Chickasaw Tradition, Art and Talent featured during Cultural Evening, Arts and Cultural Awards Oct. 2 at Chickasaw Cultural Center

Honoring Chickasaw tradition, art and talent is the focus of Chickasaw Nation Cultural Evening and Arts and Culture Awards, Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Chickasaw Cultural Center, Sulphur, Okla.

Chickasaw customs, talent and academic excellence will be featured in a variety of activities planned from 4 – 7:30 p.m.

Traditional food, games, stomp dance and crafts are planned for the annual event, which is open to the public.

Opening ceremony is set for 5 p.m. at the Kochcha' Aabinili' Amphitheater with a welcome, prayer, posting of colors, and remarks from Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby.

The tolling of the bell will signal time for the traditional evening meal, which will be served at 5:30 p.m. in the Traditional Village.

Activities for the entire family and cultural demonstrations will be conducted in the Chikasha Inchokka' Traditional Village including bow making, beading and other traditional crafts.

Arts and Cultural Awards Ceremony

The Chickasaw Nation Arts and Cultural Awards Ceremony will be conducted the same evening from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the cultural center's Anoli Theatre.

Dynamic Chickasaw Woman of the Year, the Silver Feather honoree, Heritage Preservation Research Awards and Southeastern Art Show and Market winners are among the honors to be presented in the annual ceremony.

In addition, Chickasaw Press and White Dog Press will unveil five new books at the event.

Chickasaw Press will unveil Chikasha: The Chickasaw Collection at the National Museum of the American Indian by Joshua D. Hinson and The Early Chickasaw Homeland: Origins, Boundaries and Society by John P. Dyson.

White Dog Press will release its first novel, Anompolichi: The Wordmaster by Phillip Carroll Morgan and a new children's book, C is for Chickasaw by Wiley Barnes.

White Dog Press will also formally introduce the Chickasaw Journeys Activity Book, which was released earlier this year.

All five books will be on sale during cultural evening. Authors will be on hand to sign copies.

A reception will be conducted immediately following the awards ceremony.

For a complete listing of events, locations and schedules for the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival visit http://annualmeeting.chickasaw.net/ or contact the Chickasaw Festival office at (580) 371-2040 or 1 (800) 593-3356.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center is located at 867 Cooper Memorial Road, Sulphur, visit http://www.chickasawculturalcenter.com for more information.