News Release

The Natchez Trace Parkway Commemorated the Battle of Ackia on May 26, 2018

Public Historian Brian Mast, from the University of West Alabama, leads junior rangers in French Marines marching drills.

NPS

News Release Date: June 8, 2018

Contact: Andy Danneker, 662-680-4018

TUPELO, MS – The Natchez Trace Parkway welcomed over 200 visitors on Saturday, May 26, 2018, to the Battle of Ackia Commemoration and Pioneer Days events. Joseph Smith, representative of the Chickasaw Nation, presented a special Junior Ranger program entitled “Chickasaw Culture and Life.” The program focused on how the Chickasaw people lived during the 1730s at the time of the Battle of Ackia – known as Hikki’ya’ by the Chickasaw – on May 26, 1736. 

Brian Mast, from the Black Belt Museum at the University of West Alabama, presented a special Junior Ranger program entitled “We Want YOU for the French Marines!” Junior Rangers experienced what life was like for a French Marine in 1736 by learning about their marching and drilling techniques and camp life. Mast and Smith also presented a talk about the Battle of Ackia from both the French and Chickasaw perspectives and the long-range impacts this battle had on European colonization of the area.
 
“The Natchez Trace Parkway is grateful for the assistance of our park partners in interpreting the complex story of the Battle of Ackia from the different perspectives,” said Park Ranger Andy Danneker.
 
Come join us for other free ranger programs scheduled throughout the summer. You can view our latest schedule of events by going to our website at: https://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/calendar.htm, or calling the Parkway Visitor Center at 1-800-305-7417.
 
www.nps.gov
 
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more atwww.nps.gov.