issue of the Biskinik continues Atoka Center Outreach This arts and crafts Safety publication of recorded interviews of classes Camp Choctaw elders from 2007. Page 12 Page 15 This month – Lizzie Carney 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 April 2011 Issue Serving 205,327 Choctaws Worldwide Choctaws ... growing with pride, hope and success Choctaw Nation Drought related donates fuel sale Choctaw proudly takes fire dangers profits to Japan The recent lack of rain has left the residents of southeast Okla- relief effort homa concerned. Simple modi- charge as Durant fire chief fications can be made though to By LARISSA COPELAND By BRET MOSS protect one’s property from pos- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma sible fire danger. According to Fire Chief Roger The Choctaw Nation held a In all towns across America, there Joines of the Durant Fire Depart- fundraiser at its 13 travel plaza are people who take charge of insti- ment, a few simple steps can sig- locations on the weekend of tutions that the public could not live nificantly decrease the chances March 19-20, donating all fuel without. Mayor, sheriff and fire chief of a fire around the home. sale profits made to support the are just a handful of positions lead- • Keep all the grass at a short relief effort in Japan. The amount ing the public’s essential entities. length around the home. Tall raised that weekend totalled The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma grass can increase the height and intensity of flames. more than $12,000. is proud to claim newly appointed With the ongoing earthquake, Durant Fire Chief Roger Joines as • Keep pine needles and other roughage cleaned from the tsunami and nuclear tragedy in one of its own. With more than 20 lawn. Japan, the Choctaw Nation, like years of dedicated service to the • Any burning should be done many in the area, wondered what department, Joines was selected to in a burn barrel with a screen it could do to help with the relief fill the position by the Durant city over the top to keep larger efforts. The relief organizations manager after the previous fire chief floating ash inside the barrel. and resources on the ground in Choctaw Nation: BRET MOSS retired. • Always keep a garden hose Japan say that monetary dona- Born in Idabel to Clifford and Durant Fire Chief and proud Choctaw, Roger Joines. handy on any and every occa- tions are of the best assistance. Margaret Joines, he soon moved to sion. And with rising prices of fuel and McAlester where he grew up spend- He spent 12 years as a mechanic be- something with more excitement, so By heeding these tips and us- with so many families hitting the ing time in the outdoors, hunting and fore taking up firefighting, and kept he picked up the paper and discov- ing caution in everyday practices, road for Spring Break, the Choc- fishing with his family. up mechanic work part-time after- ered an ad for a fireman’s position you will decrease the chances of taw Nation saw this as an ideal He lived across the street from a ward. in Durant. He had a friend who was fire dangers at your household. opportunity to turn the high fuel fire station and was intrigued by it. Joines moved to the Durant area in in the business and after a discus- Also, be mindful of any burn bans that may be affecting your area prices into a good cause. “I remember watching them work 1984 to be with the woman who is sion with them he was ready to try during droughts. The Choctaw Nation has a long and thinking they had a cool job,” now his wife, Dana, who was from his hand at it. In Oklahoma, to find out if your history of generosity towards said Joines as he spoke about his Caddo. His parents had moved to the The thought of being a fireman felt county is under a burn ban, visit others during difficult times. early interest in the occupation. area earlier, making the move a logi- exciting to Joines. “It’s not some- forestry.ok.gov/burn-ban-infor- “By giving during times of need When he was older, he went to cal decision. thing everyone does,” he said. “I’ve mation or contact your county we’re following the moral ex- school for automotive technology In 1989, as he tired of the me- commissioner. amples set by our ancestors,” on the campus of OSU Okmulgee. chanic career, he began to look for See FIRE CHIEF on Page 9 said Chief Gregory E. Pyle. “For example, in 1847, the Choctaw gathered $170 and sent it to the starving Irish people to aid them during the Irish Potato Famine. The Choctaw themselves had ex- Archers take aim as fifth perienced extreme hardships 16 years earlier on the Trail of Tears. bow shoot season begins “The Choctaw people have big By LISA REED hearts and are always willing Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma to lend a hand to a neighbor in need,” he continued. The draw was strong for several The money received from the participants who traveled from fuel sales at the Travel Plazas Tuskahoma, Fort Towson, Broken during the fundraiser was do- Bow and Idabel to be the first to nated to the American Red Cross Choctaw Nation: FAYE SELF start the Choctaw Nation’s fifth specifically for relief aid in Ja- bow shoot season on March 12. pan, whose main focus is feed- Chief Gregory E. Pyle congratulates Quinton superintendent Don Winners in their age divisions ing, sheltering and supplying ba- Cox as JOM coordinator Judy Needham, far right, and Vickie Simco were: sic needs for victims. look on. • 5 and under boys and girls: 1st, Choctaw Nation Travel Pla- Calvin Pamer; 2nd, Shyla Hatch- zas are located in Atoka, Broken er; 3rd, Datyin Tapley. Bow, Durant, Garvin, Heavener, Quinton Public Schools named • 6 to 8 coed: 1st, Memree Choctaw Nation: LISA REED Grant, Idabel, McAlester, Poco- Hatcher. Pam Waugh takes aim at a tar- la, Poteau, Stringtown and Wil- • 9 to 13 coed: 1st, Levi Hatcher. get during the first bow shoot. burton. 2011 JOM Exemplary Program • 14-16 boys: 1st, Korbin Rich. By CHRISSY DILL gram has 72 participating schools • 20+ men: 1st, Jody Waugh; second Saturday of every month Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and 9,700 students enrolled. Each 2nd, Darrell Palmer; 3rd, Joey through November and is open for u What’s inside year JOM honors an Exemplary Waugh. all ages. Registration is at 10:30 Quinton Public School was re- JOM Program from the Choctaw, • 20+ women: 1st, Pam Waugh. a.m. on the capitol grounds at Tush- Notes to the Nation ................... 2 cently named 2011 Exemplary JOM Cherokee, Chickasaw and Musco- There were no entries in the 17- ka Homma. Shooting starts at 11 Columns ................................... 3 Program representing the Choctaw gee (Creek) Nations as well as the 19 girls or boys divisions or the a.m. Nursery News ........................... 4 Nation. According to CN JOM Par- Bureau of Indian Education. 14-16 girls division. ent Committee Liaison June Praytor, Quinton Public Schools employs The shoot will be held on the See BOW SHOOT on Page 11 WIC ........................................... 4 Quinton has exhibited great organi- Don Cox as the superintendent and Recipes ..................................... 4 zation with a timely manner and has Judy Needham as the school’s JOM Food Distribution ...................... 5 earned success with an extensive Coordinator. People You Know ..................... 6 drug awareness program for its stu- “Quinton Schools serve as a mod- Education .................................. 7 dents. el,” said Praytor. Currently, there Trail of Tears Walk set for May 21 Spring is here, a time for rebirth. The annual On Oct. 1, 1984, the Choctaw Na- are 209 students enrolled at Quinton A Salute .................................... 8 Choctaw Nation Trail of Tears Commemora- Obituaries ..........................18-19 tion, under the jurisdiction of the who are a part of JOM. Praytor explained several reasons tive Walk is a time for remembering our an- Iti Fabvssa .............................. 20 Bureau of Indian Affairs, Muskogee Area Office, contracted the Johnson- why Quinton was chosen as an ex- cestors’ long walk from Mississippi and the O’Malley funds for the operation of emplary program. “They submit all rebirth of a nation. Chief Gregory E. Pyle, supplemental programs designed their documentation in a timely fash- Assistant Chief Gary Batton and the Choctaw T-shirt order form for ion,” she said. “This school meets its Nation Tribal Council would like to invite ev- The Mission to meet the specialized and unique this year’s walk can be needs of the eligible Indian students goals and objectives.” found on Page 5 eryone to participate in this annual event on of the Choctaw within the Choctaw Nation. Supple- Quinton Public Schools have May 21 at Wheelock Academy in Millerton. Nation of Oklahoma mental programs consist of special shown initiative with its efforts in a Everyone is asked to come early and park at Wheelock. Those who wish program support and educational drug awareness program. “The drug to join in the walk can ride a bus to the starting point at the park in Miller- T o enhance the lives of all support. awareness program, which is high- ton. The walk will begin at 10 a.m. with opening remarks by Chief Pyle. A members through opportu- These programs meet the edu- lighted during Red Ribbon Week, free meal will be served to all who spend this special day with us.