Native ChocTalk

I stopped by Riverside Indian School in my hometown, Anadarko, Oklahoma last summer to hang out with my friend, Terry Ware and what a great conversation we had! This is a must-listen, dear listeners as you’ll have the pleasure of hearing: • Terry singing a Kiowa hymn and the happy birthday song in Kiowa • About Riverside Indian School’s upcoming 150-year celebration in May of 2022! • The history of Riverside including about the feral hogs that used to come around (until a fence was put up) • How Terry is a coach at Riverside, but before that, he was my dad’s student there at the school • How he’s a legacy student at Riverside, as his grandmother, mom, daughter and grandson attended • About his family’s church - Wares Chapel - in Hog Creek where we grew up, and where my sister got married. And about the Chapel’s inception in the 1800s and gathering of and transporting stones from Chickasha to Hog Creek. • About the Kiowa tail bustle and the history from the Omaha tribe in Nebraska to the Cheyenne to the Kiowa • What his research on the Carlisle Indian School Journals uncovered • Why the O Ho Mah hid their drums and pipes in the caves in Ridge Stone, west of Hog Creek • His love of singing and drumming in the O Ho Mah Lodge Singers group • His ancestors’ names, such as “The Day the Sun Died” because his great great grandmother was born during the eclipse • About the Fort Sill vs Riverside rivalry (know what I’m talkin’ about, Braves?) 😉 • That “Indian perfume”, which comes out with the full moon in June, is what I should include with my eagle feathers to decrease the strong smell • And – we discuss the serious topic of our mutual adoration of Sonic drinks Yakoke, Terry for your time and for sharing so much with myself and my listeners. Blessings to you! All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/ Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

The year was 1830. Up to 6,000 Choctaws gathered each day. White observers also decided to come along. Cattle was butchered to feed the masses, supplies were set up in tents and all were anxious to observe what was to come. Gambling tables were provided - an activity that opened the door to brawls. Tables were knocked over amongst the fights and many were bullied by trigger-happy troublemakers. On the other hand, Christian services took place amongst the chaos. The Choctaw danced throughout the night, then retired in camps along Dancing Rabbit Creek, while the whites encamped in random spots. The most notable of the Choctaw were present - Chiefs Greenwood LeFlore, Mushulatubbee, and Nittakechi, Choctaw warrior, Hopaii Ishkitini and many others. But this was no celebration. The most significant treaty between the US Government and the Choctaw was to be negotiated and signed on September 27th, 1830 at this very site. These signatures meant the Choctaw would be surrendering 11 million Mississippi acres, the removal to Indian Territory imminent. The lives and futures of the Choctaw people would be changed forever. Amongst these goings on, there once lived a prominent Choctaw woman named Sukky who lived with her husband and 2 kids just up the hill from the Treaty grounds. What did Sukky have to do with these events? My guest, Chrissy Gray Dickmeyer is a descendant of Sukky and reads to us about a perspective around the gathering of the Choctaw during the signing of The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek and the struggle she must have faced with the guests she had to host in her home. But there’s even more...Chrissy also reads to us about the stories of The Edwards Store – a historic trading post that’s been in her family for 170 years! This trading post, nestled among the beautiful San Bois Mountains in Oklahoma, was absolutely essential for the Choctaw. And we’ll also talk about how molasses was a staple by the gallon! YOU are invited to come visit The Edwards Store, see this living piece of history for yourself, sip on some sweet tea and sit a spell. Oh and one more thing. Chrissy and I discuss something very important. What REALLY IS in the panhandle of Oklahoma? Okies, you know what I’m sayin’, right? Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/

Enchanting historic roads wind through the miles of evergreen trees in the Kiamichi Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma. The shaky autumn leaves tinted in colors of gold and rust drift to the earth with the Oklahoma wind, whispering the tales of those who have come and gone. The Caddo Indians would be pushed out of their region by those Choctaw who had survived the Trail of Tears, removed from their original homelands of Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas and placed in this new land in Indian Territory. The original bustling town, filled with busy Choctaws going about their day is now under water. Big Foot, who supposedly once ventured through the hills seeking food, faded into but a legend. The bootleggers who honed their skills creating, drinking and selling hooch along the riverbeds of the dark forests, slowly gave way to roads, shops and tourists (or did they?). I turned to a Choctaw expert who grew up near Hochatown, Shauna Williams to learn more about this mysteriously beautiful part of the state and the comings and goings of such fascinating people, hairy creatures and moving towns. I also asked about the many fun things to do in Hochatown with kids, family or a significant other - from warm fireplaces in lovely cabins nestled in the woods, to adventures for the kids, to camping, to Big Foot hunting and more! Shauna is in Construction Project Management across our Tribal Reservation as Director of Real Estate Development for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The day I visited with Hochatown at the Choctaw Nation Community Center, there was a big announcement coming that was top secret, and a celebration was even taking place that evening. You can only imagine how intrigued I was. Over the next couple of days, I’ll share more! I’m excited for you to hear this week’s episode about beautiful Hochatown, which is east of the Mountain Fork River in southeastern Oklahoma! Today you’ll hear about: • The history of Hochatown and how it got its name • Our Choctaw influence in Hochatown • Why this town is deemed the “Moonshine capital of Oklahoma”* • Big Foot. Yep. He’s here, y’all. And no one loves Big Foot more than the people of Hochatown! • Is the original town now really under 200 feet of water? • Hear Shauna’s own ancestral history and why her uncle had to hide out in the mountains of Smithville. • FYI, Hochatown is near Broken Bow, so you’ll often hear both names. • *Shauna and I can neither confirm nor deny if hooch is still being made in the mountain woods... I hope you’ll enjoy, and if you’ve been to Hochatown, feel free to post photos to my Native ChocTalk Facebook page. Yakoke! https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/

Although she’s Choctaw, my guest, Nancy Tecumseh Mason is immersed within her husband and children’s tribe (Muscogee Nation). And for years now, Nancy has relentlessly poured her time and energy into supporting the youth of the tribe as Director of the Mvskoke Nation Youth Services. In this episode, you’ll hear about Mvskoke Nation Youth Services: • This program is created by youth for youth, and “Nothing about us without us” is the motto that empowers these youth to make decisions and to have a voice at the table from day one. • Check out Mvskoke artists, including some pieces from these talented youth, where you can even purchase some of their items! https://www.mvskokeyouth.com/mvskokeartists You’ll also learn about: • The story of her dad and her Uncle Amos who both had an eye for Nancy’s mother • The many spellings and versions of the Muscogee name • Nancy isn’t related to Tecumseh, the Shawnee Warrior Chief we’ve read about in history books, but we do talk about the historical rhyme that could correct the way many of us say, “Tecumseh”. How do YOU say this name? Mvskoke Nation Youth Services: • Website: https://www.mvskokeyouth.com/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MvskokeYouth • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mvskokeyouth/ All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/ Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

According to Statistica, “The child abuse rate in the United States is highest among American Indian or Alaska Native victims with a rate of 15.2 cases per 1,000 children. It is most common among children between two to five years of age.” Now imagine that child being brave enough to come forward to share about her abuse. The process from this point is typically strenuous. Both law enforcement and Child Protection Services conduct separate investigations, which entails the child repeating her trauma multiple times. Depending on her situation, she may be passed around between foster homes, or she could be placed back into a situation where she has to be around her perpetrator again. And not only could this child fail to receive the emotional and psychological support she needs, but the abuse she suffered will most likely cause negative ongoing affects throughout her life. There has to be a better way. And there is! Choctaw Nation’s Coordinated Response to Child Maltreatment via their leading Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), is the first tribal MDT in the state of Oklahoma and the results are already highly impactful. My guests, Gina South (Juvenile Division Chief and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney) and Kari Hurst (MTD Coordinator) from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma share with us about: • How the MDT program is serving, protecting and saving the children of the Choctaw Nation • You’ve heard of McGirt vs. Oklahoma, Gina tells us about the Sizemore decision as well • Gina’s ancestral stories Also, check out the beautiful ribbon skirts that Gina makes – they’d make wonderful holiday or birthday gifts! https://tinyurl.com/4d4kn23f Yakoke to these ladies and to the entire Multi-Disciplinary Teams at Choctaw Nation (law enforcement, medical teams, prosecutors, behavioral health experts, forensic interviewers, therapists, and victim advocates) who are advocating for our precious children! Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/