2:00 PM Gathering and Sign-In
2:15 PM Opening Prayer
Announcements
Recognition of Guest
2:30 PM Comments from Legislators
3:15 PM Questions from Council Members
4:00 PM Drawing for the Red Pendleton Blanket
4:15 PM Unveiling of Central Council New Raffle Item
4:20 PM Potluck Dinner
5:00 PM Announcing of next Monthly Meetings & Clean Up
5:15 PM Business Meetings of the Councils
5:30 PM Cleanup

Chukma Our Fellow Chickasaws,
Your Families and the Friends of the Chickasaws:

You who are Chickasaw have two great opportunities in the first two weeks of April to get the latest information about our Nation, its programs and what is happening that affect your future and that of our Nation, On Saturday, April 5th the Nation is having a Gathering in Waco at the Hewitt Park, 801 S. Hewitt Drive, Waco, Texas from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. This is your opportunity to observe and absorb much of our great Chickasaw Culture, stomp dancing and to introduce your children and grandchildren to our culture in a really fun way. And on hand will be many of our Nation's employees to tell you all you want to know about existing programs for you and your children. If you have not yet pre-registered, there is still time. And if you know of Chickasaws who do not have email, then let them know that they too can pre-register by calling Ms. Joy Barrick at 580-310-6451.

And the following week, you and all our Indian and Non-Indian friend will have an opportunity to hear and ask questions of our Chickasaw Legislators. While we do not know exactly who will be coming yet, we know that several will be coming to meet you and tell you of the things they are trying to get started through new legislation. Gene had the opportunity to meet with the Legislature recently at one of their meetings and was encouraged by the support shown for our Councils. So I hope that all of you will plan on joining us for this special opportunity to hearing from our elected representatives first hand.

You will regret it if you miss either of these great opportunities to learn more about our Nation and our Nation's future. So mark your calendars and on the 13th bring some of that wonderful dishes that our Chickasaws seem to always make.

We will be meeting at the same place that we met last time at Texas State. But just in case you need directions, I have included printed directions. Remember to park in the parking garage, it is free on Sundays.

If you have any questions feel free to call Michele at (210) 492-2288 or Gene at (512) 258-7919. I have the driving instructions to the LBJ Student Center listed below.

Michele Moody and Gene Thompson
Chairs of the South and Central Chickasaw Community Councils

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO THE LBJ STUDENT CENTER

From Austin/Dallas/Waco and the I-35 Corridor North
Follow I-35 South to San Marcos, take exit #206. Stay on the access road. Merge right onto Aquarena Springs Drive/Loop 82. You will pass two traffic lights and cross over a railroad track. Bobcat Stadium will be on your left. You will pass another traffic light and then over the San Marcos River. At the next light turn right onto Sessom Drive. You will pass three lights and at the top of the hill turn left at the three-way stop onto Comanche Street. Take the first left onto Student Center Dr. Then take the first right onto Gaillardia and enter the public parking garage entrance on the left. When you leave the garage on the ground floor the building just slightly to your left will be the LBJ Student Center. Enter the Center and go straight down the hall way until run into the railing and to your left will be the Meeting Rooms entrance. Enter through the doors of the Meeting Rooms section and at the end the hall way will be Room 3.13,

From San Antonio/Corpus Christi/Laredo and I-35 Corridor South
Follow I-35 North to San Marcos, take Exit #206 (Aquarena Springs Drive/Loop 82). Turn left on Aquarena Springs Drive/Loop 82 going under I-35 towards the University. You will pass three traffic lights and cross over a railroad track. Bobcat Stadium will be on your left. You will pass another traffic light and then over the San Marcos River. At the next light turn right onto Sessom Drive. You will pass three lights and at the top of the hill turn left at the three-way stop onto Comanche Street. Take the first left onto Student Center Dr. Then take the first right onto Gaillardia and enter the public parking garage entrance on the left. When you leave the garage on the ground floor the building just slightly to your left will be the LBJ Student Center. Enter the Center and go straight down the hall way until run into the railing and to your left will be the Meeting Rooms entrance. Enter through the doors of the Meeting Rooms section and at the end the hall way will be Room 3.13,

From Bee Cave and Spicewood:
From Bee Cave or Spicewood, travel to FM --- and turn south to State 12 and take this road south through Dripping Springs and Wimberly and into North San Marcus. As you enter San Marcus, State 12 will also be named Blanco Rd. Take State 12 until you reach Holland, Turn right on Holland and go until you reach Academy. Turn right onto Academy (there is a Water Tower there). Academy becomes Sessoms. Travel until you reach Commanche Street and at the first street (Student Center Drive), turn left. Then take the first right onto Gaillardia and enter the public parking garage entrance on the left. When you leave the garage on the ground floor the building just slightly to your left will be the LBJ Student Center. Enter the Center and go straight down the hall way until run into the railing and to your left will be the Meeting Rooms entrance. Enter through the doors of the Meeting Rooms section and at the end the hall way will be Room 3.13,

Chickasaw Nation selected Sovereign Nation of the Year by Native Writers Group

Posted: March 31, 2008
by: Staff Reports / Indian Country Today

Photo courtesy Chickasaw Nation -- Chickasaw Nation Arts and Humanities division administrator Lona Barrick, center, accepted the Sovereign Nation of the Year award from Kimberly Roppolo, national director of Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. Barrick and tribal storyteller Lorie Robins, right, accepted the award March 15 at Wordcraft's annual meeting in Lansing, Mich.

EAST LANSING, Mich. - A Native writers and storytellers group lauded the Chickasaw Nation as Sovereign Nation of the Year during the group's national conference in March.

Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers honored the Chickasaw Nation for implementing tribal programs that reflect the group's mission: to ensure the voices of Native writers and storytellers, past, present and future, are heard throughout the world.

''We are overwhelmed at the steps the Chickasaw Nation has taken to ensure Native voices are heard,'' Kimberly Roppolo, Wordcraft national director, said.

The group selected the Chickasaw Nation for the prestigious award for creating the Chickasaw Press and employing Linda Hogan as writer-in-residence for the tribe.

Roppolo described the works of the Chickasaw Nation as inspirational.

''The Chickasaw Nation is doing all of these wonderful things to make sure all those voices are heard. I am overwhelmed,'' she said.

Other tribes across the country could follow the Chickasaw Nation's example, she added.

Wordcraft was founded in 1992 upon the idea that the Native Voices project is important to defining Native people of all ages through writing and storytelling, to keep the traditions, culture and communities strong and vibrant.

The Chickasaw Press serves as an avenue for Native writers and storytellers to share their stories with both Native people and the world. Two of the three books published by the Chickasaw Press to date have received extensive recognition.

Hogan, Chickasaw, will soon be joining the Chickasaw Nation as the writer-in-residence with the Division of Arts and Humanities. In this newly created position, Hogan will be working on her own writing projects as well as projects for the Chickasaw Nation. She will continue some of her regular speaking engagements and will serve as a presenter at the tribe's Clemente Humanities class, Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy and writing workshops.

The award was formally conferred at Wordcraft's national Native writer's conference, ''Returning the Gift'' conducted at Michigan State University March 15.

Lona Barrick, tribal arts and humanities administrator, accepted the citation on the behalf of the Chickasaw Nation and Gov. Bill Anoatubby. Chickasaw Nation traditional storyteller Lorie Robins also attended the event.