Thompson-Choctaw Indian Descendants Association changes and goals 2001-2002

Urban Inter-Tribal Center of Texas to Hold Career Fair

Community colleges, universities and businesses will participate in the annual Inter-tribal Center of Texas Career Fair from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, at 209 E. Jefferson Blvd., Dallas, Texas. Attendees are advised to bring resumes and come dressed for an interview.

A collaboration between Dallas Inter-tribal Center, the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribal Council, the Tigua Del Sur Pueblo, American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas and Dallas Public Schools American Indian Education program, the purpose of the fair is to provide information about the various educational and employment opportunities available to individuals in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

In its sixth year, the career fair has grown each year and has been recognized by the mayor pro tempore for the City of Dallas as well as other local dignitaries.

For information call (214) 941-1050 or (972) 263-0313.

Health Care Scholarship Available

Applicants are obligated to work full-time for a minimum of two years with a tribal Indian Health Service facility and may fulfill that requirement as a tribal employee, through the commissioned corps or civil service.

The following health professions preparatory are eligible for funding for up to two years: pre-dietetics, pre-engineering, pre-nursing, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy or pre-social work (junior and senior undergrad years).

Up to four years of funding are eligible under health professions pre-graduate and include pre-dentistry and pre-medicine.

Indian Health Scholarships (USPHS) (professions) include associate degree nurse, chemical dependency counseling, civil engineering (B.S.), clinical psychology (Ph.D. only), coding specialist (certificate), dentistry, dietician (B.S.), environmental engineering (B.S.), health education (masters only), health records (RHIT associate), health records (RHIA B.S.), injury prevention specialist, medical social work (masters level only), medical technology (B.S.), allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, nurse (B.S.), nurse (RNA), optometry, para-optometric, pharmacy (B.S.), physician assistant, physical therapy, podiatry (DPM), public health (MPH only), public health nutrition (masters only), radio logic technology certificate (associate and B.S.), respiratory therapy (associate) and x-ray ultrasonography.

Deadline for application is April 1, 2001.

For information, call Jo Berryman, Indian Health Service coordinator, toll free at 800-829-7044 or 405-951-3939.

According to forestry officials in the three states, a total of more than one million acres of timber suffered damage. About 80,000 acres in Texas, 500,000 acres in Oklahoma and up to 645,000 acres in Arkansas will have a much higher fire danger this year as a result of the ice storm damage. George Reinhardt of the Arkansas Forestry Commission was quoted in an MSNBC story as saying, "There's a tremendous amount of fuel on the ground out there and if it turns dry we have the potential for catastrophic fires."

Bureau of Indian Affairs superintendent Traile Glory said that situation, coupled with the generally unpredictable nature of wilderness fires across the rest of the nation, makes it even more important to recruit firefighters for the program. "We have trained about 50 firefighters in the most recent group. That may seem like a lot, but most of these people have other jobs, so only a small percentage may be able to leave on a moment's notice, as wilderness firefighters often have to do. That is why we had a booth at Job Fair 2001 and are increasing our recruiting efforts in other ways as well."

While work as a wilderness firefighter is often seen as a temporary or part-time job where firefighters are called as needed to fight fires at various locations across the country, the training can lead to full-time employment with the park service, according to Glory. "We have six firefighters who recently took full-time jobs at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur. They were able to get those jobs as a result of the training we offer. And while we are happy to see them move into a full-time position, that decreases the number of trained people we have available at any given time."

Those interested in joining the Chickasaw Nation Wilderness Firefighters must first pass a physical fitness test and then participate in paid training before starting work. Basic skills training will be held the week of March 26 for those who have passed the pack test and more training sessions are being scheduled. For information on upcoming recruitment tests and training call, Traile Glory, BIA Superintendent, at (580) 436-0784.

Obituaries

{Irv May information reprinted from Volume 11, Issue 2, July 2000}

Certainly, he had a remarkable career as a teacher, scholar, husband, father and friend. We all will miss Irv May.

Reprinted from Bishinik

Reprinted from Bishinik

Remembering Those That Have Gone Before Us.

We are a combination of all of our ancestors from the dawn of time until now. Whether we know their names or not, we owe it to them to remember something about their ways and culture. It does not matter if they were white or Indians, they are all a part of what makes us as individuals so unique.

In this newsletter, we hope to share parts of our history. To tell the stories of those now gone and to bring our heritage to life for future generations. You see, we are a distinct people. We have had our own leaders and political history, more than just a family, but as an actual band of mixed blood Native Americans. Our history needs not to be forgotten, lest we dishonor those that fought so hard to stay here against the racial attitudes of 19^th century Texas.

Not only those that died so long ago need to be remembered, but those that have passed away in the last few years as well. Such people as Bill Thompson of Marlow, Oklahoma and Cecil Vinson of Tyler. Both of these individuals worked long and hard to preserve our history and genealogy. Bill also was one of the first in many years to make inroads into the Chickasaw Nation. A work that has since been picked up by Peggy Atwood.

This month in particular, I would like to remember my great aunt Liddie Belle (Thompson) Yates. She was the youngest daughter of Robert Lee & Willie Virginia (Fannin) Thompson. With my father passing away when I was four, my grandfather passing away long before I was born, and my great grandfather when I was just under two, there was little as to information available to me on our history. Liddie Belle would always tell me that she didn't know much about her family, but you could always get pieces of information that were invaluable. She always welcomed me with open arms, the grandson of her "big brother". It is sad for me though that I really never got to know her until my late teens. Sadly, she passed away on May 20, 1993. Her daughter LaQueta recently told me that sometimes she missed her so much she could hardly stand it. For those that knew her it is understandable as to why. So for my Aunt Belle, my father, grandfather and all those that have come before us, I dedicate this little, but heartfelt column.

Upcoming Events

8th Annual Choctaw-Apache Traditional Pow-wow
7 miles west of Zwolle, Louisiana on hwy 482, Noble, Louisiana
Phone: (For more information, call 318-645-2588, Fax: 318-645-2589 Contact: Carolyn Bolton, Tammy Bailes or Susan King

$1.00 Admission for adults under 63 and children over age 6 Dancers admitted free, coolers and ice chest are allowed. Note: "Vendors and Craftsman for more information or to request an application please contact us at the numbers or email address's listed above"

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April 13-15, 2001

University of Texas Union Ballroom
Austin, Texas

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June1&2, 2001

Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas 33rd Annual Indian Powwow
Alabama-Coushatta Ball Park, near Livingston, Texas
Phone: 936-563-4344 / 936-536-2016 Contact: Mary Williams or Clint Poncho

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June, 2001

Stephenville, Texas

For more information contact Brad Thompson at (254) 965-7500

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July, 2001

"The Annual Four-Day Choctaw Indian Fair, begins in the early morning of the second Wednesday after the Fourth of July. Now, as in the past, it is the great gathering of the Okla, the people." Neshoba County, Mississippi

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Monthly Reoccurring Events

2nd Tuesday each month - American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas Board of Directors meeting. Contact Chamber office for time & location 817-429-2323

Last Saturday Night of each month - The Shakey Hollow Ceremonial Ground, near Conroe, TX, hosts dances. Pot Luck Dinner. Starts @ 6:00pm. Contact Joe or Patty Davis 281-399-1661

Choctaw, Chickasaw and Cherokee Genealogical website addresses

The following are a few web addresses that can assist in your personal research.

Choctaw Times Staff

Brad Thompson

Ras Pool

The Chickasaw Nation Media Relations

Bishinik

American Indian Chamber of Commerce

of Texas

Martha Lee

Teresa Bacon

Michael Allen

Frieda Taylor

Thompson Reunion Committee

J.C. Thompson