Season's Greetings

This article appeared in the December 2023 edition of the Chickasaw Times

Chokma,

Merry Christmas and warm wishes to you and your families from all of us at the Chickasaw Nation!

During this special holiday season, we give thanks for the countless blessings presented to us this past year. We are especially thankful for our families, our friends and our fellow Chickasaws. We are also grateful for those who laid the foundation on which the Chickasaw Nation stands today, those who sacrificed and worked for the good of our tribe and community, and those who preserved our culture, language and traditions.

Chickasaws have always been a self-sufficient, self-determining people bound by our sense of community and our spirit of uplifting one another. This is a bond that began in our Homeland carried our people through great hardship and challenges. Through it all, we persevered, survived and flourished. Today, our tribal government is entirely dedicated to serving the Chickasaw people and the many communities within our treaty territory long into the future. Year after year, we see example after example of the abundance of resources, programs and services making a difference in the lives of Chickasaws everywhere.

As we look back on 2023, our year was filled with milestones, progress and development. We celebrated the 40th anniversary of the ratification of our 1983 Constitution of the Chickasaw Nation. We also celebrated the opening of tourism and economic development projects, including the West Bay Casino and Resort and the new Chickasaw Community Bank headquarters. Work continues on the OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark, as well, along with several other important developments.

Many new youth and education buildings are also under construction, including a Chickasaw Youth Club in Sulphur and three new child development centers. We also hosted a Chickasaw Listening Conference in Oklahoma City and are currently working through the abundance of feedback and suggestions received.

As we move into another year, we are continuing to move forward together, with an eye on our increasingly bright future. Blessed is a word used frequently, but it is a very accurate description of the Chickasaw Nation, and, as Chickasaws, we are appreciative of our blessings.

This season, we pray that you and your loved ones continue to be blessed as you enjoyed the holidays! May you have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!