District 11, June 2023

Halito chim achukma from District 11.

Welcome to summer. I hope your family has a wonderful time together at the lake, ballgames, or on vacation for the next few months! As we enjoy the outdoors, we can brag about living in the most beautiful part of Oklahoma with many of our Choctaw people in the Choctaw Nation!

Chahta Atokoli (Choctaw Vote)! An article in the Biskinik earlier this year stated that only 28% of tribal members are registered to vote in our Choctaw elections. With tribal elections July 8 this summer, it is important that all Choctaws 18 and above fill out a voter registration form. If you have registered and have changed your address in the last four years, fill out a new form to make sure your address is updated to receive a Mail-in Ballot. You can obtain a voter registration form at the community center or CNO Voter Registration webpage. Remember to encourage all your Choctaw family to register and exercise your right to vote for the candidates of your choice.

The last few months were filled with many activities in District 11. April is always a special time celebrating our Lord and Saviors’ resurrection on Easter Sunday. Chief Batton’s Easter celebration was a huge success with our CNO Chaplain Bro. Olin Williams shares the story of Jesus and the kids and elders having a good time with easter egg hunts. In April, also we crowned three new District 11 princesses. Congratulations to Little Miss Sophia McFarland, Jr. Miss Jordyn Washington, and Sr. Miss Jenessa Dugger. These girls and the other contestants all did a great job at the pageant and will represent D-11 well this year.

We have some of the best elders in the Nation at our McAlester community center. Wednesdays during lunch they have a good time of fellowship, they also have activities and enjoy going on trips with each other. Lately the group traveled to Arkansas for a 3-hour train ride, May 10 was the Elder Appreciation Day at Durant. The annual memorial Trail of Tears walk was May 20 at Tvshka Homma, we must never forget how our tribe came to Oklahoma and what they endured.

The Armed Forces Day parade was May 5 and the Choctaw Nation was again on display with the Honor Guard in the parade along with our District 11 Princesses. May was Foster Care Awareness month, Tammy and I had the pleasure to attend the CNO Foster Care event in McAlester. We had an opportunity to visit with foster parents and kids and tell them Yakoke for their willingness to be a part in helping our children. May 12 was our Choctaw High School class of ’23 luncheon, yakoke to Career Development, High School Student Services and College Freshman Initiative programs for sharing valuable information with them.

It is such an honor to serve as your council member, if I can help in anyway regarding the Choctaw Nation, please let me know. Together, We’re More!

Chihowa vt Achukma