Culture

The Mountain West News Bureau

A collaboration of public media stations that serve the Western states of Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

For the Chickasaw Nation, planting trees protects both climate and culture

Mountain West News Bureau

Published April 27, 2026 at 4:37 PM MDT

Approximately 20 children from the Chickasaw Nation Head Start participated in a tree planting ceremony at the Oka'Yanahi Preserve in Tishomingo on October 7, 2025. The event was in partnership with the Chickasaw Nation, the Nature Conservancy and the Oklahoma Forestry Services.

In southern Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Nation is planting trees to combat climate change. The project is also ensuring that Chickasaw culture gets passed down to the next generation.

This story originally aired January 12, 2026.

In southern Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Nation is planting trees to combat climate change. The project is also ensuring that Chickasaw culture gets passed down to the next generation.

Jennie Mosely, the Chickasaw Nation's Sustainability Director, said she brings her father's lessons to her work: "He said that whenever you think about land, you have to realize that people died for it. Our ancestors did. A lot of people fought to keep title to their land, and some of them didn't survive. So the people that have survived, it just kind of shows me that I am honored to take care of this land, because I am kind of keeping their memory alive."