The seminomadic Chickasaws occupy the northern part of present Mississippi at the time of the conquistador Hernando de Soto’s entry into the region in 1540.

The Chickasaw and the Choctaw of central and southern Mississippi, both of Muskogean linguistic stock, may have been a single tribe in their earlier history; the Choctaw dialect being practically identical to that of the Chickasaw.

The Chickasaw people not only patrol the immense territory that they claim for themselves but also raid tribes far to the north, absorbing the tribes that they conquer.

They scatter their dwellings for miles along a stream or river rather than cluster them in villages.

The Chickasaws tracing trace descent through the maternal line.

The Chickasaws associate their supreme deity with the sky, sun, and fire; and they annually celebrate a harvest and new-fire rite (similar to the Green Corn ceremony of the Creek people).