Halito from District 5, everyone,
The first five months of my term as District 5 Councilwoman have been extremely rewarding. During this time, I enjoyed wonderful fellowship while celebrating our Choctaw culture, and I have made many new friends along the way.
One of the highlights early in my term was attending my first Labor Day Festival as the District 5 Councilwoman. It was truly special to come together as Choctaws to honor our culture and our history. I was also proud of the District 5 Chair Volleyball Team for making the Final Four competition for the first time. Although they did not bring home the victory this year, our seniors are already training hard and preparing to take the win next year.
September was a very busy month, beginning with the Haskell County Livestock Show. It was wonderful to see months of hard work by our students come to fruition as they proudly showcased their livestock. We also honored our hardworking Community Health Representatives at the CHR Fall Fest held at the McAlester Expo Center. This fun and informative event allows tribal members to learn more about the many programs available throughout the Nation. District 5 is blessed with two phenomenal CHRs, Tanya Leach and Yvette Edwards, and we sincerely thank them for their dedication and service.
On Sept. 24, I was welcomed by Stigler’s Choctaw Nation Head Start for the annual “See You at the Pole” event. Worshipping and praying alongside our young children was incredibly uplifting. Anyone seeking to strengthen and revitalize their faith should consider joining children for this meaningful event.
Later in the month, I attended the Choctaw School of Language graduation. Seeing and hearing our young people learning the Choctaw language was truly inspiring. Chief Batton and Assistant Chief Austin have expanded the program from one year to a three-year program, which is a tremendous step forward. In my own family, we have only one first-language speaker remaining, so witnessing the revitalization and renewed interest in our language means a great deal to me.
October began with the Intertribal Council hosted by the Choctaw Nation in Durant, followed by my second Intertribal Council meeting hosted by the Cherokee Nation at the Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa, that I am just now returning home from. Both events were outstanding opportunities to collaborate and strengthen relationships with other tribes.
Despite cold and rainy weather, the Halloween Harvest Carnival in Spiro was well attended by children and families who came out to enjoy the festivities. I was also honored to attend the Outstanding Elders Banquet and recognize some truly remarkable individuals. Stigler’s Outstanding Elders were Ken Davis and Joann Marlatt, while Spiro’s Outstanding Elders were Joe Perry and Yvette Edwards.
From Halloween through Nov. 2, we celebrated the Choctaw Pow Wow. This powerful celebration of American Indian culture reminds the world that Native America is alive and well. The drums and dancing are not only cultural but deeply spiritual, making it a meaningful way to begin Native American Heritage Month.
We also honored our veterans at a ceremony held at Tushka Homma, where each veteran received a warm winter coat and a veteran’s hat. While we honor our veterans every day, this special event allowed them to come together for fellowship and a delicious meal. It was a well-organized event, and I thank everyone who worked to make it such a success.
Thanksgiving dinners were celebrated in Stigler on Nov. 12, where Assistant Chief Austin joined us, and in Spiro on Nov. 19, where Chief Batton spent time fellowshipping with our members. Our tribal members always look forward to visiting with our Chief and Assistant Chief, who set a wonderful example as kind, godly leaders.
Another special event was Celebrate Recovery Native Nations Night in Durant. I was proud to attend, and I plan to make this a yearly event.
I was also honored to participate in the ribbon-cutting for a one-mile resurfacing project on Sale Barn Road, alongside Haskell County District 2 Commissioner Watson and Kim Rose from KEDDO.
Additionally, I had the honor of presenting a $13,389 matching grant on behalf of the Choctaw Nation to the Town of Keota and the Keota Police Department. This grant enabled them to purchase a fully equipped police vehicle for Officer Stillwell and his canine partner, Drax.
In Dec., we held Employee Service Awards ceremonies in Durant and Talihina to honor and thank our tribal and healthcare employees for their dedication and service. We also celebrated Christmas with our local tribal children in Spiro and Stigler, where each child received a toy and a visit from Santa. Seeing the joy on their faces was truly special.
We continued spreading the Christmas spirit by participating in parades in Stigler, Keota, Spiro, and McCurtain. Along with our tribal elders, we decorated the Choctaw Nation bus for the season and threw candy to the children. We all had a great time.
As we begin this new year, I hope and pray that all members of the Choctaw Nation receive abundant health and bountiful blessings from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It has been an honor to serve the District 5 tribal members and the Choctaw Nation. I sincerely thank all staff and community members who have worked alongside me and helped ensure our tribal members are connected to the many programs available to serve them.
Yakoke,
Jennifer Turner