Annual Meeting, Festival set for Sept. 23 - Oct. 1

This article appeared in the September 2016 edition of the Chickasaw Times

Activities celebrating Chickasaw heritage, culture and traditions will be conducted in communities throughout the Chickasaw Nation during the 2016 Chickasaw Nation Annual Meeting and Festival.

This year marks the 56th Annual Meeting of the Chickasaw Nation and the 28th Chickasaw Festival. Activities begin Friday, Sept. 23, and culminate Saturday, Oct.1.

A wide variety of events are conducted during the weeklong celebration, which is highlighted by Governor Bill Anoatubby’s “State of the Nation” address during Chickasaw Annual Meeting, 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at Fletcher Auditorium on the campus of Murray State College, Tishomingo.

The Festival Parade will march down Tishomingo’s Main Street at 12:30 p.m.

Most afternoon activities will take place at the Chickasaw Nation Capitol grounds, including the Southeastern Art Show and Market, a traditional meal, health fair, cultural demonstrations and classes, horseshow tournament, and live entertainment.

A petting zoo, kid’s activities and a “make and take tent” will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Capitol grounds.

Chickasaw Princess Pageant, Cultural Evening

Chickasaw Royalty for 2016-17 will be selected during the annual pageant, 6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 26, in Ada, and Chickasaw Senior Olympics will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 27, in Tishomingo.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center, Sulphur, will host Cultural Evening and Arts and Culture Awards Thursday, Sept. 29. Activities begin at 4 p.m.

Pontotoc Pursuit

A new addition to festival week activities is the Pontotoc Pursuit, an annual bicycle ride, which will begin 8 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, in Ada.

Numerous other events will be Sept. 24 including a golf tournament, a 5K Fun Run and Walk, softball tournament, Junior Olympics, museum tours and a movie night, all in Tishomingo; as well as Cornstalk shoots at Kullihoma and activities at the Chickasaw Cultural Center, Sulphur.

A Chickasaw History Challenge Bowl at the Cultural Center and a social Stickball game and Stomp Dance at Kullihoma open the weeklong homecoming Friday, Sept. 23.

A live video stream of the Chickasaw Annual Meeting will be available at Chickasaw.net/AnnualMeeting.

A live audio stream will also be available on KCNP 89.5 FM in Ada, 89.3 FM, Dickson and www.KCNP.org.

A complete listing of events, locations and schedules is available online at www.Chickasaw.net/AnnualMeeting or follow Chickasaw Nation social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updated information.

For more information, call (580) 371-2040 or 1 (800) 593-3356.