Outreach Labor Day Continuing publication at the information, of recorded interviews of Beach entertainers Choctaw elders from 2007 and schedules throughout This month – Sarah Belvin Page 8 paper Page 9 BISKINIK CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED PRESORT STD P.O. Box 1210 AUTO Durant OK 74702 U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHOCTAW NATION BISKINIKThe Official Publication of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma August 2011 Issue Serving 208,150 Choctaws Worldwide Choctaws ... growing with pride, hope and success Game is bridging the gap Choctaw Nation: LISA REED Chief Pyle, center, and the 2011 OK Choctaws stickball team are fired up about playing in Mississippi. Sport of stickball bringing together tribes, communities By LISA REED The score at the end of the first hard-fought quarter Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma of the late-night game was in favor of Nukoachi, 4 to 2. The OK Choctaws dominated the entire second and Tournament Thomas Williston Tony Messenger The centuries-old game of stickball has always been third quarters, tying it 4-4 and holding Nukoachi score- District 1 District 2 the Choctaw national sport. Once used to settle disputes, less. The Mississippi team caught the Oklahoma team to be held at it is played today strictly as a sport and is fast growing off guard in the last quarter, overloading their defense to in popularity. All ages are picking up sticks to play the stop the OK Choctaws’ control of the game. Nukoachi annual Labor game of their ancestors. scored 2 more points, winning the game 6-4. Last year, the OK Choctaws team played in its first The game is very physical and very fast-paced. Few World Series of Stickball in Philadelphia, Miss., with 35 fouls for roughness are called and an injury has to be Day festival players. This year, 63 men followed Chief Gregory E. pretty serious for the game to stop. There are not any The field is being prepared, Kenny Bryant Ron Perry District 3 District 5 Pyle onto the field July 8, ready to meet the opposition, pads or helmets in the game of stickball but players are coaches are gathering play- Nukoachi. The players, many with painted faces, raised banned from hitting each other with sticks, tripping or ers and fans are counting the their sticks in the air, yelling challenges and displaying pulling hair. Anyone on the sideline needs to stay there, days until the Choctaw Nation no fear of the more experienced team as the beat of the well out of the way both for safety and to not be a dis- of Oklahoma’s first stickball drums and shouts from the crowds added to the intensity. traction to the players who are giving everything they tournament. The two-day tour- Cultural Services Executive Director Sue Folsom have to win the game. nament will be held Sept. 2-3, explained, “It’s more of a sports game now and played The coaches made it a point to play every member during the tribe’s annual Labor Perry Thompson Bob Pate more for fun but we still take pride in the games and on the team – first-year players and veterans – to build Day Festival. Starting small District 8 District 11 want to win. I am extremely proud of how they played.” experience and confidence. with four teams, the Choctaw Election results Each team is comprised of 30 players on the field, nor- “We played tough and we earned the respect of the Nation expects the inter-tribal The general mally divided into 10 on defense, 10 on offense and 10 Mississippi Choctaw,” Folsom said. “I could hear peo- tournament to grow from year election held centers or “shooters.” After the opening ceremony, all ple in the stands cheering for our team, the Oklahoma to year. July 9 resulted but the 60 players leave the field and the game begins Choctaws. We are bridging the gap, re-establishing a When asked what the in a winner with four 15-minute quarters on the clock. It is usually relationship with the Mississippi Choctaw through the team is doing to get ready, of- emerging in played on a 100-yard football field with a tall pole (“fab- games and other cultural activities. We gain their trust fense coach Joey Tom said, District 11 and vssa”) set as a goal post on each end. See STICKBALL Page 11 See TOURNAMENT Page 11 run-off elections required for Dis- Chief tricts 2 and 5. Gregory E. Pyle The District 11 winner is incumbent Bob Tornado Relief Concert Pate, who received 67.58 per- cent of the votes in that district. BurnDue to theban ex- issuedNo nominated for award VH1 has announced nominees for The run-off election was held The last of the first treme drought in outdoor The 2011 Do Something Awards. July 30 for Districts 2 and 5. Original enrollee Oklahoma, Gov. fires Counting of absentee ballots Mary Fallin has is- allowed On this year’s list is the Tornado completed the voting on Aug. Georgia Mae Self sued a burn ban for at Relief Concert which was hosted at 3. In District 2, Tony Messen- dies at age 106 all counties. Cau- festival Choctaw Casino Resort and featured ger came out on top with 52.6 tion must be used with respect to Oklahoma natives Reba McEntire percent of the votes. Ronald By LISA REED the extreme fire danger and extra and Blake Shelton. Perry was declared the winner Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma precautionary measures must be Since 1996, DoSomething.org in District 5, with 60 percent of taken to prevent wildfires. has honored the nation’s best world- the votes. The Choctaw Nation sadly accept- Tom Lowery, Choctaw Nation’s changers. The Do Something Award Swearing-in will be held dur- director of Forestry and Firefight- is the premier national award for so- ing a ceremony on Labor Day ed the end of an era as the last of its ers, asks everyone to heed the at Tushka Homma for new four- Dawes Roll signees passed away June cial action. 27 in Antlers. Born Oct. 21, 1904, in advice of the Oklahoma Forestry Nominees and winners represent year terms for Gregory E. Pyle Photo provided as Chief and Council members Antlers, Georgia Mae Roebuck Self Services. “During the Labor Day the pivotal “do-ers” in their field, Messenger, Perry, Pate, Thomas was one of over 200,000 whose ap- Georgia Mae Self and Bertha Festival at Tushka Homma, cook- cause or issue. Williston, (District 1), Kenny plication was accepted for tribal en- Burgess at a family picnic at ing outdoors on campfires, char- Online voting, which was open coal or wood grills will not be Bryant (District 3) and Perry rollment between 1899 and March 4, Clayton. to the public through Aug. 14, de- allowed if we are still under the Thompson (District 8). 1906. termined the winners of the awards. burn ban,” he stressed. “Propane or “We are up against some stiff com- u What’s inside Georgia was among four remaining Choctaw original enrollees honored Coleman stoves are allowed.” petition,” said Janie Dillard, execu- by Gov. Brad Henry at an event held in 2008 in Oklahoma City. All cen- According to guidelines issued tive director of gaming for Choctaw Columns ............................................. 2 tenarians, there were also two from the Chickasaw Nation, one from the by the state forestry service on Notes to the Nation ............................. 3 Muscogee-Creek Nation and one from the Cherokee Nation. She, at 103, campfires and outdoor cooking, Casinos. “This is an opportunity for Nursery News ..................................... 4 and Ruby Lee Trammell Brewer, 102, were able to attend the celebration “Outdoor campfires or bonfires are us to keep the Atoka County devasta- Food Distribution ................................ 4 in Oklahoma City, accepting recognition for being among the state’s oldest prohibited. LPG and natural gas tion top of mind and continue offer- People You Know ............................... 6 ing support.” Education ............................................ 7 citizens as well as acknowledgement of the trying times they lived through grills and charcoal-fired cooking Held on May 25 and 26 at Choc- Iti Fabvssa .........................................11 during the period of statehood. Choctaw enrollees Dorothy Arnote West and outside in a grilling receptacle are Obituaries ......................................... 12 Irene Roberts Mills were also honored. permitted provided that the activity taw Casino Resort, the Tornado Re- “We were so happy to hold a special reception for the women during our is conducted over a nonflammable lief Concert was co-headlined by The Mission Labor Day Festival that same year,” Chief Gregory E. Pyle said. “Artist surface and at least five feet from Oklahoma natives Reba McEntire of the Choctaw Ruby Bolding had made sketches of Georgia, Dorothy, Ruby and Irene. We flammable vegetation. However, and Blake Shelton. The two sold-out any fire resulting from grilling or Nation of Oklahoma presented copies of the portraits to them and the originals hang in the Capitol shows raised $500,000 for victims of Museum.” the use of one of these cookers or tornadoes in Atoka County. To enhance the lives of all mem- Her pride in her heritage and of being a member of the Choctaw Nation stoves is still an illegal fire.” The Do Something Awards will be bers through opportunities designed For more information visit were excellent reasons to attend the special occasions, but there was another held at the Hollywood Palladium in to develop healthy, successful and http://forestry.publishpath.com/ motivation – she delighted in going anywhere. Los Angeles and premiere Aug. 18 productive lifestyles. burn-ban-information. See GEORGIA Page 5 at 8 p.m. CST on VH1.