Chickasaw Inkana Foundation

On Friday, June 12th, Chickasaw Inkana Foundation (CIF) CEO Brady Davis had the pleasure of hosting a Chickasaw Heritage Center (CHC) site visit for the new Natchez Trace Parkway Superintendent, Wendy Ross, and Mandi Toy (Interpretation and Education Manager / acting Chief of Interpretation).

The walk-through allowed the Foundation to showcase the structural progress of Phase I and served to reinforce the strong, collaborative bond between the Foundation and the National Park Service.

Reflecting on the successful meeting, Davis noted, "This was a great opportunity to share our progress with the Parkway as we continue to expand our partnership. As we push toward the grand opening, collaboration with our tribal, federal, state, and municipal partners remains vital to crafting a world-class destination that shares the Chickasaw story. I am excited for what the future holds."

The CIF extends a warm welcome to Superintendent Ross and looks forward to working hand in hand with her team to enhance the cultural and recreational landscape of the historic Chickasaw Homeland.

Did you know that for $250 or more you can join the Chickasaw Heritage Center as an inaugural Charter Member while simultaneously joining the Chickasaw Inkana Foundation membership program?

The inaugural Charter Membership comes with a commemorative Charter Membership coin and a special certificate verifying you as a Charter Member, a complimentary Chickasaw Inkana Foundation membership at a level corresponding with 10% of your total Charter Membership donation, and your name listed on the Chickasaw Heritage Center website! Click the link below to join today!

https://www.chickasawheritagecenter.com/give

"As I'm working on pots, I think about my ancestors," says Chickasaw potter Marcella Yepa. "There's a connection. It really feels like they are there to help me with my pots." Yepa's passion for pottery began at a young age when she helped her grandmother sand and paint her pots. "She taught me a lot about pottery," says Yepa, who began making her own pots at age 19. Now 30 years later, Yepa continues her passion, or as she puts it, "I just love working with clay." Just as her grandmother passed a love for pottery onto her, Yepa hopes to keep the family tradition alive. "I would like to pass my pottery making to my daughter and my granddaughters," says Yepa. "I teach them when they visit me." Want to learn more? Click the link below!

Chickasaw.tv | Turtle Pottery Chickasaw potter Marcella Yepa continues what her grandmother taught her about pottery.

Something beautiful is taking shape in the historic Chickasaw Homeland.

The Chickasaw story is a living narrative, and the Chickasaw Heritage Center’s (CHC) Art Gallery will be the place where that story is painted, woven, and sculpted for the world to see.

Below, we paired our architectural rendering with a shot of CHC Director Brad Deramus standing in the gallery space as it is today. It won’t be long until this room is filled with the incredible work of Chickasaw and Southeastern First American artists.

The Chickasaw Heritage Center will open in early 2027! Join us as an Inaugural Charter Member, and your donation will help us protect and interpret Chickasaw history and culture in the historic Homeland for generations to come.

Let's bring the story home together: https://chickasawheritagecenter.com/