08/14/2025
Proud to know this one! Congratulations Tina!!
Meet the School of Choctaw Language Apprentices
Sv hohchifo hvt Tina Tomlinson. Tvshka ko si ahofanti makash inli vtta li moma. Hattak achukma itahalvlli li tuk. Vlla hochukma tahlapi hosh pi maya. Pi pok vlla tuchina hosh pi yukpachi bilia. A chukka achvffa vhleha yvt vm afehna chiyyohmi. A chukka achvffa Iba antta li kvt vm achukma. Hvpishnakosh kanikma TV e pisa, kanikma Guitar Hero okla e washoha, ikma kanikma impa hosh binohmayakma. Sv na yukpa bilia oke! Si okchaya takla ka, toksvli ittimilaiyuka atoksvli li tuk, ehokakosh Chahta Anumpa Ikhvna sv toba cha toksvli yvmma mihechi kvt achoyukma hoke! Chahta sia kvt vm achukma beka tuk, yohmi kia program pa tahli li tuk vlhi kash, Chahta aiyvmohmi achoyukmvt ikhana li hoke! Himakano, Chahta sia kvt ikhana li fehna! Hlampko i shahlit ikhana li hoke! Chahta anumpa iesh*t apela lik makachi!
Hvpi miko vhleha micha nushkaboka vhleha aiena kvt hvpi apela ka okla yvmma Yakoke im achi sv bvnna hoke! Hvpim anumpa holitopa akosh illikma, hvpim Chahta aiyvmohmi, aiena kvt illashke.
Hopakichash, hvpim Chahta vssvnochi vhleha yvt i Chahta anumpa anumpuli bvnnahma, Okla okpulo vhleha yvt ik im isso tuk, makatako Chahta anumpa il anumpahonli makachi. CHAHTA SIA HOKE!
My name is Tina Tomlinson. I am from and still live in Tushka, Oklahoma. I am married to a wonderful man, and we have five amazing children. We also have three beautiful grandchildren who always keep us smiling! Whether it be watching TV, talking together while eating a big meal, or playing Guitar Hero, spending time with my family is very important to me. Without them, I would be lost. Throughout my life, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a variety of occupational fields, but being a Choctaw Language Apprentice has, by far, been the most fulfilling. Although I was proud to be Choctaw before entering this program, this apprenticeship has allowed me to gain a better insight into our history and the resilience our ancestors exercised. I will be graduating from this program with increased humility, a deeper understanding of the Choctaw Culture, and a passionate sense of urgency to help keep the Choctaw language alive. I am grateful we are fortunate enough to have Tribal leadership that grasps the importance of the Language Department, because if our language dies, soon too will our culture.
E chi yakoke Tina for your labor to preserve our Choctaw Language. We are grateful for your diligence in your language preservation endeavors.