NOFO: Indian Affairs announces $1.4 million for tribal tourism grant program

By Tribal Business News Staff

The Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development announced the availability of $1.4 million for a grant program aimed at enhancing tribal tourism initiatives. 

The funding, authorized under the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act, will be distributed to support the development of tourism infrastructure and capacity building within tribal communities.

Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland emphasized the program's role in boosting Tribal economies and self-determination. “Revitalizing Tribal economies and promoting Tribal self-determination are key to our aiding Tribes in their efforts to improve the quality of life in their communities,” Newland said in a statement. 

The grants, which range from $75,000 to $150,000 over a two-year period, will be awarded to 10 to 15 selected projects. The funds are intended to help tribes plan, develop, and manage tourism-related projects and infrastructure to support overall economic development.

Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal organizations, and tribal consortia. Proposals must be submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on October 25, 2024. Applications can be filed through the Grants.gov website, with detailed submission instructions available online at the Office of Indian Economic Development’s grant page.

For further inquiries, Dennis Wilson, grant management specialist, can be contacted at (505) 917-3235 or via email at dennis.wilson@bia.gov. Additionally, Jo Ann Metcalfe, grant officer, is available for questions at (410) 703-3390 or jo.metcalfe@bia.gov.

Choctaw Nation prepares for another crowd-pleasing Labor Day Festival

By Kendra Germany-Wall, Choctaw News

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma invites everyone to attend this year’s Choctaw Labor Day Festival from August 30 through September 1.

In this month’s issue of the Biskinik, we bring you a preview of this year’s festival, giving you details on what to expect so you can plan your perfect festival trip.

For many years, the Choctaw people have gathered on the grounds of the Choctaw Capitol during Labor Day weekend to celebrate family, fellowship together and honor Choctaw traditions.

Labor Day weekend will be an opportunity for visitors to fellowship and honor Choctaw traditions, with three days of faith, family, and culture for all ages.

The annual event, held at Tvshka Homma on the grounds of the historic Choctaw Capitol, is southeastern Oklahoma’s largest gathering.

Here is a guide to what to expect at this year’s festival.

Culture

Choctaw Village – Experience cultural activities and games at the Choctaw Village.

Chahta Cab – This on-the-spot Choctaw language game is similar to the popular game show Cash Cab. You never know if you will be chosen to participate, so it’s a good idea to brush up on your Chahta Anumpa skills before you head out to the festival.

Quilt Show – Throughout the weekend, the Tribal Membership Building will be the venue for this competition, and you can check out beautiful, handmade quilts.
Gourd Dancing- Join in on the dance or enjoy watching the magic happen on Friday, August 30 from 1 p.m.-7 p.m. on the Capitol Lawn.

Eternal Heart Unveiling Ceremony – Join the Choctaw Nation on Friday, August 30, at 1 p.m. for the newest sculpture art unveiling at the Council House. This sculpture honors the relationship between the Choctaw Nation and the people of Ireland. The project was funded jointly by the Choctaw Nation and the Government of Ireland. Samuel Stitt, of Spokane Valley, Washington, a member of the Choctaw Nation, created the sculpture, combining a Celtic trinity shape intertwined with a heart.

Chief’s Welcome Ceremony – Chief Gary Batton will give a welcome speech and State of the Nation preview prior to the princess pageant at the Amphitheater at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 30. Princess and Royalty Pageant- On Friday, August 30, at 6 p.m., contestants from each district in the Choctaw Nation who have won in their districts will vie to become the Little Miss, Junior Miss or Miss Choctaw Nation.

Buffalo Tours – Throughout the weekend, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., See the Choctaw Nation’s majestic buffalo herd grazing in the beautiful hills outside the festival grounds. These tours depart from the Capitol Museum. Look for the buses behind the museum.

Children’s Service – A special message of faith tailored for young guests will be held on Sunday, September 1, in the Chapel from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. A parent or guardian must accompany the children.

Worship Services – Worship services are open to all festival attendees on Sunday, September 1, in the Chapel from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

The Choctaw Code Talker Association Board Meeting – Association members meet yearly at the Choctaw Labor Day Festival. Join this year’s meeting on Sunday, September 1 at 1:30 p.m. in the Capitol Museum.

Traditional Choctaw Hymn Singing – Learn traditional Choctaw hymns and join in the singing on Sunday, September 1, at 7 p.m.

Arts and Crafts Building – Don’t forget to check out the Arts and Crafts Building. Here you can buy art and goods from Choctaw Artists and soak in some much needed air conditioning.

Entertainment

Gospel Singing – Enjoy songs of praise from local artist from 12 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Amphitheater.

The Close – The Close is a collective of introspective lyricists who pen genre-blending melodies wrapped in stellar harmonies. Choctaw tribal member Lori Rowton, Shannon Walker and James Mckinney share songwriting and lead vocals, originally from Tushka, Oklahoma. Watch them play on Saturday, August 31 at 6 p.m. at the Amphitheater.

Joey Green – Choctaw artist Joey Green has seen tremendous success since appearing on NBC’s The Voice. Watch him play on Saturday, August 31 at 6:45 p.m. at the Amphitheater.

Rhett Akins – American country music singer and songwriter Rhett Akins continues the evening’s entertainment with his hits. Watch him play Saturday, August 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the Amphitheater.

Rodney Atkins – Rodney Atkins has sold over 14 million records, multiple No. 1 singles, and over 1.5 billion on-demand streams. Watch him play Saturday, August 31 at 9 p.m. at the Amphitheater.

Gold City – Don’t miss gospel quartet music at its finest with Gold City. Watch them play Sunday, September 1 at 6 p.m. at the Amphitheater.

Jason Crabb – Don’t miss GRAMMY award-winning Jason Crabb as he ministers through his powerhouse performance. Watch him play Sunday, September 1 at 7 p.m. at the
Amphitheater.

Casting Crowns – Finish up the festival by listening to a favorite returning Christian group, Casting Crowns. Watch them play Sunday, September 1 at 8:30 p.m. at the Amphitheater.

Wristband Drawing – Children 12 and younger whose parents register them and receive a wristband (in the event of a lost child) will have the opportunity to win a $100 Visa gift card. Get signed up at the Lost Child Tent.

Mobile Library – All weekend long, the Mobile Library is chance for our young readers to enjoy a good book on the playground. Check it out all three days from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the playground.

Youth Crafts – Younger festival goers make traditional Choctaw crafts and learn the stories behind them. Check it out Friday, August 30 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the playground.

Carnival – Check out this crowd favoirte attraction for carnival rides, games, food and more from 12 p.m.-12 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Sports

Cornhole Tournament – Teams of two compete in this popular bag toss game (Beginners and Advanced Brackets). Check it out at Red Warrior Park Friday,  August 30, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Stickball Tournament – Also known as Little Brother of War, stickball is a fast-paced, exciting game that has ancient roots in Choctaw culture. Teams from across Oklahoma and Mississippi will compete for the title. Check it out Friday, August 30-Sunday, September 1 at the Stickball field.

Youth Physical Fitness Challenge – Young festival guests compete in tests of physical fitness at Red Warrior Park from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Friday, August  30.

Fast Pitch Softball Tournament – Teams from across Oklahoma and Mississippi compete to win the championship. Check it out Friday, August 30-Sunday, September 1 at Red Warrior Park.

5k – A morning run through the beautiful area around the capitol grounds. The run begins and ends at the Capitol Museum. Check it out Saturday, August 31 from 7 a.m.-10 a.m.

Co-Ed Volleyball – Watch volleyball teams as they compete for the championship from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Red Warrior Park.

Horseshoes Tournament – Teams compete in this classic toss game for the championship. Watch Saturday, August 31, from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. at Red Warrior Park.

Bow Shoot (Youth) – Young competitors use traditional long bows to shoot 3-D targets. Check it out from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. in the Choctaw Village on Saturday, August 31.

Bow Shoot (Adult) – Older competitors use traditional Choctaw long bows to shoot at 3-D targets. Check it out from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. in the Choctaw Village on Sunday, September 1.

Fittest Warrior – Watch as the best of the best compete for this physical fitness title. Watch from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, August 31 in Red Warrior Park.

War Hoops – Watch 3-on-3 basketball teams compete in this exciting tournament Saturday, August 31, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Red Warrior Park.

Tough Tough Contest – A popular strength challenge for men and women. Watch or participate from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at Red Warrior Park.

Dominos/Checkers Tournament – Participants play to win the championship in this highly competitive tournament. Check it out Sunday, September 1, from 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

For more details check out the Labor Day Festival website.

Comanche Red River Hotel Casino Hosts Inaugural Red River Art & Music Festival

Comanche Red River Hotel Casino is painting the town on Saturday, Sept. 7 at its inaugural Red River Art and Music Festival.

The festival is being held from 3 p.m. to midnight at Comanche Red River Hotel Casino in Devol, located at 196747 Highway 36. The event is free and open to the public. It will feature an arts and crafts showcase, including beadwork, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., with live music performances starting at 4 p.m. and continuing until midnight. Guests can also enjoy complimentary hot dogs and hamburgers beginning at 5 p.m., available while supplies last.

As the largest Comanche Nation Entertainment property, Comanche Red River Hotel Casino displays local and renowned artwork by Comanche artists throughout each of its suite rooms. The festival will feature some of these artists, allowing them to express their creativity in person.

Headlining the musical part of the festival is Gannon Fremin & CCREV, a four-piece Rock band from Walters, Okla. Best known for incorporating its Southwest Oklahoma roots into its lyrics and sound, the band will take stage at 10:30 p.m.

“This will be the first event of its kind at Comanche Red River, showcasing the creativity, talent and rhythm of our community,” said Jay Martinez, general manager of Comanche Red River Hotel Casino. “We welcome and encourage everyone to join us for captivating art displays, live music performances and the warm embrace of our vibrant culture.”

Coinciding with the festival, guests will have a chance to win a series of prizes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. through the casino’s “Spin the Wheel” promotion. Players can earn 100 points on their rewards card for the chance to win $25 to $100 in Comanche Credit, a one-night suite stay at Comanche Red River Hotel Casino, TALN products or Bamboo products.

The event is still seeking more artists and the deadline to secure a spot is Aug. 27. Vendors must be licensed to be able to participate in the event. Unlicensed vendors will not be permitted to set up on the day of the event.

For more information about the festival, contact Shelby Mata at 580-574-5011 or shelbym@comanchemail.com. To learn more about Comanche Nation Entertainment, visit www.comanchenationentertainment.com.

ABOUT COMANCHE NATION ENTERTAINMENT

Comanche Nation Entertainment operates Comanche Nation Casino in Lawton, Comanche Red River Hotel Casino in Devol, Comanche Spur Casino in Elgin, Comanche Star Casino in Walters, Comanche War Pony Casino in Devol and Comanche Cache Casino in Cache. Its Comanche Travel Plazas, Smoke Shops and Quick Stops are located throughout Southwest Oklahoma.

True to its tribal heritage, Comanche Nation Entertainment is committed to family. It treats its team members like family and supports vital community services in the towns where it operates. Its mission at all of its properties is to provide a fun and exciting experience for guests, a safe and rewarding environment for team members and prosperity for the Comanche Nation.

For more information on Comanche Nation Entertainment properties, visit www.comanchenationentertainment.com or follow the company on Facebook.

Chickasaw wins National Marble Championship

Myles Lacy was crowned champion at the 101st National Marble Championship in June. The championship took place in Wildwood, New Jersey. Along with his family, Myles traveled nearly 1,000 miles from his hometown of Celina, Tennessee, to compete against more than 20 national finalists during the four-day championship.

“It was weird when they put the crown on me,” Myles said. “I was excited when I knew I had won. I was proud that I had won playing against an older boy.”

To win a position at the national tournament, Myles first had to win one of the many local tournaments that took place across the United States. Thousands of competitors compete during the events.

While in Wildwood, Myles played numerous games over several days to reach the championship. During the course of the championship, more than 1,200 individual marble games are played by the competitors. Myles placed in the top eight in the preliminaries. The ranking qualified him to advance into the semifinals. After winning a total of nine games — while losing three — Myles advanced to the finals.

As one of two players, each competed head-to-head until one triumphed by winning eight games. Myles was victorious.

“There were three days of preliminary play. Myles played each of the other kids twice,” Myles’ father, Ryan Lacy, said. “Those kids are 7 to 14 years old.”

At 9 years old, Myles, a Chickasaw citizen, made history by becoming the youngest male marble champion. This also places him as the second youngest National Marble Champion in both boys’ and girls’ divisions.

Myles’ sister, 11-year old Kyndel Woods, also shot in the girl’s division of the championship.

Tennessee has a proud history of producing marble champions. Champions include Corey Goolsby and Wesley Thompson, among others.

“There have been two or three girls that have won the championship from our county,” Ryan said. “Former champion Amanda Burns came up to watch him play last year. She is proud of him.” While shooting marbles may sound like child’s play, a lot rides on the National Marble Championship. Myles, along with this year’s female winner, were presented with $2,000 scholarships. The scholarship is to be used for college or trade school. Two additional $500 sportsmanship scholarships were awarded at the National Marble Championship, one each within the boys’ and girls’ divisions.

Along with the scholarship, Myles was crowned winner, received a trophy, medallion, plaque and watch.

“It felt phenomenal watching Myles win,” Ryan said. “He started three years ago. He is only 9 years old. There are some good shooters out there. He not only hung in there with them, but he beat them. It seemed like Myles did great while under pressure.”

Competitions are fast and furious. Games are only played during a four-hour window in the morning of each day. Contenders can spend the afternoons ambling around Wildwood along the boardwalk or lounging on the New Jersey beach.

The game and competitions are played using sanctioned rules provided by the National Marble Tournament. Competitions are played within a 12-foot square ring. Centered on the square is painted a 10- foot diameter circle, and 13 glass target marbles are placed in the middle of the circle in a X pattern. Using what is called a “shooter” marble, players score by striking the glass marbles and forcing them outside of the circle with the shooter.

“I am trying to get seven marbles out,” Myles said. “That is the most I have ever shot in a row.”

The players are awarded one point per marble that has left the circle. The winner of the match is the one who knocks out seven marbles. Unlike the other marbles, shooters are made from flint or agate stones. Myles’ shooter is crafted of flint. With his championship win, Myles has become a local celebrity.

“He doesn’t know what to do with all this attention,” Ryan said.

Myles has been presented with a key to Clay County, Tennessee, along with his hometown of Celina. Myles has had many radio stations and newspapers interview him to talk about his marble experience. He was also featured on his local news station.

“It’s been exciting getting the key to the county,” Myles said. Kyndel was also presented a key to the city of Celina for her participation in the championship. Each was presented with a $200 scholarship.

Myles became involved in competitive marbles through his mother, Amanda. Her dad was a marble player. He also won a national championship in the 1980s. Amanda learned the love of the game through him.

Myles receives his Chickasaw heritage from his father’s side of the family. Ryan’s grandparents and father left the Chickasaw Nation for Tennessee when his dad was in the eighth grade. The family was predominately from the Ada area.

Last year, the family made it to the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival for the first time.

“I am proud to be Chickasaw,” Myles said. “I remember going to festival last year. It was fun.”

“I really enjoyed seeing the capitol and the meeting itself,” Ryan said. “We stayed in the Artesian. I loved the (Chickasaw) Cultural Center. I really like the (traditional village) with the old houses and meeting place. I would really like to spend a whole week exploring. I just can’t say how proud (of being Chickasaw) I am as well.”

Growing up, Ryan and his family would often make a pilgrimage to the Chickasaw Nation to see family. “I loved going out there when I was a kid,” Ryan said. “I have always loved Oklahoma. I like hearing family stories. My grandma was in the rodeo and had a lot of really good horses. I loved my family’s stories.”