The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma celebrated the opening of the new Durant Community Center on Chahta Way during a ribbon cutting ceremony last week with tribal members, community leaders, tribal council members, and Choctaw Nation leadership.
According to the Choctaw Nation, the new facility provides expanded space for programs, services, cultural activities, wellness initiatives, and community events. It will serve as a place where Choctaw families of all ages can gather, learn, connect, and grow together.
The new community center is approximately 12,500 square feet, almost 3,000 square feet more than the existing center. The facility includes a large multipurpose room for events and activities, office spaces and a commercial kitchen.
Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton thanked those attending and said the tribe’s faith, family and culture were on display.
“That’s what this building is all about is to make sure that we show God’s love, grace and mercy to all that come here,” Batton said. “This should be a place of refuge, a place where people can come, fellowship, have a good meal. They’re able to get service delivery that’s desperately needed for their family and for their kids and I think about, we also see a lot of culture in regards to dressmaking.
“Our traditional shirts and all those type of things, pot- tery, all that’s happening here at this facility and it’s all for our seniors and for all of our people that need it. That’s what it’s here for.”
Batton praised the tribal council, and he spoke of the tribe’s recent purchase of the former Big Lots building for $80 million and the $10.3 million invested in the community center.
“We have a great council that’s willing to support that and make sure that we provide a great life for our tribal members and for the City of Durant and for Bryan County,” Batton said.
Batton recalled attending dinners at the former community center and seeing how packed it was. Now, more than 400 people can go into the new center.
“I hope as you come here, you’ll experience our language,” Batton said. “You’ll get to hear our Choctaw words being spoken. You’ll get to see a lot of our culture on display and more importantly, our faith and again to make sure that we provide services to our families, that’s what it’s here for and just thank you so much for coming out today and celebrating with us. Yakoke and God bless each and every one of you.”
Tribal council member for District 1 Thomas Williston said he had not planned to talk about the Trail of Tears, but after looking around, he could not keep from it.
“I would like everyone to think about, as we cut the ribbon on this new facility, how nice it is and all the surroundings, the buildings, you know, millions of dollars,” Williston said. “But you go back to 1830 when the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was signed, and our chiefs back then signed that treaty for our people to walk.
“They didn’t want to, but they followed the leadership of their chief. The chief then thought it was best for the people. So, they started a walk in October. Started in the coldest time of the year ill equipped, ill fed, but they walked, some barefooted, little ones to old and to the middle.”
Williston said some tribal members stayed behind as their families left for the long walk, and they probably knew they would never see them again.
“But the ones that stayed behind, they prayed for the ones that left with their family and their kids and their young sons and daughters as they moved, and they prayed that they would have a better day,” Williston said. “So, ladies and gentlemen, I think and I know, those prayers that were said from 1830 are being answered today and every day here in the Choctaw Nation.
“So, I think as a people we should be truly proud of what our nation has, what we have become today. The pain and suffering that our people had to endure to get us here today. We’re here because they prayed for us and they sang our hymns along the trail as they buried their young and old.”
James Dry, Choctaw tribal council member for District 9, thanked everyone involved in the project.
“Over 75 percent of the construction of this facility was done locally with local contractors, and I’m very proud of that,” Dry said.
He also thanked everyone for attending.
“Also, there’s a lot of Durant city council members here and we want to thank you on behalf of council and chief and all this and the hard work that now, instead of Big Lots Boulevard, it’s Chahta Way, so thank y’all for doing that,” Dry said. “This wouldn’t happen without this leadership, without Chief Batton and assistant chief and this tribal council.”
According to Dry, during COVID, the tribe was providing drive-thru meals and it was realized that a new building was needed.
“One thing that’s been awesome the past few years is we started the development of five-year plans and stuff and we got that on the plan because the seniors said, ‘James we need a new community center.’ I’m like, ‘I know, I know.’
Dry said the facility was built for the whole community, and he praised the group that operates the facility smoothly.
“It does take a team, and we have an awesome team here,” Dry said.
