August 1, 2020

Chickasaw Nation News

As families prepare for a new school year, Brad Clonch and Quin Tran speak with Chickasaw Nation Health Undersecretary Dr. John Krueger about what learning will look like with the health concerns posed by COVID-19. "I'm all in favor of having kids go back to school," says Dr. Krueger.

With respect to younger children, Dr. Krueger especially believes that steps must be taken to get them safely back into classrooms. "Younger kids in general have to go back to school," says Dr. Krueger. "Emotionally and developmentally them being able to stay on a computer screen eight, nine hours a day is just unrealistic."

Older children are a more complex puzzle. "If you can do your classwork online that’s fewer people that can be infected," says Dr. Krueger. Recognizing that COVID concerns are human concerns, Dr. Krueger notes that reopening schools will come with difficult sacrifices, highlighting his own daughter's experience: "It doesn't look like the soccer club [will open]. This is the biggest pain in my household." These are challenging times, but working together, Dr. Krueger believes the Chickasaw Nation will overcome and find ways to continue educating children in the safest manner possible.

Next, Brad and Quin cover the 10th Anniversary of the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center. Over the past decade, the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center has continued to grow, providing health, dental, vision, nutritional and emergency services to the Chickasaw Nation and other Native Americans. The Medical Center has also provided key health resources during the COVID-19 crisis, including testing and contact tracing.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center also commemorated a 10-year anniversary this summer. Brad and Quin have the story on the virtual celebration that took place for this staple of the community that shares the Tribe's unique story and heritage. Hundreds of thousands of visitors have come to the Chickasaw Cultural Center over the past decade.

Keeping on the topic of celebrations, the McSwain Theater turned 100 this summer. Owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation, the McSwain Theater is known as one of Oklahoma’s premier entertainment venues. Brad and Quin speak with Jae L. Stilwell, General Manager of the McSwain Theater, about the venue's storied history.

Finally, Brad and Quin offer an inspirational profile of Lillian Blackwell Fowler, one of this year's five inductees into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame. Fowler receives the award posthumously for her contributions to the Chickasaw Nation.

Be sure to watch these stories and more, and for even more valuable information, go to Chickasaw.net.

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