Chickasaw Inkana Foundation

06/04/2026

With over 20 years of dedicated service to the Chickasaw Nation, Mr. Brad Deramus brings a wealth of experience in cultural programming and visitor engagement to his role as Director of the Chickasaw Heritage Center (CHC).

Having previously served in leadership positions at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma, Deramus has played an integral role in sharing Chickasaw history and culture with the public. Today, he leads the development of daily operations and programming for the CHC as it prepares to welcome visitors from around the world.

Join us in welcoming Brad as he helps shape an engaging and meaningful experience that honors the Chickasaw story for generations to come.

06/03/2026

"For me, it's almost like you get up in the morning and go outside by yourself and sing to God," says Chickasaw flute maker Tim Cornelius. "Sing to the Creator and let him hear your voice through the flute." Following in his father's footsteps, Tim began crafting traditional flutes as a child. "He took me kind of under his wing and started showing me how to really make the flute," Tim says. "How to take your time and do a quality job. And I made my first flute when I was 12." Now a seasoned flute maker in his own right, Tim explains the process of flute making that was passed down to him, and why he's now passing the knowledge down to his own son. "Whatever your craft is, when you're passing that on you're giving a piece of yourself to the next generation," he says. "It makes me feel connected to the Chickasaw people to know that I have something I can give not only to my family but to other people." Want to learn more? Click the link below!

Chickasaw flute maker Tim Cornelius is passing the art of traditional flute making down to his son, just as his father taught him.

06/01/2026

05/29/2026

Did you know that for only $250 you can join the Chickasaw Inkana Foundation as an annual "Wolf Clan" member? By making a donation to the Chickasaw Inkana Foundation (CIF) you will be supporting the overall preservation, protection and interpretation of Chickasaw culture and history in the historic Chickasaw Homeland.

The annual Wolf membership comes with the bi-annual newsletter, a commemorative annual CIF coin, a dual membership in the Chickasaw Historical Society (including the Journal of Chickasaw History and Culture + a T-Shirt), a limited edition black metal CIF bottle, and invitations to special CIF events! Click the link below to join today!

https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E360403&id=5

05/27/2026

Chickasaw artist Donna Welch recounts her two-decade journey of crafting art from gourds. From the very first gourd she crafted Welch has held a passion for this unique artform. "It was like a connection I couldn't explain," says Welch. Also known as Dancing Star, Welch describes the different types of gourds she works with and the various types of art she transforms them into, including rain and thunder gourds. At the core of Welch's work is a combination of beauty, utility and history. Obvious beauty as shown through her meticulous designs. Utility in the forms of drums, storage and other sundry uses. And a purposeful history aimed at keeping tradition alive, with a new modern twist. "Our ancestors would have used the gourds for drums or rattles, however, this is a new take on what our ancestors would have done," says Welch. Want to learn more? Click the link below!

Chickasaw artist Donna Welch recounts her two-decade journey of crafting art from gourds.

05/26/2026

On this day in 1736 the French forces and their Choctaw allies, coming up from the south, attacked the Chickasaw village of Aahikki'ya' (Ackia). In the spring of that year, two pivotal battles between the French and the Chickasaw occurred at the epicenter of the historic Chickasaw Homeland, in what is now Tupelo, Mississippi. As the French forces, led by Jean-Baptist Bienville, attacked the Chickasaws at Aahikki'ya' they were immediately caught in a crossfire between two Chickasaw forts. Following this unsuccessful effort, the French and their allies sought cover behind structures along the ridgeline and were forced to retreat, but not before suffering heavy casualties. The news of the Chickasaw victory over the much larger French force was published in newspapers across Europe. This decisive Chickasaw victory ensured that the French would no longer be able to pose a significant threat to Chickasaws in the region. Want to learn more? Click the link below!

The French began their attack on Ackia with grenades.