Choctaw Chronology

Part I | Part II | Part IIII | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII

Part VI 1963-Present
1963 Choctaw Central High School opened on the Pearl River reservation.

1964 Ninety percent of the Choctaw population lived in poverty with average family income below $1,000 a year.

The Choctaw Community Action Agency was formed to plan construction of houses, offices, and utilities. Through the Economic Opportunity Act, a grant of $15,000 and assistance from university management experts, the agency was effective.

1965 Choctaw Housing Authority organized to provide new houses, renovate older houses, and replace houses lost for Choctaw families on the reservation.

October: James D. Hale became superintendent of the Choctaw Agency in Philadelphia.

1966 Phillip Martin was elected president of the Choctaw Community Action Agency.

1968 Four Southeastern Indian tribes, the Seminole and Miccosukee from Florida, Cherokees of North Carolina and Choctaws of Mississippi, met in North Carolina for the signing of a Declaration of Unity. The United Southern Tribes organized to work "to promote our common welfare and benefit" in the areas of health, education, economics and relations with other Americans. Chairman Emmett York signed the declaration for the Mississippi Choctaws.

Construction of the Standing Pine Watershed began. Included are three flood water retarding structures that protects 6,000 acres in Leake and Neshoba Counties and will extend from the head of Standing Pine Creek to Pearl River.

Noblin Research, consulting economists, proposed an $11.4 million recreation- tourist complex on the Ross Barnett Reservoir to be established by the Choctaw Indians.

The Law and Order Program was established by the Secretary of the Interior on the Pearl River Reservation. The Branch of Law and Order was officially opened on September 24, when Neshoba County Circuit Judge O.H. Barnett ruled that the state of Mississippi did not have jurisdiction on the Choctaw reservation.

November: John F. Gordon took over as superintendent of the Choctaw Agency.

1969 Chahta Development Company was organized on the Pearl River Reservation to provide training and employment to members of the Choctaw tribe and to contract with governmental entities and private organizations in the area to carry out construction projects.

With a $564,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), an initial 30 acre industrial park was laid out on the Pearl River reservation.

August 11: The United Southeastern Tribes Board of Directors met at Choctaw Central at Pearl River.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians gave $500 to the Mississippi Coast Relief Effort "We Care".

1970 Plans to develop "Nanih Waiya" mound and cave into major tourist attractions got under way.

The Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty Site was submitted for nomination to the "National Register of Historic Places".

July: Mrs. Phillip Martin (Bonnie Kate) represented the Choctaw Indian Tribe at the first National Seminar for Indian Women held in the United States.

August: An exclusively Indian staffed and administered Choctaw Youth Rehabilitation Center opened in the Tribal Council's Pearl River Community office complex.

Tribal Chairman Emmett York received the Indian Leadership Award of the Bureau of Indian Affairs for his outstanding leadership and invaluable contributions to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians during his past 22 years of service.

1971 The tribe completed what would become an 80 acre industrial park.

1972 The BIA, after first protesting "conflict of interest", finally agreed to appoint a full-blooded enrolled member of the Choctaw tribe, Robert Benn, as superintendent of the Choctaw Agency in Philadelphia.

1973 Law Enforcement Facility was built with a 21 person capacity, Bureau of Indian Affairs offices, and a court established under the Code of Federal Regulations.

November 7: The Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty Site, which is located in Noxubee County, Mississippi, was declared a national historic landmark.

1974 December: The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a ruling that the 1918 Act and subsequent acts and court decisions have declared that the Mississippi Choctaw Indians were not a Tribe and the Choctaw Reservation is not a Reservation over which the Federal Government has exclusive jurisdiction. The foundation was the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek that "deliberately terminated the guardian/ward relationship with the Choctaw Indians who chose to remain in Mississippi and since such Indians accepted the termination they are no longer subject to Federal-Criminal Jurisdiction under the Major Crimes Act". This ruling was later reversed by the Supreme Court.

1975 Calvin Isaac was elected Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

The Choctaw Health Center was opened at Pearl River.

Congress enacted the Indian Self Determination and Educational Assistance Act, which allowed tribes to receive all federal welfare programs and encouraged them to develop their own delivery systems for these funds.

A Tribal Referendum was held to amend the constitution of 1945.

1977 Phillip Martin returned to tribal government when he was elected once again as councilman.

1979 Chata Enterprise was established as a supplier for Packard Electric to assemble automotive wire harnesses for General Motors.

Phillip Martin re-elected Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

1980 September 27: The 150th Anniversary of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was celebrated on the Treaty Ground in Noxubee County, Mississippi.

1981 March 27: The Headstart/Parent Child Development Program Building was destroyed by fire.

Choctaw Tribal Chief Phillip Martin was elected president of the National Tribal Chairmen's Association.

The Choctaw Heritage Council was formed to educate the public of the Choctaw history and their contributions.

The Choctaw Museum of the Southern Indian opened its doors in the Community Building at Pearl River.

1983 Phillip Martin traveled to Los Angeles, Chicago, and Cleveland to encourage the loose communities of Mississippi Choctaws to return to the reservation. He promised them jobs and economic opportunities.

May: The Choctaw Greetings Enterprise, which operates on a lease agreement with American Greetings Corporation formally opened in the Pearl River Industrial Park.

Father Bob Goodyear, S.T. offered the first mass in the Choctaw language at the St. Catherine Catholic Church in Conehatta, Mississippi.

June: Phillip Martin was reelected.

October: Plant 2 of Chahta Enterprises opened in the Pearl River Community in the Pearl River Industrial Park.

December: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians took over all management of the Choctaw Health Center in the Pearl River Community.

1984 Choctaw unemployment was down to 28 percent and falling.

1985 May 13: Ground breaking ceremonies for the Early Childhood Education Center at Pearl River were held. The new center will serve as a step in meeting the educational need of the Choctaw children.

Choctaw Electronics Enterprise opened in the Pearl River Industrial Park. The plant manufactured speakers for use in Chrysler automobiles.

Choctaw Tribe gains control of the total Law Enforcement Function from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

1986 The average, annual Choctaw family income was up to $11,000.

February: The 16-member Tribal Council accepted a proposal for Choctaw Reservoir, a 10,000 acre reservoir on the Pearl River to be located close to the Pearl River Reservation.

The Choctaw Indian Fair was officially recognized by the Southeastern Tourism Society as one of the top 20 attractions in the Southeast.

September: Chahta Enterprises opened its third plant in DeKalb, Mississippi. The major function of the plant would be the assembly of automotive and non- automotive wiring harnesses.

October: Choctaw Manufacturing Enterprise, which produces a variety of electronic devices and circuit boards for the automotive and other industries, opened. It is located in the Leake County Industrial Park.

1987 June: Phillip Martin was elected to a third consecutive four-year term as chief.

November: The Choctaw Residential Center Enterprise, a 120-bed nursing facility was opened in the Pearl River Community.

1988 Congress enacted the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

Choctaw Agency Superintendent Robert Benn was assigned Eastern Area Administrative Officer in Washington, D.C.

June: The Green House was opened on the Choctaw Reservation at Pearl River.

August: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians were recognized for their support of the National Guard Reserve programs at the annual "Salute to Business and Industry" Banquet in Jackson, Mississippi.

1989 The average educational level among Mississippi Choctaws rose from the sixth grade in 1975 to the eleventh grade.

Choctaw Shopping Enterprise on Highway 16 about six miles west of downtown Philadelphia opened. The 28,545 square feet shopping center included Sunflower food store, The Citizens Bank, Two Bits Laundry and Arcade, Sun Rentals Video and Appliance, Arrowhead Petroleum, Choctaw Revolving Credit, Choctaw Federal Credit Union, a restaurant, Dollar General Store, a branch of United States Post Office, and Choctaw Office Supply.

April: Work began on a $4.7 Million Pearl River Elementary School on the Choctaw Reservation.

July: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw assumed local control of its schools, which were run by the U.S. Department of the Interior since the 1920's.

The site of the signing of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in Noxubee County was deeded to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. The Choctaw tribe is now responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the site and is now used for Choctaw burial.

1990 As a result of rapid economic growth, tribal unemployment fell below 20 percent. The tribe also experienced a 201 percent increase in annual per capita income since 1976.

July: WHTV, Choctaw Video signed on the air as an affiliate of The Learning Channel, Local Originated Programming, and Nostalgia to provide local cable access to the tribe.

Choctaw Pallet Company, a service of the Choctaw Development Company, opened to manufacture pallets for Dupont.

Chata Enterprise received the Q1 Award from Ford Motor Company. The Q1 Award recognizes commitment to quality and outstanding performance. Robert Benn returned from Washington, D.C. to resume his duties as Choctaw Agency Superintendent.

1991 June: Phillip Martin was elected to a fourth term as Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

July: Kidney Care Inc., a non-profit organization providing treatment for kidney disease, opened in Choctaw Shopping Center.

A new water treatment plant was dedicated by the Choctaw Utility Commission to ensure compliance with EPA requirements.

1992 January: First American Printing and Direct Mail of Ocean Springs, was acquired by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians as a 73,000 square-foot facility which provides printing, data management, direct mail, and telemarketing for a national-based clientele. February: Choctaw 2000 Educational Strategy Kick Off

March: Water Treatment Plant Opening

June: Choctaw Manufacturing Enterprise earns their first Q-1 Award.

September: The Choctaw Tribe provided hurricane relief to the Chitimachas, Houmas, Miccosukees and the Seminoles.

October: The Choctaws and Creeks hosted a USET meeting in Biloxi.

November 9: The Community/School Education Center, located behind Pearl River Day Care Center, opened to provide extensive innovative resource materials in reading, math, language arts, and spelling.

December: Meridian Naval Air Station held American Indian Heritage Day.

1993 October 5: Plans for a casino and resort complex on the Choctaw Indian Reservation at Pearl River were cleared in a tribal referendum 68% of the voters favored construction.

December: Ground was broken on the Choctaw Indian Reservation for the Silver Star Resort and Casino. The casino, to be located across Highway 16 from the Choctaw Shopping Center, will be under a management contract with Boyd Gaming Corporation of Las Vegas.

1994 Existing tribal enterprises employed 2,800 workers and projected annual sales in excess of $90 million.

Silver Star Resort and Casino opened on July 1, and the official grand opening was held on August 19. The Las Vegas-style resort included 100-room deluxe hotel, 40,000 square foot casino, three restaurants, 125-seat entertainment lounge, gift shop, and 1,200-space parking lot.

After the opening of the Silver Star Hotel and Casino the tribal government, enterprises and the casino combined employed over 4,200 people. The tribe is among the ten largest employers in the state of Mississippi.

June: First American Plastics, a tribal joint venture project, opened in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The plant manufactures plastic injection molding used for cutlery purchased by Perseco, a non-food purchasing agent for McDonalds.

August: A new elementary school was opened in the Tucker Community.

December: Just six months after opening the Silver Star Hotel and Casino announced a 25,000 square-foot expansion.

1995 The tribe started construction on a 55,000 square-foot entertainment center to be located at the Silver Star Hotel and Casino.

The Choctaw Tribal Council allotted $13 million from the first-year casino profits to be placed in a general fund to be used for improved housing, medical facilities and schools.

Silver Star Hotel and Casino's fine dining restaurant, Phillip M's was inducted into the Chaine des Rotisseurs, the oldest and largest gastronomic organization in the world.

A new day care center was constructed in the Conehatta community.

April 19: The tribe broke ground for a new manufacturing plant in Carthage. The new plant, part of the Choctaw Manufacturing Enterprise operation at the Leake County Industrial Park near the tribe's Red Water and Standing Pine communities, will include 45,000 square feet of additional manufacturing space.

April 20-22: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians celebrated the 50th anniversary of its constitution an by-laws and the 1945 re-establishment of tribal government with three days of historical exhibits, symposia, visiting dignitaries (including Gov. Kirk Fordice, U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran and Rep. Sonny Montgomery) and a variety of entertainment on the Pearl River Reservation.

May 4: The tribe signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA at the John C. Stennis Space Center, which was designed to enhance the tribe's education system.

There are now 866 houses developed by the Choctaw Housing Authority, with an added 135 under construction. This will brought the total to 991 houses built by the CHA since 1966.

June 13: Phillip Martin won a fifth consecutive term as Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

June 29: Silver Star Hotel and Casino held an open house for their new convention center. Included in the convention center is a state-of-the-art kitchen that can prepare food for 1,500 people seated in the 19,738 square foot ballroom. The room features a 960 square foot stage, a 12 by 12 video wall, high ceilings, crystal chandeliers and plush carpet.

September: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians received a grant of over $1.57 million for housing improvements from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The tribe signed a pact with the American Red Cross forging a working bond between them.

November 10 & 11: The First Annual Veteran's Day PowWow was presented by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Silver Star Resort & Casino.

Chief Phillip Martin and a delegation of tribal officials attended the launching of Space Shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Choctaw Central Warriors Football Team made to the Class 2A state playoffs for the first time in the school's history. They were defeated in a second round match up against Newton.

December: The U.S. Department of Education awarded the Choctaw Tribal School System a federal grant of $235,785 to operate a Professional Development Program on the reservation.

1996 January: Silver Star Resort & Casino instituted a management training program for Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians tribal members.

February: Choctaw Central Warriors Boy's Basketball Team won the Division 5-2A State Championship.

March: Chief Phillip Martin announced construction of a new subdivision in the Pearl River community to be known as River Oaks Place Part One, a turnkey contract with Jim Walter Homes, Inc.

Choctaw Central Lady Warriors Basketball Team won the Class 2A State Championship. The Choctaw Central Warriors Boys Basketball Team came in second.

Choctaw Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Opened the doors on a 45,000 square foot expansion at the Carthage firm which manufactures electrical harnesses.

April: NASA dedicated a Teacher Enhancement Center to be located at Choctaw Central High School.

May: Chief Phillip Martin was inducted into the State of Mississippi Business Hall of Fame.

July 18: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's John C. Stennis Space Center Education Office, received the prestigious Hammer Award from the office of Vice President Al Gore's National Performance Review for their work in education reform.

Silver Star Resort & Casino, while working on a $60 million expansion, unveiled plans for a $16 million Choctaw Trails Golf Club.

August 2: The concert chorus of the University of the Phillippines presented a program honoring Chief Phillip Martin of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

October: Choctaw Tribal Schools joined GLOBE or Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, a federal government program headed by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. GLOBE program is found in almost 3,000 schools, including eight Choctaw Tribal schools, and 39 countries. The students are taking measurements and reporting their findings via the Internet. Silver Star Casino received the Employer of the Year Award from Chief Phillip Martin and Choctaw Vocational Rehabilitation, a service of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Silver Star was presented the award for its participation in supporting a changing work force and providing opportunities to those individuals with disabilities.

Choctaw Central Middle School received the Sportsmanship Award from Mississippi High School Activities Association and the Mississippi Farm Bureau Insurance for their conduct on the field of play.

1997 January: Farmer's Market Nutrition Program began to supply WIC clients and elderly members of the tribe with additional coupons to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from authorized farmers or farmers' markets.

February: Choctaw Central Lady Warriors won the Division 5-2A South State Championship for the second year in a row. The Warriors advanced as runner-up. Both teams advanced to the state championship.

March 6: Choctaw Central Lady Warriors beat Nettleton in the Mississippi Coliseum for their second consecutive Class 2A state championship. The warriors lose in the State Championship Semifinals.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians hosted its second annual Nutrition Health Fair in the Pearl River Community Center.

The National Tribal Environmental Council, a non-profit, tribal environmental organization, held its fourth national conference, "Healing Mother Earth, Our Sacred Duty," on the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Reservation.

The Choctaw Indian Fair was selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society's "Top 20 Events" for July and August.

Bok Chitto Elementary School was selected out of hundreds of schools to be one of 48 finalists world-wide in the International Schools CyberFair '97.

July 1: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians became the states newest "county," as identified by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

July 11: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians' Dancing Rabbit Golf Club, a multi-million dollar eighteen hole golf course designed by Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate, opened to members and Silver Star Hotel guests in the Pearl River Community.

Silver Star Resort and Casino added The Spa, a new health spa and exercise facility, St. Marks Hair Salon, The Villa Restaurant, an ice cream parlor, three new retail shops, a video arcade, 404 hotel rooms, and 90,000 square feet of gaming area to the facility just in time for celebration of the resort's third anniversary.

September 26: Ground was broken for a new Bogue Chitto Elementary School to replace the overcrowded structure which was built in the 1920s.

Choctaw Tribal Schools' facilities program received a level-1 Quality Interest Award during the Mississippi Quality Awards ceremony.

November 24: A historic accord was signed by Chief Phillip Martin and Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice pledging mutual respect and recognition and a spirit of cooperation. The accord was signed in the House Chamber of the Old Capitol in Jackson. The compact solidifies the government-to-government relationship that the Choctaw Indians and the state have shared for years. The executive branches including the employees, officers, departments and agencies are pledged to work with each other cooperatively for mutual benefit.

1998 February 19: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians hosted an Authors' symposium focusing on "American Indian Economic Success and Survival of Indian Culture in the 21st Century." Noted authors serving as panelists included John Edgerton, Will Campbell, Rob White, Peter Ferara, Lois Dubin, Mary Ann Wells, Fergus Bordewich and Bob Ferguson.

May 21: Silver Star Resort and Casino opened a new restaurant, the Chef's Pavilion featuring Mexican, Italian, Oriental, Country and Western and Seafood buffets.

July: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, along with the help of Senator Thad Cochran, were declared "self- regulated" by the United States Congress resulting in exemption from a new casino regulating tax.

September 23: Dancing Rabbit Golf Club was recognized as the Rehabilitation Association of Mississippi's Employer of the year.

October: Choctaw Housing Authority was awarded a grant by the United States Housing and Urban Development to fight drug abuse and other crimes. The $251,000 grant will be used to operate a comprehensive drug program on the reservation.

November 30: The Choctaw Environmental Education Nature Trail was opened off Black Jack Road on the Pearl River reservation. The focus of the 1.25 mile trail will be to enhance wetlands and restore habitats for deer, turkey, rabbit, black bear, and other wetland wildlife.

1999 March 12: Choctaw Central Warriors and Lady Warriors basketball teams won the Class 2A State Championship Titles.

June 8: Chief Phillip Martin was elected to a sixth consecutive term.

June 25: Bogue Chitto Elementary School opened its new state-of-the-art 57 room facility in the Bogue Chitto community in north-eastern Neshoba county.

June 26: The Dancing Rabbit Golf Club expanded with the opening of a second golf course, The Oaks. Along with the first course, The Azaleas, Dancing Rabbit operates 36 holes all designed by Jerry Pate and Tom Fazio. The second course is rated slightly tougher than the original.

July: The Choctaw Indian Fair celebrated its Fiftieth Anniversary.

2000 February 9: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians announced plans for a second casino to be a companion to the Silver Star and a new shopping center. Plans were also unveiled for renaming Pearl River Choctaw Community in order to establish a post office on the reservation

March 7: A tribal wide referendum was held for voters to decide on the fate of the second casino. The referendum was passed.

May 3: Choctaw Manufacturing Enterprise in Carthage was expanded.

An economic study of the effects of tribal industries and businesses on the state of Mississippi showed: Tribal businesses employ over 6700 and have and annual payroll of $123.7 million. Tribal businesses have been responsible for creating over 12,000 jobs statewide and spending over $95 million with Mississippi businesses.

May 22: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians hosted the fifth annual Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation Conference. The conference is designed to bring together those who serve Native Americans with disabilities.

October 23: Representatives from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the Spanish government, and the City of Vicksburg converged on what was formerly Choctaw and Spanish territory to commemorate the Treaty of Nogales, which was signed by representatives of the Choctaw Nation and the King of Spain on October 28, 1793.

November: Dancing Rabbit Golf Club was ranked number 20 on Golf and Travel magazine's list of America's best 40 resort courses.

November 16: The grad opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Choctaw Town Center, a newly constructed retail area took place along with groundbreaking ceremonies for The Golden Moon. The ceremonies included the temporary interactive exhibit, Choctaw Vision: Weaving our Past through the Future, as well as pyrotechnic water and laser show hosted by astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

December 4: Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new Choctaw Elderly Activity Center.

A newly created Supreme Court was organized within the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to make legal appeals more efficient. Three judges were appointed to serve on the court, Rae Nell Vaughn, who will serve as Chief Justice, Carey Vicenti, and Frank Pommershiem.

2001 January: The Mississippi band of Choctaw Indians was selected amongst six tribal communities nationwide to share nearly $1 million in grants for juvenile crime prevention and mental health improvements.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians began petitioning the United States Postal Service for its own ZIP code in an attempt to secure the designation of Choctaw, Mississippi and bring a federal Post Office to the reservation.

An interactive classroom that will allow Tribal students and adults to take video courses from learning institutions across the nation was dedicated at Choctaw Central High School.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians donated $50,000 to the National Center for Responsible Gaming, a group established to fund research and education of pathological and youth gambling.

Choctaw Central High School Lady Warriors' basketball team won the Division 5-3A regular championship.

January 31: The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians signed a construction contract with W.G. Yates and Sons Construction Company for the construction of The Golden Moon. The building contract totals $147 million. The anticipated completion of construction is mid 2002.

2007 Beasley Denson takes the oath of office to become Miko (Choctaw for Leader) Beasley Denson, the third Chief of the Tribe since adoption of their modern Constitution.

Continued