A Chickasaw attorney, a native speaker of the Chickasaw language and Southeastern artists were among those recognized during the Chickasaw Nation Arts and Culture Award ceremony Sept. 29 in Tishomingo, Okla.
Steffani Cochran, vice chairperson for the National Indian Gaming Commission in Washington, D.C., was named the 2011 Dynamic Woman of the Year by Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby.
"Ms. Steffani Cochran truly embodies the unconquerable spirit of the Chickasaws. She is a woman dominating the field which is usually dominated by men," Gov. Anoatubby said. "She truly exemplifies what it means to be a dynamic Chickasaw woman."
Ms. Cochran has more than a decade of experience in Indian law and has served in several high-level positions throughout the Indian country, including Special Counsel for Indian Affairs in the New Mexico Attorney General's Office and General Counsel for the Pueblo of Pojoaque.
"It (the award) reminds me how much support I have from my family and my community," she said. "The value I take away from today is what I am doing matters to Indian Country, what I am doing matters to my people."
Ms. Cochran received her juris doctorate from American University in Washington, D.C., master's degree in public administration from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. and a bachelor of science from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla.
Established in 2006, the Dynamic Woman of the Year Award honors Chickasaw women who have made significant contributions to the Nation, served as role-models to other Chickasaw women and who have made a difference in the lives of Chickasaws and other citizens, enriching their communities and society at large.
Weldon Fulsom, of Ada, Okla., was the winner of 2011 Silver Feather Award.
Mr. Fulsom is a native speaker of Chickasaw language. His parents, Nancy and Roy Fulsom, spoke nothing but Chickasaw in the home. Mr. Fulsom did not learn to speak English until after beginning school.
Mr. Fulsom worked for the Chickasaw Nation in food distribution from 1988 to 2010. He used his language skills to serve Chickasaw elders, many of whom spoke only Chickasaw. He was also an official translator for the tribe. Translators were often called on in the past to translate for Chickasaw elders receiving services at the Carl Albert Indian Health Facility in Ada and the Chickasaw Nation health clinic in Tishomingo.
He has been an appointed member of the Chickasaw Language Committee since 1994. The Chickasaw Language Committee serves as an advisory board to the Department of Chickasaw Language. Members are also responsible for the creation and dissemination of new Chickasaw words for use by second language learners.
Mr. Fulsom also taught community classes at Paul's Valley from 1995-1996. He most recently has served as a master speaker in the Chickasaw Master-Apprentice Program, passing his language on through daily interactions with a second language learner.
Established in 2007, the program seeks to develop new, conversational speakers of the Chickasaw language in an immersion learning environment of 18 to 24 months.
He said that he wants to continue his language preservation work so Chickasaws will be able to speak the language for generations to come.
Created in 1999, the Silver Feather Award honors Chickasaws who have committed their lives to the preservation and revitalization of Chickasaw culture, language and life ways.
The Historical Society Service Award was presented to Pat Woods for many years of hard work and dedication to the preservation of Chickasaw history and culture, and service to the board of the Chickasaw Historical Society.
Joe Thomas and Brent Sykes were each honored with Heritage Preservation Research Awards.
Mr. Thomas received the Best Unpublished Article award for his article "Government Schooling and its Effects on Indigenous Cultures."
Mr. Sykes won the Best Master's Thesis award for his essay "'Learning' to Become a Chickasaw Educator: An Autoethnography."
Awards were also presented to winners of the Southeastern Art Show and Market.
The top winners in each category were:
Best in Show – Jack Pettigrew
Best in Division - 2-D – Brenda Kingery
Best in Division - 3-D – Scott Roberts
Best in Division - Cultural – Kristen Dorsey
The show was open to all artists of Southeast and Woodlands tribes. The winning artworks, as well as works from all participating artists, will be showcased Friday - Saturday, Sept. 30 – Oct. 1, at Chickasaw Nation Capitol grounds during the 2011 Annual Meeting and Festival.
Also during the awards ceremony, three new Chickasaw Press publications were released.
"Dynamic Chickasaw Women" by Phillip C. Morgan and Judy Goforth Parker presents biographies from the Removal, Indian Territory and early Oklahoma statehood periods.
"Chikasha Stories, Volume One: Shared Spirit" by Glenda Galvan and illustrated by Jeannie Barbour is the first bilingual book published by the Chickasaw Press and presents stories drawn from the tribe's oral traditions, accompanied by original illustrations.
"Ilimpa'chi' (We're Gonna Eat!): A Chickasaw Cookbook" by JoAnn Ellis and Vicki May Penner is the first cookbook produced by the Chickasaw Press.
For more information on the books and other Chickasaw Press publications, please visit www.chickasawpress.com.
