KINGSTON, Okla.—The Chickasaw Children's Village in Kingston, Oklahoma, recently celebrated 20 years of providing a safe and nurturing home-like environment for First American youth from kindergarten age through high school.
The Chickasaw Children's Village is a place chosen by many Chickasaw families for students from first-graders to high school students to live while getting their education. The village offers a safe, nurturing environment, as well as developing individual needs assessments for each student. The staff focuses to address each student's emotional, spiritual, social and physical needs.
Students at the village attend classes and extracurricular activities in the local public school system. At the village, they can receive tutoring services and flexible academic curriculum, including courses for college-bound, vocational, remedial, special education and at-risk students.
The students stay in cottages, which accommodate eight students and two house-parents. Students have access to a library, computer lab, mental wellness resources, agriculture education facility and recreation areas. Hiking, gardening and livestock programs are offered, which teach responsibility and life skills.
At the village's anniversary celebration, Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said the institution's success has resulted from a concentrated effort to focus on what is important: the young people and meeting their emotional, spiritual, social and physical needs.
"We have determined all these years to do our best to get it right," Governor Anoatubby said at a reception commemorating the 20-year anniversary of the children's village. "When it comes to the children's village, I really do believe we got it right.
"All this time, there has been a focus on what's important. While we're commemorating this moment in time, let's also reflect on these two decades of profound and transformative impact this program has had, and the facility has had, on the lives of hundreds of youth."
Governor Anoatubby said the overriding goal is the same as when the Chickasaw Nation first invested in the future of Chickasaw and other First American children.
"The inception of the children's village was born out of a desire to provide a nurturing environment for our young people-a place where the challenges of the present are met with the enduring strength and wisdom of our Chickasaw history, courage and heritage.
"We're just as committed today and remain committed to fostering resilience, personal growth, the cultural identity of all of our students. The success stories that emanate from this village demonstrate the profound impact this place has had on lives," he said.
Sallie Wallace has served as the Chickasaw Children's Village director since the facility opened on its 160-acre grounds along Lake Texoma. Wallace said she and her staff have assisted numerous tribes from Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Washington state.
"For a number of years, our students have maintained an overall GPA (grade-point average) of 3.0 and above," Wallace said.
"With respect, honesty and integrity, passion, sympathy, empathy, love and devotion to the children's village, we are 20 years strong. We are so proud to be a part of this great Chickasaw Nation," she said.
