Date: July 08, 2025
In the latest video on the Chickasaw Nation Culture and Humanities YouTube channel, JoAnn Ellis shares a story from her childhood about riding on her grandfather’s horse with her cousins.
Fluent speakers like Ellis play a vital role in preserving Chickasaw language and cultural identity.
Ellis is Chickasaw and a resident of Tupelo, Oklahoma. She served as a language educator for the Chickasaw Nation for many years and remains actively involved with the Chickasaw Language Revitalization Program as a Chickasaw Language Committee member.
In 2024, JoAnn Ellis received the Silver Feather award for her contributions to promoting and preserving Chickasaw language and culture.
Subscribe to watch new language videos spoken in Chickasaw each month. Visit the Chickasaw Nation Culture and Humanities YouTube channel for more information.