as displays of traditional arts, cooking, storytelling, and language. If weather conditions are unfavorable, these activities may be relocated indoors.

Aaimpa' Café

The Aaimpa' Café offers indoor seating with an exciting range of menu options, including venison stew, pulled pork stacks, and salmon. Its grill menu features items like the mountain burger made with charbroiled ground elk. Options for children include macaroni and cheese.

Popular dishes such as the buffalo burger, stomp dancer sandwich, and the Chickasaw Special are on the menu. The Aaimpa' Café is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drinks and cookies are available for purchase from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Anoli' Theater

The Anoli' Theater has recently undergone renovations that include updated lighting, advanced technology, and an expanded stage to accommodate live events. Although its primary purpose is to share First American stories through film, the theater also hosts a variety of events such as cultural presentations, workshops, academic lectures, stomp dance demonstrations, fashion shows, and more.

Aapisa' Art Gallery

The Aapisa' Art Gallery showcases a dedicated space of the incredible talent and creativity of Chickasaw and other Native American artists. The name "Aapisa’" means "a place to see" in the Chickasaw language. This gallery reflects the Chickasaw purpose as a space to experience and appreciate art that tells the stories and traditions of First Americans.

Chikasha Immi': Chickasaw Material Culture

The Chickasha Immi': Chickasaw Material Culture exhibits highlight the tools, weaponry, and household items used by the Chickasaw people before their forced removal from their ancestral homeland. Spanning from the Mississippian cultural period to the late 18th century, the exhibit offers a glimpse into Chickasaw daily life during this time.

Key items on display include projectile points, stone knives, trade beads, stone and iron farming tools, and earthenware. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Chickasaw artisans created exquisite earthenware using fossilized shell naturally present in northern Mississippi clay. Historically accurate replicas of these vessels, discovered through archaeological surveys of sites such as Hikki'ya' (Ackia) and Chokkilissa (Old Town), are also featured.

Additionally, the exhibit showcases a rare 1775 first edition of “The History of the American Indians” by British trader James Adair. This book is regarded as one of the most detailed accounts of Southeastern Indian cultures. It provides firsthand insights into the lives of Chickasaws and other Southeastern tribes in the 18th century. This marks the first time the Chickasaw Cultural Center has displayed this historic text. 

Holisso: The Center for Study of Chickasaw History and Culture

Holisso, meaning "book," is a 20,000-square-foot center dedicated to preserving and studying the history, culture, language, and stories of the Chickasaw Nation and other Southeastern tribes. This specialized library houses meticulously maintained archives of First American historical accounts, genealogical records, and cultural traditions passed down through generations.

Equipped with advanced technology, the center focuses on documenting Chickasaw and Southeastern genealogy while hosting oral history workshops, scholarly lectures, conferences, digitization events, roundtables, and book signings. Its climate- and light-controlled artifact storage room ensures the preservation of genealogy records, photo archives, and historical documents.

Holisso offers a document with a form that provides answers to frequently asked questions about tribal citizenship and includes a genealogy request form to help streamline inquiries. For those interested in exploring their ancestry, accessing genealogy records, requesting research assistance, or learning more about the center:

Call (580) 622-7130

Email [email protected],

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected].

Holisso offers a document with a form that provides answers to frequently asked questions about tribal citizenship and includes a genealogy request form to help streamline inquiries.