School of Language Resources
Norris Samuels
Norris began teaching Choctaw language community classes for the Choctaw Nation in 2002, alongside his wife, Brenda, who also taught Choctaw language children's classes until her passing in 2009.
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Abraham Frazier
Abraham Frazier's first language as a child was Choctaw and his parents spoke very little English. He remembers growing up that there were many people who spoke Choctaw, and said many elders still speak the language today.
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Terri Billy
Teresa "Terri" Billy is the Assistant Director of the Chahta Anumpa Aiikhvna, School of Choctaw Language. Her first language was Choctaw, taught by the grandmother who raised her and spoke only Choctaw.
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Barbara Battiest
Choctaw language teacher Barbara Battiest's parents were fluent speakers. Her family spoke Choctaw at home when she was growing up. The church her family attended had many Choctaw speakers, and the service was conducted in the Choctaw language. She says it was the way of life in her family.
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Lola May Noah John
Lola learned the Choctaw language from her parents and spoke it at home until she began school. Her father was a minister and spoke to the people in the churches in Choctaw.
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Joyce Baker
Joyce Baker has been a Choctaw language teacher for nine years. She teaches high school students and has taught community classes.
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Lillie Ott
Lillie Ott is a Choctaw language teacher who began teaching a community class in 1999. She began teaching internet classes in 2000 in various grade levels. She said several of her students have taken numerous levels of her classes.
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