BISHINIK PRSRT STD P.O. Drawer 1210 U.S. Postage Paid Durant OK 74702 Durant OK RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Permit #187 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA Serving 168,517 Choctaws Worldwide www.choctawnation.com April 2005 Issue Recovery Center celebrates with ribboncutting The Choctaw Nation has just opened the newly Center were at no cost to any Choctaw who has constructed Recovery Center in Talihina. The a need for the program. The tribe even provides Recovery Program is now able to offer services to transportation assistance to Talihina for Recovery 20 clients at the live-in program. Center clients. Prior to the ribboncutting, Ben Brown, Deputy The new Recovery Center has two nice exercise Director for the State of Oklahoma Substance rooms with equipment, a group room for men Abuse Program, complimented the Choctaw and a second group room for women, each with Recovery Program and facility, saying, “We televisions, personal living quarters shared by have nothing this nice in the State of Oklahoma.” two clients, counseling rooms and state-of-the-art Brown went on to say, “When you come to a kitchen and information technology departments. program like this, you see great things – miracles Darrell Sorrells, the Director of the Recovery happen, lives are restored and families are put Center, said that he and staff had visited other back together.” facilities prior to the final design to get opinions “We think of chemical dependence as a treatable on what worked well and what floor plans illness, and want to provide appropriate care so could be improved. “I donʼt think you could that lives can take a more positive direction,” said design a facility that would be more usable,” said Chief Gregory E. Pyle. The Chief thanked the Sorrells. 12 Tribal Council Members for their support Native American individuals who need help of tribal programs. “These people work to get to recover from alcohol or substance abuse can services to tribal members who so desperately receive care and treatment at the Choctaw Re- need them.” covery Center in Talihina. For more information, Chief Pyle said services at the Recovery please call (918) 567-2389. Choctaws help McCurtain County Genealogical Society with gift of $1,500 A check for $1,500 was pre- sented March 4 to the McCurtain County Genealogical Society from the Choctaw Nation. The money was presented to Society Board Members by Tribal Coun- cilman Hap Ward and State Representative Jerry Ellis. The Genealogical Society is based in Idabel at the public library. Contributions of family books, research material and other items pertaining to genealogy have enriched the societyʼs archives State Representative Jerry Ellis, Wanda Gilbert and Nela since their 12-member inception Hall of the McCurtain County Genealogical Society, and Tribal in 1984. Councilman Hap Ward. Although many of the acqui- sitions were generous dona- copiers and computers over the have gotten obits from old news- tions, the McCurtain County years, but now they are badly papers, the county funeral homes Genealogical Society has also in need of replacing. We had to records from 1955 to 1993 have Hay donated to Navajo tribe purchased a great deal of purchase micro film cabinets, file been indexed, the first County material to assist families and cabinets and book shelves for the Probate book has been copied The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has recently round bales of hay to be sent to the Navajo res- individuals. books that were being donated and the two veteran books were donated surplus hay to the Navajo reservation. ervation. Jody Waugh and Doyle Bacon quickly “We bought micro film, and the items the society was compiled and printed. These The hay was greatly needed because portions of loaded up the trailer and soon had the hay headed consisting of federal census of purchasing at the requests of our items in book form are lots the reservation in Arizona and New Mexico had to its final destination. several states, Indian Territory clients from all over the United easier for our older clients who not had enough rainfall to produce enough hay to So far, the Navajo reservation has received 126 and the Five Civilized Tribes, States. cannot read the micro film. Our support its livestock. The Council agreed to send round bales of hay, approximately 63 tons. applications and roll numbers, “In the late 1990ʼs our mem- goal now is to pay off our debts 500 surplus round bales of hay to the Navajo res- Whether it is sending surplus hay to the Na- marriage licenses and death bership had grown to nearly on the copier.” ervation. vajo reservation in 2005 or sending money to the records and county newspapers 200 members and we had lots According to the Genealogical All the Navajos needed was to find a way to Irish in 1847, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma back to 1904,” writes Nela Hall, of projects going, including all Society, the $1,500 gift will be transport the hay to their tribal members. On has always taken great pride in being able to help a member of the society. “We cemeteries in McCurtain County used to help pay off the copier March 11, the first truck was stacked with 34 people in need. have bought micro film readers, being walked and indexed. We debt. Trail of Tears Walk is April 23 Chief Gregory E. Pyle, Assistant Chief Mike Bailey and the Council allocates Choctaw Nation Tribal Council invite everyone to participate in the Skullyville Commemorative Trail of Tears Walk to be held Saturday, April 23. Ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. at funds for summer the historic Skullyville Cemetery, which is the National Cem- etery of the Choctaw Nation. The walk will end at the Choctaw Nation Community Center in Spiro, which is four miles from basketball camps the cemetery. The tribe will serve a free lunch at the center to thank all who participated. Please park your cars at the com- The Choctaw Nation Tribal Council allocated funds in the munity center on Hwy. 9 in Spiro and ride a shuttle bus to the amount of $50,000 to fund basketball camps in each of the 12 cemetery. There is very little parking at the cemetery. districts during its meeting on March 12 at Tushka Homma. The annual camps are one way the tribe supports its youth, Museum exhibit will focus on removal encouraging physical activity and providing an opportunity for the boys and girls to improve their skills in the sport. The Removal of the Choctaw Nation to what is now Oklahoma In other new business, Councilmembers agreed to appropri- is the current focus of the Tushka Homma Museumʼs exhibit for ate $1,500,000 from Motor Fuel Tax Funds to meet the needs Labor Day. If anyone has any family stories regarding this time in history we would love to hear them and possibly share them of Contract Health Services, making it possible to provide in the exhibit. If you have stories and are interested in sharing additional health care services for Choctaw tribal members. them, please contact Beverly Nelson, Museum Coordinator, at The cost of $20,000 for proposed renovations to the 1-800-522-6170 or 580-924-8280, ext. 2485. Choctaw Nation Princess Stephanie Horn, Wright City Superinten- Stringtown Casino was approved and will include downsiz- Stories will help make our story more real to all visitors and dent David Hawkins; Wright City JOM Coordinator Dena Hill; Delo- ing the restaurant and providing a larger variety of gaming will make more personal this catastrophic event in our history. res Baker, Tutorial Assistant in the Wright City JOM program; Rebec- machines. ca Clapp, Choctaw Nation JOM Director, and Chief Gregory E. Pyle. Grant applications were okayed for the Tribal Victim As- Okla Chahta Gathering is May 7-8 sistance Program, VOCA/Adult Protective Services, Faith- based Counseling for Crime Victims, School Emergency The 10th Annual Gathering of California Choctaw people Response & Crisis Management, Demonstration Grants for will be held May 7 and 8 at Camp Okihi in Choctaw Valley, Indian Children, a BIA Drug Court Discretionary Grant and Bakersfield, California. Lots of fun events are lined up including Top JOM programs honored Adolescent Family Life Demonstration Grant. Also a grant a traditional Choctaw wedding ceremony, a bake-off contest and “JOM ... Uniting Tribes in 2005” was this yearʼs theme for the Oklahoma proposal was approved for the Projects With Industry (PWI) the princess pageant. Johnson OʼMalley Conference, held March 21-24 at the Marriott Southern program under the Department of Educationʼs Office of Spe- For more information please call 661-393-6552 or log on to Hills in Tulsa. Each year during the weeklong conference, top JOM pro- cial Education and Rehabilitation Services. www.oklachahta.org. grams are recognized from each of the Five Civilized Tribes during a ban- The agenda also included: quet held in their honor. The first place artwork used with this yearʼs theme • lists of budget modifications approved for the Upward was designed by Choctaw tribal member Amanda Boyer. Amanda is a se- Senior Citizen Day to be held May 25 Bound Math and Science budget, Vocational Rehabilitation nior at Comanche Public School. All of the artwork submitted by students The 21st Annual Senior Citizen Day will budget, and PWI budget, was reproduced as placemats for participants to enjoy at the banquet. be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, • providing a revolving line of credit for Choctaw Ar- Sixty-eight schools participate in JOM within the Choctaw Nation, with May 25, at Choctaw Bingo in Durant.