Hugo Construction Complete
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The next several issues of the Biskinik will include recorded interviews of Choctaw elders from 2007. This month – Rebecca McDonald, Bill Coleman, Truman Heron and Ernest Hooser – Pages 9-13. 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 February 2011 Issue Serving 204,827 Choctaws Worldwide Choctaws ... growing with pride, hope and success Hugo construction complete Councilwoman remembered By DOUG RUSSELL News Editor, Stigler News Sentinel A Haskell County fixture has fad- ed, but her legacy is far from gone. Longtime Choctaw Nation Coun- cilwoman Charlotte Jackson died Jan. 18 at the age of 70, after a long illness and an even longer life of giving to and serving others. Choctaw Chief Gregory E. Pyle said, “Our flags fly at half-mast in remembrance of her, and our hearts are with her loving family. “Charlotte served on the Choc- A special ribboncutting ceremony is held Jan. 13 for the new Tribal Services facility and the new Wellness Center in Hugo. taw Council since 1991, and many times was a guiding compass set- ting the direction of the legislative THE CHOCTAW NATION body,” Pyle said. “I have personally counted on her advice often and ap- IN CHOCTAW COUNTY preciated her wisdom, as well as New centers open for business The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma her amazing sensibility and sense Tribal Services in Hugo have nev- is the largest employer in Choctaw of humor. er been easier for tribal members County with 574 employees in a variety of fields. “I have never met anyone like to access. A ribboncutting on Jan. Charlotte Jackson. We may fill her 13 marked the opening of the new # of seat at the table but she will never 24,300-sq.-ft. Tribal Services facil- Facility Employees be replaced. Her leadership and her ity and the new 10,000-sq.-ft. Well- n friendship will be eternally ness Center in Hugo. Gaming 310 n missed.” The two buildings were added Housing Authority 87 n Born Feb. 28, 1940, Jackson was near the Choctaw Community Cen- CMDC/Choctaw Defense 71 n always interested in helping others. ter, Head Start and Clinic in Hugo. Outreach Services 43 n That led to her becoming a licensed With new landscaping and a walk- Health Clinic 23 n practical nurse and, eventually, to a ing track around a picturesque pond Environment Health 19 n seat on the tribal council of the with a water fountain, the Tribal Head Start 11 n Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Services campus is a beautiful area Community Center 3 n “She was just one of those people off Hwy. 70 on the west side of the CNHSA Guest Services 2 n who always cared about others,” city. The Hugo Wellness Center is a state-of-the-art facility offers a vari- Career Development 2 n said Linda Colwell, a co-worker for The master plan is to eventually ety of equipment and workout areas as well as innovative exercise pro- Choctaw Archiving 2 n more than 20 years. “Until Char- See Ribboncuttings on Page 5 grams and wellness events. WIC 1 lotte came along, the Choctaws in this area really didn’t have or see much. We were kind of drifting. But she got in there and really worked hard. She worked with the chief and assistant chief and did what she could for, not just the CulbreathJoy Culbreath, Executive added Director of Education to for the Hall Eighteen years later, of she is the FameExecutive Director over all Ed- Choctaws, but for the entire com- Choctaw Nation, is one of an elite group to be named to the ucation programs for the Choctaw Nation, overseeing fourteen munity.” Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame. This honor goes to women programs and over 350 employees who serve thousands of “She will definitely be missed,” who are pioneers in their field, role models, and positive ex- Choctaw people. Some of her programs include: Jones Acad- said Marvin Ginn, a former mayor amples of the Oklahoma spirit. emy, Trio programs, early childhood services, high school and and current town council member Helping others improve their own lives has always been the college services, and the School of Choctaw Language. for Quinton. “She was a great lady. theme of Joy’s life. During the first stage of her professional Choctaw Chief Gregory E. Pyle gave Joy the task of building I can’t think of anyone who could career, she spent 27 years at Southeastern Oklahoma State a Language program for the Choctaw Nation. “Under Joy’s even come close to replacing her.” University working in Trio Programs to provide opportunities leadership, this program has grown to the point that Choctaw Not too many years ago many of for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. language is state certified and taught in public schools, on col- Quinton’s streets were dirt and After ‘retiring’ from the university, she began working (as lege campuses for credit, and on the Internet,” said Chief Pyle, gravel. The town simply couldn’t the sole employee) to build an Adult Education program for “saving this language from being lost to future generations.” JOY CULBREATH afford to pave them, but Jackson the Choctaw Nation. She expected it to take about three years. See Culbreath on Page 5 worked with fellow tribal council member Joe Coley – portions of the community were located in each of See Councilwoman on Page 5 u What’s inside Tribal Council holds January 2011 session Notes to the Nation ........................ 2 Language instructors receive certification Columns ........................................ 3 Presentation of teacher certificates by the Choctaw School of Language Nursery News ................................ 4 kicked off new business during the Choctaw Tribal Council’s regular session People You Know .......................... 6 Jan. 8 at Tushka Homma. Education ....................................... 7 Four new instructors have been added. Dayla Amos of Broken Bow, reign- Food Distribution ........................... 8 ing Miss Indian Oklahoma, was unable to attend the council meeting. Her Obituaries ............................... 14-15 father, Councilman Mike Amos, accepted the certificate for her. Yannash Iti Fabvssa ................................... 16 Ushi Scott of Madill will be holding classes in Madill. Carol Harris will be teaching at her home town of Spiro. Lucille Harjo of Tulsa will be teaching The Mission language classes in Claremore. of the Choctaw Community classes are currently being held in five states – Oklahoma, Tex- Nation of Oklahoma as, Kansas, California and Alaska. Fifteen new teachers were added in 2010. Several members of the Youth Advisory Board were in attendance, repre- To enhance the lives of all members senting chapters from Howe, Clayton, Heavener, Soper, McCurtain County Council Speaker Delton Cox, Councilman Mike Amos accepting cer- through opportunities designed to and Hugo. The YAB students are required to attend a tribal council meeting, tificate for daughter Dayla Amos, Yannash Ushi Scott, Carol Harris, As- develop healthy, successful and a school board meeting and a city council meeting every year. sistant Chief Gary Batton, Lucille Harjo, Councilman Joe Coley and productive lifestyles. See Council on Page 3 Roger Scott of the School of Language’s Community Program. February 2011, BISKINIK, Page 2 Okla Chahta Gathering to be held May 7 and 8 in Bakersfield The 16th Annual Okla This year’s hotel tions as well as taking pho- Chahta Gathering will be held tographs for the membership May 7-8 on Bakersfield Col- The Doubletree IDs. If applying for the Certifi- Pre-Register for the 16th Annual Gathering lege’s Practice Field in Ba- Bakersfield Hotel cate of Degree of Indian Blood Please pre-register for the FREE Saturday meal. kersfield, Calif. (CDIB), please bring the long- 3100 Camino Del Rio Court The two days are enjoyed form, state-issued birth certifi- Name _____________________________________________________________________ Bakersfield, CA 93308 by hundreds of Choctaws, cate from Sacramento. Please Address ___________________________________________________________________ 661-323-7111 family and friends who come do not bring one that has been City/State/Zip ______________________________________________________________ together to visit with other A block of rooms issued by a county courthouse. West Coast Choctaws and all has been reserved with The long-form, state-issued Phone # ___________________________________________________________________ who attend from Oklahoma. a special room rate. birth certificate is the one re- E-mail _______________________________________Are you a tribal member? ________ Chief Gregory E. Pyle, As- quired by the Bureau of Indian sistant Chief Gary Batton, corn. Affairs (BIA). – Camping on grounds of gathering – Councilmembers and Chap- The annual Okla Chahta Several other tribal pro- Sign up now – limited number of spaces – they go fast – request early for a space! lain Bertram Bobb are among Princess pageant will be held. grams will be set up with in- YOU MUST REGISTER & PAY IN ADVANCE the special guests. For more information on the formation to share with area If you cancel you must do so 2 weeks prior to get a refund so we can open to someone else. Choctaw author and story- pageant or if you would like Choctaws. I wish to register for camping: teller Tim Tingle will be on A wide array of items will to enter, please e-mail Vic- Name _____________________________________ E-mail__________________________ hand, a favorite of everyone at toria Harrison at princess- be for sale throughout the the gathering. [email protected] gathering. The Okla Chahta Address ____________________________________ Phone__________________________ Plans also include cultural Store will have this year’s T- or call 661-393-6552. It is a RV Camping (size and type) _______________ $10 – Friday or Saturday classes on basketmaking, shirt, books and other great time-honored tradition and a or $15 for Friday and Saturday.