Choctaw Nation to Repatriate Ancestors' Remains
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This issue of the Biskinik continues publication of recorded interviews of Choctaw elders from 2007. This month – Rebecca Cole and Lorena Cooper Page 8 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 March 2011 Issue Serving 204,871 Choctaws Worldwide Choctaws ... growing with pride, hope and success Tribal Council Choctaw Nation to repatriate ancestors’ remains holds regular By BRET MOSS Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma February session The Choctaw Nation Tribal The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Council met Feb. 12 in regular (CNO) will be repatriating 124 of session at Tushka Homma. its ancestors’ remains this coming New business addressed in- spring. This is a great success on cluded approval of: more ways than one, and for more • granting a limited waiver of tribes than just the Choctaw Nation. sovereign immunity to certain The remains of ancestors are sa- equipment leases; cred to many Native American • a resolution recognizing tribal tribes, and the Choctaw tribe is no officials to conduct business with exception. These 124 remains are the Office of rustT Funds Man- believed to be around 500 years old, agement; based on cultural material and re- • three grazing leases; cords from the past, and hold great • application to the U.S. Depart- significance to members of several ment of Justice Office of Violence tribes from the Southeastern United Against Women for the Grants States. to Indian Tribal Government According to Choctaw tribal ar- Program: Project EMPOWER, chaeologist Dr. Ian Thompson, the a step in keeping Native Ameri- people of the Choctaw Nation have can women safe and improving long believed that the deceased will services. become one with the earth. “It is a • application to the U.S. Depart- traditional Choctaw belief that when ment of Justice for the Coordi- people die, their spirits take a jour- nated Tribal Assistance Solicita- ney to the Land of Souls, and part of tion to assist the tribe in its goal that is their body going back into the Choctaw Nation: LARISSA COPELAND to reduce and prevent crime and ground,” explains Thompson. Chief Gregory E. Pyle and Natchez Trace Parkway Superintendent Cameron H. Sholly each sign a Repatri- victimization in communities. These remains were taken from ation agreement on Feb. 23. The documents officially transfer custody of 124 remains to the Choctaw Nation. • accept all NAGPRA (Native their place of burial decades ago American Graves Protection during two separate excavations, remains for their collections. These Now that the Choctaw Nation has the family that originally laid them and Repatriation Act) Grants for one in the 1950s and the other in remains were taken without the con- reacquired its ancestors’ remains, to rest in the earth centuries ago, 2011; the 1960s. This was a time when ar- sultation of the tribes to which they they plan to rebury them. This is said Thompson. • disposal of surplus equipment; chaeologists were looking to amass belong. Most consider this desecra- done out of respect to the individu- • approved election filing dates large quantities of Native American tion a tragedy of the severest kind. als who have passed away, as well as See REPATRIATE on Page 5 and tribal election dates for 2011 during its February regular ses- sion. Elections will be held for Chief and for District 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 New recycling center helping to reduce environmental impact and 11 council seats. Filing dates By LARISSA COPELAND munity Block Grant from the De- nearly 135,000 pounds of plastic aging to know that we have employ- have been set for May 9, 10 and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma partment of Energy. bottles, various paper and cardboard ees who care about our environment. 11 at the Election Board office, The 30,350-sq.-ft. facility has four to be recycled. At an E-Waste event They have devoted many hours to 529 N. 16th Ave., Durant. All The Choctaw Nation of Oklaho- full-time employees and receives held in January, the Choctaw Nation finding solutions, from handing out candidates must file in person. ma proudly celebrates its recently newspaper, office paper, shredded collected almost 37,000 pounds of ‘green’ cups to reduce the use of The office will be open 8 a.m. opened recycling center in Durant, paper, magazines, catalogs, plastics electronic material waste. styrofoam to opening this fantastic to 4:30 p.m. Monday through taking another step towards green numbered one and two, aluminum Chief Gregory E. Pyle is proud of facility,” said Chief Pyle. “It fulfills Friday. living and being good stewards of cans, steel cans, cell phones, printer the facility given that, prior to its a need in the Durant area, giving ev- The election will be July 8. If the land and environment. cartridges and cardboard for recy- opening, there was no public facility eryone an opportunity to recycle.” a runoff is needed, it will be held The recycling center, designed cling. within the 10-1/2 county area that The facility, located at 3108 Enter- July 30. to save energy and help offset the Since opening for business on Dec. allowed for businesses and individu- prise Drive in Durant, is open to the • modification #1 FY 2011 Cap- amount of waste accumulating in 1, the Choctaw Nation has collected als to drop off items to be recycled. public for dropping off items from ital Projects Budget, adding funds landfills each year, was funded more than 700 printer cartridges, “The Choctaw Nation of Oklaho- 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through for an additional 140 parking through an Energy Efficiency Com- 2,700 pounds of aluminum cans, and ma is a large entity and it is encour- Friday. spaces at the Poteau Travel Plaza and providing for improvements to be made at Tushka Homma. Tribal Councilmembers meet in YOU’RE READING AN regular session at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of every month AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER at Tushka Homma. u What’s inside Notes to the Nation ........................ 2 Columns ........................................ 3 Nursery News ................................ 4 Food Distribution ........................... 4 People You Know .......................... 6 Education ....................................... 7 Obituaries .................................... 13 Iti Fabvssa ................................... 14 Choctaw Nation: JUDY ALLEN PVIA Chaiman of the Board of Trustees Ken Hammond, left, receives a $60,000 check from Chief Gregory E. Pyle and Tribal Council Speaker Delton Cox. The Mission of the Choctaw Choctaw Nation partners with Nation of Oklahoma To enhance the lives of Poteau Valley Improvement Authority all members through By JUDY ALLEN opportunities designed Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma to develop healthy, suc- The Choctaw Nation presented a $60,000 check to the Poteau Valley Improvement Authority cessful and productive (PVIA), the first of four donations in this amount to be given over the next several years. As Chief 2010 OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION lifestyles. Gregory E. Pyle handed the first installment of the monetary assistance to Ken Hammond, Chair- man of the Board of Trustees of the PVIA, a smile was on both men’s faces. “This is an important BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST WINNER This newspaper was recently ESS project to help share the cost of studying the water in Lake Wister,” said Chief Pyle. PR AS A SO named one of the state’s best by a M C The four-year monitoring of the rivers coming into the lake and the lake itself is vital in getting O I H A 2010 T panel of judges. As a winner, A I L scientific information on the quality of the water. O K this newspaper is entitled to AWARD N Last spring, to celebrate Earth Day, the Choctaw Nation, PVIA, area youth and officials from the O proudly display this 2010 WINNING The BISKINIK Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Geological Survey planted native bullrushes on floating rafts to is printed on award-winning emblem, which NEWSPAPER absorbs nutrients from the water in Lake Wister. This resulted in better, cleaner water for the people signifi es continued excellence and recycled paper. and wildlife. Monitoring the water over the next few years is the next step in improving the lake. service to the community. BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST The PVIA serves 80 percent of the residents of LeFlore County. March 2011, BISKINIK, Page 2 NOTES TO THE NATION Thank you for help during accident 15th Annual 42nd Annual Talihina Indian I’m writing to say thank you to two wonderful men, Assis- AILYC Spring Pow Wow Festival Pow Wow tant Chief Gary Batton and Brian McClain. They helped us on Jan. 20 as we were traveling to Charlotte Jackson’s funeral and American Indian Leadership Youth we were in a car accident. We are fine, and again thank you. April 9, 2011 Council of Broken Bow Public Schools From Dondi Coley, Bydia Carney, Paul Carney and Elizabeth Talihina High School Gymnasium Terrell. April 2, 2011 On Highway 1 and 271 McCurtain County Sports Complex Head Staff Praise for BISKINIK Broken Bow, Okla. MC: Tim Tallchief, Jones Well done! The Biskinik’s Feb. 2011 issue is an outstand- Head Singer: Al Santos Sr., Apache ing edition, kudos should go to all involved. The interviews Head Staff Head Man Dancer: John Keel, Grant with the Choctaw elders are grand human-interest pieces. The MC: Kelly Anquoe, Tahlequah Head Lady Dancer: Kandance Folsom, Dallas segments on Blackjack Mountain ponies and Choctaw baskets Head Man Dancer: Kevin Connywerdy, Norman Head Gourd Dancer: Michael James, Hulbert provide historical perspective and a glimpse into the life and Head Lady Dancer: Leslie Deer, Holdenville ways of our ancestors. It would be nice to see more articles of Arena Dancer: Bill Takes Horse, Colbert this type.