Tribal students sing national anthem at Ole Miss game

Students from Choctaw Tribal Schools participated in Native American Heritage Night by singing the American national anthem during the Ole Miss vs. South Carolina game on Feb. 19. 

Tribal students took to the court and sang in their native language before the game began. 

Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben and 2022-2023 Choctaw Indian Princess Cadence Nickey presented stickball sticks and a stickball to Chancellor Glenn Boyce and Athletics Director Keith Carter. 

“I appreciated the opportunity for our Tribe to be recognized and sing the national anthem in our language,” Ben said. “It was also great to see our own Tribal member Asa Jimmie serving as student manager on the court.” 

Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin talked about feeling the Choctaw spirit during her after-game press conference. 

“I hope they understand that we belong,” McPhee-McCuin said. “We’ve been right there, and I’m not just talking about South Carolina, I’m talking about LSU, Utah, and Oklahoma. We’re right there. I can taste it.” 

McPhee-McCuin received a medallion from Chief Ben, which she showed off at the press conference and plans to take it with her wherever she goes. 

“We were banking in shots, we were doing stuff, and I felt the spirit, baby,” she said. “This medallion is part of the Tribe and it’s honorary. We’re just going to keep going and keep moving forward.”