WHEW and WHEW! The first WHEW is for the temperatures we’ve been having! I hope each of you has been able to stay cool, comfortable, and safe through the heat. The second WHEW is that I officially finished my rookie year in office, and what a wonderful whirlwind it has been. A special yakoke to my fellow council members and our Executive Officers at the Choctaw Nation. Your encouragement, guidance, knowledge, and willingness to share your expertise have meant more to me than you know. It’s truly a blessing to walk into our big, beautiful headquarters building and see so many people showing up every day with one common purpose: to do their best to make life better for our Choctaw people.
The greatest blessing of all is waking up each morning and knowing that I get to be a part of that work. I don’t take that responsibility or the trust you place in me lightly.
September is a special month of commendations for District 12! This year, we are proud to recognize Jeffrey Jefferson as our Veteran of the Month and David Robertson as Language Speaker of the Month. We will be honoring these gentlemen for their contributions and the positive impact they have on our Choctaw people at our regular session council meeting at 10 a.m. on September 12th in Tvshka Homma.
We are also proud to recognize the Outstanding Elders of District 12! From the Coalgate Community Center, we are honored to recognize Jeff Byington and Doris Samuels. From the Crowder Community Center, we are honored to recognize Johnny Roberts and Patty Burge. These four individuals represent the strength, wisdom, history, and spirit of our communities. They will be honored at our 2026 Outstanding Elder banquet, which will be held in October in Durant.
We are also incredibly proud to celebrate 5 District 12 Chahta Foundation Scholarship recipients: Keira Miller and Natalie Shaw/Coalgate, Nolan Stewart/Stuart, Alexis Lizik and Mar’Lee Williams/Crowder. These outstanding young people represent the bright future of our communities. I’m so proud of these young people and wish them every success as they begin this exciting new chapter of their lives. Congratulations to each one of you, and always remember that District 12 is cheering you on!
Our Choctaw Nation Small Business Development team hosted an absolutely beautiful and elegant ChahtaPreneur Awards dinner, celebrating the vision, hard work, and success of our Choctaw-owned businesses. I was especially proud to see District 12 ChahtaPreneur Latildra Fortenberry, owner of Kreative Kidz Learning Academy, recognized as District 12 Business of the Year. Congratulations to Latildra and all of this year’s ChahtaPreneur honorees. Your hard work and entrepreneurial spirit strengthen our communities and contribute to a brighter future for the Choctaw Nation.
We are so proud of our Coalgate and Crowder community centers for representing District 12 at the Senior Chair Volleyball Regionals in Durant! While we didn’t quite make it to the finals, our teams showed up with enthusiasm, teamwork, determination and plenty of heart. I’m so happy you all are having fun and staying active!
In June, Councilwoman Jennifer Turner and I headed to Eugene, Oregon and Tacoma, Washington for our Community Cultural Meetings. We enjoyed seeing some beautiful country and meeting wonderful Choctaw citizens. After returning home, it was time for Outreach at the Beach! This is a fantastic day of fun, food, fellowship, and an opportunity to connect with representatives from the many programs and services offered by the Choctaw Nation. A big yakoke to the Choctaw Nation staff who make these meetings and events so meaningful and successful!
June was also a special time to honor and celebrate our veterans. We were especially honored to welcome Kaleb Swboni, an Afghanistan veteran, as our special guest speaker at our Crowder Center. Kaleb shared his experiences and reflections on his time in service, giving us an opportunity to hear firsthand about the dedication and sacrifices of those who serve our country.
In June, we also had the pleasure of celebrating our mothers and fathers with a dinner at Pete’s Place in McAlester. It was an evening filled with great food, laughter, and fellowship. We were especially happy to have special guest James Frazier join us and give us an update on his retirement. From the sound of it, saying James is “enjoying retirement” might just be the understatement of the year. lol
It’s official, I’m in love with stickball! After attending the World Series of Stickball games in Mississippi, I can honestly say I understand why this sport holds such a special place in our hearts. The athleticism of the players, the energy of the crowd, the bright lights, the steady beat of the drums, the excitement and enthusiasm throughout the games are all something to behold. Congratulations to all our teams who competed and represented with such pride! And special congratulations to our 35+ men for making history by advancing to the championship game! Yakoke and do everything in love. 1 Cor. 16:14.
