By Dana Lance, Media Relations Specialist
Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office
Three Chickasaw Nation tribal programs have been named semi-finalists in the Honoring Nations competition, an award bestowed by a Harvard University organization.
The Lighthorse Police Department's cross-deputation efforts, the Division of Education internship program, and the Chickasaw Press are all 2008 Honoring Nations semifinalists.
Honoring Nations is administered by the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development.
Honoring Nations identifies tribal government programs, practices and initiatives that are especially effective in addressing key needs and challenges facing American Indian nations.
Information about effective programs is shared with tribes across the U.S.
The goal of the program is to help improve efficiency and effectiveness of tribal services.
Honorees serve as sources of knowledge and inspiration throughout Indian Country and beyond.
Of 110 total applications from at least 69 Indian nations and 10 intertribal collaborations, the three programs are in the running for the final cash awards. Five applications were submitted by the Chickasaw Nation for consideration.
"The quality of the applicant pool was extremely impressive, and after evaluating each of the applicants on the criteria of effectiveness, significance, cultural relevance, transferability, and sustainability, the senior management of the Harvard Project came to consensus that your application should advance into the next round of evaluation as a semifinalist," Amy Besaw Medford, director of Honoring Nations, stated in the award letter.
Efforts by Lighthorse Police to implement a standard cross-deputation agreement with more than two dozen, state, county, city and tribal police departments is detailed in the application. These agreements enable officers from any agency to respond effectively without hesitating to consider jurisdictions.
A second submission, the Chickasaw Nation internship program, explains the program trains students to become strong, knowledgeable community business leaders. Students gain relevant work experience in areas of interest for their future career search to become successful Chickasaw community leaders.
Chickasaw Press, a publishing company operated by the Chickasaw Nation, enables the tribe to produce literature related to the Chickasaw experience. Established in 2005 to coordinate all functions of a publishing company, the Chickasaw Press selects manuscripts for publication, negotiates with authors to acquire publication rights and designs, produces and markets the book.
Since the inception of the Honoring Nations program in 1998, the program has been identifying, celebrating, and sharing outstanding examples of tribal governance. About one quarter of federally-recognized tribes have applied since 1998.
The awards spotlight tribal government programs and initiatives that are especially effective in addressing critical concerns and challenges facing the more than 560 Indian nations and their citizens.
About one-quarter of United Contributed by Dana Hudspeth, tribal media relations. States tribes have applied since the program was initiated and 64 tribal government initiatives have been recognized.
In 2003, the Honoring Nations awarded $10,000 to the Chickasaw Nation's Chuka Chukmasi (Beautiful Home) loan program as one of the eight most effective and significant tribal government programs in the country.
