A Bright Future

Season 4 • Episode 12

Programs, Services and Resources to Help Chickasaw Citizens Thrive

The Chickasaw Nation believes that setting up youth for roles as leaders must start at an early age. Since December 1988, the Chickasaw Youth Clubs' after-school and summer programs in Sulphur and Tishomingo have helped kids between the ages of 5 and 17 build a solid foundation of academic success, cultural literacy and life skills. To enroll, each student must meet the age requirements and be either a Chickasaw citizen or the child of an employee of the Chickasaw Nation. Applications are accepted from July 1 to August 1 for the after-school program and April 1-30 for the summer program. Every year at the Chickasaw Nation's Annual Meeting & Festival, girls and young women from across the state compete to be recognized as Chickasaw royalty. The Chickasaw Princess Program judges contestants on poise, traditional dress, talent, a question-and-answer session and an interview. Over the course of the following year, the crowned princesses serve as cultural ambassadors for the Chickasaw Nation, making appearances at events around the country. Each reigning princess also participates in a "homeland trip" to Tupelo, Miss., to connect with the ancestral lands of the Chickasaw people. The princesses learn to be role models for younger girls and bearers of the Chickasaw culture. The Chokka' Kilimpi' Recruitment and Retention Program is an initiative designed to aid Chickasaw students attending college outside the Nation's boundaries. Located at the University of Oklahoma, the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma City Community College, Chokka' Kilimpi' provides academic assistance, preparation for potential employment with the Nation and a strong network of cultural bonds in a "home away from home" environment. With classes like cultural painting instruction and events including movies and bowling, the centers provide opportunities to put aside the stress of college life and cultivate new relationships. To learn more about programs for budding young leaders, visit www.Chickasaw.net.

A Bright Future

EPISODES

Education Services

Tourism in Chickasaw Country

A Future in Science

Diabetes Awareness Month

Achieving Career Goals

Healthy You in the New Year

Youth Camps

Enjoy the Arts

Spring Gardening

National Foster Care Month

Summer Fresh Produce

Back to School Prep

Nation's New Technology

Annual Meeting & Festival

Native American Heritage Month

Honoring Our Veterans

Christmas Celebrations

Learning Cultural Traditions

Heart Month

Dynamic Women

Spring Reading

Plans for Summer Fun

Inspired Stories

Ready for School

Get Outside

Carrying the Fire

Self-Governance

Chickasaw Warriors

Holiday Spirit in Chickasaw Country

Making a Difference in the New Year

Love Your Heritage

Footsteps to Follow

Stress Awareness Month

Create Your Canvas

Caring Community

Discover Your Passion

Summer's Last Stand

Fall Into Wellness

Arts and Humanities Month

Beyond the Book

A Bright Future

New Year, New Goals

New Horizons

Get Back to Nature