Choctaw Days in Nation's Capitol
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Paying respect, Labor Day and much, Festival much more at information Choctaw Days Jones Academy Throughout Page 8 Pages 12-13 this edition 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 July 2012 Issue Choctaw Nation: LISA REED Choctaw Days in Nation’s Capitol Council holds Military Stickball June session The Choctaw Nation Tribal team takes Council met in regular session honored June 9 at Tvshka Homma. In the meeting the Choctaw at second top prize Nation Boys and Girls Club By SHELLEY GARNER application for a grant was dis- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma cussed, this year marking its annual event 15th anniversary, having 580 By LISA REED Team Tvshka Homma, the members at the Broken Bow Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s location. The organization con- official stickball team, captured ducts several programs, includ- Choctaw Days in Washington, the first place trophy at the First ing drug eliminations programs D.C., opened on the first day of sum- Annual Chikasha Stickball and diabetes awareness. The mer with the multi-colored lights of Tournament on May 19. The program promotes academic Choctaw Nation: JUDY ALLEN prisms dancing on a celebration of tournament was hosted by the success, good character, good Choctaw culture. Assistant Chief Gary Batton, right, and Councilman Thomas Willis- Chickasaw Nation at their cer- citizenship and healthy life- The sun’s rays burst through ton, center, place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during emonial grounds in Kullihoma, styles. the unique windows of the Smith- a ceremony June 21 at Arlington National Cemetery. Okla. Team Tvshka Homma, The Summer Youth Program sonian’s National Museum of the team Okla Hannali (community has grown since last year, gain- American Indian (NMAI), adding playing the centuries-old game. Choctaw team), and team Chika- ing 200 more participants. Stu- zx See event photos on Pages 12-13 their rainbows to the vibrant colors Inside the museum, displays also sha To’li (Chickasaw Nation) dents are allowed to work five of traditional Choctaw clothing and held information on the Choctaw competed. weeks, 40 hours per week, and jewelry. Dancers filled the circle and Cemetery, the Congressional Cem- Code Talkers and each of the fea- Jeremy Wallace, Chikasha Ka- the program houses 40 coun- performances ranged from singing etery and the war memorials. tured artists – Jane Semple Umsted, putcha To’li’ Coach, presented selors to aid participants. This to flute playing during the four days Stickball exhibitions were held D.G. Smalling, Paul Hacker and the trophy to Josh Riley, represen- program, directed by Angela of the festival, June 20-23. near the reflecting pool by the U.S. Theresa Morris – created new works tative of team Tvshka Homma, at Dancer, exists to enhance the The ceremonies didn’t stay within Capitol building. Visitors to this na- honoring veterans. Smalling, the the Jim Thorpe Native Games on lives of all members and help the walls of the NMAI. As part of tional landmark were drawn by the great-grandson of Code Talker Cal- June 10. Teams Okla Hannali and them grow proud, strong and this year’s focus on Choctaw mili- sound of the drums and whoops of vin Wilson, gave a presentation on Chikasha To’li took second and independent. tary history, delegations traveled to the players. They were thrilled to the Choctaw Code Talkers daily in third places respectively. Selected Council members approved honor veterans at Arlington National watch the Choctaw men and women See CHOCTAW DAYS Page 12 members from all teams partici- the following items on the agen- pated in the Jim Thorpe Native da, among several other issues: Games in Oklahoma City on June • Grant program budget al- 15 and 16. lotted by the U.S. Department Choctaw stickball was recently of Justice Office on Violence Tribal newspaper recipient of featured as integral part of Choc- Against Women Legal Assis- taw Days at the Smithsonian’s tance for Victims Grant Pro- BISKINIK eight Oklahoma Press Association National Museum of the Ameri- gram (Choctaw Legal Assis- can Indian in Washington, D.C., tance for Victims). Better Newspaper Contest awards honored on June 21 and 22. Several mem- • Grant program budget allot- bers of team Tvshka Homma, ted by the U.S. Department of as well as other Choctaw tribal See COUNCIL Page 2 By LISA REED Award, 120 first sues are presented members, participated in exhibi- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma place plaques to keep readers tion games at the Reflecting Pool u What’s inside were presented up-to-date. Other on the National Capitol grounds The Choctaw Nation of Okla- during the ban- awards included to demonstrate the basics of play Columns ............................................. 2 homa’s newspaper, Biskinik, has quet and news- two third places – and educate about the long-stand- Notes to the Nation ............................. 3 joined the ranks of other outstanding papers receiving News Writing and ing tradition of stickball. Team Nursery News ..................................... 4 tribal programs and ventures and has second, third Sales Promotion. Tvshka Homma’s next competi- Food Distribution ................................ 4 been recognized for its efforts with or fourth place The Biskinik en- People You Know ............................... 6 tive game was at the World Series Education ............................................ 9 eight awards from the Oklahoma received certifi- tered its pages of of Stickball hosted by the Missis- Iti Fabvssa ........................................ 10 Press Association Better Newspaper cates. Labor Day infor- sippi Band of Choctaw Indians in Obituaries ..........................................11 Contest. The Biskinik competed in Di- mation and brochure in the Sales Philadelphia, Miss., on July 7. OPA held an awards presentation vision 8, which is for Sustaining Promotion event. The Biskinik also To learn more about stickball, The Mission program June 8 at the Reed Center Memberships. First place awards placed fourth in Sports Coverage visit the Choctaw Nation of Okla- of the Choctaw in Midwest City as part of its three- were received for In-Depth Enter- for stickball and Labor Day tour- homa Cultural Services Division day annual convention. The contest prise, a continuing series of history/ naments, Advertising and Personal Nation of Oklahoma website at www.choctawnation- drew 937 entries from 98 newspa- culture columns provided by the Columns by Chief Gregory E. Pyle culture.com. To enhance the lives of all mem- pers and was judged by members Choctaw Nation Cultural Services and Assistant Chief Gary Batton. bers through opportunities designed of the Nevada Press Association. department; Editorial Comment; The Choctaw Nation’s newspaper to develop healthy, successful and The top winners in each of the 10 and Community Leadership for the is mailed to more than 80,000 tribal zx See photos from Cultural Service’s productive lifestyles. recent Stickball Camp on Page 10 divisions took home the Sequoyah informative manner water rights is- See BISKINIK Page 5 BISKINIK | July 2012 | Page 2 Getting ready for Labor Day Festival Combined efforts have extraordinary results From the Desk of Chief Gregory E. Pyle The summer days are passing quickly which means our La- bor Day Festival is just around the corner. The festival has grown tremendously over the years and is now one of the larg- est events in the area. Drawing thousands of visitors a day, the festival has a major economic impact on nearby towns where most business owners spend months preparing for the increase in customers. The revenue earned during this time is a sig- nificant amount of many local businesses’ income for the year. Our staff has also been busy ordering supplies and making plans for the five days at Tvshka Homma. Crews have visited the Capitol grounds and started getting their areas ready. The behind-the-scenes preparation, coordination and just plain el- bow grease aren’t always evident to those who are enjoying the judges. what the festival has to offer. It takes tremendous teamwork The pageant is just one of several opportunities to enjoy our and I’ve witnessed the extraordinary results of their efforts heritage and culture. The Choctaw Village, open Saturday and year after year. Sunday during the festival, is a great place to learn about how only an example of our own cultural reawakening, it has The Princess Pageant on the festival’s opening night is a the early Choctaws lived, the housing, food, clothing, pottery, strengthened our bond with other tribes. very fitting start to the holiday weekend. The young ladies baskets, arrowheads and everyday tools. Among the many ac- The round of stickball games will begin Friday night along have traveled from every district in our 10 ½ counties to tivities in the circle are social dancing, games and storytelling. with the annual Inter-Tribal Pow Wow on the Capitol lawn, the compete for the titles of Sr. Miss, Jr. Miss and Little Miss. New, permanent lights have been erected on the stickball first games of fast pitch at the softball field, and the first of a They exemplify the Choctaw Nation. They walk onstage with field, ready for our second annual tournament. The Tvshka great lineup of entertainers in the amphitheater. such poise, wearing traditional dresses and jewelry, carrying Homma team recently won first place in a tournament hosted The Assistant Chief, Tribal Council and I hope you are able shawls, baskets or fans, all often made by family members in by the Chickasaw Nation and will participate in its third World to attend this year’s festival with your family. There really the audience. Each of the young ladies is a beautiful, dignified Series of Stickball in Philadelphia, Miss., this month.