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Serving 171,389 Choctaws Worldwide

www.choctawnation.com

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

OF THE CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA

August 2005 Issue

Native American students ma-

joring in education in their junior

or senior year of college may

beneﬁ t by a new scholarship of-

fered at Southeastern Oklahoma

State University, Durant, thanks

to a team effort by the Choctaw

Nation and SOSU.

The tribe and university have

been awarded a federal grant

of $965,245 over the next four

years that can pay costs related

to tuition, books and daycare

for the students, as well as offer

a monthly allowance. In return,

the recipients agree to teach in

an area where at least 25% of

the population is Native Ameri-

can.

The grant comes from the

United States Department of Ed-

ucation as part of the Ofﬁ ce of

SOSU scholarship offered to Native Americans majoring in education

Indian Educationʼs Professional

Development program, which

trains qualiﬁ ed individuals to

become teachers and adminis-

trators in Indian communities.

“I am thrilled with the an-

nouncement of this grant total-

ing almost a million dollars,”

said Chief Gregory E. Pyle.

“This agreement will assist

many tribal members, and will

also ﬁ ll much-needed slots at

schools in the Choctaw Na-

tion.”

“The award of the grant re-

ﬂ ects the strong partnership be-

tween SOSU and the Choctaw

Nation and their joint commit-

ment to providing quality edu-

cation,ʼʼ said Southeastern Pres-

ident Dr. Glen D. Johnson. “The

goal of the Native American

Excellence in Education Project

is to recruit and train 12 highly

qualiﬁ ed Native American stu-

dents and place the participants

in area schools with high Native

American student populations.

We are excited about working

with the Choctaw Nation to

implement this innovative pro-

gram.ʼʼ

Chief Pyle voiced his appreci-

ation of the team from Choctaw

Nation who focused so much of

its time toward applying for this

grant.

“Our grants department, run

by John Jackson and staffed

by Angel Rowland and Dana

Bonham, performed exception-

ally in the grant-writing process.

Their research skills, writing

aptitude and overall dedication

were instrumental in receiving

this money.”

Participating in the grant-

writing project from Southeast-

ern were Dr. Charles Weiner,

Principal Investigator of the

grant who serves as Director of

Student Learning and Research

and Coordinator, North Cen-

tral Accreditation; Tim Boat-

mun, Director of the Academic

Advising & Outreach Center

(AAOC); Shari Williams, Na-

tive American Counselor at the

AAOC; Ann McCullough, Aca-

demic Counselor at the AAOC;

Dr. Charles Hickox, Director

of Continuing Education; and

Leah Anne Brooks, Coordinator

of Research & Sponsored Pro-

grams.

The project director for the

scholarship grant at SOSU is

Shari Williams, a Choctaw em-

ployed at the University the last

three years serving as Native

American Counselor. SOSU

currently has over 450 elemen-

tary education majors with more

than 25% being Native Ameri-

can.

“With these grants, we do

more than ask for excellence,

we provide the tools to create

it,” said Secretary of Education

Margaret Spellings. “We want

to open up new worlds of oppor-

tunity for Indian families and

communities.”

A specialized counselor will

be hired to work with each of the

students on the program to man-

age every aspect of their educa-

tion. To be eligible for the grant,

applicants must have 56 hours

of college credit and at least a

2.5 grade point average.

Staff and planning will be put

in place for this fall with a few

students fast-tracked into the

program. Applications will be

available at the ﬁ rst of the year

for the remainder of the schol-

arship. Full implementation will

begin in August 2006.

A survey of 12 schools in

Oklahoma, including Battiest,

Canadian, Bokoshe, Caddo,

Dickson, Harmony, Heavener,

Moyers, Stringtown, Zaneis,

Talihina and Wright City show

that an average of 43% of the

students were Native American,

yet the ratio of Native students

to Native teachers at the same

schools was 54-1.

REACH 2010 holds

Youth Fitness Camp

The Tushka Homma Capitol

Grounds were busy with activity

on June 22. Sixty-six kids from

within the Choctaw Nation at-

tended the ﬁ rst Choctaw Nation

REACH 2010 Fitness Camp. The

focus of the camp was the ﬁ ve

components of physical ﬁ tness.

The kids and volunteers greatly

enjoyed all speakers. There was

a special speaker for the keynote

session and teacher of the muscu-

lar strength and endurance, Am-

ber Deluca. Amber was born in

Peninsula, Ohio, and now resides

in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She

More CAMP on Page 5

Tribesʼ Inter-Tribal Council honors top JOM students

Tribal

Council

okays

funding

The 12 members of the Choc-

taw Nation Tribal Council met in

regular session July 9 at Tushka

Homma. New business ad-

dressed included Council Bills:

• amending and clarifying an

earlier Council Bill which estab-

lished transportation services in

Bryan, Coal, and Hughes coun-

ties, making the amount of funds

recurring annually;

• approving modiﬁ cations of

the 2005 WIC Budget in the

amount of $1,966,817 along with

grants in the amount of $357,764

and the 2005 Food Distribu-

tion Budget in the amount of

$880,000, a 25% Tribal match to

the USDAʼs 75%;

• providing for additional

funds in the amount of $500,000

for the Choctaw Homebuyer

Program;

• designating the Choctaw

Early Learning Council as the

eligible local council for the pur-

pose of applying for grants;

• providing necessary funding

for supporting and sustaining

the operation of tribally owned

Backstretch LLC d/b/a Blue Rib-

bon Downs and approving the

startup budget of gaming opera-

tions at the Blue Ribbon Downs

Racetrack and Casino, and

• approving funding for re-

modeling the Choctaw Nation

Nursing Home with $425,000

from gaming funds.

The Tribal Council meets on

the second Saturday of each

month in the Council Cham-

bers on the grounds at Tushka

Homma.

Elections held

in three districts

Primary elections were held

July 9 for Council seats in Dis-

trict 4, District 6, and District 10.

In District 4, incumbent Delton

Ray Cox received the majority

of the votes with 72.73%, a total

of 488 votes. His opponent, Mi-

chael Doyle Morgan, received

183 votes, or 27.27%.

Incumbent Joe Ed Coley re-

mains District 6 Councilperson

with 84.87% of the votes. He

received a total of 533 votes.

Opponents Billy Ray White re-

ceived 50 votes, 7.96%, and Na-

thaniel J. Moore Jr. received 45

votes, 7.17%.

District 10 will have a new

Councilman. Anthony Glen Dil-

lard received 60.57%, a total

of 424 votes. Clayburn Dean

Simpson received 28.71% or 201

votes, while incumbent Esias

James Johnson received 10.71%,

75 votes. See Page 3 for com-

plete election results.

The top graduating Johnson OʼMalley seniors

were honored by each of the Five Civilized Tribes

during the quarterly meeting of the Inter-Tribal

Council on July 8. The Seminole Nation presented

the annual Louis Leﬂ ore Scholarship of $650 to

Nanell Emarthina. The scholarship is given each

year to a student who has excelled in the profes-

sional health area.

Chief Gregory E. Pyle presented a plaque to

the Choctaw Nationʼs top female JOM student,

Sarah Enloe, Sarah, a graduate of Pittsburg High

School, is the daughter of Glen and Mona Enloe

of Pittsburg. She plans to attend college at South-

eastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, ma-

joring in pre-med.

Joshua Tomlin, not present at the meeting, was

also honored as one of the Choctaw Nationʼs top

JOM students. Joshua is a graduate of Spiro High

School. He will be attending the University of Ar-

kansas-Ft. Smith campus, working toward a de-

gree in pharmacy.

Also receiving scholarships were Matthew Gray

of Claremore and Lindsey Conrad of Ft. Gibson

of the Cherokee Nation; Michaela Worcester of

Ada and Chase Burris of Marlow of the Chick-

asaw Nation; and Whitney Tyler of Tulsa and

Christopher Burwell of Dewar of the Muscogee-

Creek Nation.

“The students are to be commended for their

dedication,” said Chief Pyle. “They have accom-

plished a great deal academically as well as being

an asset to their communities.”

Three Council Bills were on the agenda. Coun-

cil members voted to accept a resolution support-

ing a Memorandum of Understanding with the

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South

Carolina, regarding historic artifacts and remains

that may be found on the military base. While

streamlining efforts of repatriation, there will be

minimal disruption of Marine Corps and military

operations.

To reafﬁ rm the good working relationship be-

tween the Inter-Tribal Council and the Marine

Corps, Col. Harmon Stockwell presented each of

the tribal leaders with a Marine ﬂ ag.

“It is an honor to be a part of history and to pres-

ent each of you with something that is so sacred to

More INTER-TRIBAL on Page 3

Chief Gregory E. Pyle presents a scholarship award to

Sarah Enloe.

The Crowder Community Center in Crowder, Oklahoma,

hosted the second annual Choctaw Storytelling Camp. The

camp was conducted on June 22-25. Tim Tingle was the fea-

tured storyteller and instructor for the camp. Tim is an author

who has recently been touring for his book, “Walking the Choc-

taw Road,” which has been honored by the Oklahoma Reads

Oklahoma project and was selected the Alaska Reads! Book of

the Year for 2005.

This yearʼs camp had over 100 participants, with children,

adults and senior citizens all participating in the event. One

noticeable change in the camp was the room that was used to

record stories. The ﬁ rst camp only used a tape recorder in a

room ﬁ lled with several people. Now, storytellers are recorded

in a soundproof room, so that the best quality of sound can be

achieved. These hours of many different stories are gathered

and will be put onto a CD.

If you would like to listen to Tim Tingle and his stories of

Choctaw lore, you can hear him Monday morning before Chief

Pyleʼs State-of-the-Nation address on September 5 during the

Annual Labor Day Festival.

Tim Tingle featured

at annual Choctaw

Storytelling Camp

Choctaw author and storyteller Tim Tingle shares stories

and legends during the second annual storytelling festival

held in Crowder.

August 2005, BISHINIK, Page 2

The Ofﬁcial

Monthly Publication

of the

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Judy Allen, Editor

Lisa Reed, Assistant 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 Members.

The BISHINIK reserves the right to edit submitted material which it ﬁnds

inaccurate, profane, offensive or morally unacceptable. Copy may be ed-

ited for proper grammar and punctuation. Copy will be accepted in any

readable form, but where possible, it is requested that material be type-

written 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.

BISHINIK

2005

Gregory E. Pyle

Chief

Mike Bailey

Assistant Chief

Clothing allowance helps with expenses

Dear Choctaw Nation,

I would like to thank you for the clothing allowance that I was

given this spring. I am going to school at Tyler Junior College for

an associateʼs degree in radiology and this money came in very han-

dy to help with my college expenses. I appreciate the help that the

Choctaw Nation gives to those who choose to further their educa-

tion. Thank you again and may God bless you.

Casey Oakes

Scholarship eases ﬁnancial burden

Dear Choctaw Nation,

I am writing to thank you for your generous support of my under-

graduate education. Your scholarship greatly lessened my ﬁnancial

burden as I struggled to keep up with the high costs of learning.

Your generosity covered my costs for books and school supplies

for all of my college years and helped me keep up with my peers in

a challenging academic environment. This aid was invaluable, as I

could devote more time to my studies and less time working to fund

my schooling. Since my graduation, I have been accepted as a Peace

Corps volunteer. For the next two years, I will serve as an English

teacher in Madagascar, and through my service, give back to the

world a small part of the blessings I have received.

Thank you so much again for your support of myself and other

Choctaw students at college campuses across the country.

Natalie A. Walsh

Okemos, Michigan

Letters

Researching Spains, McKnights and Folsoms

Dear Choctaw Nation,

I am researching the Choctaw families of Spain, McNight and

Folsom. In October 1875, Mary McKnight Spain petitioned the Gen-

eral Council of the Choctaw to be granted citizenship for herself and

her children in the Choctaw Tribe. She stated that she was the great-

granddaughter of Nathaniel Folsom, a white man, and Aiichihoyo,

a full-blood Choctaw woman. She was born in the old nation east

of the Mississippi River and lived there until she became of age and

married. In the year 1846, she moved with her husband, Thomas D.

Spain, to Texas and remained there until about the year 1873 when

she moved with said husband and their children to the Choctaw Na-

tion where they resided in Blue County. Citizenship was approved

October 30, 1877. The children of Thomas D. and Mary McKnight

Spain were Philander, William Henry, Phidolia, Thomas G., Jubel

B., David McKnight and Sidney Beauregard.

I would like to contact anyone related to these families. I would

especially like to know the name of Mary McKnight Spainʼs par-

ents. I will be happy to share any information that I have.

Joy Swihart

264 N.E. 70th St.

Blanchard, OK 73010

[email protected]

405-387-9413

District Princesses

Newly chosen Princesses for District 5 are, in left photo, Rachel Hogan of Keota, Jr. Miss; Brandy Sockey of

Stigler, Little Miss; and Jr. Miss runners-up, Jennifer McGuire and Kristi McGuire, both of Keota. Councilman

Jack Austin is pictured at right with his District 7 Princesses: Little Miss Mackenzie Maxwell, Sr. Miss Matilda

Taylor and Jr. Miss Sheraya “Sissy” Caldwell. The District 7 Pageant was held May 13 at the Wright City Choc-

taw Community Center.

Tribe is fortunate to have wise leadership

Dear Choctaw Nation,

Today we received our copy of the BISHINIK and I, as usual,

immediately went to the Chaplainʼs Corner to read it ﬁrst. I ﬁnd the

Rev. Bertram Bobb to not only be a man of the Lord, but also a very

wise person. His “good news” from Christʼs Gospel is indeed very

uplifting and enlightening in this very dark and sinful world we live

in today.

I believe the Choctaw Nation is very blessed to have the wise

leadership of Chief Pyle and Assistant Chief Bailey. They are for-

tunate to have the guidance and counsel of the Choctaw Council

who by working all together are giving the Choctaw people much-

needed assistance in health care and facilities as well as daily help

in education and many other ways in which they need. If only all

political bodies in this country were so dedicated, this world would

be a much better place.

In the past while raising our children, the Choctaw Nation was

very helpful when our children were attending college and this

helped them tremendously to attain their degrees. This letter is in-

tended only to voice Moreneʼs and my support for the ﬁne work you

all are doing. We pray the Lord will continue to bless and guide each

and everyone of you in your vital work for the Choctaw people.

Charles and Morene Gooch

Ponca City, Oklahoma

Reba concert a success

Dear Chief Pyle,

Personally and on behalf of the Texoma Medical Center Board of

Directors, I would like to extend to you and the Choctaw Nation our

appreciation for allowing us to use your new pavilion for the Reba

McEntire Memorial Day concert. The venue contributed greatly to

making the concert entertaining and successful.

Everyone involved in the event has commented on the coopera-

tion and hard work your staff put forth in both preparation for and

cleanup after the show. All personnel involved were responsive and

accommodating to requests and suggestions from Texoma Medical

Center employees and volunteers.

Again, thank you for your generosity and support of Texoma

Medical Centerʼs Memorial Day event. Please extend to all those

involved in the concert the gratitude of the TMC Board and Admin-

istration.

Allen Wheeler, Chairman

Texoma Medical Center Board of Directors

Family expresses appreciation

Dear Choctaw Nation,

We would like to say thank you to Vicky Amos and all the others

at Choctaw Nation who helped us out last month. Thank you.

Gary and Melinda Hicks

Students and parents beneﬁt

Dear Larry Wade,

It was a pleasure to visit with you over the phone a few weeks

ago regarding my son, Baxter, as he was preparing to graduate from

Clayton. Our family has deeply appreciated the continued support

the Choctaw Nation provides the students of our small rural commu-

nity in Tuskahoma and Clayton. From pencils to medical care and

summer jobs to ﬁeld trips and events at the Council Ground to cul-

tural camps and even emergency assistance, Choctaw Nation really

has been a helpful support to parents trying to do their job. When

CNO helps a student, they are helping the entire family.

Nancy Southerland-Holmes

Tuskahoma, Oklahoma

Choctaw brothers serve as pages

Two Choctaw brothers recently served in the Oklahoma House

of Representatives as personal pages. Standing with Masheli and

Nahinli Billy are three Choctaw Representatives, Rep. Rex Duncan

(R), Perry; Rep. Dan Sullivan (R), Tulsa, and their mom, Rep. Lisa

J. Billy (R), Purcell.

Searching for information

Dear Editor,

I am searching for any information on a Morris Ratcliff or Ratliff.

Please contact Kathy Huff at 580-622-2694. Thank you.

AFA State Champs

Ardmore Attitude, a 10U fast-pitch softball team, placed ﬁrst in

the AFA State B Tournament, May 27-28 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

This qualiﬁed the team for the National AFA B Tournament in Mus-

tang, Oklahoma, in July. Team members from left, bottom row,

are Brittney Jones, Jourdan Weatherford, Carlee Henderson, Taryn

Callender, McKenzie Hunt and Danielle Smith; back row, Ashlee

Raney, Coach Tina Callender, Kailey King, Kali Pena, Coach Scott

Callender, Jordan Scott, Shanna Davidson and Coach Neil Raney.

Coming home to Oklahoma

Dear Choctaw Nation,

My name is Kristin Lynn Black and I

was born April 13, 1987, in the Carl Al-

bert Indian Hospital in Ada, Oklahoma.

My great-great-grandmother was Cordila

Stowers of Madill, Oklahoma. She had ﬁve

children. Frances JoElla Bartee was her

ﬁrst-born and was my great-grandmother.

I called her Mam-maw. I remember Mam-maw telling me stories

of the Trail of Tears and many more. She always taught me to be

proud of my Choctaw Indian heritage. Mam-maw had four children

and her last one is my Nana, Linda Sue Jacques of Houston, Texas.

Nana had two children, Angie Davis of Norman, Oklahoma, and the

oldest is my mom, Holly Davis of Houston. I should add these are

all strong-willed women who never stopped stressing the importance

of our roots. Thanks to my mom for pushing and making me believe

in myself. I also want to thank the Choctaw Nation for the ﬁnancial

assistance you are providing me in continuing my education. My par-

ents moved me to Texas 18 years ago when I was only four months

old, but my American Indian Heritage roots run deep and Iʼm ready

to come home to the great State of Oklahoma where I will attend the

University of Oklahoma.

In my four years of attending West Field High School in Hous-

ton, I have accomplished many goals I set for myself such as serving

as Vice President of Student Council, being an Honor Roll student,

serving my school as the morning speaker for school announcements,

graduating cum laude. These accomplishments have made me the per-

son I am today. I have had the opportunity to develop friendships on

a multi-cultural level. Iʼve learned how important bridging the gaps

of all cultural ideas and values are. I will continue to strive to ensure

that my Choctaw Tribe is proud of me and my accomplishments as I

start my new journey with fresh hopes and great aspirations back in

the only place I call home – Oklahoma!

Graduate looks

to the future

Dear Choctaw Nation,

I am a graduate of the School

of Library and Information Stud-

ies of the University of Oklaho-

ma Class of 2004. I am writing

to thank you and the Choctaw

community for your assistance

throughout my undergradu-

ate and graduate studies. After

graduating with my masterʼs, I

moved to Brooklyn, New York,

where I worked at Queens Pub-

lic Library as a reference librarian. I am currently living in Ithaca,

New York, where I am attending a summer intern position at Cornell

University. This internship is for Native American librarians to gain

skills in preservation and management practice. This is an excellent

opportunity for me to continue learning by combining my love and

interest in Native American culture and community with librarian-

ship. I just wanted to thank you again for your support and hand in

my education, which has helped me get to where I am today, and

what I hope to accomplish in the future.

JonAnne Gilbreath Hobbs

BISHINIK deadline

Articles to be submitted for publication in the BISHINIK need

to be received by the 10th of the month for the following monthʼs

edition.

Information Needed

Past Princesses and Councilpersons

I am writing a paper on the past and present Princesses of the

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and on the past Councilpersons.

This includes pictures of the young ladies at the time they were

chosen to reign as Princess. It does not have to be one of them

in traditional dress, but that would be appreciated. Information

should include full name, age at the time, birth date, town and

county, name of parents, grandparents, hobbies, participation in

school, and name of school at the time and grade. Information

needed on past Councilmen includes familyʼs names, county

served, and years served. Please place address on back of photos

if you want them returned.

All information compiled will be kept on record in the

BISHINIK. Please send information and picture to:

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Attn: Brenda Wilson

P.O. Drawer 1201

Durant, OK 74702

Talihina hosting Sign Language Club

The Choctaw Talihina Community Center, located off of Route 2

in Talihina, is hosting a Sign Language Club. We are learning to sign

in ASL together. There are no fees, age, skill, or physical require-

ments to participate. We meet every Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.

For more information, please call Rebekah Willis at 918-567-

2633.

Everyone is invited to a

BENEFIT FUNDRAISER FOR A.J. KIRK

A Beans-n-Cornbread Supper with Peach Cobbler

August 6 • 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

at the Chitwood Community Center

Adults: $5; Under 10: $2:00

An Auction will be held at 6:30 p.m.

All donations will be appreciated.

Sponsored by: Bokchito Masonic Lodge #253

and the Bennington Ladies Club

August 2005, BISHINIK, Page 3

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

From the desk of Assistant Chief Mike Bailey ...

Chaplainʼs Corner

By the Rev. Bertram Bobb,

Choctaw Tribal Chaplain

Choctaw Manufacturing working for America

Youth of Choctaw Nation

learning from sports camps

Thank God for His promises in the Bible. “Be

strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (II Tim-

othy 2:1). Do not neglect His Word.

Our text today is from II Kings 22:8: “And

Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the

scribe, I have found the Book of the Law ...”

Whenever anything is found, it means it has

been lost. Today we are going to study about the

Bible that was lost and found.

This text takes us back to the Old Testament

kings, and at this particular time Josiah was the

king, one of the best of all the kings of Judah.

Josiah became king when he was only eight

years old. The Bible tells us that when he was 16

years old (II Chronicles 34:3) he began to seek af-

ter God and at the age of 20, young Josiah began a

national reformation, a turning back to God across

the whole land, after he ﬁnds the long lost Book

of the Law.

First, Josiah wanted to restore Solomonʼs tem-

ple at Jerusalem. The temple and its services of

worship had been neglected for many years. It is

hard to think that the nation would have allowed

this beautiful temple to be ﬁlled with rubbish and

left in a shameful condition. But this was the case

and we know why it was. The case was a neglect

and ﬁnally a setting aside of the Old Testament as

the guide Book for the nation of Israel.

Workmen were hired for the cleaning and the re-

pairing of the temple. In the midst of the cleaning

out of all the trash, the high priest found a dust-

covered scroll which was called the Book of the

Law – the laws of God given through Moses, in

other words, Hilkiah found the lost Bible of that

time.

How could this happen we wonder? For a long

time the rulers, the priests and the people of Judah

had no knowledge of their Bible which was called

the Book of the Law. This neglect resulted in the

spread of the teaching of Baal throughout the land

of Judah. It also caused the neglect of the temple

and its services of worship of God. It also resulted

in the nation sinking into a low moral condition.

This is going to happen to any individual or nation

that forgets or neglects Godʼs Word.

When Hilkiah, the high priest, found the long lost

scroll and saw that it was the Law of God as given

by Moses, he brought it to Shaphan, the Scribe.

Then Shaphan took the Book at once to King Jo-

siah and sand, “Hilkiah, the high priest, while he

was cleaning the temple, found this Book.”

“Read it to me!” commanded the King, and

Shaphan began to read. Josiah, the King, was so

surprised as he realized from the Word of God that

his nation had departed from God in a terrible way.

Then Josiah humbled himself in the dust. “Refor-

mation!” Josiah said, “... shall begin with the King.

The head of this nation will put himself in the dust

and repent in sackcloth and ashes.”

And then he said to all his ofﬁcers and to those

close to him, “We must repent for all our neglect,

for all our sins, or the nation will be destroyed.

So REVIVAL began in Judah and the King and

his people were spared. The lost Bible had been

found and read and obeyed.

Josiah assembled leaders from all over the na-

tion and read to them the long, lost Book of the

Law. Their reaction was like that of the King.

They were convicted, they were humbled, and

they were repentant when they realized how far

the nation departed from the laws of God. They

agreed with their young King, and they restored

the temple and its worship of Almighty God. Not

only did they do this but they decided to back Jo-

siah in his campaign to wipe out every trace of

Baal worship in the land and also all other forms

of idolatry.

Idolatry means that which you worship, that is

anything that comes between you and God. You

may worship your automobile, you may think of

your wife or husband or children more than you do

God, or you may think or depend on your money

more than God – this is idolatry.

All of this reformation was brought about be-

cause the long, lost Book, the inspired Word of

God was found.

This old Testament record is a lesson of warn-

ing and encouragement for us. It shows what hap-

pens to people when they lose sight of Godʼs Word

and neglect the worship. But it also shows us the

blessed results when people give Godʼs Word and

worship ﬁrst place in their lives.

The sad truth is that many people have lost the

Bible today even as it was lost in the time of Jo-

siah. The Bible has been lost today through ne-

glect. Many have gone their ways, looking after

their businesses, looking after the concerns and

calls of daily living and have lost this Book of the

Law of God. Yes, the Bible may be lost to any-

one

by neglect. The Bible may lie somewhere in

the house, on the table or bookshelf, and weeks or

even months may pass by and this Book of God

is not read.

It may be lost by substitution. That is, we may

put other things in its place. Jesus said to the

Scribes and Pharisees of His day: “Ye have made

the commandment of God of none effect by your

traditions.” (Matthew 15:6).

These Scribes and Pharisees, who were teach-

ers of religion, set aside the Bible, the law of God,

the divine revelation of God to man. They set it

aside by substituting it with human command-

ments, human traditions. If we put anything in the

place of the Bible, then the Bible is lost.

This is not all. Many have and we all are in dan-

ger of losing the Bible by mutilation, by taking

out a little here, and a little there. You cannot treat

the Word of God like that. The Bible is the Word

of God.

God says for us to believe Him by faith. “Abra-

ham believed God, and it was counted unto him

for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3). In Hebrews

11:6 we read, “But without faith it is impossible

to please Him.” Will you trust Jesus Christ as your

personal Savior by faith?

Let us in every possible way magnify the Bible

in every phase of our life. It is Godʼs Word to a

lost and needy world.

May God bless America.

We ask your prayers

for the

Sunday, September 4,

CHURCH

SERVICES

during the

Labor Day Festival

at Tushka Homma.

Sunrise Services

7 a.m.

led by Eugene Folsom

Preaching Services

10 a.m.

in the amphitheater

Hymn Singing

5:30 p.m.

all-night

gospel singing begins.

Choctaw singers are

invited to participate.

I am very

thankful that the

Choctaw Nation

has been able to

sponsor so many

sports camps for

our youth this

summer. The an-

nual golf camp,

held this year

near Lake Tex-

has been included in the roster.

Camps in Wilburton, Durant

and Wright City enabled young

ladies to learn fundamentals to

improve their skills.

All

of these events are made

possible through revenue pro-

duced by the tribal gaming in-

dustry, and with the planning

and approval of the Chief and

Tribal Council.

A special word of apprecia-

tion goes out to the staff at these

camps who volunteered their

time and energy to make sure

the young people had a safe, en-

joyable and educational experi-

ence.

oma, brought young Native

Americans together with coach-

es and staff to learn both begin-

ners and advanced techniques

over a four-day experience.

Golf teams formed as a result of

this camp have done exception-

ally well in tournament play and

individual competition.

Baseball camps were held in

June at Silo and Wilburton, with

about 250 boys enrolled in the

southern camp and almost 200

in the northern camp. These

two-day camps were taught by

Coach Billy Jack Bowen of the

2005 State Champion team from

Silo. Boys age 8 to 18 learned

fundamentals of hitting, batting

and ﬁelding.

Basketball enthusiasts gave

such wonderful reviews the pre-

vious years that the Choctaw

Nation hosted 12 sites this year,

one in each council district. This

is the ﬁrst summer that softball

about

the

sports

camps

Page

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

PRIMARY ELECTION

Official Election Results – July 9, 2005

Tribal Council Member

District 4 Spiro Poteau Summerfield Heavener Absentee Total %

Delton Ray Cox 65 77 59 7 280 488 72.73%

Michael Doyle Morgan 1 62 2 8 110 183 27.27%

Tribal Council Member

District 6 Wilburton Quinton Buffalo Valley Red Oak Absentee Total %

Joe Ed Coley 95 29 52 83 274 533 84.87%

Billy Ray White 7 0 2 2 39 50 7.96%

Nathaniel J. Moore Jr. 4 0 1 2 38 45 7.17%

Tribal Council Member

District 10 Atoka Lane Stringtown Kiowa Caddo Absentee Total %

Esias James Johnson 14 3 0 0 2 56 75 10.71%

Anthony Glen Dillard 44 30 16 12 24 298 424 60.57%

Clayburn Dean Simpson 96 33 8 3 1 60 201 28.71%

Col. Stockwell presents Chief Pyle with a Marine Corps ﬂag.

Inter-Tribal continued from Page 1

us – the Marine Corps ﬂag,” said

Col. Stockwell.

The Inter-Tribal Councilmem-

bers also approved a resolution

in favor of the Chickasaw Na-

tion Health System applying for

a competitive U.S. Indian Health

Native American Research Cen-

ter for Health (NARCH) Grant

for ﬁscal year 2006.

The ﬁnal resolution of the

meeting was passed support-

ing activities in educating the

public about the Great State of

Sequoyah Centennial this year

as a forerunner of the upcoming

State of Oklahoma Centennial

in 2007.

Media sources often seem to focus on gaming as a tribal busi-

ness while not mentioning the many other revenue producers ran by

Indian nations. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has several busi-

nesses that create employment and proﬁts that are used to beneﬁt

people through services and additional jobs.

In addition to casinos, travel plazas, day cares, personnel services

to military bases, smoke shops, hotel and restaurants, we also have

top-of-the-line manufacturing plants. Choctaw Manufacturing and

Development Corp. (CMDC) operates facilities in McAlester and

Hugo and builds equipment and parts that are used by our military

every day.

“Support Our Soldiers” is printed on huge banners that are hung

at each CMDC facility along with American and Choctaw ﬂags to

remind all who enter that what we do is important and to show our

respect for our ﬁghting men and women.

CMDC has grown rapidly over the last several years and now

directly contracts with the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines to

supply hardware ranging from helicopter guidance and control parts

to high tech space heaters used to heat command and control centers

to Battle Damage Assessment Kits (BDAK) that contain items that

can be used in an emergency to repair a military vehicle that has

been damaged in combat. A CMDC-produced BDAK kit rides in

every HUM-V in the Middle East.

CMDC now employees over 200 people in Hugo and McAlester

and will likely be increasing that number signiﬁcantly over the next

two years as they ramp up to start producing the Marine Tactical

Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) Trailer. This contract was recently

awarded to CMDC by the Marines and will require that CMDC

design, test and manufacture the next generation of medium-duty

trailer for use with the MTVR. The MTVR truck is the Marinesʼ

latest and most advanced transportation vehicle. The Marines do not

now have a trailer that can follow the truck over the terrain at speeds

that the truck is able to travel. Current trailers are simply destroyed

when put into full service with the new MTVR. It is CMDCʼs mis-

sion to design and manufacture a family of trailers that will match

the performance of this vehicle in size and ruggedness. CMDC will

deliver the ﬁrst set of newly designed trailers to the Marines in early

2006.

August 2005, BISHINIK, Page 4

Correct sippy cup use

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 8:00-4:30 Every Tuesday

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

Sippy cups when used for their correct purpose

are wonderful. What parent hasnʼt breathed a sigh

of relief when the cup was knocked over and juice

or milk did not go everywhere!

These cups are an effective tool for shifting chil-

dren from baby bottles or breastfeeding to regular

cups, but parents should use the cups only as a

transitional device. Many parents continue chronic

use of sippy cups until age 3 to 4 or later.

Constant use of a sippy cup can cause childhood

tooth decay.

Totally spill-proof sippy cups that have a stopper

cause the child to suck and swallow at the same

time. This can interfere with adult swallow pat-

terns.

Development of incorrect adult swallow patterns

can directly impact facial muscle development,

speech, and being able to speak words correctly.

It is not the sippy cup that is the problem, but

in HOW it is used. Many parents do not know the

dangers and risks of not using a sippy cup prop-

erly.

Children should be using a standard cup on a

regular basis before age TWO.

Children should be seated while drinking during

meals and eating snacks to help prevent choking,

so walking around with a cup of any kind is not

recommended.

If a child has a weight problem, not allowing

Stress & your body

With a meeting in two hours and a report to ﬁ nish, you

feel overwhelmed with stress. Your back aches and your

stomach is in knots, but you resign to the tension, allowing

it to build with every minute.

Ignoring the problem is probably the worst thing you can

do. Like many people, you may believe that you just have

to live with stress. Fortunately, this is not the case. You

can help yourself relax – and itʼs not as hard as you might

think. In just a few minutes you can ease the tension and

strain that is wearing you out.

• Breathe.

Take a deep breath. Now stop and think about what you

just did. If you are like many people, your shoulders and

chest raised as you inhaled. The problem is that you are

not getting a deep enough breath when you breathe from

your chest. Instead, try breathing from your stomach. You

will get a deeper breath by doing so.

• Relax.

Starting at your head, picture the stress leaving your face

and scalp. Consciously relax that area of your body while

continuing to breathe slowly and deeply. Then, move on

down, stopping at each part of the body, until you reach

your feet. By the time you ﬁ nish, your entire body should

be relaxed. Letting go of stress doesnʼt always have to be

difﬁ cult or time-consuming. These tips can be practiced

almost anywhere. The next time you are feeling tense, re-

member to use these stress-relieving techniques.

Do you relieve your

stress or add to it?

1. When in a stressful situation, do you act like

nothingʼs wrong?

A. yes

B. sometimes

C. no

2. After a hard day at work, do you often ﬁ nd your-

self yelling at your kids or spouse?

A. yes

B. sometimes

C. no

3. Do your friends tell you to calm down when you

are upset or anxious?

A. yes

B. sometimes

C. no

4. When things donʼt go as you had hoped or planned,

does your back or stomach start to hurt?

A. yes

B. sometimes

C. no

For more information,

call Wellness Education/ REACH 2010

at 1-800-349-7026, ext. 6044 or 6958.

If you answered yes to any of these, ﬁ nd ways to relieve

the tension in your life. Too much stress can be hard on

your health, your co-workers and most importantly your

family.

Stomach – Stress can cause heartburn, cramps, and oth-

er digestive problems. A glass of warm milk or an antacid

can help soothe the turmoil in your stomach.

Back

– That ache in your back may be another symptom

of stress. Stretching throughout the day can help decrease

the pain.

Head – A pounding headache is often a signal that stress

is getting the best of you. An alternative to aspirin is relax-

ation like taking a deep breath or going for a walk.

Immune System – Chronic stress can make you more

susceptible to sickness. Arm yourself by getting plenty of

rest and exercise.

Healthy

Lifestyles

Avoid Heat Stress Problems

When the temperature rises as it does in the summer sea-

son, it gets even more difﬁ cult for the body to cool off.

This can lead to heat stress and other heat-related illnesses.

To ﬁ ght off heat problems, your body tries to keep your

internal temperature at 98.6 degrees (“normal”) by:

*Sending more blood to the skinʼs surface (to release

heat).

*Increasing the amount of sweat it generates.

All of this requires a lot of energy, and can create “internal conﬂ icts” that your

body must deal with. On the one hand, it is trying to do things to cope with high tem-

peratures. At the same time, some of the “adjustments” the body is making can

cause other physical problems that can be just as damaging. So therefore every-

one needs to know what can be done to help your body resolve this situation.

Your body ﬂ uids and minerals (also called electrolytes) are part of a delicate balance that

must be maintained. If too much of either of them is lost your body canʼt function normally.

While sweating helps cool your body, it also gets rid of both ﬂ uids and electrolytes. This can

ultimately be very painful. To maintain your bodyʼs internal “balance,” you must replace any

ﬂ uids and electrolytes that are lost. It is the electrolytes most people tend to forget yet they

are the most important. Electrolytes help your cells and muscles to function normally. Potas-

sium and phosphate are two of the minerals that are most easily lost when your body tempera-

ture is high. These substances are especially important in keeping cells and muscles healthy.

Heat Stroke

is the most serious heat-related illness. Heat stroke occurs when the

symptoms of heat stress cannot be relieved (in other words when the body can no lon-

ger cool itself.) Heat stroke is extremely dangerous. If you have a heat stroke your body

temperature rises so high that brain damage may occur. Death can even result if the body

can no longer cool down quickly enough. Heat stroke has a number of symptoms:

*Hot, ﬂ ushed skin.

*Very small pupils.

*Extremely high body temperature.

Tips to follow to prevent heat-related problems

(1) Avoid alcoholic beverages. They are especially harmful. Not only do they not replace

lost electrolytes but they accelerate water loss, which will make heat-related problems

worse.

(2) Some medications can also compound heat-related problems. You should make sure

you know how working in high heat affects any medication you are taking. Some

medicines can actually accelerate dehydration.

(3) Avoid hot, heavy meals (they add heat to the body and restrict its cooling capacity).

Instead eat light, cool meals and in small quantities if at all possible.

(4) Exposing yourself gradually to high heat conditions will help your body adjust its

cooling mechanisms appropriately. It can often take 5 to 10 days to get accustomed

to high heat environments.

(5) Being physically ﬁ t can help your body cope with high heat, too. Extra weight forces

the bodyʼs cooling system to work harder. Also good cardiovascular systems

respond better to exertion, which helps the body cope with heat. Establish a regular

exercise program if you donʼt already have one.

(6) Wearing loose, lightweight clothing is best in hot environments. The material should be

made of cotton or cotton-blend which will help dissipate heat. Dark colors should be

avoided since they absorb heat whereas white or lighter colors, on the other hand,

reﬂ ect heat.

(7) Wear sunscreen to keep the skin from burning and generating extra heat. Other

good ideas are to wear hats or caps with wide brims and sunshades when possible.

(8) Engineering controls can also reduce the affects of heat. Air-conditioning systems

provide the best overall solutions. Fans can increase air movement and help evaporate

perspiration effectively, too.

Remember that due to our individual physical makeup some people can never get used to

working

in heat. If you continue to have heat-related problems, consult with your local doctor.

Information obtained from

Quality Safety and Health Products for Today and Tomorrow

Healthy Living = Longer Life

them to always have a sippy cup with juice, milk

or other liquid will help parents control the amount

of calories a child is consuming.

If your child has been on a sippy cup for a long

time, try moving them to a regular cup gradually,

and have them stay seated while drinking. Also,

offer only water in your childʼs sippy, and other

beverages in a regular cup. This will help make the

transition to the regular cup more attractive.

Beware of sippy cup sizes

Portion size is so very important when it comes

to helping our children eat well. Children who

constantly carry a sippy cup around may be con-

suming 30 to 36 ounces of juice, milk, or other

liquid from their sippy cup daily. It is no wonder

they arenʼt hungry when itʼs time for the family

meals!

The average size of a sippy cup is 9 or 10 ounc-

es. You must be a detective when purchasing sippy

cups. Check the bottom of the cup for the size in

ounces. It is usually written in the same color as

the cup so it can be hard to spot. Many people are

buying 12-ounce cups thinking they are only 8

ounces. Size of the cups does matter and we must

be very well-educated consumers to buy the cor-

rect size needed to transition from bottle, to sippy

cup, to regular glass, WHICH IS OUR MAIN

GOAL WHEN USING A SIPPY!

CARES Project

Labor Day

Tropical Paradise

The Choctaw Nation CARES Proj-

ect would like to invite you to their

Labor Day Tropical Paradise at the

annual Labor Day Festival on Saturday,

September 3, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Tropical Paradise will have a luau

theme in which children and their fami-

lies can enjoy different fun activities

that will focus on building self-esteem,

team-building, drug/alcohol prevention,

and Native American culture. You can

ﬁ nd the Tropical Paradise located at the

playground on the Capitol grounds. The

Tropical Paradise is free to the public.

A tip for kids with type 2 diabetes – Be active!

Why is being active

so important?

Exercise is good for everyone,

whether you have type 2 diabetes

or not. Being active keeps your

body healthy and strong. It can

help you stay at a weight thatʼs

right for you or help you lose

weight slowly.

Physical activity can make

you feel better if youʼre in a bad

mood, relax you, and help you

sleep well. If you have diabetes,

exercise can help your body use

glucose for energy and lower

your blood sugar or glucose.

What types of activity

are good to do?

There are many ways you can

stay active:

• Walk the dog, take a hike, or

ride a bike.

• Roller skate, inline skate, or

ice skate.

• Dance, swim, or jog.

• Check out an aerobics tape

from the library and work out at

home.

• You can play basketball,

baseball, softball, golf, soccer,

tennis, or volleyball.˜

• Take the stairs instead of the

elevator, skip rope, ﬂ y a kite, or

play hopscotch.

• Think of other things you can

do and just move it!

Donʼt forget to have fun!

How much exercise

do you need to do?

If you havenʼt been very ac-

tive, start slowly. Try a few min-

utes each day. Slowly work up

to 30 to 60 minutes almost every

day. Be sure to do something you

like to do.

All information collected

from the website: www.ndep.

nih.gov. If you need further as-

sistance contact Raina Spears,

DWC, Talihina, 918-465-8030.

Featured Recipe

PINEAPPLE MELBA

1 fresh pineapple (market sliced, 12 rings)

3 Tbsp. sugar (Splenda)

1 can (8 oz.) sliced peaches, drained

1/2 cup raspberries

Place pineapple rings on serving plate. Sprinkle with sugar. In

blender, blend peaches until smooth. Top pineapple with peach

sauce and fresh raspberries. 12 servings.

Per serving: Calories 40.40; total fat 0.21g; sat. fat 0.01g; sodium

0.97mg; protein 0.29g; carbohydrates 10.29g; cholesterol 0mg; ﬁ ber

0.98g.

Young men, women

invited to enter

writing competition

Native Women in Agriculture is

holding a writing competition for

young Native American men and

women who are enrolled members

of a federally recognized tribe and

entering grades 9-12 this fall or who

were May 2005 graduates. The topic

is “Healthy Land for Healthy People:

How are they connected?” Deadline is

October 15, 2005. Five ﬁ nalists will be

provided an all-expense paid trip to the

2005 Intertribal Agriculture Coun-

cil and Indian Nations Conservation

Alliance annual meeting, December

5-9, in Las Vegas. For more informa-

tion, please call 405-259-2525.

Young women

attend leadership

health summit

Teens Kristie McGuire and Kealey

Standridge, along with mentor Sandra

Stroud, attended the ﬁ rst tribal young

womenʼs health summit in the nation.

The theme of the summit, “Health and

Traditions: Pathways for Lifeʼs Jour-

ney in Two Worlds,” was sponsored by

HHS Region VI Ofﬁ ce on Womenʼs

Health, Ofﬁ ce of Family Planning

and other federal, state, and com-

munity organizations. The 2 1/2-day

health leadership event was coordi-

nated by the National Indian Womenʼs

Health Resource Center in Tahlequah,

Oklahoma. Two young women, ages

14-16, and one older woman men-

tor attended from 39 tribes in Okla-

homa and four tribes in Louisiana.

The summit enabled the young

women to study teen health, develop

community leadership skills, and plan

a back-home community service health

project. These young women will be

working with their mentor on their

project that will be submitted to the

organizers for inclusion in a teen health

monograph, and other special displays.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

Stigler

by appt only

McAlester

10 am-2 pm

Labor

Day

Festival

alihina

10 am-2 pm

ilburton

10:30 am

-2 pm

Atoka

oken Bow

10 am-2 pm

Antlers

appt only

Durant

by appt only

Crowder

and

McAlester

by appt only

Bethel

by appt only

Coalgate

10:30-1:30

10 am-2 pm

Durant

10 am-

12 noon

Wright

City

by appt only

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

A Vocational Rehabilitation representative will be available at the locations listed. A representa-

tive is available Monday thru Friday 8-4:30 except for holidays at the Hugo ofﬁ ce.

Food Distribution Program workers will take a 30-minute

lunch break from 11:30 to 12 noon.

Please bring boxes with you to pick up your commodities.

If you cannot pick up commodities when you are scheduled,

please notify the Food Distribution Ofﬁ ce at 800-522-6170

so they can tell you where you need to go.

ANTLERS:

Choctaw Community Center, 306 S.W. “O”

St.

BETHEL: Choctaw Community Building.

BROKEN BOW: Choctaw Family Investment Center.

DURANT: Choctaw Commodity Warehouse, 100 Waldron

Dr.

IDABEL: Choctaw Village Shopping Center.

McALESTER: Choctaw Commodity Warehouse, 1212 S.

Main.

POTEAU: Choctaw Family Investment Center.

SMITHVILLE: Big Lick Church.

STIGLER: Choctaw Community Building.

Food Distribution Program does not discriminate because

of sex, race, color, age, political beliefs, religion, handicap or

national origin.

August 2005, BISHINIK, Page 5

Poteau

11:30 am

-1 pm

September 1

Stigler 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Poteau (A-L) 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

September 2

Bethel 9-10:30 a.m.

Smithville 12 noon-2 p.m.

September 6

Idabel 9-11 a.m.

Broken Bow 12 noon-2 p.m.

September 7

Poteau (M-Z) 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

September 8

Warehouse opens

September 28

Last day for the month

at Warehouse

DISD dedication honors educator

For 38 years, Dorothy Henson

worked quietly and energetically

behind the scenes as a teacher in the

Dallas Independent School District

(DISD). During those years preced-

ing her retirement in 1995, countless

impressionable young minds were

positively touched by Dorothyʼs

love of children and her lifelong ef-

fort to help them achieve their full

potential. Hence, it was very ﬁ tting

that on May 25. 2005, this long-time

Dallas Indian educator was highly

honored by the DISD at a public

dedication ceremony for the “Doro-

thy Henson Addition for Ascher Sil-

berstein Elementary School.” DISD

guidelines call for these kinds of honors to only go to those who

have made signiﬁ cant contributions and whose example of service

brings prestige and status to the District. The recently completed

and impressive school addition includes new administrative ofﬁ ces,

17 new classrooms, a library, a science lab, and a covered driveway

whereby parents can drop off or pick up their children. The dedica-

tion ceremony was attended by several local dignitaries, including

Jim Scales, Deputy Superintendent; Board of Trustees member Ron

Price; State Rep. Pitria McKinney, District 111; Associate Super-

intendent of Construction Services Dave Patton; staff of the DISD

American Indian Education Program and the Urban Inter-Tribal

Center of Texas. Some of Dorothy Hensonʼs career achievements in-

clude: Presidential Task Force, ﬁ rst Health Service secretary for the

Dallas Inter-Tribal Center, charter member of the American Indian

Center, YWCAʼs ﬁ rst Board Secretary, teacher representative of the

DISD American Indian Parent Advisory Committee, and lastly, 10

years of service as a Saturday tutor for American Indian students at

the Trinity River Mission.

Henson is the daughter of the late Isom Ward and Ruby Lee Ward

of Idabel, Oklahoma, and now resides there.

Elwell makes tribal history

as youngest DOD intern

An 18-year-old Oklahoma City man is

making tribal history this summer as he in-

terns for the U.S. Department of Defense as

the youngest Native American ever to serve

in such capacity. Nathaniel David Elwell is

one of 550 selected nationwide by the Wash-

ington Center to be placed with a federal governmental agency in

Washington, D.C. Elwell is one of only 60 selected for placement

at the DOD where he will work at the Pentagon in Acquisitions,

Technology, and Logistics for a 10-week period between May and

August. Nathan just completed his freshman year of college at the

Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri. He is a U.S.

Army ROTC 2+2 scholarship recipient which means the ﬁ rst two

years of college, as a freshman and sophomore, are spent at Went-

worth, and his junior and senior years will be at Central Missouri

University. College graduation will be followed by a four-year tour

of active duty, as a second lieutenant commissioned ofﬁ cer, and then

four more years of inactive duty.

The son of Kenneth Elwell Jr. of McAlester, Oklahoma, and Karen

Impson Elwell of Yukon, Oklahoma. Nathan has one sibling, Rachel

Elwell, of Oklahoma City who recently returned from a yearlong

tour of duty in Afghanistan. Nathan credits his sister for instilling

in him at an early age a healthy sense of academic competition and

says it is in her footsteps that he plans to follow in the U.S. National

Guard when he begins his active duty assignment.

New veterans

organization for

Native

Americans

A national organization for

Native American Veterans has

started operations. Founded by

Choctaw veteran Tom Berry,

the National Native American

Veterans Association (NNAVA)

is headquartered in Oklahoma

City. The idea for the new veter-

ans organization originated when

trying to research information on

the Native American Veteran Di-

rect Housing Loan being offered

by the Department of Veterans

Affairs. The purpose of the new

organization is to reach out to all

Native American Veterans and to

encourage the usage of veterans

beneﬁ ts and entitlements. Native

Americans, on a per capita basis,

provide more members to the

military services than any other

sector of the U.S. population, but

utilize the beneﬁ ts and entitle-

ments the least of any population

sector.

The organization is chartered

as a non-proﬁ t corporation in

Oklahoma and is ﬁ ling for its

tax exempt status with the IRS

as a tax-exempt veterans orga-

nization. Membership in the

NNAVA is open to all honorably

discharged Native American vet-

erans and current military mem-

bers, as well as National Guard

and Reserve Component mem-

bers. In addition to working with

individual veterans, the NNAVA

is geared to work with Native

American Nation and Tribal lead-

erships. The programs offered by

the Department of Veterans Af-

fairs to qualifying veterans can

be integrated with existing Na-

tion and Tribal programs which

can lead to better and expanded

services being offered by the in-

dividual tribes.

For information concerning

the National Native American

Veterans Association, visit www.

nativeamericanveteransassoc.

org, or contact Tom Berry at

hashukmalli@sbcglobal.net.

NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN

VETERANS ASSOCIATION

PROJECT MOCCASIN

Help us support

our Native American troops

It is a native tradition that when a warrior went into battle he

would wear new moccasins. The new moccasins were to bring

him home safely from battle or to ease his transition into the

next life. With the number of Native American troops currently

stationed in harmʼs way in Iraq and Afghanistan, the NNAVA

has undertaken to send a new pair of moccasins to each of our

native troops deployed. Each pair of moccasins is handmade in

the traditional way, wrapped in red ﬂ annel, and then shipped to

the addresses of our deployed troops. The cost to make and ship

each pair is only $21, due to the number of volunteers who are

donating their time.

Help recognize the valor, sacriﬁ ce, and courage of our Native

American troops. For additional information, contact Thomas

Berry at 405-692-6365 or hashukmalli@sbcglobal.net.

To the youth of the nation ...

The “deepest cut” often overlooked in our youth

As the awareness of chil-

drenʼs mental health continues

to grow, and as the public be-

comes more aware of the differ-

ent types of disorders affecting

our children and adolescents

(i.e. ADHD, bipolar, LD, etc.),

one particular disorder is often

overlooked or misunderstood

– self-mutilation. Throughout

the Choctaw Nation, children

and adolescents who would

otherwise be classiﬁ ed as “the

all-American kid,” are cutting,

burning, or otherwise self-inju-

rying themselves as a means of

managing emotional pain.

According to a study in the

“Journal of Abnormal Psychol-

ogy,” from 14% to 39% of ado-

lescents engage in self-mutila-

tion behavior. Overwhelmingly,

self-mutilators say they began

cutting for one of two reasons:

to feel less or to feel more. Some

kids suffering from such prob-

lems as anxiety, depression, or

borderline-personality disorder

– a condition characterized by

explosiveness and unstable re-

lationships – ﬁ nd their pain so

overwhelming that they simply

shut off their emotional spigot.

Cutting, they ﬁ nd, is a way to

kick-start feelings when the

numbness becomes worse than

the pain. Other kids say the op-

posite – that their emotional

turmoil is so great that they

need something to serve as a

bleed valve to calm them down

in times of crisis.

Parents who are worried

that their kids are cutting

should look for a few ﬂ ags. If

a teen wears long sleeves and

sweatpants in hot weather,

thereʼs a chance something

is being hidden. Tempera-

mental behavior, intense an-

ger, and changes in sleeping

and eating patterns may also

be warning signs, but they are

also part of the oridnary storms

of adolescence, so be careful

not to over-interpret.

Parents should also keep

an eye out for hidden stashes

of blades or bandages, and be

aware of sudden shifts in mood.

If a child is depressed and le-

thargic at one point, and then

much better 30 minutes later,

parents should try to account

for the events during that time

period.

For children and adolescents,

the advice comes from former

self-mutilators, who agree that

the best thing cutters can do is

come forward – talk about your

problems with your parents,

teachers, and friends. Self-mu-

tilation may thrive in secrecy,

fear, and emotional dishar-

mony, but as with all wounds,

a little fresh air in the open can

help speed the healing.

If your child or adolescent is

a victim of self-mutilation or

for more information on self-

mutilation, please contact the

Choctaw Nation CARES Proj-

ect ofﬁ ce at 918-567-4128.

Labor Day

Festival

Idabel

10 am-2 pm

Labor

Day

Festival

Labor Day

Festival

By Anna Johnson

Choctaw Nation Youth Advisory Board

The American Lung Association estimates that every minute 4,800

teens will take their ﬁ rst drag off a cigarette. Of these 4,800, about

2,000 will go on to be chain smokers. About 80% of adult smokers

started smoking as teenagers. The Teen Drug Abuse website states

nicotine is considered the #1 entrance drug into other substance abuse

problems. Teens between 13 and 17 years of age who smoke daily are

more likely to use other drug substances.

Smoking cigarettes can cause many health problems such as high

blood pressure, emphysema, lung cancer, and throat cancer as well as

other major health issues. According to Teen Health, the consequences

of smoking may seem very far off to many teens, but long-term health

problems arenʼt the only hazard of smoking. Nicotine and the other tox-

ins in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes can affect a personʼs body quickly,

which means that teen smokers experience many of these problems:

• Bad skin. Because smoking restricts blood vessels, it can prevent

oxygen and nutrients from getting to the skin – which is why smokers

often appear pale and unhealthy.

• Bad breath. All those cigarettes leave smokers with a condition

called halitosis, or persistent bad breath.

• Bad-smelling clothes and hair. The smell of stale smoke tends to

linger – not just on peopleʼs clothing, but on their hair, furniture, and

cars. And itʼs often hard to get the smell of smoke out.

• Reduced athletic performance. People who smoke usually canʼt

compete with nonsmoking peers because the physical effects of smok-

ing – like rapid heartbeat, decreased circulation, and shortness of breath

– impair sports performance.

• Greater risk of injury and slower healing time. Smoking affects the

bodyʼs ability to produce collagen, so common sports injuries, such as

damage to tendons and ligaments, will heal more slowly in smokers

than nonsmokers.

• Increased risk of illness. Studies show that smokers get more colds,

ﬂ u, bronchitis, and pneumonia than nonsmokers. And people with cer-

tain health conditions, like asthma, become more sick if they smoke

(and often if theyʼre just around people who smoke.)

Because teens who smoke as a way to manage weight often light up

instead of eating, their bodies lack nutrients they need to grow, develop,

and ﬁ ght off illness properly. Staying smoke-free will give you a whole

lot more of everything – more energy, better performance, better looks,

more money in your pocket, and, in the long run, more life to live!

Hornbrook receives promotion

Dr. John R. Hornbrook was promoted in

May to Professor of Education by the Board

of Trustees of Oakland City University. Dr.

Hornbrook has served as Associate Professor

of Education and Director of Student Teach-

ing since August of 2000. Prior to retirement

from the Evansville-Vanderburgh School

Corporation in Evansville, Indiana, John

spent 31 1/2 years as a teacher, counselor, and administrator. The

last 11 years of his career, John was Principal of Howard Roosa

Elementary School where he established a multicultural program

which became a national model.

Stay smoke free!

attended college on a volleyball scholarship. An enrolled member of

the Omaha tribe, Amber holds many prestigious titles. She is a former

American Gladiator known as “Apache,” and is called the Gladia-

tor Girl. She was the American Fitness Club Womenʼs bench press

champion, NASA National American Record Powerlifting Bench

Press, and North Coast Arm Wrestling Champion. She has appeared

on magazines such as Musclemag, Ironman, Irony, Blackbelt, and

others. Amber is also a Desert Storm Veteran.

Amber enjoys addressing the needs of the Indian population and

communities by leading an authentic lifestyle and educating others,

in a holistic approach, about the beneﬁ ts of a healthy lifestyle, and

enhancing self-esteem through improved body image and sport. She

continues to compete in bodybuilding while being employed full-time

for the BIA in Albuquerque.

Teaching ﬂ exibility was Zella Kincaid, a blackbelt instructor from

McAlester, Oklahoma. The kids were taught the importance of ﬂ ex-

ibility as well as being taught various types of stretches.

The body composition session was taught by Mary Nell Southard,

RDLD, from Choctaw Nation. At this session the kids learned what

the body is composed of and what is nutritionally necessary to main-

tain a healthy body.

Muscular endurance was taught by jumprope expert Kim Little and

assisted by Irene Culley. Jumps were demonstrated by Kim and 14-

year-olds Kylee Robison and Danielle Marques. They are with the

Muscogee-Creek Nation Wellness Center.

REACH 2010 staff Teresa Frederick and Doris Ward would like

to thank everyone who helped make the camp a success. Without the

hard work of the volunteers it would not be possible.

Camp continued from Page 1

Labor Day Festival

Quilt Show

Entries need to be dropped off at the Information Center

from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, September 2,

and picked up by noon Monday, September 5.

Checkers/Dominoes Tournaments

There will be two divisions this year in the Checkers and

Dominoes Tournaments including those 13 years old and

under in one division and 14 and over in the other.

Kennedyʼs four!

Happy fourth birth-

day, Kennedy, from your

family and friends.

Happy birthday

Hunter and Matthew would

like to wish Michelle Gipson

and Shineesta Tonihka be-

lated happy birthdays. Their

birthday was on June 21.

Happy birthday

Dawn would like to

wish her brother-in-law,

Roy Land, and great-

nephew, Ty Davis, happy

birthdays. Roy turned 42

on July 6 and Ty turned

ten on July 24.

August 2005, BISHINIK, Page 6

People You Know

Ryan is turning four

Ryan J. Thorne of Tucson, Arizona, will

celebrate his fourth birthday on August 28.

Wishing him a happy birthday are his par-

ents, Mike and Kristy; grandparents, Gene

and LaHoma Murphy Crauthers of Okla-

homa City, and other relatives. Ryan shares

this date with his late great-grandmother,

Ella Murphy of Idabel, Oklahoma.

Couple to be honored on 68th anniversary

Congratulations to T.H. and Melba Wade Mullins who will cel-

ebrate their 68th wedding anniversary on August 21. They are origi-

nally from the Debs Corner area near Stonewall, Oklahoma. Mr. and

Mrs. Mullins now reside near Raymond, California. Their children

are hosting a party for them at the home of Bob and Sherri Mullins

on the day of their anniversary. Family and friends are invited.

Gipsons celebrate

June birthdays

Benjamin Gipson and wife,

Judy, celebrate birthdays in

June. Benʼs was June 14 and

Judyʼs was June 6. The couple

celebrated on June 11 with their

family and friends at their home

in Skiatook, Oklahoma. Ben is

the son of the late Robert and

Lucinda Gipson of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Judy is the daughter of

the late Pauline Hough of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Together, the

couple have nine children and 19 grandchildren.

Happy sixth birthday

Linda and Lee Knight of Hugo, Oklaho-

ma, would like to wish their grandson, Gage

Knight, a happy sixth birthday on July 29.

Gage is the son of Donnie and Jacque Knight

of Shawnee, Oklahoma. His other grandpar-

ents are Ray and Pat Booze of Shawnee,

Oklahoma. Also, late happy birthday greet-

ings to Christie Hood on June 8; Donnie

Knight on June 12; Linda Knight on June 18; and Thomas Hood

on June 21. Congratulations to Donnie and Jacque Knight on their

eighth wedding anniversary on May 30.

Happy birthday

Belated happy birthday

wishes are sent to Kirst-

en Talowa and Jasmine

Grace Samuels of Pem-

broke, Florida. Jasmine

turned three on June 13

and Kirsten turned ﬁve

on June 18. They are the

daughters of Van and

Andrea Samuels. Their

grandparents are Paul and

Rebecca Samuels of Hugo, Oklahoma, and Jerry Henson and Darla

Thompson, both of Hulbert.

Happy seventh birthday, Trever

Trever Nathanael Wann will turn seven on

August 18. He will celebrate with family and

friends. Trever is the son of Janine Dills and

Jerry Don Wann and the grandson of Gary

and Jane Dills and Jerry and Ann Wann, all

of Durant, Oklahoma. Treverʼs great-grand-

parents are Joe Kenneth and Mattie Maudine

McClure and Bill and Corine Dills, all of

Durant, and Inez Wann, the late Leon Wann and the late Frank and

Ethal Shelton, all of Kinta, Oklahoma. Jeremie, Kelsie and Mack-

enzie would like to tell their little brother a special happy birthday!

Katie Bug also says hi. We all love you to the moon and back again

a million times little man!

Happy anniversary

Hunter and Matthew would like to

wish Uncle and Aunty Bon Solomon

and LaVon Tonihka a happy anniver-

sary on June 2.

Birthday wishes

Matthew Jones and Zoe

Tisho would like to wish

Zachary, Hunter, and Zane

a happy birthday. Zach-

ary turned three on June 18,

Hunter turned ﬁve on July

27, and Zane turned two on

July 28. Zach, Zane and Zoe

are the children of Robbie

and Tracy Tisho of Oakhill.

They are the grandchildren of Minnie and the late Gilbert Jones of

Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Matthew and Hunter are the sons of Car-

rie

Gipson Jones and the grandsons of Sharon and the late Harold

Gipson, all of Wright City, Oklahoma.

Happy birthday

Brenda Haycraft turned 39 years old on

July 20. Brenda enjoys riding four-wheelers

and spending time with her family. Happy

birthday, Liʼl Sis!

Look whoʼs one!

Happy ﬁrst birthday on June 24 to Kyleigh

Renee Long. Kyleigh is the daughter of Ken-

neth and Crystal Long of Talihina, Oklahoma.

She enjoys playing with her brother, Ken-

neth Long Jr., and with her toys. Kyleighʼs

grandparents are Charles and Ava Hilton of

Tuskahoma, Oklahoma, and G.W. and Phyl-

lis Long of Talihina. Great-grandparents include Wilson and Deloris

Taylor of Sobol, Oklahoma, Frieda Hilton of Broken Bow, Oklahoma,

Vernon Long and Grace Long of Talihina, and Millard Simmons of

California. Ida Taylor of Sobol is Kyleighʼs great-great-grandma.

Happy birthday, Joseph

Joseph Hilton turned 19 on July 23. He

enjoys riding his four-wheeler and spend-

ing time with his girlfriend, Melissa, and his

family. Happy birthday!

Sisters

celebrate

birthdays

Happy birthday

to sisters Velma

Whisenhunt, April

4; Karen Burt,

May 5; Phyllis

Bohanan, May 22;

Ava Hilton, June

14; and Brenda

Haycraft, July

20. They are the

daughters of Wil-

son and Deloris

Taylor of Sobol.

Happy 21st birthday

Happy birthday to Crystal Long who is

turning 21 on August 26. Crystal is also a

graduate of Carl Albert State College. She

has her associateʼs degree in Allied Health

Science and is currently working at the

CNHCC in Talihina as a dental assistant.

She would like to thank Larry Wade in the

Higher Education Ofﬁce for his support.

Tenth generation Choctaw

Dylan Michael Garcia celebrated his third

birthday on July 7. He descends from the

Spring and Oakes families of the Hugo, Okla-

homa, area. “Binker” is the son of Kevin and

Elizabeth Garcia and brother to Trevor and

Amber of Hillsboro, Oregon. Grandparents

are Stan and Nancy Spring-Garcia of Han-

ford, California, Sam Ashenberner of Beaverton, Oregon, and Paula

Hughes of Cornelius, Oregon. Everyone says happy birthday, Dylan!

First birthday!

Carson Battiest will be one year old on

September 27. Wishing him a very happy

birthday are his “Nanny,” sister Kathleen,

Aunt Amy and cousin Sara. All are from

Duncan, Oklahoma.

Happy

birthday

Molly Durrence

of Hugo, Oklahoma,

would like to wish

her “favorite” cousins

a happy belated birth-

day. Russell Wood

celebrated his 16th birthday on May 1 and Colby Raper celebrated

his 13th birthday on May 22. Happy birthday, guys!

Young bowler breaks

Lawton city record

Ethan Martinson of Lawton, Okla-

homa, started bowling 19 months

ago and on June 13, set a new city

record. Ethan is now in Lawtonʼs

record books for the ﬁrst youth and

the youngest bowler to ever shoot

an honor score of 299. Way to go,

Ethan!

Burns is All-American

Congratulations to Blake Burns

who made All-American on the Tar-

leton State Universityʼs track team at

the National NCAA Track and Field

Championship Competition, May

26-28 in Abilene, Texas. Blake is

the son of Danny and Becky Burns

of Arlington, Texas; the grandson

of Emmett and Joyce Cooper of

Fort Worth, Texas; great-grandson

of the late Gladys Aribell Gardner;

and great-great-grandson of Robert

Gardner. Blake will be attending

Texas Wesleyan University this fall

for his Juris Dr. Degree in Law.

Happy birthday Ms. Jasmine

Ms. Jasmine McCarthy celebrated her

eighth birthday on June 23. The day began

with the family attending her brotherʼs gradu-

ation. She was then taken out to lunch and her

ﬁnal treat was a slumber party. Her hobbies

include singing and dancing. She was bap-

tized on June 26 and plans to join the usher

band and the choir. A good student, her teacher praises her for being

a good helper in the classroom. She is spoiled by her Uncle Mike,

whom she adores, and she plans to go ﬁshing with her great-grand-

mother, Caroline Thompson, in Paris, Texas.

Happy birthday

Creed Elizabeth Peirce, pictured in her

Choctaw traditional dress, turned ﬁve

years old on June 22. Happy birthday!

Her parents are Deana Willingham-Peirce

and Ron Peirce of Oklahoma City, Okla-

homa.

Shari Snyder celebrates birthday

Happy birthday to Shari Snyder of Carlsbad, California, who was

born August 3, 1930, in Fresno, California. She moved to Chicago

at the age of six to live with adoptive parents. Over 60 years later,

her husband, Keith Snyder, using the Internet, found her brothers

and sister in Fresno. Finally, after so many years, Shari was reunited

with her siblings, Robert Hodgekis, Avis Engelman, Wilburn Less-

ley and Joel Long.

The family was reunited and began the long process of catching

up, discovering that they had been adopted out while their mother

was hospitalized and unable to prevent the removal of her children.

Shari has celebrated the new relationship with her brothers and

sister. Her brother, Joel, has even moved to the San Diego area to

be closer to his big sister. The two have been able to celebrate every

holiday since that reunion only a few years ago.

Day joins Grandﬁeld Ambulance staff

Choctaw Jackie Day has passed her EMT test and is now on the

staff of Grandﬁeld Ambulance. She also is the Assistant Librarian in

Grandﬁeld and has a teenage daughter, Chazaray. Jackie has many

relatives in the Eagletown, Oklahoma, area – uncles, Bill and Will

Nelson; aunts, Mary Lee and Lula Pete, and many cousins. She is

the daughter of Rachel Amos Day of Grandﬁeld.

70th anniversary

celebration

Clora “Dude” and

Cecil Brooksher were

married on September

10, 1935, at Lindsay,

Oklahoma. Dude is

the daughter of the

late Edna Westbrook

McCants and the late Gus McCants and the granddaughter of the

late Mattie McDaniel Westbrook and the late Andrew “Jack” West-

brook. An all-day celebration of their marriage will be held in con-

junction with a family reunion on September 10, 2005, at their home

in California, which will be hosted by their three sons, Bondie, Cleo

and Danny.

The address for the celebration is 9825 La Docena Lane, Pico

Rivera, CA 90660. For more information, call 562-949-5665. They

look forward to seeing or hearing from everyone.

Happy 21st birthday

Happy birthday to Miss Choctaw Nation

Princess Stephanie Horn. Stephanie will cel-

ebrate her 21st birthday on August 7. She

works at the Choctaw Nation complex in

Durant. Stephanie currently attends SOSU

and is majoring in ﬁnance. She also attends

the First Assembly of God Church. We love

you – Mom, Dad, Joe, Heather, Sharon,

Kristin, Becky and Vic!

Jordan turns seven

Auntie Elaine would like to wish her neph-

ew, Jordan Isaac, a happy seventh birthday

on June 4, which he celebrated at the Win-

ter Smith Park in Ada with a cookout and a

swimming pool party. Jordan is in the second

grade at Hayes School. He enjoys being with

his aunt and uncle and riding his bike. He is

the son of Ricky and Rolena Bohanon of Ada. He is the grandson of

the late Josh and Minnie Wallace of Pauls Valley and the late Isaac

and Lula Bohanon of Paris, Texas. All of his family would like to

wish him a big happy birthday and that God may bless him through

the years.

Milaʼs ﬁrst birthday

Auntie Elaine would like to wish her great-

niece Mila Cherise, a big happy ﬁrst birthday

on July 26. Mila is our bundle of joy and she

is loved by her family. Mila is the daughter

of Wendy Frazier of Paris, Texas, and Kenny

Frazier of Sumner, Texas. Mila is the grand-

daughter of Willard Bohanon of Ada and

Mary Sue Sikes of Paris. She is the great-

granddaughter of the late Isaac and Lula Bo-

hanon of Paris and the late Norma Ballard of

Paris. All of her family would like to wish her a happy birthday and

that God may bless her through the years.

Look whoʼs ﬁve

Jera JuliAnne Davis celebrated her ﬁfth

birthday on June 27. She is the daughter of

Keith and Sharon Davis of Texarkana. Her

grandparents are Earl and Ann Davis and

Donald and Bobbie Scott, all of Idabel. She

is the great-granddaughter of Evelyn Mills

of Atlanta, Texas.

Happy birthday!

Best wishes are being sent to Richard A. Gomez, July 7; Kenneth

P.D. Anderson, July 8; Emma Wolf, August 4; Claudine Wheeler,

August 31; and a special birthday wish to our last beloved brother,

Finis E. Impson, July 29, from Sophia.

OSU graduate

Lourinda R. Givens, a native of Wash-

ington, Oklahoma, graduated from Okla-

homa State University on May 5 in a Native

American Recognition Ceremony and May

6 at the Graduate School Ceremonies. She

and Jill Missal are the ﬁrst two females to

graduate from the Master of Science Fire

and Emergency Management Administra-

tion program at OSU. Lourinda graduated

with a 3.7 gpa and was honored by being

placed on the Chancellorʼs List, a National

Graduate School Honor Society. Lourinda

now holds six college degrees along with her

Congratulations,

Kelly Garland

graduated from high

school this spring

and is pictured with

her sister, Nickie

Garland, and grand-

mother, Laquitta

Garland. Kelly is

also the grand-

daughter of Emery

Hunkey Garland of

Stigler, Oklahoma.

Holleman earns B.A.

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Higher

Education Department would like to recog-

nize and congratulate Helen Angie Holleman

on earning a B.A. in Anthropology from the

University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

“I would like to thank everyone in the

Higher Education Department who made it

possible for me to attend college. I gradu-

August 2005, BISHINIK, Page 7

Nursery News

Donvan Allen Bookout

Donvan Allen Bookout was born De-

cember 29, 2004, weighing 5 pounds 3

ounces and measuring 18 inches long. He

is the son of Brandi Bookout of Oklahoma

City. He is the grandson of Scott Bookout

of Oklahoma City and the great-grandson

of Mary Bookout of Oklahoma City.

Kinley Belle Branscum

Kinley Belle Branscum was born April

12, 2005, at the Choctaw Nation Health

Care Center in Talihina. Kinleyʼs par-

ents are Aaron and Christie Branscum

of Fanshawe, Oklahoma. She has many

grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts,

uncles and cousins who are very happy

sheʼs here. Imogene Owens Welch is Kinleyʼs great-great-granny

and Pearl Bullard Branscum is her great-great-grandma. Kinley is

named after her great-great-great-grandmother, original enrollee

Nancy Bell White Owens Hayes, and her great-great-aunt, Efﬁe

Bell Goad. The family would like to thank the doctors, midwife and

nursing staff at Talihina for the wonderful care you provided.

Lupita Elsa-Denay Ruiz

Lupita Elsa-Denay Ruiz was born at

5:38 p.m. March 23, 2005. She weighed 1

pound 8.7 ounces and measured 11.5 inch-

es. Proud parents are Martha Cotanny and

Salvador Ruiz of Oklahoma City. Proud-

grandparent is Jeanette Kemp of Okla-

homa City. Her great-grandparents were

Mullen and Lulla Kemp. She has many

aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters, and brothers of Oklahoma City and

Chihuahua, Mexico. Lupita Elsa-Denay also wants to wish happy

birthday to her grandmother, Jeanette Kemp, and uncle, Solomon

Cotanny.

Ava Grace and

Brady Cale Sims

Ronald and Carolyn Stan-

berry of Maud, Oklahoma,

would like to announce the

birth of twin grandchildren,

Ava Grace Sims and Brady

Cale Sims. Ava weighed 6

pounds 5 ounces and was

19 inches long. Brady was

5 pounds 9 ounces and 19.5

inches long. They have an

older brother, ﬁve-year-old

Macen Ronald Sims. The

twins were born May 27,

2005, in Houston, Texas. Parents are Ron and Lisa Sims of Houston.

The other grandparents are Jim and Shirley Sims of Tyler, Texas.

Great-grandparents are Joe and Louis Sims of Tyler, Thelma Stan-

berry of Maud and Irene Tresham of Carson City, Nevada. Their

great-great-grandmother was Lucy Hembree Stanberry of Maud, an

original enrollee.

Mom Lisa Sims is holding

newborn twins Ava and Brady.

Taylor Mea Zurmuhlen

Taylor Mea Zurmuhlen was born June

9, 2005, weighing 7 pounds 13 ounces

and was 20 inches long. She was born in

Crested Butte, Colorado, to proud parents

Jeff and Narcissie Zurmuhlen.

Emily Danielle Meshaya

Desiree and John Meshaya are pleased

to announce the birth of their baby girl.

Emily Danielle Meshaya was born at

11:05 p.m. March 16, 2005, at the Choc-

taw Nation Health Care Center, Talihina,

Oklahoma. She weighed 7 pounds 15 ounces and was 21 inches

long. Grandparents are Jon and Linda Bryant of Talihina and Jim

and Patty Meshaya of Tuskahoma, Oklahoma. Great-grandparents

are Larry Bryant and the late Helen Bryant of Talihina, the late Anna

Lee Carter of Talihina, the late Martin and Ruth Meshaya of Rufe,

Oklahoma, and the late Donald and Susan Mix of Poconos Mt.,

Pennsylvania. Proud uncle is Greg Bryant of Talihina and proud

aunt is Jennifer Meshaya of Tuskahoma.

Jathan Takoda Taylor

Veronica Allen wants to

announce the birth of her

baby brother, Jathan Ta-

koda Taylor, who was born

February 22, 2005. He is

the son of Trivia Taylor

Allen of Hugo, Oklahoma,

and Robert Eyer of Cocoa,

Florida. Jathan weighed 7

pounds 7 ounces and mea-

sured 19.5 inches.

Happy birthday to Ve-

ronica who turned three on

June 7. Veronica is the daughter of Trivia Taylor Allen of Hugo and

Michael Allen of Concord, North Carolina. Her grandparents include

Loretta Heuberger of Paris, Texas, and Edgar Taylor Jr. of Moyers,

Oklahoma. Her great-grandparents include Edgar and Hazel Taylor

of Sobol Oklahoma, and the late Eli and Minerva Samuels. Also,

happy belated birthday to brother Dominic Allen who turned four

on January 26; Grandma Loretta who turned 44 on February 25; and

Uncle Terrell who turned 22 on February 7.

ated May 14, 2005. In the future, I would like to obtain a masterʼs

degree and PhD in order to teach at a university. I believe an educa-

tion is the best gift a person can receive and you have given me this

gift. I plan to use my knowledge to give back to the Choctaw Nation

by teaching others about Native Americans, on a college level. I

am truly honored to be part of a tribe that cares so much about the

education of its members. I also want to thank my family for their

support. Especially my Papa, Thomas C. Holleman Jr.

Solomon to attend Johns Hopkins

Megan Solomon graduated maxima cum

laude from Notre Dame High School in

Sherman Oaks, California, with a 4.5 gpa,

and will be attending Johns Hopkins Uni-

versity, Baltimore, Maryland, in the fall.

Megan was one of 20 students to receive

a prestigious award from Johns Hopkins

for their academic accomplishments. She

will do her undergraduate study at Hopkins

where she will major in biology. Megan is

the daughter of Karen Solomon of South Clarita, California, and the

late Norris A. Solomon. Her grandparents are Lois Schneiderman of

North Hollywood, California, and the late Marvin Solomon and Lil-

lie Stoliby Kwee of Pasadena, California, and the late Lester Willis

of Philadelphia, Mississippi.

Morenci grad to attend NMSU

Maya Joy Sumpter graduated from

Morenci (Arizona) Jr./Sr. High School in

May. Maya is a member of National Honor

Society, National Spanish Honor Society,

National Music Honor Society, and was

proud to serve as the Pride Band drum ma-

jor her senior year. Maya will be attending

New Mexico State University, Las Cruces,

and plans to major in music education. Her

parents are Scott and Diana Sumpter of Morenci; her older sisters

are Dixie of Baltimore, Maryland, and Feliz of Phoenix, Arizona.

Grandparents are the late Dixon Sumpter and his widow, Julie, of

Mesa, Arizona, Juan and Marge Gonzalez of Chandler, Arizona, and

Roy and Nora McKenney of Phoenix.

Sudik graduates OCCC

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Higher

Education Department would like to recog-

nize and congratulate Julie Michele Sudik

who graduated in May from Oklahoma City

Community College with a degree in Respi-

ratory Care Therapy.

Ashlei graduates

magna cum laude

Jenifer and Kel-

sey Empron con-

gratulate their sister,

Ashlei, as she grad-

uates magna cum

laude from college in

Lansing, Michigan.

Ashlei is enrolled in

Kalamazoo for the

fall. She wants to thank the Choctaw Nation for the scholarship they

have given her. This has allowed her to continue her education.

Holmes graduates

as 2005 valedictorian

A standard of excellence, dedication, and

hard work are qualities Tuskahoma resident

and Choctaw tribal member Baxter Holmes,

Clayton High Schoolʼs 2005 valedictorian,

is known for in his community. Family and

friends congratulate him on his commit-

ment, leadership, and many achievements as

a student and graduate of Tuskahoma School and 2005 graduate of

Clayton High School. Maintaining a 4.0 gpa all four years of high

school, Baxter excelled in the most challenging courses offered.

Among his many awards and accomplishments are serving as 2005

Student Council President, Superintendentʼs Honor Roll, JOM Na-

tive American Student top gpa, Alpha-Pac All Conference Academ-

ic Team Leader and Regional Top Three Academic Team Captain.

Also a devoted athlete and advocate for Healthy Teen Lifestyles,

Baxter enjoys weightlifting, Choctaw stickball, the outdoor life-

style, playing on a menʼs area basketball team and assisting others

in physical ﬁtness awareness. Baxter has chosen Sports Journalism

for his college and professional career focus. He is enrolled at the

University under the OU Scholars program and has been accepted

to the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. He

was selected as one of ﬁve freshman journalism students to become

a McMahon Scholar and has also been chosen to attend Oklahoma

Institute Journalists Association, Native American OU Student Pro-

gram, and has been selected as a Henderson Scholar with the Uni-

versityʼs prestigious diversity program where an advanced learning

environment is provided for exceptional students.

Baxterʼs parents are Jack Holmes and Nancy Southerland-Holmes

of Tuskahoma. His grandparents are the late Jack R. Holmes and

Rosemary Quinn Holmes of Kansas City, Missouri, the late Ransom

M. Southerland of Rush Springs, Oklahoma, and Pauline McClure

Southerland Lindsay, also of Rush Springs. Baxterʼs many uncles,

aunts, cousins, extended family, and hometown community join in

wishing him happiness and success as he enters the University of

Oklahoma experience.

Aidan Noah Durrence

Julia and Wayne Durrence of Hugo,

Oklahoma, announce the birth of their

son, Aidan Noah Durrence, born April

15, 2005. Aidan was born at 10:33 a.m.

at the Medical Center of Southeastern

Oklahoma, Durant. He weighed 7 pounds

14.5 ounces and measured 21 inches in length. Aidan has a big sis-

ter, Molly, who is ﬁve. He is the grandson of Gladys and the late

“Chick” Wood of Hugo and Linda Standridge of Antlers and Wayne

Durrence Sr. of Portsmouth, Virginia.

Haber earns associateʼs degree

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Higher

Education Department would like to recog-

nize and congratulate Tawnee Sue Haber on

earning an associateʼs degree from Treasure

Valley Community College, Ontario, Or-

egon. She graduated in June.

Sisters receive

their degrees

Crystal Gaines and

Tami Greenwood, both

of Ada, Oklahoma, re-

ceived their degrees on

May 14. Tami, right,

received her Bachelor

of Science in Biology

from East Central Uni-

versity, Ada, on the morning of May 14. Crystal received a Mas-

ter of Science in Management from Southern Nazarene University,

Bethany, that afternoon. Both are recipients of the Choctaw Nation

Higher Education Scholarship Program, to which they send their ap-

preciation for their support. Parents are the Rev. Mel and Pat Gaines

of Dallas, Texas. Grandparents include Moses and the late Helen

Williams of Eagletown, Oklahoma, and the late Lewis and Zona

Gaines of Norman, Oklahoma. Congratulations from the family on

their achievements.

Certiﬁed Safety and Health Ofﬁcial credentials in both General In-

dustries and Construction. Lourinda is a member of the First Baptist

Church in Washington, Mustang Chamber of Commerce Business,

American Industrial Hygiene Association, Oklahoma Emergency

Management Association, Society of Environmental Scientists, Cit-

izen Emergency Response Team Member, CERT Train the Trainer,

American Paint Horse Association, McDowell Club of Allied Arts,

and International Association of Emergency Managers.

She is employed as an AVON Independent Sales Representative,

Certiﬁed Beauty Adviser, Leadership Representative, and Fundrais-

er Representative, plus works as a training and safety consultant.

For the past several months she has been assisting the Oklahoma

Stockyards Main Street Program as a Promotionʼs Committee Mem-

ber planning with the Oklahoma Centennial Commission the ﬁrst

presentation of Oklahoma History, which will lead to all 77 Okla-

homa counties over the next two years.

Mike praise for going over and beyond for him while his Daddy is

ﬁghting in Iraq. Miltonʼs goal is to do better in Jr. High.

Congratulations on graduation

Cassie Brown, the daughter of Charlie

and Debra Brown of Stigler, Oklahoma, has

graduated and plans to attend the vo-tech in

Stigler. She wants to eventually become a

teacher. Congratulations, Cassie!

REUNIONS

McDANIELS/WESTBROOK

The McDaniels/Westbrook Reunion is set for September 10 at the

home of Clora “Dude” and Cecil Brooksher in Pico Rivera, Cali-

fornia, with cohosts Bondie and Wanda Brooksher. Over 100 fam-

ily members from Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon, Arkansas,

Missouri, Arizona, and California are planning to attend. For more

information, please call Dude at 562-949-5759 or Bondie at 562-

949-5665.

ROBERTS

The 51st Annual Roberts Reunion will be held September 24 at

Coalgate, Oklahoma, from 11 a.m. till ? Please bring a covered dish

and a bingo prize. For more information contact Osborne or Chris-

tine Roberts at 580-927-3342.

JOHNICO

The Johnico Family Reunion will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

October 22 at the Richard Harder Senior Citizen Building, 712

Railroad St. in Talihina. The reunion will have a Halloween theme

– come with a mask, costume or just as yourself. Please bring a

covered dish item. Coffee is furnished. For more information, please

contact Myrtle King, 1023 S.W. 38th St., Apt. C, Oklahoma City,

OK 73102; or 405-634-6786.

Plevancic is honor graduate

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Higher

Education Department would like to recog-

nize and congratulate Julie G. Plevancic

who graduated in May with honors from

Golden Gate University in San Francisco,

California. She earned an Executive Master

of Public Administration.

Congratulations

On June 23, Milton Jr., the son

of Milton Sr. and Cynthia Flourn-

oy, graduated to Jr. High School.

An honor student, he received

awards in reading, math, citizen-

ship and perfect attendance. He

is an active member in church

as an usher and takes his duties

very seriously. His wish for his

hard work is to go to Texas and

go ﬁshing with his great-grand-

mother, Caroline Thompson, of

Paris, Texas. He gives his Uncle

August 2005, BISHINIK, Page 8

OBITUARIES

Michael Loren Carnes

J.D. Benton Smith

J.D. Benton Smith, 74, of Odessa,

Texas, passed away January 22, 2005, in

an Odessa hospital. He was born July 15,

1931, to Ray and Kate Smith of Boswell,

Oklahoma.

He served his country in the Army dur-

ing the Korean Conﬂict. He worked most

of his life in oil ﬁelds at home and over-

seas.

His parents, four sisters and four broth-

ers preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Jerry Smith,

of the home; one son and one daughter, Claude Ray and Dawn, both

of Odessa; two brothers, Arvel Smith of Texarkana, Texas, and Rob-

rt Smith of Haworth, Oklahoma; and one sister, Leota McKinney of

Andrew, Texas.

Lena Mae Johnson

Lena Mae Johnson, 76, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, passed away

June 14, 2005, at Valley View Hospital in Ada, Oklahoma. She was

born December 11, 1928, in Lennox, Oklahoma, to Jolum Noah and

Joanna Williams Noah.

She was raised in the Kiamichi Mountains close to Whitesboro. She

moved to Bennington and attended Wheelock Academy. Lena gradu-

ated from Sequoyah High School. She married Jimmy Johnson Sr. in

Wewoka and the couple spent many years there. She was a resident of

Holdenville for the last nine years. Lena enjoyed sewing and spending

time with her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include ﬁve children, Brenda Johnson of Sasakwa, Peggy

Rodriguez, Jimmy Johnson Jr. and Loretta Johnson, all of Wewoka,

and Floyd Johnson of Holdenville; a sister, Christine Noah Collins of

Oklahoma City; 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

William “Woody” Hughes

William “Woody” Hughes, 88, of

Durant, Oklahoma, passed away June 12,

2005, in Bonham, Texas. He was born Oc-

tober 5, 1916, in Coal County, Oklahoma,

to P.D. and Lilley McKinney Hughes.

He married Mary Cubley on May 4,

1945, in Durant. He was a member of the

Baptist faith, loved to raise cattle and was

a salesman for Colbert Dairy in Durant.

He was a sergeant in the Army Air Corps

during World War II and a member of the

B-29 Airplane squad. He was Salesman

of the Year for the City of Durant and a member of the American

Legion and DAV in Durant. He loved his family and raising his Here-

ford cattle. He was a Christian gentleman with a smile and a cheerful

greeting for everyone.

His parents and three brothers preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of Durant; son, Kenneth Woodrow

Hughes and wife, Lina, of Durant; daughter, Sherry Deanne Gandy of

Moore, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Benjamin Bennett of Plano, Texas,

William Bennett of Durant, Bie Raquiza of the Philippines, Lucky

Raquiza and Maria Raquiza, both of Durant; and great-grandchildren,

K.C. Raquiza of the Philippines and Tory Coucghran of Durant.

Mary Lois Cawthon Robinson

Mary Lois Cawthon Robinson passed away December 21, 2004, at

Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas. She was born September 20,

1942, in Jacksonville, Texas, the daughter of William Sr. and Daisy

Mae Guess Cawthon.

She was reared in Jacksonville and Hugo, Oklahoma. She attended

and graduated from Jacksonville Public Schools and after graduation,

completed barber college, receiving her license to practice as a bar-

ber. The bulk of her working career, 36 years, was spent working at

Max Daiches Jewelers in Kilgore, Texas, until her retirement. In early

adulthood, she married Jesse Willard Robinson Jr. and three daughters

were born to this union. After her divorce, for 24 years, she was a

companion to Lee Davis, whom she adored and loved until her ﬁnal

breath.

Her parents; a sister, Betty Ray; a brother, William Cawthon Jr., and

a brother-in-law, Claude Robinson, all preceded her in death.

Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Kimberlyn and

Joseph Wilkins of Missouri City, Texas, Tina Rena Ray and Gayland

Roberson of The Colony, Texas, and Tracy Elaine Robinson-Roy of

Kilgore, Texas; loving companion, Lee Davis of Tyler; four sisters and

brothers-in-law, Shirley and Scottie McDonald of The Colony, Janice

and Johnny Harvest of Stafford, Texas, Paige Cawthon of Sugarland,

Texas, and Regina Cawthon of Houston, Texas; one brother, Donald

Ray Cawthon of Jacksonville; eight grandchildren, Tasheka McCane,

Jessica Jackson, Whitney Roy, Brandon and Marissa Roberson, Josh-

ua, Jacob, and Jordan Wilkins; and three great-grandchildren, Adrian

and Brandon McCane and Trazeion Sanders; four aunts, Mary Ray of

Kansas City, Kansas, Elnora Crisp of Lancaster, California, Catherine

Cawthon of Englewood, California, and Thelma Williams of Atlanta,

Georgia; stepmother, Doris Cawthon of Jacksonville; devoted cous-

ins, Mary Ann Harris and Freeman Cawthon, both of Dallas, Texas;

a cherished mother-in-law, Callie Robinson of Kilgore; a son-in-law,

Freddie Roy of Longview, Texas; three sisters-in-law, Brenda Nobles

of Dallas, Texas, Marilyn Stroud and Carolyn Herd, both of Kilgore;

one brother-in-law, George Robinson of Kilgore, and many nieces,

nephews, other relatives and friends.

Grady W. Elmore

Grady W. Elmore, 77, formerly of

Boswell, Oklahoma, passed away re-

cently in Dallas, Texas. He was born June

16, 1928, in Crowder Springs, Oklahoma,

south of Boswell, the son of Van Buren

Elmore and Beulah Crowder Elmore. He

grew up in Boswell, then in 1969 moved

to Paris, Texas.

He married Joan Dancer on October

10, 1951, in DeQueen, Arkansas. Grady

loved going to the coffee shop and read-

ing western magazines. He had a wonder-

ful sense of humor, loved going to rodeos and spending time with

his family and friends. He was very involved in his community. Mr.

Elmore was honored to have served his country and very proud of his

Indian heritage.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife of the home; three daughters, Angie

Selby and husband, Raymond, of Powderly, Texas, Brigitte Viehe and

husband, Mike, of Paris, Texas, and Connie Miller and husband, An-

hony, of College Station, Texas; brothers, Pete Elmore of McKinney,

Texas, and Paul Elmore of Boswell; sister, Mickie Braudrick of Hugo,

Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Bryan, Terra, Tasha, Brandon, Brittany,

and Blair; and three great-grandchildren, Alex, Kenyatta and Riley.

Donald Gene Wilson

Donald Gene Wilson passed away July 4, 2004, at the VA hospital

in Oklahoma City. He was born February 25, 1948, to Donald Gene

and Rena Stone Wilson.

He married Norma Jean Robison in 1967 in Boswell, Oklahoma,

and moved to Oklahoma City from Bennington in 1968. Wilson was

a postmaster who loved to work on cars and watch sports. He also

served in the U.S. Army.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother, Willie Wil-

son, and an aunt, Helen Wilson.

Survivors include his sons, Donald Gene Wilson III and Kevin Wil-

son; a daughter-in-law; and two grandchildren, all of Oklahoma City;

brothers, Ollie Wilson and Woodrow Wilson, both of Calera, Okla-

homa, and Jack Wilson of Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

Michael Loren Carnes, 39, of Cart-

right, Oklahoma, passed away June 7,

2005, at his residence. He was born Au-

gust 9, 1965, in Durant, Oklahoma, the

son of Mildred Carnes Webb. He was a

maintenance worker.

Michael and JoeAnn Gibson were mar-

ried on June 2, 2005, in Cartwright. A

maintenance worker, he loved his family

dearly and will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his wife of the home;

sons, Michael Anthony Loren Carnes and

Timothy Allen Carnes, both of Cartwright; daughters, Tajahara Har-

vey of Carrollton, Texas; brothers, Christopher Wayne Webb of Cart-

wright and Billy Wayne Webb of Grapevine, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his mother; his grandmother, Mary

Tikubbie, and his grandfather, Allen Carnes.

Dear Choctaw Nation,

Thank you to various staff members of the Choctaw Nation for all

the wonderful help given to my dear nephew, Michael Loren Carnes,

and his family during his last days with us and for all the help given

to Michaelʼs wife, JoeAnn, his two sons, Michael and Timothy, and

daughter, T.J. When no one else could help, the Choctaw Nation came

through. Also, thank you to James Duneganʼs ofﬁce for the help pro-

vided and to my sister, Tina Fields, who provided her home. Although

Michael is gone we will never forget him.

Once again, a big yakoke to Chief Pyle and his wonderful staff of

caring people who are there and ready to help the Choctaws.

– Shirley Duran

Evelyn A. Jones Taylor

Evelyn A. Jones Taylor, 65, of Moyers, Oklahoma, passed away

May 19, 2005. She was born June 1, 1939, in Divide, Oklahoma,

to the late Jackson Jones and Sally Wilkins Jones. Evelyn lived in

Talihina, Oklahoma, until 1989 when she moved to the Moyers area.

Evelyn was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who, in her

spare time, enjoyed going to singing conventions, watching kids play-

ing ball, traveling with Choctaw Nation senior citizens groups, and

spending time with her family and friends. She was also a member of

the Greenhill Baptist Church in Talihina.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Waylon

Nelson.

Survivors include her husband, Buddy Taylor, of the home; Peggy

Nichols and husband, Ronald, of Moyers; sisters, Louella Waitman

of Durant, Oklahoma, and Elizabeth Siwer of San Diego, Califor-

nia; brothers, Eugene Jones and wife, Margie, of Talihina and Travis

Baker of Durant; grandchildren, Teela Nichols, Tamara Nichols and

R.J. Nichols, all of Antlers, Oklahoma; great-grandchildren, Lailah

Walton of Antlers, Carmen Broomﬁeld of Antlers, and Dante Nichols

of Moyers; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of

friends.

Julius Wade “J.W.” Hampton

Julius Wade “J.W.” Hampton, 62, of Antlers, Oklahoma, passed

away June 14, 2005. He was born May 10, 1943, in Antlers to Lon-

nie Hampton and Susan “Loman” Hughes. J.W. lived many years in

Commerce, Texas, and had moved back to Antlers for the past year

and a half.

After serving in the Army, J.W. was self-employed as a telephone/

cable contractor. J.W. was an accomplished musician and loved to

sing and play the guitar. He loved visiting with his friends and family.

J.W. loved his family and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother,

Charlie.

Survivors include his wife, Judy Hampton, of the home; daughter,

Lisa Hampton Beasley and husband, Darryl, of Athens, Texas; two

stepdaughters, Denise Stotts and husband, Jeff, and Vicky Nichols

and husband, Phil, all of Commerce, Texas; a brother, Robert “Bob”

Loman and wife, Peggy, of Houston, Texas; a sister, Carla Smalley

and husband, Russell, of Athens; grandchildren, Kathy and Michelle

Beasley, Kayle and Hannah Stotts, and Chris, Micah and Zachary

Nichols; one great-grandchild, Kimberly Ann Nichols; the Loman

cousins, Clara, James, Paula, Terry, Ruby, Howard, Lloyd and Iwana;

and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

Deborah Nunn

Deborah Corine Nunn, 66, of Stigler, Oklahoma, passed away

May 25, 2005, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born March 24, 1939, in

Rocky Point to John and Josphine Baker Leﬂore.

Preceding her in death were her parents; one son, Joe Dale Nunn;

two daughters, Elizabeth Nunn and LaDonna Nunn; two sisters, Al-

ice Mayhall and Helen Terrell; and two brothers, John Leﬂore Jr. and

Edmond Leﬂore.

Survivors include her husband, Jody Nunn; six daughters, Vickie

Timmons of Keota, Oklahoma, Judy Lloyd of McAlester, Oklahoma,

Debbra Gill of Keota, Mary Anderson of Durant, Oklahoma, Joyce

Timmons of Keota and Wynona Nunn of Stigler, Oklahoma; two sis-

ters, Norma Anderson of Stigler and Joella Leﬂore of Oklahoma; sev-

eral grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Juanita A. McKinney

Juanita A. McKinney, 86, of Stigler, Oklahoma, passed away May

3, 2005, in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. She was born February 19, 1919, in

Lequire, Oklahoma, to James J. and Gladys Bates McKinney.

She grew up in Stigler where she graduated with the Class of 1937.

Juanita attended Southeastern State University and in 1942 began a

career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

She moved to Lawrence, Kansas, to work for Haskell Institute as

registrar and in 1959 returned to work for the BIA until her retire-

ment in 1974 after 32 years of service. In 1978, she made her home in

Stigler, where she loved to live. She was a member of the Stigler First

Free Will Baptist Church and enjoyed doing Godʼs work. She was a

very loving and giving person with many friends. She loved her fam-

ily and will be remembered as a very special sister, aunt and friend.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Harmon W.

and Billy James McKinney; and one sister, Jo Marie Harrison.

Survivors include one brother, Jackie Ray McKinney of Chicago,

Illinois; one nephew, Dennis Harrison and wife, Susan, of Sallisaw;

two nieces, Jody Hall and husband, Rick, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, and

Jill Caughman and husband, Lyndell, of Sallisaw; and several great-

nieces and great-nephews.

Melvin “Buddy” Neal

Melvin “Buddy” Neal, 82, of Stigler, Oklahoma, passed away May

14, 2005. He was born November 14, 1922, in Brooken, Oklahoma,

to Ira and Roxie Neal.

He entered the U.S. Army on January 26, 1943, in Tulsa and served

during World War II. He received a Good Conduct Medal, Purple

Heart Medal, Go 14 15th General Hospital 45 Eame Theater Ribbon,

four Bronze Service Stars, and the WWII Victory Ribbon.

Mr. Neal married Margaret Jean Robertson on October 10, 1953.

He will be remembered for his dedication to the VFW on Thursday

nights to play Bingo. He loved to ﬁsh and loved when his great-grand-

children came running in the house saying, “Papaw, I want candy!”

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife; one brother, Ray-

mond Neal; one nephew, Raymond Neal Jr.; one niece, Lorreta; and

his second wife, Mary Simmons Neal.

Survivors include one son, Rick Neal and wife, Diana, of Stigler;

two granddaughters, Krystal and husband, Jerry Bryant, of Mangum,

Oklahoma, and Jodi and husband, Brandon Gulley, of McAlester,

Oklahoma; ﬁve great-grandchildren, Dylan, Ryan, and Nate Bryant

(he called them his little burr heads) and Keira and Kansas (Pris and

Little Man); two sisters, Almus “Sug” and husband, J.C. McKinney,

of Brooken and June and husband, Lewis Tinsley, of Oklahoma City;

six nephews and three nieces; and a host of friends.

Ted Perry

Ted Perry, 71, of Stigler, Oklahoma, passed away May 16, 2005,

at his home. He was born April 23, 1934, in Stigler to Houston Perry

and Ola Mae Perry. He grew up at Havana where he received his for-

mal education. Mr. Perry made his home in Dallas, Texas, for several

years before moving to Chicago where he began a career with Am-

Track. His career spanned some 32 years, and he was a conductor

at the time of his retirement. He made his home in Stigler following

retirement in 1996.

His parents preceded him in death.

Survivors include four brothers, Jerry Perry, Burt Perry and wife,

Vivian, Gerald Perry and wife, Debra, and Ron Perry and wife, Sher-

ry; and one sister, Linda York, all of Stigler; two aunts, Ona Perry

and Ilena Krausch, both of Stigler; numerous nieces, nephews, great-

nieces and great-nephews.

Julius Taylor

Julius Taylor, 94, passed away May 24,

2005. He was born May 16, 1911.

Mr. Taylor loved the Lord and at times

was seen reading his Choctaw Bible and

hymns. The Lord gave him the gift of tick-

ling the ivory keys for various churches in

both Oklahoma and Texas. Although he

never took lessons or read sheet music, he

learned how to play the piano by ear.

He moved his family to Dallas, Texas, in July 1959 and retired in

the late 1970s. He had attended United Indian Methodist Church in

Dallas. He was faithful in church until his health prevented him from

attending.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jane Taylor, and sons,

Ernest Taylor, Raymond Taylor, and Edgar Taylor.

Survivors include his children, Williston Taylor of Antlers, Okla-

oma, Melvina Washington of Hayward, California, Juanita Caudill

of San Diego, California, Nadine Smith of Ada, Oklahoma, Virginia

Tafoya of Sante Fe, New Mexico, and Elizabeth Osage of Dallas;

and several nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and

great-great-grandchildren.

We will greatly miss Julius and he will always be remembered and

treasured in our memories.

Dear Choctaw Nation,

The Taylor/Osage family would like to say thank you very much for

the assistance with the burial of Mr. Julius Taylor. He was full-blood

Choctaw Indian and lived to be 94 years and 8 days old. Julius was an

inspiration to the Dallas, Texas, community and everyone knew him

there. We are thankful and proud that our tribe was there to help when

help was needed. He now lays at rest in Antlers, Oklahoma, with those

who preceded him in death.

Leo Skinner

Leo Skinner passed away June 1, 2005.

He was born November 23, 1921, in

Hartshorne, Oklahoma.

In 1942, he entered the Army for World

War II, serving in the Paciﬁc – Guadalca-

nal and other islands ending in the Philip-

pines. He was recalled for the Korean War

and stayed in for 30 years, retiring from Ft.

Huachuca on July 1, 1967, as a Chief War-

rant Ofﬁcer. He had lived in Tucson, Ari-

zona, since 1967. He worked for the Tucson

Post Ofﬁce from 1968 to 1984.

Survivors include his wife, Norma Skin-

ner; one brother; ﬁve children and stepchildren; ﬁve grandchildren

and ﬁve great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth “Chick” Grace Holman

Elizabeth “Chick” Grace Holman, 89, of Idabel, Oklahoma, passed

away June 22, 2005, at Champaign County Nursing Home, Urbana,

Illinois. She was born November 18, 1915, at Idabel to Sidney J. and

Mary Taylor Herndon. She married Orville E. Holman in December

1933 at Idabel.

Elizabeth was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist

Church, Idabel. She was Miss Idabel in the early 1930s and was Ida-

belʼs ﬁrst and only parking meter maid. She was employed at Rayʼs

Steak House and Tootie Wilmothʼs Western Auto for many years.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; one brother;

three half-brothers; and one half-sister.

Survivors include one son, Orville E. Holman Jr. of Champaign;

one daughter, Vada L. Boyce of Mesa, Arizona; and one sister, Mary

L. Stewart of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

August 2005, BISHINIK, Page 9

OBITUARIES

Herbert Andrew Allen

Herbert Andrew Allen, 96, of McAlester, Oklahoma, passed away

June 8, 2005, at McAlester Regional Health Center. He was born Oc-

tober 7, 1908, in McAlester to Andrew Bart and Leona Maggie Pitch-

lyn Allen.

He attended school in Crowder and later attended in McAlester. He

married Charlotte Lee England on November 25, 1934, in Eufaula,

Oklahoma. Herbert owned and operated Allenʼs Auto Service in

McAlester for a number of years before working as a service equip-

ment pipeline foreman for R.H. Fulton out of Lubbock, Texas, and

later retired from William Brothers out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. After his

retirement he was an avid ﬁsherman and he enjoyed working in his

yard where he loved growing a garden. Herbert was a member of

Grand Avenue United Methodist Church and a lifelong resident of

Pittsburg County.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a daughter, Her-

bie Kay Gates; two sisters, Thelma Randel and Eunice “Sue” Wil-

liams; and a brother, V.J. Allen.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Annalee and George

Rowland of Hobbs, New Mexico; ﬁve grandchildren and spouses,

Glenda and Scott Bearden and Mark Rowland, all of Hobbs, Boyd

and Donna Rowland of Lovington, New Mexico, Charla and Derek

Woodgate of Austin, Texas, and Sherry and Tim Maret of Shippens-

burg, Pennsylvania; ten great-grandchildren, Brandon McLemore,

Brock McLemore, Cory Guy Rowland, Michael Maret, Kimber

Hicks, Brooke McLemore, Jordyn Rowland, Keysha Rowland, Geor-

gie Rowland and Holly Wood; a great-great-grandson, Keaton Hicks;

ﬁve nephews, Tom Williams, Eugene Bonino, Jimmy Bonino, Allen

Lee Dunn and Eddie Dunn; three nieces, Jessie Randel, Janice Barker

and Patty Finch; numerous cousins, including Velma Toole and Sue

Walker; and several wonderful friends and neighbors, including spe-

cial friend Garry Cartlidge of McAlester.

Sue John Askenette

Sue John Askenette, 83, of Neopit,

Wisconsin, passed away June 8, 2005,

at her home surrounded by her children,

grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She was born January 27, 1922, in Stan-

ley, Oklahoma, the daughter of the late

George and Anna Anderson John.

She graduated from Haskell Indian

School in Lawrence, Kansas. On May 14,

1941, Sue was united in marriage to Al-

exander Askenette Sr. in Ottawa, Kansas.

Alex preceded her in death on December

17, 2003. Sue worked with the Head Start Program in Keshena and

Neopit for 17 years and also did volunteer work. She was a member

of St. Anthonyʼs Catholic Church and the Great Lakes Grandparentʼs

Program. Sue enjoyed going to the lake, watching her grandchildren,

gardening, dancing, and reading.

She was also preceded in death by a son, Alex Jr.; a great-grand-

child, Anthony; her parents; three sisters, and two brothers.

Survivors include her daughters, Barbara L. Askenette and Linda

Caldwell and husband, Eugene, all of Neopit, and Patricia Chapman

and husband, Jerry, of Keshena; her sons, Orin L. Askenette of De-

Pere, Donald E. Askenette and wife, Darnell, of Milwaukee, Wen-

dell Askenette and wife, Susan, of Keshena, and David Askenette of

Neopit; 14 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Alice

Brenner and husband, Eugene, of California.

Angela Rae Lewis

Angela Rae Lewis, 25, of Broken Bow,

Oklahoma, passed away May 21, 2005,

at Broken Bow. She was born June 21,

1979, at Talihina, Oklahoma.

She was afﬁliated with Bible Baptist

Church in Wright City, Oklahoma. An-

gela enjoyed spending time with her chil-

dren and family and friends. She was em-

ployed by the Choctaw Casino in Broken

Bow.

She was preceded in death by her grand-

parents, Randal Lewis and Esther Lewis

Bohanon; one aunt, Rhonda Peters; two uncles and two cousins.

Survivors include her husband, J.R. Battiest, of the home; her chil-

ren, Kysar Quentin, Kyle Blake and Lindsey Rose, all of the home;

her mother and stepfather, Doris and Kenneth Jones of Oklahoma

City; her mother-in-law, Rose Shemwell of Idabel; one sister-in-law,

Kurtrina James of Broken Bow; two brothers, Arlin Tisho and Ike

Tisho, both of Broken Bow; two nieces, Maleah and Alexia, and one

nephew, Braiden, all of Broken Bow; several aunts, uncles and cous-

ins, and a host of friends.

Dear Choctaw Nation,

The family of Angela Rae Lewis would like to thank all of the em-

ployees of the Choctaw Nation, family, friends, and relatives for their

prayers and support at the time of our loss. The phone calls, food,

ﬂowers and words of comfort were greatly appreciated and were also

a testimony of the short while she was with us. She had touched a lot

of lives with her sweet, caring personality. Angela Rae is truly missed,

but the memory of her will live on forever in all of us and in the lives

of her three children, Quentin, Kyle and Lindsey. May your prayers

be with these little ones as they live each day without the presence of

their beloved mother.

Special thanks to Chief Gregory E, Pyle and Assistant Chief Mike

Bailey, to all Choctaw Casinos, Tribal Police, McGee Chapel, Brum-

ley Funeral Home, Bro. Ellis Taylor, and Bro. Kenneth Noah. To Re-

gina Flanagin, Katie Noah and Kurtrina James – your never-ending

support and time were truly a blessing.

Thank you all so much and may God bless you.

Kristin Leigh Leﬂore

Kristin Leigh Leﬂore passed away May 20, 2005. She was born

April 30, 1987. Although the years were short, Kristin touched so

many lives.

Kristinʼs parents are Tommy and Kathy Leﬂore of McAlester, Okla-

homa. Grandparents are the Rev. Wesley Anderson and Katherine An-

derson and Herman Leﬂore and Mary Leﬂore.

She attended school in McAlester and was pursuing a career in

nursing. She had a very tender place in her heart for children. She

planned to specialize in pediatrics and OB. Kristin always had a beau-

tiful smile and loving heart for everyone. To know her was to love her.

She is loved and missed by so many.

Jessie Lang

Jessie V. Lang, 78, of the Lona Valley Community in Oklahoma

passed away May 22, 2005, in Lona Valley. She was born March 18,

1927, in Lona Valley to Jasper and Grace Fitzer Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William

Lang; three brothers, Leroy Johnson, Tom Johnson and Doyle John-

son; and two sisters, Aline Satterﬁeld and Darlene Bidwell.

Survivors include a daughter, Karen Henson, and husband, David,

of Eufaula, Oklahoma; one son, Michael Lang of Lona Valley; two

sisters, Betty Spears and husband, Sonny, of Quinton, Oklahoma, and

Irene Hughart of Oklahoma City; three grandchildren, Melanie Clark

of Eufaula, Derrick Williams of Lona Valley and Megan Henson of

Eufaula; three great-grandchildren, Reed Clark and Elizabeth Clark,

both of Eufaula and Christian Williams of Lona Valley.

Roy Leon Allen

Roy Leon Allen, 75, passed away June

22, 2005, in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. He was

born October 21, 1929, in Harrold, Texas,

the second son of Siemon and Maseline

Allen, an original enrollee.

He grew up in Atoka, Oklahoma, where

he met and married his beautiful wife,

Miss Vina Jacob, the daughter of original

enrollees Fulsom and Martha Jacob, on

April 9, 1949. This happy union produced

three sons and one daughter.

He moved his family to California in 1959, coming back frequently

to Oklahoma to visit. He lived in California for over 40 years, during

which he worked in landscaping both on and off golf courses, before

moving back permanently to Atoka in 2001.

Roy enjoyed life, was always laughing and joking. He played many

musical instruments, including guitar, violin, mandolin, and steel gui-

tar. Many times, he played with and for friends and family, much to

his and his audienceʼs pleasure. He even practiced with the brothers

playing the music at assemblies in earlier years.

He dedicated his life to doing Jehovah Godʼs Will and was able to

serve as a full-time Evangelizer for two years before having to stop

for health reasons. He was very faithful, serving as an Elder as one

of Jehovahʼs Witnesses in both California and Oklahoma. He eagerly

shared his belief with family, friends and everyone he could talk to

about the Bible. He loved reading the Bible daily, especially his favor-

ite scripture, John 5:28-29 about the hope of the resurrection.

His parents; two brothers, Cecil and Ray Stanley; and one half-sis-

ter, Ohio, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Vina Allen of Atoka; three

sons, Ray Leon Allen and his wife, Marie, of San Jose, California,

Steve Roy Allen and his wife, Anita, of Oklahoma City, and Jacob

Robert Allen of Atoka; one daughter, Sharon Lynn Longwell and hus-

band, Tim, of Atoka; two sisters, Christine Campbell of Atoka and

Lois Jack and husband, Al, of Maysville, Oklahoma; 10 grandchil-

dren, 13 great-grandchildren and two more due very soon, as well as

other relatives and many friends.

E.C. “Nick” Bledsoe

E.C. “Nick” Bledsoe, 89, passed away June 27, 2005, at Davis,

Oklahoma. He was born October 5, 1915, in Bokchito, Oklahoma, to

Eldery and Mary Neeley Bledsoe.

Nick, the fourth of ﬁve brothers, had lived in Davis since 1955. He

married Gladys Henry in 1937 at Asher, Oklahoma. She passed away

in 1995 after 58 years of marriage. In 1997, he married Wanda Carter.

She preceded him in death in 1998. Also preceding him in death were

his parents and four brothers, Earl, Wade, Ernest and Roy.

Nick worked in the oil ﬁelds for many years and later worked as

a driller for Sooner Rock in Davis, Oklahoma. He was a member of

First Christian Church and was a veteran of World War II.

Survivors include three daughters, Mary LaNoy of Guthrie, Okla-

homa, Nika Bledsoe of Davis and Opal Bejcek and husband, Grant,

of South Lake, Texas; ﬁve grandchildren, Clif LaNoy and wife, Patti,

of Davis, Alisa Kornmeyer and husband, Joe, and Michael LaNoy and

wife, April, all of Guthrie, Oklahoma, Chelsea Sumners and husband,

Gary, of Colorado City, Texas, and Brock Bejeck of South Lake; and

eight great-grandchildren, Nick, Jennifer, Joey, Kasey, Kaitlyn, Kris-

tin, Kyle and Savannah.

Malinda “Lily” Brumit

Malinda “Lily” Brumit, 91, of Blanco, Oklahoma, passed away Oc-

tober 6, 2004, at her home outside of McAlester. She was born Octo-

ber 25, 1912, in Celestine, the daughter of Sante and Isabenda Wood

Ferrante. She grew up in the Celestine and Idabel areas and graduated

second in her class from Coalgate High School.

She married Luther “Jack” Brumit on June 8, 1935, and was a

homemaker all of her life. She was a member of the Blanco Baptist

Church and the Ohoyohoma Indian Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Luther

“Jack” Brumit, on November 16, 2003; three sisters, Rose Hoffman,

Lena Nichell, and Louise James; four brothers, Charlie Ferrante, Otha

Ferrante, John Ferrante, and infant Pete Ferrante, and a great-grand-

daughter, Lily Bach.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Darlina and Charles

Scroggins of the home; three sons and daughters-in-law, Jack and

Bernadette Brumit of Quincy, California, James and Judy Brumit of

Oklahoma City and Charles and Johnna Brumit of Billings, Montana;

grandchildren, Lisa Brumit Cervantes, Mindy Brumit Bach, Shaun

Brumit, Michael Brumit, Matthew Brumit, Traci Teman Chiro, Dana

Scroggins, Daniel Brumit, Chuck Scroggins, James Brumit Jr., Keith

Teman, Debbie Scroggins Miller, Chris Brumit, Robert Jack Brumit,

Michael Brumit and Mitchell Teman; 26 great-grandchildren, and nu-

merous nieces, nephews and friends.

Steven K. Love

Steven K. Love, 43, passed away March

10, 2005, in Norman, Oklahoma. He was

born June 10, 1961, in Wichita, Kansas, to

Harry S. Love Jr. and Jane Gernand Love.

He was the grandson of Harry S. Love Sr.

and Katie Kirby Love, both original en-

rollees.

Steven graduated from Ada High

School in 1979 and from the University

of Oklahoma in 1983. He had a wonder-

ful sense of humor and he loved music, animals, and the outdoors.

Among his favorite activities were bicycling, ﬁshing, and hiking.

He was preceded in death by his father in 2004.

Survivors include his mother, Jane Love of Ada; sister, Lisa Blan-

kenship and husband, Dan, of Loveland, Colorado; nephew, Scott

Blankenship of Palo Alto, California; and longtime girlfriend, Barrie

Roberts of Norman.

Reba Loretta Loyd

Reba Loretta Loyd, 70, of Summerﬁeld, Oklahoma, passed away

January 25, 2005. She was born May 23, 1934, the daughter of John

and Ora Cox. She was the granddaughter of Buck and Angeline White.

Reba was one-fourth Choctaw Indian and proud of her tribe.

Mrs. Loyd was a Christian and an active member of the Summerﬁeld

Church of Christ. She and husband Curtis C. Loyd were married in

1951. She enjoyed cooking, quilting, gardening and taking care of her

family.

Survivors include her husband; daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and

Jerry Wiser; sons and daughter-in-law, Ray Loyd, Stanley Loyd, Scot-

ty Loyd, and Tracy and Daphne Loyd; sisters, Louise Earls and Freda

Barrick; brothers, Orbia Cox, Ivan Cox, Harold Cox, Sherman Cox,

Jim Cox and Delton Cox; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren;

numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and loved ones and a host

of beloved friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two of her brothers,

Dale and J.C. Jr.

Edwin Billy

Edwin Billy, 64, of Sobol, Oklahoma,

passed away on June 1, 2005, at St. Fran-

cis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was

born March 21, 1943, at Corinne, Okla-

homa, to Wesley Billy and Nellie Charley

Billy. Edwin married Nadine Samuel on

August 30, 1961, in Rufe, Oklahoma. He

lived in the Sobol area most of his life. He

was a member of the Goodwater United

Methodist Church as well as its clubs and

organizations.

He retired from Weyerhaeuser Company at Wright City in March

of 2003 after 43 years of service. Edwin loved working in his church,

hunting, ﬁshing, and enjoyed playing baseball and softball in his

younger years and loved spending time with his family and friends,

especially his grandchildren and great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Nadine; two

sons, Kevin Billy and wife, Lorraine, of Rattan, Don Billy of Antlers;

daughter, Debra and husband, Nelson Wesley, of Sobol; two brothers,

Junior Billy of Sobol and Soloman Billy of Rattan; three sisters, Delo-

is Taylor, Hazel Taylor, and Versa Crow, all of Sobol; ﬁve grandchil-

dren, Tony Wesley and wife, Sharon, Derek Wesley, Crystal Beller

and husband, Brandon, Sheldon Wesley, and Teona Billy; one great-

granddaughter, Kalin Beller; numerous nieces, nephews, step-grand-

children and friends. He will be greatly missed by his family.

Johnnie “Gene” Nale

Johnnie “Gene” Nale, 80, of McAlester, Oklahoma, passed away

July 8, 2005, at his residence. He was born on February 28, 1925, in

Indianola, Oklahoma, to Daniel Jackson and Pearl Alice Pitts Nale.

He grew up and attended schools in the Crowder area.

Gene entered the U.S. Navy at the age of 16, on November 27,

1942, and served with the Seabees in the Paciﬁc during World War

II and was attached with the U.S. Marines. During his Navy service

he received the Asiatic Paciﬁc Medal with four battle stars, Victory

Ribbons, and was given the Good Conduct Medal on two separate

occasions. He was discharged in January 1946.

He married Betty Crabtree on May 17, 1947, in Van Buren, Ar-

kansas. In 1947, he joined the U.S. Army and was trained at Ft. Jack-

son, South Carolina. He was then stationed at Ft. Knox, Kentucky,

Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, Salzburg, Austria, Red Cannon Range

in Carrizozo, New Mexico, China, and Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

While in the Army he received the Good Conduct Medal three times,

the Asiatic Paciﬁc Medal and an honor medal with two stars and the

Army Expeditional Medal. In January of 1964, he retired from the

Army as a First Sergeant E8 after serving 21 years.

After returning to McAlester in 1964, Gene worked for the City

of McAlester for a short time and then worked as a deputy sheriff of

Pittsburg County under Sheriff Jim Kindred. After this term was over,

Gene went to work at the Navy Ammunitions Depot and retired in

1989. During interim times when he was laid off from the base, he

worked for the National Park Service in Sulphur, Oklahoma.

Gene was a deacon and member of the Frink Baptist Church. He

played softball for many years as a pitcher and coached many teams

including the U.S. Marine softball team and many teams his daughter

played on. While in the Navy, Gene boxed and was a Golden Glove

Champion. He was very active in the Choctaw community and was

the cook for the senior citizens at the Choctaw Community Center

for about two years. He was also active in the archeology club in

McAlester and was an avid collector of arrowheads and Indian arti-

facts. In 2002, after being unable to graduate from high school with

his class because of joining the service during World War II, he ﬁnally

received his high school diploma of which he was very proud.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Harold

Nale, Frank Nale and Ben Nale; and a sister, Helen Haynes.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Nale of the home; two daugh-

ters and sons-in-law, Michelle and Wayland Westbrook and Kim-

berly and Audi Shields, all of McAlester; seven grandsons, Dirk Lee

of Longview, Texas, Lon Lee and wife, Tru, of St. Paul, Minnesota,

Chan Lee and wife, Trina, of Krebs, Oklahoma, Toby Westbrook, Jus-

tin Wimsett and wife, Sheila, and John Wimsett, all of McAlester,

and Kevin Pierce of Longview, Texas; two granddaughters, Amber

Shields and Ande Shields, both of McAlester; three great-grand-

children, Ayden Edwards, China Lee and Lillian Lee; and two sis-

ters, Joyce Wilcox of Crowder, Oklahoma, and Catherine Kypher of

Smithville, Texas.

Elizabeth “Betty Jo” Prince

Elizabeth “Betty Jo” Prince, 65, passed away May 25, 2005, in

Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born November 29, 1939, in Durant, the

daughter of William Haskell and Helen Iva Clayton Prince. She was

raised predominantly in Stigler, Oklahoma, and lived in Eufaula,

Oklahoma, at the time of her death.

She received a bachelorʼs degree in speech/psychology and a mas-

terʼs degree in counseling/junior college education from Northeast-

ern State University in Tahlequah in the early 1970s. She worked in

counseling and teaching roles for Sapulpa schools, American Chris-

tian College in Tulsa, and Rose State College in Midwest City. She

also had been involved with the United Way and the Boy Scouts of

America.

An enduring interest in her Choctaw heritage led her to research

genealogy dating to 1500, making her a deep source of history for

relatives. She also enjoyed drama, speech, debate and art, while once

practicing skydiving and trick horseback riding.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Barbara Elizabeth

and Derrell W. Cox; son, Charles Allen Guy; and grandchildren, Re-

bekah R. Cox, Christopher D. Cox, Jeremiah W. Cox, Bethany K.

Cox, Channah E. Cox, Jonathan G. Cox, Joshua P. Cox, Caitlyn I

“Cayla” Cox and D. Clayton Cox.

She was preceded in death by her parents; children, William James

Bean, Jacquiline Jo Bean and William Brian Bean.

Gloria Jean Frazier

Gloria Jean Frazier, 64, of Spiro, Oklahoma, passed away May

26, 2005, in Spiro. She was born November 9, 1940, in Cowlington,

Oklahoma, to Andrew and Odessa Williams Collins. She was a mem-

ber of the Poteau Church of Christ.

Survivors include two daughters, Susan Blair and husband, Rick, of

Keota, Oklahoma, and Linda Lashley and husband, Kevin, of Keota,

Oklahoma; her aunt, Esteen Burris of Spiro; one cousin, Danny Brand

of Hot Springs, Arkansas; four grandchildren; and two great-grand-

children.

August 2005, BISHINIK, Page 10

A baseball camp was held June 30-July 1 on the campus of EOSC in Wilburton.

Chief

Gregory E. Pyle and Councilman Joe Coley visited the group on Thurs-

day. Approximately 200 attended the free camp, with boys being bused in

from Talihina, Buffalo Valley, McAlester, Jones Academy, Poteau and Red

Oak. The baseball camp in Wilburton follows a camp held June 27-28 in Silo.

Every participant gets a camp T-shirt. First-time attendees received either a

baseball glove or bat.

Youth enjoy

shooting

and archery

activities

at Crowder

Kids traveled from a wide

area to participate in the

ﬁrst ever Shooting Sports

and Archery Activities held

June 14 at Crowder. Spon-

sored by the Choctaw Na-

tion CARES program and

Sapokni-HCE, the event wel-

comed youth from Crowder,

Stigler, Blocker, McAlester,

Coalgate, Krebs, Talihina,

Howe, Hartshorne, Scipio

and Atoka. Children age nine and up honed their skills in archery

and air riﬂe. Skeet shooting and safety classes were offered to

those ten years old and older. Instructors included Benny Farrar,

OU Wildlife Department Conservation; 4-H agents Greg Owens

and Mike Carter; and Crowder FFA Teacher Darrell Hightower.

CARES staff assisting with the event were Jeremy Bull, Dylan

Pitchford, Kristy Russell, Eileen Stout, and Sandra Twaddle.

Benny Farrar assists Hayden Hill of Krebs with the air

riﬂe.

Taking careful aim is Dalton

Williams of Atoka.

Summer sports camps

The summer has a been a busy one for hundreds of young people living

in the Choctaw Nation. The tribe put on golf, baseball, softball and bas-

ketball camps for its aspiring athletes, giving the 8- to 18-year-olds extra

instruction in the sports as well as stressing the importance of exercise. The

students were bused in from all areas of the Choctaw Nation to attend the

individual camps.

Tony Wallace of Hugo is one of the partici-

pants attending the baseball camp at Silo. He

is pictured with District 9 Councilman Ted

Dosh.

Basketball camps were held at 12 sites within the Choctaw Nation for girls and boys 8 to 18

years old. Pictured here are two groups from the camp at Coalgate, held June 27-28. Camps were

also held at Keota, Poteau, McAlester, Talihina, Jones Academy, Idabel, Antlers, Soper, Atoka,

Broken Bow and Durant. Each participant received a T-shirt and a basketball.

Approximately 60 girls attended the softball camp held July 11-12 on the campus of Eastern

Oklahoma State College in Wilburton. Camps were also held in Durant and Wright City.

Archers travel to Tullihoma

Summer Youth

Chief Gregory E. Pyle, Assistant Chief Mike Bailey, and Council Speaker Mike Amos are pictured with a group of Summer Youth par-

ticipants from McCurtain, Choctaw, Bryan, Atoka and Coal counties as they gather for a trip to Six Flags over Texas. Approximately 1,400

young men and women from 14 to 21 years of age were employed as part of the summer training program this year.

By Ricky Wade

The Choctaw Nation Longbow Archers ventured to our neigh-

boring tribe for the Chickasaw Nation Reunion at Tullihoma,

near Ada. A total of 34 shooters made the trip – 18 youth and 16

adults. It was another great moment for our youth as they one by

one exited from our bus and tribal van. Our visit was on a warm,

sunny day and as we toured the grounds, we learned some about

the blowgun and darts, about bread-making, hatchet-throwing,

and ﬂute-making.

In the shooting competition, Nathan Pelletier took the second-

place trophy in the adult division. Our youth, ages 6 to 14, took

their turn next. Daniel Wisener won the ﬁrst place trophy; Aaron

Wisener won second, and Madison Massey won third.

But the best was yet to come – in the toddler division, consist-

ing of 3- to 5-year-olds, Justis Mayﬁeld won ﬁrst and his sister,

Leah Mayﬁeld, took second.

Many thanks to Chief Pyle for giving us this opportunity to take

our heritage one more step forward with both young and old. We

would also like to thank Councilmen Ted Dosh and James Frazier

for use of the tribal vehicles; Charlotte Wisener and Debbie Wade

for spending time painting and helping to put the Choctaw colors

on the arrows. Everyone did an excellent job putting the Choc-

taws in a new outreach of knowledge – no air conditioning, no

video games, no TVs, just simple, traditional fun.

Chief Gregory E. Pyle enjoys visiting with

the participants at the Choctaw Baseball Camp

held recently in Wilburton. Pictured are Tyler

Hendley, Chief Pyle, Derek Penz and Tanner

Gwin.