Halito from District 9.
It’s hard to believe that summer has already flown by and school is back in session. The last couple of months have been filled with many opportunities for community connection, youth engagement, and continued growth across District 9.
We would like to congratulate District 9 Little Miss Madeline Davenport, who was crowned at the District 9 Princess Pageant back in May. Madeline has become a passionate ambassador of Choctaw culture and has done a wonderful job representing our district these past few months. We can’t wait to cheer her on when she competes at the Labor Day festival.
The brand-new Choctaw Community Center in Durant celebrated its ribbon-cutting on June 16, and there was a fantastic turnout. Yakoke to everyone who joined us in celebrating this milestone of growth for Bryan County and our community. The new center is now open, and we encourage you to stop by to see the new facility.
We would also like to give a big congratulations to Chahtaprenuer Don Hyde, recipient of the District 9 Business of the Year award for Pearl Snap Limo Services. His business has introduced an innovative approach to transportation while providing our community with a unique and enjoyable travel experience.
The Quarterly Inter-Tribal Council Meeting was conducted on July 8-10 at the River Spirit Resort in Tulsa. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation was an exceptional host, and it’s always an honor to meet with fellow Tribal leaders to discuss relevant issues impacting our communities.
On July 17, members of the Tribal Council had the opportunity to meet this year’s Summer College Interns. There is so much talent and potential amongst our younger generations, and it is so encouraging to see the passion and drive these young Tribal members exhibit as they complete their studies.
Throughout this summer, the Youth Events Team has successfully hosted a variety of youth camps in Tuskahoma. From culture to football to rodeo, these camps offered different opportunities for our youth to learn new skills, connect with other young Tribal members, and spend the summer in a meaningful way. Yakoke to Kevin Gwin and all the coaches, associates, and volunteers who have invested so much time and effort in making these camps a great experience for our youth.
Although the Summer Food Service Program has concluded for the season, its impact across the Choctaw Nation Reservation was extraordinary. In Bryan County alone, more than 80,000 meals were distributed to help families while school was out for the summer. We are grateful for this important program and for the many individuals whose hard work made the distribution process run so smoothly.
On August 5-6, the Durant Johnson O’Malley held their annual school supply pick-up at the Durant Intermediate School. With more than 1,100 Tribal students enrolled in Durant Public Schools, it is encouraging to see the continued support provided to the families in our community.
We hope everyone has a great school year!
Yakoke,
James Dry District 9
