2006年VOA标准英语-Chickasaw Nation Prospers Among Native American

By Joseph Mok
Washington, DC
18 October 2006
 
watch Chickasaw Nation

 
As indigenous¹ people, Native Americans are distinctive² in American society with their own language, culture, and history.  But that has not stopped many Native Americans from embracing mainstream³ society.  For producer Joseph Mok, VOA's Elaine Lu takes a look at the Chickasaw Nation.

Today, the Chickasaw Nation is prospering⁴ with its own bank, chocolate factory, casinos, movie theater, and FM radio station. Chickasaws see themselves as very much part of the mainstream society. 

The Chickasaw Nation was officially formed in 1856, in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.  Known as a courageous⁵ people among Native Americans, the Chickasaws were called the unconquered or unconquerable.  These historically fierce warriors⁶ settled in south-central Oklahoma in the mid⁷ 1800s. 

 
Tom Cole
Today the Chickasaw's influence goes even as far as Capitol Hill where Congressman⁸ Tom Cole is the only Native American representative on the Hill.

"I am Chickasaw! People forget there are 500-plus different tribes. They range in size from a few dozen members to the Cherokees who are over 200,000. They have very different traditions, different languages, and different histories and find themselves in different legal situations, everything from the great tribal⁹ reservation of Indians, the Sioux, the Navajo.  Tribal sovereignty is not a gift."

Cole says tribal sovereignty and treaty rights are often violated, and he plays a pretty major role in the Congress to defend them. "I look on as one of my functions to try to make sure that does not happen and be very aggressive in defending tribal interest in Washington DC."

Chickasaws were known as one of the "Five Civilized¹⁰ Tribes" because of their highly developed ruling system. Lieutenant¹¹ Governor of Chickasaw Nation Jefferson Keel attributes part of Chickasaw's achievements to the system.

 
Jefferson Keel
Keel says it's the Chickasaw people who made it happen. "The most precious cultural resource we have is our people and our language, that's what sets us apart from all the other organizations in this country. We are not an organization -- we are a tribe; a nation of people. The people and their needs have to be forefront. They have to be the basis for all that we do. Our people have to embrace our vision. They have to support it."

And Keel says the Chickasaws are embracing the future with a commitment to promoting small business and developing professionals like lawyers and doctors to better serve the community. 

Lieutenant Governor Keel adds, "We have learned to embrace the dominant¹² culture or mainstream society, their rules and regulations. And, be good citizens. We have to be good citizens. And participate in this United States of America. We are citizen of America. We are citizens of Oklahoma. And, we are citizen of the Chickasaw nation."

There is also growing interest in Native American culture by mainstream American society. Congressman Cole notes the increased popularity of Native American art and jewelry¹³.  He says there is a Native American renaissance¹⁴ taking place as more and more of the country is appreciating the heritage of Native Americans.

1 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

2 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

3 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

4 prospering   

成功，兴旺( prosper的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Our country is thriving and prospering day by day. 祖国日益繁荣昌盛。
• His business is prospering. 他生意兴隆。

5 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

6 warriors   

武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
• The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。

7 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

8 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

9 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

10 civilized   

a.有教养的，文雅的

参考例句：

• Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
• rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

11 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

12 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

13 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

14 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。