By Carrie Bradshaw-Buckley, Media Relations Specialist
Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office

ADA - The Chickasaw Nation will offer a unique combination of sports and language immersion at its Himitta Alhiha Hochokoshkomo (The Youth Are Playing) Chickasaw Language Sports Camp.            

The camp will be August 4-7 at the Chickasaw Nation Community Center Gym in Ada.

"Kids don't want to learn language primarily in a classroom," said Cedric Sunray, Chickasaw Nation Language Curriculum Developer.  "This will be a way for them to apply the language practically and view it apart from just culture and history."

Different age groups will participate in various sports from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, including softball, volleyball and basketball.  Chickasaw will be spoken during the entire camp, encouraging participants to learn and use basic sports and team-related phrases and words.

"Even our basketballs are printed in Chickasaw," Sunray said.

The schedule is as follows:
August 4:  Grades 1st through 3rd
August 5:  Grades 4th through 6th
August 6:  Grades 7th to 9th
August 7:  Grades 10th to 12th.

Himitta Alhiha Hochokoshkomo Chickasaw Language Sports Camp, in its first year, is one of the many language programs offered by the Chickasaw Nation to their youth in an effort to revitalize and preserve their native language.

For more information, contact Chickasaw Nation Cultural Studies at (580) 272-5310.