By Tony Choate, Media Relations Specialist
Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office

Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2008 Chickasaw Nation Heritage Preservation Awards for authors documenting Chickasaw history and culture.

Authors of previously unpublished doctoral dissertations, master's theses, articles, and book manuscripts dealing with some aspect of Chickasaw heritage are eligible for the awards.

The following awards are being offered:

• Best Unpublished Article Prize: Publication in the CHS Journal and Lecture at the COCA and $2000 Research Stipend
• Best M.A. Thesis  Prize: Visiting Scholar Fellowship and Lecture at the COCA and $2000 Research Stipend
• Best Ph.D. Dissertation  Prize: Visiting Scholar Fellowship and Lecture at the COCA and $2000 Research Stipend
• Best Unpublished Manuscript Prize:  The Holism Award--Publication by the Chickasaw Press and Lecture at the COCA and $2000 Research Stipend.

"This awards program is designed to encourage and inspire authors to expand the scope of knowledge of our tribe's history, heritage and culture," said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby.

The awards are scheduled to be presented to winners during the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival Arts and Culture Awards Ceremony Oct. 2.

To be eligible for consideration, works in each category must deal specifically with some aspect of Chickasaw history and culture.  Moreover, the works must be documented, either through the use of footnotes, endnotes or a listing of sources.

Nominations must include two copies of the book manuscript, dissertation, thesis, or unpublished article being nominated.

Chickasaw Nation employees are eligible only for works completed outside business hours which are not part of their assigned or paid duties.

Entries should be submitted to Dr. Amanda Cobb-Greet ham, Administrator of Division of History and Culture, 520 East Arlington Ada, Okla. 74820

Deadline for receipt of nominations is 5 p.m. Wednesday, September 24, 2008.

For information, call (580) 436-7265.