Showing posts with label Choctaw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Choctaw. Show all posts

Facebook Works - Five Tribes Story Conference

The Graceful Entrance

My mom and I arrived in Muskogee too late for checking into the hotel before the reception started, so we drove straight to the Five Civilized Tribes Museum. Please note: I was in my comfy four hour driving clothes and hadn’t put on make-up yet. Or plucked that one pesky chin hair.

As soon as we pulled into the parking lot, who else had just arrived? Tim Tingle, international Choctaw author and storyteller, and event co-coordinator. He waves and comes over to the car. I hold the tweezers inconspicuously. He insists we make him feel better for being casual and waits by the car to walk inside with us. So much for slapping on some make-up.

Givers

Choctaws are a giving people. How many examples do I see of this at Labor Day every year? I’ll just recount my personal ones from 2011.

The Journey - Part Two

Picking up the journey story from last week, my brother found the Robuck family cemetery. It was on private property, so we asked the neighbors if they knew anything about it. They were familiar with the property, its owner, and confirmed that it was indeed Robuck Cemetery.

The neighbor unlocked the gate for us. We could have driven up to it, but the walk was much better.

At the wood gate we carefully wrangled it open. I had never been in a private cemetery, and it felt like being in a movie.

Sixth Annual Choctaw Pow Wow

Me and my dad
Last November, there was little time to digest Thanksgiving dinner as my parents and me loaded up on Friday and drove to Durant, Oklahoma, for the Sixth Annual Choctaw Casino Pow Wow. We stayed in the beautiful Choctaw Tower.

The Story

Me with Conference Coordinator/
Choctaw Author/Storyteller Tim Tingle
It’s been awhile since I was impacted by something as much as with the Five Tribes Story Conference.

Filled with storytelling, music, workshops, food and laughter, the conference took place in Muskogee, Oklahoma last September.

It solidified who I am as a written storyteller, the importance of what I do, and increased my pride in being Choctaw. But most of all, it confirmed my call to tell stories as Jesus Christ did to reach the hurting people in this world.

Commemorative

It was the journey of many lifetimes.

The day started last May at five a.m.. With the three hour drive from East Texas to Tvshka Homma, Oklahoma, we left nothing to chance on missing any part of this great day.

The moment we arrived on Tribal Grounds, our family was treated like VIP’s. Shuttled on a golf cart from the parking area and then by bus to the starting point, we were greeted by Chief Gregory Pyle and Assistant Chief Gary Batton.