Beasley Denson
Encyclopedia
Beasley Denson served as Miko or Tribal Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
from 2007 to 2011. He is the third person to become Tribal Chief since the tribe adopted its modern constitution.
Beasley Denson defeated 28-year incumbent Phillip Martin by 211 votes with Denson receiving 1,697 votes to Martin's 1,486.
The votes were disputed, and Sunday was the last day to challenge the results. But Martin issued a written statement saying the campaign is over, offering his congratulations to Denson and urging tribal members to move on from the election. Now, with Martin's words, "Let us unite as a tribe."
Denson defeated Martin on a campaign predicated on putting the interests of tribal members ahead of non-tribal members. Ultimately, the slogan and chant "Chahta First" emerged as the theme of Denson's successful campaign.
speaker, Miko Beasley Denson was born in the Conehatta Community and raised in the Standing Pine Community of Choctaw, Mississippi
. He is the son of the late David Denson and Bema Steve York. He graduated from Choctaw Central High School and earned an associate’s degree from Hinds Community College
and Mississippi State University
.
He has been married to his wife Lena John Denson of Red Water and Pearl River, for 36 years. The couple has two sons, Michael David and Darren Keith, one daughter, Lane, a son in law, Oga, and six grandchildren. He has two sisters, Angela and Rita, and a brother, Douglas Sam.
Miko Denson also served on the Choctaw Gaming Commission for two years and was an officer on the National Indian Education Board and the Board of Directors for United Southeastern Tribes. Currently, Miko Denson serves on the Board of the Native American Rights Fund
, the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Native Americans and Tribes and he is Treasurer of the Sovereign Nations Alliance, a political action committee created to further the legislative goals of Indian Country at the federal level.
Miko Denson prides himself on being an open and accessible leader and believes in putting Chahta first. His adherence to this philosophy can be seen across the Reservation. He is passionate about improving life on the Reservation for Tribal members and in his two years as Chief, despite the country’s economic recession, he has made progress reducing the back log of Tribal housing, improving the health care system and upgrading educational facilities.
The Choctaw Indian Reservation contains some 35000 acres (141.6 km²) of tribal lands situated in ten different Mississippi counties. This land is held in trust for the benefit of the Choctaw Tribe by the federal government. The Tribe has eight officially recognized Choctaw Indian communities. The names of these sites are Pearl River, Red Water, Bogue Chitto, Crystal Ridge, Standing Pine, Tucker, Conehatta, and Bogue Homa. Pearl River, located in Neshoba
, is the largest Choctaw Indian community, and is the site of Tribal government headquarters, as well as Pearl River Resort
.
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is one of three federally recognized tribes of Choctaw Indians. On April 20, 1945, the tribe organized under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. Also in 1945 the Choctaw Indian Reservation was created in Neshoba and surrounding counties...
from 2007 to 2011. He is the third person to become Tribal Chief since the tribe adopted its modern constitution.
Beasley Denson defeated 28-year incumbent Phillip Martin by 211 votes with Denson receiving 1,697 votes to Martin's 1,486.
The votes were disputed, and Sunday was the last day to challenge the results. But Martin issued a written statement saying the campaign is over, offering his congratulations to Denson and urging tribal members to move on from the election. Now, with Martin's words, "Let us unite as a tribe."
Denson defeated Martin on a campaign predicated on putting the interests of tribal members ahead of non-tribal members. Ultimately, the slogan and chant "Chahta First" emerged as the theme of Denson's successful campaign.
Personal life
A fluent ChoctawChoctaw language
The Choctaw language, traditionally spoken by the Native American Choctaw people of the southeastern United States, is a member of the Muskogean family...
speaker, Miko Beasley Denson was born in the Conehatta Community and raised in the Standing Pine Community of Choctaw, Mississippi
Choctaw, Mississippi
Choctaw is an unincorporated community and Indian reservation in Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States. It is the home of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the only federally recognized Indian tribe in Mississippi....
. He is the son of the late David Denson and Bema Steve York. He graduated from Choctaw Central High School and earned an associate’s degree from Hinds Community College
Hinds Community College
Hinds Community College is a community college with its main campus located in Raymond, Mississippi, about five miles west of Jackson, the state capital. The Hinds Community College District includes Hinds County, Claiborne County, part of Copiah County, Rankin County, and Warren County...
and Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
.
He has been married to his wife Lena John Denson of Red Water and Pearl River, for 36 years. The couple has two sons, Michael David and Darren Keith, one daughter, Lane, a son in law, Oga, and six grandchildren. He has two sisters, Angela and Rita, and a brother, Douglas Sam.
Political career
Miko Denson assumed the responsibilities of the office in 2007 with extensive experience in Tribal government and Tribal industry. He was first elected to the Tribal Council in 1975. During his five terms, he served as both Secretary Treasurer and Vice Chief.Miko Denson also served on the Choctaw Gaming Commission for two years and was an officer on the National Indian Education Board and the Board of Directors for United Southeastern Tribes. Currently, Miko Denson serves on the Board of the Native American Rights Fund
Native American Rights Fund
The Native American Rights Fund, also known as NARF, is a non-profit organization that uses existing laws and treaties to ensure that state governments and the national government live up to their legal obligations...
, the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Native Americans and Tribes and he is Treasurer of the Sovereign Nations Alliance, a political action committee created to further the legislative goals of Indian Country at the federal level.
Miko Denson prides himself on being an open and accessible leader and believes in putting Chahta first. His adherence to this philosophy can be seen across the Reservation. He is passionate about improving life on the Reservation for Tribal members and in his two years as Chief, despite the country’s economic recession, he has made progress reducing the back log of Tribal housing, improving the health care system and upgrading educational facilities.
Tribe information
The MBCI, with an enrolled membership of 9,660, is the only federally recognized tribe in the State of Mississippi. The Tribe provides a range of government services for its members including schools, a hospital, medical clinics, police and fire protection, courts, an elderly care center and many others.The Choctaw Indian Reservation contains some 35000 acres (141.6 km²) of tribal lands situated in ten different Mississippi counties. This land is held in trust for the benefit of the Choctaw Tribe by the federal government. The Tribe has eight officially recognized Choctaw Indian communities. The names of these sites are Pearl River, Red Water, Bogue Chitto, Crystal Ridge, Standing Pine, Tucker, Conehatta, and Bogue Homa. Pearl River, located in Neshoba
Neshoba County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 28,684 people, 10,694 households, and 7,742 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 11,980 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
, is the largest Choctaw Indian community, and is the site of Tribal government headquarters, as well as Pearl River Resort
Pearl River Resort
Pearl River Resort is a Native American-run resort located in Choctaw, Neshoba County, Mississippi. It is owned and operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians....
.