Spartans of the Lower Mississippi: the Chickasaw

The Chickasaw Nation website states that that early Chickasaw people were called after the Classical Greek warriors because of their readiness to go to battle to protect their rights.  Like other Muskogean-speaking Natives, the Chickasaw were noted warriors who didn't take disrespect from anyone.

Chickasaw creation stories tell of their emerging from the earth.  There is  some indication that, at an early date in their history, they migrated from west of the Mississippi to lands in Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee.  Anthropologists and archaeologists believe the Chickasaw and Choctaw are closely related remnants of a Mississippian culture in the lower Mississippi Valley.  The name Chickasaw comes from that of an early leader of their people and may mean either rebel or someone from the town/location of Chicsa.  Hernando de Soto's expedition referred to them as the Chicaza, meaning that the tribal designation predates that of European contact.  The website indicates that de Soto's men treated the Chickasaw with disrespect, provoking conflict.  He was known to demand foodstuffs, bearers and other obligations of Native peoples whom he met.  The precursors of the Choctaw, under Tuskaloosa, had trouble with de Soto and fought the Spaniards off.  It would come as no surprise that their near neighbors, the Chickasaw, had to do the like.

The Chickasaw maintained peaceful relationships with the French, the British and, initially, the Americans and were valued trading partners.  Like other Southeastern tribes, they were willing to adopt elements of European culture such as farming in an effort to coexist with White settlers.  Washington's Administration actively encouraged this and Chickasaw auxiliaries under George Colbert fought with both Anthony Wayne and Andrew Jackson.  In fact, there isn't any evidence of conflict between the Chickasaw and Americans until the time of Indian Removal after the passage of the Indian Removal Act of 1830.  The Chickasaw held out for many years, making piecemeal concessions of land and hoping for the monetary compensation called for in various treaties, but it never came.  Instead, in 1837, the remaining Chickasaw east of the Mississippi gathered in Memphis, Tennessee and left for Oklahoma, enduring their own Trail of Tears.