Annual Meeting & Festival kicks off Sept. 28

This article appeared in the September 2018 edition of the Chickasaw Times

A longstanding tradition of celebrating all things Chickasaw gets under way Sept. 28 at the 2018 Chickasaw Nation Annual Meeting and Festival.

This year’s Annual Meeting and Festival run through Oct. 6.

This year marks the 58th Annual Meeting of the Chickasaw Nation and the 30th Chickasaw Festival. These events draw thousands from across the globe to reunite in Chickasaw Country.

Activities celebrating Chickasaw culture, heritage, spirit and traditions begin Friday, Sept. 28, and culminate Saturday, Oct. 6. Events will be in communities throughout the Chickasaw Nation.

“For more than a half-century Chickasaws from all walks of life have gathered each year to reunite with one another and reconnect with our culture,” Governor Bill Anoatubby said. “We look forward to this annual homecoming as a way to share and celebrate the Chickasaw spirit.”

The weeklong celebration is highlighted by Gov. Anoatubby’s “State of the Nation” address during the Chickasaw Nation Annual Meeting in Tishomingo. The address is set for 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 6, at Fletcher Auditorium on the Murray State College campus.

The Festival Parade will begin at the MSC campus and march down Tishomingo’s Main Street at 12:30 p.m.

The Chickasaw Nation Capitol grounds are the site of most afternoon activities including the Southeastern Art Show and Market, Chickasaw Press book signing, traditional meal, health fair, cultural demonstrations and live entertainment, a petting zoo, and children’s activities. All activities will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Capitol grounds.

Other activities include cultural classes, storytelling, stickball and Stomp Dance demonstrations and horseshoe, cornhole and fishing tournaments begin at 1 p.m.

Chickasaw Princess Pageant

Chickasaw Princesses for 2018-19 will be selected during the traditional pageant, 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at Ada High School.

Chickasaw Senior Olympics will be 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 2, in Tishomingo.

Cultural Evening, Arts & Culture Awards

The Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur will host Cultural Evening and the annual Arts & Culture Awards Thursday, Oct. 4. Activities begin at 4 p.m. The Arts & Cultural awards ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m.

In Tishomingo, hundreds of local students will participate in educational school tours and museum tours Tuesday, Oct. 2 through Thursday, Oct. 4.

Southeastern Art Show & Market

Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) opens Friday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 6, from 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. In its 13th year, SEASAM provides an opportunity for tribal artists to gather and celebrate Southeastern and Woodlands art. SEASAM offers a juried competition with awards, and a marketplace where artists can display and sell their works.

Sept. 29 Events

Registration for Cornstalk shoot tournaments for all ages begin at 8 a.m. at Kullihoma, east of Ada. Competition begins at 9 a.m.

Pontotoc Pursuit, an annual bicycle ride, will be 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, in Ada. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

Numerous other events will be hosted in the Tishomingo area Sept. 29 including a golf tournament, a 1-mile and 5K Fun Run and Walk, softball tournament, Junior Olympics, museum tours, a stickball exhibition and a movie night. Activities will also be hosted at the Chickasaw Cultural Center and at Fort Washita.

A Chickasaw History Challenge Bowl at the Cultural Center and a social stickball game and Stomp Dance at Kullihoma open the weeklong homecoming celebration Friday, Sept. 28.

Live Video Stream and Live Audio Stream

A live video stream of the Chickasaw Nation Annual Meeting will be available at annualmeeting.chickasaw.net. A live audio stream of Annual Meeting will also be available on KCNP 89.5 FM in Ada, 89.3 FM, Dickson and www.KCNP.org.

A complete listing of events, locations and schedules is available online at annualmeeting.chickasaw.net or follow Chickasaw Nation social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updated information.

For more information call (580) 371-2040 or 1 (800) 593-3356.