Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)
Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)
Sorted by date Results 1 - 20 of 20
NORMAN, Okla. – For more than 60 years, Lance Straughn has applied paint to brush and brush to canvas creating realistic impressionism of Native American life. As the leaves of summer acquiesced to autumn 2018, the Chickasaw artist experienced a soul-searing change. Guided to paint a style previously unexplored, brush strokes transformed a canvas into his first "spirit painting" – a sacred white buffalo standing proud on the Oklahoma Plains. He proclaimed it "Strong Medicine." What spi...
WINFIELD, Kan. – Chickasaw twins are living the college experience they dreamed of in this tiny Kansas community best known for crowning America's national champion flat-pick guitar and mandolin players each September. Yet, it was an error that sent Morgan and Mallory Graves to Winfield's Southwestern College, founded in 1895 and claiming a 2018 student enrollment of 1,306. A year ago, both were searching for colleges to attend after graduating from Plainview High School in Ardmore, Oklahoma. M...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chickasaw Nation warriors laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery Monday, Nov. 12, to honor veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice defending freedom. Four Chickasaw Vietnam War veterans represented their tribe at the national shrine. They included Ada, Oklahoma, resident Gene Jefferson, a Marine sergeant who served as a helicopter machine gun operator; Donald Yegge, a Loyalton, California, resident who served as a gunner's mate in the N...
TISHOMINGO, Okla. – Two Edmond artists are introducing unique works to Native American art shows and festivals while planning an exhaustive 2019 festival schedule. Brothers Jim and Ben Trosper recently concluded an award-winning effort at the Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) here. The show is sponsored by their tribe – the Chickasaw Nation – and features nationally-renowned artists affiliated with southeastern woodland tribes. Jim Trosper's mesmerizing photography won third place honor...
SULPHUR, Okla. – At 74, one of Oklahoma's most famed historians, archeologists and museum curators is ensuring historic items he has collected for more than 60 years will be preserved for future generations. Towana Spivey, a 2012 Chickasaw Hall of Fame inductee, donated extremely rare and precious items to Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby recently. The items will be professionally preserved at the Holisso Research Center, located at the Chickasaw Cultural Center. Two of 20 items d...
OKLAHOMA CITY – The nation's top national network for commissioned musical compositions has tapped Emmy-winning Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate to compose a clarinet and piano piece. More than $800,000 was awarded nationally to composers to create musical works by Chamber Music America (CMA) through four grant programs. The funding provides key support for creation, performance and presentation of small ensemble works through CMA's community engagement and audience-building i...
NORMAN, Okla. – Larry Carter's niche in the Native American art scene is expanding and he hopes to influence contemporary art shows in the future. Framed prints of paintings by Carter, a Chickasaw citizen, were presented to Indian Health Service (IHS) professionals at a recent awards ceremony hosted at Riverwind Casino near Norman. His art will be displayed at many IHS facilities throughout Indian Country, a fact that pleases Carter immensely. "I am learning and pushing myself to improve and e...
OKLAHOMA CITY – Brian Landreth's Chickasaw blood stirs him spiritually. His Native art is consuming more of his time. The commercial projects he devotes himself to at his day job as a graphic artist satisfy an artistic itch but not his artistic soul. When the Oklahoma City resident began this relatively new journey of dedicating himself to Native-themed art, it was with a message to himself. "I promised myself any new work had to be genuine – from the heart. My measure for it being suc...
ADA, Okla. – A young Chickasaw woman successfully defeated breast cancer in 2016 but her quest for restorative health faces an impediment – one she has encountered before. While surgery and a regimen of harsh chemotherapy destroyed Melissa Morgan's cancer, it irreversibly damaged a transplanted kidney she received a decade ago. Her body will eventually reject it. Mrs. Morgan's "Catch 22" is difficult to fathom. She received the gift of life from her mother, Vicky Gold, in September 2007. Wit...
TULSA, Okla. – Cerrenah Chesbro waited a year to meet her hero, "Te Ata." The Coweta Southside Elementary School third-grader lightly stroked a homemade gift for Q'orianka Kilcher, the actress who brought "Te Ata" to life in the Chickasaw Nation feature film of the same name. It was a Peruvian-designed bracelet of finely netted rope intertwined with native seeds cascading through it. Cerrenah and her father, Gary, were the first in line at the Circle Cinema's Red Carpet "Te Ata" premiere. W...
OKLAHOMA CITY – A Chickasaw artist's vision of the famed Paseo Arts District has been selected the official poster for the 41st festival. Brian Landreth's digital creation harkens back to the 1960s. The historic housing district north of downtown Oklahoma City was enjoying a rebirth. An eclectic population of artists influenced by the freewheeling 1960s filled Paseo. Mr. Landreth's graphics-generated design features a tree of musical instruments, painters' palates, musical notes, a starry sky a...
REDLANDS, Calif. – A mid-19th century Bohemian conductor and composer is inspiring a Chickasaw graduate student to pursue a career center stage conducting a full symphony orchestra. Austin Davis is a second-year grad student at the University of Redlands and will earn a master's degree in music-conducting in spring 2018. Several composers are cited for their influence, but it is Gustav Mahler who tweaks Davis' interest – and aspirations – in spite of stark differences between them. Mahle...
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – The world premiere of Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchachaaha' Tate's commissioned "Muscogee Hymn Suite," will highlight a week of musical entertainment at this year's OK Mozart International Festival June 8-16. Tate's composition was commissioned by the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra through a grant provided by the Mid-America Arts Alliance Artistic Innovations Program. A commissioned Tate oratorio – performed entirely in the Chickasaw language – was premiered by the Oklah...
OKLAHOMA CITY – Native American storytelling is changing with modern technologies. In ancient times, stories were passed down orally through generations. At a special presentation June 13, deadCENTER Film Festival participants learned just how advanced Native storytelling has become. Music, movies, short documentaries and modern art are being used to tell Native American stories. An expert panel of Chickasaw, Choctaw and Kiowa tribal members illustrated the new methods, while Chickasaw s...
EDMOND, Okla. – The timelessness of the universe is Jim Trosper's canvas. It's ever-expanding and awe-inspiring. When Trosper aims his Canon 5D Mark III camera toward heaven, he hopes the resulting photograph will open minds and inspire introspective wonderings about life – primarily life as experienced by the viewer. "I've always been interested in how vast is the universe. You are not able to wrap your mind around its immenseness. One does not have the ability to comprehend how large it rea...
OKLAHOMA CITY – Master furniture refinisher Richard Thomas sweeps a bare hand across the blonde-colored French Walnut barn door that dates to 1750. He emits a low sigh while examining it, pointing to unsightly flaws, nicks, and imperfections crying out for his expertise. The 264-year-old door has been a guest in Thomas' Portland Avenue workshop before – an unassuming structure with a tiny weather-molested sign saying simply: "Richard Thomas, Master Refinisher." The door was purchased from a Dall...
OKLAHOMA CITY – When the black linen was removed, Bill Scott drew a deep breath, his eyes filled with tears and a smile crossed his lips. Unveiled before him was a portrait of his mother, famed Chickasaw aviator Pearl Carter Scott. The oil on canvas depicts the dynamic Chickasaw woman as a 13-year-old girl. She is decked out in leather aviator clothing. Eye-saving goggles and protective leather cap are loosely held in her left hand. Scott also is adorned with a white scarf tied around her n...
BYNG – There definitely is something about Merry. Rev. Howard and Mrs. Lorena Baker knew their daughter would be born at Christmastime. When she did arrive, on December 20, 1950, they christened her Merry Carol. While unusual, the name fits her to a tee. She sings, loves, cares and brings merriment to the lives of her Byng High School students and thousands of others. She is a member of Native Praise, a choir which sings hymns in Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Cherokee languages. More importantly...
Native American youth ages 12-18 are invited to participate in the Native American Junior Open Golf Tournament slated Saturday, June 8 at Lakeview Golf Course in Ardmore. The qualifying tournament allows youngsters and teens the experience of a tournament atmosphere qualifying round without the pressure of preforming for a school or golf association, NAJO officials said. It is also the qualifying tournament for five positions available on Team Chickasaw. The squad regularly participates in an annual national tournament as well as various other...
“If you can read this, thank a teacher,” the bumper sticker ahead stated triumphantly. It takes passion to be a teacher. It takes devotion. It requires patience and it requires an understanding some students are going to excel in a vocational setting while others will earn doctorates. It is why this Sunday, America observed National Teacher’s day. Chickasaw Ellen Brooker has seen all of this in 28 years of teaching and within her own family. She accepts it and celebrates it. Bill Anoat...
