It was wonderful, it was beautiful a traditional Choctaw Wedding
The Groom - Choctaw - Elijah Voliva Cole
The Bride - Lakota Karen Hartsfield-Cihal
Curtis Billy narrated the services
Minister Olin Williams performed the Christian vows
The festivities started with Curtis Billy telling the history and the early traditions of our people. The wedding starts first by the engagement. Elijah, as tradition call for, tossed a small stick in the direction of Karen while in a public setting to see if she is interested in his proposal.. If she picks up the stick she accepts his proposal and the wedding if not she leaves the group setting and he would have know she was not interested .........Karen accepted and the wedding was on ..................
the bride has one last chance to change her mind, she starts running if the groom can catch her before she reaches the pre designated "line" they will wed. If she has changed her mind she will run like the wind to keep him from catching her. Here you see Karen teasing a little running fast as though she did not want to get caught ... but then slowing down to make sure he catches her.
Then we dance the stealing partners dance
Per tradition then the couple asked Victoria Harrison to spread
the blanket over the seating for the bride and groom - then the respective
chosen ones (like best man & maid of honor in today's weddings) seat the
couple. Bill Harrison seated Karen and Michael seated Elijah
the family accepts the couple with the brides family offering food - Kathy and Carolyn were the representatives of the brides family
Tradition calls for the bride and groom to not received gift like weddings of today but to give gifts
Here Karen gifts women at the wedding to include Okla Chahta Clan 2004 Princess Elizabeth Bryant
The groom's family representative accepts the bride by wrapping the couple in a blanket. Elijah asked Theresa Harrison to represent his mother.
The vows both traditional and Christian are exchanged by the couple with Olin Williams performing the ceremony
You may kiss your bride
We dance (wedding dance on the left)
the wedding concluded with the signing of the Lord's Prayer
The Wedding Song
Below are pictures of the Karen and Elijah with family and friends
Karen and Elijah before the wedding Theresa Harrison & Victoria Harrison (Board Member - Okla Chahta Clan) with Karen
Congrats from Bill Harrison - President of Okla Chahta Clan ***** The Couple enjoys talking Elijah's councilman - Ted Dosh
Elijah and Karen are congratulated by Chief Gregory Pyle ***** "father" of the Groom Michael