Governor Bill AnoatubbyA very special gathering is calling us all together!
September 25 through October 2 we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our Annual Meeting, and the 22nd Annual Chickasaw Festival. Make your plans now to attend!
The theme of our gathering this year is “The Legacy of Our Journey.” Events will focus on our history and cultural heritage, and the great things that we envision for our future.
It is hard to imagine that it has now been 50 years since the very first Annual Meeting took place at Seeley Chapel. The year was 1960. The initial Annual Meeting was a one-day affair and news reports of the day estimated the crowd at “more than one hundred.”
We know that now thousands of Chickasaws, friends and family travel to Tishomingo to join together, share and enjoy our traditions, as well as each other’s company. How much we have grown!
In 1960, people shared a meal and had the opportunity to talk and catch up on family news. A few reports were read, and there were no formal events. These were the days when the Chickasaw Nation held itself together almost exclusively through the strength of its families, its history and the people’s incredible perseverance.
Now, 50 years later, we can be very proud of what we have together accomplished during this modern era of the Chickasaw Nation. When we think back to the Seeley Chapel gathering, it is easy to imagine the Chickasaws of that day had little idea of the progress we would make together.
This 50th anniversary is truly a time to celebrate!
The festivities begin on Saturday, Sept. 25 with the Junior Olympics, Senior Olympics, golf tournament, softball tournament and corn stalk shoot.
This year’s Chickasaw Cultural Evening should be a tremendous event. We will gather at our new Chickasaw Cultural Center at 4 p.m., Monday, Sept. 27 in Sulphur. We will all enjoy tours of the facility, cultural demonstrations, artwork by renowned Chickasaw artists Mike Larsen and Margaret Roach Wheeler, and much more.
If you have never before attended the Chickasaw Princess Pageant, please put 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 28 on your calendar now! This very special event features beautiful young Chickasaw ladies vying for the opportunity to represent the tribe as Chickasaw royalty. The pageant is at the Ada High School Cougar Activity Center. Don’t miss it!
There is so much to do and see during the week of Chickasaw Festival.
On Saturday, Oct. 2 we will all enjoy the traditional Festival parade down Tishomingo’s Main Street, preceded by the annual State of the Nation address.
The Southeastern Art Show and Market kicks off at 11 a.m. on the west grounds of the historic capitol, and there will be a Chickasaw Press book signing in the same area.
Everyone enjoys the traditional meal at 11:30, and this year will be no exception!
There will be lots of displays and opportunities for interaction at Pennington Park.
This year marks a tremendous anniversary in Chickasaw history. Make your plans now to attend the Annual Meeting and Chickasaw Festival! I guarantee you will be glad you made the trip.
This is your personal invitation to come, enjoy and reconnect with your tribe. I look forward to seeing you this year!
