*November pages.indd

Serving 178,834 Choctaws Worldwide November 2006 Issue

The Choctaw Nation Tribal Council met in regular session

October 14 at Tushka Homma. Six items of new business were on

the dayʼs agenda, kicking off with a Council Bill on the budget for

the Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforce-

ment. Councilmembers approved the budget of $898,853 allotted

by the Department of Justice.

Also receiving approval were the continuation of the Healthy

Marriages/Healthy Kids grant for the remainder of the project

period for the tribe; an oil and gas lease; a right-of-way agreement;

becoming a member of the National Congress of American

Indians; and revising and updating the Choctaw Nation Gaming

Ordinance to reﬂect the many changes in the gaming industry.

Shady Point School students are beneﬁtting from the cooperation

of Choctaw Nation, U.S. Congressman Dan Boren and AES, a

power producer for OG&E since 1991. Shady Point Superinten-

dent Sandy Thompson said 71 percent of the children at Shady

Point are Native American.

The AES power plant agreed to match the ﬁrst $10,000 that the

school could raise for new playground equipment. One of the ﬁrst

calls the Superintendent and AES made was to District 2 U.S.

Congressman, Dan Boren. Realizing the immense safety issue,

Boren contacted Chief Greg Pyle and shared the concern of

replacing the old equipment.

The Choctaw Nation Healthy Lifestyles Program was able to

grant the school with a one-time, $5,000 gift. Although other

fundraising efforts have commenced with Shady Point, the match

for the AES $10,000 has not yet been reached. In spite of this, AES

found made their donation so that the equipment could be ordered

and a partial payment made.

The school is working hard to raise the remainder of the needed

funds to have the playground completed. A 3-on-3 basketball

tournament, Fall Festival, and saving box tops, ink cartridges and

old cell phones are all efforts the school is encouraging in order to

raise money to ﬁnish paying for the playground equipment.

Students attend Shady Point through eighth grade, then are bused

to high school at Panama.

Shovels turned dirt at Broken Bow on October 18 in a sym-

bolic celebration of the construction beginning on the newest ad-

dition to the Choctaw Nation Health Services. A clinic is being

constructed east of Broken Bow on Hwy. 271. The new clinic will

be near the tribeʼs Family Investment Center and Boys and Girls

Club and will be a same-day appointment facility.

Similar to an urgent care center, the Broken Bow Health Clinic

will have doctors and health professionals who diagnose illness

and chronic problems, and provide up to a three-day supply of

medicine. Additional pharmaceuticals will be given through a

mail-supply reﬁll pharmacy being constructed at Poteau.

The same-day appointment clinic in Broken Bow will take calls

beginning at 8 a.m. each morning and give a time slot for patients

to come in and see the physician. Follow-up care will be provided

at other Choctaw clinics, such as the one in Idabel.

Chief Gregory E. Pyle talked about Choctaw projects in the

works for improved access to health care. “We are getting ready

to build a clinic in Atoka, and the clinic in McAlester is rapidly

taking shape.

“The Pharmacy Reﬁll Center in Poteau is under construction

and we hope to have it ﬁnished by early summer, in conjunction

with the Broken Bow Clinic.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony held October 19 marked the open-

ing of a 23-unit complex for Choctaw elders in Poteau. Choctaw

Poteau Properties Inc., the ﬁrst of its kind for the tribe, is located

on 20 acres just behind the Choctaw Travel Plaza and next to 10

existing homes the tribe initially built in 2003 to provide elders

with an independent living community.

The $1.5 million development, a joint venture of the Choctaw

Nation and HUDʼs multi-family division, also includes a large

community room complete with a television, kitchen area, laun-

dry room, and an above-ground storm shelter.

All of the housing units are equipped with call switches, emer-

gency lighting, a sprinkler system and other ﬁre prevention items.

Four are equipped as full disability units, including wheelchair

accessibility, roll-in shower facilities and safety grab bars.

These new homes will help alleviate some of the demand for af-

fordable housing in the Poteau area and at the same time, provide

a safe, clean and comfortable environment in which our elders can

live. A second complex consisting of 19 units will soon be under

construction in Idabel and grants have been submitted for Hugo

and Calera.

Innovative housing units open for elders

Tribe breaks ground for new clinic

Gov. Henry

speaks to teens

Students ﬁll coliseum

for DARE rodeo

Code Talker exhibit premieres

Graduation ceremony held

at EOSC for GED students

Councilmembers approve new budgets

Funds to aid Shady Point School

The Oklahoma Museum of

History, a division of the Okla-

homa Historical Society, will

open a new exhibit on Novem-

ber 10 featuring the history of

the Choctaw and Comanche

Code Talkers. This exhibit will

complement the traveling ex-

hibit “Native Words, Native

Warriors,” a project of the Na-

tional Museum of the American

Indian that will interpret the his-

tory of Indian Code Talkers from

across the United States. After

it completes the appearance at

the Oklahoma History Center,

it will travel to other museums

across the nation.

At the end of the 19th cen-

tury the assimilation policy of

the United States government

threatened to eradicate hundreds

of native languages. By the time

of World War I, the speakers of

native languages had become a

quantiﬁable statistic. Boarding

schools and other institutions

habitually punished children for

speaking the language of their

ancestors. Talking in their own

language had to be done clan-

destinely.

The ﬁrst organized ofﬁcial

code talkers were a group of

Choctaws from Southeast Okla-

homa who fought with the 36th

Infantry Division in France dur-

ing World War I.

In 1917, 18 Choctaw soldiers

serving in France provided an

opportunity for the U.S. Army

to secure communications from

enemy eavesdropping. The ven-

ture was so successful that be-

fore the beginning of World War

II, the U.S. Army developed a

plan to actively recruit Indians

for the same duty the Choctaw

performed in World War I.

In 1940, the U.S. Army re-

cruited and trained 17 Comanche

Indians from Oklahoma to serve

as radio operators using their

native language to send and re-

ceive coded messages. On June

6, 1944, the 4th Signal company

was among the units making the

D-Day landing on the coast of

Normandy. The ﬁrst message

from Utah Beach was sent in

Comanche by Larry Sauppity.

Sauppity was assigned to Brig.

Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. as

his personal radio operator.

Soldiers from other tribes also

used their language to ﬁght the

enemy during World War II.

Many of these men did so in

impromptu ways, most of them

temporary. The distance be-

tween then and now has eroded

away the memory of many of

these men so that we will never

truly know all of their contribu-

tions.

In developing the title “Hid-

den Voices, Coded Words” sev-

eral thoughts arose. “Hidden

Voices, Coded Words” refers to

the inability of the German and

Japanese troops to understand

the languages that they heard on

telephone lines and radio waves.

The very nature of the Code

Talkers was to hide their voices

and words in plain sight. On an-

other level, it refers to the largely

unknown history of Indian Code

Talkers in American history.

“Hidden Voices, Coded

Words” will tell the story of the

U.S. Governmentʼs attempts

to eradicate native languages

through boarding schools, how

students of those boarding

schools later used their native

language to ﬁght the enemies of

the United States, and how the

legacy of those men ﬁts into con-

temporary language programs.

“Hidden Voices, Coded

Words” will be on exhibit to the

general public from November

10, 2006, to January 15, 2007.

The Oklahoma History Center

is located at 2401 N. Laird St.

Hours of operation are Monday

through Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.;

Sunday noon-5 p.m. For more in-

formation contact the Oklahoma

Museum of History at 405-522-

5248 or go to the museum web

site www.okhistorycenter.org.

‘Hidden Voices,

Coded Words’

features history

of the Choctaw

and Comanche

Code Talkers

Approximately

7,000 seventh-,

eighth- and ninth-

graders ﬁlled the coliseum in

Durant on October 10 for the

action-packed 2006 DARE Rodeo.

“Flying High Without Drugs” was

the theme this year, a sentiment

stressed by Oklahoma Governor

Brad Henry as he emphasized the dangers of drug abuse. “Think

about your future, your dreams, your goals – and just say no,” he

said.

Keynote speakers also included astronauts John Herrington and

Katherine Thornton. Herrington is the ﬁrst American Indian in

space; Thornton, as a female, also beat the odds. Neither could

have reached their dreams if drug abuse had been a part of their

life.

More Photos

on Page 9

A record number of gradu-

ates received diplomas Septem-

ber 29 during the Choctaw Na-

tionʼs ninth annual graduation

ceremony for GED students.

Held in Eastern Oklahoma

State Collegeʼs Mitchell Au-

ditorium, Wilburton, the mile-

stone event has become a sym-

bol of hope and aspiration.

The graduates, from various

walks of life and a wide range

of ages, all have one goal in life

– to succeed.

“Be positive, be proud of

yourself, but stay within your

limits,” Keynote Speaker James

Dunegan told the group. “Some

will grow fast, some not so fast,

but try to learn something new

every day.”

Among the graduates un-

able to attend the ceremony are

four who are in the military and

three in CLEET training.

The top student of the year

is Mary Cruz; also in the top

ten are Andrea Bounds, Tristan

Brisbon, Gari Hamilton, Brandi

Hampton, Beckie Johnson, Ga-

briel Leﬂore, Courtney Page,

Autumn Romero and Stacy

Yandell.

Completing the graduat-

ing class of 2006 are Kathleen

See GRADS on Page 2

November 2006, BISHINIK, Page 2

Looking for family information

Dear Editor,

I am looking for family information for the family tree. My

great-grandfather, Thomas Going (Goins), was married to Ger-

trude Kelso Goins and they had a child named Ethel Goins

(Knight? Crowder?). We would appreciate any information on his

ﬁrst family. Apparently Gertrude died in 1914 and we would like

any info on that and place of burial as well. Anyone who may

know Ethel, please let her know she has family who would love

to meet her. Thank you.

Teddy Boehm

2701 Ave. J, Ingleside, TX 78362

[email protected]

The Ofﬁcial

Monthly Publication

of the

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Judy Allen, Executive Director

Lisa Reed, Editor

Vonna Shults, Webmaster

Brenda Wilson, Technical Assistant

Melissa Stevens, Circulation Manager

Janine Dills, Administrative Assistant

P.O. Drawer 1210

Durant, OK 74702

(580) 924-8280 • (800) 522-6170

Fax (580) 924-4148

www.choctawnation.com

e-mail: [email protected]

The BISHINIK is printed each month as a service to Tribal Mem-

bers. The BISHINIK reserves the right to edit submitted material

which it ﬁnds inaccurate, profane, offensive or morally unacceptable.

Copy may be edited for proper grammar and punctuation. Copy will

be accepted in any readable form, but where possible, it is requested

that material be typewritten and double spaced. You must include an

address or phone number where you may be reached.

If you are receiving more than one BISHINIK at your home or if

your address needs changed, we would appreciate hearing from you.

The BISHINIK is a nonproﬁt publication of the Choctaw Nation.

Circulation is monthly. Deadline for articles is the 10th of the month

for the following monthʼs edition.

BISHINIK

2006

Gregory E. Pyle

Chief

Mike Bailey

Assistant Chief

NOTES TO THE NATION

Searching for relatives

Dear Editor,

I have been searching for relatives and children who were born

of Josephine Roberts Bacon who used to live in Choctaw Hunter,

Oklahoma, around 1930. Her children were Cecil Bacon, Roda

Bacon (deceased around 1941 after she had her daughter, Edith

Kay Bacon), Collen Bacon. We are trying to search for Collen Ba-

con, around 70 to 80 years old, who would be her uncle. Last we

learned he had moved to Oklahoma City. If you know anything

about this person, please contact us. Thank you.

Edith Bacon

P.O. Box 261, Chinle, AZ 86503

Looking for family

Dear Editor,

My name is Floyd J. Johnson and I am looking for information

about Thomas Webster, a full-blood Choctaw. He was buried in

Stigler in 1919. He was a great uncle of mine. His sister, Carline

Caudle, was my great-grandmother. Please fell free to contact me

at: Floyd J. Johnson 203 W. Cherokee, Marietta, OK. 73448.

A touch of home

More than 150 boxes of Girl Scout cookies recently brought smiles to soldiers from the 1/180th Infantry Battalion deployed in Afghani-

stan. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma partnered with Red River Valley Troop 11, a Girl Scout troop in Durant, to send a touch of home

to the troops serving in harmʼs way. The effort was successful and well appreciated by the soldiers, many of whom are from Durant.

Thank you to the Choctaw Nation

Dear Chief Pyle,

I want to thank you for the help that I have received. Itʼs hard for

a widow to make ends meet. We have very good people working

for the Choctaw Nation, and I would like to thank all these people

that care and have checked on me: Council Lady Charlotte Jackson;

Sherry Beeler, ofﬁce secretary at the Choctaw Community Center

at Stigler; Jeanne Garner, CHR; Larisa Gonzalez, counselor for the

elderly; and my son-in-law, Paul Gonzalez, who will do anything

he can to help me.

Imogene Terrell

Housing crews commended

Dear Choctaw Nation,

I would like to thank David Davis and Kevin Waugh, inspectors

of Choctaw Housing, and Brian Chandler Construction and crew

of Soper for such a good job they did. Thank you.

Debbie J. Watts

Caddo creating veterans memorial

Dear Choctaw Nation,

The Caddo Civic and Cemetery Club would like to express its

sincere gratitude for the donation that you made to our Veterans

Memorial Project.

The memorial will be visible from the highway and every person

who enters the cemetery will take note of it and be reminded of the

sacriﬁces of our men and women who have served or are presently

serving in the armed forces. The names of those who died will be

permanently inscribed on the stone.

Thank you so much for your generous donation with helping us

to remember our veterans.

Members of the Caddo Civic and Cemetery Club

A big thank you

from the 1-180th

in Afghanistan

Dear Chief Pyle and

the Choctaw Nation,

Your generosity is appreciated

by the 1-180th Infantry Battalion

of the 45th Brigade in Afghani-

stan. There is no way to express

the gratitude we felt when we

all received the many boxes of

Girl Scout cookies. It is always a

pleasure to see food from home

but itʼs especially nice when

there is enough to share with all

of your buddies.

We would like to thank all the

girls from Girl Scout Troop 11 in

Durant and their parents for all

the cookies and the Choctaw Na-

tion of Oklahoma for providing

shipping for these items.

Thank you

for the care

packages

Dear Chief Pyle,

I would like to thank the tribe

for the very nice care packages I

have received from the Choctaw

Nation.

These packages were full of

very nice items to be used here.

Itʻs great to be supported for

what you do. It helps you keep

your head held high.

Iʼm in Hong Kong and as you

know thatʼs a long way from

home and my packages mean a

great deal to me. Thank you.

DCFN Earl Phillips

A fullﬁlling year

Halito,

This past year as Junior Miss

Choctaw Nation has come and

gone. There are no words to

describe this past year as your

princess. I would first like to

begin by thanking my heavenly

Father for watching over me dur-

ing this past year. Without God

I know I could not have made

it. Also, I would like to thank

Chief Gregory E. Pyle and Assistant Chief Mike Bailey, and the

Councilpersons for all the support and opportunities of service they

made available to me. I want to also thank you the Choctaw people

for allowing me to represent you in California, Colorado, and Georgia

and in many of your local home towns. I want to thank the school

districts and communities for allowing me to serve you. I want to

extend a thank you to my friends and family that have supported me

throughout this year. A special thank you goes out to my grandmother,

Novelle Townsend, for all the love and encouraging words she gave.

Erica and MaKenzie thank you for sharing a year of your life with

me. I love you and will cherish our memories forever. This summer

I was able to attend the Indian Olympics in Colorado, and as the

thousands of youth from different tribes went onto the Broncos ﬁeld

a wave of great pride came over me as I knew I was representing

the “Greatest Tribe” ever. I was representing the “Great Tribe of the

Choctaw Nation.” Thank you for letting me serve you!

Jenny Townsend

Seeking info on Pfc Robert Walker

Dear Editor,

I am seeking any information, pictures or help of any kind in ﬁnding

information on the late Pfc Robert Walker. Robert was killed in action

on January 30, 1945, as a member of Co. 1-160th Infantry Regt. 40th

Infantry Division. He was a Native American from Seminole, Okla-

homa, born in 1923. I am looking for what tribe he was and where he

was buried. If anyone could help me with any of this I would be very

grateful. Please contact me: Scott Plenskofski, 1300 E. Cushmore

Road, Southhampton, PA 18966, scottplen@comcast.net.

Searching for Dollarhide relatives

Dear Editor,

I am searching for Dollarhide relatives. My dadʼs mother was

full-blood Choctaw, Bessie Dollarhide. I donʼt know of any of

her relatives and canʼt ﬁnd out any information on her. If anyone

knows any information please contact me: Steven Sloan #129984,

WSHCC Unit APO Box #61, Fort Supply, OK 73841.

CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA

NATURAL RESOURCES CAREER FAIR

WHAT: Career Fair

WHEN: Tuesday, November 14, 2006

9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon

WHERE: Choctaw Nation North Arena

Hwy 69/75 & Choctaw Road

Durant, OK

WHO: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture

Area Colleges and Universities

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma will be sponsoring a Career Fair

for 9

– 12

Grade Students. There will be booths from the Choc-

taw Nation of Oklahoma, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

Lunch will be on your own.

Please RSVP with approximate number of students that will be

attending from your school by Tuesday, November 7, 2006. Please

call 580-924-8280, Ext. 5134. If there is no answer please leave a

message.

Name ___________________________________

Address _________________________________

City/State/Zip ____________________________

Phone Number ___________________________

To place an order, send check or money order to:

Choctaw Nation Book Store

P.O. Drawer 1210

Durant, OK 74702-1210

If paying by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) call

toll-free 888-932-9199 or 800-522-6170, ext. 5148

ONLY

plus

2 shipping for each CD

Special

November &

December Only

Choctaw

Christmas

Aaron, Keith Battiest, Allison Battles, Michael

Benjamin, Cayde Blackwell, Melvin Eugene

Bowles, Legenia Braswell, Bailey Burgess,

Amanda Burris, Erica Carney, Robin Clanton,

Brandy Comely, Kyla Connell, Sonia Craft, Shir-

ley DiAguanno, Tamy Davidson, Marcus Dean,

Morgan Earls, Ashton Evans, John Favor, Rita

Franklin, Joshua Frazier, Alisha Frye, Heather

Gallup, Amanda Gayton, Ashley Gayton, Brit-

tany Harjo, Rusty Hayes, Brittany Henderson,

Bobbie Hendrix, Nashoba Hill, Kimimi Homer-

Mountain, Cassie Hopper, Aneliese Jacoway.

Also, Mandy Johnson, Leslie Johnson, Shelly

Ludlow, Angel Lyman, Vernon Clark Mayo,

Kimberly McCormick, Keelee McKinney, Ash-

lynn McNeal, Kisha Miller, Crisie Morgan, Roy

Newberry Jr., Laura Ott, Kimberley Page, Dan-

iel Parnell, Dannie Phillips, Dora Pond, Crys-

tal Pryor, Leah Punneo, Lance Reeves, Jessica

Resnick, Ryan Rogers, Elizabeth Sequra, Susan

Shelton, Shannon Sherﬁeld, James Smith, Jac-

queline Smith, Jarad Sockwell, David Strange,

Kevin Strange, Martha Taylor, Amanda Terry,

Sophia Thompson, Kari Tom, Christina Tomlin,

Robert Turner, Johnny Wallace, Richard Walton,

Joni Waterman, Lilly Watson, Justin Watts, Lee

Wesley, Cody Williams, Debra Wisenhunt and

Devin Wylie.

Grads continued from Page 1

Recovery Center unveils new program

The Choctaw Nation Recovery Center in

Talihina dedicated its new equestrian program

September 19 in memory of the late Randy

Bailey who was Director of Agriculture for the

tribe.

Five acres have been utilized, with a new barn

built along a line of towering pine trees.

“The calm surroundings help the clients have

an environment where they feel safe working on

their tough issues,” said Dr. Gary Nunley. “The

clients are encouraged to interact with the horses

because horses have an instinctive sense about

people. Clients can beneﬁt from the opportunities

of giving something back through the daily care,

feeding and grooming of the horses.”

Nunley thanked Chief Gregory E. Pyle, As-

sistant Chief Mike Bailey and Councilmembers,

stating that he is proud to be a part of the Choctaw

Nation family. “If they believe itʼs good for the

people, theyʼre behind it 100 percent,” he said.

“The Randy Bailey Equestrian Program is a

reﬂection of Randyʼs kindness to everyone,” said

Chief Pyle. “The unique program will be a great

beneﬁt to everyone involved.”

November 2006, BISHINIK, Page 3

The Rev. Bertram Bobb

Chaplain’s Corner

Thanksgiving greeting to you

in the Choctaw language:

“Yakni moma kut yakoki

achi nitak ai ulhpihisa tok a il

afamah mak osh e hieli hokut,

Chihowa ut pi hullo, micha pi

nukhaklo na nan ulhpesa bieka

ho ai itunohowat afumi achuffa

moma ka il afama hokut, Yako-

ki! il ima hachi pullaske.”

It is interpreted: “Thanksgiv-

ing Day is a day set aside as a

national holiday. A day when

we can pause and thank God for

His love, and for His bountiful

blessing bestowed upon us dur-

ing the past year. Let us thank

Him!”

The Apostle Paul wrote in

First Thessalonians 5:18, “In

every thing give thanks ...”

He said in II Corinthians 9:15,

“Thanks be unto God for His

unspeakable gift.”

If we are to give thanks for

everything, we can begin with

happy things we enjoy regu-

larly, the fellowships with our

family and friends. Let us thank

God that we are alive. If we

had never been born, we would

never enjoy our family. Thank

the people who are making life

better for you. It is good to read

the many grateful expressions

of thanksgiving in the Choc-

taw Nation ofﬁcial publication,

“Bishinik.”

Many of us know that we

have learned the most through

the rough experiences of life.

Godʼs way is to bring about

the best in us under the pres-

sure of tough times. God usu-

ally gets our attention when we

feel our inability to cope with

these circumstances. Our weak-

ness gives God an opportunity

to show His strength. “... My

grace is sufﬁcient for thee: for

my strength is made perfect in

weakness ...” (II Corinthians

12:9)

We live in a world ﬁlled with

hurts. For millions it is by hun-

ger, sickness, disease, and ex-

posure to danger. It ends with

death, which is usually a pain-

ful experience. Yes, suffering is

a major factor of life.

Human life is also character-

ized by another form of misery.

We humans endure mental tor-

ture as a result feelings of guilt,

the suffering and death of a

loved one, or fear of the future.

We also experience anguish and

frustration.

If we walked through a vet-

eranʼs hospital and talked with

men who are armless, without

legs, or who carry with them

horrible disﬁgurements we

would be troubled by those in

physical distress. But we would

soon discover that the pain that

they feel in their bodies is noth-

ing compared to the mental an-

guish to which they and their

loved ones are subjected.

Then, too, thousands of peo-

ple live daily with the fear of

death hanging over them. While

others, trapped in the slums of

a large city or gripped in the

clutches of alcoholism or drug

abuse, face each new day with

a feeling of desperation and

hopelessness.

Yes, our world is so ﬁlled with

suffering that a sensitive person

cannot help but wonder why

God has allowed it to be this

way. The question keeps com-

ing up. “Why doesnʼt the Lord

do something about these ter-

rible conditions?” A non-Chris-

tian may conclude that if no

God exists that life is hardly

worth living.

To ﬁnd the answer, we turn to

the Bible. The opening chapters

of the Bible make it clear that

pain, grief, and death are pres-

ent in the world because of sin.

We read in Genesis 1:31, “...

God saw that every thing that he

had made, behold, it was very

good ...”

The second chapter depicts

Adam and Eve as living in a

garden in which everything was

in the state of perfect harmony.

There were no sin, suffering or

death.

Something happened to

change the whole picture. Satan,

who had been created an angelic

being named Lucifer, but who

had rebelled against God, led

Adam and Eve to disobey God.

As a result, manʼs perfect fel-

lowship with God was broken,

guilt plagued his conscience,

fear ﬁlled his heart, and pain

became a part of his life.

Genesis 3 records Godʼs

judgment spoken to Eve and to

Adam. (Will you read Genesis

3:16-19?)

Suffering and death now be-

come part of human being as a

result of manʼs sin. The apostle

Paul wrote of sin and death in

Romans 5:12:

“Wherefore, as by one man

sin entered into the world,

and death by sin; and so death

passed upon all men, for that all

have sinned.”

We can say with certainty that

the cause of all the suffering,

heartache, sorrow, and death in

the world is the sin of Adam and

Eve.

As Christians we can thank

God for past events that brought

hope for this life and for eternity.

We can thank Him for the First

Coming of Jesus Christ and the

Hope of the Second Coming,

the Cross, and the Resurrection.

We are grateful for the great

writings of Paul as this verse in

II Corinthians 5:19:

“To wit, that God was in

Christ, reconciling the world

unto Himself, not imputing their

trespasses unto them; and hath

committed unto us the word of

reconciliation.”

Jesus paid the penalty for sin,

which is death, in your place.

If you have never trusted Jesus

Christ as your own personal

Saviour, will you do that today?

You do this by faith. We read

in Isaiah 1:18, “... though your

sins be as scarlet, they shall be

as white as snow; ...” This will

be a real Happy Thanksgiving

Day for you.

November is Veteranʼs Day

month when we pay honor and

respect to our brave men and

women who served and who are

serving in our military services.

Pray for the Native American

people for their spiritual and

physical welfare. Pray for Trib-

l leaders for encouragement,

strength, and wisdom.

May God bless you and your

loved ones as we celebrate

Thanksgiving Day 2006 is my

prayer now.

Let us thank Him!

Christmas

Parties

Antlers Children .............................. December 8 ................ 6 p.m.

Antlers Seniors ................................ December 20 .............. 11:30 a.m.

Atoka Children (ages 1-12) .............December 12 .............. 6 p.m.

at the Atoka Community Center on the Coalgate Hwy.

Bethel Children ...............................December 14 .............. 6 p.m.

Bethel Seniors .................................December 15 .............. 12 noon

Broken Bow Children ..................... December 11 .............. 6 p.m.

Broken Bow Seniors ....................... December 13 .............. 12 noon

Buffalo Valley Children ..................December 5 ................ 6 p.m.

Burkhart Children ...........................December 7 ................ 7 p.m.

Coalgate Children ...........................December 10 .............. 2 p.m.

Coalgate Seniors .............................December 12 .............. 12 noon

Crowder Children ............................December 9 ................ 1 p.m.

Crowder Seniors ..............................December 13 .............. 11:30 p.m.

Durant Children ...............................December 1 ................ 6 p.m.

Eagletown Children .........................December 11 .............. 7:30 p.m.

Heavener Children .......................... December 4 ................ 7 p.m.

Hugo Children .................................December 1 ................ 6 p.m.

Hugo Seniors ...................................December 11 .............. 11:30 a.m.

Idabel Children ................................December 4 ................ 6 p.m.

McAlester Children

(ages 1-10) .................................December 2 ................ 1-4 p.m.

McAlester Seniors ...........................December 13 .............. 11:30 a.m.

Poteau Children ...............................December 9 ................ 4-6 p.m.

Poteau Seniors .................................December 6 ................ 11:30 a.m.

Quinton Children .............................December 7 ................ 6 p.m.

Smithville Children .........................December 5 ................ 7 p.m.

Spiro Children .................................December 11 .............. 4-6 p.m.

Spiro Seniors ...................................December 19 .............. 11 a.m.

Stigler Children ...............................December 15 .............. 4-6 p.m.

Stigler Seniors .................................December 20 .............. 11:30 a.m.

Summerﬁeld Children .....................December 10 .............. 2-4 p.m.

Talihina Children .............................December 8 ................ 7 p.m.

Tushka Homma Children ................December 5 ................ 6 p.m.

Tushka Homma Seniors ..................December 14 .............. 6 p.m.

Wilburton Children .........................December 9 ................ 2 p.m.

Wilburton Seniors ...........................December 20 .............. 12 noon

Wright City Children .......................December 11 .............. 6 p.m.

Wright City Seniors .........................December 13 .............. 12 noon

A very special thank you

goes to volunteers who worked

the four-day roping October 12

through 15 to raise funds for the

Choctaw Nation Foster Care

Program. The rodeo event was

a memorial to David Bacon, a

tribal employee from Boswell

who passed away in November

of 2005. A rancher, David en-

joyed

watching his children and

grandchildren riding and rop-

ing. He shared these activities

with the many foster children

he made a home for.

Mr. Bacon and his wife were

foster parents for many years

prior to his death. This Memori-

al Roping is one way to continue

the good works that he started.

The majority of the proceeds

from the event will be used to

provide a nice Christmas for the

From the desk of Chief Gregory E. Pyle ...

From the desk of Assistant Chief Mike Bailey ...

Roping event raises funds for foster children

Tribal program gets statewide award – Champion of Oklahoma Health

youth who are in the Choctaw

Nation Foster Care Program.

Those who are interested in

becoming a foster parent and

offering a home to children in

need are encouraged to call 1-

800-522-6170, ext. 2335. Billy

Graham once said, “God has

given us two hands, one to re-

ceive with and the other to give

with.” Mr. Bacon epitomized

these words with his generosity

to young people and I am proud

to have been a part of an activ-

ity that furthered this generos-

ity to foster children.

An exceptional drinking and driving prevention and

awareness program developed by staff of the Choctaw

Nation Health Services has been chosen as the Champion

of Oklahoma Health, the highest recognition in the 2006

Champions of Health Awards. Through the Choctaw Na-

tionʼs Project CHILD (Childrenʼs Health Interventions and

Lifestyle Development) initiative, this program, called “I

Died, Whoʼs Next?,” delivers a message with impact – the

fact that alcohol-related vehicle crashes are the nationʼs

#1 killer of teens. The tribal program is brought to public

schools and requires direct participation from some of the

students.

Over the course of two days, students are chosen, taken

from the classroom, given a black T-shirt, and told they are

not allowed to speak or be spoken to. A “car wreck,” com-

plete with automobile and the chosen students lying around

“bloody,” “injured” and “dead” is staged outside, with one

of the students in the “wreck” as an actor, screaming “Help

me, Iʼve killed my friends because I was drunk.” The lo-

cal law enforcement and funeral homes get involved in the

program and actually “work the wreck” using body bags,

“arresting the drunk driver,” etc. Then in assembly, an ac-

cident report and “obits” are read, and students, including

the “dead” are allowed to speak about what they would

have done or said if they had had a chance prior to the ac-

cident. What starts out the ﬁrst day as fun to the kids turns

out to be taken very seriously, with scarcely a dry eye in the

house. It has been a tremendously effective program.

“I Died, Whoʼs Next?” was selected from more than

120 Champions of Health award nominations. The Cham-

pions of Health awards program was created in 2004 by

ﬁve partner organizations – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of

Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the

Oklahoma Hospital Association, the Oklahoma Osteopath-

ic Association and the Oklahoma State Medical Associa-

tion. The awards program recognizes outstanding organi-

zations and individuals dedicated to improving the health

of Oklahomans.

I congratulate the staff of Choctaw Nation Health Ser-

vices for implementing this unique program.

November 2006, BISHINIK, Page 4

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Child abuse prevention – soothing a crying infant

One of the most stressful experiences for new parents is deal-

ing with a crying baby. Babies cry for all sorts of reasons, and

itʼs sometimes difﬁ cult to ﬁ gure out why your baby is crying and

how to soothe your baby. Itʼs important to remember that crying

is one of the main ways that babies communicate and their cry-

ing can mean lots of different things. With a new baby, it may

be difﬁ cult to distinguish different types of crying. As babies get

older, parents may be able to tell “wet-diaper” crying from “Iʼm

hungry” crying.

Here are some things to check for in a crying baby:

• Is the baby sick? Take the babyʼs temperature, and call a

health care provider if there is a fever or if youʼre not sure about

any other symptoms. If your baby cries for hours at a time, be

sure to have him or her checked out by a pediatrician.

• Is the baby hungry? Try feeding the baby. Newborns like

to eat frequently. Even if the baby isnʼt hungry, he or she may

respond to sucking on a paciﬁ er.

• Is the diaper wet or dirty? This is a common cause of crying.

• Is the room too hot or cold, or is the baby overdressed or

underdressed?

• Is the baby lonely or afraid? Try holding the baby and com-

forting him or her.

• Is the baby over stimulated? Try turning down the lights and

the noise level.

Calming the baby. Often, a parent has made sure that the prob-

lem is not hunger or sickness or a wet diaper – but the baby is still

crying! What are some other ways to calm a crying baby?

• Swaddle the baby in a soft blanket and hold the baby next to

you.

• Sing or hum to the baby.

• Rock the baby in a chair or swing, or gently sway your body

while holding the baby close.

• Take the baby for a ride in the stroller or car. Motion often puts

a baby to sleep.

• Distract the baby by making faces or quiet noises.

• Give the baby a warm bath to relax him or her.

• Use some “white noise” such as running a vacuum cleaner or

hair dryer to help lull the baby to sleep.

Calming yourself. There are few things more stressful than a

crying baby. It is normal for babies to cry – sometimes as much

as 2 to 4 hours a day-and sometimes nothing parents try to soothe

the baby will work. Coupled with a parentʼs own lack of sleep and

the general adjustment to having a new baby in the house, a cry-

ing baby can seem overwhelming. There are some things parents

can do to maintain control over the situation, even when the baby

continues to cry.

• Take a break. Put the baby safely in a crib, and take a few

minutes for yourself in another room.

• Call a friend or relative who will listen to your problem and

be sympathetic.

• Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to watch your child while you

take a short break or a brief nap.

• If you feel as though you are losing control and might hurt

your child, call a hotline, such as the 24-hour National Child

Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD) offered by Childhelp USA.

Itʼs normal for babies to cry sometimes, and itʼs certainly nor-

mal for parents to feel frustrated by the crying. Different babies

respond to different soothing techniques, and parents will even-

tually learn what works best with their baby. In the meantime,

itʼs helpful for new parents to have some support in the form of

friends, relatives, and neighbors who can lend a sympathetic ear

or even some babysitting help!

For more information about soothing infant crying, visit the Na-

tional Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome website at www.dont-

shake.com.

This article is sponsored by the Choctaw Nation Injury Preven-

tion Program. If you have any questions regarding this article,

other injury prevention tips, or the Choctaw Nation Injury Preven-

tion Program, please call 580-326-8304 and ask for Beckie Mor-

ris, IP Coordinator, or e-mail Beckie at RMorris@choctawnation.

com

Build a tasty eating style

WIC

SITE PHONE HOURS DAYS

Antlers 580-298-3161 8:30-4:00 Every Tuesday

Atoka 580-889-5825 8:00-4:30 Every Mon., Thurs. & 1st, 3rd, 4th Wed.

Bethel 580-241-5458 8:30-4:00 1st & 3rd Tuesday

Boswell 580-380-2517 8:30-4:00 1st & 2nd Friday

Broken Bow 580-584-2746 8:30-4:00 2nd & 4th Tues., every Wed. & Thurs.

Coalgate 580-927-3641 8:30-4:00 2nd Wednesday

Durant 580-924-8280 x 2255 8:00-4:30 Daily

Hugo 580-326-5404 8:00-4:30 Mon., Wed., Thurs., 3rd & 4th Fri.

Idabel 580-286-2510 8:00-4:30 Monday and Friday

McAlester 918-423-6335 8:00-4:30 1st & 2nd week - Tues., Wed., Fri.

8:00-4:30 3rd & 4th week - every day

Poteau 918-647-4585 8:00-4:30 1st, 3rd, 4th wk - Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri.

8:00-4:30 2nd wk - Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Smithville 580-244-3289 8:45-3:45 2nd Thursday

Stigler 918-967-4211 8:30-4:00 1st & 2nd Monday

Talihina 918-567-7000 x 6792 8:30-4:00 2nd and 4th Thursday

Wilburton 918-465-5641 8:30-4:00 1st & 2nd Thursday

Choctaw Nation WIC

WOMEN, INFANT AND CHILDREN

Serving the Choctaw Nation at 14 sites

Part 2 ...

There are lots of different ways to eat healthy.

Depending on cultural traditions and ethnic heri-

tage, Americans like to prepare and eat many dif-

ferent foods. Thatʼs wonderful – because variety

is both the spice of life and a cornerstone of good

nutrition. We continue this month with building a

tasty eating style.

BUILD BEVERAGE

BREAKS INTO YOUR DAY!

For peak performance, your body and brain

need a constant source of refreshing ﬂ uids. Al-

ways keep a container of cold water at hand. For

ﬁ tness breaks, take frequent walks to the water

fountain.

BUILD MINI-WALKS INTO EACH DAY ...

Food and ﬁ tness go hand in hand. Walk around

the block when you go to the mailbox. Walk

around the building at work. Walk around the

sidelines during your kidsʼ sports practices or

games.

Wilburton 918-465-5641 8:30-4:00 1st & 2nd Thursday

BUILD NUTRITION

INTO DESSERTS TOO.

The natural sweetness of fruit makes it a per-

fect ending to any meal. Enjoy a piece fresh fruit

by itself. Top frozen yogurt or low-fat ice cream

with sliced fruit – fresh, frozen or canned.

BUILD ENVIRONMENT INTO

EVERY MEAL AND SNACK

Eating well is one of lifeʼs greatest pleasures

– so take time to enjoy your meals and snacks.

Turn off the TV and put on quiet music. Take time

to savor your food and to talk with your family.

“Eat Right Montana”

Eat well to stay motivated and energized

Do you have trouble exercis-

ing at noon or after work even

though youʼre truly committed

to exercise and itʼs the only time

you have to work out?

Do you feel so exhausted that

you just canʼt face the gym?

Your diet – rather than simple

sloth – may be the problem. If

you tend to skip meals in an at-

tempt to save calories, you may

be robbing yourself of important

fuel for your workout. While

skipping meals may temporar-

ily make your stomach feel ﬂ at-

ter, doing so can also leave you

feeling tired, irritable and unfo-

cused. Then, youʼll be tempted

to forego your noontime work-

out, or go home, eat and stretch

out on the couch in front of the

TV after work. If, however, you

follow some simple, sensible di-

etary practices throughout your

day, youʼll get that workout

done. And rather than feeling

lightheaded and exhausted af-

terward, youʼll be energized and

refreshed.

Stay with feel-good foods

One key to staying motivated

to exercise is to keep the amount

of sugar in your blood – and

thus, your energy level – stable

to prevent ups and downs. You

can best do that by eating a se-

ries of small meals throughout

the day – as many as ﬁ ve or six

– that are composed of complex

carbohydrates, such as whole

grain breads, beans and other

vegetables, whole grain crackers

and fruit. If you plan ahead and

make time for grocery shopping,

you can easily pack some sim-

ple meals and snacks to take to

work with you. Eating complex

carbohydrates helps keep your

blood sugar stable because they

are digested and absorbed slowly

into the blood and donʼt require

your pancreas to produce much

insulin. Reﬁ ned carbohydrates,

such as potato chips, doughnuts

and cookies, are absorbed very

quickly and trigger the pancreas

to produce large amounts of in-

sulin. So, while they may give

you an initial boost, your energy

will drop off quickly, and your

mood will follow. The amount

of sugar in your blood is also re-

lated to the amount of serotonin

in your brain.

Serotonin is an important

chemical called a neurotrans-

mitter that helps to regulate

mood. If your level of serotonin

is where it should be, youʼll

have a sense of well-being and

conﬁ dence – and feel ready to

tackle the treadmill. Should it

drop, you may feel tired and de-

pressed. If you often experience

a craving for carbs, this may be

your brainʼs way of telling you it

needs more serotonin.

Cut the caffeine

What about caffeine? Good

question. Many athletes rely on

caffeine for the initial kick it can

provide.

Remember, though, that caf-

feine can also affect the amount

of insulin, and thus, sugar, in

your blood. Further, it can cause

dehydration, which can also sap

your energy. While drinking a

caffeinated beverage may help

get you to the gym, within an

hour you may feel tired and too

lightheaded to complete your

workout, or to do it well. If you

plan to engage in running or

other highly vigorous activity,

remember that some forms of

caffeine, coffee in particular, can

lead to mild gastronomical dis-

tress, as can some bulky foods.

So, youʼd be wise to limit the

amount of coffee, tea and soda

that you drink for a number of

reasons.

Suppose youʼre an early bird,

and your best time to work out

is in the morning before you go

to work. For quick energy, drink

some juice upon rising and avoid

coffee. Once youʼve completed

your workout, have a more solid

breakfast of whole-wheat cereal

or toast and fruit to fuel your

concentration for the morningʼs

work. If you work out and eat

too lightly, chances are youʼll

get “the drowsies” by 2 p.m., if

not sooner.

Keep in mind that ﬁ nding the

right combination of food and

drink to energize your workout –

whatever time of day you choose

– may take some experimenting.

It all depends upon your indi-

vidual tastes and your metabo-

lism. With a little patience, an

open mind and a little creativity,

youʼll determine which foods

suit you best.

Reprinted with permission from the

American Council on Exercise

Compliments of:

For more information call

Wellness Ed./REACH 2010 at

1-800-349-7026, ext. 6044 or

6958.

Breastfeeding Classes

Choctaw Nation WIC

Class One Location Class Two

HUGO

Tuesday Choctaw Nation Tuesday

January 9, 2007 WIC Ofﬁ ce February 6, 2007

Conference Room

10 a.m.-12 noon

ATOKA

Tuesday Choctaw Tuesday

January 16, 2007 Community Center February 13, 2007

10 a.m.-12 noon

McALESTER

Tuesday Choctaw Tuesday

January 23, 2007 Community Center February 20, 2007

10 a.m.-12 noon

DURANT

Tuesday Durant WIC Ofﬁ ce Tuesday

March 6, 2007 1601 N. Washington April 3, 2007

10 a.m.-12 noon

TALIHINA

Tuesday Choctaw Tuesday

March 13, 2007 Community Center April 10, 2007

10 a.m.-12 noon

IDABEL

Tuesday Choctaw Tuesday

March 20, 2007 Community Center April 17, 2007

10 a.m.-12 noon

POTEAU

Tuesday Choctaw Tuesday

March 27, 2007 Community Center April 24, 2007

10 a.m.-12 noon

Key facts about influenza and influenza vaccine

plications from ﬂ u should also get a ﬂ u vaccination.

Some people should not be vaccinated without ﬁ rst consult-

ing a physician. They include those who have a severe allergy

to chicken eggs; those who have had a severe reaction to a ﬂ u

shot in the past; people who have developed Guillain-Barré syn-

drome within six weeks of getting an inﬂ uenza vaccine; children

younger than 6 months of age; and people who have a moderate

or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until

after their symptoms lessen.

If you have any questions about whether you should get a ﬂ u

vaccine, consult your health-care provider.

Inﬂ uenza, or the ﬂ u, is a

contagious respiratory illness

caused by inﬂ uenza viruses.

It can cause mild to severe

illness and at times can lead

to death. The best way to pre-

vent the ﬂ u is by getting a ﬂ u

vaccination each fall.

Symptoms

of ﬂ u include

fever (usually high), head-

ache, extreme tiredness, dry

cough, sore throat, runny

or stuffy nose, and muscle

aches. Stomach symptoms,

such as nausea, vomiting,

and diarrhea, also can occur

but are more common in chil-

dren than adults.

Complications of ﬂ u can

include bacterial pneumonia,

ear infections, sinus infec-

tions, dehydration, and wors-

ening of chronic medical

conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through

coughing or sneezing of people with inﬂ uenza. Sometimes peo-

ple may become infected by touching something with ﬂ u viruses

on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

People at high risk for complications from the ﬂ u include chil-

dren aged 6-59 months of age, pregnant women, people 50 years

of age and older, people at any age with certain chronic medical

conditions, and people who live in nursing homes and other long-

term care facilities.

People who live with or care for those at high risk from com-

Nov. 6: Talihina, 10-12 noon

Nov. 7: Tushka Homma, 3-6 p.m.

Nov. 8: Antlers, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Nov. 8: Bethel, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Nov. 8: Crowder, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 8: Stigler, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 8: Wright City, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Nov. 13: Hugo, 5-7 p.m.

Nov. 14: Antlers, 5-7 p.m.

Nov. 14: Poteau, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 15: Coalgate, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 15: Durant, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Nov. 15: Stigler, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 15: Idabel, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Nov. 15: Smithville, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Nov. 15: Wilburton, 9-12 noon

Nov. 16: Spiro, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 16: Broken Bow, 5-7 p.m.

Nov. 16: Wright City, 5-7 p.m.

Nov. 17: Talihina, 9 a.m.-12 noon

Nov. 20: Bethel, 4-6 p.m.

Nov. 22: Atoka, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Nov. 22: Poteau, 9-11 a.m.

FLU CLINICS

Choctaw Community Centers

Holiday Sales

30 Choctaw Hymns – Old and New Tunes

Performed by Boiling Springs

United Methodist Church, Lula, Oklahoma

Senior Citizens $17 ea.; all others $20 ea.

Add $2 for postage if purchasing two or less.

If purchasing more than two, please call.

Contact: Jef

f Frazier 580-272-7787

Mail payment to: Boiling Springs Church

13900 CR 1554,

Ada, OK 74820

November 2006, BISHINIK, Page 5

Every hour an older adult

dies as a result of a fall

The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

(NCIPC) states that in 1998, more than 9,600 persons 65 and

older died from fall-related injuries, making falls the leading

cause of injury death among this age group. Hip fractures are

among the most serious fall-related injuries. Half of older adults

who suffer a hip fracture never regain their previous level of

functioning, and many are unable to live independently after

their injury. In 1994, the estimated cost of fall-related injuries

was $20.2 billion; it may reach $32.4 billion by 2020.

The NCIPC recommends four things you can do to prevent

falls:

Begin a regular exercise program. Exercises that improve

balance and coordination are the most helpful, such as Tai Chi,

or lower body strengthening.

Have your health care provider review your medications.

Some medications, or combination of medicines, can make you

sleepy or dizzy and can cause you to fall. Have your doctor or

pharmacist review all the medicines you take, even over-the-

counter medicines.

Have your vision checked. Have your eyes checked by an

eye doctor at least once a year. You may be wearing the wrong

glasses or have a condition like glaucoma or cataracts that limits

your vision.

Make your home safer. About half of all falls happen at

home. To make your home safer, have a clear walking path free

of books, shoes, and clothes. Remove throw rugs and keep items

you use often in cabinets you can reach without having a step

stool. Have grab bars installed in your bathroom and non-slip

mats in the shower ﬂoor. Wear supportive shoes instead of

slippers both inside and outside the home.

This article is sponsored by the Choctaw Nation Injury

Prevention Program. If you have any questions regarding this

article, other injury prevention tips, or the Choctaw Nation

Injury Prevention Program, please call 580-326-8304 and ask

for Beckie Morris, IP Coordinator, or e-mail at

[email protected]

Get the keys –

How you can intervene

The U.S. Department of Transportationʼs National Highway

Trafﬁc Safety Administration and the Advertising Councilʼs

Innocent Victims public service campaign emphasizes the need

to intervene and get the keys away from someone about to drive

drunk. Here are some helpful tips and advice from focus group

research on how people can get the keys away from a drunk

driver:

– If it is a close friend, try to use a soft, calm approach at ﬁrst.

Suggest to them that theyʼve had too much to drink and it would

be better if someone else drove or if they took a cab.

– Be calm. Joke about it. Make light of it.

– Try to make it sound like you are doing them a favor.

– If it is somebody you donʼt know well, speak to their friends

and have them make an attempt to persuade them to hand over

the keys. Usually they will listen.

– If itʼs a good friend, spouse or signiﬁcant other, tell them

that if they insist on driving, you are not going with them.

Suggest that you will call someone else for a ride, take a cab, or

walk.

– Locate their keys while they are preoccupied and take them

away. Most likely, they will think theyʼve lost them and will be

forced to ﬁnd another mode of transportation.

– If possible, avoid embarrassing the person or being confron-

tational, particularly when dealing with men. This makes them

appear vulnerable to alcohol and its effects.

Friends donʼt let friends drive drunk

Pass it on

This article is sponsored by the Choctaw Nation Injury

Prevention Program. If you have any questions regarding this

article, other injury prevention tips, or the Choctaw Nation

Injury Prevention Program, please call 580-326-8304 and ask

for Beckie Morris, IP Coordinator, or e-mail at

[email protected]

To the youth of the nation ...

Be thankful for education

By Cody Peters, President

Choctaw Nation Youth Advisory Board

Wow, 2006 has gone by so fast!

It seems like the ﬁrst day of school was only yesterday and here

we are almost done with the ﬁrst nine weeks of school.

Itʼs not a problem for seniors. We are counting down to the day

we get to walk across the stage and get our diplomas!

Juniors, sophomores and freshmen are probably saying, “I hate

school. I canʼt wait for this weekend or for this summer!” I want

to encourage each of you to stick with school and get an educa-

tion!

Unfortunately, having a free education provided to us Ameri-

cans, we so greatly take advantage of it and are rarely thankful for

what we have. I have been to the countries of Nicaragua and

Mexico, and seeing how the teenagers of these countries live and

the schools they attend, I am very thankful for the opportunities I

have as an American. Most of those students wore the same

clothes every day, walked or rode a bicycle to and from school

(there are no buses), and sat in a classroom with bars on the

windows with no air conditioners in 100-degree-plus weather!

Wow! What if our schools were this way?

I was speaking to a gentleman the other day and he is almost

100 years old. One of the things he told me was to get an educa-

tion, to “get my brain smarter! They can never, ever take away

what is in your head!” As I sat and thought of these things, I

began to see what he meant by his statement! As a child he didnʼt

have the opportunities we have now. He did hard manual labor

every day to support himself and his family! He knows that with

an education you will excel greatly in life and become very

prosperous!

Itʼs my hope that each of you will understand this manʼs words.

Whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior, we all

need to grab onto this wonderful privilege and ﬁll our brains with

as much knowledge as possible!

Individuals with a high school education generally make

minimum wage at a local job. Individuals with a college educa-

tion make 50 percent more than an individual with a high school

education.

Which statistic are you going to be? Itʼs all up to you! Itʼs your

choice. Will you grasp ﬁrmly the privilege before you, or will you

allow it to slip by and lose one of the greatest things you can ever

receive?

Couples beneﬁt from marriage retreat

A Marriage Retreat, conduct-

ed by the Healthy Marriages/

Healthy Kids Project, was re-

cently held at Lake View Lodge

at Beavers Bend State Park in

Oklahoma. Couples started out

with a cookout and were served

a charcoal broiled steak dinner

– no hamburgers or hot dogs for

this special group! The setting

on the majestic Broken Bow

Reservoir was quite beautiful.

Couples who attended expe-

rienced the PREP workshop taught by master trainer Scott Roby

with Public Strategies, Oklahoma City. Gary Nunley also added to

the presentation. Barbara Brown, Mary Ayn Tullier and Eli Tullier

made sure the couples were fed well.

When the couples were asked, “What is the most important thing

you learned in this session?”, the responses were:

• Speaker/listener technique and the XYZ statement, a technique

putting emphasis on what you see and what you feel, not on blame

toward the partner.

• Commitment.

• The saying, “Knowledge is of no value unless you put it to

use.” This workshop gives us the tools to fulﬁll that commitment.

• To be more open in talking to my wife.

• How to communicate better.

• That there are more ways to work out problems and how to

keep a closer relationship with my husband.

• Communication skills.

• Use of time out.

• How to communicate without arguing so much.

• I learned more about what I was doing wrong in certain areas

of our marriage.

• Talked to my spouse more in the last 24 hours than we have in

months. Very good information.

• The process of forgiveness and how to communicate without

The Choctaw Nation Healthy

Lifestyles and Choctaw Nation

Youth Advisory Board held a

mentor training for students

from area schools on September

12 at the Kiamichi Area Tech-

nology Center in Hugo. Schools

attending this training included

Atoka, Bennington, Boswell,

Clayton, Durant, Hugo, Moy-

ers, Rattan, Soper, Tupelo and

Valliant. There will be an addi-

tional training for Heavener and

Buffalo Valley Schools.

The students were trained to

become teen mentors for “Proj-

ect Falummichechi,” which is

a domestic violence preven-

tion program for second grade

students.

Each month from September

through May, the teen mentors

will go to the grade classes and

give presentations, such as;

understanding oneʼs own feel-

ings, empathizing with others,

respecting differences, standing

up for oneʼs self, and positive

responses to conﬂict.

Joyce Wells, Martina Haw-

kins, Melissa Cress and Kristie

Adams of the Choctaw Nation

Healthy Lifestyles Program

organized the event and assisted

with the invocation, welcome,

and Project Falummichechi

Overview.

Angela Dancer, Director of

Choctaw Nation Adolescent

Family Life, gave an introduc-

tion to the “Effects of Domestic

Violence on Children.” The

effects included developmental

delays, low frustration tolerance,

acting out aggressively/pas-

sively toward peers and adults,

emotional withdrawal, inability

to play constructively, inappro-

priate display of emotions,

fearful, depression, chronic

physical complaints, mimic

adult roles, and chronic low low

self-esteem.

Gina Barnett, Public Health

Educator from the Oklahoma

State Department of Health,

gave insight on the duties and

responsibilities of being a teen

mentor. She gave the follow-

ing statistics on children who

had participated in similar pro-

grams:

*Forty-six percent are less

likely than their peers to start us-

ing illegal drugs and 27 percent

less likely to start drinking.

*Fifty-two percent are less

likely than their peers to skip

school and 37 percent are less

likely to skip class.

*More trusting of their parents

or guardians and less likely to lie

to them, and likely to feel more

supported and less criticized by

their peers and friends.

The last speaker for the morn-

ing was Arlinda Copeland,

Oklahoma Department of Health

Turning Point Field Consultant,

who gave directions on Project

Falummichechi Surveys and

how to present then to the stu-

dents.

After lunch, students attended

sessions on games and crafts,

puppet skills, and use of post-

ers which is all part of the cur-

riculum.

Everyone enjoyed the training

and was enthusiastic about pre-

senting this worthwhile program

to second-graders.

Youth participate in mentor training

Adolescent Health Conferences held in three counties

The month of September was

a fun Luau theme for Healthy

Lifestyles. With all the leis,

straw hats, grass skirts, and the

ﬂamingo cowgirls, much fun

was had by all. Along with this

theme, three Adolescent Health

Conferences were held, one be-

ing in Haskell County, one in

Choctaw County, and the last in

McCurtain County.

On September 20, Healthy

Lifestyles partnered with the

Health Department and Choc-

taw County Coalition to bring

this conference to over 275

ﬁfth-graders and teachers in

Choctaw County. The confer-

ence was held at the Kiamichi

Area Vo-Tech in Hugo.

On September 27, in partner-

ship with the Haskell County

Coalition, the conference was

held at the Stigler First Assem-

bly of God Church and around

200 students and teachers in at-

tendance.

The conference ﬁnished up

October 11 in McCurtain Coun-

ty at the First Baptist Church

of Idabel and was the largest

attendance with over 350 stu-

dents and teachers. This was

in partnership with the Health

Department and McCurtain

County Coalition.

The topics covered in these

conferences included hygiene,

meth prevention, tobacco pre-

vention, nutrition/ﬁtness, and

self-esteem. Several prizes

were given away in drawings,

but no one left empty-handed.

Many thanks to the Choctaw,

Haskell and McCurtain County

Coalitions and the Health De-

partments for their part in mak-

ing these conferences a suc-

cess.

anger.

• How to work through problems.

• Was this about strengthening relationship or promoting mar-

riage (as deﬁned by main stream).

• Forgiveness.

• To communicate and how to do it!

• To make a complete commitment to our marriage.

• This class would also be very useful for engaged or newlywed

couples to stop bad habits before they start.

So there you go. You heard it from the couplesʼ mouths. We

teach the same material in all the PREP workshops you will see

scheduled throughout the next two years. Register to attend as you

see them published or call 918-567-3065 to schedule a workshop

in your community. Couples who complete the PREP or CPREP

workshops are elligible to win a Grand Prize. The prizes are a

vacation for two at Branson and a vacation for two at Silver Dollar

City. There are also door prizes at each PREP workshop.

We would love for your family to reap the beneﬁts of this train-

ing!

PREP Workshops

Stigler

November 2, 9 & 16

6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Durant

January 20, 2007

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Presenters at the Haskell County Adolescent Health Conference.

Presenters at the Choctaw County Adolescent Health Conference.

Happy 16th

Junior Miss

Choctaw Nation

Family and friends joined in

a birthday celebration to wish

Raʼchelle DiNardo-ChuckLuck

a Sweet 16th. This past year she

has been attending pow-wows

and cultural events, participating

in her high school softball, bas-

ketball and track teams, Future

Business Leaders of America

Club, FCCLA, Student Council

representative, prom committee

and was on the school newspaper.

She is the granddaughter of Ray

and Jene Dinardo of Wilburton

and Richard and Pauline Chuck-

Luck of Pryor and the great-granddaughter of Leroy Ward of Ant-

lers and the late Alice Ward. Happy 16th and we wish her the best

in all she does in the future. May God bless you in all you do.

– Mom and Dad and all the family and friends.

November 2006, BISHINIK, Page 6

PEOPLE YOU KNOW

Happy ﬁrst birthday

Victor Jefferson and Carmella Ramirez

would like to wish their daughter, Victo-

ria Jefferson, a happy ﬁrst birthday on

September 26. She is the granddaughter

of Cassandra Willis, Ignacio Ramirez and

Vicki Bailey of Idabel. Her great-grand-

parents are Bertha and Truman Jefferson,

Herod and the late Hazel Willis of Idabel.

Happy birthday

Birthday wishes go out to Dakota who turned 6 years old on

August 30. His brother, Chris, turned 13 on September 20. Con-

gratulations you are now a teenager! Their brother, Donald, cele-

brated his 15th birthday on September 22. I just wanted to wish all

three of them a happy belated birthday. From your family; Mom,

Dad, Brianna and your brothers.

Emily turned 7

Happy birthday wishes go out

to Choctaw Emily M. Smith. She

turned 7 on October 4. She is pic-

tured with mentor Erica McMil-

lian. Have a wonderful birthday,

from your family, Jordan, Foy

and Krista Smith and Me Maw of

Petty Texas.

Happy 1st birthday

Katelynn Renea Smith turned 1 on Octo-

ber 12. She celebrated her birthday with her

uncles, Chris and Cody. She is the daughter

of Cory Smith and Wendy Pugh. Grandpar-

ents are Steve and Brenda Smith of Hocha-

town and Jerry Pugh and Rebecca Spradling

of Idabel. Great-grandparents are Barrentine and Nancy Tushka of

Oak Hill and Glenda and Mike Ward, Hochatown, Steven Smith

of Texas and Carolina Jones of Idabel. Great-great-grandparents

include Lou Ellen Jones, Idabel, and the late Charley Jones.

Wow! Look who turned 15

We would like to wish a happy 15th

birthday to our son, Alfred Dale Fraley, on

September 13. He is an eighth grade student

at Riverside Indian School in Anadarko. Al-

fred plays football for the Riverside Braves

at the position of offensive guard. He is a

big boy and stands 5ʼ11”, weighing 245 lbs.

Alfred is Choctaw/Kiowa. He is the son of

Doug and Peggy Fraley of Anadarko, grandson of the late Emaline

Walker of Finley and the great-grandson of the late David Walker,

also from Finley. We would like to say we are very proud of him

and want him to continue his education.

Elijah turns 5

Happy belated birthday to Elijah Gipson

on August 22. He turned 5. Elijah is the son

of Robert and Michelle Gipson of Wright

City and the grandson of Sharon and the

late Harold Gipson, Wright City, Todd

Marable, Bethel, and the late Kim Marable

of Eagletown.

Belated birthday wishes

Happy belated birthday “Kunckle” Solo-

mon Tonihka. He celebrated his birthday

September 11. From Hunter, Matthew, and

your family.

Happy birthday Brittany

Birthday wishes go out to Brittany Hotella

of Gans, Oklahoma, on October 26. Her

mother, Angela, and grandparents, Nanna

and Pa-Pa Steel, wish her the best. She en-

joys playing with friends and t-ball during

the summer. Brittany is very proud of her

Indian heritage.

Tala turns 6 years old

Birthday wishes go out to princess Tala

Lynn Bohanan from mommy and daddy.

Tala is the daughter of David and Beatrice

Bohanan of Houston, Texas. Also wish-

ing her a happy birthday are her brothers,

Robert and Joseph; grandparents Hack and

Ella Bohanan of Bethel and Dolores and

Julian Estrada of Houston. Tala would also

like to wish her two cousins, Andrew and Chris Noah, a belated

happy birthday; also her uncles, Bobby, Daniel and Stevie, belated

birthdays. Tala would like to wish her mom, dad, Uncle Stevie and

Auntie Debbie a belated happy anniversary. Tala would like to wish

Grandpa Hack and Grandma Ella a happy anniversary.

Happy birthday wishes

Happy birthday wishes go out to Deborah

Ilene Moore. She turned 38 on October 15.

She is the daughter of Lettie Moore and the

late Billy Moore of Camden, Arkansas.

Bailey turns one

Bailey Reid Thorne will celebrate his

ﬁrst birthday on November 29. Bailey is the

son of Mike and Kristy Thorne of Tucson,

Arizona. His brother, Ryan, and grandpar-

ents, Gene and LaHoma Murphy Crauthers

of Oklahoma City, wish him a very happy

birthday. Baileyʼs great-grandparents are the

late William T. and Ella Murphy of Idabel.

Walter Berg has birthday

Happy birthday wishes go out to Walter Berg of Tulsa. He will

turn 52 on November 16. Walter is employed by the Central Park-

ing System of Tulsa as a parking attendant.

Twins turn 3

David Xavier and An-

drew Lynn Straiton, identical

twins, turned three on August

29. They are the great-great-

grandchildren of original

enrollee Frank S. Plummer

and the great-grandchildren

of Patricia Plummer.

Happy birthday Jacob

Taylor and Jayden would like to

wish their brother, Jacob, a happy

third birthday on September 4. He

celebrated with a “Cars” party. His

proud parents are Regina Tedder

of Antlers and Eddie Tedder of

Hugo. His grandparents are Wil-

liston Taylor and Janet Taylor of

Antlers and James and Darlene

Tedder of Hugo.

Look whoʼs

a teenager

Kara Joneise McLain celebrated

her 13th birthday on September

14. She is a seventh grade hon-

ors student at Jefferson Middle

School. She is an active member

of the Beta Club, on the National

Honor Roll. She is the daughter

of Sandra Klingsick of Jefferson

City, Tennessee. She is the granddaughter of Martha Beets of Okla-

homa City and the late Maria Crane Mendiola. Her great-grandpar-

ents are the late Noah Moses Crane and Viola Mae Stribbing Crane.

and her great-great-grandfather was the late Frank Ross Stribbing.

She has three sisters, Theresa Williams and Ashleigh McLain, both

of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Bridget McLain of Jefferson City,

Tennessee. All three of her sisters would like to wish her a very

happy 13th birthday. Her nieces, Anjelica Williams and Christina

Williams, and her nephew, Kenneth Wayne McCallie, of Knoxville,

Tennessee, want to wish their auntie a blessed birthday. All our

extended family and friends wish her well on her special day, too.

Her mother wants to let her know how much she is proud of her

and hopes she has a very blessed birthday. Kara is very proud of

her Choctaw heritage and tries to let her friends know about it as

she learns more about it.

Happy birthday

to Jerald and Annie

The family of Jerald and Annie

Renteria want to wish them both

a very happy birthday. Jerald

turned 19 on October 14 and An-

nie turned 15 on October 20. They are the children of Jamie and

Lupe Renteria and the grandchildren of M.T. Greenwood and the

late Mildred Cole Greenwood and the late Raul-Paula Renteria.

Happy birthday to Sheala

Jordan and Alvin Hodge would like

to wish Sheala Hodge (Watson) a happy

birthday on October 17.

Happy

birthday

Timothy Miller II would

like to wish his sister, Talia,

a happy seventh birthday on

October 19. Also, birthday

wishes go out to his mom,

Debra (not pictured), on

October 18, and to his dad

on October 24. They all re-

side in Cleburne, Texas.

100th birthday party huge success for Ida Lewis Turner!

Daughter Roberta had written the “Dear Melba”

column in the newspaper and asked that readers

send birthday cards. The lovely people of Okla-

homa responded by sending close to 200 cards of

love and encouragement. Some cards came from

as far away as Kansas, Arkansas, Texas and other

states. People are very generous and kind.

Idaʼs doctor, Masarat Saheed from the Oklahoma

City Indian Clinic, made a quick visit. We owe a

lot to Dr. Saheed who has been a huge factor in

keeping her ﬁt and well.

The only mar in the otherwise happy occasion

was the absence of her youngest grandson, Mario

Morales. Mario is a Seargent in the U.S. Army and is currently

stationed in Kuwait, his second tour of duty over there. The

whole family is anxiously awaiting his return, hopefully this

month.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the

Choctaw Nation, Chief Gregory E. Pyle, Assistant Chief Mike

Bailey and Oneida Winship for their generosity. Onedia made

the trip from Durant to bring Ida a blanket with the seal of the

great Choctaw Nationʼs rich history. The time and thoughts are

much appreciated.

All in all everyone had a good time and we are looking for-

ward to the next 100 years.

The family of Ida Lewis Turner would like to

report that the 100th birthday party held for her

on July 15 at the VFW Post 1857 in Oklahoma

City was a huge success. Family and friends

came from as far away as Colorado, Texas and

Pennsylvania as well as from all over Oklahoma

to show their respect and love for this lovely and

much loved lady affectionately known as Pokni

or Little Grandma.

Guests were asked to bring roses in lieu of

presents. Ida had said she wanted a hundred

roses. She received dozens and dozens, over 500

total. The roses were in every size and color and

you can imagine the lovely scent that permeated the room.

Nephew Bertram E. Bobb, Choctaw Nation Chaplain, led the

guests in prayer and sang Choctaw Hymns. Guests feasted on

fried chicken, various salads, as well as tanchi labona made by

Mary Aaron from Broken Bow. Mary also brought the best fry

bread weʼve ever eaten and the cake was beautiful, decorated

with a picture of Ida in her younger days.

Guests received a rare treat – Olivia Cavazos, daughter

of one of Robertaʼs co-workers and a Champion Irish Clog

Dancer, came and performed for them. Olivia travels all over

the United States competing and rarely comes home with less

than ﬁrst place.

Happy birthday to

SGT Mario R. Morales Jr.

The family of SGT Mario R. Morales Jr.

would like to wish our favorite “Soldier

Boy” a belated happy 30th birthday. Un-

fortunately, Mario was stationed in Kuwait

on his birthday but is expected home soon.

Mario was born October 16, 1976, in Okla-

homa City to parents Roberta Romero and Mario R. Morales Sr. His

grandparents are centarian Ida L. Turner of Oklahoma City and the

late Robert O. Turner. His paternal grandparents reside in Mexico.

He has one sibling, Tony Enriquez. His great-grandparents were

original enrollees David and Lena Carney Lewis.

Mario attended Jones Academy from the ﬁfth grade through

graduation. He played basketball and was a member of FFA and

enjoyed showing his prize-winning hogs.

He joined the Army in 1996 and has served his county in Iraq,

Kuwait, Germany and Colorado among other places. When he

returns home he will be stationed at Fort Sill. That certainly makes

his mom and Pokni very happy as we will be able to see him more

often. He is considering a career in the Army. Currently he has

nine years serving his country. Please notice in the picture above

the big smile of SGT Mario R. Morales Jr.. He is receiving his

Sergeantʼs stripes. Love mom, Pokni, Tony and our special little

angel, Antonia.

Happy birthday Monnie

Happy birthday to Monnie LeVeice Siev-

ers. She turned 69 on October 2. Monnie

celebrated her birthday at Disney World

with Mickey and Minnie and her husband,

Erich. Monnie retired from JCPenny and

GE on January 1, 2004, after 32 years.

Monnie then became a Senior Caregiver

and after two years she retired again. Now Monnie has become a

volunteer at granddaughter Celinaʼs school. Monnie enjoys being

with her daughter, Tina, granddaughter Celina, family, friends and

relatives. Monnie thanks the Choctaw Nation for monthly contact

through the Bishinik. She prays to the Lord every day for her family

and the Choctaw people and leaders.

Happy birthday Cody

Grandma Louise, mom and dad would

like to wish Cody Cannady a happy ﬁfth

birthday on November 2. We would like to

say we love you and are very proud of how

you are doing in Pre-K.

Belated birthday wishes

go out to Josiah

Happy belated birthday wishes go out

to Josiah Amos who celebrated a birthday

on October 3. Happy birthday from your

daughter, Louise.

Happy birthday Hayley

Birthday wishes go out to Hayley Whitley. She

will turn 12 on October 27. Hayleyʼs parents are

Tammy and Billy Whitley.

Celebrating

94th birthday

Happy birthday

to Winey Skel-

ton Palmer who

turned 94 years

young in October.

Mrs. Palmer is do-

ing ﬁ ne and all her

family sends her

our love and best

birthday wishes

Happy birthday

mom, grandma and

great-grandma!

NURSERY NEWS

Jacee Elizabeth Bentley

Brayden Bentley would like to an-

nounce the birth of his new baby sis-

ter, Jacee Elizabeth Bentley, born

August 11, 2006, at Medical Center

of Southeastern Oklahoma in Durant.

She weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces and

was 20 inches long. Proud parents are

Aaron and Anita Bentley. Grandparents

are Carolyn Bates and the late Charles

Bates and Patti and Larry Bentley. Great-grandparents are Grady

and Alice Glenn and Juanice Klasing. Jacee is named after her

Grandpa Charles and Great-Grandpa, the late J.C. Bates.

Mikyla Elisse Cusher

Tomih Noley has the honor of an-

nouncing the birth of her newest cousin,

Mikyla Elisse Cusher, born at 11:14

p.m. October 2, 2006, at the hospital

in Idabel. Mikyla weighed 6 pounds 11

ounces and measured 19 inches long.

Proud parents are Anoinette and Elias

Pete Cusher of Idabel. Grandparents are Carolyn Storey and Pete

Barnes, both of Idabel, and Ennie and Lee Cusher of Broken Bow.

Mikyla was named in memory of her cousin, Michael Cusher.

Hillari Mercedes Martinez

DʼShayla would like to welcome her

baby sister, Hillari, born on August 21,

2006, at Idabel Memorial Hospital. She

weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces and was

20.5 inches long. Proud parents are

Ashley Bohanan and Jose Martinez.

Grandparents are Cindy Cusher of Pick-

ens, Dana Bohanan of Denison, Texas, and Hilaria Martinez from

Mexico City. We would also like to wish Uncle Mike and Brandi

a happy belated birthday on August 20.

Luke Gabriel Clark

Kobe Javier Lee Clark of McAlester would like

to announce the birth of his new baby brother,

Luke Gabriel Clark. He was born on July 21,

2006, at Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah. Luke

weighed 8 pounds 4.5 ounces and was 20 inches

long. His proud parents are Kyle and Martha Clark

of McAlester. His grandparents are Ron and Becky Hallford of

McAlester, Francisco and Maria Aguilar of Grove, and great-grand-

parents are Walter and Sarah Amos of McAlester. He also has numer-

ous aunts, uncles and cousins that would like to welcome him.

Olivia Capitola Brence

Clayton and Gracie Brence are proud to

announce the arrival of their new baby sis-

ter, Olivia Capitola, born May 10, 2006, at

Integris Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City.

She weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces and was 19

inches long. Proud parents are Randy and

Dee Dee Brence of Choctaw. Olivia is the

great-great-granddaughter of original enrollee Louis Mackey. She

is named after her late great-grandmother, Capitola Lowe. She was

welcomed by her grandmother, Kathy Lowe; aunt, Krissy Nelson;

cousins, Jerryd and Shelby Nelson; great-aunt, Nancy Lowe-Clark;

grandma, Jean Gregg, and Uncle Doug and Aunt Shannon. Oliviaʼs

grandfather, Sam Brence, passed away 10 days before she arrived,

but he and her grandmother, Marcella Brence, and grandfather, Jerry

Lowe, are watching over her every day.

St. Johnʼs Presbyterian

holding special event

St. Johnʼs Presbyterian Church

in Rufe, Oklahoma, is inviting

everyone to join them for a spe-

cial day of praise and worship,

December 9 beginning at 10 a.m.

Guest speakers from Texas and

Oklahoma will be on hand with

personal testimonies throughout

the event. Everyone who attends

Saturday is asked to bring a

covered dish. There will be a

potluck lunch at 12:30 p.m.

Veterans to be honored

The Choctaw Nation Head

Start and the Good Guys pro-

gram in Durant would like to

invite all veterans out to the

Head Start Center located be-

hind the complex at 16th and

Locust in Durant for coffee and

donuts. The children from the

Head Start will be handing out

ﬂ ags to the veterans.

All veterans are invited to at-

tend this event on November 9,

from 9 a.m. until noon. Hope to

see you there.

Aiden Marcus Collins

Aiden Marcus Collins was born Septem-

ber 7, 2006, at the Womenʼs Hospital in

Evansville, Indiana. He weighed 8 pounds

2 ounces and measured 20 inches. Aiden

is the son of Justin and Shellee Collins of

Hazelton, Indiana. He is the grandson of John and Colen Hornbrook

of Francisco, Indiana, and Ernie and Sandy Collins of Santa Claus,

Indiana. He has two older brothers, Lucus and Tristan.

November 2006, BISHINIK, Page 7

Ada Cheyenne Brown

Barlow and Amanda Brown are proud to

announce the arrival of their daughter, Ada

Cheyenne Brown. Cheyenne was born in

Perryton, Texas. She weighed 7 pounds 6

ounces and was 19 inches long. Grandparents

are Willie and Christie Metcalf. Her uncle is OʼNeil Metcalf and her

aunt is J.J. Metcalf, all of Hooker. Great-grandparents are Hubert and

the late Janice Metcalf of Guymon and the great-great-grandparents

are the late Lowell and Lucille “Mimmie” Metcalf of Heavener.

Jaxon Tulli Sam Jefferson

Jaxon Tulli Sam Jefferson, son of Austin

OʼSam and Julie Jefferson, was born Sep-

tember 3, 2006. Jaxon weighed 6 pounds

and 5 ounces and was 18 inches long.

Grandparents are Austin and Linda Jef-

ferson and the late Roy McKeever, Teresa

McKeever and James Lawhorn.

Rymee Rayne Mayer

Rymee was born on August 23, 2006,

at the Carl Albert Indian Hospital.

She weighed 8 pounds 5 ounces and

measured 20.3 inches long. Rymee is

welcomed home by her parents Shan-

non Bryant and Edward F. Mayer Jr. of

Coalgate. Her grandparents are Edward

and Patricia Mayer, Coalgate, Joseph “Buckshot” Bryant, Talihina,

and Ruthie McGee Fulton, Wilburton.

Six generations

Six generations are represented in this Choctaw family with

roots deep in the Goodwater community. Pictured clockwise

from center are Ida Taylor, 97, of Goodwater; her daughter, Jefﬁ e

Gibson of Goodwater; granddaughter, Lora Tom of Wright City;

great-granddaughter, Angela James of Fort Towson; and great-

great-grandaughter-in-law, Candace Thomas, great-great-grand-

son, Chris Thomas, and great-great-great-granddaughter, Addison

Thomas, all of Durant. Addison, 2, is the ﬁ rst of two sixth genera-

tions to be born to the family and a third is on its way.

65th wedding anniversary

The daughters of Howard and

Elsie Goines – Nan Nelson of

Crossville, Tennessee, Danna

Shirley of Bartlett, Tennessee, and

Paula Belden of Napa, California

– wish to announce the celebration

of their parentsʼ 65th wedding an-

niversary.

Although Pearl Harbor was De-

cember 7, 1941, Howard and Elsie continued with their wedding

plans and were married on Christmas Day at the home of the pas-

tor, Brother Floyd Vallines of New Hope Methodist Church, Van

Buren, Arkansas.

Howard joined the Army Air Corps the following December and

served in Cambridge, England, with the 388th Bomb Group. After

World War II, they moved to California in October 1946 and lived

in Richmond, Pinole, Rodeo and ﬁ nally moved to Napa where they

now reside. Howard worked in steel construction when ﬁ rst arriving

in California and then retired from Dymo Industries in 1980. Elsie

was an elementary school teacher for more than 30 years, teaching

in Arkansas and California before retiring in 1981 from John Swett

Uniﬁ ed School District.

Howard is a master car restorer and works primarily on Model A

Fords. Elsie is an avid reader and loves gardening. They are active

members of the Diablo Aʼs, Napa Valley Aʼs, and Model A Ford

Club of America. They have seven grandchildren, six great-grand-

children and two step-great-grandchildren.

Howard is the oldest son of original enrollee Augusta Victoria

Folsom Goines, born 1901, Oklahoma Territory.

Happy 50th wedding

anniversary to the Caddells

On September 15, Jack and Carrie Lou Caddell celebrated 50

years of marriage. Wed on September 15, 1956, Jack and Lou

have raised three sons, Jack Randall and his family, Lori, Savanna

and Haley; Michael Kevin and his family, Patricia, Danielle, and

Michael; Bret Alan and his family, Brandee, Bret, Justin, Saman-

tha, and Katie. Jack also has a daughter, Tammie, along with her

husband, Jesse, and their children, spouses and grandchildren,

Jessica and Matt, Sydney and Shelby, Terah and David, McKenzie,

Carliegh and Nicholas.

Gipsons have

anniversary

Tyler, Ember, Elijah and

Cole would like to wish their

parents Robert and Michelle

Gipson of Wright City a happy

sixth anniversary on October

21.

They would also like to wish

a belated seventh anniversary

wish to their Aunt Melinda

and Uncle James Williams of

DeQueen, Arkansas, on Sep-

tember 7.

A belated birthday wish

goes to Kirkland Williams,

of DeQueen. He turned 10 on

September 20.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

Talihina

10 am-2 pm

Antlers

by appt only

Poteau

11:30 am-

1 pm

Idabel

10 am-2 pm

Bethel

by appt only

Crowder

and

McAlester

by appt only

Broken Bow

10 am-2 pm

Durant

by appt only

Atoka

Coalgate

10:30-1:30

10 am-2 pm

right

City

by appt only

Durant

10 am-12 pm

by appt only

Wilburton

10:30 am-

2 pm

Stigler

by appt only

McAlester

10 am-2 pm

A Vocational Rehabilitation representative will be avail-

able at the locations listed. A representative is available

Monday thru Friday 8-4:30 except for holidays at the

Hugo ofﬁ ce.

Aryiana Journey Comley

Brandy and Keith Comley of McAlester would like to announce

the birth of their beautiful daughter, Aryiana Journey Comley, a ﬁ fth

generation. Aryiana was born at 6:41 p.m. on August 25, 2006, in

Talihina. She weighed 7 pounds and was 20 inches long. She is the

granddaughter of Karen Brojakowski and Lionel Brojakowski, Vivian

and Ted Williams, and John Comley. Aryianaʼs great-grandparents

are Sybil Brojakowski, Linda and Charlie Kolb, Allen Rinehimer,

and E.D Henson. Aryiana is the great-great-granddaughter of Thelma

Paisley and Ruth and James Usrey.

Look whoʼs 3!

Happy birthday to McKenzie who just turned 3

years old, from Momma, Daddy, Rory and Sum-

mer.

Happy 1st birthday Victoria

Victor Jefferson and Carmella Ramirez would like to wish their

daughter, Victoria Jefferson, a happy ﬁ rst birthday on September

26. She is the granddaughter of Cassandra Willis, Ignacio Ramirez

and Vicky Bailey of Idabel. Her great-grandparents are Bertha and

Truman Jefferson, Herod and the late Hazel Willis of Idabel.

Native American Heritage Month

By Kristy Russell

CARES Project

TA/Education Specialist

November has been known

as Native American Heritage

Month since 1990. Native

American Heritage Month is

celebrated to recognize the in-

tertribal cultures and to educate

the public about the heritage,

history, arts and traditions of

the Native Americans.

Heritage. What is it?

Heritage is a tradition that

is passed from one generation

to the next. This is a very im-

portant part of a personʼs life

no matter what culture they are

from. Heritage is something

that should be honored and in-

stilled into the lives of our chil-

dren. Heritage is one thing that

can ultimately shape our com-

munities. When we talk about

our heritage we ultimately pre-

serve those things that are pre-

cious for future generations.

Our heritage is one of the

most valuable resources that

we have as Choctaws. There

are many things to be learned

about our heritage as well as be

proud of. Our heritage teaches

our children the way that we

would like for them to act and

to treat other people with re-

spect and honesty.

These are the two biggest

things that our children need

to learn these days, and all we

have to do is keep in touch with

our heritage and start teach-

ing them these things from an

early age.

Today there are numer-

ous resources that can help

with learning more about our

heritage, Choctaw Nation pro-

grams, local libraries, Internet

and book stores. Elders in our

communities are a great re-

source to learn about our heri-

tage. Take the time to show or

explain your heritage to your

children, or nieces and neph-

ews. It will make a world of

difference if we would take 30

minutes out of our busy daily

schedules to teach our children

a little about their heritage.

Being Choctaw is some-

thing to be proud of. Sharing

our heritage is an honor and a

privilege.

Here at the CARES Project

we provide community out-

reaches in the 10 1/2 counties

every year. In those outreaches

we always try to incorporate

a cultural activity to teach the

children about the Choctaw

Culture. We also provide many

other activities, which include

prevention (drug and alcohol),

team-building, and self-es-

teem.

For

more information about

the CARES Project, feel free

to call 918-567-4128. Hvpim

Vlla Chipunta Yvt Pi Nitak

Tikba Minti – “Our Children

Are Our Future.”

Merit Scholarship Finalist

Jessie Kuykendall was named a 2006 National

Merit Finalist and received a college-sponsored

Merit Scholarship from Baylor University in

Waco, Texas. Jessie was also Valedictorian of

her class at Wright Christian Academy in Tulsa,

Oklahoma. Jessie is the daughter of John and

Julie Kuykendall, the granddaughter of Glenna Kuykendall and the

great-granddaughter of original enrollee Bill Coleman.

November 2006, BISHINIK, Page 8

Jones Academy captures top honors at Arkansas/Oklahoma State Fair

Grand Champion Market Swine: Brad Spears, Judge Nick

Mauk, Brandon Spears, Kelli Spears and Tristian Evans.

Breed Champion Chester White: Angel Andrade and Bran-

don Spears.

Reserve Breed Champion Chester White: Brandon Lowe,

Agricultural Aide, and Alisha Picone.

Tristian Evans, an eighth grade

student at Jones Academy, exhib-

ited the ﬁrst place Class IV Cross

Market hog at the Arkansas/Okla-

homa State Fair in Fort Smith,

Arkansas, held September 22-26.

His barrow, “Blue Neck,” was se-

lected as Champion Cross and

went on to capture the title of

Grand Champion Market Hog.

This event hosted more than 600

market swine entries. The Grand

Champion was bred and raised at

Jones Academy, Hartshorne.

Angel Andrade, a junior at

Jones Academy, exhibited the

ﬁrst place and Reserve Breed

Champion Chester White Market

Hog. Alishaʼs barrow, “Icee,” was

selected 12th overall in the pre-

mium sale lineup.

Alisha Picone, a ﬁfth-grader at

Jones Academy, showed the sec-

ond place and Reserve Breed

Champion Chester White Market

Hog. Alishaʼs barrow, “Buster,”

was 19th overall in premium sale

lineup. Angel and Alishaʼs bar-

rows were also bred and raised at

Jones Academy.

The Jones Academy 4-Hʼers

appreciate Chief Pyle, Assistant

Chief Bailey and the Choctaw

Nation Tribal Council for their

continued support of 4-H and

FFA programs.

Billy teaches and

entertains students

Tannehill preschool through fourth grade students were in-

troduced to Native American Storyteller Teresa Billy at the

Rotary Park Amphitheater in McAlester. She told stories of

how the oʼpossum lost his furry tail, how the turtle got cracks

in his back, and all-time favorite, “The Little

Red Hen.”

After the storytelling, the children enjoyed

a picnic lunch at the parks pavillion followed

by an afternoon of fun and games.

Tannehill students are taught the Choc-

taw Language daily in a talk-back TV class.

Teresa Billy is one of the instructors of the

program which is taught out of Durant. The

children have really enjoyed this wonderful

learning experience.

Tannehill preschool through fourth grade students are getting ready for an exciting time listening

to storyteller Teresa Billy from the Choctaw Nation.

Cynthia McNutty is pictured with husband Cary, baby Ma-

son, and her daughter, Megan Rudd at San Bernardino.

Chief Greg Pyle gives a T-shirt to Jimena Robbins who drew

the door prize tickets in San Bernardino.

Birthday cake and song were presented to Delois Scott in

honor of her 79th birthday. She is pictured here with her hus-

band, Frank.

Bob Forehand, originally from Paola, now resides in Sun

City. He is receiving housing information from Valerie Powell,

Leah Williams and Russell Sossamon.

Feather Long and Congressman Joe Bacaʼs representative,

Rafael Trujillo, attend the meeting in San Bernardino.

Okla Chahta Royalty pictured with Chief Pyle are Jr. Prin-

cess Kelsie Strohmaier, Little Miss Shaylah Youngdale and

Honorary Princess Danaia Leyba.

Executive Director of Health Gary Batton visits with James

Wilson at the San Francisco meeting.

Ruth Price, baby Dasan Aguilera and Ada Edwards are pic-

tured with Chief Pyle in San Francisco.

Bob and Saundra Edwards gathered with other Choctaws

in San Francisco. Bob is originally from Talihina.

Richard and Lisa Young arrive at the San Francisco meet-

ing with baby Kiona. Richard came to get help in his effort to

have a CDIB issued.

Choctaws gather in San Bernardino and San Francisco

November 2006, BISHINIK, Page 9

Lady angler

Juanita Conkright, daughter of Al-

ice W. LeFlore, a full-blood Choc-

taw, ﬁ nished ﬁ fth in the lady anglerʼs

division of American Bass Anglers

Pro/Am tour. Over 500 people quali-

ﬁ ed for the nationals held in Paris,

Tennessee. This is a week-long event

with three days of practice and three

days of tournament. The weather was

good on the ﬁ rst two days, but fall-

ing water conditions made the ﬁ shing

tough. Day three started with strong winds out of the northeast

and delayed takeoff for two and a half hours, shortening the day.

Juanita was proud to represent the Choctaw Nation at the nation-

als and wore her Choctaw patches throughout the tournament.

Juanita and her husband have ﬁ shed tournaments for ﬁ ve years as

a team but this is her ﬁ rst year ﬁ shing the Pro/Am circuit.

World Champion

Jace “Peanutt” Roberts, 13, of At-

wood travels extensively throughout

the United States and Canada with his

family participating in many different

pow-wows. At the Schemitzun World

Championship pow-wow that usually

takes place the third weekend in Au-

gust, Peanutt was crowned with the

world championship title in the teen

boyʼs grass dance category. He takes

pride and honor is his traditional cul-

ture by taking part at many different

native gatherings throughout the coun-

try. He is very proud to represent the

Choctaw Nation. This is his second

world championship title in two dif-

ferent dance styles.

The family of Peanutt would like to

take this opportunity to say congratu-

lations and we are very proud of your

accomplishment!

Eaton receives degree from CSU

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Higher Education Department

would like to recognize and congratulate Jeffery Mark Eaton Jr.

Jeffery graduated from Colorado State University in December

2005. He received his degree in Nutrition and Food Science Mi-

crobiology.

ECU grad earns masterʼs

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Higher Education Department

would like to recognize and congratulate: Mindi Paige Smith Mc-

Gehee. Mindi graduated in July 2006 from East Central University

with a Masterʼs of Education.

I would like to thank the Choctaw Nation for all the support and

scholarship funds I received while attending school. I am proud to

be a member of such a great and progressive tribe.

2006 North American

Indigenous Games Champion

Our thanks to Chief Pyle and the Choc-

taw Nation for their assistance in making

these activities possible. John Ben Seidner,

15-year-old Choctaw tribal member from

Midwest City, competed in the 2006 North

American Indigenous Games in Denver,

Colorado, recently, winning a gold medal

in Judo in the Male 15-16 years-old +148

pounds category and a silver medal in the

Male Adult 180 pounds category in Judo.

Also, he won a gold medal in cadet division freestyle wrestling.

The Indigenous Games are the largest continuing Native American

celebration of both sport and culture in North America. An estimate of

9,000 athletes from Canada and the United States participated in the

week-long games.

David Seidner, John Benʼs father and Judo coach, won a silver medal

in Male Adult 180+ category in Judo. John Ben is a 2006 Oklahoma

State Champion in Greco-Roman Wrestling, a 2006 Oklahoma State

Judo Champion, a 2006 University of Oklahoma Open Wrestling Tour-

nament Champion and a member of Team Oklahoma National Wrestling

Team. He was also listed in this yearʼs edition of “Whoʼs Who Among

American High School Students” and “Whoʼs Who Among American

High School Sports.”

He is the son of David and Sheryl Littlecrow Seidner, grandson of

Wilbur and Betty Slinker Seidner, all of Midwest City, great-grandson

of William and Dorena Jones Slinker, both Choctaw, deceased, of Okla-

homa City, and the great-great-grandson of original Choctaw enrollee

Robinson Jones, deceased, and great-great-great grandson of original

Choctaw enrollee Logan Jones, deceased, both of Smithville. Heʼs

also the great nephew of Charley Jones deceased and Lou Jones

of Idabel.

Guest speakers at the 2006 DARE Rodeo include astronauts John Herrington and Kathy

Thornton, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry and Chief Greg Pyle.

Assistant Chief Mike Bailey participates in roping

events.

Seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders ﬁ lled the coliseum in Durant.

100% Cowboy – Jason Meadows entertains.Tie-down roping is popular among area rodeo fans.Is it a clown? No, itʼs the “Wild Child,” Troy Lerwill.

Law enforcement ofﬁ cers are recognized.

2006 Labor Day Festival

Softball Tournament Winners

Womenʼs Division

1st: Ohoyo Homma; 2nd: Chatas; 3rd: Red Sox

Menʼs Division

1st: Next of Kind; 2nd: Nok-a-Homa; 3rd: Native American

Comanches

Tribe donates

funds for roads

Antlers is home to one

of the most beautiful in-

dustrial parks in South-

eastern Oklahoma and

thanks to the Choctaw Nation, it has new roads and sidewalks through-

out. The roads will make a difference when attracting more business,

city ofﬁ cials claim.

“The park is something we can build on and the City of Antlers is

thankful,” Mayor Brent Franks.

“The help we can bring to an area, increasing jobs, improving the

economy, helps all other problems in the area,” said Chief Gregory E.

Pyle. “This is going to be a huge development, one that will really stand

out and be of great beneﬁ t to Antlers.”

River of Life Baptist Mission celebrates ﬁ rst year

Everyone is welcome to attend the ﬁ rst anniversary of River of

Life Baptist Mission, Hochatown, on December 2. Preaching be-

gins at 9 a.m., dinner is served at noon and singing begins at 1:30

p.m. Guest speakers include Eddie Lindsey and Kerry Warren.

Pastor of River of Life is Lee Battiest.

Tribe’s ﬁ rst animation

of a Native American

traditional story

The Choctaw Nation proudly

announces the release of two

beloved Choctaw traditional

stories in DVD format. Both

stories, “The Show-off Turkey”

and “Little Ants Help Turtle,”

are available on one DVD, with

each story presented in an Eng-

lish language translation and an

original Choctaw language ver-

sion. The Choctaw Nation of

Oklahoma, in partnership with

Choctaw tribal member P.K.

Work, have taken our nation in a

new, exciting and wonderful di-

rection that honors our past while

placing us clearly in the world of

todayʼs high technology.

Tribal member P. K. Work,

graphic artist and web devel-

oper, and President/CEO of

Work Web Design, began work-

ing on this project in 2001 with

the Choctaw Nationʼs Education

Department under the leadership

of Joy Culbreath. The oral tales

and subsequent books released

in the 1980s were the focal point

of this project. Staying true to

Choctaw Nation releases “Choctaw Stories Vol. 1”

the oral stories and the familiar

graphics, P.K. Work and Work

Web Design painstakingly and

by hand, using the latest com-

puter graphics available at the

time, translated those characters

and stories frame by frame into

the ﬁ rst computer CD form.

Speaking about this project

Work stated, “It was and is more

than just the preservation of our

traditional language and our

traditional stories which in and

of itself is extremely important.

We are using computer graph-

ics to preserve and disseminate

traditional Choctaw values and

beliefs systems. These stories

convey how we as Choctaws see

our world, how we react to it. It

preserves and teaches values

that we as Choctaw people have

lived our lives by, have used and

continue to use to exemplify our

Choctaw way of life. These val-

ues have preserved the Choctaw

Nation over hundreds of years

in spite of efforts to silence us

and take away our way of life.

“ ʻAnimated Traditional Choc-

taw Stories Vol. 1ʼ is another

example of how Chief Pyle and

Assistant Chief Bailey, through

the Education Department, are

fulﬁ lling their commitment to

the Choctaw people to preserve

our culture and language using

whatever medium can best serve

our people,” said Work, CEO of

Work Web Design, whose Na-

tive American (Choctaw) owned

graphics and web development

company worked up all of the

computer animation and graph-

ics involved in this DVD.

P.K. went on to say that “It

was extremely rewarding and

fun when our Native speakers

came into the mix, then magic

happened. Our exemplary na-

tive speaker did the voices of the

characters and also acted a narra-

tor in both Choctaw and English.

Itʼs amazing how long a sentence

can be in Choctaw when spoken

in Choctaw and how short the

translation is in English.” The

voices, both in English and in

Choctaw, were done by Richard

Adams, Hannah Bryan, Virginia

Espinoza, and Lillie Roberts, all

Choctaw native speakers who

teach Choctaw language class-

es through the Chata Anumpa

Aiikhvna (School of Choctaw

Language).

The project, originally com-

pleted in 2002 in CD and VHS

formats, was remastered last

year by Work when a deci-

sion was made to release it in

the newer DVD format. Tribal

members who have grown up

with these stories know them

well and will be delighted with

this DVD. Many Choctaw chil-

dren have been told these stories

by grandparents and parents and

elders over the years.

Excitement over the release of

this DVD is widespread. Native

American and OSU Professor

John Cross of the Sociology De-

partment at Oklahoma State Uni-

versity was so excited when he

obtained a copy of it he stated he

was going to see if he could get

it included in OSUʼs language

department classroom instruc-

tion. Professor Cross is a strong

advocate of Native American

rights and is a leading voice in

the ﬁ eld of the preservations of

naive cultures at OSU.

is hoped that the Choctaw

Nation people will add their

two thumbs up to these stores

so that more traditional sto-

ries will be done in the future.

A copy can be purchased at:

www.choctawnation.com/dsp_

DVDOrders.cfm.

November 2006, BISHINIK, Page 10

Choctaw Nation honors its outstanding elders

Hooser, Bohanan top elders of 2006

Choctaw elders were honored October 5 with a banquet held

at the Choctaw Inn in Durant. Chosen as the Outstanding Male

and Female Elder of 2006 are John A. Hooser, District 7, and

Carrie Belle Tonihka Bohanan, District 2 (not pictured). Chief

Gregory E. Pyle and respective Councilpersons awarded each of

the Outstanding Elders and each nominee with a plaque.

Hooser, a U.S. Navy veteran, attended Eastern State College,

Southeastern State College, and Oklahoma State University

where he earned his masterʼs degree and did his graduate work.

He began his career as an educator in 1952, then as educator/ad-

ministrator until his retirement. He began his second career as

a supervisor on Veterans Education and is involved with many

community activities, including president of Pushmataha County

Retired Educators, board member of Clayton City Council,

Clayton Cemetery Board, and Cartwright Memorial Library.

He is a member of First Baptist Church in Clayton and serves

on the ﬁnance committee. Hooser is also a member of Frisco

Baptist Association group, a group known as “Nail Benders,”

who helps build and repair churches. He is also involved with

the Lions Club.

During the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Historical Soci-

ety in Oklahoma City, he gave a paper that may be used for the

upcoming State of Oklahoma 100 years celebration, “The Mis-

sion of Peter J. Hudson for Education, Religion, History and the

Choctaw Tribe,” a story about his papa.

Hooser has attended many leadership opportunities at South-

western State College in Weatherford, Florida State University,

University of Maryland, Las Vegas, and University of Colo-

rado.

His awards and honors include National Membership Chairman

for National Science Teachers Association, President of Council

State Science Supervisors and the Missouri Science Educators

Award. He had two publications, “Editorial,” Science Teacher,

January 1970, and “To the Science Teachers of Missouri,” Mis-

souri Science News, April 1970. He has or had professional and

academic association memberships: National Science Teachers

Association, lifetime membership; Council State Science Super-

visors, Phi Delta Kappa, and Science Teachers of Missouri.

Hooser married Lucille Spencer in 1944 and they have three

children.

Jack Austin is his Councilman.

Carrie Belle Tonihka Bohanan was unable to attend the banquet

because she was spending time with a military grandson who

had returned stateside for a short time. She maintains God ﬁrst,

family second, and others.

Very vivid in her memory is the loss of Carrie Belleʼs mother

at a very young age and the beginning of her formal education,

one in which she was not allowed to speak her Choctaw language.

Her father and grandmother cared for her and she was beside her

dad at all times. Knowing that Carrie needed an education, he and

a friend drove her to Wheelock. While she was being distracted

by the Superintendent her dad walked out and left. She chased

after her father but was unable to stop him. She spoke very little

English, only “yes maʼam” and “no maʼam.”

Carrie overcame and adapted to changes in her life. She made

eye contact with a young man attending Bacone as she was be-

ing transported to Oklahoma Presbyterian College. In 1932, on

October 31, they were married and enjoyed a long and happy

life through lots of hardships, schools, colleges, and seminary

where two Christian lives began.

Carrie did not continue her education along with her husband

after they were married but began caring for the three children

that blessed their lives and coping with life on a college campus.

She and the children remained beside her husband, attending

meetings on local, state and national levels. She held many ofﬁces

in the womenʼs church work. Carrie realized that the Choctaw

Presbytery needed a van and she had heard about using green

stamps. She told her womenʼs group, “We can do it.” She started

a campaign for collecting green stamp books to large churches,

writing letters to Presbyterian women throughout the United

States. Books began pouring in and in two years and with lots

of prayers she collected the 2,000 needed books. One name she

remembers, because of who he was, Dick Clark, sent 600 books

with a note from his church in Philadelphia. It was a happy day

when she and two pastors traveled from her area to Collinsville,

Oklahoma, to exchange the books and drive the van home.

She dreams big, like a new beautiful church for Mt. Fork Pres-

byterian Church in Eagletown. Again, she began her campaign

by speaking, writing to churches, hard work, and local food and

crafts sales to raise the funds needed, and again, she thanks her

God because it was a reality and it is a beautiful church in the

country.

Carrie is a positive person who wants people to reach out and

do things for others. She has received awards and honors on her

accomplishments as working with a local teacher and local radio

program, KBEL, Idabel. News was announced in the English

version and if it pertained to Choctaw families, then Carrie

Belle translated in the Choctaw language. She was supported

by Choctaw elders who encouraged and supported her actions

and commended her.

Carrie used the Trail of Tears saga and performed a skit to

show the people of the hardship and sadness the Choctaw people

endured and also used it to help others to understand the Choctaw

Removal. She again received support from Choctaw elders and

children as they worked with Carrie to carry out the skit.

She was selected as The Living Legend in McCurtain County

by the AAUW in April 1966 and was also featured in Oklahoma

Traditions in McCurtain County.

Carrie Belle is still very active with crafts, sewing, painting,

and gardening. At 92, her age may have slowed her down, but her

daily routine begins with feeding the birds, admiring and talking

to them. She enjoys traveling and above all is proud to be able to

remain at home, doing her housework and cooking for her family.

She gives thanks to God and reads her Bible daily. She enjoys

the song, “Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me,” and we all

see the twinkle in her eyes and a smile on her face.

This is Carrie Belle Bohanan.

Lyman Choate, District 2, Broken Bow, is a U.S. Navy veteran

who also spent years in Reserve as an electrician. He attended Ant-

lers, Goodland and Chilocco Indian schools. He was employed by

Dierks, Weyerhauser and Pan Paciﬁc, retiring in 1999. Currently,

he is enjoying his God-given talent of working with wood and has

won numerous art awards. He and his wife, Ruby, have ﬁve children,

numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He attends Tohwali

United Methodist Church and serves as a Church trustee.

Allen Williams, District 2, Bethel, (not pictured) is a Vietnam

veteran and recent retiree from Weyerhauser with 39 years of service.

He enjoys spending time with six daughters and granddaughters and

going on senior citizen trips. Mike Amos is District 2 Councilman.

Melissa Bohanan, District 2, Bethel, a full-blood Choctaw lady,

attends Kulli Chito Church, Bethel. She attends the Bethel Center for

the meals program and is active with the Senior Fitness Program. She

is a family caregiver to her husband of 57 years, Robert Bohanan, and

has raised 10 children. Her hobbies include hunting and ﬁshing.

Leon Bohanan, District 3, Smithville, is retired from USEM with

33 years of service as a test technician. He is currently employed

part-time as custodian at the Smithville Community Center, grounds

keeper, van maintenance personnel and van driver. He is an ordained

Presbyterian Lay Preacher, appointed to serve 11 Presbyterian

Churches, delivering his messages in both Choctaw and English.

Kenny Bryant is Councilperson for District 3.

Leona Samuel, District 3, Smithville, is retired from the

Smithville Public School as teacherʼs assistant with 28 years of ser-

vice. She is active with the Nanih Chito Presbyterian Church serving

as secretary and treasurer of Sunday School for 12 churches. Leona

and her husband of 36 years attend the Smithville Senior Center. She

is currently the volunteer leader for the Senior Fitness Program.

Gilbert Smallwood, District 3, Talihina, is a retired coach, edu-

cator and administrator within Rattan, Buffalo Valley and Talihina

schools. He earned his BS on a SOSU basketball scholarship and

MS degrees from SOSU while employed with the Talihina school

system. “My career has been my pride and joy,” says Mr. Smallwood,

“and I hope somewhere along the way I made a difference in the

lives of young people.” He enjoys the daily meals and fellowships

at the Talihina Center.

Viola McCurtain, District 3, Talihina, a full-blood Choctaw,

attended and graduated from Wheelock Female Academy on May

26, 1939, and received her GED on January 14, 1975. She has been

employed with County Extension and as a home and school aide

with Talihina Public Schools. She is a faithful member of St. Paul

United Methodist Church, serving as treasurer, and served as district

ofﬁcer in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. Her cultural

activities include participating with Talihina Indian Club, Choctaw

Language Classes, Native Crafts Sessions and Choctaw vocabulary

and Bible sessions. She is an active Choctaw Choir member record-

ing Choctaw Hymns. She has been active in updating the Choctaw

dictionary.

Raymond Wilson, District 4, Poteau, is a U.S. Army veteran who

served two years in Japan and upon returning home he enrolled and

earned a degree at Poteau Community College, now known as Carl

Albert State College. He then received his degree at Southeastern

Oklahoma State University. He is a retired coach, educator and vo-

cational technical specialist who taught in Smithville, Vinita, Murray

State and Valliant school systems.

District 4 Councilperson is Delton Cox.

Marcella Widmar, District 4, Poteau, is active with Ladies Auxil-

iary of Fleet Reserve Association and is a member of Eastern Star. She

has taken exercise classes to help people with arthritis and is certiﬁed

in Senior Health Insurance Counseling Program, volunteering with

seniors. She has worked with Leﬂore county and Choctaw Election

Boards. She is active in fund-raising for senior trips and community

activities such as the Childrenʼs Christmas Program.

Darrell Dunn, District 4.5, Spiro, was a self-employed truck

driver for 40 years, becoming a leasing company to businesses and

companies in the Fort Smith area. He is proud to have logged 3 mil-

lion accident-free miles. His hobbies included hunting and ﬁshing

until health conditions slowed him down. For the past 10 years, Dunn

and his wife, Bennie, spend a week in Tushka Homma during the

Choctaw Labor Day Festival.

Doecha Carol Harris, District 4.5, Spiro, a mother of two, retired

with 24 years of service with the U.S. Government Civil Service

prior to her employment and retirement with the Choctaw Nation.

She work with the Choctaw Nation included administrative clerk at

the Rubin White Clinic, as a CHR, then as a ﬁeld ofﬁce worker. Her

civil service duties included McAlester Ammunition Depot, Corps of

Engineers, Tulsa District, and for the Public Health Service. She was

recently selected as Choctaw Nation Delegate at the 2006 National

Indian Conference on Aging, Tulsa.

Councilpersons Delton Cox and Charlotte Jackson share the Spiro

Center.

Larry Franklin, District 5, Stigler, is a NICOA trainee, assisting

the community with the upkeep of the Choctaw Community Center

in Stigler. He served in the National Guard for six years as a heli-

copter crew chief. His hobbies included playing basketball and he

attends the Enterprise Baptist Church. Charlotte Jackson is District

5 Councilperson.

Linda Sue Mitchell, District 5, Spiro, and her husband of 25

years, Edward, raised three children. She was employed as a seam-

stress for 20 years and CNA for 15 years. She enjoys arts and crafts

and visiting with people. She also enjoys her volunteering activities

at the Stigler Choctaw Community Center.

November 2006, BISHINIK, Page 11

Choctaw Nation honors its outstanding elders

James M. Noley, District 6, Wilburton, served in the Army

National Guard and as an Army enlistment stationed in Frankfort,

Germany. He earned his BS and MS from Northeastern and worked on

graduate studies at OU. He taught in schools in Oklahoma and Kansas

before returning home to Eastern Oklahoma State College working

with the Indian Outreach Program and with the Veterans Affairs

Program. He then accepted a position with the University of Central

Oklahoma and during his 13 years served as American Indian Coun-

selor, Enrollment Advisor at Tinker Air Force Base and coordinator of

multi-cultural student services. He is also an outstanding volunteer at

the Wilburton Community Center as van driver, committee treasurer,

and helping his fellow elders in the community.

Betty Hall, District 6, Wilburton, (not pictured) has attended

Center Point Baptist for the past 40 years and she serves as pianist and

assistant teacher for the Womenʼs Class. She is currently the treasurer

for Wilburton Choctaw Seniors and has served as secretary for ﬁve

years. She has volunteered in the pharmacy at the Latimer Christian

Free Clinic. She enjoys genealogy and is the treasurer of the Glenn-

Tucker Cousins Association. She is a board member of Kiamichi

Area Nutrition Project and an active member in the local chapter of

Oklahoma Eastern Star. Joe Coley is District 6 Councilperson.

David Davis, District 7, Wright City, is a Vietnam veteran. He was

drafted during his senior year at Central State University, Edmond. He

received many honors and an Army Commendation Medal during the

Vietnam campaign. After returning home, he retired from Weyerhauser

Company after 36 years as an electrician. He is a member of the First

Baptist Church, a Deacon and Adult Sunday School teacher. His hob-

bies include pitching horseshoes and hunting.

Mary Andoe, District 7, Wright City, attended Wright City High

School, graduated from SOSU in 1971 and recently retired from

Wright City Public School with 33 years of service. Her hobbies

include reading and caring for her plants. She has served as OEA local

president for 18 years and has been listed in Whoʼs Who of American

Teachers. Jack Austin is the Councilperson for District 7.

Jenny Beth Caraway, District 7, Antlers, (not pictured) has

served Pushmataha County as County Treasurer since July 1991 and

has been unopposed for the past ﬁve terms. She is a member of First

United Methodist Church and serves as Church treasurer and youth

sponsor. She is a proud member of the Choctaw Nation.

Henry Rodriquez, District 8, Hugo, is an active participant and

outstanding volunteer on a weekly basis with the Hugo Senior Nutri-

tion Program. He is the father of six children and a lifetime resident

of Choctaw County. His favorite hobby is going out to eat.

Tommie Jones, District 8, Hugo, raised four children and cur-

rently resides in Soper. She enjoys time with her grandchildren, ﬁsh-

ing and attending the casino on Senior Day. She enjoys fellowship at

the Hugo Senior Center and loves singing gospel music.

Perry Thompson is the Councilperson for District 8.

Chief Gregory E. Pyle, District 9, Durant, was nominated by

the Senior participants and Councilmember Ted Dosh of the Durant

Center. Chief Pyle is honored for this consideration but his mission

statement as a tribal leader is “Always do the right things” and

therefore, withdrew his biography to be considered as a candidate

for Outstanding Choctaw Male. In 1999, under Chief Pyleʼs admin-

istration, Choctaw Nation began to recognize and honor Outstanding

Choctaw elders from each district.

Julia Knight, District 9, Durant, the mother of two children,

owned and operated a local grocery store. She did volunteer work at

Choctaw Nation, teaching elders ceramics, quilting and crafts, and

also volunteered with Three Valley Museum, the school system, and

at the hospital for 31 years. She enjoys clubs such as Ohoyohoma,

Business and Professional Women, Delphains and American Legion.

Her Councilman is Ted Dosh.

Rayson Nichols, District 10, Atoka, is the father of seven children.

He served 21 years with the Air Force with duties that included avia-

tion, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and space exploration. Retiring

from the Air Force, he received a teaching certiﬁcate, taught school

and then served as a school administrator. He was employed by the

Choctaw Nation as the Education Director for ﬁve years. He is a

member of United Methodist Church and serves as Sunday School

teacher for young adults. Currently, he is a family caregiver to his

sister. “I strive to be a friend to all I meet and to help those in need in

anyway I can,” said Nichols. His Councilman is Anthony Dillard.

Lorena Cooper, District 10, Atoka, is 83 years old and married

to Mose Cooper. She has 10 children, 25 grandchildren and 41 great-

grandchildren. She is very active in her church, Coal Creek Cumber-

land Presbyterian. Lorena was recently selected as Choctaw Nation

Delegate at the National Indian Conference on Aging in Tulsa. She

speaks Choctaw ﬂuently and is very active in her District 10 Senior

Program. She even attended the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert in Durant.

Her Councilman is Anthony Dillard.

Andrew J. Johnson, District 11, McAlester, retired from the

Union Paciﬁc Railroad as a machine operator after 33 years of service.

He is an outstanding volunteer at the McAlester Choctaw Senior

Center on a weekly basis. He is also an active community volunteer

with Camp Plea for the past 22 years, a camp sponsored by Pittsburg

County law enforcement for underprivileged and handicapped

children. He is a volunteer with Kiowa FFA students assisting with

their show animals, transporting animals to county and state events

and heavily involved with fund-raising and preparing of the annual

banquet. Johnson has also volunteered with the Kiowa, Pittsburg

and Blanco Volunteer Fire Departments and for the past 13 years has

hosted an annual gospel singing at his family home. He volunteers

with his church, mowing the lawns, cleaning the church and transport-

ing youth to different activities. His Councilman is Bob Pate.

Aline Ward, District 11, McAlester, serves as the Vice President

of the Senior Center and she coordinates activities and trips for the

McAlester Senior Center. She is a member of Victory Park Baptist

Church for 45 years, serving as group leader of Naomi Sunday

School class and volunteering in the Soup Kitchen every Friday

for the past 23 years. She has an LPN license and the patience to

work with people and students for a number of years. She worked

for 23 1/2 years with Jones Academy as a house parent and health

coordinator. Since her retirement she serves as caregiver to family

and friends needing transportation to clinics and pharmacies. Her

Councilman is Bob Pate.

Eddie H. Barker, District 12, Crowder, attended Chilocco Indian

School and joined the Navy in 1954. He attended Naval Liviation

School in Norman and in Memphis, Tennessee. After returning from

his military duty he married Juanita and they are the parents of three

children. Today, he enjoys ﬁshing, hunting and gardening. He also

enjoys being active and helping at the Crowder Choctaw Center. His

Councilman is James Frazier.

Mary Lee Risenhoover, District 12, Crowder, at an early age

helped her grandmother raise her younger siblings. She married

and had six children of her own, now with grandchildren and great-

grandchildren to enjoy. She enjoys reading, cooking and quilting and

is known for Amish Friendship Bread that she has shared with many

friends. The Amish Bread is very popular at the Crowder Senior

Citizens weekly luncheon rafﬂe. She enjoys the socialization at the

centerʼs weekly luncheon. Her Councilman is James Frazier.

Nellie Hunter, District 12, Coalgate, entered the U.S. Army WAC

after graduating from high school and while stationed in Ryukyu

Island was chosen as WAC of the month in November of 1959. She

was assigned as Administrative Specialist in the ofﬁce of Commander

in Chief, Paciﬁc Representative US ARMY SIX Corps. After her

enlistment she raised her seven children, enrolled in college major-

ing in accounting and landed a job at the Veterans Administration

Hospital in Oklahoma City. Nellie earned awards and was recognized

for her dedication and devotion to the Veterans Administration. She

returned to Tupelo to begin her family caregiving role, taking care

of family. She is a member of the Choctaw Nation Color Guard,

secretary/treasurer of the Choctaw Veterans Association, secretary

of the Five Tribes Veterans Association and is a Veterans Service

Ofﬁcer. She volunteers with Coalgate Senior Center, selected as a

Choctaw Delegate to the 2006 NICOA Conference and works with

Choctaw children and youth of Coal County. Her Councilman is

James Frazier.

Choctaw artists

win at art show

At the 2006 Cherokee

Art Market on October 14

and 15, four Choctaw artists

were honored with awards

for their work. Marcus

Amerman of Santa Fe, New

Mexico, won the Best of

Show Award for his beaded

vest. Argus Dowdy of Ski-

atook received the Best of

Division for Cultural Items

for his hand-carved pipe.

Gwen Coleman Lester of

Claremore received the Best

of Division for Water-based

Painting and Norma Howard

of Stigler won First Runner

up for Water-based Painting.

Cherokee Nation sponsored

the juried art show held at

the Cherokee Casino Resort

in Catoosa.

Gwen Coleman Lester, Marcus Amerman, Norma Howard and Argus Dowdy.

OBITUARIES

November 2006, BISHINIK, Page 12

Edward Guinn Beal

Edward Guinn Beal, 86, passed away September 25, 2006, in

Victor, New York. Edward was born July 12, 1920, in Eubanks,

Oklahoma, to James and Minnie Beal.

Edward served with the U.S. Navy prior to and during World War

II. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Charles

Anderson.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia; children, Virginia (Sam)

Brayla of Florida, Linda (Bob) of Victor, New York, Thomas J.

Beal of Shortsville, New York, and Terry (Roger) Smith of Florida;

12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three sisters and many

nieces and nephews.

Joel John Thompson Jr.

Joel John Thompson Jr., 88, passed away September 4, 2006, at

his residence in Waco, Texas. He was born December 14, 1917, in

Choctaw County, son of Joel J. and Ira Williams Thompson.

He moved from Oklahoma to the Commerce, Texas, area dur-

ing the early Depression years. As a young adult he moved back to

Hugo. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a PO3.

Joel was a sign painter for about 40 years in Waco. He received his

airplane pilotʼs certiﬁcate. He was a member of Richﬁeld Chris-

tian Church and for many years a member of Masonic Lodge Waco

#92.

After his ﬁrst marriage to Glenna Flanagan, he married Judy Mil-

lus Thompson who preceded him in death. He then married Lena

“Gypsy” Luttrell. He was also preceded in death by one daughter,

Dianne Stephenson, and an infant daughter and ﬁve sisters.

Survivors include his wife; sons, Joel John Thompson III and

Phil Thompson and his wife, Gwen; six grandchildren and nine

great-grandchildren.

James Lowman

James Lowman passed away May 19,

2006. He was born September 11, 1942.

James had lived in Minneapolis, Minne-

sota.

He was preceded in death by his par-

ents and one brother.

Survivors include his wife, Priscilla

of the home, and one son, James Jr. of

Minneapolis; brothers, Leroy Lowman

of Oklahoma City, Jerry and Jimmy Lowman of Bethel and Jackie

Lowman of Tulsa.

The family would like to thank Chief Greg Pyle, Assistant Chief

Mike Bailey, Councilman Kenny Bryant and Choctaw Nation em-

ployees for everything they did.

Ellie Redden

Ellie Redden, 94, passed away September 15, 2006. She was born

February 8, 1912, near Nashoba. Her maternal grandparents were

Joshua and Jane McCurtain. Her two oldest siblings, Della and Bill,

were born in Indian Territory and were on the Dawes Rolls. Her

younger brother, Raymond, was a decorated World War II hero,

killed in action, near Achen, Germany. Her formative years were

spent in the hills by Jack Creek where she attended a school that

was taught by an older cousin, Ethel McKinnon.

She was preceded in death by two husbands, Virgil Cunningham

and John D. Redden; her parents, John Williams and Minnie Mc-

Curtain; three brothers, Bill, Raymond and Joe; and three sisters,

Della Peacock, Ruby Hibbs and Maudie.

Survivors include her youngest sister, Iva Tomlin of San Jose,

California; nieces, Sandra Tomlin of Pinole, California, Deborah

Segerstrom and Cheryl Eagen of San Jose, Denise Tomlin of Santa

Clara, California, and Kaye Hibbs Smith of San Jose.

She had a friend for over 50 years, Myrtle Beasley, who was also

her next-door neighbor. They worked together for years, operat-

ing produce stands. Ellieʼs husband, Virgil, brought in the produce

from farmers near and far. She was a remarkable homemaker and

an extraordinary cook. The last years of her life she bonded with her

provider, Lisa Williams, who became like a daughter to her and was

her loyal companion in her ﬁnal months.

She will be remembered lovingly by her family and friends.

David Wayne Lewis

David Wayne Lewis, 38, of Talihina passed away September 27,

2006, at his home. He was born March 27, 1968, in Norfolk, Vir-

ginia.

David married Tonya Burnett on August 18, 2006, in McAlester.

He was a very caring person and was always willing to lend a

helping hand.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, William

J. and Jo Ann Jobe, and paternal grandmother, Lillie Thompson.

Survivors include his wife of the home; sons, David Lewis Jr.

of Lake Arthur, Louisiana, and Trevor Collin Lewis of Talihina;

stepson, Dale Waterback of Poteau; stepdaughter, Hailei Emde of

Talihina; daughter, Victoria Belle Lewis of Poteau; father, Dallas

Lewis of Talihina; mother, Kay Quinn of Wilburton; sister, Ann and

husband Thomas Walls of Talihina; nieces, Heather Long of Poteau

and Kimberly Walls of Talihina; nephews, Michael Long of Poteau

and Jimmy Green and Thomas Walls Jr., both of Talihina; uncles,

Jerry Thompson of Durant, James Quinn of Talihina and Jacky

Bush of Heavener; mother-in-law, Sharon Burnett of Talihina; and

numerous other relatives and a host of friends.

Dan D. Wilson

Dan D. Wilson, 88, of Cooper, Texas, passed away September

11, 2006, at Paris Regional Medical Center. He was born January

27, 1918, in Broken Bow, the son of Tom Wilson and Della Bailey

Wilson.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He

retired from the Dallas Times Herald where he was a linotype op-

erator, completing his career of more than 40 years in the newspaper

industry. He was of the Baptist faith.

His wife, Lula Mae Belvin Wilson, passed away in May 1984.

Survivors include a son, Ronnie Wilson of Dallas; daughter,

Connie Waters of Cooper; sister, Ann Jaquec of Hochatown; eight

grandchildren; ﬁve great-grandchildren and one soon-to-be great-

great-granddaughter.

Wynema Gladys Steidley Bell

Wynema Gladys Bell, 87, of McAlester passed away August

5, 2006, at the McAlester Regional Health Center. She was born

March 10, 1919, in Indianola, Oklahoma, to original Choctaw en-

rollee Elsie Nale Steidley and Eddie Steidley.

She married Eugene Albert Bell in 1940. She and her husband

owned and operated “The New Eat Shop” and “The DeLux” restau-

rants in McAlester for 25 years.

She loved ﬂowers and working in her vegetable garden. She of-

ten took her grandchildren on walks when they were young and

shared her passion for nature with them. She was particularly proud

of her Choctaw heritage and passed that pride on to her children and

grandchildren.

Wynema was a member of the McAlester First Baptist Church

most of her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Bell; her fa-

ther, Eddie Steidley; her mother and stepfather, Elsie and Ed Clay-

ton; a sister, Leona Harbor, and a brother, Howard Steidley.

Survivors include her son, Eddie Bell; daughter, Nell L. London;

ﬁve granddaughters; four great-grandsons and four great-grand-

daughters.

Thomas C. Holleman Jr.

Thomas C. “Geronimo” Holleman Jr., 82, passed away Septem-

ber 10, 2006, in New Iberia. He was born November 17, 1923, in

McAlester, the son of Thomas C. Holleman Sr. and Angie Dearen

Holleman.

He was a graduate of McAlester High School and attended

Southeastern Oklahoma State University on a football scholarship.

He was sent to SLI, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette,

by the U.S. Marines, for the V-12 Program during World War II.

Mr. Holleman then served in World War II and the Korean War as a

member of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Regi-

ment, receiving the Bronze Star with combat V, Navy Commenda-

tion Ribbon with combat V, Korean Service medal with bronze star

and the United Nations Service medal. He was a past commandant

of the McIlhenny Marine Corps League. Mr. Holleman was one of

the founders of Cardinal Wireline Specialist in New Iberia.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife of 59

years, Eleanor Landry Holleman.

Survivors include his sons, Thomas C. Holleman III and wife

Vicki of New Iberia, John Holleman and wife Betsy, and James

A. Holleman and wife Kelly of New Iberia; daughters, Mary Hol-

leman Beaullieu and husband G.A. “Buster” Beaullieu of New

Iberia, and Eleanor A. Holleman of Indianapolis; grandchildren,

Gerald “Beau” Beaullieu IV, Charlie Beaullieu, Paul Beaullieu,

Helen Bayard, Thomas Holleman IV, Lindley Holleman, Andrew

Holleman, Rebecca Holleman, Robin Boatright, Elizabeth Holle-

man, John Holleman Jr. and Lindsay Holleman; and great-grand-

children, Mary-Alizabeth Beaullieu, Emma T. Beaullieu, Gerald A.

Beaullieu V, Thomas L. Beaullieu, Noah T. Bayard and Kennedy

A. Holleman.

Alva Paul ʻBootsʼ Sanner

Boots Sanner, a Sun City, Arizona, res-

ident for 14 years, passed away April 22,

2005. He was 92. He was born on Sep-

tember 15, 1912, in Velma, Oklahoma.

Boots worked for the Skelley Oil

Company for over 30 years and retired

in 1973 to Duncan. He lived there with

his wife, Doris, until they moved to Sun

City in 1991.

Survivors include his wife; his sister,

Oma; his twin sister, Alta; three children,

Elois Ann, Greg and Brett; grandchil-

dren, Saleena, Andrea, Connor and Nicholas; and great-grandchil-

dren, Bobby Brent, Melina, Shenandoah and Dakota.

Wanda Lee Brown Branham

Wanda Lee Brown Branham, 80,

passed away November 10, 2005. She

was born July 27, 1925, in Calera to

Henry and Minnie Brown.

She loved life and helped anyone she

could. She lived with her daughter and

son-in-law, Peggy and David Hiser of

Collinsville for the last 15 years.

She was preceded in death by her hus-

band, Howard F. Branham, and a grand-

son, Kevin Branham.

Survivors include one daughter, Peggy Hiser; three sons, Eugene

Branham, Larry Branham and Charles Branham; 12 grandchildren;

15 great-grandchildren; 19 great-great-grandchildren; and two sis-

ters, Margret King of Oakley, California, and Joann Norris of La-

Junta, Colorado.

Johnnie Vance McKee

Longtime Tussy resident Johnnie Vance McKee, 64, passed away

September 14, 2006, at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Okla-

homa City. He was born February 9, 1942, to Jno S. and Alta Sanner

McKee.

Johnnie joined the U.S. Air Force in 1960. While stationed in

Auguadilla, Puerto Rico, he met the love of his life, Dalila. The

two were married on September 22, 1962. Johnnie and Dalila re-

turned to the United States and eventually settled in Tussy, where

they raised two sons.

Johnnie was an avid outdoorsman and family man. He loved

spending time hunting and ﬁshing with Dalila and the boys. John-

nie was fortunate enough to spend the last 13 years of his life with

his dog, Chewey. They were constant companions and were rarely

seen apart. He fondly referred to him as his third son. He was a re-

tired businessman and rancher and was a member of the American

Legion and the VFW.

He was preceded in death by his father; his stepfather, Lonnie

Stevens; a sister, Dortha McKee; and an infant daughter, Mary

Dalila McKee.

Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons and daughters-

in-law, Darin and Randee McKee of Pawhuska and Russell and

Kristie McKee of Durant; six grandchildren, Dalton and Conner

McKee, Tristan and Caitlin McKee and Ashley and Cody Brown;

his mother, Alta Stevens of Duncan; his stepmother, Irene McKee

of Pauls Valley; two stepsisters, Elizabeth Shebester of Pauls Valley

and Gladys Murrillo and her husband, Miguel, of Duncan.

Allen Cusher

Allen Cusher, 82, of Broken Bow passed away September 15,

2006, at his residence. He was born May 21, 1924, at Beachton to

Les E. and Sina Wilson Cusher.

Allen retired from Weyerhaueser where he worked for many

years. He was a decorated U.S. Navy veteran who served on the

USS Block Island. He was a member of the VFW and the American

Legion. He had lived in McCurtain County for the last 70 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters and three

brothers.

Survivors include his sister, Laura Carney of Smithville; nieces,

Leila Spradlin of Longview, Texas, and Linda Barnes of Stinnett,

Texas; nephews, Elton Carney and Con Cusher of Smithville; nu-

merous great-nieces, great-nephews, other relatives and a host of

friends.

Martha Lou Kenieutubbe

Martha Lou Kenieutubbe, 56, of

McAlester passed away October 12,

2006, in McAlester. She was born June

4, 1950, in Talihina to Calvin and Gladys

Jefferson Hampton.

She married Osborne L. Kenieutubbe

Jr. on June 20, 1978, in McAlester. She

was a member of Double Springs Baptist

Church.

Martha was a homemaker. She was active in the Jefferson PTA,

serving as past president. She was a member of the Choctaw-

Chickasaw Womenʼs Missionary Union, serving as past president,

treasurer and as a board member. Martha enjoyed reading the Bible

and sewing.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Billy

Wayne Hampton.

Survivors include her husband, Osborne L. “Bones” Kenieutub-

be of the home; sons, Truman L. Kenieutubbe, Taylor L. Kenieu-

tubbe, Thurman L. Kenieutubbe and Travis L. Kenieutubbe; daugh-

ter, Teresa L. Kenieutubbe and Brian Hamilton, all of McAlester;

grandchildren, Austin, Ethan and Anna Kenieutubbe; sister, Phyllis

Williams of McAlester; brother-in-law, John Kenieutubbe of Las

Vegas, Nevada; sisters-in-law, Regina Kenieutubbe of Anadarko,

Wanda Byington of McAlester, and Janie Bear of Bell Gardens,

California; a niece, Crystal Smith of McAlester and other family

members and friends.

Vera Ann Meshaya Frazier

Vera Ann Meshaya Frazier, 61, passed away after a long and

courageous ﬁght with cancer on September 7, 2006, in her home

at Antlers. She was born January 23, 1945, in Atoka to Reed and

Lizzie Leﬂore Williams.

She worked as a ward clerk and nurses aide for Pushmataha

County Hospital for 34 years. Vera was married to the late Martin

Meshaya Jr. for 30 years. She had been married to Johnny Frazier

for the last nine years.

Vera was a member of the Old Cedar United Methodist Church.

She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, quilting, and other arts and crafts

with her best friend, Odetha, and she especially loved being with

her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her ﬁrst husband; mother, Lizzie

Williams, and sister, Joyce Williams.

Survivors include her father, Reed Williams of Tushka; husband,

Johnny Frazier, of the home; daughters, Tiffany Meshaya-Wilson

and husband Daniel of Antlers, Stephanie Meshaya-Samuels and

husband Matthew of Muskogee, Gayle Meshaya-Burr and husband

Scott of Talihina and Robin Meshaya of the home; eight grand-

children, Robin Gayle Wilson, Martin Meshaya Wilson, Raven

Leeann Wilson, Matthew Van Samuels Jr., Brandon Eli Samuels,

Marty Nathaniel Meshaya, Jagger Reed Meshaya and Will Mesha-

ya Osborne; a sister, Vivian “Chita” Marris and husband Woody of

Tushka; brothers, Jerry Williams and wife Wanda of Antlers and

Johnny Williams of Tushka, and a host of nieces and nephews.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

ANTLERS

December 1: Poteau (A-L) 9-2 (warehouse closed for site)

December 5: Idabel 9-11; Broken Bow 12-2 (warehouse closed for site)

December 7: Bethel 9-10:30; Smithville 12-2(warehouse closed for site)

December 12: Poteau (M-Z) 9-2 (warehouse closed for site)

December 14: Warehouses closed - employee meeting

December 25-26: Tribal Holidays

December 27-29: Closed for Inventory

Warehouse open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Dec. 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18,

19, 20, 21, 22

DURANT

December 14: Warehouses closed - employee meeting

December 25-26: Tribal Holidays

December 27-29: Closed for Inventory

Warehouse open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Dec. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13,

15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

McALESTER

December 4: Stigler 9-12 (warehouse closed for site)

December 14: Warehouses closed - employee meeting

December 25-26: Tribal Holidays

December 27-29: Closed for Inventory

Warehouse open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Dec. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13,

15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

CHOCTAW NATION FOOD DISTRIBUTION

Open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday thru Friday

We will take lunch from 11:30 to 12 noon

WAREHOUSES

Antlers: Choctaw Community, 306 S.W. “O” St., 580-298-

6443

Durant: Warehouse, 100 Waldron Dr., 580-924-7773

McAlester: Warehouse, 1212 S. Main St., 918-420-5716

FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES

Bethel: Choctaw Community Building

Broken Bow: Choctaw Family Investment Center

Idabel: Choctaw Village Shopping Center

Poteau: Choctaw Family Investment Center

Smithville: Choctaw Community Center

Stigler: Choctaw Community Center

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agri-

culture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on

the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political

beliefs, or disability. To ﬁle a complaint of discrimination, write

USDA, Director, Ofﬁce of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Av-

enue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call 800-795-3272

(voice) or 202-720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity

provider and employer.