They Know Who They Are: Elders of the Chickasaw Nation

A stunning collection of paintings of living Chickasaw elders

In August 2004, Oklahoma Centennial project artist Mike Larsen approached Chickasaw Nation leaders with an idea to honor living Chickasaw elders―sages of his own tribe. He wanted to learn about their families and hear their stories, and he wanted to connect with their Chickasaw strength and spirit. Larsen’s vision was to paint a series of portraits of these elders.

Accompanied by his wife, Martha Larsen, the artist began a creative process that turned into a personal journey. During the interviews, the Larsens were often treated like members of the elders’ families. They listened and learned what it means to be Chickasaw―what it means to “know who you are.” In the Larsen studio, carefully rendered sketches progressed from paper to canvas to yield the 24 remarkable paintings reproduced in this volume. Martha Larsen has written a richly detailed narrative, based on each elder’s interview, documenting his or her cultural beliefs, experiences, and history.