Culture featured in the Choctaw Chief's Annual Address | Don't miss it

Oklahoma Choctaw Chief Gary Button emphasized faith, family and culture in his state address Monday.

Button’s video address began with members speaking in Choctaw, and the chief spoke from the church in his annual address focusing on tribal culture on Labor Day.

Barbara Cates, a member of the tribe, said she had difficulty communicating with her father because she was not fluent in the Choctaw language.

“Language is very important. It’s a very important factor in any culture,” she said in her video speech. “If you lose your language, you lose your culture, you lose your tradition,” she said.

She says it motivated her to enroll in a Level 1 Choctaw language class seven years ago and continued her studies through online courses.

The Choctaw Nations School of Choctaw Languages ​​offers free online classes online at www.choctawschool.com. This course is self-paced and delivered via the Canvas learning management system.

“Keeping our language alive is just one way we exercise its sovereignty,” said Button. Look, I’m encouraged.”

Button said Choctaw Nation regained tribal sovereignty last year, with tribal membership at 212,369 worldwide.

He said Choctaw Nation’s sovereignty and federal support helped provide relief to tribal members during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 has affected us all in some way,” said Batton. “America’s Rescue Planning Act has allocated funds to the Choctaw Nation to support tribal members during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The tribe processed 30,813 food security applications and 160,808 economic impact restoration applications.

Choctaw Nation announced last year that all members over the age of 18 will receive $1,000 annually in 2021 and 2022.

Batton pitched Choctaw Nation medical services.

He said the tribe reported more than 800,000 health checks last year and filled out 1,166,298 prescriptions filled through the Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority.

Earlier this year, the tribe announced a nearly $70 million expansion plan to double the size of the Choctaw Nation Health Clinic in Macalester.

The Choctaw Nation also reports 20,327 behavioral health encounters, and Batton says the tribe wants to remove barriers to treatment.

“You are not alone,” Button said. “The Choctaw are here to help you.”

The Choctaw Nation also awarded seven cities $380,458 and another $56,835 through the Community Development Fund.

Data shared in the video show the tribe operates on 46% business income and 38% federal and state subsidies.

The Choctaw Nation Housing Authority offers a range of services to tribal members including independent senior rental housing, affordable rental housing, LEAP housing, mortgages, residential rehabilitation programs and storm shelter programs.

Tawnya Wells says she needed more affordable housing after becoming a widow and moving into an apartment. But she moved into her residence in Choctaw Nation, which she said helped her.

“I never thought I would live in a house again,” she said. “I saw them building a house, so I jumped on it. This is perfect. It has enough space for my whole family to visit.”

Choctaw Nation has built 10 homes through LEAP this year. LEAP has built a total of 330 units through this program. Choctaw Nation also built 22 independent nursing homes this year, bringing the total to 231. The tribe has also expanded broadband service to 824 households.

The tribe has completed 1,501 home repairs and assisted with 81 mortgages in the past year.

Career Development Services assisted 6,458 tribe members, including 52 internships, and hosted 29 job fairs.

The Choctaw Nation also served 8,795 higher education members and its higher education endowment reached nearly $8 million. Her eight primary educational facilities in the tribe serve her 618 children enrolled with a staff capacity of 251.

Button also promoted the announced Choctaw Landing Hochatown, a 200,000-square-foot entertainment destination with a 100-room hotel, as part of the tribe’s boon to economic development in southeastern Oklahoma.

Contact Adrian O’Hanlon III at aohanlon@mcalesternews.com

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