Chikasha Pehlichi Ikbi students visit Chickasaw homelands

This article appeared in the June 2017 edition of the Chickasaw Times

Chikasha Pehlichi Ikbi (Chickasaw Leadership) students reconnected with their Chickasaw heritage in the homelands area of Mississippi and Alabama, March 13-17. Students spent five days expanding their knowledge of Chickasaw culture and history visiting Tupelo, Amory and Pontotoc, Miss., and Tuscumbia, Ala.

“Visiting the homelands of our ancestors was a very exciting experience for us all,” Lead Youth Organization Specialist Ethan Cox said. “Learning about the historically and culturally significant sites of our past leaders with future Chickasaw leaders made it particularly special.”

Students toured the Chickasaw Preserve, Saliichi Colbert House and 1814-1821 Chickasaw Council House, Colbert Ferry and the Natchez Trace Parkway Chickasaw Village site.

They also learned about other tribes by visiting the Pontotoc Post Office and Museum, Amory Regional museum, touring the Natchez Trace Parkway headquarters and listening to the story behind the Tom Hendrix Wall.