Last week I was
privileged to attend the induction of three new members into the Chickasaw Hall
of Fame. Chickasaw Governor Bill Anoatubby founded the Hall of Fame in 1987, to
honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the tribe and to
the communities in which they live. Honorees include modern Chickasaw citizens
as well as tribal leaders from preremoval times.
This year’s ceremony
was in the beautiful auditorium at Riverwind, one of the Chickasaw Casinos. It
was thrilling to see so many Chickasaws gathered in one place: men with feathers in their hair,
women in traditional Chickasaw dresses. The entertainment was provided by Native
American musicians playing the flute, guitar and violin. Traditional Chickasaw
dishes were served. I heard some Chickasaws conversing in our native language.
The ceremony itself
was very impressive. The invocation in the Chickasaw language was given by Pauline Brown. Then
an honor guard of Chickasaw veterans presented the flags of the U.S., the State of Oklahoma and The Chickasaw Tribe. After an introduction
by Amanda Cobb Grantham, head of the Chickasaw Division of Culture and History,
Ray Gene McCarter, a Chickasaw legislator, introduced this year’s honorees.
Tishu Miko
The first Chickasaw
to be honored was the great chief, Tishu Miko, after whom the Chickasaw
capital, Tishomingo, was named. Tishu Miko was a respected leader before the
Removal and was the last Chickasaw War Chief. He led Chickasaw warriors in
support of U. S.
troops against the French, the British, and even against the Creek tribe.
Finally, when the State of Mississippi
permitted its citizens to operate trading posts on Chickasaw land in violation
of U. S.
treaties, Tishomingo closed a trading post operated by a white man and
confiscated its goods. For this he was put in prison and fined $500. Tishomingo
died on the Trail of Tears at the age of 102.
Jess Green
The second honoree
for 2011 was Jess Green, a Chickasaw attorney and judge who has worked for the
tribe since the revitalization of our tribal governnment in the ‘70’s. Mr. Green won
two cases in the U. S. Supreme Court which established legal sovereignty for
the Chickasaws as well as the other Native American tribal governments, and
through the years he has fought for the rights of Native Americans in the
courts. Although in poor health, Mr. Green was able to attend the presentation
and he gave an inspiring acceptance speech.
Robert Perry
The third honoree was
Robert Perry, who has spent many years volunteering his time and talents
working for the Chickasaw tribe. Mr. Perry is an engineer, an artist and a
writer. He wrote a fascinating biography of the Indian artist, Woody Crumbo,
and a book about a ceremonial Chickasaw garment, The Turkey Feather Cape, which
he recreated, and which is on display at the Chickasaw Culture
Center. My favorite one
of his books is The Little People, a book of stories about magical forest
creatures of Creek and Chickasaw lore. Mr. Perry, like Mr Green, played an
important role in the development of Chickasaw tribal government. For several
years he traveled monthly to Oklahoma from Houston, Texas,
where he was working for Phillips Petroleum Company, to chair the Chickasaw
Industrial Development Board.
In his acceptance
speech, Mr. Perry pointed out the importance of volunteers and of tribal elders
in building our tribe and in preserving our traditions. My mother, Wenonah Paul
Gunning, met Mr. Perry in 1995 when she was appointed to the Board of Directors
of the Chickasaw Historical Society. She
and Robert’s mother, Sophia Reeder Perry, both went to school during the ‘20’s
at Bloomfield Academy, a Chickasaw boarding school for
girls, and after she recognized their connection, she felt a special affection
for Mr. Perry. She also appreciated Mr. Perry’s knowledge of tribal history,
and the respect he showed for her and for
other elders of the tribe. He was always a good and kind friend.
Governor Anaotubby spoke
after the presentions, and pointed out how the awards recognize the numerous
and diverse contributions made by members of our tribe. If you’re interested in
seeing the other members of the Hall of Fame you can visit the Chickasaw web
page: http://www.chickasaw.net/hof/
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