Another Successful Year of Summer Camps

Halito!

Every summer, we have an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of our young people.

One of the things that gives me great pride is seeing our youth come together to learn, compete, make new friends, experience our culture and build the confidence they will carry with them into the future.

This summer, that commitment was on full display.

Through our Youth Events & Activities program, the Choctaw Nation hosted 20 camps across Oklahoma, serving more than 2,300 young people this summer. From athletics to cultural activities, these camps provide our youth with opportunities to discover new interests, develop skills and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Our camps included Stickball, Rodeo, Softball, Baseball, Cheer, Football, Cultural, Golf, Wildlife and Basketball programs.

Each one offered something different, but together they represent something much greater: our commitment to giving Choctaw youth every opportunity to succeed.

I am especially proud of the opportunities our youth have to participate in activities that connect them to our Choctaw heritage.

Stickball is a wonderful example. It is more than a sport. It is a tradition that connects generations of Chahta and gives our young people an opportunity to experience an important part of who we are.

This year’s Stickball Camp was also our largest camp, with 181 participants.

When our children learn our traditions and understand where they come from, they carry those traditions forward. That is how we keep our culture strong for generations to come.

Our summer programs also demonstrate what can happen when organizations and community partners come together around a shared commitment to our young people.

This year, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) participated in eight camps, providing guest speakers and distributing 771 Bibles to youth attendees.

I appreciate the FCA representatives who took the time to invest in our youth and share messages of encouragement, faith and character.

Speaking of our youth, the Choctaw Youth Stickball Team competed in the World Series Stickball Championship and came home with Second Place! I could not be prouder of our team and the fight they put up during the tournament. Chahta Tvshka one and all!

We also kicked off the 2026 summer youth work program. This program has helped many Chahta youths with opportunities for employment, education, and training to help them succeed in the workplace. So proud of the accomplishments of this program and how it has given our Chahta youth a leg up as they start their careers.

I am grateful to everyone who helped make this summer possible — our Youth Events & Activities team, coaches, instructors, volunteers, community partners and the families who supported their children throughout the summer.

As the end of summer approaches, our attention turns to the annual Choctaw Labor Day Festival where tribal members of all ages are welcome to enjoy rides, sports, entertainment, and a multitude of cultural activities. This year’s festival is Sept. 4-6 at the Choctaw Capitol in Tvshka Homma. I look forward to saying Halito to all of you at this wonderful event and want to invite you to attend the 2026 Labor Day Festival at 5 p.m. on Sept. 4, when I will have the privilege of delivering this year’s State of the Nation live and in person at the Choctaw Capitol in Amphitheater in Tvshka Homma. We’re thrilled to bring the live presentation of the State of the Nation back and look forward to delivering it as part of the 2026 Labor Day Festival!

Yakoke and God Bless!