To begin this episode of CNTV News, Brad and Quin meet Chickasaw author Danica Nava. Danica's debut novel, The Truth According to Ember, is a romantic comedy set in downtown Oklahoma City featuring Chickasaw and Cherokee main characters. "Often when we see Native American characters, we typically see our pain and our trauma ... but what I wanted to see that I haven't been able to read about is our joy and us being the main characters," Danica says. "Anybody can pick it up and read it and understand and find themselves within these characters." The Truth According to Ember is available anywhere books are sold, including Barnes and Noble, Target, Walmart and Amazon.

Stomp dancing is an important Chickasaw tradition dating back to time immemorial. To bring this tradition to as many people as possible, the Chickasaw Nation Dance Troupe is teaching stomp dancing free of charge to people of all ages. For more information, call (580) 622-7140 or visit Chickasaw.net.

Each year, the Chickasaw Princess Pageant honors young Chickasaw women. Winners of the pageant serve as tribal ambassadors throughout the year at various Nation events. 2023-2024 Chickasaw Princess Abby Gaines encourages young women to enter the pageant, saying her experience has helped increase her confidence in many areas of her life. "Being a Chickasaw princess is a lot of responsibility as a young Chickasaw woman to represent her tribe, but to also leave a positive impact on her community and to interact with others and the youth," she says. "I also look at it as representing my family as well as wanting to do good and be a positive light." To learn more about the princess program, visit Chickasaw.net/Princess.