Annual Chickasaw Reunion starts Friday

ADA, Okla. – The 19th Annual Chikasha Ittafama (Chickasaw Reunion) will kick off May 5-6 at Kullihoma Campground, 7 miles east of Ada on state Highway 1.

The reunion is a time Chickasaws come together to participate in culturally significant events. The celebration is open to the public and offers many educational activities for the entire family.

Ittafama ceremonies begin Friday at 6 p.m. with a welcome and prayer followed by dinner, which is offered at no charge.

Youth and coed social stickball games will start at 7:15 p.m. and conclude at 10 p.m. A social stomp dance is open to anyone who wishes to participate. It gets underway at 8:30 p.m. and will conclude at 10 p.m.

Saturday, May 6, will be full of activities including a fishing derby, annual cornstalk shoot, cultural classes, trail rides with Chickasaw Rangers, turtle races, horseshoes, dominoes, archery and martial arts demonstrations, stickball tournament and traditional social stomp dance.

Archers will begin competition in the cornstalk shoot at 8 a.m. A children's fishing derby will begin at 8:30 a.m. Cultural classes, children's tent and trail rides begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. The ever-popular turtle races begin at 11:20 a.m. and conclude at noon.

The traditional meal is served from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. and is offered at no charge.

Stickball, a contest resembling lacrosse, has been played for centuries by Native Americans. A stickball tournament involving several tribes will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 7 p.m.

Visitors may try their hand at archery and learn more about it from 2-5 p.m. during demonstrations.

The Chickasaw Nation Martial Arts team will conduct demonstrations from 5:30-6 p.m. and dinner will be served from 6-7 p.m.

Stomp dancing will begin at 9 p.m. and usually goes until into the wee hours of the morning. Saturday's dance will conclude the Ittafama.

To reach Kullihoma, drive east for 7 miles on state Highway 1 and follow the signs to the campground.