"Driving through Oklahoma, I saw as many political signs for folks running for chief as for city council member. Oklahoma doesn't call itself Native America for nothing. American Indians account for more than 8 percent of the state's population, and tribal land trusts embrace most of the state.

Partly because I have a dash of Cherokee blood myself, I set out on a weekend road trip to explore the state's tribal tourism. I found a wealth of art, cultural attractions and, of course, casinos. The state has more than 70 tribal casinos, and I couldn't play every one any more than I could explore each of Oklahoma's 37 federally recognized tribes' cultural offerings.

I decided to focus on the Five Civilized Tribes, so called because in the 1800s, they adopted Western ways, such as farming and living in houses. These are the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek (Muscogee), Cherokee and Seminole tribes.

As my husband and I drove across the Red River on U.S. 75, we found ourselves entering the Chickasaw Nation, then on into Choctaw country."

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A tribal tour of Oklahoma: culture and casinos (The Austin American-Statesman 10/1)