The Chahta Spirit is Alive and Well at the Labor Day Festival

This is my favorite time of the year, and I am excited the Choctaw Labor Day Festival is upon us. Each year the festival is a great time for family to come together and, I hope you are able to join in all of the great activities this year.

The Labor Day Festival highlights what the Choctaw people are all about. There are program booths to help tribal members with any questions they may have; there is great entertainment from arts and crafts to sporting events to carnival rides to concerts and much more; there is awesome food to enjoy; and best of all there are faith-based activities that allow us, as a nation, to congregate and celebrate our faith. In other words, the Choctaw Labor Festival helps spotlight the Chahta Spirit of Faith, Family and Culture.

The festival is also a time that I can see all of you who have braved the heat to come out and enjoy what our tribe has to offer. Remember to drink lots of water and go indoors if the heat is getting to you. This year, at 4 p.m. on Friday of the festival (Aug. 30), I will open the festival with a welcome and preview of the State of the Nation address that will launch at 10 a.m. on Sept. 2 on the Choctaw Nation website. All are invited to join me in the amphitheater at the Capitol’s festival grounds in Tuskahoma for this welcome and preview.

At 1 p.m. on Aug. 30, inside the new Tribal Council Chambers near the Choctaw Capitol Building and Museum, the Choctaw Nation will welcome the Government of Ireland’s dignitaries for an unveiling of the “Eternal Heart” sculpture. The artwork depicts the 177-year friendship between Ireland and the Choctaw Nation. This friendship began when our trail of tears-ravaged tribe collected $170 to send to the people of Ireland during the potato famine. That gift to the Irish people has never been forgotten and our bond between nations is a real source of pride for our tribe. We will hold the initial ceremony inside the new council chambers followed by a brief unveiling ceremony with the sculptor, outside on the Capitol lawn.

At 6 p.m. on Aug. 30, is the kickoff for the Princess and Royalty Pageant! Contestants who have won in their districts vie to become the Princess and Royalty for the Choctaw Nation. It is an exciting event to watch, and I am always amazed at the knowledge and precise actions that each contestant has learned as they compete for the great honor of being Princess and Royalty. It is a tradition that has gone back many decades, and the title is, not only an honor, but also launches the winner into a year of opportunities to represent the Choctaw Nation at the many events we hold throughout the year.

The Labor Day Festival has many other events at this year’s gathering so I hope that you will look at the Labor Day Events Calendar to decide what you would like to participate in. There are a lot of activities to choose from and lots of arts and crafts that you may want to take home with you. Plan on spending some time at the festival this year to visit with friends, neighbors and fellow tribal members. I look forward to seeing you on our historic Capitol grounds. Fellowship and fun are the main ingredients to the Choctaw Labor Day Festival, and I am looking forward to another great event filled with good conversations and fellowship with all of you!

Yakoke and God Bless!