Jay Wesley is a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and he is also the Director for the Department of Chahta Immi which consists of the following programs: the Choctaw Tribal Language Program, the Cultural Affairs Program, the Special Projects/ Media Program, and the Chahta Immi Cultural Center.
Jay graduated from Choctaw Central High School in 1993. After graduation, Jay enlisted into the United States Marine Corps for 8 years. He has traveled extensively around the world due to his military service. This experience has allowed him to be immersed in different languages and cultures in such places as Japan, Mexico, and Hawaii. He has been the manager of training operations for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense at different Marine Bases for over 6 years. After his military service, he received an A.A. degree in General Studies, an A.A.S. degree in Advanced Water Treatment from the Arizona Western College, a B.S. degree in Human Services from the University of Phoenix – Yuma Campus, and currently working on his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Belhaven College. Jay has been working with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians since 2005.
As a cultural tradition bearer, Jay has had the privilege of representing the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians around the Southeastern Region and also at an International Folk Festival in Confolens, France in 2012 as a part of a performance group. Jay is a cultural researcher, presenter, and provides training on Choctaw cultural artforms to inspire, promote, embrace and enhance the Cultural heritage of the Choctaw people.
Source: Jay Wesley