Halito from District 11! I hope everyone made it through the January snow and ice storm safe and warm. It was a long and challenging week, and I want to thank the essential workers who braved the cold to take care for our community. I’m glad to be entering the spring season.
Due to winter weather, the Choctaw Nation Livestock Show scheduled for January 31 was canceled. I still attended the Pittsburg Junior Livestock Show and Sale from February 24–28 and the Garvin County Premium Sale on February 23. It is always great to see the Choctaw Nation’s support of our AG and FFA students, and I am proud of our youth for their hard work.
On February 6, the Choctaw Nation presented a $1 million investment in the City of McAlester to expand the McAlester Public Library. In attendance was Chief Gary Batton, Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr., and fellow council members. This project will also include a Chahtapreneur Coworking Business Center to strengthen economic opportunities across southeast Oklahoma. A Chahtapreneur ribbon cutting and $5k check presentation followed on February 10. Congratulations to Rachel Long of Small Town Behavioral, located at 321 S. 3rd Street, Suite 4, in McAlester.
On February 18, the council traveled to Oklahoma City to meet with state lawmakers and attend a legislative reception. These discussions allow us to address legislation impacting the Choctaw Nation while strengthening relationships with state representatives and senators.
The Youth Advisory Board hosted its annual Senior Banquet on February 20 at the Gather Event Center in Antlers. Through YAB, students learn service leadership skills and promote positive change in their community, which will help them become future servant leaders. Congratulations to Michael Cruz and Grace York of McAlester High School, and Emery Comby and Adriana Montejo of Jones Academy.
I also enjoyed celebrating Read Across America Day on March 2 with students at the Choctaw Nation McAlester Head Start and at Jones Academy. Not only are we fostering a shared love for storytelling which has long been a tribal cultural practice, but we are investing in our youth’s literary rates and community connection.
As for upcoming events, Tammy and I are excited to go with our District 11 community center senior group on a trip to OKC on March 30-31 to visit the Citizen Potawatomi Cultural Center, the Oklahoma History Center, and to watch an OKC Thunder game vs the Detroit Pistons. Come out on April 2nd and join the ribbon cutting for our CNO McAlester Judicial Center at 10:00 a.m. Also, the District 11
Princess Pageant will be May 12 at 6:00 p.m. at the community center. We invite you to come support the contestants as they proudly represent our community and culture.
I am excited to announce that this spring, District 11 will open five new Independent Elderly homes at Chahta Tamaha near Jones Academy, along with 30 new affordable rental homes in Alderson expected to be completed this summer.
Lastly, don’t forget to give our brand-new Choctaw Nation Tribal Council Facebook page a follow to keep up with everything about the Tribal Council.
It is always my honor to serve the okla achukma (good people) of District 11. Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can be of assistance.
Yakoke, Chihowa vt Achukma!