AYA Walk: Your Fitness Journey
Explore the Richness of the Chickasaw Heritage While Nurturing Your Well-being
AYA, which translates to "to go; to journey" in the Chickasaw language, welcomes you to embark on a distinctive fitness experience that blends physical activity with the captivating narratives of Chickasaw culture and history.
Meet Your Walking Partners
Your walking companions are there to guide and inspire you on your journey. These virtual Chickasaw individuals hold a wealth of knowledge, sharing invaluable oral histories, prayers, and songs that have been passed down through generations. They make the journey engaging and educational, leaving you with a deeper understanding of Chickasaw culture and a profound connection to the past.
AYA introduces you to a variety of virtual walking partners, each with unique stories and insights into Chickasaw culture. Here are a few partners you can walk alongside.
Before the arrival of European explorers, Akanowa eagerly awaits the birth of her grandson. Alongside the other women of the village, she tends to the earth, sowing seeds and exchanging cherished tales of their people. Attuned to the signs of nature and immersed in the preparations for sacred ceremonies, Akanowa imparts her profound wisdom as a revered Chickasaw elder.
A warrior named Hikatubby prepares to protect his village from an incoming invasion led by Hernando de Soto. These invaders look different from the tribe, with hairy faces and light-colored skin, and they demand food, supplies, and even people from the villages they pass through. Hikatubby is determined to defend his village.
William, a student at the Chickasaw National Academy in Stonewall, Indian Territory, had a strong and determined mother who provided him with the best education she could. Raised by his mother after his father went missing during the Civil War, William found solace and confidence in his horse, Shobbokoli', feeling swift, agile, and graceful while riding.
Do not miss out on the exciting updates coming to AYA! Subscribe to our newsletter today and be the first to learn about our newest Chickasaw walking partner launching this October. Stay connected to the past, enrich your present, and look to the future with each step you take on this unique fitness journey.
Exploring Chickasaw History
AYA takes you on a captivating journey, unveiling the rich tapestry of Chickasaw history step by step. Through stories of significant events and everyday life, you will gain profound insights into the trials, triumphs, and resilience of the Chickasaw people. As you embark on this physical and intellectual expedition, you will experience Chickasaw history in a truly visceral way, connecting it to the very lands where it unfolded.
Similar to the "historical markers" we often overlook on highways, AYA's Points of Interest entice you to slow down, reflect, and appreciate the paths the Chickasaws have traversed to shape the Chickasaw Nation today. Some of these paths are well-known and steeped in history, while others offer glimpses into the everyday experiences of the Chickasaw people, often hidden from wider knowledge.
Unlocking these Points of Interest during your AYA journey reveals new and fascinating information about places you may have never known before. The AYA Team diligently curates content, drawing from meticulous research, primary sources, interviews, and firsthand visits to the featured locations. Every piece of information you encounter in AYA is grounded in the best available research, ensuring accuracy and authenticity.
In fact, some of the findings brought to light through AYA represent new scholarship on various aspects of Chickasaw history. These discoveries have expanded into articles for publication in the esteemed journal of the Chickasaw Historical Society. To deliver the most captivating aspects of Chickasaw history, the AYA Team collaborates closely with the Department of Culture and Humanities professional staff, as well as external scholars and researchers. In the future, our blogs will delve deeper into the stories, points of interest, and related subjects, offering even more detailed insights.
Chickasaw history is brimming with captivating, significant, and untold stories. The AYA Team feels privileged to share these stories with you, as every Chickasaw family holds their own unique narratives from their history in the Homeland, during the Removal, in Indian Territory, and throughout the transition to the modern Chickasaw Nation.
