High school student fights for right to wear Native regalia and an eagle feather during commencement - Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes
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Follow us on Twitter #CATribalTribune www.CheyenneAndArapahoTribes.org May 15, 2019 -Vol. 15, Issue 10
High school student fights for right to
wear Native regalia and an eagle feather
during commencement
Latoya Lonelodge Staff Reporter items that hold significance within their
individual cultures. To uphold tradition
With success comes a great deal of that has been passed down from gener-
pride and honor as many students are ation to generation, one Native student,
anticipating and counting down the Tvli Birdshead is actively fighting for
days until their high school graduation. his right to wear an eagle feather, bead-
Completing a milestone such as high ed cap, and an honor cord that was pre-
school is an accomplishment for stu- sented to him by his tribe, the Chicka-
dents, a success story of its own, and saw Nation.
one of the last memories they will have Birdshead, 18, is a senior at Latta
parting ways into the next chapter of High School in Ada, Okla. Birdshead is
their lives. actively involved in the Native Ameri-
While students look forward to the can student life at school with clubs and
big day in excitement, others are facing maintains his grades as a National Hon-
challenges of their own in their fight to or Society student, and he takes great
freely express themselves culturally as pride in his heritage.
some Oklahoma schools continue to Birdshead said that when he went
deny Native American students the right to his principal at Latta High School
wear regalia and eagle feathers during to request permission to wear his eagle
Courtesy photos
graduation ceremonies. With Oklaho- feather, beaded cap and cord, he was
Tvli Birdshead, 18, fights ma being home to 39 Native American told no.
for his right to wear an eagle tribes, it leaves some baffled by these “I kind of already anticipated what
feather and regalia for his up- school decisions banning the wearing of Latta would say, they said no initially,
coming graduation ceremony regalia, beaded caps or eagle feathers. because you hear these stories every
at Latta High School in Ada, For centuries, Native Americans year and I had anticipated their answer.
Okla. Pictured with Tvli is his have praised the sacredness of specific It wasn’t that big of a shock to me but
mother, Taloa Birdshead.
BIRDSHEAD / pg. 8
Breaking ground on economic prosperity
The new Watonga Lucky Star Casino Hotel &
Convention Center slated to open in 2020
Rosemary Stephens, Editor-in-Chief square feet and double our
employment. This passage
One shovel of rich red Oklahoma soil marks the begin- from Denver, from Kansas,
ning of economic growth and prosperity for the Cheyenne everyone sweeps through
and Arapaho Tribes. here and we hope we catch
The tribes begin construction of the new Watonga Lucky some of that traffic and have
Star Casino Hotel & Convention Center with the official a lot of people stay and even
ground breaking held May 3, 2019 in Watonga, Okla. make this their destination to
The casino expansion will include the addition of a new come out to this rural area, to
five-story hotel comprised of 80 rooms, a hospitality suite, enjoy the peace and quiet and
full service restaurant and a 300-person capacity conference get away from all the hustle
center. Also included will be space for retail and an increased and bustle of city life.”
gaming floor with accommodations for up to 400 additional Wassana shared the Wa-
slot machines. tonga casino/hotel project
The Watonga Lucky Star Casino was first opened under was the first of many to come,
the name of ‘Feather Warrior’ in the early mid-1980s. It was “We’re not making this hap-
housed in the Watonga community center and then expanded pen just because of me and
into the now existing trailers. But the casino will now see an Lt. Gov. Miles, we’re making started with these trailers and they got moved out here, Marie
expansion on a scale it and the community have never seen this happen because of you and the legislators. And in order Whiteman prayed over this ground and her prayers were so
before. for things to progress we all have to get along, have the same strong and so good we are here today,” Buffalomeat said as
Cheyenne and Arapaho Gov. Reggie Wassana addressed thoughts and the same wishes. It all happens because we get Whiteman received a loud applause from the audience.
the audience expressing his thankfulness and excitement see- along, we get together, talk and reach the goals we see for the Arapaho District 1 Legislator Sutton told the audience,
ing the new hotel/casino project begin. tribes.” “It’s a good opportunity, today, but not just for today, for our
“I would like to welcome everyone but first of all I would Watonga lies in the Cheyenne and Arapaho District 1, people but not just for our people, but everybody here and it’s
like to say thank you. We’ve talked about this project, we’ve whose legislators are Cheyenne District Burl Buffalomeat a good opportunity for Watonga, Oakwood, Canton, Hitch-
heard about this project and there are some people in the com- and Arapaho District Billie Sutton. Both were in attendance, cock, Seiling, Geary … for all of us and the communities.
munity who still don’t believe it, but today we finally have along with several other members of the Cheyenne and Arap- Good things happened when we work together, so let’s con-
gotten to this point where we can say we are doing this (proj- aho Legislature. tinue to work together, not just our community or our govern-
ect),” Wassana told the audience. “It’s going to be a 100,000 “I want to thank Marie Whiteman because when this all WATONGA GROUNDBREAKING / pg. 7
PAGE 2 Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune Tsistsistas & Hinonoei
George Hawkins Memorial Treatment Center
undergoing expansion and renovations
Rosemary Stephens
Editor-in-Chief
The first step to recovery
from alcohol/substance abuse
is admitting and accepting
there is a problem.
The second step is reach-
ing out for help. And that help
may come in the form of at-
tending a treatment facility,
such as the George Hawkins
Memorial Treatment Center.
Owned by the Cheyenne
and Arapaho Tribes, the
George Hawkins Memorial
Treatment Center (GHMTC)
specializes in alcohol and
substance abuse recovery. On
May 1, 2019 a groundbreak-
ing ceremony was held on the
GHMTC grounds for the ren-
ovation and expansion of the
treatment facility.
The building in Clinton,
Okla., has been opened since
2002 and the new expansion
and renovations is welcomed
news for the staff who ded-
icate their lives to helping Photos / Rosemary Stephens
people find recovery from al- 1700 more square feet and it will allow our Center. As a provider in the realm of sub- school, with summers being the only time he
coholism and drug addiction. meeting room to expand, have a larger kitch- stance abuse treatment, it’s very important was allowed to spend time with his family.
“The expansion will add approximately en, dining area, three new counselor’s offices that we have adequate space and facilities After the ninth grade, George attended El
and a wellness room for our so that our clients can achieve successful Reno High School and was a member of the
clients, as well as more ren- treatment. Looking at the design of the fa- basketball team that beat Tulsa 35-5 in the
ovations throughout,” Nico- cility they kept in mind practical needs for 1932 Oklahoma State finals, making it El
las Barton, GHMTC director group rooms, the eating area and places our Reno High School’s fourth state basketball
said. clients can feel safe,” Winnie Whitetail said. championship.
Barton said each year they “I’ve been a treatment provider for almost 30 After high school George moved to Ft.
bring in, on an average of years, specializing in substance abuse and I Defiance, Ariz., to work for the C.C.C. put-
75-80 clients within a year. can say that using traditional practices and ting telephone lines across the Navajo Res-
“So at any one time there can our cultural ways in conjunction with the ervation. In 1936 he sent a telegraph wire to
be up to eight women, eight western ways, our Native people respond to Molette Chochran of Cherokee, Chickasaw
men, plus staff on site, so this Native providers, they respond to the Red and Chippewa descent, who was employed
building has been through Road to Wellbriety and to our own Cheyenne at the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian Agen-
some wear and tear,” he said. and Arapaho traditions and cultures, and we cy in Concho, Okla. In his wire he asked her
Under cloudy skies, guests will have a great success rate when those are to come to Arizona to marry him. Molette
gathered at GHMTC for the offered to the clients.” took a leave of absence, got in her Plymouth
groundbreaking. Chief Lar- One of the special guest speakers was De- Coupe, and with $20 in her pocket drove to
ry Roman Nose conducted lores Hawkins-Sullivan, daughter of George Ft. Defiance to marry George.
a blessing of the ground and Hawkins, whom the building was named af- A marriage that almost didn’t happen due
tribal elder Margaret Behan ter in 2002. to a 1936 law in Arizona stating white people
opened up the ceremony with “I am privileged to speak today on this could not marry Indians. Molette was very
prayer. Following, Cheyenne very special occasion. As the only child of light complected, often being mistaken as a
and Arapaho Gov. Reggie George Hawkins I believe I should tell you a white person. However, when they both pro-
Wassana greeted the guests, little something about him.” duced their birth certificates the marriage was
thanking everyone who About George ‘Lone Wolf’ Hawkins allowed to take place and they were wed May
played a part in getting the George ‘Lone Wolf’ Hawkins was born 5, 1936
treatment center expansion/ Oct. 3, 1912 in Calumet, Okla., to Katie Molette would give birth to their only
renovations in the works. In ‘White Woman Haag and Kish ‘Wolf Tooth’ child, Delores Hawkins on June 16, 1937.
attendance were many elders Hawkins. Kish as a farmer, an interpreter Their family was transferred to Window
who support recovery and during the Oklahoma Land Rush, and trav- Rock, Ariz., where the Bureau of Indian Af-
wanted to be a part of the eled many times to Washington D.C. to speak fairs at the Navajo Tribal Area Office em-
groundbreaking ceremony. on behalf of the Cheyenne Tribe. His mother ployed Molette and George.
Kyle Spottedhorse carries an architectural drawing of the “As a Cheyenne elder, Katie was considered one of the top beaders In 1942, after Pearl Harbor, George volun-
George Hawkins Memorial Treatment Center expansion to I’m really excited to attend in the area. teered to join the U.S. Army. He was assigned
be placed on display during groundbreaking ceremony. this groundbreaking for the The first nine years of George’s school to the 45th Infantry Division and fought in Af-
George Hawkins Treatment years were spent in a government boarding GHMTC EXPANSION / pg. 6
Cheyenne and Arapaho
Tribes host monthly
AICCO’s Leadership
Native Oklahoma meeting
Rosemary Stephens, Editor-in-Chief
(CONCHO, OK) Building strong lead- fy, evaluate and implement
ership within Native communities is a projects that are of value to
goal shared by both the American Indi- Native American business-
an Chamber of Commerce (AICCO) and es in Oklahoma.”
the leaders of the Cheyenne and Arapaho The LNO course in-
Tribes. That’s why when AICCO asked cludes seven monthly ses-
Cheyenne and Arapaho Gov. Reggie Was- sions, with a graduation
sana to host the May meeting, he quickly recognition ceremony held
agreed. each year. This year’s cer-
On May 6, with over 30 LNO partici- emony will be held Oct.
pants present, Wassana welcomed them to 8, 2019 during the Gather
Cheyenne and Arapaho Country. Business Summit at the
As hosts of the meeting, the tribes Choctaw Casino in Du-
shared information to the audience on a rant, Okla.
multitude of topics including Cheyenne The AICCO is an orga-
and Arapaho culture, language, the buffalo nization in which Amer-
program and the new justice center. ican Indian businesses, Photo / Christopher Roman Nose
According to the AICCO Website, tribal leaders and other American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma (AICCO) President Bailey Walker (left) and Ex-
LNO is a statewide organization encom- minority-owned business- ecutive Director of AICCO Ayla Medrano (right) presents Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Gov. Reggie Was-
passing Native American citizens from ev- es can come together with sana with a Leadership Native Oklahoma binder during the May monthly meetig held at the Cheyenne and
ery region of Oklahoma ensuring a diverse innovative ideas that will Arapaho Tribes.
group of leaders. promote and enhance the strong community. For this very reason, we ize that we all share in the responsibility
The Website also states, “LNO is a success of all American Indian people strive daily to seek resources that provide of creating economic growth within our
unique opportunity to foster cohesiveness alongside communities. returns to business owners through edu- great state.”
from a group of tribal leaders and future Baily Walker, AICCO president states cational sessions and networking events Following presentations and a catered
tribal leaders from different backgrounds. on the Website, “Our American Indian monthly. We are truly blessed in our native lunch provided by the tribes, the group
The hours spent together will create a bond Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma un- community to have tribal leaders, business embarked on a tour of the Cheyenne and
like no other organization across the state. derstands that in order to have a strong owners, educators and citizens who real- Arapaho buffalo herd in Concho, Okla.
Based on respect and interaction, to identi- economic environment you must have a
Tsistsistas & Hinonoei Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune PAGE 3
Oklahoma governor signs
bill combining Columbus Day
with Native American Day
Rosemary Stephens, Editor-in-Chief
(OKLAHOMA CITY) When the news media announced tional Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous pop-
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt was poised to sign a bill declar- ulations in America proposed that Indigenous Peoples’ Day
ing the second Monday in October as Native American Day, replace Columbus Day. And the fight to do just that has been
hopes of thousands of Native Americans living in Oklahoma ongoing every year up to and including 2018.
soared. A similar bill was vetoed last year by former Oklahoma
The hopeful feeling didn’t last long. Gov. Mary Fallin, who stated, ““I believe combining a new
What Gov. Stitt actually signed was Senate Bill 111 mov- Native American Day designation with the current Colum-
ing Native American Day from the third Monday in October bus Day holiday could be viewed as an intentional attempt
to the same day as Columbus Day, the second Monday in to diminish the long-standing support of November being
October, thus combining the two together. proclaimed annually as Native American Heritage Month in
““I think moving it to Columbus Day, I don’t see any Oklahoma, and the third Monday in November as ‘Oklahoma
downside to it at all,” Stitt said, according to the news agency. Native American Day.”
“It just gives us one opportunity to celebrate Columbus, but The first state to rename Columbus Day with Indigenous
also the Indigenous people here in America.” Peoples’ Day was South Dakota in 1990. Alaska, Minnesota,
But to many Indigenous people living in Oklahoma it falls Oregon, Vermont and Hawaii have done away with celebra-
short of giving honor to the many Native American tribes lo- tions of Columbus Day replacing it entirely with Indigenous
cated in Oklahoma. In the minds of many Native people is Peoples’ Day. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ap-
the fact the colonial takeovers of the Americas started with proved legislation in early April that replaces Columbus Day
Columbus, and led to the deaths of millions of Indigenous with Indigenous Peoples Day.
people and the forced assimilation of survivors. Generations Last year Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and El Reno
of Native American people have protested Columbus Day. In Mayor Matt White signed a proclamation declaring Oct. 8,
1977, for example, participants at the United Nations Interna- 2018 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Oklahoma City.
Eighteenth Regular Session of
the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
Seventh Legislature June 8
The 18th Regular Session of the Session are as follows: with Custer County for Indian Res-
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes’ Sev- Approval of the 16th Regular Ses- ervation Roads Bridge Program (IR-
enth Legislature will be held 9 a.m., sion minutes – April 13th, 2019. RBP) Funding for the construction of
Saturday June 8, 2019 at the Cheyenne Approval of the 18th Special Session the selected bridges as high priority re-
and Arapaho Tribes Dept. of Admin- minutes – April 29th, 2019. placement and reconstruction projects.
istration building conference room in A Resolution to Authorize the BIA A Resolution to support the FY
Concho, Okla. The legislature holds to enter into a Cooperative Agreement 2019 solicitation of proposals for eco-
their regular monthly sessions on the with Canadian County for Indian Res- nomic development feasibility study
second Saturday of each month. ervation Roads Bridge Program (IR- grant application funding from the Of-
The Constitution of the Cheyenne RBP) Funding for the construction of fice of Indian Energy and Economic
and Arapaho Tribes requires the Leg- the selected bridges as high priority re- Development (IEED), through its Na-
islature to convene in Concho for Reg- placement and reconstruction projects. tive American Business Development
ular Sessions. Article VI, Section 6, A Resolution to Approve the adop- Institute (NABDI).
subsection (a) reads, in part, “The Leg- tion and submission of the Cheyenne A Resolution to support the FY
islature shall convene in Concho for and Arapaho Tribes Department of 2019 solicitation of proposals for eco-
twelve Regular Sessions of up to two Transportation’s Indian Reserva- nomic development feasibility study
consecutive days beginning on the sec- tion Roads Bridge Program (IRRBP) grant application funding from the Of-
ond Saturday of each month beginning Transportation Plan (TIP). fice of Indian Energy and Economic
at 9 am...” A Resolution to Authorize the BIA Development (IEED), through its Na-
In addition, Article VI, Section 5, to enter into a Cooperative Agreement tive American Business Development
subsection (a) of the Tribe’s Consti- with Kingfisher County for Indian Institute (NABDI).
tution reads, in part, “The Legislature Reservation Roads Bridge Program A Resolution to support the FY
shall have the power to make laws and (IRRBP) Funding for the construction 2019 solicitation of proposals for eco-
resolutions in accordance with the of the selected bridges as high priority nomic development feasibility study
Constitution which are necessary and replacement and reconstruction proj- grant application funding from the Of-
proper for the good of the Tribes.” ects. fice of Indian Energy and Economic
The Legislative Process requires: A Resolution to Authorize the BIA Development (IEED), through its Na-
“All Bills shall be published in a Leg- to enter into a Cooperative Agreement tive American Business Development
islative Calendar for at least thirty with Blaine County for Indian Res- Institute (NABDI).
days prior to action on the Bill. All ervation Roads Bridge Program (IR- A Resolution to Approve a Reso-
Bills shall be made the subject of a RBP) Funding for the construction of lution that the leadership of the Chey-
public Legislative Hearing prior to ac- the selected bridges as high priority re- enne and Arapaho Tribes show support
tion on the Bill.” Article VI, Section 7, placement and reconstruction projects. that the Capital Sand Creek Massacre
sub-section (a) (ii). A Resolution to Authorize the BIA be located in the Southeast Corner of
Agenda items for the 18th Regular to enter into a Cooperative Agreement the Capital Grounds.
Gaming Per Cap updates and information
Deadline for Change of to you, which will delay mailed to you by calling database system can fill this
Address and W9 forms is your paperwork. The W9 the Enrollment Department form out on the minor’s be-
July 12, 2019. requires your full name, ad- at 405-422-7600 or 1-800- half. Should guardianship/
If you have not moved dress, social security num- 247-4612 ext. 27600 or custody change, an original
or do not have a name ber, signature, and date. printed off on www.chey- or certified copy of court or-
change, you do not need The address placed on the enneandarapahotribes.org/ der must be submitted to the
to submit a Change of Ad- W9 will be the address the project/forms/. Dept. of Enrollment verify-
dress and W9. You only check will be sent to. Please The Per Capita office ing guardianship. Originals
need to update your address keep in mind this address will mail your check or any and certified copies will be
with the Enrollment De- should match with Enroll- letters concerning your ac- returned via certified mail.
partment if these changes ment’s mailing address. count to your mailing ad- If you have any Child
pertain to you since the last The Per Capita office is dress on Change of Address Support, Student Loans,
per capita payment (De- not responsible for sending and W9. Once paperwork or Federal Garnishment
cember 2018). a per capita check to the is processed, the Per Cap questions that need to be
Please read instructions wrong address if the tribal office will review accounts addressed, please contact
carefully on the Change of member has failed to sub- to determine if any past due the Per Capita Office at
Address (COA) form and mit a current and correct checks are available for re- 1-800-247-4612 ext. 27725
W9. The COA form re- change of address form and issue. or 405-422-7725. All gar-
quires all areas to be filled W9 to the Enrollment De- Minor Change of Ad- nishments of Child Sup-
out according to instruc- partment. dress forms need to be no- port, Student Loans, and/
tions and to be notarized. Please submit all COA tarized and signed by their or Federal Garnishments
If all areas are not filled out Forms and W9 forms to legal guardian. Only the le- should be submitted to the
according to instructions, the Enrollment Department gal custodial parent(s) or le- Per Capita office by July
the forms will be returned by deadline. Forms can be gal guardian(s) listed in our 15, 2019.
Rosemary Stephens, Editor-in-Chief
T
Cheyenne
r i b a l
and
T r
Arapaho
i b u n e
Latoya Lonelodge, Reporter/Advertising Sales
405-422-7446 / rmstephens@c-a-tribes.org 405-422-7608 / llonelodge@c-a-tribes.org
1600 E. Hwy 66, Suite 8, El Reno OK / P. O. Box 38, Concho, OK 73022 Fax: 405-422-8204
Society of Professional Journalists members Oklahoma Press Association member Native American Journalist Association member
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ification, otherwise it will not be published. The Tribune reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Submission of a letter does not guarantee its publication. Photographs, news stories or other materials in
this publication may not be reprinted without prior permission. Printed by Lindsay Web Press, Lindsay, Okla.
2010-2018 NATIVE AMERICAN JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION MEDIA AWARD WINNER & 2012-2017 AWARD WINNER OF THE OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST
PAGE 4 Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune Tsistsistas & Hinonoei
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
transit program recognized
at 2019 conference and expo
(DURANT, OK) The Cheyenne and Arapaho Department
of Transportation’s (CADOT) Tribal Transit Program was
recognized on May 2, 2019 at the Oklahoma Transit Asso-
ciation annual Conference and Expo 2019 in Durant, Okla.,
with the Tribal Transit Excellence Award by Federal Transit
Administration Region 6.
The CADOT TTP was nominated and received the award
based on criteria such as submitting reports on time, spend-
ing grant funds completely, collaborating with other transit
agencies, and closing out grant contracts accordingly. The
CADOT TTP strives to ensure compliance with all of FTA
regulations while delivering services to tribal citizens in need
of transportation.
CADOT Executive Director Angela Bling said, “I would
like to add that I am very proud of our Tribal Transit Program
and each of the staff, from the transit drivers and dispatcher
that interact with our tribal members daily, to our office staff,
the administrative assistant and coordinator, in their roles to
ensure adherence to all transit regulations. In 2008, I sub-
mitted transit grants to develop a plan and to purchase vehi-
cles, and on December 1, 2010, Tribal Transit was restored
to serve tribal members through four (4) fixed routes. As a The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Transit Program
director, my goal is to research and submit grants to meet the received the Tribal Transit Excellence award during the
needs and demands of our Tribal members (and not for the Oklahoma Transit Association’s annual conference in Du-
accolades) but it is nice to be recognized after eight years as rant, Okla.
recipients of FTA grants. I am proud to see our Tribal Transit Accepting the award is Transit Coordinator Wilma
Program receive recognition for their dedication and service Tapaha (left) and Dept. of Transportation Executive Di-
to tribal members and I am honored to continue to support our rector Angela Blind (right). (Submitted photo)
Tribal Transit Program that provides transportation to those
in need.” Due to FTA regulations, each person that utilizes transit
In closing, the Tribal Transit Program would like to thank services must be assessed a fare therefore each time a trib-
the current Gov. Reggie Wassana for further supporting the al citizen is transported using the Tribal Transit fixed route
Dept. of Transportation’s goal to provide transportation at no and/or demand response services, the tribal citizen must use
cost to tribal citizens. their discount card to ensure fares are assessed for account-
In 2018, the Dept. of Transportation submitted their bud- ability. The TTP Discount Card can be issued by the transit
get proposal for the Tribal Transit Program to include the al- drivers and by Dept. of Transportation staff at all three Trans-
location of tribal revenues that would supplement fare cost for portation offices including the DOT Administration office in
each tribal citizen. Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the Tribal Transit El Reno, the Roads Office at Concho, and the Clinton Transit
Program has been able to offer rides on its fixed route and Satellite Office.
demand response services at no cost to tribal citizens. In order The Tribal Transit Program is always seeking to employ
to qualify for the free ride services, or the TTP Discount Card, tribal citizens to become a part of their driving team. For
tribal citizens must complete a one-page application and sub- more information on the Discount Card and/or driver posi-
mit a copy of their CDIB. In exchange, each tribal citizen that tions, please contact the Tribal Transit Program at 1-800-247-
applies is issued a card that is assigned a specific number. 4612, ext. 32600 or directly at 580-331-2600.
Capt. Joe Bryant selected CSU Reaches Highest
to serve as Chief Customer Service Mark
Executive Officer for CSU The Clinton Service Unit patients are encouraged to fill
(CSU) is committed to cus- out a short patient experience
(CLINTON, OK) Capt. the patient centered medical tomer service and continu- survey. Their answers to key
Joe Bryant is named Chief home, increasing third party ously improving our patients questions are then calculated
Executive Officer (CEO) ef- revenue from $4.7 million experience. To assist in im- into scores, using a zero - 10
fective April 15, 2019 of the in 2012 to over $11.3 mil- proving this experience, CSU scale, on how likely it is they
Clinton Service Unit (CSU.) lion in 2018, establishing a uses the Net Promoter Score would recommend CSU to
Bryant is a member of unifying vision of “Exceed (NPS). NPS is a management friends or family members
the Cherokee Nation and the Need” and net promot- tool used to measure custom- Respondents are grouped
received his Doctorate of er score measurements, im- er experience and gauge the as follows:
Pharmacy from Southwest- proving Purchased/Referred loyalty of a company’s cus- · Promoters (score 9-10)
ern Oklahoma State Univer- Care operations, improving tomer relationships. are loyal enthusiasts who
sity (SWOSU). He began his acquisition operating pro- “I am pleased to announce would keep using services
Indian Health Service (IHS) cedures, and implementing during the month of March and refer others
career in 2005 as a pharma- patient care services such as 2019 we reached the high- · Passives (score 7-8) are
cy practice resident at WW computerized tomography est customer service mark satisfied but unenthusiastic
Hastings Indian Hospital in (CT), chiropractic, massage with a net promoter score customers
Tahlequah, Okla., with an therapy and nephrology ser- of 81 for the service unit,” · Detractors (score 0-6)
emphasis in Pharmacy Ad- vices. CEO Capt. Joe Bryant said. are unhappy customers who
ministration. Upon comple- Bryant is board certified “This is marked with a total can damage the brand by
tion of his residency, Bryant in pharmacotherapy (BCPS) of approximately 700 patient negative word-of- mouth
was retained at Hastings as and has been awarded mul- surveys collected throughout Subtracting the percent-
a staff pharmacist serving tiple IHS director’s awards the month and after our first age of Detractors from the
in multiple leadership and for his efforts. Additionally, installment of customer ser- percentage of Promoters
clinical positions. In 2008, he has participated in many vice training. I appreciate our yields the NPS, which can
Bryant transferred to the local, area and national staff’s efforts to provide cus- range from a low of negative
IHS National Supply Ser- committees including IHS tomer service that exceeds 100 (if every customer is a
vice Center (NSSC) as the National Accountability the needs.” Detractor) to a high of 100
Supervisor of the Pharmacy Dashboard, IHS National After each visit to any of (if every customer is a Pro-
Support Branch. Pharmacy and Therapeutics the departments within CSU, moter).
In 2012 Bryant trans- Committee (NPTC), IHS
ferred to CSU where he has National Pharmacy Coun-
served in multiple leader- cil (NPC), NPC Inventory
ship positions including Management Subcommit-
the Director of Pharmacy tee, Veterans Affairs/IHS/
Services, Ancillary Ser- Department of Defense
vices Director, Administra- Federal Pharmacy Exec-
tive Officer, and (A) Chief utive Steering Committee
Executive Officer. He has for Pharmaceutical Procure-
championed efforts to im- ment, and Food and Drug
prove operations including Administration (FDA) Drug
integrating pharmacists into Safety Oversight Board.
BRIEFS AT A GLANCE
Amending and Updat- it www.nativenationevents. June 10-11, 2019 at the June 25-27, 2019 in Las Women Aug. 6-9, 2019 at the Cox
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May 29-31, 2019 at the The 8th annual Native information visit www.na- institute.com. tion visit www.falmouthin- mation or to register visit
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The 13th annual Native information or to register vis- June 17-19, 2019 in Las July 16-17, 2019 in Las July 23-24, 2019 in Las tribal Tax Alliance (NITA)
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opment Conference org. mation or to register visit mation or to register visit mation or to register visit Buffalo Thunder Casino &
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Tsistsistas & Hinonoei Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune PAGE 5
Candidate Registration Opens
May 1, 2019 / Closes June 3, 2019
In accordance with the Constitution of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and the Elec-
tion Law for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes,
The Election Commission opens nominations for elective office to qualified candidates.
Nominations opened May 1, 2019 will close on June 1, 2019.
ELECTIVE SEATS OPEN
LEGISLATURE:
Arapaho District 3
(No Incumbent)
Arapaho District 4
(No Incumbent)
Cheyenne District 1
(Incumbent Burl Buffalomeat)
Cheyenne District 3
(Incumbent Ronald Redshin)
ELECTION COMMISSION:
Arapaho District 1
(Incumbent Ray Mosqueda)
Arapaho District 2
(Incumbent Dale Hamilton)
Cheyenne District 2
(Incumbent Norma Yarbrough)
Cheyenne District 4
(Incumbent Sarah Orange)
QUALIFICATIONS
FEES LEGISLATOR
Each District Legislator shall be an enrolled member of the tribes,
LEGISLATIVE.........................................$200 age 25 or older and shall possess a high school degree or its equivalent.
No person convicted of a felony within the last ten years shall serve as
ELECTION COMMISSION.....................$100 a District Legislator unless pardoned.
CHALLENGE..........................................$200 At time of filing a nomination petition, a candidate for District Leg-
islator shall physically reside in such District. Each District Legislator
shall reside in the District from which they are elected for the duration
Fees are paid by money order or cashier’s check of their term. Each District Legislator shall be a registered voter in the
made payable to the Election Commission and are District from which they are elected.
A candidate for the Office of District Legislator cannot owe any mon-
NON-REFUNDABLE. ey or debts to the tribes or be employed in any governmental capacity.
ELECTION COMMISSIONER
REGISTRATION PACKETS Members of the Election Commission shall be elected from their re-
Registration Packets can be picked up at the Election Com- spective districts to serve a term of four years. Election Commissioners
shall possess at a minimum a high school degree or its equivalent. No
mission Office in Concho or from any Commissioner after the
person convicted of a felony shall serve as an Election Commissioner.
fee has been paid. The packet must be turned in before reg- Each Candidate for elective office shall file a nomination petition.
istration closes on June 1, 2019. The candidate will receive
a copy of the Election Law, their districts voter listing and a
listing of dates to remember once the packet is turned in. ELECTION COMMISSION
The Election Commission is located in the Education Build-
ing, Concho Campus, Rooms 106 and 107. Currently the of-
VOTER REGISTRATION fice is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The office number is toll free 800-247-
Voter Registration is open and will close on 4612 ext. 27619 or you may call or message any one of the
commissioners for assistance:
June 15, 2019.
Tribal members who are not 18 but will be A1 Ray Mosqueda 405-306-7281
A2 Dale Hamilton 405-248-7584
before the Primary or General Election must A3 Pat Smothers 405-535-7863
have their voter registration turned in by June A4 Elizabeth Birdshead 405-464-60043
C1 Sandra Hinshaw 405-593-7944
15, 2019. C2 Norma Yarbrough 405-538-6664
C3 Ramona Welch 405-464-2716
C4 Sarah Orange 405-637-6036
PAGE 6 Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune Tsistsistas & Hinonoei
E a t i n g Metabolism Myths & Facts
healthy
for DIABETES Tara Conway, MS, RD, LD, CDE
C&A Diabetes Wellness Program
Why can one person lean muscle mass. Muscle The truth: There is lit- and instead prioritize
eat like a growing teenag- is metabolically active, tle evidence to support the healthful foods, including
er and not gain a pound, which means that people fact that eating after 8 p.m. whole grains, legumes,
while another person’s with lean, muscular bod- causes weight gain. How- vegetables and fruits,
every indulgence shows ies need more energy to ever, you may be more and fun physical activity.
up on the scale? Chalk it function than people with likely to snack mindless- Don’t forget about stress
up to individual differenc- a higher percentage of ly in the evenings while management and proper
es in metabolism, muscle body fat. watching television. sleep. These healthy life-
mass and physical activity. Our muscle mass de- Eat regular meals and style behaviors contribute
Metabolism is the process creases as we age, and this snacks throughout the day to overall well-being.
by which our bodies con- contributes to a slower to prevent extreme swings SAVE THE DATE!!
vert what we eat into the metabolic rate. But you in hunger and fullness. If NYPD CAMP JUNE 10-
energy we need to survive can counteract this pro- you’re eating later in the 14, 2019. REGISTRA-
and function. It powers cess by picking up the evening, do so mindfully TION IS OPEN! FIRST
everything from breathing weights to help lessen this and put away snacks when COME FIRST SERVE!
to blinking. A fast metab- decline. you’re satisfied. DEADLINE AP-
olism is like a hot furnace Claim: A diet of green Claim: Very low calorie PROACHING SOON!
that burns through fuel(- tea and chili peppers will diets and skipping meals ONLY FOUR SPOTS
calories) quickly. A slow boost metabolism. can jumpstart weight loss. LEFT.
metabolism needs less The truth: No magic The truth: Creating a If you picked up an
fuel to keep a body run- food will speed up metab- large calorie deficit in at- application, please return
ning. olism. Some studies have tempts to lose weight can to me as soon as possi-
It’s tempting to blame shown that green tea and backfire. Our bodies are ble. Please let me know
weight gain on a slow hot chilies temporarily smart and programmed if you are not going so we
metabolism, but there boost metabolic rates, but for survival. Severly lim- may open those spots up
are ways to support me- the lift isn’t very signifi- iting calories can make for other children. Thank
tabolism and maintain a cant. your body think its en- You!
healthy weight. The path to a healthy tering a famine, and that For more information
Claim: Our metabolism lifestyle includes a bal- it needs to do more with and tips on health and
rates can’t change. anced eating pattern filled fewer calories. Your body wellness contact Tara
The truth: While it’s with nutrient-rich foods, adapts to the restricted ca- Conway @ Diabetes
true that genetics help not a diet doused in chili loric intake, and uses few- Wellness Program 405-
determine our metabolic peppers. er calories to perform the 422-7685/1-800-247-
rates, we can boost me- Claim: Eating late at same tasks. 4612 ext. 27685 or email
tabolism by increasing night slows metabolism. Resist the urge to diet tconway@c-a-tribes.org.
GHMTC EXPANSION
continued from pg. 2 To 45th Wares
Add Four Bears
rica, Italy, France and Germany. He was a skill, much less acquiring an educa- summer and fall of 1971 developing an
injured on Anzio Beach, but after recov- tion. It’s a situation where alcohol be- alcohol recovery program that incorpo-
ery he joined his unit until he returned comes a way out.” rated traditional Cheyenne and Arapaho
home after D-Day. George Hawkins was the program treatment approaches with non-Indi-
“This is where it gets hard, when my director of the Cheyenne and Arapaho an counseling/medical methods. The
dad came back he worked with the ir- Tribes Alcoholism Rehabilitation Cen- study group that took part in that effort
rigation department in Window Rock. ter in Bessie, Okla. from 1972 to 1974 included Albaugh, Rowlodge, Leonard
He had drank alcohol with his friends and again in from 1976-1977. He was Yellow Eagle, Ed Burns, Sam Buffalo,
prior to going in the military, but after executive director of the United Indian Lawrence Hart, Winifred Franklin, Vir-
he came back from the war he began to Recovery Association, a member of the gil Franklin, Harvey Twins, Gus Yellow
drink a lot and was also violent with my Oklahoma Association on Alcoholism Hair, Willie Fletcher and Bertha Little
mother while drinking. In 1950 my par- & Drug Abuse Certification Board and Coyote.
ents divorced,” Delores voice shook as was involved in upgrading the stan- Albaugh and Rowlodge then wrote
she struggled to hold back tears. “I saw dards testing and qualifying certified a grant during the fall of 1971 asking
my father on my high school graduation counselors in the state of Oklahoma. the IHS to fund an alcohol rehabilitation
day in May 1955 and then I didn’t see In May 1982 George was selected program for the Cheyenne and Arapaho
him again until 1966.” as one of the National Indian Health people that incorporated the traditional
When Delores did see her dad again Board’s Honorees. treatment methods used by tribal citi-
in 1966 he was sober and felt very “Between his giving back to the drug zens and modern counseling approach-
strongly that Alcoholics Anonymous and alcohol abuse community, his many es. Lawrence Hart signed that appli-
(AA) was a good program, but lacked trips to testify in Washington, he be- cation as chairman of the study group
something for the Native alcoholic. came a loving and caring father, grand- and Albaugh was named as the princi-
In a 1977 interview with the Oklaho- father, brother and uncle to his entire pal investigator for the grant with the
ma City Times George spoke about the family. He used to always say, ‘I have funds going to the Clinton Service Unit
Native alcoholic. “Alcoholism affects at been given this ‘bonus time’ and I in- (CSU). The request was for $49,441, but
On Nov. 27, 1950 the with the right grunt.
least 80 percent of the American Indian tend to use it to the fullest.’ He attended in January 1972, $27,561 was awarded
Daily Oklahoma published Now Pfc. Freddie Tall
population. If one member of a fami- all graduations, weddings, wrote many to see if the tribes could actually start
an article entitled, “To 45th Bear isn’t the tallest bear,
ly suffers from alcoholism, the entire caring letters, made many family vis- such a program. This had never been
Wares, Add Four Bears. he’s really the shortest bear
family is affected. So it is possible that its,” George’s daughter, Delores said. “I done before and the IHS was willing to
The short satirical article of the four, standing 5’7 even
close to 100 percent of our population loved my father very much and am very see if it could actually be accomplished.
revolved around four Chey- when reaching for a piece of
is affected by alcoholism. The study group then wrote a
“
enne and Arapaho tribal cit- pipe.
At this point most of our treatment approach, which was
izens who were serving in And Cpl. Clyde Old Bear
work is directed toward the
alcoholic,” George stated.
We’re pulling people out of the reviewed by the different clans
(societies) of the Cheyenne and
during the Korean War in isn’t so old, either, just a
“We’re pulling people out river to keep them from drowning.
Company L 179th Infantry, mere 24, and barely the old-
Arapaho Tribes and the Okla-
45th Division. They were est of the four bears, none
of the river to keep them What we need to do is go back up homa State Committee of the
Freddie Tall Bear, Clyde Old of whom have the same for-
from drowning. What we Native American Church. Nu-
need to do is go back up the the river to see what’s pushing them merous locations were looked
Bear Harry Big Bear and bears.
Howard Good Bear. Rct. Harry Big Bear is
river to see what’s pushing in.” George Hawkins at to house the treatment pro- They say it’s a small neither the biggest bear nor
them in. Nobody becomes gram. Finally the closed ele-
world and after talking with the hairiest bear, by two
an alcoholic by his own vo- mentary school located in Bes-
George Brian Sykes, director inches upward from his bare
lition.” grateful that you have named this facili- sie, Okla., was agreed to by the town
of the Cheyenne and Arapa- feet in the one case and a
George went on to say during that ty after him. I know he is smiling down of Bessie and the study group. The
ho Office of Veteran Affairs, bare chin for the second.
1977 interview, “That saying a small on all of us.” treatment program was started and right
it seems to be true. Now it is a military se-
amount of liquor makes an ‘Indian’ go History of Treatment Facility away Albaugh wrote another grant to
“My erved with the four cret how good Sgt. Howard
crazy is a myth. Scientists have studied In the summer of 1970 the Chey- the National Institute on Alcoholism as
bears in Company L 179th In- Goodbear really is, but we
the theory and have come to the conclu- enne and Arapaho Business Committee well as the IHS for continued funding.
fantry, 45th Division between know he hasn’t had to bare
sive evidence that Indians have no dif- asked Bernard Albaugh, a social worker The board for this grant application
1948 and 1954 but my father his hide to put on a fatigue
ferent physical reaction to alcohol than at the Clinton Indian Hospital, to ana- included most of the people named
wasn’t in Korea with the coat with a big “P” for pris-
the public in general. That myth like the lyze the problem of alcoholism and al- above. A professional advisory board
them. My dad, George Ev- oner on it, neither has he
myth that Indians are lazy is about 150 cohol abuse. In response to that request was developed that included the CSU
erett Sykes was in their unit had to bare his secrets to the
years old. It came from the public who Albaugh developed a study group made chief of staff and the psychiatric consul-
but his assignment was in chaplain.
could not face the plight it put Indians up of the tribal health committee and tant to the IHS. The board also included
Japan and he was in Japan at He may really be a good
in. It is easier to create a myth than to tribal health staff as well as communi- Albaugh and George Hawkins.
the time the four bears were bear, this Goodbear, because
accept the responsibility for robbing a ty people interested in the problem of Continued funding for five years was
in Korea,” Sykes said. he earned and keeps those
man and his family of their home and alcoholism and its impact on tribal citi- granted in June of 1972. The program
Below is the article pub- three stripes and like a nice
confining them to a reservation where it zens. A system of counseling outpatient was incorporated as a non-profit on
lished Nov. 27, 1950 bear bears them well. And
is impossible to make a living.” programs and community education June 29, 1972 and George Hawkins was
don’t get funny with his por-
As the president of the National In- was developed to offer services to tribal employed in July of that same year as
To 45th Wares, Add Four ridge bowl either, goldilocks,
dian Board told the interviewer along citizens. the first actual director of the program.
Bears honey, because he is really
with social, economic and psycholog- In 1971 Art Rowlodge was hired by Hawkins stayed with the program until
(CAMP POLK, LA) If taller than Tall Bear and has
ical factors, he blamed an absence of the Indian Health Service (IHS) as a 1974 when he resigned to work for a
you will just bear with us a the weight to go with it.
spiritual principles for the high rate mental health technician to work with regional alcohol program. He returned
minute, Goldilocks, honey, Old Bear is Arapaho from
of alcoholism among Indians. “When Albuagh developing alcohol outreach to Bessie as director again in 1976 and
we’ll see your three bears Gearv, Okla. and the other
these people come into our rehabilita- programs. Rowlodge was a recover- remained until his death.
and raise you one because Bears are Cheyenne from
tion programs one of the first things we ing alcoholic whose recovery had been After his death there were several
down hear in the pine tree Watonga, Okla. Goodbear,
try to do is instill a sense of spiritualism achieved through the Native American “acting directors” who were inexperi-
forest we’ve got four of ‘em Tall Bear and Big Bear, that
… it’s a powerful tool. Many Indians Church and other traditional Native enced and did not follow the treatment
in company L, 179th infantry. is, and they can all barely
living on reservations have given up American practices. He suggested they plans adopted by the original commit-
And a fine place it is for wait until they can get back
hope to improving their status in life. incorporate those recovery methods into tee resulting in the facility being closed
bears, too, even if they are in the brush Monday to
It’s a situation where for generations the existing programs being offered. because of various infractions, some
Oklahoma Indians and an- scrape some bark off trees
there has been no hope of ever learning These two then spent the rest of the GHMTC EXPANSION / pg. 7 swer roll call at chow time after a holiday hibernation.
Tsistsistas & Hinonoei Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune PAGE 7
WATONGA GROUNDBREAKING
continued from pg. 1
ment, but the government of Oklahoma also. believe it started out with Reggie and I as
And I wanted to say let’s give credit where a conversation on the road, in a plane or in
it’s due and that’s to our Creator.” a restaurant. It tells us that all it takes is us
Following both legislator’s comments, working together with the legislators, with
closing speaker Cheyenne and Arapaho Lt. the people, have a dream, be honest about
Gov. Gib Miles took the podium. what you’re doing, hire the right people and
“It’s been said already the working rela- we can get things done … and this is proof
tionship we have with the legislators and the of it. This isn’t the only dream we have, this
courts, it’s made our jobs a lot easier. Reggie isn’t the end, it’s the beginning. This isn’t
and I won’t take credit for this because it’s a about us … it’s about we.”
work in progress for the tribe, not just Reggie One by one 40 individuals picked up a
and I. Now I am looking out in this room and golden shovel, placed a hard hat upon their
to think about all the people that are here and heads and on the count of three scooped the
I see everybody here for a groundbreaking soil marking the beginning of a new tomor-
for a hotel, a casino and a restaurant I can’t row starting today.
Left: Tribal elder Marie Photos / Rosemary Stephens
Whiteman and Lucky Star Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Gov. Reggie Wassana (center) visits with tribal elder and
Casino CFO Stephanie long time resident of Watonga, Okla., Floyd Blackbear and the Watonga Chamber of Com-
Black dig in. merce Director Teresa France.
Above: Lucky Star Casino CEO Charlie Welbourn,
Stephanie Black, Gov. Reggie Wassana and Andy Rednose.
Left: Watonga Lucky Star Casino General Manager
Rory Littleraven gives a little help to his grandson.
GHMTC EXPANSION
continued from pg. 6
of which ran afoul of local
laws.
A dormitory of the old
Concho boarding school was
available in Concho, Okla.,
so the Substance Abuse Pro-
gram moved to Concho. In
the 1990s, Marcus Harrison,
Vera Franklin and Richard
Franklin began directing the
program. A decision was
made to build a new treat-
ment center facility, with
Clinton, Okla., being the cho-
sen site for several reasons.
Land was available near the
Clinton Indian Hospital and
it was geographically more
central to the old reservation
boundaries, as well as being
a rural isolated location.
In February 2002 the new
building in Clinton was com-
pleted being dedicated and
named after George Haw-
kins. Above Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Gov. Reggie Was-
Marcus Harrison died in sana meets Delores Hawkins Sullivan, the daughter of
May of that same year and George Hawkins, whom the treatment center was named
Robert Blackwolf was cho- after in 2002.
sen as director in August
2002.
The overall project, from
design to completion, is pro-
jected to take 180 days, and
by the time of the ground Photos / Rosemary Stephens
breaking ceremony, the proj- Above Chief Larry Roman Nose (left) prepares to
ect was at a 30 percent de- bless the ground with the assistance of Kyle Spottedhorse
sign completion. at the George Hawkins Memorial Treatment Center in
The Cheyenne and Arap- Clinton, Okla.
aho Tax Commission pro-
vided funding for the treat-
ment facility expansion/
renovations, with technical
support from the I.H.S. area
office. The Cheyenne and
Arapaho Planning and De-
velopment Program is work-
ing with the tribes’ Dept. of
Health, as well as the George
Hawkins Treatment Center
staff, to work through the de-
sign process, and will assist
with the coordination during
construction.
The architect and engi-
neer firm is a Native Amer-
ican owned company called
Blue Star Interactive Stu-
dio, out of Tulsa, Oklahoma
and WarCon, also a Native
American owned company
located in Oklahoma City,
will be the construction man- George ‘Lone Wolf’ Hawkins served in the U.S. Army,
ager overseeing the project. Members of George Hawkins’ family who attended the groundbreaking in his honor. joining days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Courtesy
From l-r: Delores Hawkins-Sullivan, Lightfoot Hawkins and Teri Kay Bryant. photo)
PAGE 8 Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune Tsistsistas & Hinonoei
Local university hopes to bridge
cultural gap by hosting first Bridging
the Cultural Gap Collaboration Day
Latoya Lonelodge
Staff Reporter
Creating relationships,
communicating and bringing
awareness to available re-
sources are what many of the
University of Oklahoma’s
research centers, collections
and programs can only hope
for in their efforts in reach-
ing out to tribal nations.
On April 29 the Bridging the
Cultural Gap: OU Indige-
nous Language, Culture and
Tribal Nations Collaboration
Day was held at the Sam
Noble Museum in Norman,
Okla.
The collaboration day Photo / Latoya Lonelodge
was held in an effort to bring The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe’s Language Program Director Rebecca Risenhoover
tribes together and highlight introduces herself on behalf of the language program’s attendance at the collaboration day.
what resources are available
at the University of Oklaho- As part of the collaboration day, various public service programs.
ma (OU). various programs at OU presented in- In highlighting useful resources
“My role as the acting tribal liaison formation and resources available for available for tribes at OU, language
officer is to be the middle person and tribes to use and take part in. Present- and culture also plays an important
connection between our tribes and the ers and speakers included Christina role in bridging the gap between tribes
university, one of the ways that I want- Naruszewicz and Dan Swan with the and the university.
ed to bring the tribes here to help them OU Sam Noble Language and Eth- “Collaborations don’t just stop and
in their efforts for their language, cul- nology Collections, Lina Ortega and end, they’re continuous and I hope that
ture and historic preservation is with Dr. Todd Fuller with the OU Western this relationship continues to grow and
the Sam Noble Museum,” Dr. Johnny History Collection, J.A. Pryse with the I hope that it continues to build into
Poolah, OU’s acting tribal liaison offi- Carl Albert Congressional Research more things. I know our tribes need
cer said. and Study, and Melanie Frye with the support and I know that we’re here
Poolah said he wanted to have an Seminole National Language Program. and I know our tribes are going to be
event where tribes could come and lis- In the Sam Noble Language and here, so I hope we can continue this
ten to what OU has to offer. Ethnology Collections, there are ap- relationship and this partnership and
“We have a Western History Col- proximately 7,500 items that are in or after today I hope that our tribe’s take
lection, we have the Carl Albert Cen- about more than 300 languages, mate- advantage of what they’ve learned, the
ter, we also have the Sam Noble with rials collected from tribes, individuals collections, the materials and the ser-
their language and ethnology archives, and linguists include 5,165 print mate- vices that are for all for them and al-
there’s a ton of resources here that we rials and 2,578 audio/video recordings, most all of it is free,” Poolah said.
have. When I found out about it and all and an extensive collection of tradi- As the collaboration day closed
the resources they had, I was amazed tional art and material culture from marking the first of its kind, Poolah
because there’s so much that we have societies around the world. The West- hopes to see growing numbers in the
here and so if I didn’t know, then a ern History Collection contains more following year.
lot of our tribes don’t know either. I than 2,000 manuscript collections and “I wish there could’ve been a lit-
wanted to have a day where we could a building collection of Native Liter- tle bit more representation, but that’s
share everything that we have to offer ature. The Carl Albert Center’s con- okay, this is our first one and we can
and have hopes that our tribes come gressional archives provide national grow and we can build and I hope word
back and work with the University of resources available to historians, po- of mouth spreads about this event and
Oklahoma in ways that can help their litical scientists, the media and public I hope that it continues, I hope next
nations, in language and culture and interest while promoting a wider ap- year we’ll have doubled the numbers,”
history,” Poolah said. preciation of the Congress through its Poolah said.
BIRDSHEAD
continued from pg. 1
we still fought and we approached the princi- shead said. the tribes each school year.
pal at first. After our conversation with him And while the school stood by their policy “We do have a strong tra-
my mom had a meeting with the superinten- and with Birdshead standing firm in his fight dition of Native American
dent and he also said no. He said it was up to to wear his regalia, Birdshead said it became students at El Reno in our
the school board members and that the next frustrating for him at school. community and so we try as
meeting that could change that policy was “It’s really frustrating because people talk best we can to meet the needs,
May 6,” Birdshead explained. around the school, I’m hearing other people there’s a lot of activities that
Referring to the school’s handbook, Bird- use comparisons like ‘what if this other kid the Native American students
shead said the school’s reasoning behind de- wanted to honor, in quotations, his ancestors get to participate in especially
nying his request was that only school sanc- that were Nazis or what if they wanted to through our Indian Education
tioned items could be worn at graduation. wear the swastika on their cap,’ and they’re Program, which I think is a
“They didn’t really show me anything that taking it to the extreme and that makes me phenomenal program,” Li-
said I couldn’t wear it and that’s where me really angry because that belief, that whole ticker said.
and my mom were confused because they situation that they made up is not protected in And like other schools, Li-
would say it’s against policy and it wouldn’t the American Indian Religious Freedom Act ticker said they do have poli-
go with the student handbook or it’s against and that just makes me angry,” Birdshead cy for all students to follow.
the dress code and the dress code isn’t stated said. However, the one and only
and the policy that they talked about doesn’t In helping schools better understand the exception allowed at grad-
state it either, so that’s the situation that we Native American viewpoint in honoring uation time allows Native
were running into,” Birdshead said. themselves at ceremonies such as graduation, American students to wear an
In wearing regalia at ceremonies such as Birdshead said education is the key. eagle feather on their cap if
graduation, Birdshead said it would give him “I think we definitely need to educate bet- they choose to.
a sense of pride in honoring his family and ter and get the word out about the significance “We have a policy, not
where he comes from. of the eagle feathers … in the Society of In- just for Native Americans
“It gives me the opportunity to acknowl- dian Psychologists is an article in response students, but it’s a policy for
edge the people that I come from, to acknowl- to the recommendation of the display of Hispanic students, African
edge my grandfather, my great grandmother, spiritual and cultural symbols of graduation American students, Cauca-
it gives me the opportunity to acknowledge regalia for American Indian students, it just sian students, we have a grad-
my spirituality, acknowledge what I believe talks about the historical aspect of assimila- uation policy that we have in
in and just thanking the Creator for this op- tion, of how the school systematically forced place, which we try to hold to
portunity that he’s given me and thanking Indians to forget about their language, forget a more traditional graduation
him for giving me this honor,” Birdshead about their culture and spirituality and it talks ceremony where nobody is al-
said. about denying us our right to wear our eagle lowed to deviate, not any cul- Tvli Birdshead (right) poses with his brother Warren
With the honor of showcasing his rega- feather, it’s just going back to repeating his- tural group, and some schools Birdshead, 16 (left) and his mother Taloa Birdshead at the
lia at graduation, Birdshead said he initially tory. I think by spreading articles like this and allow students to decorate Chickasaw Arts Academy.
wanted to wear his eagle feather. addressing the issue with schools like earlier their caps and some schools have some of those agreements with the tribe
“I didn’t know how the school would react in the year would definitely help,” Birdshead don’t allow them to. We just have that policy and we do have a full agreement that we al-
to that, then the Chickasaw Nation, I think it said. for all students, at the same time, to be re- low our Native American students to do,” Li-
was new this year, they issued honor cords And in educating schools, some schools spectful of our Native American students and ticker explained.
for all the Chickasaw graduating seniors and are taking that proactive step to communicate their heritage and their beliefs, we do, in con- Liticker said students don’t have to ask
those were sent in the mail and I got mine and coordinate with respective tribes where a junction with the tribes, we work very closely permission to wear regalia underneath their
and I asked our principal if I could wear it majority of Native students are located. with them to hammer what is called the spirit gown.
and he said no and the reason is because it El Reno High School Principal Pat Litick- charter where we recognize the importance “That’s their choice as far as meeting the
would open the door for other organizations, er said they have a strong Native American of Native American values and culture and official dress, we tell our students you have
that the school doesn’t let them wear their population, where Native Americans come what that means to those students and fam- to be dressed formal, dress shoes, ties, dress
honor cords either, and so the honor cords in second category of minorities to Hispan- ilies. They wear the official feather on their shirts, all that, and for our Native students,
kind of just set the tone because I wanted to ics. Home to a large majority of Cheyenne cap to recognize that, we allow them to wear if they choose, their formal official dress is
wear my eagle feather initially and bead my and Arapaho tribal families, El Reno High full regalia under their gown, some of them their regalia,” Liticker said.
cap and the honor cords added to that,” Bird- School makes it a priority to coordinate with wore a medallion around their necks, we do BIRDSHEAD / pg. 12
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