It was early morning as the Choctaw Mississippi families eagerly approached the train. A mother reached for her 3-year-old daughter’s hand to help lift her into the box train, her pudgy toddler fingers grasping tightly as she boarded the steel box on wheels for the very first time.

The little girl looked up at her ishki (her mamma), as she asked in her Choctaw tongue, “Are we leaving home?” Her mother answered, “Yes, we’re leaving to start a new home. And everything will be wonderful.”

But the future was not as hopeful as her mother had thought. This new start would be more like something from a nightmare. It’s a story that most have never heard – a second departure of the Choctaw in 1903 from their homelands in Mississippi to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma.

Join me and my guest, Deanna Byrd, a registered professional archaeologist and NAGPRA* Liaison-Coordinator for our Tribe, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, as she discusses her groundbreaking research on this topic.

And please take a few minutes to watch this must-see documentary and beautiful tribute to these Mississippi Choctaw, and interviews with their descendants. (By Deanna Byrd and award-winning filmmaker and Native ChocTalk guest, Mark Williams):  Ikhaiyana la chi – “I Will Remember” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzgTTJKN2mk)

“If there are professionals in institutions, universities, and/or museums that are unsure if they have a NAGPRA collection, if they have one and they don't know where to start, or just want to connect with other compassionate, open-minded individuals that are shaping the museum industry, please find us.”

 – Deanna Byrd, NAGPRA Community of Practice: https://liberalarts.du.edu/anthropology-museum/nagpra/community-practice

Yakoke, Deanna for your tireless hours of work researching and giving these Choctaw Mississippi and their untold story a voice. May we never forget.

* NAGPRA: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act

Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/

Become the CEO of “You, Inc.”. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Know that you’re here for a reason and a purpose.

These were the words of successful businessowner and CEO of Native Advisory, Lacey Horn when I asked what advice she had for other Native women (and people in general).

In this no-holes-barred conversation, Lacey and I discuss:
• How even CEOs make mistakes
• The pitfalls, lessons-learned, and challenges of running a successful business
• How her mom’s work in healthcare for the Cherokee people inspired her to help others
• That having a mentor is crucial
• How choices she made based on her family, body and mind have led to greater fulfillment
• The stories of her Cherokee ancestors

Native Advisory is a strategic advisory firm working with tribes all over the state of Oklahoma. Lacey’s job is to ensure that tribes maintain and attain true tribal sovereignty.

Between being a business owner at Native Advisory, Chairwoman of Native American Rights Fund, and a board member of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (and more), I asked Lacey, “How DO you do it all?”. You don’t want to miss her answer and the inspiration she shares for every Native (and non-Natives too)!

Wado, Lacey!

Lacey’s Company, Native Advisory: https://nativeadvisory.com/contact

Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast
All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/

For centuries, he provided nourishment for hundreds of families. And for countless winters, his wooly coat sheltered them from the freezing, bitter winds.

He’s the American Bison. And as this beautiful creature was nearly erased from the earth, he still survived and carried on in all his majesty, just as our Choctaw people also live on.

My guests, Amy and Ian Thompson of Nan Awaya Homestead are some of the caretakers of our great and mighty bison, and of our Oklahoma lands and traditional Choctaw foods.

I know you will absolutely enjoy this episode where we learn about the history of the buffalo and our Native heritage surrounding these stunning creatures, as well as:

• The story of the buffalo vs the train
• The near extinction of our great bison
• Buffalo parenting
• How much buffalo weigh, how fast they can run and how high they can jump
• On a scale of 1-10, how ignorant people are who try to pet these beasts
• Revitalizing healthy Choctaw traditional cuisine
• Restoring the native landscapes of our pastures

As you may know, I’ve always been a huge an of the American Bison. In fact, my logo is a buffalo (his name is Yvnvsh – meaning “buffalo” in Choctaw). So for many reasons, this episode is near and dear to my heart.

Join us as we pay tribute to the mighty yvnvsh!

Nan Awaya Website: https://www.nanawaya.com/

Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/

For centuries, he provided nourishment for hundreds of families. And for countless winters, his wooly coat sheltered them from the freezing, bitter winds.

He’s the American Bison. And as this beautiful creature was nearly erased from the earth, he still survived and carried on in all his majesty, just as our Choctaw people also live on.

My guests, Amy and Ian Thompson of Nan Awaya Homestead are some of the caretakers of our great and mighty bison, and of our Oklahoma lands and traditional Choctaw foods.

I know you will absolutely enjoy this episode where we learn about the history of the buffalo and our Native heritage surrounding these stunning creatures, as well as:

• The story of the buffalo vs the train
• The near extinction of our great bison
• Buffalo parenting
• How much buffalo weigh, how fast they can run and how high they can jump
• On a scale of 1-10, how ignorant people are who try to pet these beasts
• Revitalizing healthy Choctaw traditional cuisine
• Restoring the native landscapes of our pastures

As you may know, I’ve always been a huge an of the American Bison. In fact, my logo is a buffalo (his name is Yvnvsh – meaning “buffalo” in Choctaw). So for many reasons, this episode is near and dear to my heart.

Join us as we pay tribute to the mighty yvnvsh!

Nan Awaya Website: https://www.nanawaya.com/

Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast

All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/