School of Choctaw Language, Chahta Anumpa Aiikhvna, was established to promote and preserve the language, history, and culture of the Chahta people. The Language Program has grown from offering one class via satellite at the University of Oklahoma in 1998, to currently employing 21 teachers and serving approximately 3,000 people per week through the website, community classes, public schools, colleges, online Internet classes, early childhood, and elementary classes.
Our website www.choctawschool.com serves as a language database connection to provide information about our school and the various opportunities available to learn Chahta language and culture. Curriculum on the website include vocabulary words, simple phrases, chapter lessons and evaluations to engage language learners. MP3 sound clips, PowerPoint formatted lessons, and PDF files are accessible to allow the user to download the lessons to their personal files so they can learn at their own pace. The website also features Chahta hymns, stories from elders and Chahta history articles. Also, featured on the website is a word search to help you search for Chahta words and phrases.
Chahta language is taught by distance learning which allows the language instructor and students to interact in real-time. Currently, an estimated 1200 students are taught Choctaw language on a daily basis through the 14 Head Start centers, and 40 Oklahoma public high schools that are served within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation. If you have children or grandchildren attending one of the 40 High Schools in the Chahta Nation, they will have an opportunity to take the Chahta Language classes. Please check with your school about the offering of Chahta in your district.
Another avenue to learn Chahta language is through community classes. At this time, 30 sites are available for learners to attend a classroom-style setting to learn the language. The location of these sites are both within the Chahta Nation boundaries, as well as outside the boundaries. Community classes are free of charge and are available to the general public. Please visit our website to view the locations and instructors for the community classes.
The heart of a nation rests in its language. It is through this unique language gifted to us by our Creator that we communicate with Him. From this Chahta Anumpa, Choctaw Language, our very sovereignty is derived through our government of laws, and deep-rooted culture and history.
Historian, Curtis Billy states, The language sets us apart from other tribes; we dont want to lose our unique sounds and our emphasis. We want to be good stewards of our language to pass on to the next generation. The language is used to pass on our traditions and oral stories.
Please consider taking this short Second Speaker Survey if you speak or understand Choctaw. A second-language learner/speaker is one who spoke English first, but who has learned or is learning to speak Choctaw.
Chief Gary Batton and Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr. invite you and your family to a Community Cultural Meeting. Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr. will moderate the meeting, while Chief will share the services and opportunities available to Choctaw tribal members nationwide. Learn and participate in the cultural program, consisting of a cultural make and take, chanting, and dancing demonstrations. A Choctaw language lesson presentation will be available, and don't forget to visit the various service booths, such as membership, housing, career/workforce development, higher education, and weaponry. There will also be an opportunity to purchase Choctaw merchandise and view a stickball demonstration.
Talihina is the original site of the first two Choctaw Nation Indian hospitals, all of which are close to the current facility. The first hospital was a wooden structure built in 1915 and was known as the Carter Hospital. Only the foundation remains. The second hospital is a native stone structure originally built in 1937 as a TB sanatorium. Although empty, the structure still stands to remind visitors of earlier times and how far the tribe has progressed over the years. The newest facility, the Choctaw Nation Health Care Center, opened in 1999 and was built by the Choctaw Nation making the Choctaw Nation the first tribe to build its own hospital.
The Choctaw Nation Health Care Center is a state-of-the-art 152,894 square foot facility consisting of 44 inpatient beds including 12 Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum (LDRP) suites. All hospital rooms are private. In addition, the hospital offers a Surgery Center, Family Practice, Pediatrics, Laboratory, Radiology, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Optometry, Audiology, Dental, a full-service Dietary department, 24/7 Emergency Department, and much more.
In addition to the hospital and clinics, CNHSA operates a number of other services throughout southeastern Oklahoma including a Diabetic Wellness Center, Behavioral Health and substance abuse programs, residential treatment facilities, and fitness centers just to name a few. Certain services such as Oncology, Urology, and other specialty services are not available through CNHSA. In these instances, where patients require specialty care, a program called Choctaw Referred Care (CRC) may be used to pay for all or part of the referral. Referral of a case to CRC does not guarantee payment. Referrals are reviewed to ensure eligibility for services and are ranked according to patient condition and need for care.
Choctaw Nation provides health care using a public health model. According to this model, health promotion and disease prevention are equally as important as taking care of sick patients. The public health model makes an effort to keep people well and healthy as opposed to treating them when they become ill. The health system dedicates significant resources to keeping people well.
The Housing Authority of the Choctaw Nation serves members of any federally recognized Indian tribe who live within the 10-1/2 counties of the Choctaw Nation. If you live within the tribal boundary of another federally recognized Indian tribe, contact that tribe to see if they offer services for which you may qualify.
Provide Quality and TimelyCustomer Service to improve customer satisfaction in delivery of housingprograms,by streamlining services, improving customerservice and providing total quality homes. The Choctaw Nation Housing Authority willconcentrate on approachability and quality assistance in customerrelations.
Promote Opportunities for ResidentSelf-Sufficiency, provide incentives and goals for families residing in low-income housing by encouraging the development of resident organizations andon-the-job training programs.