By Dana Hudspeth, Media Relations Specialist
Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office
Chikashsha Apihchi Ikbi (Youth Leadership Chickasaw) students and counselors at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. The seven-day reward trip included many sites and attractions in the Nation's Capitol.
Chikashsha Apihchi Ikbi (CAIP) member Marlee Erwin pauses in front of the Washington Monument.
From left, Chance Brown, Patrick Ferris and Micha Hart at the National Museum of the American Indain during the Chikashsha Apihchi Ikbi trip to Washington, DC.
"The overall experience has helped me to see other peoples' point of view and opened up my mind." Chikashsha Apihchi Ikbi student Bridgette Bell
Leadership Students Experience History, Big City Life During…
A Week in Washington
History came to life for a group of Chickasaw students as they spent a week visiting the nation's capitol last month.
Fifteen members of Chikashsha Apihchi Ikbi (Youth Leadership Chickasaw) traveled to Washington D.C. and experienced history, "big city" culture and discovered inspiration for the future.
Chikashsha Apihchi Ikbi student Bridgette Bell said the trip inspired her to dream of new possibilities for the future.
"The overall experience has helped me to see other peoples' point of view and opened up my mind. It inspired me to go into politics and consider running for president."
Bell, a junior at Sulphur High School, said she would like to return to Washington D.C. to see more sites, some day.
"It was a fun trip," she said.
Incoming college freshman Leslie Wesberry, of Tishomingo, enjoyed the visit to Georgetown's campus and meeting Matthew Cravatt, a Chickasaw citizen from Davis, Okla., who now works for the Department of Interior in Washington.
"It is motivational to know you can go from a small town to Washington, D.C. The whole experience was more inspiring than anything. It motivates us to go that far," he said.
Cravatt took a painting of Barak Obama created by CAIP student, Chance Brown, to a meeting with Jodi Eillette, an Indian Affairs/ White House liaison, with hopes the president would eventually see it.
Chance was thankful for the connection and for the trip.
"I can't thank the Chickasaw Nation enough. Every time I take a trip, it is because of the tribe. I understand there's a lot of planning ahead and I am most grateful for it."
Marlee Erwin, a sophomore at Tishomingo High School, said the moonlight trolley tour to Lincoln Memorial was her favorite part of the trip.
"Ever since I was little and knew what it was, I wanted to see it. I was impressed by just how big it is, it was cool," she said with a smile.
The Hope Diamond, on display at the Smithsonian, was "pretty and awesome," she said.
Marlee was also impressed by the Capitol building and viewing the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
"It seemed more real; it made me realize it really happened, people really signed it."
The Holocaust Museum was sad, she said, because the Holocaust victims' memories are vivid during the tour.
Marlee stressed she was thankful the Chickasaw Nation for the opportunities she is offered as a Chickasaw citizen.
"Not every high school student gets to have these opportunities," she said.
"We saw a lot and I learned so much, I never thought we would see so much in so little time."
She plans on being an elementary teacher some day.
When asked if she would want to make a return visit some day, Marlee nodded her head enthusiastically.
Patrick Ferris, of Dickson, said, "I learned everything has a symbol, even the smallest detail means something, even the steps at Georgetown were grouped in odd numbers," he said.
Patrick's favorite attractions were the Lincoln and Washington Monuments.
Many members of the group took the 550-foot elevator ride to the top of the Washington Monument and enjoyed a sweeping view of the D.C. area.
Visiting a large city and learning how to get from place to place was also part of the experience, as students learned how to navigate D.C's Metro system.
"It's a nice place to visit but I don't want to live there, said Patrick, the stores are too expensive."
Patrick plans to attend Murray State College this fall and later transfer to Oklahoma State University.
Maegan "GiGi" Bridgman learned Washington D.C., is a district and not a state.
She enjoyed every facet of the trip, including hailing a cab for the first time.
Stringent security at most attractions was one thing GiGi was not prepared for.
"It was different than I thought it would be."
GiGi did get a glimpse of a WWE wrestler, Batista.
"It was like a dream come true. I saw him near the Metro entrance!" she exclaimed.
"I appreciate the Chickasaw Nation for the trip, it was a once in a life time opportunity and I learned so much."
Not only the students benefitted and learned from the trip, but so did the counselors.
Chickasaw Nation Assistant Bryan Lyon, a former history teacher, said, "There is so much history in one area, walking where famous Americans stood- Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Obama- and seeing the sights they saw, it really inspired me."
"It was an experience of a lifetime and I won't ever forget it. I love these students and they made the trip worthwhile," Tonya Bierce, youth leadership coordinator
The multi-state trip was the final activity of the 2009-10 CAIP class. The group is set to graduate Sept. 12 at the Chickasaw Community Center in Ada.
The 2,676 mile bus trip began Saturday, July 25 in Ada and ended Saturday, Aug. 1.
Chikashsha Apihchi Ikbi (CAIP) is a leadership program designed to direct young Chickasaw men and women to become tomorrow's leaders, and the excursion was a reward trip for students who participated in all aspects of the 12-week program, including community service projects.
The trip to Washington, D.C. included several educational tours, such as the National Archive Museum, Arlington Cemetery, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Capitol, Georgetown University, the National Zoo and the International Spy Museum. Students also visited the Lincoln and Washington Monuments, World War II, Vietnam, and Korean War Memorials.
Attending the trip were Marlee Erwin, Patrick Ferris, Micha Hart, Aaron John, Bridgette Bell, Leslie Wesberry, Maegan Bridgman, Kelsie Sweat, Chance Brown, Laura Ash, Morgan Hennigan, Jared Alexandar, Desiree Lyon, Devin Lyon, and Patricia Cornish.
