Continuing publication Choctaw Veterans Day of recorded interviews of Nation Ceremony Choctaw elders from 2007 annual in Tushka Pow Wow Homma This month – Bill Amos Pages 16 Page 17 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 December 2011 Issue Serving 209,895 Choctaws Worldwide Choctaws ... growing with pride, hope and success Tribe wins multiple awards for environmental preservation efforts By BRET MOSS of the Environmentally Best” award, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma which CNO also took home. On a separate occasion, CNO also In an effort to protect the land was awarded the Recycling Gov- and environment dear to its heart, ernment of the Year at the America the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Recycles Day event held in Tulsa on BRENDA SUE HAMPTON (CNO) has taken tremendous strides Nov. 15, 2011. to increase the amount of recycling These awards are the first awards occurring in Southeastern Oklaho- that CNO recycling has won. Ac- Choctaw Nation ma. cording to Director of Project Man- As a result of these actions, the agement, Tracy Horst, the credit for loses a champion staff of the recycling center has re- winning these awards can be attrib- Longtime Choctaw Nation cently been awarded three notable uted to the new recycling facility lo- Executive Director of Tribal awards, two by Keep Oklahoma cated near the Choctaw Casino and Membership Brenda Sue Hamp- Beautiful, a statewide nonprofit or- Resort in Durant. ton, 64, passed away Wednes- ganization dedicated to environmen- December 2011 marks the first day, Nov. 30, leaving a void in tal improvement. full year of operation for the new the hearts of family members, At the 21st annual Environmen- recycling facility. The facility and friends and acquaintances from tal Excellence Awards Celebration the functions within are the only one Choctaw Nation: BRET MOSS coast to coast. held on Nov. 10, in Oklahoma City, of its kind in the Southeastern Okla- Choctaw Nation’s Recycling Center staff shows off the awards won Brenda began a prominent CNO won in the state/tribal category homa area. for the tribe’s environmental preservation efforts. The staff includes, career with the Choctaw Nation of environmental excellence, which The large facility boasts the back row from left, Lance Clinton, Justin Tillery, Terry Garner, Chris of Oklahoma in the work ex- granted consideration for the “Best See AWARDS Page 5 Stover, and kneeling, Cyndi Houser, Tamera Couch and Tracy Horst. perience program in 1985 and worked the last 26 years with the membership/voter registration department. She became direc- tor of the department in 1987 ’Tis the season for giving and executive director in 2006. She has helped literally thou- Choctaw Nation distributes toys and sands of tribal members obtain their Certificate of Degree of food vouchers to Choctaws in need Indian Blood (CDIB) cards and By LARISSA COPELAND membership with the Choctaw sugar, dinner rolls and Nation. Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma a 10-inch frozen pie. “Brenda was a force for good,” The Christmas voucher Chief Gregory E. Pyle said. “Her ‘Tis the season for giving and was the same only it in- energy couldn’t be matched and that’s just what numerous depart- cluded a ham instead of she gave strength to everyone ments and Choctaw Nation entities a turkey. around her. Her priority was al- did by reaching out to members in “Our first year, we ways her family. She loved them need this holiday season. handed out about four with every fiber of her being. Choctaw Nation Outreach Servic- food baskets,” says Her work and her friends re- es distributed 6,226 food vouchers Betty Jackson from the ceived the same passion. in November and December ensur- Choctaw Nation Out- ing no Choctaw family goes without “Brenda’s dedication to our reach Services Program, Choctaw Nation: LARISSA COPELAND a warm meal for Thanksgiving or “and it has evolved to tribal members was evident Tribal Events employees Faye Self, Tammy Lawson and Elaine Thomson fill their Christmas. The Thanksgiving vouch- where it is today. We every day as she answered nu- carts with toys that will be given to needy Choctaw children through Chief Pyle’s ers, which were made available to began this program merous phone calls and worked and Assistant Chief Batton’s Needy Christmas Program. tirelessly, often at night and on needy Choctaw families in the 10- about eight years ago weekends, to help individuals 1/2 county service area, included a after hearing tribal members say the To receive a voucher for the food, available for pick-up at their local with what is needed to obtain turkey, two cans each of corn and meal they ate at the Choctaw Nation tribal members completed an ap- Choctaw Nation Community Cen- membership. She expanded the green beans, a can of yams, cranber- Thanksgiving dinners would be the plication that included income veri- ter and could be redeemed at certain department to one of the best in ry sauce, a box of tea bags, a bag of only one they had for the holiday.” fication. The vouchers were made See GIVING Page 5 all tribal nations. “The memories of her humor, her laughter and her enthusiasm will remain with us all,” Chief Choctaw Nation donates $1 million Pyle said. “I count every mo- ment I spent with Brenda as a privilege.” to Dean McGee Eye Institute Brenda was born Feb. 7, 1947, Dean McGee Eye Institute homa City and in Talihina.” in LaMesa, Calif., to Margie Ophthalmologists and Choctaw Dr. Fransen and other Dean McGee Eye Nadine (Monroe) Lilley and at- Nation celebrate 10-year partnership Institute ophthalmologists have treated over tended schools in Texas but lived 3,000 tribal members at the two clinics, per- most of her life in the Durant The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has forming nearly 600 retinal laser procedures area. Before her years with the contributed $1 million to the Dean McGee in the Talihina clinic alone. Choctaw Nation, she worked as Eye Institute Capital Campaign, putting the “Encouraging American Indians to seek a licensed cosmetologist and op- Institute within $2 million of its $46 million vision care is a major health goal of the erated her own hair salon while campaign goal. The capital campaign has Choctaw Nation, especially considering raising her family. provided funds for completion of the new, the high risk of diabetic retinopathy in this Beginning a new career at the five-story, 78,000-sq.-ft., world-class re- population,” said Chief Gregory E. Pyle of See HAMPTON Page 5 search and clinical facility that was dedicated the Choctaw Nation. “The Dean McGee Eye on September 30 and for renovation of the Institute has proactively dedicated itself to existing 70,000-sq.ft. building constructed in working with us to help diagnose and treat u What’s inside 1975. retinal problems earlier in the disease process Choctaw Nation: KAREN JACOB “We are extremely grateful to the Choc- and thereby achieve better outcomes.” Columns ............................................. 2 taw Nation for this very generous gift. Our The newly expanded Dean McGee Eye In- Notes to the Nation ............................. 3 ophthalmologists, led by Dr. Stephen Fran- stitute facility, which adjoins the original fa- Nursery News ..................................... 4 Choctaws gather to sen, have enjoyed a long and meaningful re- cility, doubles the space for research laborato- Food Distribution ................................ 4 lationship with Choctaw leaders since 2001 ries, expands clinical capacity by 40 percent, People You Know ............................... 6 in working together to preserve vision for and consolidates all of the clinical care, vision Education ............................................ 7 Iti Fabvssa .......................................... 9 celebrate the holidays the Choctaw people through the Diabetic research, teaching, and administrative func- Obituaries .................................... 14-15 Holiday celebrations have been going on all over the Retinopathy Outreach Program clinic in Tali- tions into one location. Choctaw Nation, beginning with Thanksgiving dinners hina,” said Dr. Gregory Skuta, president and The Institute’s clinical and surgical teams The Mission at the community centers last month and now visits with CEO of the Dean McGee Eye Institute and provide more than 150,000 patient visits of the Choctaw Santa are kicking off the Christmas season. Above, at Ato- Edward L. Gaylord Professor and Chair of (both adult and children) in addition to 7,000 ka’s Chistmas gathering, Santa Claus visits with Coun- Nation of Oklahoma the OU College of Medicine’s Department surgical procedures each year. Dean McGee cilman Anthony Dillard, Carmela Lopez, Danika Billy, of Ophthalmology. “This gift helps to expand Eye Institute physicians and scientists are To enhance the lives of all mem- Dresden Billy and Jalie Miller. our clinical and research capabilities in treat- internationally respected and hold numerous bers through opportunities designed ing and preventing vision loss from diabetes leadership positions in major professional to develop healthy, successful and zx Community Thanksgiving dinners – and scientific organizations. The residency productive lifestyles. and other disorders in the hundreds of tribal photos on Pages 10-13 members who visit our doctors both in Okla- See DONATION Page 5 BISKINIK | December 2011 | Page 2 Employees’ value to tribe is immeasurable From the Desk of employees is immeasurable. Chief Gregory E. Pyle We honor our employees with tokens of appreciation upon their 5-, 10-, 15- and 20-plus-year anniversaries with the tribe. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has grown to approxi- This year we have five employees who will receive awards for mately 210,000 members and 7,000 employees. Every time I 30 years of service – Shelia Kirven, Cora Rockwood, Randel think of this, I am thankful for the great group of people who Bohanon, Fred Logan Jr.