Chickasaw Art, Traditions and Talent featured during Cultural Evening

SULPHUR, Okla. – An evening of sharing Chickasaw culture and honoring heritage, art and talent is the focus of Chickasaw Nation Cultural Evening and Arts and Culture Awards ceremony, Thursday, Oct. 5, at the Chickasaw Cultural Center.

Chickasaw culture, history and camaraderie will be featured in a variety of activities planned from 4 – 8 p.m. during Cultural Evening.

The Chickasaw Nation Arts and Culture Awards ceremony will be conducted the same evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Anoli' Theatre.

A live video stream of the arts and culture awards will be available at Chickasaw.net/AnnualMeeting.

Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby will open Cultural Evening.

A prayer, posting of colors and remarks by Gov. Anoatubby will precede the traditional bell toiling, which signals time for the traditional evening meal which will be served in the Chikasha Inchokka' Traditional Village.

Activities for the entire family and cultural demonstrations will be conducted in the Traditional Village including bow making, beading, traditional games, art and a stomp dance.

Arts and Culture Awards Ceremony

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

The Dynamic Chickasaw Woman of the Year, Silver Feather and Chickasaw Historical Society Service awards winners will be honored during the ceremony.

Winners of the Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM), including "Best of Show" will also be presented.

In its 12th year, SEASAM provides an opportunity for tribal artists to gather and celebrate the Southeastern and Woodland Arts. The art market is open Friday and Saturday, Oct. 6 - Oct. 7 at the Chickasaw Nation Annual Meeting and Festival, Tishomingo.

Chickasaw Press and White Dog Press will also release new publications at the event.

Chickasaw Press will unveil two new titles, including "Constant Fires," by Rebecca Hatcher Travis and "Good Night, Trilobite," by Steve Vanlandingham. "Piominko: Chickasaw Leader," by Thomas W. Cowger and Mitch Caver will be introduced.

White Dog Press' illustrated children's book "Jack and the Giant," created by students at the 2016 Ikbi Holisso (Book Creation) Camp will be released during the arts and culture awards. The softcover edition of "ilimpa'chi': We're Gonna Eat! A Chickasaw Cookbook," by JoAnn Ellis and Vicki Penner will be available for the first time.

The app "C is for Chickasaw" will be introduced. This app features elements of Chickasaw history, language and culture in an interactive method and is available for both iOS and Android devices.

All books will be for sale during cultural evening and authors will be on hand to sign copies.

A reception will be conducted immediately following the awards ceremony.

Both events are open to the public.

For a complete listing of events, locations and schedules for the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival visit http://www.Chickasaw.net/AnnualMeeting or call (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.