The Chickasaw Nation is a Native American nation that was part one of the Five Civilized Tribes in the United States. The Five Civilized Tribes were differentiated from other Indian reservations in that they had semi-autonomous constitutional governments and delegates in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Chickasaw Nation was created after the Chickasaws were removed to Indian Territory in the 1830s.
When the Chickasaw Nation was re-established as a tribal government on March 4, 1856, in Tishomingo, Indian Territory, the Chickasaw people honored their last war chief, Tishomingo, by representing him on the Great Seal of the Chickasaw Nation. In addition, the figure represents the courage of the Chickasaw people.