Governor Bill Anoatubby
A harvest from deep roots
By Bill Anoatubby, Governor, Chickasaw Nation
Fall is here and with it comes a season of gathering and thanksgiving. Within the Chickasaw Nation, it is also a time of celebration, reflection and cultural connection.
It was in this month that the Chickasaw people, resolute in the face of adversity, gathered at Seeley Chapel determined to reestablish our tribal government and have a say in the future of the Chickasaw Nation. We celebrate this gathering each year, along with our shared culture and progress, during the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival.
It is also important to reflect on the significance of the ratification of both the 1856 and 1983 Chickasaw Constitutions, documents that laid the foundational framework of today’s tribal government. These pivotal moments in our tribe’s history continue to guide us, standing as a powerful reminder of our sovereignty, resiliency and unity.
In the aftermath of Removal from our Homeland to Indian Territory, our ancestors faced the immense challenge of rebuilding their lives and government. Despite hardship, they remained steadfast in their commitment to self-governance.
In 1856, the Chickasaw people ratified their own constitution during a constitutional convention at Good Spring on Pennington Creek in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. This followed the formal separation from a district within the government of the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory and the full reassertion of a Chickasaw political identity and sovereignty.
The Chickasaw Constitution was more than a legal document, it was a declaration of who we are as a people. This constitution created the modern tribal government, including a three-department form of government that would be governed by the will of our people, with elected leadership in the executive, legislative and judicial departments.
Today, we continue to operate under the framework of a Chickasaw Constitution ratified by our people in 1983. This modern version, grounded in the spirit of the original, supports a vibrant and growing Chickasaw Nation. It guides our executive, legislative and judicial departments and ensures that our inherent sovereignty and right to self-governance are asserted and recognized. It is supremely important to the progress we have made over the past 44 years and will remain vital to our bright future.
As we reflect on the courage and foresight of those who came before us, we are reminded of the importance of continuing their great work for the generations that follow. Their vision lives on in our progress today in all areas of the tribe, including education, health care, culture, economic development and more.
We are blessed to continue the work of our ancestors who rose from hardship with dignity and purpose. We will continue to honor their legacy by remaining dedicated to our mission to enhance the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people as we work together toward a future that reflects the enduring spirit of the Chickasaw Nation.