DURANT, Okla. (KXII) – Since 2018, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has been giving back to local communities through its Community Partnership Fund, and this week the tribe distributed checks throughout southeast Oklahoma.
On Wednesday, the Choctaw Nation presented the city of Durant with $305,800. A portion of those funds will be used for the estimated $1 million animal shelter.
“We desperately need a new animal shelter, and we have one in the design stages right now that we hope to have started this next year in 2026,” said Pam Polk, Durant city manager.
Bryan County was presented with $35,000 to aid in projects such as road repairs and the development of the county.
“It’s very essential to the county. We use that for various building projects and the upkeep part. Other buildings are courthouse and annex,” said Justin Boone, District 2 County Commissioner for Bryan County.
The tribe distributes this money quarterly, but the total amount is presented toward the end of the year on a check.
“The reason we do this is we want to be good partners, good stewards of tribal dollars to help our community in any way,” said James Dry, Choctaw Tribal Council District 9.
Jack Austin Jr., Assistant Chief of the Choctaw Nation, said the funds come from the tribe’s revenue-generating operations.
“If we’re able to lift up, help a community in our reservation, that helps not only that community, it helps all people in that surrounding communities, but any revenue generating operations that we have, that’s where those funds come from,” said Austin.
The tribe distributed checks throughout the reservation in Southeast Oklahoma on Wednesday and plans to continue throughout the week.
“I think one of the things that’s excited me is to see the cities be able to not only operate daily, but to fund projects that they may have struggled with in the past,” said Austin.
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