In September, our Choctaw Labor Day Festival was full of activities with the annual 5K, stickball, traditional dancing, traditional hymns, the princess pageant and much more. Congratulations to our very own District 12 Candis Battice Louis! She was crowned as Senior Miss Choctaw Nation. Candis is a Freshman at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and is on target to do great things. Also in September at Tvshka Homma, the council recognized Coalgate District 12 First Language Speaker Marsha Burgess and Veteran David Lee Battles. We honor our speakers for keeping our language alive and our veterans for their many sacrifices.
In October, we celebrated our Choctaw Heritage with “An Evening in Indianola”. Special thanks to Michael Cathy for hosting the wonderful event, which included our Choctaw dancers, Crowder and Coalgate Choctaw singers, Choctaw princesses, and District 12 Choctaw history. The month also included an Indigenous Peoples’ Day Parade in McAlester with delicious traditional food, captivating storytelling, and a variety of activities. At our Crowder Community Center, we helped to celebrate Doretha Bowen’s 99th birthday. She’s a wonderful lady and a great asset to our community center. The city of Coalgate honored former District 12 Councilman James Frazier with a key to the city, designating October 27, 2025, as Mr. James Frazier Day, and renaming a street in his honor. Yakoke, Mr. Frazier, for your 35 years of service and leadership to the city of Coalgate and the Choctaw Nation. October 30 was the Outstanding Elders Banquet in Durant. Outstanding Elders are selected by their peers, and the 2025 Coalgate Outstanding Elders were Mrs. Lola John and Mr. Greg Peters. Our 2025 Crowder Outstanding Elders were Mrs. Cathy Kitchens and Mr. Jim Bryan. Congratulations to all for this well-deserved honor!
November started with the Choctaw Nation’s 20th Annual Powwow. What a powerful event! The drums, regalia, dancing, and vendors were stunning! If you have never attended, make plans for next year. You won’t be disappointed. Our Thanksgiving meals at our Crowder and Coalgate community centers had great food, fellowship, and fun. A big shoutout to everyone who prepared, served, and cleaned! We invite all District 12 Choctaw members aged 55 and older, along with their spouses, to join us. A free lunch is served every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Our elders at the community centers also raise funds for trips. In October and November, they traveled to Branson and Colorado.
As we near the end of 2025, I reflect on what a wonderful year it has been and look forward to celebrating the Christmas Holidays and the birth of our Lord and Savior with family and friends.
Let us enter the new year with renewed hearts, guided by the love of God and the wisdom of our ancestors. Yakoke for all you do to make our Nation strong!
Regina Mabray
580-380-7150
