Tribal chief delivers keynote to MSU students
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Chief Cyrus Ben gave the keynote address at Mississippi State University’s Native American/American Indian History Month earlier this month.
Ben was the keynote speaker for the event on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at the Fowlkes Auditorium in the Colvard Student Union on the Mississippi State University campus.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mississippi State University, MSU President Dr. Mark Keenum, the Office of Academic Access & Support Division of Access, Diversity, and Inclusion, the ISSA Club, faculty and students for their hospitality for allowing me to come and tell our story,” Ben said.
This event was hosted by the MSU Academic Access & Support office and included members of the Indigenous Students and Allies Association.
Choctaw Indian Princess Nalani Thompson was also in attendance and provided information regarding the Chahta Immi Cultural Center. Tribal Member and current CCMS American Indian Day Princess Karsyn Wallace sang the national anthem in the Choctaw language.
ISAA members K.J. Butler, Tatianna Willis, and Michael Wilson were on a panel to discuss Native American Students in Higher Education. ISAA President Rayven McMillan performed for the crowd before introducing Ben for his keynote speech.
This was part of a slate of events that started earlier that day and ended with a mixer on Nov. 21 at the Butler Guest House next to Davis Wade Stadium.
This has been one of many presentations Tribal Chief Ben, Princess Nalani Thompson, the Office of Public Information, and the Department of Chahta Immi have done this month for Native American Heritage Month, said Misty Brescia, director of public relations for MBCI.
“It’s been a busy month,” she said.
During his trip to Starkville Ben met with MSU with Keenum where they discussed “future partnerships,” according to university spokesman Sid Salter.
Ben also took the opportunity to highlight the Tribal Scholarship Program, calling it “one the most successful programs of the Tribe.”
“For years, our Tribe has fought to break barriers and remain a staple within Mississippi history,” Ben said. “Our ancestors fought relentlessly to keep our identity here. I can only imagine how proud they must be seeing such progress by our college scholars who are becoming doctors, teachers, lawyers, or anything they desire to be.”
They currently have 414 Tribal scholarship recipients where 70 are enrolled at MSU.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the students who take advantage of the resources we have to offer for them,” Ben said.