Choctaw Nation

Choctaw culture celebrated at state capitol

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:17:32 GMT

A crowd gathers to watch the Raccoon Dance.

Oklahoma State Senate declares May 15, 2012, as ‘Choctaw Day’

BRET MOSS Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma assembled a group of cultural experts and artists at the Oklahoma State Capitol building on May 15, 2012, to bring the Choctaw experience to the people of the Oklahoma City area and the leaders of the state.

Brightly clothed Choctaws filled the capitol’s second floor rotunda in their traditional clothing ready to leave an impression on guests of the capitol. As soon as booths were set up and ready to go, guests were eager to get involved with what the Choctaw Nation had to offer.

Exhibits of various staples of Choctaw heritage were on display, including stickball, pottery, flute making and beadwork. The Choctaw museum had an exhibit giving a background on the history of the people, and Choctaw Language teachers gave guests of the capitol a sampling of the native words.

Artists whose work has been featured throughout the Choctaw Nation were also on display. Artists included Jane Umsted and Dylan Cavin, whose work has been featured on various Choctaw publications, as well as Paul King, the creator of the branding image for the 2011 Choctaw Days in Washington D.C., and Theresa Morris, whose “Windstar” design has been widely used for Choctaw events and publications.

Many people also enjoyed visiting a booth featuring the Choctaw Code Talkers that reminded patrons of the service to their country.

Storytellers Greg Rodgers and Stella Long told Choctaw tales to eager ears and the Choctaw princesses demonstrated the Lord’s Prayer in sign language, a familiar activity of Choctaw events.

Traditional dancers got the audience involved with the Stealing Partners Dance and the Snake Dance. Throughout the day, they demonstrated many other traditional dances including the Walk and War Dance.

Many members of the Choctaw Tribal Council were in attendance to enjoy conversing with the guests and show their support for the spreading of the Choctaw culture. Assistant Chief Gary Batton addressed the crowd, proclaiming how proud he was to see the Choctaw Nation on display in such a venue.

Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb followed Batton, and mentioned he was happy to see the Choctaw Nation spreading its heritage and teaching people of the Oklahoma what it means to be Choctaw.

Senator Josh Brecheen spent time with members of the Choctaw group and, as the event came to a close, made a motion before the Oklahoma State Senate that this day be recognized as “Choctaw Day.” This motion was accepted and Batton addressed the senate showing his appreciation for the honor bestowed on the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

To view photos of the Choctaw Day activities visit Choctaw Nation’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/choctawnationofoklahoma.

The Choctaw Nation group after meeting with the State Senate.

Assistant Chief Gary Batton addresses the Oklahoma State Senate.

Choctaw Nation officers take part in ‘Click It or Ticket’ seat belt campaign

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:52:50 GMT

Choctaw Nation Public Safety Officers Lt. Brant Henry of Atoka, in foreground, and Sgt. Mike Johnson of Durant work a police check point in Atoka, checking for seat belt use among drivers and occupants, as part of this year’s “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign.

Choctaw Nation officers take part in ‘Click It or Ticket’ seat belt campaign

By LARISSA COPELAND
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

ATOKA, Okla. – The Choctaw Nation Public Safety Department is once again joining up with its Southeastern Oklahoma Traffic Safety Coalition (SOTSC) partners for this year’s “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign.

The operation kicked off with a press event on May 14 at the Atoka High School, and was followed by a police checkpoint to ensure drivers and vehicle occupants were in compliance of the state’s seat belt laws. The checkpoint was operated by Choctaw Tribal officers and law enforcement agencies from Idabel, Hugo, Calera, and Atoka Police Departments, as well as the Atoka County Sheriffs Department and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Eight-hundred-forty-four vehicles passed through during the two-hour checkpoint, resulting in 25 citations and 47 warnings issued to the motorists. Additionally, officers also performed 11 child safety seat inspections and served six warrants.

The main push for “Click It or Ticket” will run from May 21-June 3. Officers will be out both day and night patrolling Oklahoma roadways and running checkpoints to crack down on seat belt violators.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts are the most effective vehicle safety feature ever invented, yet so many of those hitting the road still fail to buckle up regularly. The goal for this year’s “Click It or Ticket” blitz is to increase the seat belt use percentage of Oklahoma motorists and occupants to at least 90 percent.

Sgt. Johnson checks the backseat of a vehicle stopped at the checkpoint to ensure all occupants were wearing their seat belts.

Lt. Henry explains the seat belt campaign to a driver passing through the checkpoint in Atoka.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Choctaw Nation team up for theatrical debut at Smithsonian

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:12:55 GMT

http://s3.amazonaws.com/choctaw-msldigital/assets/1402/webDG_Smalling3_original.jpg

Kathleen Hardgrove, bottom right, directs her cast as they prepare for the production of Antigone: At War. Rebecca Sparks is atop the stairs while Tanner Risner, left, and Dustin Curry listen at the bottom. Both Tanner and Dustin will be a part of the Smithsonian production.

Setting the stage for a hit:
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Choctaw Nation team up for theatrical debut at Smithsonian

The curtain is set to open this summer on the very first theatrical production featuring the dual efforts of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) and Theatre at Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SE). This tag-team effort will take place at the annual Choctaw Days event hosted by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, June 20-23.

After the success of last year’s Choctaw Days, CNO has been reaching out even further to bring exciting and immersive talents to this showcase of Choctaw heritage and culture. “Given their close ties with the Choctaw people, knowledge of the culture and exceptional talent, SE was an easy choice to bring Choctaw ways to life on the stage of the Rasmusen,” said Chief Gregory E. Pyle.

Though not yet finalized, the working title of the production is “It Wasn’t Code to Us,” and will cover a great variety of Choctaw aspects, with an emphasis on the World War 1 Code Talkers who pioneered using a native language as military code. It is “an interesting look into the expanse of the Choctaw language,” said Director Kathleen Hardgrove of SE’s staff.

The production will also give glimpses into Choctaw issues such as stickball, basket making and many others as it follows a young Choctaw woman who learns about her heritage from an elder of the tribe. Her education will be the underlying plot tying the wide spectrum of Choctaw culture together.

The performance will be in dual narrative featuring the truest form of the Choctaw language, and will be presented in an ambitious new style termed “theatrical collage.” In this style of presentation, actors on the stage will be accompanied by sound tracks, videos, picture montages and will be acting opposite filmed actors who will be filmed on sets in Oklahoma.

“Obviously we can’t play stickball on the stage, but we want to show a lot of visuals of iconic [scenes] of the nation,” said Hardgrove as she explained how the video and picture aspects will work to immerse the audience further into the Choctaw experience. Hardgrove and her theatre crew have been perfecting this new style with other productions, most recently with the Greek play, Antigone.

While the style of the production may be a new technique, the content about the Choctaw people is well-rooted in American history. Professor Randy Prus of SE’s English Department has taken the charge to write the content of the play.

Prus has been well-versed in the Choctaw culture and was an easy pick to write the content. “He is the expert on campus,” mentioned Hardgrove as she reiterated his qualification. He has been in contact with various cultural experts within the Choctaw Nation to bring the most accurate and intriguing script to the stage.

“I saw this as an opportunity to learn more about the Choctaw people and culture, especially their history,” said Prus as he discussed his motivation for his work on the project. “I’ve never done anything quite like this before and welcomed the opportunity to learn new things, meet new people, and work on a collaborative effort. I hope people recognize some of the uniqueness of Oklahoma Choctaw, mostly I hope people enjoy it and it makes their lives a little bit sweeter,” he continued.

CNO is very excited to have its heritage displayed yet again at the Smithsonian, especially through the medium of performing arts. With almost 30 percent of the student body being Native American, SE has not only the capability to bring that heritage to life, but the background and close ties with the culture.

There are over 500 Choctaw students at SE, lending the university to a heavy dose of Choctaw ways and history. SE has offered classes on the Choctaw language for years, and in the fall of 2011, an 18-hour minor in Choctaw became available.

With a venue as renown as the Rasmusen on their summer roster, no one has to explain the opportunity this production presents for the students of SE. “My students are extremely excited to be a part of this,” stated Hardgrove as she told how her students anticipated the occasion and collaboration with CNO. “It’s definitely something that is going on next year’s recruitment brochures,” she continued.

The upcoming trip to the Smithsonian is a summer plan that has the Theatre at SE crowd buzzing, but it is far from their first round with prestigious venues. SE has been conducting the Hamlet Tour recently, which is a small version of Shakespear’s Hamlet, written by the Chair of Art, Communication and Theatre at SE, Dell McLain, while on sabbatical in New York working with professional actors.

They have taken the Hamlet Tour across Oklahoma and Arkansas to cities such as Tulsa and Eureka Springs. That performance has even been conducted at the Globe of the Great Southwest, the only standing replica of Shakespeare’s globe in the United States, located in Odessa, Texas.

Along with their Hamlet Tour, SE has preformed in and hosted several festivals. They have also performed across the country in locations as far as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and have plans on gracing the Stella Adler Theater in Los Angeles.

In addition to the many productions and festivals SE hosts and attends on a regular basis, they also host after-school plays for children, produce student films and demonstrate student written and directed plays annually.

The high level of both quality and quantity of work that pours out from Theatre at SE not only stems from a highly motivated and talented student body, but an exceptionally well-qualified staff. According to McClain, every theatre faculty member at SE currently works professionally in the industry.

Hardgrove, who is leading this production, graduated from SE and went on to work as a teacher, costume designer, actor and director in various places such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York. Her time touring across the country has led her to theatre work in every state in the continental U.S.

She decided to bring her experiences and knowledge back to SE because she liked the way they trained and is now the theatre historian. She still travels nationally and internationally to attend the most world-renown tours such as the Humana Festival to gather ideas, trends and techniques to deliver to the students of SE. These travels are prime examples of how SE is meeting its charge to “bring the world to SE.”

The cooperative effort between CNO and SE is sure to be a hit at Choctaw Days coming in June. SE has high hopes to bring to life the rich culture of the Choctaw people in a fun and immersive way. It is a chance for both organizations to shine in the national spotlight.

If you would like to know more about Theatre at SE, contact 580-745-2735 or visit homepages.se.edu/theatre/. For more information on Choctaw Days, contact 800-522-6170, or visit choctawnation.com.

Expressing cultural, historical ideals through art

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:55:44 GMT

Choctaw artist D.G. Smalling poses with a sculpture he created using glass and steel. The four-sided tipi, which he says represents tribal, state, and federal judicial systems working together in unison and with necessary transparency, is prominently displayed in the Oklahoma Judicial Center’s Supreme Court Reception Room in Oklahoma City.

Expressing cultural, historical ideals through art

By LARISSA COPELAND
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

To represent the tribe as a presenter at Choctaw Days at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is a huge, humbling honor, says artist D.G. Smalling of Oklahoma City, an honor that helps to affirm the skills and ideals he has dedicated his life to representing.

“Number one, to be there with the tribe is a very important thing; it validates me as an artist. It validates, too, that the nation sees value in it. That is exciting to me, that I’ll be there presenting with my peers,” he says.

“Second, the Smithsonian is a big thing, huge,” he adds. “To be there, to just be present for this, it means a lot. I grew up as a kid going to the Smithsonian and I always get excited about it.”

Creating art has been a lifelong venture for Smalling, though he’s only been at it professionally for nine years. Though his Choctaw roots are prevalent in his work, his methods are varied and his influences vast. Smalling is quick to point out that his style is such that he can’t be boxed into any particular category.

“I’m an artist,” he asserts, “not just a ‘Native artist.’ I’m Native, yes, but I am adamant about not being pigeonholed with who I am as an artist. I need the flexibility.”

It was this diversity that has made different cultures seek out and appreciate his work. His first piece exhibited to the public was in a Cuban gallery in Miami, Fla., something that helped affirm to himself that he was being taken seriously in the field.

“The fact that it was a non-Native gallery that exhibited my art authenticated to me that I am an artist,” he says. “It showed me that subject matter wasn’t what was important. It was the skill of my technique that attracted them to my work.”

Today, his pieces are displayed in museums, galleries, government buildings and homes in locations around the world. Smalling creates in many formats, from painting and drawing, to sculptures of steel and glass. “My art is proportionate, fluid.”

Working with Choctaw hieroglyphs, one technique he often uses is a contemporary “one line” format, the drawing of a single, constant line without interruption to create intricately detailed sketches. “I use the old ways but keep it modern,” he says. “That’s exciting to me.”

His methods are also simple and done with commonly used tools, such as Sharpie® markers and pens. “I want kids to be able to see what I do and what I use so they’ll realize, ‘hey, I can do that,’ when they see that my tools are readily available,” he says, crediting the diversity of exposure to other artists and situations throughout his life.

Smalling grew up in Idabel and Haworth, but then at age 8, he and his family packed up and left southeastern Oklahoma to do missionary work overseas. Together, they lived in Switzerland, Cameroon, and South Africa, where he was continually influenced both politically and artistically by his travels and exposure to other cultures.

After graduating high school in South Africa, while his parents continued their missionary work in numerous countries around the world, Smalling returned to the United States to attend the University of Oklahoma where he earned his degree in political science. Today, while creating art feeds one passion, his full-time job in Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Yvonne Kauger’s Sovereignty Symposium office, fuels another passion for him – educating tribal members.

“I owe a debt to my tribe,” he explains. “My great-grandmother, it would have been so easy for her to forget, to not carry on the language, the culture. We could have disappeared so easily. But she refused. My faith and my debt is so much that I have to continue it. It’s a beautiful obligation.

“It is important for us to remember that someone far back in our families felt strongly enough that we need to be Choctaw, that in the face of everything that tried to submit it, to beat it out of them, they refused,” he continued. “That’s why I refuse. I celebrate it that we survived. That’s why I say there is a debt. This is who I am and I’m proud of that.”

Along with the responsibility of educating and empowering of tribal members, he believes strongly for tribes to encourage the output of quality art and Native-created items. “We fought long and hard to control our art,” he says, referring to the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. “It’s important that we understand and respect that.”

He says tribes can ensure that idea by developing an artist registry with quality artists who accurately reflect its history and views. “Outside people go to the registry when seeking out art from a particular tribe and registries are often their starting point. The registry reflects back on the tribe and is why the artists need to be vetted – to ensure the tribe is represented in the right way. The quality is just as important as who is making it.”

Smalling plans to take that to heart when he presents at Choctaw Days at the NMAI in Washington, D.C. There, he will display his work and do demonstrations, along with lectures and presentations on the Choctaw Code Talkers. Smalling is a great-grandson of World War I Code Talker Calvin Wilson.

Choctaw Days will take place at the NMAI from June 20-23. The public is encouraged to visit the event and experience Smalling’s artwork and knowledge, along with additional artists, dancers and others representing the tribe, and take part in a memorable, rich Choctaw cultural experience.

Additionally, Smalling can be heard every Saturday morning hosting a radio program on Oklahoma City station, The Spy FM. His hour-long show is dedicated to discussing pertinent topics and trends with leaders and friends in Indian country, and also showcasing the music of Native artists, giving them a platform to show their diversity and talent. Podcasts and apps to remotely listen to his show are available for download on www.TheSpyFM.com/shows/ndn-country/.

Smalling adds color detail to one of his “one line” sketches. The entire drawing is made with a single continuous line without interruption, pictured below in closer detail.

OU students learn how water has shaped Choctaw culture, past and present

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:21:06 GMT

The visitors from OU are welcomed to the Choctaw capitol grounds by Regina Green, who gives them a lesson on Choctaw history and culture in the capitol building while in traditional dress.

OU students learn how water has shaped Choctaw culture, past and present

BRET MOSS Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

It’s no secret that water is a precious resource to Oklahoma, one that is in the forefront of Choctaw Nation’s preservation efforts. The water in southeast Oklahoma affects much more than just the drinking habits of the people – it has strong ties to the past, present and future of the Choctaw people.

Recently, a handful of University of Oklahoma students traveled to the capitol grounds of the Choctaw Nation in Tushka Homma to learn just how deep the water runs in the culture of the Choctaw people.

The students, who are enrolled in an applied climatology class, were invited to the capitol because they are partnering with the Choctaw Nation in developing its sustainable water plan and drought planning process.

These students have been charged with the task of gathering data on factors that influence the climate in the area. The group requested a visit to Choctaw Nation to get a better feel for the area they were to be researching, and see first-hand the water’s influence on the environment.. Several cultural experts on differing aspects gathered to accommodate this request, assuring a well-rounded glimpse into the Choctaw Nation for the students.

Choctaw baskets, weapons and pottery were displayed to demonstrate how water affects many staples of Choctaw culture. River cane and cattails grow only in the specific conditions created by water in the Southeastern region of the United States, and these are the resources used to create many Choctaw items.

The availability of these objects and other substances such as clay for traditional Choctaw pottery are afforded by the water conditions in the Choctaw Nation. The students were able to get a hands-on feel for the products of the conditions they are currently investigating.

The work being done by the climatology class is part of a project constructed by Director of Research for South Central Climate Science Center, Renee McPherson, Ph. D., to enable the students to make serious contributions in their field of study.

Choctaw Nation is part of a league of government and academic entities which helped create the new South-Central Climate Research Center that will, according to OU’s website, “address the topics of climate variability and change.” Other members in this consortium are Texas Tech University, Louisiana State University, The Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma State University, and NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory.

The efforts of the this climate research center and those of the class which traveled to the Choctaw capitol will provided Choctaw Nation with valuable information to help construct a water plan that is beneficial to everyone in Oklahoma as well as sustainable for future generations.

Brian McClain takes the group to the edge of the Kiamichi river to explain how quickly the water passes through the area.
Ryan Spring tells about the Choctaw arrow and the necessity for river cane in its creation. He explains that this particular type of river cane only grows in the southeastern portions of the United States, and nowhere else in the world. The conditions created by the flooding of riverbanks make Oklahoma prime areas for river cane to grow.
Spring showing the visitors a bucket of clay used to make Choctaw pottery. He tells about mussel shells, which were a key ingredient to Choctaw pottery. He tells that 297 species of freshwater mussels are native to the Southeastern United States. Of these, 35 species have gone extinct, 70 species are endangered or threatened, and 180 species are considered critically impaired. The Kiamichi River is one of the best remaining habitats for freshwater mussels in the United States.
Todd Baughman shows off clean drinking water from a natural spring near the Choctaw capitol which used to provided water for the early Choctaw government.

Umsted exhibits great pride in tribe through art, utilizes family experiences as inspiration

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:51:38 GMT

Umsted

Umsted exhibits great pride in tribe through art, utilizes family experiences as inspiration

Eager eyes and ears will be taking in Choctaw Days at the Smithsonian again this summer.

Artist Janie Umsted is very proud to have the opportunity to be one of the chosen few to show her Native American artwork at the National Museum of the American Indian.

“It is such a great honor for me to be chosen by the Choctaw Nation to be one of the Choctaw artists to travel to Washington, D.C., this summer,” said Umsted; however, this will not be the first time Umsted will be visiting this particular museum. “I was so fortunate to be able to be with the Choctaw delegation at the grand opening of the museum several years ago,” she said. “I thought my heart would burst with pride to be a part of such a beautiful display of pride in our heritage of the first Americans.”

Umsted possesses a rich Choctaw family history, which she cherishes. “My great-great-great-grandfather was Peter Pitchlynn, chief during the Civil War,” she said. “My great-uncle was William F. Semple, chief right after Oklahoma statehood in the early 1920s.

“My great-aunt, Dr. Anne Semple, was one of the earliest Choctaw women in Oklahoma to receive a PhD and was the only Choctaw woman to be named as Oklahoma Poet Laureate of Oklahoma,” continued Umsted. “She also wrote the History of the Oklahoma Presbyterian College,” which site now serves as the tribal headquarters of the Choctaw Nation.

Another family member of hers experienced the Trail of Tears firsthand, she said. “This is a family history of which I am extremely proud.”

Umsted said to have the opportunity to return to the Museum of the American Indian and share her art is unbelievable, and she plans to have a number of her paintings and perhaps some small sculptures on display during the event.

She gained her initial experience as an artist at the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 1969 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and has been working professionally in art ever since.

Even before she was able to gain a formal education to further her artistic career, Umsted’s family played a part in her growing talent. “I am from a very artistic Choctaw family and all of my art training started early in life,” she stated.

She said her training was considered very traditional and academic in style and was very predictable as far as results. “By that, I mean that I was taught to draw and paint from a realistic point of view,” she explained.

Today, Umsted practices a form of art entitled “Batik,” which she calls a very unusual and unpredictable technique that she has been doing for over 40 years and is mostly self-taught. The Batik process involves materials such as melted wax, brushes, dyes and fabric.

Umsted plans to feature pieces she has used Batik to create at her exhibit during Choctaw Days, as well as some works done using acrylic paint.

Overall, she plans to have artwork that reflects her theme of “A Military History of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma,” which was inspired by men in her family who have served in the military.

“My father was a bomber pilot in World War II and received numerous medals, including the Distinguished Air Cross,” she said proudly, adding that her brothers are both graduates of the Naval Academy. “They are proud of their Choctaw heritage and proud of their military service.”

Along with Umsted’s theme of the Choctaw Nation’s involvement with our nation’s military, she also plans to create for her display a piece that highlights the Choctaw game of stickball, a piece entitled “Little Brother of War,” and pieces paying respect to the Choctaw Color Guard, the Code Talkers and the Veteran’s Day Celebrations of the Choctaw Nation. “I will be incorporating both the Choctaw flag and the United States flag in much of my work,” she added.

Umsted’s exhibit is sure to demonstrate the great pride she has for her Choctaw tribe, and therefore show many museum visitors how tradition-oriented the great Choctaw Nation is and the respect its tribal members hold for its culture. “To have the opportunity to display my artwork at the Museum of the American Indian is one of the highlights of my career and my life,” she said.

Giving wings to wounded warriors

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:15:16 GMT

Choctaw Nation pilots Al Cherry and John Wesley greet their passengers and the VAC flight coordinator before take off. Pictured, from left, are Spec. Terry Ligman, Tanya Boulgakova, Cherry, Sgt. 1st Class John Faulkenberry, Mark Parker, Wesley, and Maria Miles, the flight coordinator from VAC.

Giving wings to wounded warriors

Choctaw Nation Flight Operations makes 24th volunteer flight by taking wounded service members to Bataan Memorial Death March

By LARISSA COPELAND
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has a philosophy of caring for military veterans, both Native and non-Native. This is accomplished in a variety of ways through numerous tribal departments by providing services and assistance, holding several annual events, giving out mementos to veterans and military members, and more. The list goes on.

More recently though, over the past two years the tribe’s Flight Operations department, which consists of three pilots, Al Cherry, John Wesley and Quentin McLarry, and two aircraft, has stepped in to do its part too.

The team provides an invaluable service to wounded service members and veterans by providing free air transportation for medical or other compassionate purposes. This is done through the Veterans Airlift Command, or VAC, which is a non-profit organization that arranges such flights through a network of volunteer pilots and aircraft.

“I read an article in an aviation magazine about the VAC,” says Cherry, who is also director of flight ops at Choctaw Nation. “I thought it would be a good way for us to show our support for the troops.”

His fellow pilots agreed and are proud to be a part of the program. “These men and women have sacrificed their lives for our country,” says Wesley, “and have paid a heavy price with their injuries. Flying for the VAC is something we can do for them to let them know that we appreciate their service.”

To date, the flight team has made 24 of these volunteer flights, with 116 flight hours and more than 36,000 miles covered in support of the VAC.

“In addition to our primary passenger on each flight,” Cherry adds, “we have flown 36 additional passengers, most being family members riding with the veteran.”

The latest trip they’ve flown was made on March 23 to transport a group of wounded warriors from Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to Las Cruces, N.M., for the annual Bataan Memorial Death March.

A total of 17 wounded soldiers, physical therapists, case workers and support staff were flown by volunteer pilots, including Cherry and Wesley in this case, on four aircraft to take part in the 26.2-mile march honoring the military heroes who suffered through the 80-mile march on the Philippine Islands during World War II.

“This is our first time being part of something this big, with this many people and the other planes involved,” said Cherry. “This one was significant, both in numbers and because of the event (the Bataan Memorial Death March).”

Passengers on the Choctaw flight were two of the wounded soldiers, Sgt. 1st Class John Faulkenberry and Spc. Terry Ligman, along with physical therapist Mark Parker and Tanya Boulgakova, a case manager at the Center for the Intrepid, or CFI.

All the soldiers making this particular voyage are receiving treatment for their injuries at CFI, a branch of the Brooks Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston. CFI provides rehabilitation to those who have sustained amputations, burns, or functional limb loss in combat during Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. Both Faulkenberry and Ligman have undergone below-the-knee amputations and have been fitted with prosthetic limbs.

In 2007, Faulkenberry, a 29-year-old former Army Ranger from Midland, Texas, was on his third combat tour, having deployed twice to Iraq before going to Afghanistan. It was there, in Northern Afghanistan while his platoon was assisting fellow soldiers who were greatly outnumbered by enemy forces, that he was shot by machine gun fire several times in his right thigh during the fierce firefight.

Faulkenberry lost two friends in that battle.

“We’d been in country about three months when it happened,” he says. “We got a call [on the radio] that another platoon had been ambushed and mine responded. I was shot in my upper leg and twice below the knee. I lost a lot of muscle in my thigh because of it, so, even though I have the same below-the-knee amputation as some guys, I don’t have the same leg strength because I have less muscle mass here,” he says, pointing to his right thigh.

After an unsuccessful three-year effort to salvage the limb, he ultimately chose to have the lower part of his leg amputated in 2010.

“I’ve gone on a VAC flight once before this to do research before I decided to have my amputation,” says Faulkenberry, who had already undergone dozens of surgeries and would most likely have had ongoing pain and a limp for life had he not had the operation. “We tried for a long time on my ‘limb salvage,’ not quite as long as him though,” he says, gesturing towards Ligman.

“Four years,” Ligman responded, referring to his long struggle to save his leg. After an IED blast in Iraq, Ligman, a 28-year-old tanker originally from Fort Gibson, Okla., was left enduring a painful fight to save his seriously injured foot and leg.

“It was my first deployment in 2007,” he says, “and we’d only been there for about a month when it happened. My tank hit a roadside bomb and my left foot got crushed in the explosion,” he says.

He, like Faulkenberry, initially tried “limb salvage” by undergoing numerous surgeries, painful recovery and therapy over a span of years, but eventually he had his leg amputated below the knee in late 2011.

“I had a lot of pain,” said Ligman, “not anymore though, since the amputation.” Both Faulkenberry and Ligman have chosen to medically retire from the military because of their injuries. “Mine was official on March 20th,” says Faulkenberry. Ligman’s medical retirement is still in the works.

Their injuries have not slowed them down though. This year’s Bataan march was a first for both men, who prepared by doing weekly marches and walks with their physical therapists.

The march is a challenge that Parker says is an important step in the injured soldiers’ rehabilitation.

“We want to help make things easier for them but not too easy because this is life,” says Parker, a six-time “Bataan” participant. “Even with their injuries, these guys just keep pushing and pushing, and it’s a huge morale boost for them to make it the entire 26.2 miles in the sand. They don’t give up and there’s no greater satisfaction seeing that.”

According to Ligman, he knew it wouldn’t be an easy task but he wasn’t deterred. “I signed up for the challenge,” he says, “to make it to the end.”

Boulgakova, who was making the march for the first time, says that a special kinship is formed between the caseworkers and physical therapists and the wounded warriors by participating in the march with them. “A bond is created by going through this together,” she says. “We want them all to finish and we’re here to assist them as needed. We don’t do this for our time on the march, we do it to support them.”

Parker states that the flights like the one provided by the Choctaw Nation through the VAC make this undertaking – successfully completing the march – more attainable for these soldiers.

“The flights are such a huge convenience for us,” says Parker. “It makes it easier for us all to get here and for these guys to accomplish their mission. They can focus on the march and not worry about the travel to get here. Being able to just walk out and get on the plane and not have to go through all the normal security procedures is so very helpful. This is a luxury.”

Security procedures at airports, though necessary and mostly just time-consuming to most travelers, prove to be an even more uncomfortable aspect of travel for those wearing prosthetics.

“This is much more convenient [than commercial travel] for us,” adds Ligman, who was on his second VAC flight. “Going through security and having to take off your leg to go through the metal detectors. Or other times we have to go to a separate room to be wanded…” he said, trailing off. “I enjoyed this flight today. It was comfortable and just really nice.”

Parker explains it further, having worked with many wounded warriors through the years, “These guys are dealing with a lot of emotional stuff during their recovery. Having to go through airport security, having to remove their prosthesis to go through the metal detectors and X-rays…it’s not that they forget, but it throws it back into their faces that, ‘hey, I’ve lost my leg,’ or their arm or whatever the case may be. [Security procedures at the airports] are just the way of the world today and we understand that. But by having these flights available, it’s just so helpful and we’re very grateful. It’s all about taking care of our wounded veterans.”

“[The flight] is such a wonderful thing,” adds Boulgakova, “so special and so appreciated. None of these warriors take it for granted.”

“The support we get is amazing,” says Faulkenberry. “I can’t say enough about it.” And those being flown aren’t the only ones who take something away from this flight program…the pilots are just as affected by the experience and feel it’s just a small way to show gratitude for their special passengers’ service.

“Seeing these soldiers and hearing their stories about the hassle and sometimes embarrassment they go through with airline travel makes me proud to be able to help them,” says Wesley.

Cherry agrees with that point of view. “It is a very awe-inspiring time for me,” he adds. “These young men and women have given so much of their time and effort, and it has cost them physically, mentally and emotionally; yet they still maintain a very positive attitude and many are still involved in helping others. I don’t think we can do enough to show them how grateful and appreciative we are.”

Cherry says Chief Pyle and Assistant Chief Batton are both very supportive of the flights, allowing the flight team freedom to schedule the trips when and where their schedule allows. Another wounded warrior flight is already on the books for this month, and according to Cherry, there’s “more to come.”

Volunteer pilots, including those from Choctaw Nation, flew 17 wounded soldiers, physical therapists, case workers and support staff, from Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on four aircraft to Las Cruces, N.M., take part in the Bataan Memorial Death March. The flight was organized by Veterans Airlift Command and was the 24th volunteer flight made by the Choctaw Nation Flight Operations.

Choctaw Nation Princess Pageant schedule and guidelines

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 07:38:21 GMT

Choctaw Nation Districts schedule annual Princess Pageants

District 1
May 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Choctaw Community Center in Idabel. Deadline for applications is May 14. For more information, please call 580-286-6116.

District 2
May 4 at 6 p.m. at the Community Center in Broken Bow. Applications may be picked up at the McCurtain County Boys and Girls Club. Deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on April 27. For more information, please call 580-584-3636.

District 3
May 29 at 6 p.m. at the Choctaw Community Center in Talihina. Deadline for applications is May 21. For more information, please call 918-567-2106.

District 4
May 12 at 4 p.m. at the Choctaw Community Center in Poteau. Deadline for applications is May 1. For more information, please call 918-647-9324.

District 5
May 9 at 12:30 p.m. at the Choctaw Community Center in Stigler. Deadline for applications is April 27. For more information, please call 918-967-2398.

District 6
May 12 at 4 p.m. at the Choctaw Community Center in Wilburton. Deadline for applications is May 4. For more information, please call 918-465-2389.

District 7
May 21 at 6 p.m. at the Choctaw Community Center in Wright City. Deadline for applications is 3 p.m. on May 11. For more information, please call 580-298-3856 or 580-981-7011.

District 8
May 18 at 6 p.m. at the Choctaw Community Center in Hugo. Deadline for applications is May 11. For more information, please call 580-326-3528.

District 9
June 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the Event Center in Durant. The pageant is in conjunction with the annual Magnolia Festival. For more information, please call 580-924-8280, Ext. 2504.

District 10
May 1 at 7 p.m. at the Choctaw Community Center in Atoka. Deadline for applications is April 16. For more information, please call 580-889-6147.

District 11
May 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Choctaw Community Center in McAlester. Deadline for applications is April 20. For more information, please call 918-423-1016.

District 12
May 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Choctaw Community Center in Crowder. Deadline for applications is May 4. For more information, please call 918-334-5344.

Princess Pageant Guidelines

Behavior to be conducted in a professional manner at all times.
Respect and honor all requests from Royalty Coordinators of Choctaw Nation.
All pictures taken by Choctaw Nation during term of Princess are property of Choctaw Nation.
Should Princess become, married, pregnant, resign or not perform duties, or not complete her reign as District Choctaw Princess, title and crown will be surrendered upon request.
Not performing duties required or requested of a Princess may result in disqualification and unable to enter or run for the same category again, be it Senior, Junior or Little Miss.
All travel receiving stipend and per diem must have prior approval.
If title of Little Miss CN, Junior Miss CN or Miss Choctaw Nation has been won at Tushka Homma level, royalty holding these titles cannot run for the District title in the same category.
In the event a Princess is unable or unwilling to complete her reign representing Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, if there is no runner up to take her place, District council person may appoint her replacement. Either runner-up or by appointment she is eligible to run in the District and Tushka Homma level.

Requirements to run in each category

Little Miss
Resident of District competing in
Between ages of 8-12 by Labor Day Pageant
1/16 degree Choctaw or higher
Be willing to attend Choctaw History and Culture classes
Not held title of Little Miss Choctaw Nation

Junior Miss
Resident of District competing in
Between ages of 13-17 by Labor Day Pageant
1/16 degree Choctaw or higher
Be willing to attend Choctaw History and Culture classes
Not held title of Junior Miss Choctaw Nation

Senior Miss
Resident of District competing in
Between ages of 18-23 by Labor Day Pageant
1/16 degree Choctaw or higher
Be willing to attend Choctaw History and Culture classes
Not held title of Miss Choctaw Nation

Slam dunk success with a message: Choctaw Kenny Dobbs inspiring youth on and off the court

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:06:38 GMT

Kenny Dobbs shows off his dunking talents at Bloomer Sullivan Arena on the campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Slam dunk success with a message:
Choctaw Kenny Dobbs inspiring youth on and off the court.

In the history of the Choctaw people, many have risen to success in their field of expertise, but one Choctaw in particular has leaped above the rest to success, a 48-inch vertical leap to be exact.

Phoenix native and slam dunk champion Kenny Dobbs spent some time in the Durant area recently to attend the Madness in March All-Indian Basketball tournament, bringing with him gravity-defying dunks and an encouraging testimony of his rise to success.

Searching “Kenny Dobbs” on youtube or google will quickly flood the screen with jaw-dropping slam-dunks. Kenny is a heavily decorated slam-dunk contest champion and dunk inventor with the title of 2010 Phoenix Sprite Slam Dunk Champion, 2011 Sprite LA Slam Dunk Champion and 2011 “Ball Up/ Streetball” Slam Dunk Champion as just a few bullet points on his resumé.

As a member of the Choctaw Nation, Kenny was delighted to spend time in the Choctaw Nation. He was able to meet with Chief Gregory E. Pyle and even get his basketball signed. Kenny was brought to Durant by Ivy Bridge College as a celebrity guest for the Madness in March event to serve as a motivation for the youth to create positive goals in their lives and pursue those goals with diligence.

Kenny was chosen to speak to the participants of Madness in March because his story was not always one of success. Kenny had to overcome tremendous odds to get where he is today, and at one point he could describe his life in one word: “hopeless.” His ability to find the drive to overcome a hopeless situation and his ability to dunk a basketball while jumping over four people was a combination that sparked interest in all ages.

Kenny grew up in a gang atmosphere, becoming involved in drugs and alcohol at a young age. He spent his time with a group of friends who kept his aspirations at bay and damaged his hopes of playing professional sports, a dream he had as a little boy.

He spent his time concerned with partying, which led him to be expelled from his home at the age of 15. His education suffered and he was not able to play high school sports, which severely lowered his chances to play anything past the street court.

All of his reckless activity came to a climax at the age of 17, when he and several friends were involved in a robbery. Those with him were caught while Kenny escaped. His accomplices reported him as the main culprit and divulged his location to law enforcement. Kenny was arrested and was told he would be tried as an adult.

As he sat in jail awaiting trial he began to seriously consider the choices in his life. He began to realize he needed to make changes. “I cried out to God,” said Kenny as he told how he began ask God to help him out of this situation and promised Him that he would make those changes he knew he needed. “I went from being this hardcore thug little man, to being a scared little boy that just wanted his momma to hold him,” continued Kenny as he described his desperation.

When Kenny had his day in court, his prayers had been answered. Both the witness of the crime and police officer who was set to testify failed to show up in court that day, and the others involved owned up to their portion of the crime, granting Kenny only fines and no jail time.

“My attorney looked to me and he said, ‘ It’s a miracle that you aren’t going to prison.’ And when he said that, it was a remembrance of the month before when I was sitting in the jail cell and crying out to God, making a promise,” exclaimed Kenny. From this point he knew he would have to make those changes he had promised to make.

His first goal was to finish high school. He had dropped out around the time he was kicked out of his home with only three credit hours. He had the option for a GED, but as one of the eldest in the generation of his family, he wanted to be an example and get his diploma. He now had the goal, but those influences which brought him down before were still holding him back.

One night while Kenny was out, his sister was sleeping in his bed and bullets began to fly through the window all around her. No one was injured, but as the next day dawned, he came home to over 30 shell casings and bullet holes covering the section of the house where he usually spent his time.

He looked over his room, seeing bullet holes in posters depicting violence and drug abuse and realized these influences and the associations with certain people were not only endangering his future and life, but his family as well. He then came to the conclusion that the first step in meeting his goal was to cleanse his life of those influences which brought him down.

Though he endured criticism for his it, he made known his decision saying, ”I have a plan and a purpose for my life and I am not going to waste it.” He cut out those people from his life and began to focus and work like he never had before. He needed 22 credits to graduate high school and did not want to spend three and a half years earning them, so he hit the books hard.

He enrolled in a program allowing him to attend school from 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. “When I got out of school, I would take home these great big books and have to read about five chapters, and then take a test online,” said Kenny as he remembered his studies He would write the words “diploma” and “graduation” above his door, so when he woke up he would be reminded of his goal and keep himself motivated.

Each of his tests was worth a quarter of a credit, and after a year and a half of solid schooling without breaks or vacation, he had finished his high school education. He had completed his first major goal and tasted success. He then knew he could do anything and used this experience as the blueprint for all his future accomplishments.

His next goal was college. He attempted to get sport scholarships with several schools, but without a high school resumé and coaching, none would look at him. Eventually he got his shot while talking with Glendale Community College. It happened by chance they were doing a scrimmage while Kenny was visiting and they let him hit the court. He did not fail to impress and was signed soon after.

This was his first experience with a real team and actual coaching. It improved his knowledge of his body and abilities. He began to jump higher and gain a greater ability to dunk. He took these improvements to a local “Hoop It Up” dunk competition. He won this competition with ease.

Shaquille O’Neil’s cousin happened to be at that event and invited Kenny to compete in a dunk event in Las Angeles promoting Shaq’s new shoe, Dunkman. This was Kenny’s first time against major opposition.

As he stretched and readied himself for action he watched many opponents complete impressive dunks during the warmup. He began to feel nervous and unconfident, dreading his turn on the court.

Inspiration came when the match began. He noticed the others were doing the exact same dunks in the main event they were doing in practice. He realized he had seen them at their best already and there was nothing else to expect from them while he still had many tricks up his sleeve.

After slamming down an off-the-backboard windmill dunk, “the crowd went crazy and these guy’s jaws dropped,” explained Kenny as he told how he won the event. “After that point, I realized, never doubt in myself again, never let somebody intimidate me to take me out of my game plan,” he continued.

As he emerged victorious, Kenny witnessed the excitement in the crowd, especially with the youth. He began to think about how he could impress and captivate audiences with his talents, and the potential he had with that attention. He thought of how dunking was the most attention-getting action in the game of basketball and explored the potential to intertwine his testimony with his talent.

While he was completing this high school education, he was also growing his faith in God by becoming involved in discipleship classes. This strengthened his faith, boosted his confidence and allowed him to begin spreading his words of encouragement to those who were currently in the negative situations he knew too well. At the age of 19 he became a youth pastor for Glory to the Lord Church.

He had continued working with troubled youth up to this point, steering them away from the kinds of ways he once knew and on to a path of success. He had done considerable work in the Phoenix area to forward his message, and as he won this particular completion, he realized the most effective medium he had to deliver it.

He resolved to become “the best slam dunk artist in the world.” With that title he would be able to travel many places, impress many people and most of all, spread his inspiration more than ever. With his next goal in mind, the climb to the top began.

Since that time Kenny has soared above the opposition, dedicated his body to training and his time to spreading his message of encouragement. He has sustained a considerable wrist injury that took months to heal, a leg injury from which some thought he would never completely recover, and a head injury he sustained from the rim during a competition which he went on to win; all experiences which he uses to illustrate how perseverance and hard work will overcome obstacles hindering progress.

He has played with teams overseas, performed in sold-out arenas and won the armature slam-dunk contest at the NBA All Star Weekend. He had offers to play for big bucks internationally, sign contracts with sponsors, and offers to try out for professional basketball.

He has turned down these offers to be able to keep performing for youth so he can motivate them to stay in school and away from negative lifestyles. During the year of 2011 he devoted more time to Native American lands, attempting to help out those with a similar cultural background to his own.

Now that he has been at this mission for some time, he is beginning to see his work pay off. The youth he has spoke to now contact him and let him know his influence helped their situation considerably.

“That is what keeps me passionate… no amount of money that I can get paid is going to be able to equal the sense of saving these young peoples’ lives and encouraging them,” said Dobbs “Hearing these stories is letting me know that I truly am having a huge impact in these young people’s lives and I wouldn’t trade that for anything,“ he continued.

To pursue his goal of being the best basketball dunker, he postponed his college career for a time, but has recently enrolled with Ivy Bridge College and can take classes online anywhere he travels. He shares this fact to parents in the crowd at his shows, telling them it is never too late for education.

Kenny is a parent himself. He and his wife, Danae, are the proud parents of two daughters, Uriah, 6, and Audrina, 3. He takes delight in the fact that his daughters are showing promise in basketball much like he did during his youth.

Kenny hopes to finish his degree and become well versed-in political sciences, noting that he is currently able to affect the youth by relating to them, steering them towards a positive path, but he desires to take on more responsibility in the policy aspect. He hopes with a better knowledge of the politics, he will be able to make situations like those of his youth less prominent among the youth of tomorrow.

Depicting history with a pen and canvas: Choctaw artist Theresa Morris to present at Smithsonian

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:46:24 GMT

Morris

Depicting history with a pen and canvas:
Choctaw artist Theresa Morris to present at Smithsonian

Putting pen to paper and paint to canvas to create images that please the eye and excite the psyche is a talent desired by many. For Choctaw artist Theresa Morris of Tahlequah, this is a gift she realized early and has put to work for herself and her tribe.

Morris will be one of the many talented artists featured at the Choctaw Days event at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in June. Her work, Windstar, is one of her many works that will be featured at the venue. This image was featured as the branding image of the Denver Choctaw Day event in 2011.

Morris spent her early childhood years at Oaks Indian Mission in Oaks, Okla. She had two strong influences in her youth who led her to know about her Choctaw heritage. The first was her grandmother who had attended Wheelock Academy in Millerton.

Her mother became interested in the Choctaw culture when she began to write her book, “How Thunder and Lightning Came to be,” which was based on Choctaw legend. After completion of this book, she began her second work, “Longwalkers Journey,” which focused on her own family’s history during the Trail of Tears. “It was then that I became fascinated and started learning more about my own people,“ stated Morris.

Along with a love for her heritage, her passion for art began at a young age. “Art runs through my veins,” declared Morris. Ever since she entered and won her first art contest at Tulsa Indian Youth Camp, she was hooked. “After that art became my passion,” she mentioned.

She took her inaugural first place prize the age of 10, and continued at winning ribbons, trophies and certificates ever since. She continued this activity into her college years where she earned an associate’s degree in art from Tulsa Community College. She then enrolled at Montana State University – Northern where she gained a bachelor’s degree in graphic design with a minor in Native American Studies.

She put her education to work after college designing various items such as business cards and logos for companies. She has done many types of artwork ranging from portraits and landscapes to abstracts and animals.

She was one of the featured artists at NDN Custom Frame and Art Gallery in Tahlequah, and her art was used on the cover of the brochure for the Tahlequah Art Guide, 2011. Some of her work was also displayed at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee. Visitors to the Choctaw Nation gift shop in Tushka Homma will see her work on mugs, tiles and jewelry boxes.

While Morris enjoys all types of art, she has a slight preference for graphite and ink due to her love for the effects of black and white. She has also dabbled in carving, making miniature woodcarvings of peace pipes for Lyon’s Indian store in Tulsa.

“I’m such a perfectionist so I truly get involved with whatever I’m doing,” said Morris as she explained that no matter what type of artwork she has on her agenda, she is always giving 100 percent. She puts such effort because she knows her craft has purpose.

She has hopes that the work she is doing for the Choctaw Nation will bring awareness about her culture to those who have limited knowledge on the subject. She recalls a graphite portrait of former Choctaw Chief Allen Wright, which brought about questions on Choctaw history while on display in Tahlequah.

She was able to educate curious onlookers on the fact that Mr. Wright was the man who suggested the name “Oklahoma” as the name of the state and the Choctaw meanings to the word. Choctaw words “Okla,” meaning people, and “humma” meaning red were combined to make “Oklahoma” which translates to “land of red people.”

She is currently working on a series of portraits featuring the Choctaw Code Talkers of World War 1. She hopes to find information on each Code Talker for that generation to generate a well-rounded work of art.

She has varied interests other than art. “I love older, classic, muscle cars and I know how to work on them. I’ve rebuilt a few engines and I’ve even done some bodywork,” declared Morris. She went on to tell that she has worked at Rocky Mountain National Park as a park ranger, a job she greatly enjoyed.

She recently had a small acting part in the movie “The Cherokee Word For Water.” It is a story about Wilma Mankiller’s role in getting water to the Indian community of Bell, Okla. It was filmed in Tahlequah in October 2011 and is set to be released October of this year.

Morris is the mother of three sons and a daughter. She also has a website for her artwork, “theresamorrisdesign.com” where her art can be viewed. She hopes to start a business in the future, but is currently aspiring to finish her Code Talker series.

She is greatly anticipating her role at Choctaw Days, saying “I hope that kind of exposure opens up many opportunities for me. What I really want is to be successful at what I do and leave a lasting impression.” She continued by saying, “If I can make a living doing art and at the same time bring awareness about the history of the Choctaw and the contributions they have made then I will have succeeded.”

Choctaw Days will be held June 20-23 at the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. For more information about the event visit choctawnation.com or call 800.522.6170.