District 9’s Pam Wilson was recently named the June 2025 First Language Speaker of the Month by the Choctaw Nation Tribal Council.
Pam was raised in Wright City, Oklahoma, by her parents, Leo and Elenor Cauldwell and is the youngest of six children.
Growing up, Choctaw was the only language spoken in our household. Choctaw was very important to her parents, and they wanted their traditions and language to carry on to future generations. Her father would tell her and her siblings that “God gave the Choctaws a gift, and it was language.” Some of her favorite memories from childhood were of listing to stories in the Choctaw language.
“As a grandmother, I am teaching my children and grandchildren that learning Choctaw is something no one can take away from you and to be proud of who you are,” said Pam.