Choctaw Days at NMAI

Choctaw Days in the nation’s capitaln

By Lisa ReedThousands of people from around the world will soon have the opportunity to absorb the sights, sounds and culture of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and the Choctaw Nation are working together to provide a memorable experience for visitors and those who live in the Washington, D.C. area. The Choctaw Days event will be held June 22-25 during NMAI’s height of the tourist season when an average of 1,500 visitors come to the museum every day.

“We are honored to be the first American Indian tribe from Oklahoma to have a festival of this kind at the National Museum of the American Indian,” said Chief Gregory E. Pyle. “I remember when the museum opened on the National Mall almost seven years ago and I have visited NMAI numerous times since. It is a remarkable place, showcasing hundreds of tribes from South, Central and North America.

“We have assembled several of our best artists, dancers, singers and cultural experts. We know that we will have a different audience than we are accustomed to and want to ensure that they all understand just how special our tribe is,” he said.Comment:  For more on the NMAI, see Oneida Nation Gives Another $1 Million to NMAI and NMAI Plans "Complete Reinstallation."