Highway Named in Honor of Choctaw Code Talkers
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Council speaker School of Cultural Delton Cox Choctaw meeting in Language Austin open house Page 3 Page 8 Page 12 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 October 2013 Issue Highway named in honor of Choctaw Code Talkers By DEIDRE ELROD Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma The State of Oklahoma has honored an elite group of men by renaming 55 miles of Highway 3 between Antlers and Broken Bow the “World War I Choctaw Code Talkers Highway.” The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Choctaw Code Talkers Association (CCTA) hosted a dedication of the section of highway on Friday, Sept. 6, near where it begins at the intersection of Highway 3 and the Indian Nation Turnpike in Antlers. “It is very fitting to name this beautiful stretch of road through Pushmataha and McCurtain counties after the Choctaw Code Talkers. Many of them were from this area,” said Chief Gregory E. Pyle. “The recognition by the state will add to educating others about the first men who used their native language as a weapon.” The Oklahoma Depart- ment of Transportation placed permanent markers in both Antlers and Broken Bow, bearing the name. Choctaw Nation: LISA REED Ruth McMillan, a member Chief Greg Pyle, Assistant Chief Batton, tribal council members brate the naming of the section of Highway 2 between Antlers and of the executive committee and descendants of the World War I Choctaw Code Talkers cele- Broken Bow. of CCTA, wanted to honor the soldiers and suggested naming a highway after resided in the state’s 19th obsolete. The Germans had no benefit whatsoever from Join the them. State Rep. R.C. Pruett district and walked the decoded Allied Forces’ their wiretaps.” The The Choctaw Code Talkers introduced the legislation to highway often, Nashoba messages before Choctaw Choctaw language helped Choctaw get the name changed to said. “A lot of the descen- soldiers used their native bring an end to World War Nation as WWI Choctaw Code Talkers dants still live in that area.” language as a code for I. Albert Billy Mitchell Bobb Highway. With hard work “I’m excited that they are military messages. Funds for the sign were Ben Carterby Noel Johnson we honor and help from Rep. Pruett finally getting the history When the Choctaw donated by descendants of Benjamin Colbert Jr. Pete Maytubby all our and many others, McMillan documented and the language was spoken over the Code Talkers’families, was able to see her vision recognition that people the field telephones, the state representatives and the Benjamin Hampton Robert Taylor veterans fulfilled. understand there were Code Germans had no idea what Choctaw Nation. The CCTA Calvin Wilson Solomon Lewis during a “A dream can be a dream, Talkers in the first World the Choctaws were saying will also be raising funds for George Davenport Tobias Frazier War and not just the second and couldn’t effectively spy a granite plaque to be placed ceremony but it has to become a James Edwards reality. It takes pulling one,” said Beth Lawless, also on them. on the highway to provide Otis Leader 11 a.m. together as a team to make a member of the CCTA. A captured German history of the Choctaw Code Jeff Nelson Victor Brown Nov. 11 things happen,” said Nuchi In 1917 Choctaw Indians officer confessed that his Talkers for travelers. Joseph Davenport Walter Veach Nashoba, CCTA president. were not citizens of the intelligence personnel “were For more information at Tvshka Joseph Oklahombi Out of the 19 original United States and their completely confused by the about the Code Talkers, log Homma. Choctaw Code Talkers, 14 language was considered Indian language and gained on to www.choctawnation. u What’s inside Columns ............................... 2 Nursery News ....................... 4 Assistant Chief Batton named a SE ‘Distinguished Alumni’ Food Distribution .................. 4 Notes to the Nation ............... 5 Events ................................... 5 zx People You Know ................. 6 Batton honored during 2013 Education .............................. 7 Obituaries ............................. 9 Homecoming festivities in Durant The Mission of the Choctaw Assistant Chief Gary Batton was Diabetes Wellness Center, the Nation of Oklahoma named one of Southeastern Youth Advisory Board, Veterans’ Oklahoma State University’s Advocacy, and Choctaw University. To enhance the lives of all Distinguished Alumni. The Alumni He helps support Chief Pyle’s members through opportunities Association recognized Batton, as initiatives of health, education and designed to develop healthy, well as two other Distinguished jobs by expanding and increasing successful and productive Alumni, Dr. Jim Barnes and Mr. the profitability of current busi- lifestyles. Robert “Rob’’ Wells, at the Distin- nesses and adding new businesses. guished Awards Banquet as a part Overall, businesses have shown a 69 u Get your digital copy! of 2013 Homecoming festivities. percent increase in profitability Batton (Class of ’89) has served since his appointment in 2007 and Scan this code with your in a number of capacities with The Tribal services continue to grow and smartphone to go online for this Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma since evolve. issue and archive copies of the 1987. In 2007, he was named In addition, Batton has repre- Photo provided BISKINIK! Assistant Chief under Chief Gregory sented the Choctaw Nation on http://www.choctawnation. Pyle. numerous boards and committees, Southeastern president Larry Minks congratulates the 2013 re- com/news-room/biskinik-news- In his 26 years with the Choctaw including the National Budget cipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award – Rob Wells, Dr. Jim paper-archive/ Nation, Batton has continuously Committee for Indian Health Barnes, and Choctaw Nation Assistant Chief Gary Batton. looked for ways to improve and Service, the National Health Service expand services and has been an Corps National Advisory Council, integral part of the Tribe’s growth and the Tribal Technical Advisory Foundation Board, the Children’s University Foundation Board. and success. Numerous Choctaw Committee for the Substance Abuse Hospital Foundation Board of He received his bachelor’s degree Nation programs and services have and Mental Health Services Advocates, the Choctaw Nation in management from Southeastern been created and enhanced under Administration. He currently serves Chahta Foundation Board, and the with minors in computer science and his leadership, including the on the Thunderbird Youth Academy Southeastern Oklahoma State accounting. 2 BISKINIK | October 2013 Vision includes increasing land base of Choctaw Nation From the Desk of what was formerly known as the “Wind- land. Chief Gregory E. Pyle ing Stair Ranch” or “Arcadia Ranch” It is an exciting opportunity to be able near Daisy, Okla. to further the 100-year-vision by Choctaw Nation values include growth The Heart of the Choctaw is servant increasing the land base of our tribe with of prosperity and land base for the leadership. This land purchase is a great this property purchase near the lovely Choctaw Nation tribe and tribal people. opportunity for an investment in the Quachita Mountains that the Choctaw This tangible growth not only increases local community to provide jobs, work Nation will have available for genera- pride, it increases the aptitude for with local vendors and show good tions to come. sustainability, both as tribal government stewardship of land that is in the original The Tribal Council and other leaders and as individual tribal members. boundaries of the Choctaw Nation of of the Choctaw Nation are committed to A part of good stewardship is wise Oklahoma. I am pleased to report this spending financial resources wisely, investment of revenue and resources. property has plentiful waterways researching to utilize this property to the With that in mind, the Choctaw Nation including ponds and creeks, as well as a fullest value and tending this land with has invested in a property purchase of diverse terrain of hills, trees and bottom- care. Merging culture with technology Chaplain’s Corner From the Desk of Assistant Chief Gary Batton Are you committed? Choctaw history and new technology each We thank God for own image. (Genesis fascinate me. Using both together, such as teach- the Bible – His Holy 1:26) And He holds us ing our language in the new LEED-certified Word. If we did not accountable for the life School of Choctaw Language so students can have the promises of that we live. He holds us learn our history and words over the Internet is God in the Bible we accountable for what we really inspiring. would be filled with do with His Son, the Walking through the school on a recent tour, fear. What a Lord Jesus Christ. we were able to join the teacher in one class- glorious privilege to The Apostle John tells room and visit with students 100 miles away be assured that God us in John 3:16, “For thanks to high-tech cameras, computers and knows every step of God so loved the world, live-stream video conferencing! The technology the way of our life that He gave His only of the classes being offered to more than 30 and has made begotten Son, that public schools, five colleges and also globally provisions through whosoever believeth in over the Internet is an amazing thing. His wonderful plan Him should not perish, I can remember simply being proud to begin of Salvation. If but have everlasting getting wi-fi in our administrative building and somebody says life.” hospital and community centers. Now we have radar equipment to help locate the graves of “saved,” what does There will be a day of our own Choctaw Nation app available on some of my cousins in an old cemetery behind that mean to you? A judgment.