State-of-the-art Chahta Oklahoma press at Texoma Foundation teams play Print Services works to secure in Stickball Choctaw legacy World Series Page 3 Page 9 Page 18 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 2012 Issue CNO awarded at IHS Tribal Urban Awards Ceremony By LISA REED services staff, the Choctaw Nation Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has several new programs aimed at educating us on improving our life- The ninth annual Oklahoma styles.” City Area Director’s Indian Health Receiving awards were: Service Tribal Urban Awards Cer- • Area Director’s National Impact emony was held July 19 at the Na- – Mickey Peercy, Choctaw Nation’s tional Cowboy & Western Heritage Executive Director of Health. Museum in Oklahoma City. Chief • Area Director’s Area Impact – Gregory E. Pyle assisted in present- Jill Anderson, Clinic Director of the ing awards to the recipients from the Choctaw Health Clinic in McAles- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Thir- ter. teen individuals and one group from • Area Director’s Lifetime the Choctaw Nation’s service area Achievement Award – Kelly Mings, were recognized for their dedica- Chief Financial Officer for Choctaw tion and contributions to improving Nation Health Services. the health and well-being of Native • Exceptional Group Performance Americans. Award Clinical – Chi Hullo Li, The “I would like to commend all who Choctaw Nation’s long-term com- are here today,” said Chief Pyle. prehensive residential treatment pro- “Their hard work and dedication gram for Native American women Choctaw Nation: LISA REED are exemplary. Thanks to our health See IHS Page 11 EPA awards Council meets Allen named among in July session tribe $75K water The Choctaw Nation Tribal Council met in regular session July quality grant state’s Top 50 Women 14 at Tvshka Homma. New busi- The Environmental Protec- By LARISSA COPELAND Gregory E. Pyle appointed Allen to ness began with certification of tion Agency has awarded the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma her current position as the Executive two new teachers of the Choctaw Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Director of Public Relations. language – Josh Riley and Steven $75,000 to provide continued The Journal Record named Choc- “I’ve known Judy for many Parish. support for the tribe’s water taw Nation of Oklahoma’s Judy Al- years,” said Chief Pyle, “and know Council bills addressed include: pollution control program. The len as one of 50 nominees for its her to be an outstanding individual • Application was approved to funds will be used to take water 2012 Woman of the Year “Making in every sense of the word. Her con- the U.S. Department of Education samples to assess surface water a Difference” award. Allen and her tributions to our community, the for the Promise Neighborhoods quality on tribal lands, compile fellow nominees will be honored at Choctaw Nation and to the entire Program. The new community data that may show changes the Journal Record’s Woman of the state of Oklahoma have been ex- and academic support program for over time and determine if a Year awards gala, where the Woman traordinary.” Photo by DAVID FITZGERALD children and youth will help to sig- more thorough watershed man- Over the last 28 years, she has nificantly improve educational and of the Year recipient will be named JUDY ALLEN agement program is needed. on Oct. 4 at the National Cowboy & taken the lead on numerous tribal developmental outcomes. Sampling data will determine Public Relations Executive Director, Western Heritage Museum in Okla- projects and ventures and takes great Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma • Approval of the funds and bud- whether water quality standards homa City. pride in knowing the Choctaw Na- get for the Tribal Homeland Secu- are being met, note any changes As the tribe’s Executive Director tion is now a household name. Al- festival held at the Smithsonian’s rity Grant Program. The CNO has in the quality or condition of of Public Relations, Allen guides len is upheld as the gold standard for National Museum of the American been awarded a grant by the U.S. the Choctaw Nation’s water and media and marketing, serving as a determination, a positive attitude, Indian in Washington, D.C. The Federal Emergency Management provide planning tools to im- voice for the Choctaw Nation, while ingenuity and initiative. Her leader- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma was Agency in the amount of $449,653 prove the function and health of staying mindful of what is in the ship and participation in numerous the first Native American tribe to to strengthen our tribe’s capacity stream ecosystems. tribe’s best interest. projects throughout the years have hold such an event at the Smithson- to prepare for and respond to emer- The mission of the EPA is to Allen came to work for the Choc- helped to develop a sense of pride ian. The inaugural Choctaw Days in gency situations. The grant funds protect public health and the taw Nation in 1984, first serving and identity for the Choctaw Nation. 2011 was such a tremendous success will assist in the development and environment. The EPA supports as the assistant editor for the tribal Her most recent endeavor has that the NMAI has it scheduled as sustainment of prevention, pro- our nations’ tribes in all aspects newspaper before being promoted been the successful coordination an annual event and has asked other tection, mitigation, response, and of the work needed to improve to editor in 1986. In 1999, Chief of Choctaw Days, a four-day tribal See ALLEN Page 19 See COUNCIL Page 2 the water quality of tribal land watersheds. This cooperative spirit supports work to protect water quality that ensures the health of watersheds that cross state and tribal boundaries. Choctaw Code Talkers from WWI and WWII Attention readers: We are restructuring print toChoctaw be Code inducted Talkers from served in into World War I wereMilitary Albert was born in SHallhawnee and raised of in Famethe Academy of Military Science in schedules over the next few World Wars I and II and Choctaw Billy, Mitchell Bobb, Victor Brown, Dale where she graduated from high Knoxville, Tenn., in 1981. months! Look for your next member Maj. Gen. LaRita A. Ara- Ben Carterby, Benjamin Colbert Jr., school. She attended Evangel Col- Rising through the ranks, she be- BISKINIK in October! gon (Ret.) are among heroes to be George Davenport, Joseph Daven- lege in Springfield, Mo., and Cen- came the first female commander of inducted into the Oklahoma Mili- port, James Edwards, Tobias Fra- tral State College (now University the Oklahoma Air National Guard tary Hall of Fame in November. The zier, Ben Hampton, Noel Johnson, of Central Oklahoma) in Edmond when she assumed command of the u What’s inside induction ceremony will be held at Otis Leader, Solomon Louis, Pete where Aragon earned a BA degree 137th Services Flight and a female 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at Quail Maytubby, Jeff Nelson, Joseph in elementary education and a mas- Brigadier General. This made her Columns ............................................. 2 Notes to the Nation ........................... 10 Creek Golf and Country Club, Okla- Oklahombi, Robert Taylor, Walter ter’s degree in guidance and coun- the first female of Native American Nursery News ..................................... 4 homa City. Veach and Calvin Wilson, and the seling. Aragon was an elementary Ancestry to attain the rank of Gen- Food Distribution ................................ 4 Choctaw Code Talkers of World four Choctaw Code Talkers who school teacher and principal before eral Officer. In March 2003, she be- People You Know ............................... 6 War I and World War II left a lasting also served in the European Theater entering the Oklahoma Air National came the first female to command Education ............................................ 9 legacy for the Choctaw Nation, the during World War II were Schlicht Guard in 1979 as an Airman Basic the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Obituaries .................................... 15-17 state of Oklahoma and the United Billy, Andrew Perry, Davis Pickens in the 219th Engineering Installa- She was promoted to Major General Iti Fabvssa ........................................ 19 States of America. They were the and Forrester Baker. tion Squadron in Oklahoma City. in 2005. The Mission very first Native Americans to use Maj. Gen. LaRita A. Aragon, the She was commissioned in 1981. She Also being inducted are Capt. their native language on the battle- first female general in the Oklahoma became the first female to command John Lee Prichard, Frontiersman of the Choctaw fields against the German Army in Air National Guard and current Sec- the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Amos Chapman, Capt. Boyd L. Bar- Nation of Oklahoma World War I and again, briefly, in retary of the Oklahoma Department She joined the Oklahoma Air Na- clay, Col. Charles B. DeBellevue, To enhance the lives of all mem- World War II. Choctaw soldiers pio- of Military and Veteran Affairs, also tional Guard in 1979 as an Airman Maj. Kenneth D. Bailey, Command bers through opportunities designed neered the use of Native American will receive the Maj. Gen. Douglas Basic in the 219th Engineering In- Sgt. Maj. Everett Bagley Jr., Capt. to develop healthy, successful and languages as a military code. The Dollar Distinguished Service Award stallation Squadron in Oklahoma Vincent A. Kimberlin, and Lt. Col. productive lifestyles. nineteen Choctaw Code Talkers who for service to the military. Aragon City. She was commissioned through Orville O. “Bill” Munson. BISKINIK | August 2012 | Page 2 Medal design for Code Talkers ready for U.S. Mint From the Desk of tors and members of Congress! Chief Gregory E. Pyle I did not realize it would take such a length of time to get the medals designed and issued, once we had the law passed! The long overdue recognition for the Choctaw Code Talkers The U.S.