The Chickasaw people are a federally recognized as the Chickasaw Nation with the majority residing in Oklahoma. The Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma is the 13th largest federally recognized tribe in the United States. Chickasaw society traditionally was based upon matrilineal descent, which means children were considered to be part of the mother's clan. They valued storytelling as an important way to pass down traditions and legends from one generation to the next.

English is spoken by most Chickasaw people, however preservation of the language is very important to the Chickasaw.

Chickasaw operate the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma. It includes the Chikasha Inchokka’ Traditional Village, Honor Garden, Sky and Water pavilion, and several in-depth exhibits about their diverse culture.