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Men ‘Walk Wheelock Continuing publication a Mile in Alumni of recorded interviews of Her Shoes’ Luncheon Choctaw elders from 2007 This month – Laura Jameson Page 5 Page 9 Page 10 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 May 2011 Issue Serving 205,930 Choctaws Worldwide Choctaws ... growing with pride, hope and success Choctaw Days in Washington, D.C. Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian hosting four-day Choctaw festival in June By LISA REED Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Thousands of people from around the world will soon have the opportunity to absorb the sights, sounds and culture of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and the Choctaw Nation are working together to pro- Photo provided: DANA WALDON Choctaw Nation: LARISSA COPELAND Choctaw Nation: LARISSA COPELAND vide a memorable experience for visitors and those who live in the Washington, D.C. area. The Choctaw Days event will be held Marcus Amerman works Flute maker Presley By- Shirley Barboan and Vonna Shults create Choctaw menu June 22-25 during NMAI’s height of the tourist season when an on beadwork creation. ington. items. average of 1,500 visitors come to the museum every day. “We are honored to be the first American Indian tribe zx Related articles on Pages 11 and 13 be featured every hour. from Oklahoma to have a festival of this kind at the NMAI Executive Chef Richard Hetzler is working with National Museum of the American Indian,” said Chief Gregory Vonna Shults and Shirley Barboan to provide 10 Choc- E. Pyle. “I remember when the museum opened on the National Choctaw Days will begin each morning with the melodic taw-related dishes in the Mitsitam Native Foods Café. Mall almost seven years ago and I have visited NMAI numer- chanting of Ron McKinney and the fluid movements of the The top-notch restaurant, located on the first floor of the ous times since. It is a remarkable place, showcasing hundreds Choctaw Youth Dancers in front of the museum’s east en- museum, features authentic Native foods found through- of tribes from South, Central and North America. trance. The boys and girls, in colorful traditional shirts and out the Western Hemisphere. During the week of Choctaw “We have assembled several of our best artists, dancers, sing- dresses, will perform the jump dance, the quick steps and Days, the menu will include fried salt pork, pinto beans, ers and cultural experts. We know that we will have a different shouts of the fast war dance, and the stealing partners dance tanchi labona, fried rabbit, rabbit gumbo, braised veni- audience than we are accustomed to and want to ensure that with audience interaction. The snake dance will end outside son, banaha Indian bread, grape dumplings, wild onions they all understand just how special our tribe is,” he said. but more singing, dancing, fluteplaying and storytelling will See CHOCTAW DAYS Page 16 Providing aid to Tushka tornado victims Tribe pledges up to $10,000 match in students’ penny drive for Tushka Schools By LARISSA COPELAND tions were pulling into town to pro- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma vide aid to their neighbors in need. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is Though the April 14 tornado in proud to be one of those to answer Tushka lasted only minutes, the ef- the call as well, providing aid to fects of the devastation felt by the storm victims by offering resources residents will be long lasting. The for food, water, supplies and ser- storm, which the National Weather vices. Service rated an EF3 on the En- The Choctaw Nation is commit- hanced Fujita scale, tragically killed ted to helping the entire commu- two people and left 43 injured. It nity during this time of need. It has also affected 237 homes in the small joined forces with nine school dis- town in southeastern Oklahoma. Of tricts in southeastern Oklahoma to the homes affected, 33 will need help the Tushka School. The school repairs, 47 will need major repairs was reduced to rubble when the tor- before they will be livable, and truly nado ripped through the town and heartbreaking, 149 were completely students and faculty from neigh- destroyed. Of these homes, only 42 boring schools have organized a percent were covered by insurance, penny drive to help them rebuild. leaving many families in Tushka The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma wondering what to do next. has pledged to match up to $10,000 Almost before the storm cleared, brought in by the students in the fun- Choctaw Nation: LISA REED an outpouring of family, friends, draiser. An aerial look at some of the devestation in Tushka. The tornando affected 237 homes in the small com- churches, and numerous non-profit The schools that are participating munity, completely destroying 149. Choctaw Nation provided much needed aid in the aftermath, such as the and governmental relief organiza- See TUSHKA Page 12 tarps pictured covering the roofs of the homes left standing. u What’s inside Notes to the Nation ........................ 2 Culbreath a 2011 Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame inductee Columns ........................................ 3 By JUDY ALLEN Obama appointed her last year to Nursery News ................................ 4 Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma serve on the No Child Left Behind Food Distribution ........................... 4 Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. People You Know .......................... 6 The Oklahoma Women’s Hall of When asked what the most im- Education ....................................... 7 Fame has recognized a Choctaw portant work she has accomplished, Obituaries ............................... 14-15 legend – a Joy in both name and at- Joy will reply that her activity in her Iti Fabvssa ................................... 16 titude. Longtime Executive Director church and at home with her family of Education for the tribe, Joy Cul- has been the most important job she The Mission breath has been inducted into the has ever fulfilled. of the Choctaw Hall of Fame, honored as a pioneer Governor Mary Fallin and Secre- in her field who has made significant tary of Veterans Affairs Maj. Gen. Nation of Oklahoma contributions to the state of Okla- Rita Aragon (Ret.) of the Oklahoma To enhance the lives of all homa. Commission on the Status of Wom- members through opportu- The Choctaw Nation has always en were joined by Chief Gregory E. nities designed to develop known that Joy was a jewel, creat- Pyle at the Induction Ceremony for healthy, successful and pro- ing a successful adult education pro- Joy and the seven other honorees for ductive lifestyles. gram, a remarkable school of Choc- the 2011 event. taw language, and growing multiple Inductees in the 2011 Women’s Choctaw Nation: JUDY ALLEN other education programs and ser- Hall of Fame are Dr. Laura Boyd, Chief Gregory E. Pyle and Joy Culbreath, executive director of edu- The BISKINIK vices that provide opportunities for Minister Chloe Brown, Joy Cul- cation, pose for a photo at the 2011 Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame is printed on people across the United States. breath, Marcia Mitchell, Ardina induction ceremony. Joy and seven other honorees were recognized for Her talents and passion have recycled paper. Moore, Dr. Cindy Ross, Kathy Tay- their significant contributions made to the state of Oklahoma in their been noticed nationally – President lor and Helen Thompson. specific fields. May 2011, BISKINIK, Page 2 NOTES TO THE NATION Thanks from Goodland Academy Thankful for disaster relief Birthday gospel singing Chief Pyle, thank you very much for the assistance. Some- State Representative Paul Roan would like to tell Chief Pyle, A birthday gospel singing for Joseph Wolf will be held at 7 times we never know how far reaching our spheres of influence Assistant Chief Batton and the Tribal Council members how p.m. May 28 at the Choctaw Community Center on Big Lots can be. I received a call from a pastor at The Potter’s House much he appreciates what the Choctaw Nation is doing for Road in Durant. Special groups in attendance include New Church in Dallas, a mega church whose pastor, Bishop T.D. constituents in Tushka. Creations, The Gastineaus and many more. Bring your groups, Jakes, is on national TV frequently. Pastor Wesley, from the and admission is free of charge. Supper will be served at 11 church, called us seeking to bring work groups and help sup- p.m. and concessions are available. For more information, call port our program. He informed me that he was related to two of 580-775-2065. our day students that started last fall. He told me that the posi- Thank you tive transformation that has occurred in their lives has been as- Thank you to Chief Pyle and the Choctaw Nation for the tonishing and that he wanted to be a part of the amazing things birthday cards, the newspaper and the precious Christmas or- LeFlore High School reunion that are happening here at Goodland Academy. Your support naments, which really add beauty to my tree. A letter about ed- The LeFlore High School Annual Alumni and Former Stu- has made our motto, “Striving for Excellence,” a reality! We ucation from my younger brother was in the paper once and a dents’ Association Banquet will be held May 7 at the old Le- want each of you to know when you give to Goodland, you picture of two of my children was in another issue of the paper. Flore High School gym. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and become a part of our success stories. I’ve lived in Missouri over 60 years, but I’m an Oklahoma Choctaw at heart.