{"title":"Choctaw","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"22-0956-10-choctaw-story-keepers-and-storytellers-turtle-by-randy-chitto","title":"10\" Choctaw story keepers and storytellers Turtle by Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th \/ Early 21st Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10\" x 6\"\u003cbr\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003eExcellent Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45877757673637,"sku":"22-0956","price":975.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/s725348264778838518_p11225_i25_w682.jpg?v=1757346722"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto-1","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.375\" H x 2.75\" L x 3.25\" W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness. The Black Turtle is Stretching Out His Arms with White Feathers and Leather Outstretched Over his Arms with a White Carved Bird Headdress\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExcellent Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47309415973029,"sku":"22-0949","price":325.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0949_7.jpg?v=1765923898"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto-2","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.5\" H x 3.125\" L x 1.875\" W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness. The Black Turtle is Holding a Wood Flute with a Leather Back Pack with a Baby Turtle\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExcellent Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47317614264485,"sku":"22-0426","price":345.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0426_1.jpg?v=1766188369"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-with-drum-storyteller-by-randy-chitto","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle with Drum Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eca. 2000\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9\" H  x 9.125\" L x 7.5\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Crafted Black Turtle with 4 Small Turtles, a Hide Leather Braided Strap with Drum in Front Holding Two Drum Sticks and a Leather Cape in Back\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47653514739877,"sku":"22-0119","price":1180.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0119_1.jpg?v=1774467898"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto-3","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e10\" H x 7.875\" L x 6.5\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness of a Horned Turtle Figure with a Hide Leather Satchel and Shield with a Wood Sword and Three Feathers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47653537120421,"sku":"22-0345","price":1180.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0345_4.jpg?v=1774468718"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto-4","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e5.875\" H  x 5.5\" L x 4.125\" W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness of a Turtle with 5 Baby Turtles Climbing on Him  \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47653586305189,"sku":"22-0944","price":715.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0944_1.jpg?v=1774470142"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto-5","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3.25\" H  x 3.625\" L x 3.125\" W Including Feathers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness Turtle with Feathers and a Hide Leather Headress with a Beak \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47653602951333,"sku":"22-0947","price":410.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0947_1.jpg?v=1774470661"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto-6","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.5\" H x 2.875\" L x 1.875\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness of a Small Turtle Holding an Infant Turtle\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47722985357477,"sku":"22-0425","price":310.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0425_1.jpg?v=1776389631"},{"product_id":"choctaw-pueblo-black-bear-pottery-by-randy-chitto","title":"Choctaw Pueblo Black Bear Pottery By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4.25\" H x 3.75\" L x 3\" W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built Black Bear with Hide Leather Pack with Strap and a Wood Spear and Many White Feathers \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eRandy Chitto was Born in 1962 on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Chitto later moved to Chicago. He initially focused on painting but discovered clay while studying at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is best known for his hand-built ceramic storyteller figures, especially bears and turtles, which often incorporate Choctaw cultural elements and storytelling traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis works frequently feature black-fired clay (often with two firings for a deep, rich black finish). Many pieces include added details like leather pouches, drum beaters, feathers, wood, cloth, or miniature figures (e.g., baby turtles or other animals) to create narrative scenes. Common themes include bears playing drums or flutes, holding bows, gathering wood, or in ceremonial\/dancer poses (like Eagle Dancer Bears).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47772491972773,"sku":"22-0191","price":550.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0191_2.jpg?v=1777523384"},{"product_id":"choctaw-pueblo-black-bear-pottery-by-randy-chitto-1","title":"Choctaw Pueblo Black Bear Pottery By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3.75\" H x 4.375\" L x 2.375\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built Black Bear with Hide Leather Pack with Strap Around His Neck\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eRandy Chitto was Born in 1962 on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Chitto later moved to Chicago. He initially focused on painting but discovered clay while studying at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is best known for his hand-built ceramic storyteller figures, especially bears and turtles, which often incorporate Choctaw cultural elements and storytelling traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis works frequently feature black-fired clay (often with two firings for a deep, rich black finish). Many pieces include added details like leather pouches, drum beaters, feathers, wood, cloth, or miniature figures (e.g., baby turtles or other animals) to create narrative scenes. Common themes include bears playing drums or flutes, holding bows, gathering wood, or in ceremonial\/dancer poses (like Eagle Dancer Bears).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47772496036005,"sku":"22-0303","price":485.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0303_2.jpg?v=1777524199"},{"product_id":"choctaw-pueblo-black-bear-pottery-by-randy-chitto-2","title":"Choctaw Pueblo Black Bear Pottery By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4.625\" H x 3.125\" L x 2.5\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built Black Bear with Hide Leather Pack with Strap and a Wood Spear and White Feathers \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eRandy Chitto was Born in 1962 on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Chitto later moved to Chicago. He initially focused on painting but discovered clay while studying at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is best known for his hand-built ceramic storyteller figures, especially bears and turtles, which often incorporate Choctaw cultural elements and storytelling traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis works frequently feature black-fired clay (often with two firings for a deep, rich black finish). Many pieces include added details like leather pouches, drum beaters, feathers, wood, cloth, or miniature figures (e.g., baby turtles or other animals) to create narrative scenes. Common themes include bears playing drums or flutes, holding bows, gathering wood, or in ceremonial\/dancer poses (like Eagle Dancer Bears).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47772499476645,"sku":"22-0304","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0304_2.jpg?v=1777524695"},{"product_id":"choctaw-pueblo-black-bear-pottery-by-randy-chitto-3","title":"Choctaw Pueblo Black Bear Pottery By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3.375\" H x 4.375\" L x 3.125\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built Black Bear with Hide Leather Log Carrier with Strap and Wood Logs, a Wood Staff and Feathers \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eRandy Chitto was Born in 1962 on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Chitto later moved to Chicago. He initially focused on painting but discovered clay while studying at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is best known for his hand-built ceramic storyteller figures, especially bears and turtles, which often incorporate Choctaw cultural elements and storytelling traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis works frequently feature black-fired clay (often with two firings for a deep, rich black finish). Many pieces include added details like leather pouches, drum beaters, feathers, wood, cloth, or miniature figures (e.g., baby turtles or other animals) to create narrative scenes. Common themes include bears playing drums or flutes, holding bows, gathering wood, or in ceremonial\/dancer poses (like Eagle Dancer Bears).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47772537290917,"sku":"22-0306","price":445.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0306_2.jpg?v=1777525149"},{"product_id":"choctaw-pueblo-black-bear-pottery-by-randy-chitto-4","title":"Choctaw Pueblo Black Bear Pottery By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3.875\" H x 4.75\" L x 2.5\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built Black Bear with Hide Leather Pack with Strap on His Back with a Wood Spear\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eRandy Chitto was Born in 1962 on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Chitto later moved to Chicago. He initially focused on painting but discovered clay while studying at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is best known for his hand-built ceramic storyteller figures, especially bears and turtles, which often incorporate Choctaw cultural elements and storytelling traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis works frequently feature black-fired clay (often with two firings for a deep, rich black finish). Many pieces include added details like leather pouches, drum beaters, feathers, wood, cloth, or miniature figures (e.g., baby turtles or other animals) to create narrative scenes. Common themes include bears playing drums or flutes, holding bows, gathering wood, or in ceremonial\/dancer poses (like Eagle Dancer Bears).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47772539617445,"sku":"22-0307","price":505.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0307_3.jpg?v=1777525736"},{"product_id":"choctaw-pueblo-black-bear-pottery-by-randy-chitto-5","title":"Choctaw Pueblo Black Bear Pottery By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3.375\" H x 4.25\" L x 2.375\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built Black Bear with Hide Leather Pack with Strap and Wood Spear Tied to His Back with Three White Feathers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eRandy Chitto was Born in 1962 on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Chitto later moved to Chicago. He initially focused on painting but discovered clay while studying at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is best known for his hand-built ceramic storyteller figures, especially bears and turtles, which often incorporate Choctaw cultural elements and storytelling traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis works frequently feature black-fired clay (often with two firings for a deep, rich black finish). Many pieces include added details like leather pouches, drum beaters, feathers, wood, cloth, or miniature figures (e.g., baby turtles or other animals) to create narrative scenes. Common themes include bears playing drums or flutes, holding bows, gathering wood, or in ceremonial\/dancer poses (like Eagle Dancer Bears).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47772546236581,"sku":"22-0308","price":445.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0308_3.jpg?v=1777526070"},{"product_id":"choctaw-pueblo-black-bear-pottery-by-randy-chitto-6","title":"Choctaw Pueblo Black Bear Pottery By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7\" H x 6\" L x 6.125\" W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built Black Bear with Hide Leather Strap and and Black Pottery Bowl Filled with Four Fish and the Bear is Holding One Fish\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition with a Chip in the Fish the Bear is Holding and One of the Fish in the Bowl has Chips\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eRandy Chitto was Born in 1962 on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Chitto later moved to Chicago. He initially focused on painting but discovered clay while studying at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is best known for his hand-built ceramic storyteller figures, especially bears and turtles, which often incorporate Choctaw cultural elements and storytelling traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis works frequently feature black-fired clay (often with two firings for a deep, rich black finish). Many pieces include added details like leather pouches, drum beaters, feathers, wood, cloth, or miniature figures (e.g., baby turtles or other animals) to create narrative scenes. Common themes include bears playing drums or flutes, holding bows, gathering wood, or in ceremonial\/dancer poses (like Eagle Dancer Bears).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47783781662885,"sku":"22-0346","price":825.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0346_2.jpg?v=1777653683"},{"product_id":"choctaw-pueblo-black-bear-pottery-by-randy-chitto-7","title":"Choctaw Pueblo Black Bear Pottery By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4\" H x 3.125\" L x 2.625\" W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built Black Bear Playing a Wood Flute and Holding a Turtle \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eRandy Chitto was Born in 1962 on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Chitto later moved to Chicago. He initially focused on painting but discovered clay while studying at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is best known for his hand-built ceramic storyteller figures, especially bears and turtles, which often incorporate Choctaw cultural elements and storytelling traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis works frequently feature black-fired clay (often with two firings for a deep, rich black finish). Many pieces include added details like leather pouches, drum beaters, feathers, wood, cloth, or miniature figures (e.g., baby turtles or other animals) to create narrative scenes. Common themes include bears playing drums or flutes, holding bows, gathering wood, or in ceremonial\/dancer poses (like Eagle Dancer Bears).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47786677960869,"sku":"22-0935","price":520.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0935_1_66e9ea7e-169d-4153-bec8-a7b2813b69c7.jpg?v=1777677158"},{"product_id":"choctaw-pueblo-black-bear-pottery-by-randy-chitto-8","title":"Choctaw Pueblo Black Bear Pottery By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.5\" H x 2.125\" L x 1.625\" W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built Black Baby Bear with His Mouth Open and His Paws Together\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eRandy Chitto was Born in 1962 on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Chitto later moved to Chicago. He initially focused on painting but discovered clay while studying at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is best known for his hand-built ceramic storyteller figures, especially bears and turtles, which often incorporate Choctaw cultural elements and storytelling traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis works frequently feature black-fired clay (often with two firings for a deep, rich black finish). Many pieces include added details like leather pouches, drum beaters, feathers, wood, cloth, or miniature figures (e.g., baby turtles or other animals) to create narrative scenes. Common themes include bears playing drums or flutes, holding bows, gathering wood, or in ceremonial\/dancer poses (like Eagle Dancer Bears).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47786747527333,"sku":"22-0937","price":330.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0937_3.jpg?v=1777677566"},{"product_id":"choctaw-pueblo-black-bear-pottery-by-randy-chitto-10","title":"Choctaw Pueblo Black Bear Pottery By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5.5\" H x 8.25\" L x 4.5\" W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built Medium Black Bear with Hide Leather Strap and Pouch with Painted Turtle Motif on Pouch with Feathers and Arrows\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eRandy Chitto was Born in 1962 on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Chitto later moved to Chicago. He initially focused on painting but discovered clay while studying at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is best known for his hand-built ceramic storyteller figures, especially bears and turtles, which often incorporate Choctaw cultural elements and storytelling traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis works frequently feature black-fired clay (often with two firings for a deep, rich black finish). Many pieces include added details like leather pouches, drum beaters, feathers, wood, cloth, or miniature figures (e.g., baby turtles or other animals) to create narrative scenes. Common themes include bears playing drums or flutes, holding bows, gathering wood, or in ceremonial\/dancer poses (like Eagle Dancer Bears).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47786869948581,"sku":"22-0940","price":610.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0940_5.jpg?v=1777678731"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-angel-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto","title":"Choctaw Black Angel Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4.125\" H x 3.875\" L x 2.5\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built Angel Figure from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness with Feathers, Leather Sack Leather and Hair Headdress and a Spear\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47929995034789,"sku":"22-0427","price":385.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0427_3_16736822-2065-4626-8250-2e4385c67a0c.jpg?v=1781817920"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-bear-pottery-by-randy-chitto","title":"Choctaw Black Bear Pottery By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e7.25\" H  x 6.75\" L x 5.5\" W with a side hide bag \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness of a Black Bear with Hide Bag and Holding Two Flute Sticks\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eIn Very Good Condition and has glue marks on his paw and hand to attach the sticks\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47931304181925,"sku":"22-0936","price":615.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0936_4.jpg?v=1781881377"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-with-horns-storyteller-by-randy-chitto","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle with Horns Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7.25\" H x 6\" L x 6.375\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness of a Turtle Holding a Spear and Has a Hide Bag with Feathers\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47941460426917,"sku":"22-0121","price":615.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0121_1.jpg?v=1782229441"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto-7","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4.375\" H x 3.375\" L x 3\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness of a Turtle Wearing Mask with a Headdress, Hide Leather Accessories and Holding a Carved Wood Horse\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47954106712229,"sku":"22-0428","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0428_2.jpg?v=1782756067"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto-8","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8.25\" H x 6.625\" L x 7.25\" W Including Feathers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness of an Angel with Feather Adorned with Leather, White Oblong Shells Chest Plate, Leather Sack, Hair, Leather Headdress, Leather with 12 White Feathers Wing Decor\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition with a Broken Piece \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47984647995557,"sku":"22-0030","price":715.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0030_2.jpg?v=1783349586"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto-9","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach Turtle is 2.5\" H - Stand is Oval - 2.625\" H x 10.125\" L x 5.875\" W - 3\" x 10.5\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness of 4 Turtles on a Leather Rug with each Turtle Holding a Wood Stick with Featers and a Drum and Drum Stick and a Long Stick with a Star at the End and is Black on the Bottom\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition with 2 Turtles needing to be Re-glued onto Stand\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47984669819045,"sku":"22-0055","price":655.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0055_4.jpg?v=1783350628"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto-10","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10.625\" H x 9.5\" L x 9.625\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness Turtle Holding a Pink Horse Wrapped in Leather, Hand Drum, White Oblong Shell Chest Plate, Red and Yellow Painted Design on Sides and 2 Red Lines under Eyes, a Headdress Made from Hair, Leather and Feathers and a Back Leather Decor with Bell and 6 Large Feathers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition with the Horse in Right Hand is Broken and Held Together with Hide Leather Wrapping\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47984686268581,"sku":"22-0118","price":1170.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0118_2.jpg?v=1783351437"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto-11","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10.5\" H x 8.625\" L x 6.75\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness Black Turtle Statue with Hide Leather, Feathers, Blue and Red Felt Cloth, White Oblong Shell Chest Plate, Hair Headdress and Felt Back Decor with Feathers and Holding a Felt, Feathers and Wood Stick\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47984715038885,"sku":"22-0120","price":1170.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0120_2.jpg?v=1783352024"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-bear-storyteller-by-randy-chitto","title":"Choctaw Black Bear Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7.25\" H  x 6.75\" L x 5\" W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness of a Medium Bear with Hide Leather Bag and a Wood and Leather Drum and Wood Drum Stick with a Leather End\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47984806166693,"sku":"22-0942","price":715.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0942_3.jpg?v=1783352880"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-with-5-turtles-storyteller-by-randy-chitto","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle with 5 Turtles Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10.125\" H x 8.75\" L x 6.75\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness of a Black Turtle with a Bear Skin on and 5 Baby Turtles Climbing on Him\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47984816029861,"sku":"22-0943","price":1070.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0943_2.jpg?v=1783353279"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-nativity-scene-by-randy-chitto","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller Nativity Scene By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2\" H x 7.75\" D\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness Round Plate Nativity Scene with 6 Turtles, 1 Baby Jesus Turtle in a Wood and Leather Manger, Leather Flooring, a Donkey with Hair, a Cow and 2 Turquoise Stones as a Gift Presented in a Dish \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47984867672229,"sku":"22-0951","price":1015.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0951_1.jpg?v=1783353671"},{"product_id":"choctaw-5-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto","title":"Choctaw 5 Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.625\" H x 8.375\" L x 5.5\" W \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness on an Oval Red Clay Pottery Stand with 5 Turtles, a Leather Sack, 2 Drums with Drum Sticks with Feathers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition with 3 Turtles Broken off Base\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. Chitto incorporates this by hand-building each piece from clay sourced near his studio, firing them to achieve a high sheen, and adding details like tiny medicine pouches filled with broken pottery shards (symbolizing ancestral earth carried by warriors).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47984898080933,"sku":"22-0952","price":720.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/22-0952_2.jpg?v=1783354456"},{"product_id":"choctaw-black-turtle-storyteller-by-randy-chitto-12","title":"Choctaw Black Turtle Storyteller By Randy Chitto","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th\/Early 21st Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7.5\" H x 6.375\" L x 5.25\" W\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand Built from Natural Clay and Pit Fired for a Matte to Glossy Black Finish and Wet Sanded for Smoothness Bear with 2 Baby Bears Climbing on Him with a Leather Pouch \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRandy (Randall) Chitto (born 1962) was born on the Choctaw Reservation in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His family relocated to Chicago under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, where he initially pursued baseball before discovering art through a family friend's sketches. A missed scholarship led him to the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1980s, where a clay class ignited his passion for ceramics. Since graduating, Chitto has focused on clay sculpture, blending Choctaw storytelling with Southwestern techniques. His cheerful, animated figures have earned him awards like the Southwest Indian Art Association Fellowship and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Heritage Award. His works are held in major collections, including the Heard Museum (Phoenix), Denver Art Museum, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChitto's turtles draw directly from Choctaw lore, particularly the story of the Trail of Tears and forced relocation in the 1830s. According to the legend, as the Choctaw people were displaced from their Mississippi homeland to Oklahoma, medicine elders entrusted sacred stories to three animals—the bear, raccoon, and turtle—to safeguard them until the people could return. The turtle, with its protective shell, embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of the nation. 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