Chickasaw Warrior statue turns 20

The “Chickasaw Warrior” statue has now stood proudly in front of the Chickasaw Nation Headquarters for 20 years. During the last two decades, the 9-foot-tall bronze sculpture has been reproduced throughout the Chickasaw Nation and Oklahoma.

“We are dedicating this sculpture to the Chickasaw warriors of the past, the warriors of today, and to those warriors who will come after us,” Governor Bill Anoatubby said during the original statue’s dedication ceremony.

Notable features of the bronze sculpture include the roached hairstyle with pendant yaatala (feather hair ornament), bear claw inno’chi’ (necklace), tanampalhlhi’ micha naki’ (bow and arrows) and sholosh (Chickasaw-style pucker toe moccasins).

The number four is a recurring theme on the statue. The “Chickasaw Warrior” has four feathers adorning his hair and four feathers attached to his shield. Chickasaws regard the number four with importance and symbolism.

Chickasaws celebrate the number with the Four Corners Dance, positioning arbors in the four directions at stomp dance grounds, honoring the four seasons or periods, among other traditions.

Reproductions of the “Chickasaw Warrior” can be found in front of the Chickasaw Veterans Lodge in Ada, Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma and in front of the Casa Blanca building in Norman, Oklahoma, near the University of Oklahoma, among other locations.

“It is a visible reminder that the Chickasaw people are here and continue to persevere,” said Chickasaw Nation Director of Chokka’ Kilimpi’ Randi Sunray. “The statue is prominently placed in the front of the (Casa Blanca) building, signifying it as a Chickasaw Nation building. The statue evokes a sense of pride for Chickasaw students at the University of Oklahoma.”

The “Chickasaw Warrior” can also be found on the campuses of Oklahoma City University (OCU) and Bacone College in Muskogee.

In 2011, more than 300 people and the Chickasaw Honor Guard were present for the statue’s dedication ceremony at Bacone College. At OCU, a garden was designed and built to provide a new venue for the statue donated to the school by the Chickasaw Nation.

“Every little detail, from the color of the walkway to the layout of the garden, was carefully considered in order to create a space that is fitting for this great work of art,” former OCU President Robert Henry said during the statue’s unveiling.

One of the most photographed “Chickasaw Warrior” statues is located at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma.

A likeness of the “Chickasaw Warrior” was chosen to adorn the official Chickasaw Nation license plate available to tribal citizens in the state of Oklahoma. Smaller renditions of the statue can also be found in paintings, murals and offices throughout the Chickasaw Nation.

The “Chickasaw Warrior” celebrates the Chickasaw Nation’s commitment to the continued growth and development of the Chickasaw Nation and its people. As the statue continues to age, it reflects the proud unconquered and unconquerable heritage and warrior spirit of Chickasaws.