Continuing publication Okla Chahta Senior of recorded interviews of Gathering in Citizens Choctaw elders from 2007 Bakersfield Day This month – Juanita West Noah Page 5 Page 14 and Ola Maye Billy Draper Page 15 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 June 2011 Issue Serving 206,710 Choctaws Worldwide Choctaws ... growing with pride, hope and success Choctaw Nation Color Guard leads Trail of Tears Walk the way at the an- nual commemorative Trail of Tears Walk on May 21. Hundreds of walkers of all ages gathered to pay trib- ute to the long, his- toric walk made by Choctaw Nation: LISA REED our ancestors more Chief Pyle than 180 years ago. This year’s walk be- unopposed three gan in Millerton and terms in a row ended at the historic Chief Gregory E. Pyle is un- Wheelock Academy. opposed in this year’s election, according to Choctaw Nation zx More Walk photos Election Board officials. This is on Page 12 the third term in a row that Chief Pyle has been the only one to file, Choctaw Nation: LISA REED something that has never hap- pened in the history of the Choc- taw Nation of Oklahoma. Also, unopposed in the 2011 Choctaw Defense awarded major U.S. Army contract election are Councilman Kenny Bryant, District 3; Councilman Tribe’s military manufacturer to design, build the Camel II water trailer in multi-year, multi-million dollar deal Perry Thompson, District 8; and By BRET MOSS are much more advanced to Benefield. Councilman Thomas Williston, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma than one would find in a Reasons for Amos holding Choc- District 1. local machine shop, and taw Defense in such regards might Several candidates have filed in The Choctaw Nation of Okla- the meticulous attention to include the remodeling of the trailer District 5, the seat to be filled after homa (CNO) excels in many facets detail that must be demon- for the Medium Tactical Vehicle Re- the death of Councilperson Char- of the business world. From gam- strated is of utmost prior- placement (MTVR). The MTVR, lotte Jackson in January. They ing and agriculture, to convenience ity in all facilities. which is manufactured by Oshkosh are Michael B. Jordan, Leland L. stations and medical facilities, CNO The employees and Defense, will go at impressive speeds Sockey, Carolyn Thompson Har- has made great strides becoming a equipment of such an op- over the roughest of terrain. ris, Ronald Perry, Norma Nunn major name in many areas. eration must produce such Some time ago, Choctaw Defense Anderson and Louisa Terrell Gon- Over the past decade, the Choc- products that are of much was asked to create a trailer that zalez. taw Nation has become a well- higher standards and strict would be able to keep up with such a Five have filed in District 2: known name in the field of military specification than com- vehicle. Once the trailer was designed Incumbent Mike Amos, Ivan Bat- manufacturing. Choctaw Defense, Image provided mercial grade manufac- and several were produced, a decision tiest, Jeffery Jefferson, Tony Mes- with locations in McAlester, Hugo turing. Every single detail was made that required the trailer to Computer generated concept image of the senger and Austin Battiest. and Antlers, constantly churns out must be given close atten- meet new, even more impressive mobile Camel II potable water trailer sys- Incumbent Bob Pate and Daniel necessary military equipment for the tion and documented. Not specifications. tem. E. McFarland have filed for the support of America’s armed forces. one aspect, even the de- The team at Choctaw Defense has District 11 seat. The name of Choctaw Defense not only be charged with making the sign of the seemingly random cam- reworked the design to create a new Election day is July 9. Polls will is well respected and trusted in the parts and assembling them, they will ouflage paint, escapes the inspection trailer, one that is 20 percent lighter be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. business of military manufacturing, also produce the design from the of the facility. with increased capabilities. The al- District 2 voting precincts are with a newly acquired three-year, ground up. In a walk-through of the McAles- ready produced units will be retrofit- the Choctaw Community Center, $20 million contract proving the In a performance standard con- ter facility one would find a clean, ted with the new materials to meet Broken Bow, and the Choctaw point. tract, the military provides a set list efficient operation with employees the upgraded specification and Choc- Community Center, Bethel. The U.S. Army has just recently of capabilities the finished product diligently completing their assigned taw Defense will deliver the finished District 5 voting precincts are awarded Choctaw Defense the per- must have, and the designers and en- tasks. “It is one big orchestra,” men- product seamlessly. the Choctaw Community Center, formance standard contract to design gineers must create a working prod- tions CEO Steve Benefield. It was a game-changing decision Stigler; the Kinta Community and manufacture the Camel II po- uct to those specifications. Choctaw The product of such an orchestra that posed a problem, but the person- Center, Kinta; the County Barn, table water trailer system. This will Defense has a team of about a dozen is a considerable amount of new nel at Choctaw Defense were capable Keota, and the Choctaw Commu- be a highly mobile water trailer that designers, mechanical engineers and business and recognition from high of providing a solution for such a nity Center, Spiro. will provide troops, no matter the lo- computer design engineers to com- places in the military. The current problem, and these kinds of capabili- District 11 voting precincts in- cation and atmosphere in which they plete such a task. commandant of the U.S. Marine ties are the reasons they earn awards clude the Choctaw Nation Health are located, clean and temperature With about 230 employees in Corps., Gen. James Amos, recent- and commendations. “This is the most Center, McAlester; City Hall, controlled drinking water within 10 all three manufacturing locations, ly commended Choctaw Defense capable trailer across all the military,” Hartshorne, and Kiowa High degrees of a set standard. Choctaw Defense also has enough publicly by stating how Choctaw stated Benefield as he reflected on the School, Kiowa. The fact that this contract is a manpower to turn the design to a Defense partners with the Marines product of the company. Runoff elections, if needed, will “performance standard” contract real working product. The capabili- in meeting it’s changing goals are, Currently, Choctaw Defense can be July 30. means that Choctaw Defense will ties and equipment of the facilities “how it should be done,” according See DEFENSE Page 10 u What’s inside Notes to the Nation ........................ 2 Columns ........................................ 3 Tribal Council Nursery News ................................ 4 Food Distribution ........................... 4 meets in regular People You Know .......................... 6 Education .................................... 8-9 May session Obituaries ............................... 16-17 The Choctaw Nation Trib- Iti Fabvssa ................................... 18 al Council met in regular session on May 14 at Tushka The Mission Homma. Councilmembers addressed several items of of the Choctaw new business, approving Nation of Oklahoma Council Bills: • to dispose of surplus To enhance the lives of Choctaw Nation: LARISSA COPELAND equipment; all members through oppor- • to donate a 1986 Ford tunities designed to develop Econoline ambulance to the healthy, successful and pro- Recycle Center holds official ribbon-cutting City of Hartshorne; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma held a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 17 for its recently opened Recycling ductive lifestyles. • to apply for grant con- Center in Durant. The 30,350-sq.-ft. facility on 3108 Enterprise Dr. is another example of partnering with city, county, tinuation for Tribal Victim state and federal officials. The recycling center has collected more than 100 tons of recyclable material since opening in December, including more than 14 tons in last month alone. The BISKINIK Assisance, and • to modify the 20-year, The facility receives newspaper, office paper, shredded paper, magazines, catalogs, plastics #1, 2 and 5, aluminum cans, is printed on long-range transportation steel cans, cell phones, printer cartridges, batteries, e-waste, and cardboard for recycling. recycled paper. plan. The center is open to the public for dropping off items from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. June 2011, BISKINIK, Page 2 Events NOTES TO THE NATION Rosenthal reunion A Rosenthal family reunion will be held at Hugo Lake on Thank you June 18. A potluck luncheon is being planned for that day at I would like to express my thanks and gratitude for the as- 12:30 p.m. for a reunion of the Rosenthal and related fami- sistance that I was provided by the Choctaw Nation during lies as well as to honor the recent passing of Mary Rosenthal my learning process at Tulsa Welding School. I attended this Durham on April 18 in Mt. Juliet, Tenn. A separate memorial school for eight months, and during that time I learned various service for our mother will be held the same day as the re- welding skills. If it weren’t for Choctaw Nation, I would not union at 10 a.m. at the Rattan Cemetery and all are welcome have been able to have that opportunity. to attend. Following the memorial service the Durham, New- I graduated April 5, 2011, and I’m currently looking for a land and Perry families would like to welcome all Rosenthal full-time welding job.