“Ayiksa Tooka,” the 2025 Celebration Week of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, came to a close following a fun week of activities Oct. 13-17 in which young and old alike celebrated the tribe’s unique heritage and traditions.
There were numerous activities throughout the week and lots of playful competition among the tribe’s 12 clans. The week kicked off with Kids Day at the ballpark. Festivities included a kids clan parade and scavenger hunt, volleyball, cornhole, relay races and tug of war, a pickle eating contest and a pie eating contest. Other activities included an elder pottery class, frybread dough making and a frybread contest, a gospel singing, canoe races, kayak races and a lip sync contest.
The culmination of the week was the tribal Celebration Week dinner, followed by the State of the Nation Address given by Tribal Council Chairwoman Cecilia Flores.
“It is my distinct honor, privilege and duty to report to you, the citizens of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, the State of the Tribe remains strong, resilient, and continues to progress in all areas such as housing, education, infrastructure, positive economic impact, building a strong workforce, cultural and language preservation, and remaining steadfast as a sovereign nation,” Flores said.
“I want to first acknowledge our ancestors who have made a permanent home for us here on this sacred ground, due to their perseverance, determination and belief in God, Creator above. Alabama-Coushatta Celebration Week must include our elders who have gone before us but leave their legacy which we enjoy today.”
She reported that the total tribal citizenship is 1,441, with 657 members living on the reservation and 784 members living off the reservation.
The tribal chairwoman emphasized the importance of the tribe’s progress during the past year in various areas, including cultural and language preservation, economically, workforce, education, healthcare, tribal housing and public safety.
Flores also acknowledged some of the individual accomplishments of tribal citizens throughout the past year. The first Alabama-Coushatta Citizen, Miss Heaven Four Bear, was crowned Miss Polk County in January 2025.
Two tribal citizens honorably retired from the United States Armed Forces serving 20+ years in defense of the United States. Roger Wesely retired from the United States Navy and Tina Spence Miller retired from the United States Space Force in conjunction with time in service in the United States Air Force.
Jamen Battise qualified for the 2025 AAU Junior Olympics in swimming, held in Houston. “We look forward to Jamen’s future events and hope to see him in on the U.S. Olympic swim team one day.”
Three tribal citizens participated in the 2025 Hood to Coast 12-man Relay from Mt. Hood to Seaside, Oregon in August. Jena Dickens, Lane Langley and Amanda Davis competed and ran their segment, an average of 16.5 miles each.
Julia O’Carroll, a resilient young lady, cancer survivor, business owner and proud tribal citizen, will compete in the New York City Marathon in November.
“I would like to reiterate what Mikko Istamatoolu Manathelka stated at the gospel singing event. We are one tribe with a rich history with our sister tribes – the Coushatta of Louisiana, Alabama-Quassarte in Oklahoma and the Muskogee Creek nation of Oklahoma. Historically, we lived amongst each other and today we welcome our relatives from the north and east. Our shared history leads us to this day, and we also celebrate our relatives,” Flores said.
“Lastly, for my address to you, as the federal government and at times the state government seem unstable, with government shutdowns and political boundary redistricting, we remain optimistic. We remain fair. We remain vigilant to hold true to our sovereign status, and lastly, we remain a praying community as our people were before us and our people to come after us.
On behalf of the entire tribal council, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe for your support, encouragement and continued prayers,” Flores said.
