Patricia A. Lester Peterson, a member of the Choctaw Nation and granddaughter of original enrollees Melvina Tubby Willis, Jimson Harris and Alice Pitchlynn Lester, has developed a project to honor and preserve tribal culture through music and art.
Peterson’s project features a print of the hymn “Silent Night” translated into the languages of the Five Tribes of Oklahoma: Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Seminole and Muskogee-Creek.
The inspiration came from her childhood memories of hearing her mother and grandmother sing traditional Choctaw hymns at home and in church.
For the project, Peterson worked with the language programs of each tribe to provide translations of the first verse of “Silent Night,” as traditionally sung during the holidays.
The print features artwork by master artist Jon Tiger, Muskogee-Creek, depicting a manger under a traditional brush arbor used by the Five Tribes and a Pendleton blanket covers the manger.
The “Silent Night” print serves as a keepsake of Native languages and culture and is available in gift shops of the Choctaw Nation. The prints are available in the Choctaw Store and the Hvshi Gift Store.