Where Does Your Trash Go?
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WHERE DOES YOUR TRASH GO? March 2019 Issue Recycling Center Reaches 20 Million Pound Milestone by APRYL MOCK came from antlers, and portance of recycling. He use the recycling bins rattlers were made from said, “It’s the right thing instead of the trash when hoofs. Deerskin made to do. It helps preserve our applicable. Please do not Every piece of waste breechcloths and shirts Mother Earth and protect throw your food waste in has an impact on our for the man and cloaks for the resources used.” them. The Life Cycle of planet. The Choctaw Na- the women.” According to Lilley, the When janitorial staff a Water Bottle tion Going Green Team, Our ancestors under- recycling centers have come by, don’t have them which operates under the stood that each resource increased their monthly empty your waste basket Natural Resources Divi- was a gift. output thanks to a new until it is full, or instead sion, is doing their part to In today’s world, it is sort line and auto tie baler. of requesting a new trash preserve earth. easy to become compla- “That has really helped can liner, simply pour the As of Jan. 31, the Du- cent when it comes to the efficiency of the recy- trash over into their bin. rant and Poteau Recycling honoring what we’ve been cling department,” Lilley You can reduce your Centers have processed given. said. waste by purchasing a wa- a staggering 20,548,832 Fast food restaurants One of the biggest ter filter, drinking from a pounds of recycling. churn out plastic straws, problems affecting the re- reusable bottle or purchas- Reducing waste has paper bags, cups and cycling facilities is receiv- ing a reusable straw. A B C always been a part of cardboard boxes by the ing items that cannot be It may not feel like Chahta culture. millions and when you’re handled at our facility and much, but every little bit In the book, “Chahta! a busy person, it’s easy to contaminated items. helps keep garbage out of Remembering Our Roots,” just throw those things in While plastic and metal the ecosystem and out of Juanita Jefferson recounts the trash. can be rinsed out and our wildlife. Making small what our ancestors did The Going Green Team processed, paper products changes can make a big with animals following a is attempting to combat soiled by food waste can- difference. hunt. this problem by providing not and neither can your For any questions, “The kill not only 133 recycling bins across food. comments or concerns A provided food but clothing the 10 ½ counties. To find If you would like to as- regarding recycling with Bottle “A” goes to a sewn with strings from a bin near you, contact sist the Choctaw Nation’s the Choctaw Nation, you landfill where rain sinews. Needles and tools Jason Lilley, Recycling recycling endeavors, there may contact the Durant water leeches harm- were made from bone and Manager of the Choctaw are many small things you Recycling Center at (580) ful compounds out of horns. Glue, arrow tips Nation at (580) 920-0488 can do to help. While at 920-0488 or the Poteau the bottle and into the and flint making tools Lilley stresses the im- work in the headquarters, Center at (918) 649-0343. groundwater. It will not degrade for 1,000 years. The Last Straw B Lately there has been a lot of con- single day and it is estimated as many Bottle “B” ends up in troversy surrounding plastic straws. as 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the ocean. Currents While straws may seem like a very the world’s oceans. pull it into the “Great minor thing, they are wreaking havoc Because of their size, they often Pacific Garbage Patch” on wildlife. slip through the cracks at recycling (a section of the ocean If you haven’t seen the YouTube sorting facilities. Not to mention they filled with non-biodegradable gar- video of a sea turtle having a straw are made of Polypropylene, which bage.) Animals mistake the colorful removed from his nostril, it might requires an incredible amount of plastic for food. This makes them feel The Choctaw Nation just make you swear off straws alto- energy to extract and refine. full when they aren’t and they starve recycling center accepts gether. (The video is graphic, viewer If you would like to cut down on to death. three types of plastic re- discretion is advised.) plastic waste and help out some sea cyclables. Types 1, 2 and According to National Geographic, turtles, www.thefinalstraw.com offers 5 are welcome, but types C 500 million straws are used every a nifty reusable metal straw. 3, 4, 6 and 7 cannot be Bottle “C” will be made in recycled at our facility. to clothing, carpet, sleep- Plastic straws are just the Foldable To make sure you’re re- ing bags and much more. right size to get lodged in the Straw cycling the proper plas- Bottle caps are made in Drying nose of a sea turtle or the Rack tic, check your waste for to rakes, yarn, ropes, etc. Carrying throats of other marine life. Case the symbol above. The sky is the limit when Save a sea turtle by checking Cleaning Squeegee One common item you recycle! out www.thefinalstraw.com which is unrecyclable and getting your very own at our facilities is chip reusable straw. bags. Visit www.ter- It arrives in a handy case racycle.com to recycle that fits on a key ring and your chip bags for free. comes with a drying rack and cleaning squeegee. Chahta Ohoyo Celebrated During Women’s History Month March is Na- tional Women’s History Month in America. The Choctaw Nation has a rich history, filled with powerful Chahta ohoyos, who have helped shape the Choctaw Nation into what it is today. Throughout our his- tory, the Choctaw people have held women in high regard. They were recog- nized as givers and sup- porters of life. One of the most sacred places FFC 2 for early Choctaws is named nvnih waiya, Chief Gary Batton the Mother Mound. The site plays a central role in the origin story of the Choctaw tribe and is referred to as the heart of the Choctaw people. For many of us, our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers played Photo By Deidre Elrod an integral part in keeping our families together and traditions alive. We look Melissa Bohannan has been the pillar of her family for generations. In Chahta culture, women back fondly on time we spent with them, and are thankful for the lessons and are held in high regard and are recognized as the givers and supporters of life. March is National love they bestowed upon us. I lost my mother in May of last year and she had Women’s history month. We honor our Chahta ohoyo past and present, who are representing the a huge impact on my life and who I have become. I want to say yakoke to all of Nation proudly and keeping our traditions alive. the mothers who sacrificed so much to give us love, life and shelter. Historically, Choctaw women have held positions of great respect and power. Traditional Choctaw society was a matriarchal one. Women owned property, as- was recently awarded the Dennis Hemphill Hustle Award and Scholarship for sisted in harvest and produced the majority of the food for their families. They her hard work on the basketball court and in the classroom. Chahta Sisters accompanied men on diplomatic missions and served as motivators for their Harley and Charlotte Hopper and their Walden Grove High School dance team communities. Today, Choctaw women are still serving as leaders and motiva- recently went viral for their Harry Potter dance. They’ve made appearances tors for our tribe. The Choctaw Nation currently employs 5,761 women, 176 of on Good Morning America and Season 13 of America’s Got Talent. And finally, those serving in leadership positions. These women are leading the way for Anna Hoag was recognized as Engineer of the Year for the U.S. Department younger generations of Choctaw women to be the future leaders of the Choctaw of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation. These young women are among the Nation of Oklahoma. countless Choctaw women who are out there representing the Choctaw Nation In this month’s issue of the Biskinik, you will be introduced to several young in amazing ways. I want to encourage these young ladies to dream big and aim women who are doing great things and accomplishing so much in their lives. high. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to if you work hard and Nine-year-old Madison Bradshaw of Anadarko won a silver medal in the 50-me- push yourself. Use the stories of the powerful Chahta ohoyos who came before ter freestyle swim during the Winter Special Olympics. Shay Hill of Talihina you as guidance and inspiration. Remember their strength and resilience. Choctaw Nation Continues to Foster Pastor Olin Williams Strong International Relationships Weights and Balances Many groups designate specific months of the The first verse of Proverbs 11 states plainly, year to commemorate ideas, themes or programs. “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord: March has been named to remember at least 14. The but a just weight is his delight.” The two words best known of those is probably Irish-American Heri- “weight” and “balance” refer to a scale to mea- tage Month.