Aug 1, 2017

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Aug. 1, 2017 -Volume 13, Issue 15

Camping with spirit

Photo by Greg Spottedbird

By Rosemary Stephens, Editor-in-Chief

Camp Spirit broke records this year. No, not record breaking temperatures, but a record number of campers who all showed the camping spirit. And to think it almost didn’t happen.

“We went from an average of 60 campers the past few years to 165 campers this year ... it was incredible,” Greg Spottedbird, Culture & Hertiage camp coordinator said.

The camp, held July 17-20, hosted by the Culture & Heritage Program and Tradition Not Addiction program, had been slotted for cancellation due to funding, but when the word got out about the cancellation, the motivation kicked in for donations, fundraisers and volunteers.

“I was worried it wasn’t going to happen.

Coming to this camp for eight years talking to the kids, seeing them grow up and knowing for some of these kids it was the highlight of their summer, it really bothered me,” Spottedbird said.

So a plan was put into action. Max Bear, Culture & Heritage Director presented a fundraiser proposal to Lucky Star Casino-Concho and got it approved. Word spread about the need for funding and the donations

started to pour in.

“The fundraiser at Lucky Star brought in over $21,000 and with all the donations from all of the people who came together we ended up with enough to ensure we host this camp again next year. It was a huge blessing. We had so many difficulties putting this all together and didn’t know if we could do any of it without the funding ... then they came out to present us with a check from the Lucky Star fundraiser and I was speechless,” Spottedbird said.

And it was the 165 tribal youth who became the winners. They enjoyed learning Cheyenne & Arapaho culture, history, there were songs at the drum, a visit to White Water Bay, painting and games like Culture & Heritage Program Director Max Bear congratulations Minnie Tallbear for winning ‘high on musical chairs.’

‘Best Counselor’ during the 2017 Camp Spirit. (Photo / Rosemary Stephens) “I was around 10 years old when I first gifts, accept awards for things like ‘best tion Not Addiction have been working with, came to this camp, but this year was a lot bigger than any other camps I’ve ever seen. campers’, ‘best counselor’ and to give thanks and it was all the kids leading the songs this I am 21 now and a volunteer counselor this and recognition to the many staff members year, not us adults, “ Bear said. “We will do year. I tell the kids here to learn everything who volunteered their time to make the 2017 this camp next year for the kids, that’s what we came here for. The staff, I am so proud they can from their counselors, to do what’s Camp Spirit one for the record books.

“Had a phenomenal turn out ... we didn’t of them, they put in these long hours, volright and to always pay attention,” Sampson turn anyone away and made room for all unteered their time and it was all about the Woods said.

On their last day, with bags packed, cab- those who came in late. All the kids had great kids, after all that’s where our future lies ... ins cleaned and breakfast ate, the 10-15 year attitudes and great behavior. We had great our kids.” olds gathered one last time to receive t-shirts, singing sessions, a drum group that Tradi-

One on One with Kateri Fletcher

By Rosemary Stephens, Editor-in-Chief

Thirty-one year old Kateri Fletcher isn’t done yet.

With three degrees under her belt, a Bachelor’s in Psychology, a Master’s in Community Counseling and a Master’s in Native American Studies, Fletcher says there is one more step … her doctorate’s in clinical psychology.

“I’m not finished … my mentor asked me, ‘why do you want to get your doctorate?’ I looked at him and said, ‘well the farther I go the more I think I know I realize I don’t know enough.’ He said that was the best answer he had ever heard. As long as we have depression and suicides, anxiety … then there is still more that can be learned and more that we can do. Discovering something new that will save someone’s life,” Fletcher said.

Born in Gallup, N.M., Fletcher moved to Albuquerque in her freshman year of high school, where she lived for the majority of her life. In 2010 she moved to Clinton, Okla. and now resides in Chickasha, Okla., working as a counselor at Riverside Indian School in Anadarko.

Her passion is helping kids; specifically Native American kids and she can’t remember a time when she wanted to do anything else.

“I think for me I always knew I wanted to work in this field.

When I graduated with my bachelor’s my mom gave me a present and it was a book that I had written when I was in the first or second grade. I was going back reading it and I had written how I wanted to work with children when I grew up, I wanted to help them with their needs and be there for them when they are sad.

Here I was in the first grade writing this stuff, so looking back I guess I just kind of always knew it was my calling,” she said.

And her mom agreed, reminding her of the time she was a school mediator in the fifth grade where they would walk around on the playground and worked out conflicts with the kids.

“There was training, we had clipboards, if we had a fire we would go mediate the evacuation for them, and if something got bigger than us than we knew who to go to. So my mom was like, you were always meant to be a counselor,” Fletcher said as she laughed.

Moving in her freshman year of high school wasn’t an easy transition for Fletcher. She came from Gallup where there were an abundance of Natives and people who looked like her, she said, to an all white school in Albuquerque.

Fletcher / pg. 3

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

PAGE 2

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei Paid Advertising

From Weatherford, Okla. where I grew up on grandparents allotment land.

Parents: Truman and Rose(YellowEagle) Wassana. Grandparents: Susie (Pratt) and Chester Wassana.

Leonard and Lena Abbie (Big Bear) YellowEagle. I have one son Christian Wassana.

Graduated from Weatherford High School and graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a Degree in Business Administration.

Professional Experience Executive Director of Housing Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

(April of 1996 – June 2011)

Casino Manager (MOD) for Casino Oklahoma Delaware Tribe.

(August of 2012 – Feb. 2013) Executive Director of Housing Caddo Nation (Feb. of 2013 – Jan 2014) Executive Director of Housing Comanche Nation (June of 2014 – Dec . 2015) Cheyenne District 3 Legislator Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes (Jan. of 2016 – present)

Campaign Platform: Economic development Purchasing land in development rich sites:

El Reno Clinton Canton Weatherford Seiling Woodward Developing Tribal land

Elk City-casino, hotel, truck stop, strip mall

El Reno-casino hotel and resort (property behind Dennys)

Canton-develop marina, cabins and conference center

Watonga-build permanent brick and mortar casino and truckstop

Maintaining and renovating existing casinos

Trading post for tribal merchandise

Additional information at community campagin meetings.

Elderly Services Increase elderly utility payment for elders 60 and over Purchase 2 tour buses for elderly events and trips

Community Campaign Meetings 6-8 p.m. Aug. 1 Weatherford Pioneer Center in Weatherford, Okla.

6-8 p.m. Aug. 3 Northwest Inn / Gallery Room in Woodward, Okla.

4-6 p.m. Aug. 8 Oklahoma Blood Institute, 211 SW ‘A’ Ave. in Lawton, Okla.

6-8 p.m. Aug. 10 Hammon Community Center in Hammon, Okla.

11 a.m. -1 p.m. Aug. 12 Senior Citizen Community Center, 201 S Sixth Avenue in Kingfisher, Okla.

6-8 p.m. Aug. 15 Fair Barn, N. Country Club Drive in El Reno, Okla.

6-8 p.m. Aug. 17 Embassy Suites, 1815 S. Meridian in Oklahoma City 11 a.m. –1 p.m. Aug. 19 Clinton Community Center in Clinton, Okla.

6-8 p.m. - Aug. 22 Elk City Carnegie Hall, 216 Broadway in Elk City, Okla.

6-8 p.m. – Aug. 23 at the Geary Community Center in Geary, Okla.

6-8 p.m. - Aug. 24 Canton Gym in Canton, Okla.

6-8 p.m. - Aug. 29 Watonga Community Center in Watonga, Okla.

6-8 p.m. - Aug. 31 Seiling Community Center in Seiling, Okla.

6-8 p.m. - Sept. 7 Senior Citizens Building, 101 N. Missouri in Thomas, Okla.

Born Nov. 24, 1955 in Oklahoma City.

Parents: Leroy LaMott Miles 3/4 Southern Arapaho & Melba Sharp Miles Duncan. Grandparents: Robert L. Miles 3/4 Southern Arapaho & Ella Thunder Miles Millsap 3/4 Southern Arapaho. I have four daughters: Mahgan Miles Muskett, Mallory Miles Cooper, Mariel Miles and Mariah Miles.

Graduated from Yukon High School and graduated from Bethany Nazarene College (now named Southern Nazarene University). Completed Internship in Washington D.C. / Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1979.Petroleum Landman 1979-2017.

Professional Experience James H. Hutchinson, Inc. Carl L. Nick Oil & Gas Nichols Energy Cheyenne & Arapaho Ambulance Service Started my own business in 1994 Stalking Energy, 2012: Stalking Energy, LLC Served on the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes Farming and Ranch Board Housing Board, Member and Chairman Southern Plains Indian Housing Association member SPIHA Regional Representative Amerinda Risk Management National Board.

Campaign Platform:

Establish food and clothing banks Have an Elders pow wow Additional information at community campagin meetings.

Culture and Heritage Emphasis on Language Presevation Teaching more cultural customs…peyote meetings, sweats, songs, foods Host Cheyenne and Arapaho Heritage Conference Community Development Establish Parks & Recreation and Powwow grounds Department Create Motor Pool for tribal vehicles-allow tribal members to rent vehicles Satellite Court in Clinton Tribal Services Develop new Tribal Administration Building Develop Museum Develop Veterans building for services and meetings Explore passing clarification of blood quantum through referendum for tribal membership, northern Cheyenne and Arapaho blood to be added and considered as Southern blood Additional information at community campagin meetings.

FOR THE PEOPLE

TOMORROW STARTS TODAY

Come Visit Us During the Oklahoma Indian Nations Powwow Aug. 4-6

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

PAGE 3

Oklahoma American Indian artist Charles Pratt dies

By Brandy McDonnell, NewsOK.com

After selling a couple of paintings early in his artistic career, Charles Pratt took a job at an Oklahoma City auto body shop.

“That’s where he became familiar with metal, and he started working metal. … I think some of the first things he ever did, he gathered up silver-plated knives and forks and spoons. And he created things out of those forks and spoons — owls and hawks and roadrunners and things like that — and he did that for quite a while. Then he started making shields,” recalled his brother and fellow artist Harvey Pratt.

“They called him the little wizard.

He did a lot of everything. He was never afraid to try anything.”

An award-winning, self-taught American Indian sculptor and metalsmith, Charles Pratt died July 12 at his home in El Reno from complications of a decades-long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 79.

“The last couple of months, he was in bad shape. He was suffering physically and mentally. When you are so talented the way he was, and he couldn’t do anything in the last year, I think he suffered more by that than anything because he couldn’t create,” his brother said.

Distinguished family One of seven siblings, Charles Pratt was born Nov. 8, 1937, in Concho, to Oscar Noble Pratt, who was Cheyenne and Arapaho, and Anna Guerrier Pratt Shadlow, who was Cheyenne and Sioux. A noted Cheyenne storyteller, his mother was named 1987 National Indian Woman of the Year and 1991 Oklahoma Indian Mother of the Year.

“It’s a very distinguished family,” said author Jo Ann Kessel, whose book “Piavinnia: The Bent-Guerrier Connection,” about Shadlow was a 2015 finalist

Fletcher continued from pg. 1

But it was there that she came into contact with a counselor that would begin her journey into the field of psychology.

“I went to a basically all white school. I was like one of maybe four Natives in that school, so it was a really hard adjustment for me, I had a hard time making friends and there was a counselor there, who I remember to this day, Mrs. Narajo. I met with her and she talked to me about stuff, put me together with other kids and I thought what a really cool job to be able to help people having a rough time transitioning, so I started talking to her more about what she did,” Fletcher said.

“She told me all about what she did and in that high school they had one psychology class you take as an elective, so she put me in that class and when I took that class I was in love. It fascinated me knowing why people do the things they do and how our feelings and emotions affect us, just different things like that. After that first class it was all over for me … it was what I wanted to do and knew I would do and it took off from there.”

Tribune: Did you experience peer pressure in high school?

Fletcher: Albuquerque was a really big city, my graduating class was like 1200 kids so I think the peer pressure to use drugs and alcohol wasn’t as bad as it is today. You came into contact with kids who did it and you could tell the ones who

for an Oklahoma Book Award. “He was continuing a legacy that had been passed down to him … from his mother and even further back.”

Growing up in El Reno, Charles Pratt’s creative bent was evident from an early age.

“He couldn’t have been 12 years old, and he made a tandem bike out of scraps. Instead of handlebars he put a steering wheel on it. And him and Charles Pratt (l) with his brother Harvey Pratt. (Courtesy our brother Otto photo) rode that thing guess I am. I like to draw.’ That’s kind around, and other kids would see it and want to ride with of the way that I followed him. So he actually inspired me in a lot of ways,” him,” Harvey Pratt recalled.

“He decided he wanted a bullwhip Harvey Pratt said.

“He truly was a treasure for Native one time, so he made one. … He was American artists. He inspired a lot of always doing stuff like that, building people, trained a lot of people in the things and doing stuff and listening techniques.” to his grandpa and his stories. We had Inspirational artist a rich background in stories from my Charles Pratt’s daughter, Laketa mother and her dad and her aunt and Pratt, is one of the artists he trained and those old people. We had a whole seinspired.

In the 1980s, when she was in ries of old stories and tales, and so that’s her 20s, she said her dad had a studio in kind of what we developed into the art.”

Oklahoma City where she was able to Both brothers were schooled at St. learn and create alongside him.

Patrick’s Indian Mission in Anadarko, “What I learned about stone carving and Charles Pratt also attended public and the welding was from my dad. … schools in Shawnee and Oklahoma City.

I took a couple of art classes in high “I was younger than him, and schoolteachers would say, ‘Are you Charlie school, but it was nothing like what my Pratt’s little brother?’ and I’d say, ‘Yes, dad could teach me,” said Laketa Pratt, ma’am.’ She’d say, ‘Are you as talented who creates American Indian dolls and as he is?’ And my answer was, ‘Well, I Pratt / pg. 6

where high but there were so many kids that if you didn’t hang out with the ones who used drugs or drank there were a whole lot more kids to hang out with. They didn’t have the pressure to put on you as opposed to smaller communities where there are the most popular kids and that is what they are doing and you are trying to fit in and the pressure is there to follow that. I also played a lot of sports and my grades kept me away from all of that stuff.

Tribune: What was your first experience with someone committing suicide?

Fletcher: Later on, maybe a senior in high school, my aunt’s boyfriend had committed suicide and at that point I didn’t really know a lot and didn’t understand it. I grew up Catholic and at that point all I knew was it was a sin, you didn’t talk about it, it was don’t question it, don’t ask and leave it alone. But for me it was kind of like wanting to know the whys behind it, like how does someone get to that point and had the questions in the back of my mind the whole time.

Suicide didn’t really open up my eyes until I moved out here (Oklahoma). I moved out here and I started learning more and more statistics and the statistics were coming up in our studies and they were going over the ethnicities, but the Native American race wasn’t even in there.

They went into every other race and I was like what

Rosemary Stephens, Editor-in-Chief 405-422-7446 / rmstephens@c-a-tribes.org Society of Professional Journalists members

about Natives, do they have numbers for us?

So I had to go do my own research and researching the statistics were worse than everything that was listed on there and so to me these are really bad and why aren’t they included. I guess then they really didn’t know very much about Native American suicide rates as they do now. Now they have a whole lot more information that is included, but back then they didn’t really have the reporting rates or the information to report.

I took it a step further and asked if the rates are this bad, why isn’t something being done about this, why aren’t we talking about this and having discussions about this? That pushed me even further to say, so what exactly IS being done about this. Doing more and more research about this it kind of shocked me how bad it was and how little was being done and not many resources reaching Native Americans.

When I was little, my dad was very active in the Native community, always in politics and he was always an advocate for Native American people, and when I was younger I didn’t really understand it then and I think his whole family was like that, like I even had an uncle involved in AIM. They were really passionate about Native rights and I didn’t really understand it until I got older and so I laugh now and say, ‘that Fletcher part’ is rubbing

off on me.

My dad used to always tell me Native children are the most forgotten, the most under-represented and they get the worse of everything and so when he told me that, it was like that’s it, that’s the area I want to work. I had a passion for mental health and psychology, but when I heard that I thought, ‘wow these are my people’ so when I heard that from then on I wanted to work with Native children specifically in mental health and suicide because that’s where it is needed the most.

Tribune: Why do you think the topic of depression, mental illness or suicide is not widely discussed in Native communities?

Fletcher: I think in general it’s a scary topic. It makes a lot of people uncomfortable and they don’t know what to say or how to say it. I had one person ask me once ‘so and so just lost her daughter to suicide, do I say I’m sorry?’ I said absolutely, you would say or treat them the same way you would if they had died any other way.

I think it’s a fear and makes them feel uncomfortable, not knowing how to approach it, so their natural instinct is to back away from it and not talk about it.

But I think even more than that in Native communities everybody is close knit and everybody knows everybody and you know everybody’s business and so it’s kind of like let’s just don’t talk about See Fletcher, pg. 6

Cheyenne and Arapaho r i b a l T r i b u n e

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P. O. Box 38, Concho, OK 73022 Fax: 405-422-8204 Oklahoma Press Association member

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Latoya Lonelodge, Reporter/Advertising Sales 405-422-7608 / llonelodge@c-a-tribes.org Native American Journalist Association member

DISCLAIMER: Letters to the editor, opinions and commentaries do not reflect the views of the Tribune unless specified. Correspondence must be signed and include a return address and telephone number for verification, 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.

2010-2016 NATIVE AMERICAN JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION MEDIA AWARD WINNER & 2012-2017 AWARD WINNER OF THE OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

PAGE 4

OIN Senior Miss OIN Junior Miss Morningstar Hoffman

E’pevah’esh’evf! (Good Day!) I am Morningstar Hoffman of Cheyenne, Okla.

I am currently attending Putnam City High School in Warr Acres as a sophomore at the age of 15. My affiliated tribes are the Northern Cheyenne and Southern Arapaho. My parents are Jewel Tishina Pedro and Emmanuel Killsnight Jr. My maternal grandparents are Anita Marie Hoffman and Oliver “Fritz” Pedro, and my paternal grandparents are Minnie and

Emmanuel Killsnight Sr. I am a participant in the AFJROTC (Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp) my current rank is Technical Sergeant and I serve as the drill sergeant for our weekly physical endurance tests at the Tinker Air Force Base. I am a very well respected junior cadet amongst the veterans and active duty cadets at the Tinker Air Force Base.

My hobbies are beading, dancing contemporary/old style jingle, singing hymns, NAC songs, powwow songs and various ceremony songs.

I am an active participant in the Native American Church, along with our summer ceremony known as the Sundance.

My main focus for this year as the 2017-2018 Sr. Miss Oklahoma Indian Nation Powwow Princess would be making a difference in our youth, by preserving our language and traditions, as well as empowering those whom would love to learn more about our tribal traditions, language and songs.

Christiana Derenzo

Christiana Derenzo is the daughter of Dametra Gouge and the granddaughter of

OIN Little Miss Kirsten Coppage

OIN Master of Ceremonies Manny King

Manny King is a proud member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, Lame Deer, Mont. He received his bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah and earned his master’s degree in education from Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont.

He currently works as the Student Life and Activities Coordinator for the Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, Kan. He previously worked at the University of North Dakota, Indians Into Medicine Program as the College Post-Baccalaureate Program Coordinator. He assisted with the retention and recruitment of native health professionals in the field of medicine, nursing, physical therapy, etc. At the Haskell Indian Nations

University, Lawrence, Kan., he has served as a guidance counselor, academic advisor, university registrar, alumni coordinator and admissions counselor. He has assisted with the university recruitment and retention efforts for native students and has worked diligently in the various facets of the university to ensure the success of the student population.

Manny’s Indian name is Nahkohvo Omaestse which means White Bear. He has served as a Master of Ceremony (MC) on many of the powwows throughout the United States. He has traveled to California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, Montana, Oregon, and New Mexico to serve as MC at many powwows throughout Indian Country. He has a deep appreciation and respect for the native culture as well as the powwow arena.

He has helped to coordinate many of the university’s cultural events, powwow gatherings and events to help promote and educate non-natives to better understand the cultural traditions of native people.

He enjoys sharing stories, songs, and the camaraderie of the native way of life.

Kirsten Coppage, Oklahoma Indian Nation Little Miss 2017, is the daughter of Mark and Andrea Coppage of Geary, Okla. An Arapaho member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, she has two brothers: John Coppage and Ross Shawnee, and one sister Morgan Coppage. Her maternal grandparents are Frankie Gilbert and the late Susie Pratt Gilbert, maternal great-grandparents are the late Samuel Theodore Pratt and Angeline Spottedcorn Pratt. Both of whom were full-blood Arapaho.

Kirsten developed an interest in dancing years ago while attending local powwows and benefit dances.

Her interest and passion has led her to compete in, and eventually capture the title of “Little Miss” for this year OIN Powwow. Kirsten is a second grade student at the Geary Elementary. She spends a lot of her time and energy becoming familiar with and practicing the different cultural dance styles.

Other hobbies include: Being with family and friends, attending church, and whatever any seven-year-old generally finds of interest.

Her grandfather, Frankie Gilbert would like to mention that he is very proud of Kirsten. He has for many years participated in many pow­ wows and benefit dances as Head Man dancer and Arena Director, and just being there to help out. The Gilbert and Pratt family are also very proud of this young lady, knowing she will represent her title and the Oklahoma Indian Nation well while serving as “Little Miss”.

OIN Head Man Gourd Dancer Lorenzo Bo Beard

Max Bear Max Bear from El Reno, Okla., is currently serving as the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes Director of Culture and Heritage and THPO. He is Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Kiowa, also a US Navy veteran.

He is proud to be a part of this year’s Oklahoma Indian Nation Powwow as Co-Master of Ceremonies and always looks forward to the opportunity to help out with the committee. Haho

Sonya and Chris Derenzo. She is the great-granddaughter of Elliot Tasso and Donna Jean Island and Catherine Derenzo.

Christiana is 12 years-old and will be a sixth grader at Darlington School. She is Cheyenne and Creek. In addition to dancing at powwows, she enjoys cheerleading, playing basketball and softball. Christiana is honored to serve as this year’s 2017-2018 OIN Jr. Miss Princess and would like to thank everyone for their encouragement and support.

Lorenzo J. Beard, is a member of the Pawnee/ Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribe.

Lorenzo is married to Pam Buffalohead and they have been married for 29 and a half years. They have been blessed with four boys, one daughter, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Lorenzo is a self-taught artist and has been an artist since his early school years and has produced many, many out-standing paintings over the years. As a craftsman, he spends many hours working on cradle boards, paintings, and creating regalia such as traditional, straight and fancy for several dancers and family members.

He generally spends his spare time working on Native American art projects for himself, tribal and family members. During the weekends, he is generally found Gourd Dancing and/or traditional dancing with family members (Black Beard Descendents) at one of the area powwows.

Lorenzo is an inspiration to his family, brothers, sons, and nephews who have been blessed with artistic talent.

Lorenzo is the son of the late Mabel and Gilbert Beard, Sr., grandson of the late Mary and Albin Leadingfox.

OIN Tiny Tot Mahlea Warrior

Mahlea Warrior is the daughter of Jaylen and Kyla Warrior, granddaughter of Patrick Martinez and Tanya Orange-Yahola.

Maternal great-granddaughter of Virgil and Vera Franklin, paternal great granddaughter of Georgia Whitewater.

Mahlea loves dancing and represents the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe as the Tiny

Tot Princess of Oklahoma Indian Nations Powwow.

She likes to dance southern cloth, jingle dress and scrub dance.

The family of Mahlea joined together to raise funds to donate to the committee and she raised the most securing her spot as the Oklahoma Indian Nations Powwow Tiny Tot Princess. We are proud of her and have watched her evolve to become a more confident Princess who has her little wave down and is able to say her traditional name in her language Hoi’ eh’ mon’ et meaning, ‘woman in charge.’

We thank the committee for this honor and our little 3 year old Tiny Tot Princess looks forward to representing the Oklahoma Indian Nations Powwow to the best of her little ability for the year 2017-2018.

OIN Head Lady Gourd Dancer Jamie Yellowfish

Tous neito’eino’, (Hello relatives) nee’eesihino (I am) Jamie Yellowfish.

Hinóno’eininoo. (I am Arapaho.)

Wooxuu’eit, néé’eetéíhiinoo, (Canton is where I am from), heniine’itinoo (I live in) Oklahoma City.

Nees (My husband is) James Yellowfish.

Néínoo (My mother is) Alana Scabbyhorse Blackwolf.

Neisónoo (My father is) Thomas Blackwolf Sr. Nebésiibéhe’ (My grandfather is )Arthur Sutton noh (and) nei’eibehe’ (my grandmother is ) Sallie BlackBear Sutton noh (and) James Scabbyhorse noh (and) Cora Sutton Scabbyhorse. My step-grandfather was Jed

Querdibitty.

Netei’yooniiwo’ (My children are) Chris Fairbanks, Desmond Fairbanks, Neahe Fairbanks noh (and) James ‘Junior’ Yellowfish.

Hohóú! Thank you!

OIN Head Man War Dancer Hyde Toppah

Greetings, I would like to thank the Oklahoma Indian Nations Committee for asking me to fulfill the head man position for this year’s annual powwow.

I’m Kiowa and Navajo. I currently reside in Coweta, Okla., with my wife JoEtta and son Natanii Parker.

I was born and raised in Weatherford, Okla., where I attended school and started

college work. I graduated from Northeastern State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education.

I currently work at Central High School in Tulsa with the special education and athletics department.

My parents are Jeannie and the late D.K. Toppah. I have one sister Janaye and one brother Cheevers.

Having been brought up in this arena at a young age, my parents taught my siblings and I our traditional ways and teachings from both ceremonial songs and dances, including our language. My parents and grandparents have always been supportive of my endeavors and making sure I knew the importance of family values. Faith, family, and education will give you a complete life.

Lastly I want to thank everyone that comes to show their support for me and my family. Ah-ho

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Deforest Earl TallBear better known as Mock, was born on Aug. 17 1952 and passed away Jan. 19, 2012.

Mock was born and raised in El Reno, Okla. Mock was always a very spiritual man.

He was a member of the Bow String Society and also very traditional in his Cheyenne ways.

At 18 Mock joined the

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

Marines during the Vietnam War Era. After his time in the Marines he returned to El Reno and married Debra White and had four children.

Mock is survived by his children Malaina, spouse Cody, Margaret, Mitchell, and Deforest Jr., spouse Jeannie and also his numerous grandchildren who meant the world to him. They are Blaine, Brandy, Baylee and Tori Fasthorse, Elijah and Lylah Tallbear, Macey Deforest III, and Mayella Tallbear.

Mock dedicated his later years to the Cheyenne and Arapaho color guard. With that he spent his time doing burial detail and bringing in the colors for many powwows and events. Mock was a great man and is greatly missed by his family and friends.

Elder of the Year

Frederick Clayton Hoffman was born on March 4, 1940, to Fred and Kathryn Youngbull Hoffman. He died on May 1, 2006.

Frederick’s maternal grandparents were John Youngbull and Dora Flyingman. His paternal grandparents were Albert Hoffman and Vinnie WhiteEagle, daughter of WhiteEagle and Path. His great paternal grandmother was Florence RedEye who married StarBlack after the death of her first husband.

Frederick served in the United States Air Force from 1961-1963 and was honorably discharged.

Frederick was a lifetime bachelor and left his niece Michelle Kauahquo Tippeconnic as his heir. His sur-

OIN Head Singers Kendall Kauley

Marie Whiteman

Marie Whiteman is a member of the Cheyenne Tribe from Watonga, Okla.

She is the daughter of the late Dawes White Bird and Mollie Curtis White Bird.

She started working for the Watonga Hospital in 1966 then went on to nursing school, after finishing nursing school Marie went to work for Opportunities Inc. for 31 and a half years, retiring from there. After three months of retirement she went back to work at the Geary Nursing Home for five years. Marie also worked for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Elder Care program for C-1 District. Altogether putting in 46 years of working, which she enjoyed, mostly the nursing at Watonga Hospital, the Well Baby Clinic and WIC program through Opportunities Inc. Marie has five children and two adopted sons, Bev-

erly Jimenez, Karen Daratt, Charles Howlingwater, Leatrice Gonzalez, Ricque Richardson, Chester White Man and Creg Hart. Three deceased daughters Janell Howlingwater, Wilma Horse and Lavada Gould.

She began dancing at the age of 7 years old at the time she was initiated into the Lighting Clan as one of the four Cheyenne women that can wear a war bonnet.

Marie has served on many powwow organizations and has been head lady dancer for many powwows and benefit dances.

“I am very humbled and honored to be chosen as the honored Elder Indian of the year for the OIN pow-wow 2017. I want to thank the committee for choosing me this year. I will do my best to uphold this position to make this powwow a success.

Thank you.”

viving family includes brother John Tyler Hoffman, and sisters Lucy Snyder, Thelma Kauahquo, Ida Hoffman and Arlene Chapman.

The family is very honored to have been asked to fly Frederick’s flag during the 2017 Indian Nations Powwow. Thank you and may God bless.

My name is Kendall Kauley from Hammon, Okla.,

where I currently reside with my family. My parents are Arleen Fletcher Kauley and the late Kenneth Kauley. I graduted from Hammon High School in 2006 and have an occupation as a welder. I enjoy spending time with my family and enjoy the outdoors including fishing and hunting. I am very thankful to the committee for asking me to be this year’s Head Gourd Dance Singer and I will do my best to oblige Oklahoma Indian Nations Powwow 2017.

Jesse Hamilton

Heebee, Nenee’eesihinoo Woteen No’oo’. (Hello, my name is Black Kettle, Jesse Hamilton) I am the grandson of the late Thomas and Aline (Bates) Shakespeare of Arap-

ahoe, Wyo. The late Glen Hamilton of Hobart, Okla. and my grandmother Madeline (Wolf) Hamilton who resides in Gracemont, Okla.

My parents are Delmar and Ava Hamilton of Boulder, Colo. I am married to Jame Lyn (Tosee) Hamilton, I have two children, a boy Bow Grant Hamilton and a girl Kendal Montana Hamilton.

I am a U.S. Army veteran who served from 1990-1994.

I am very honored to be asked to help with this years OIN celebration. From my family to yours welcome to OIN 2017, we hope you make new friends, visit old friends, and dance and sing until your’re filled with happiness!

OIN Head Lady War Dancer Anna Helen Spottedwolf

OIN Contest Coordinator Marshall Williamson

Marshal Williamson is a member of the Sac and Fox Nation, Kiowa and Creek Tribes. He is from Calumet, Okla. He enjoys dancing grass and traveling to powows around the U.S. and Canada.

Marshal says, “I want to thank the powwow committee for asking me to be on head staff.

I am glad that you all took the time out of your lives to attend the 2017 Oklahoma Indian Nations Powwow. Many blessings to everyone and I hope you all make many memories this year, Aho!

OIN Arena Directors

Chris Sindone Chris Eaglenest

Hello, my name is Anna Helen Spottedwolf. I am the daughter of the late Jolene Jenny Spottedwolf, the grand-daughter of Arapaho Chief Patrick Spottedwolf, the late Sandra Monetatchchi Spottedwolf and Marijo Spottedwolf. I was also taken in as a daughter by Mike and Toni Pawnee. I am an en-

rolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, I’m also of Comanche decent.

I reside in Clinton, Okla., with my two children Arianna “AJ” and Jayden. I am employed at the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes Head Start Department where I have been working for a total of four years. I am currently a full time student at Redlands Community College going towards my AA in child development and family studies. I hope to continue my education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University after I graduate next spring from Redlands.

I enjoy traveling and going to powwows across the U.S representing my tribes and my home town. I am truly honored to be able to serve as the Head Lady War dancer at this year’s Oklahoma Indian Nations Powwow. Ha’ Hou!

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Thurman L. Welbourne, Cheyenne name Hakiveh (Littlechief), May 6, 1946 to Sept. 30, 1994. US Marine Corps Lance Corporal Viet-

nam 1965-1967. Education: Clinton High School, 1964, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), 1971, University of Oklahoma (OU) Masters Social Work, 1973. Employment: Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Okla., Bureau of Indian Affairs, IHS Clinton Service Unit Administrator, and other tribal administrative positions. Children: Terri L. Welbourne, Derek K. Welbourne, Thomas K. Welbourne IV, Stavia Welbourne Sharp. Siblings: Nancy Welbourne Herrod, Thomas K. Welbourne III, Tennyson L. Welbourne, Richard D. Welbourne, Elwin (Charlie) Welbourne.

Color Guard Buddy Bond

Drum Contest Coordinator Jimmy Anquoe

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

PAGE 6

Pratt continued from pg. 3

beadwork.

The Indian Arts and Crafts Association named Charles Pratt its artist of the year in 1985 and 2004, and he received its lifetime achievement honor in 2002.

He earned more than 400 awards during his long artistic career, and his work is in private and public collections around the world.

“My dad was a little short man, but he made big sculptures. … He was trying to make up for a little bit of height there,” his daughter said with a laugh. “But he also made little small stuff like jewelry, and that’s where I get my detailing from, is him. When I’m doing my dolls, I put a lot of detail into them with these really, really small beads that no one else uses.”

One of his sculptures was on view in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building during the 1995 bombing. The wood and metal piece survived and is displayed in the administrative offices of the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

Although he lived for many years in Santa Fe and Gallup, New Mexico, Charles Pratt maintained strong ties to his home state’s American Indian art community, especially through the Red Earth Festival. He was named the Red Earth Honored One in 2000.

“Our Red Earth family was deeply saddened when we learned of the passing of our dear

friend Charlie Pratt. He was truly an inspiration to artists throughout the country, and one of our most ardent supporters … participating in the Red Earth Festival since its inception in 1987,” said Teri Stanek, president of the Red Earth board of directors, in a statement.

When one of her colorfully beaded handmade dolls won the Red Earth Grand Award in 2013, Laketa Pratt said her dad got word so quickly that he phoned her before she could call him.

“He was calling me, saying, ‘Hey, I heard you won the best of show!’ I could tell he was proud,” she said. “Growing up, I thought ‘when I get old enough, I want to do the same thing,’ because he always made it look really fabulous and fun. … It was fun work to him, and he was always thinking of something to make.”

Charles Pratt is survived by two of his brothers, Harvey Pratt and Otto Pratt; his daughters, Laketa Pratt and Della Pratt; his son, Gayther “Choppa” Pratt; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A wake is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday and funeral services at noon Monday, both at Huber-Benson Funeral Home in El Reno. He will be buried in Geary, the small town named for one of his ancestors, Edmund Guerrier.

Fletcher continued from pg. 3 it because we knew them and we don’t want to bring it up for them or don’t talk about it. Again the fear or the stigma, if you have depression and have to talk to a counselor then, ‘you’re the crazy one,’ kind of thinking. Stay away from the crazy one.

But what I have also seen in Native communities, the biggest resistance I have had is the thinking of, ‘oh talking to a counselor, that’s the white man’s way,’ that’s western medicine, we never had that before and we don’t need to do that. So because of cultural reasons they are put off from talking to someone, and I am glad I learned that very early because it helped me to say I do need to incorporate the Native part of it. You can have both and you can weave them together and give people the best of two worlds, is how I put it.

Tribune: Are their misconceptions around the idea of counseling?

Fletcher: Nobody wants to be seen as weak, or feel weak or feel like they need help from somebody else, but I also think that a lot of people don’t know what true counseling, true therapy is.

I have people come to me and say so what I tell you how I feel and you fix my problems? Uh no, I wish it worked that way, that it was that easy. I wish I had a magic wand or something I can give you that will make everything better, but I tell them, counseling and therapy is not what you think and it’s not for the weak.

You come in here during the worse time of your life, going through the most horrible things, my job isn’t to fix you, because if I fix you I won’t be here all the time and if you go out and something happens I am not going to be there. My job, how I look at it is, I am like a mirror and I am there in the times when you forget how strong you are, you forget your strengths or you forget how to get through things,

Indian Housing Law Aug. 21-23, 2017 at the Embassy Suites in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information visit www.falmouthinstitute.com.

The 25th annual National Native American Law Enforcement Association Collaborative Training Event Aug. 22-24, 2017 at the Tropicana Resort in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information visit www.nnaiea.org.

and I am there to remind you of that and how to show you that and get back to saving yourself. I don’t want to save you – I don’t want to save anybody – I want to empower you to save yourself.

I have never had someone tell me yet they regret going to therapy. It’s a safe place to discover things about yourself or maybe remind you of things about yourself that you have forgotten. I try to use an analogy like if you had a toothache, would you not go to the dentist?

Some people come in with resistance saying, ‘so what’s happened to you, are you going to understand what I’ve done, have you done this or that.’ Nobody will ever really truly experience the same thing anyone experiences.

You have two people who can go through the same thing, but they will have two different experiences, but think about this, if you had a heart attack, went to the hospital and needed heart surgery, would you demand that the doctor had heart surgery before he performed one on you?

They were like, ‘no I wouldn’t’ and I laugh and say well there you go.

Tribune: How do you overcome kids’ resistance to counseling?

Fletcher: Kids are magic. I think they are magic because they are more honest and open and when they come in if they don’t trust you they just tell you. If they think it’s stupid and don’t believe in counseling, they just tell you right up front and I like that because that’s where we need to start. It’s okay not to trust me, we can build that as we go along, and because they are so open and honest about that it’s usually faster to get over that part of it.

At this age when they are younger, if I can just reach one kid and teach them what counseling really is. And at Riverside, it took just one

kid. I still remember the first student I talked to, she came in, didn’t trust it and said we don’t talk to counselors, we don’t talk about stuff in my family. I was like I understand that, but let me just tell you what this is, what I do and if you want to fine and if you don’t that’s totally fine too, but at least you know your options. I sat down and talked with her and she was another one that said I didn’t know that’s what counseling was. After that, the next time her friend was going through something she said, hey go talk to Ms Fletcher, she can help you this is what she does, and then after that there was another one and it just snowballed into the right ideas of what counseling were versus what they thought it was. The biggest

“

Tribal Court Procedures Aug. 23-24, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information or to register visit www.falmouthinstitute.com.

American Indian Tourism 19th annual Conference Sept. 11-14, 2017 at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Green Bay, WI. For more information or to register www.aitc2017. com.

person right in front of you and they are telling you the most horrible things that have happened to them. And it’s not even something you can imagine happening to an adult, and here’s this kid, 12 years old, whatever age, is going through this or has experienced these things, and it’s hard, it does affect me.

There are times I have to say, I am getting too emotionally involved in this and I have to take a step back, because part of counseling you have to check yourself.

If I am too emotionally involved I am not going to be any good for him or her. I have to be able to do my job because at the end of the day I am a service provider and I have to make sure the service I am giving to these children is the best of my ability.

to teach younger kids, even adults and parents to become comfortable with talking about suicide.

When a suicide in the community happens I think we need to have people having discussions and saying this is a safe place to ask your questions. From my experience, when I was younger and my aunt’s boyfriend committed suicide I knew what it was, but I didn’t feel comfortable to ask questions.

So I was just left with all these things going on in my head, like why and this and that, and so we have to teach our kids that first of all we are comfortable to talk about it.

My biggest things with kids is that kids are not uncomfortable talking about it, they will say it out loud and they will have those conversations, they are not afraid of saying I am thinking about this or I’m thinking about that. What scares them is how the adult is going to react to it.

What I say is these kids are having the conversations and we need to be a part of it as adults and parents, We need to become comfortable within us to become part of those conversations and give them the correct information.

For example, when the suicides occurred I have a 15-year-old niece who, of course heard about the suicides in the communities of El Reno and at Riverside last year. One day she came and asked me, ‘auntie what’s suicide?’ To me that was a key moment, because to me, how many kids go to an adult and have those questions. And how the adult reacts is so important at that point. Because if the adult says, ‘oh where did you hear about that, don’t talk about that, don’t worry about that,’ it shows them right there that’s something we don’t talk about and to be afraid of. In that moment if we have an adult who can say, ‘okay suicide is this

….’ And it leads to more questions, like my niece asked me, ‘well auntie why would somebody do that?’

So I told her about the different reasons why, and she had all of these really good questions and it surprised me that she had been thinking about all of these things. It made me happy to be able to give her answers she could understand.

I think it starts with teaching adults to be more comfortable with the conversation. Teaching more people to talk about it and not make it a scary thing. The more it’s made to be scary and kept in secret, the more it happens.

Suicide lives in the secrets. When you do open up the conversation about suicide you can also correct the misinformation that is out there. People think suicide is an impulsive thing, and people think there were no signs before committing suicide, but it’s really not and there are signs the majority of the time. You open all the doors to these questions and it will lead to questions like, what are the warning signs or where can I go to get help or how can I help that person in my life.

To me there is always a deep gut feeling, something just not right and I tell people when you get that feeling you have two choices you can either ignore it and say ‘okay well that was kind of weird,’ and brush it off but you can also go with that gut feeling, push through and straight up ask ‘are you thinking about killing yourself.’ Because that one question can save a life. That one question can make all the difference.

I have talked to people and have asked them straight out, ‘are you thinking of killing youself,’ and they say no, then right after they asked for a piece of paper and actually wrote down, ‘yes, I am thinking of killing myself.’ So it’s easier for some people to write it down, but Fletcher / pg. 9

Suicide lives in secrets...”

thing that people oppose about counseling, in my opinion, is that they truly just don’t know what it is. If they knew what it was it wouldn’t be so scary and would be more open to it.

Tribune: How do you separate yourself from becoming too emotionally involved with the kids you counsel?

Fletcher: Riverside is a very unique experience because it’s all about Native kids. You hear about the statistics, like the sexual abuse, the physical abuse, neglect, poverty, all these horrible things you read about it and then it is totally different when a kid comes in and starts telling you about what that was for them versus reading about it in a book, and now it’s a person, a

I decompress in the evening, my friends and family support me and I will do exercises in clearing my mind and trying as best I can not to have those things take an emotional toll on me. But also, my uncle is very traditional, in our family he is a cultural adviser to us and he always reminds us of our ways and so I talk with him and he gives sage, cedar and sweet grass so when I have a really hard day, I will come home pray and smudge myself.

Tribune: Where do communities begin to have the conversation about Suicide Prevention?

Fletcher: I think it begins at the beginning. Afterwards when it’s over, it’s too late at that point. I think we need

BRIEFS AT A GLANCE

National Congress of American Indians Impact Days Sept. 12-14, 2017 in Washington, DC. For more information or to register visit www.ncai.org.

Business Writing for Tribal Employees Sept. 25-26, 2017 at the Apache Casino Hotel in Lawton, Okla. For more information visit www.falmouthinstitute.com.

National Indian Education Association annual Convention and Tradeshow Oct. 4-7, 2017 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, FL. For more information or to register visit www.ncai.org.

Tribal Grants Management Certification Program Oct. 16-20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information or to register visit www.falmouthinstitute.com.

National Indian Health Board Tribal Health Conference Sept. 25-28, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue, Wash. For more information or to register visit www.ncai. org.

2017 Fall Finance & Tribal Economies Conference Oct. 2-3, 2017 at the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Okla. For more information or to register visit www.nafoa.org.

The 74th annual Convention & Marketplace / We Are Strong Nations Oct. 15-20, 2017 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, WI. For more information or to register visit www.ncai.org.

Elder Care for Native American and Alaskan Native Communities and Organizations Oct. 24-25, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information or to register visit www.falmouthinstitute.com.

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Happy 18th birthday David Charles! We are so proud of the young man you’re becoming and love you very much.

On June 8, 2017 Cruz RobertWalker Arlas graduated from San Jacinto High School in San Jacinto, Calif.

Class of 2017

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

July 14 Look who’s 31! Happy belated birthday Josh Nevaquaya!

Love you, Malaki, Jr, Mom and Cece

Happy Birthday to my sisters Tonya Jean Moore, Aug. 9, and Ashli Jill Reyes, Aug. 1. I love you both very much, see you in 21 months!

Miss you both. Love, your brother Jay Allen

Toni Lea Iniguez graduated from the University of Phoenix/ Kansas City with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management.

Toni’s parents are Tony and Angela (YellowEyes) Iniguez. Her grandparents are Lee and Sandra YellowEyes.

Her great-grandparents are George Burt StrongWolf and Rachel YellowEyes and her greatgreat grandparents are Joseph YellowEyes and Minnie YellowShirt.

We are so proud of Toni on achieving her bachelor’s degree all while working full time and raising a son.

Congratulation Toni.

Love, your family

In Loving Memory Betty Rexroat Sept. 24, 1931 Feb. 23, 2017 Betty Rexroat was born the first of six children of Betty JoAnn Richardson in Ulysses, Kan., on Sept. 24, 1931 to parents Richard and Maude Irene Richardson.

She married Clarence Allred and moved to Oklahome where they started their family. Betty raised her

daughters and began working in the medical field where she proudly completed her education becoming a Certified Nurse Assistance and Certified Medical Assistant.

She continued her career in the medical field caring for others until she retired.

She later married George Rexroat of Ulysses, Kan., where they enjoyed a life of traveling around the west collecting antiques and treasures.

Betty suffered a stroke in 2015 and was brought back to Hennessey where she lived out her remaining days under the care of her children and the Hennessey Care Center until she passed away on Feb. 23, 2017.

Betty enjoyed cooking and sharing recipes with her grandchildren. She also en-

Wishing my beautiful girl, Khloe Knoxsah, a happy 6th birthday. May Maheo continue to bless you with many more to come. Love, mom and the crew

PAGE 7

Happy 31st birthday baby sister Karla Stoneroad.

You’re making us feel old.

Love, Russ, Lisa, Geno, momma and all the kiddos

In loving memory of Woxu’sei (Grass Woman) Charlene Sutton Lime.

Jan. 11, 1943 – July 26, 2013.

Thank you for all your love and kindness, I miss you mom.

Love, your son Jay Jay

On behalf of our late son Patrick Emhoolah II we would like to say thank you to the burial assistance program for our son. The two ladies in the department were gracious, helpful, mindful and most of all, caring.

It’s not every day that people bury their children. The pain and heartache will always be there, the broken hearts are forever broken. We want to thank my niece Karen Miles and Melvin for coming to the hospital praying for our own son. To those of you who have prayed for our family, said a kind word, gave a hug, thank you all so much. I first want to mention my brother-in-law Lonnie Emhoolah and my nephew Gordan Emhoolah, nieces Rayna Emhoolah, Rose and Jeanne Garza and sisters Noreen Faye Queton-Morgan for being helpful and loving with our son.

There are not words around that can express my gratitude.

May God bless you all. Today we are going on 13 weeks since my son has been gone and the heartache does not go away. Thank you all again.

Respectfully yours, James and Georgia Fletcher Emhoolah, Stacy Fletcher, Jaylen Wahnee, Janie Lamebull, Anastasia Emhoolah and all his loving family joyed painting, gardening, sewing and most of all caring for others.

She is known for her witty comments, her strength, being strong willed, tough and independent.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and siblings Wayne Richardson, Richard Richardson, Patricia Ratliff and Linda Reed.

She is survived by one brother Don Richardson of Loco and daughters Jane Hicks of Norman, Okla., Barb Kester of Thomas, Okla. and Lusann Allred of Hennessey, Okla., as well as nine grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.

The family held a Family Remembrance service at the home of Jim and Kathleen Yeomon on March 11, 2017.

Edward Anthony Junker Dec. 9, 1953 July 14, 2017 Funeral services for Edward Anthony Junker were held July 20 at Desert View Chapel in Rio Rancho, N.M. Interment followed at Sunset Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M.

Charles Edward Pratt November 8, 1937 July 12, 2017 Wake services for Charles Edward Pratt were held July 16 at Huber-Benson Funeral Home Chapel.

Funeral services were held July 17 at the same venue. Interment followed at Geary Cemetery.

The Office of Veteran’s Affairs

The Cheyenne & Arapaho veteran’s office would like to remind our tribal veterans and their families if they would like their veterans name to be added to the memorial wall to please send in their DD214 with “honorable” discharge and tribal enrollment number.

The deadline this year is set for sept. 30th 2017.

If you need assistance with ordering a DD-214 please give our office a call or come by.

This year the ova office placed flags out on our tribal cemeteries for memorial day 2017 and have policed up the majority of them. We realize that there were flags out on TRIBAL graves with no veteran’s headstone that we did not place, therefore

indicating to us that there is a possibility that individual maybe a veteran and could possibly be eligible for a veteran’s headstone. If you don’t know how to obtain a veteran’s headstone please let us help you with that process. We would like to see all our vets that are deceased to have a veteran’s headstone.

We understand things are tough during those grieving times and sometimes it can be difficult to keep up with or track down paperwork.

We are here to help.

Also if you have not had your 1st veteran’s tribal id made, come by our office and bring your dd-214 if we don’t’ already have it on file.

The OVA office will verify your veteran status and coordinate with the Dept. of

Enrollment for your Tribal veteran ID. If you are veteran that has served in any capacity in any conflict, war, combat zone, or not and was on active duty status and would like to see what va benefits you are eligible for, Please come by our office or give us a call. even if you reside out of state.

The OVA office needs your help in assisting us in finding our tribal veterans that may be elderly and reside either outside the serice areas or so far in the country they are almost forgotten.

We don’t want to miss or forget about ay of our tribal veterans.

We are currently working on the veteran’s vest program. It takes time so we

ask that patience be a virtue.

Some things that you as the veteran can assist us with in speeding up the process is have your DD-214 w/Honorable Discharge available and provide a copy to us.

Come by the OVA office so we can take your measurements and stay in touch with us until we have built your ribbon rack and ordered the patch of the unit with which you served.

For more information or to contact OVA call Russell Willey, Director at 405-4227724 or 405-248-7520 or by email, lwilley@c-a-tribes. org. You may also contact Aline Dickens, Intake/Resource Specialist by call 405-422-7622 or by email at adickens@c-a-tribes.org.

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

PAGE 8

EMPLOYMENT

Employment: Submit a tribal application, resume, diploma(s), transcripts, valid copy of Oklahoma state driver’s license and a copy of CDIB (if applidable) to Personnel Department, PO Box 38, Concho, OK 73022 or email atisdale@c-a-tribes.org.

Receptionist Department of Administration Closing: Until Filled Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent required. Proficient telephone and computer skills, especially in MS Office Office and administrative practices and procedures. Ability to pay strict attention to detail and accuracy. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of program matters. Able to understand and execute complex oral and written instructions.

Ability to maintain professionalism at all times. Apply appropriate independent initiative, discretion, judgment and organizational skills to the work. Tribal preference.

SALARY: Negotiable Headstart Transportation/ Floater F-T / Concho Closing: Until Filled Qualifications: Must have a valid Oklahoma driver’s license and be willing to obtain a CDL and Bus Driver’s certificate within 90 days of hire. Must be in good physical health, which allows lifting and moving. Ability to work independently. Knowledge of Head Start is desirable. A high school diploma or GED required. Must be familiar with federal, regional, state and local tribal regulations as they apply to the specific area of program operations.

Ability to manage physically active children, ages 3-5 within a weight range up to 60 pounds, including lifting, restraining, guiding, pursuing, withstanding sudden movements.

SALARY: Negotiable

ETA Administrative Assistant/Innovation Specialist Closing: Until Filled

Qualifications: Must possess an associate’s degree from an accredited school or have at least four years experience with federal, state or tribal government. Must possess a high school diploma/ GED with experience. Must possess a valid Oklahoma state driver’s license and have dependable transportation. Must be able to pass a O.S.B.I. background investigation. Must be skilled in operating various types of office equipment and be computer literate. Cheyenne & Arapaho preference.

SALARY: Negotiable Temporary/Full-Time Certification Clerk Food Distribution Closing: Until Filled

Qualifications: High school graduate or GED required. Must have valid Oklahoma driver’s license. Possess at least two years of clerical duty experience. Typing and computer skills desired. Good communication skills. Capable of meeting deadlines in a timely manner. Experience in working with policies and guidelines. Must be in good physical condition. Must be able to do moderate lifting. Must pass a physical examination. Must be able to obtain: forklift safety certification, food handler’s card, CPR/ First Aide/AED certification, OSHA training course, Microsoft training courses and CDL license, if required.

Ability to work with minimal supervision. Must pass prehire drug testing and pass background check.

SALARY: Negotiable

Come see our new cross at All Nations Baptist Church in Kingfisher, Okla. A volunteer group came into Kingfisher from Georgia, cut down trees and worked on the inside of the church and afterwards hosted a Vacation Bible School.

Pictured is Jeff Carter, who carved the surprise cross.

Carter also does Southern Baptist disaster relief in Georgia. All Nations church is located at 600 E. Broadway in Kingfisher, Okla. Also come out and visit our new All Nations Baptist Church of Seiling opens every Sunday night at 7 p.m. Located at the old Seiling Indian Baptist church on South Orange in Seiling, Okla.

ETA Intake Specialist Closing: Until Filled Qualifications: High school diploma or GED required. Two years practical experience in service provider program or customer service. Must possess a valid Oklahoma state driver’s license and have dependable transportation. Must be able to pass a O.S.B.I. background investigation. Must be skilled in operating various types of office equipment and be computer literate. Tribal preference.

SALARY: Negotiable Tribal Security Director Concho Closing: Until Filled Qualifications: Associates or bachelors degree in criminal justice, management or business administration, closely related degree with courses in management is preferred but not required. Must be familiar with concepts, practices and procedures of tribal security with at least five years’ experience in security and/ or law enforcement. Must be able to meet the physical requirements associated with this position. Must possess valid Oklahoma driver’s license. Must pass pre-hire drug screening. Must possess advanced communication skills, in writing as well as speaking. Must possess strong interpersonal and customer service skills. Must possess strong organizational skills, with the ability to multi-task effectively. Must possess the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and responsibilities.

SALARY: Negotiable

Surveillance Operator Gaming Commission Closing: Until Filled Qualifications: Must pass pre-employment drug test. Must be able to qualify and maintain a Cheyenne- Arapaho gaming license.

SALARY: Negotiable Native Ministries of Oklahoma City meets every Sunday morning 10:30 a.m. at the Rancho Village Baptist Church 1411 SW 38th St., in Oklahoma City.

We offer great hymn singing, Native American spiritual songs and tremendous Bible study.

We meet at the one story brown brick building north of the main sanctuary.

Need a ride or for more information contact Pastor Ron Starr at 405317-8736 or by email at Ronaldstarr@hotmail.com.

All Nations Baptist Chapel August Schedule: Beginning in August every Thursday Aug. 3, 17, 24 and 31 Dinner 6:30 p.m.

Bible Study 7 p.m.

Clinton Community Hall Dog Patch Rd in Clinton, Okla.

For more information contact: Pastor Ron Starr at 405-517-8736

TRIBAL TRIBUNE

DEADLINES At 3 p.m. every 8th and 23rd of the month. Unless the 8th or 23rd falls on a weekend, it will be the Friday preceding.

ALL ELDERS: PLEASE WATCH FOR THESE IMPORTANT APPLICATIONS ENCLOSED IN THE AUGUST FOOD CHECK DISTRIBUTION

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

LEGAL NOTICES

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

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Bingo fundraiser at ILC Aug. 3 Fletcher For those of you that don’t know, the Independent Living Center (ILC) in Clinton, Okla. is an elder (55 years and older) community where we can live independently. Not only is it an adult community but also we find camaraderie and positive socialization amongst ourselves. As the number of elders dwindles in the Cheyenne and Arapaho communities, the ILC provides a unique opportunity to live close and comfortably in our one and two bedroom apartments.

The ILC has a new committee we would like to introduce: Chairman Don Nowlin, Vice-Chairman William Wilson, Secretary Jane Night Walker, Treasurer Frances Lawrence and Sergeant of Arms Laura Verijan.

Pictured is our bingo committee. We will resume

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bingo at the ILC Safe Room on Thursday, Aug. 3. This is a fundraising event designed to provide fun and enjoyment for ILC residents. We would like to venture out into the community and possibly enjoy local cuisine as a group or maybe a trip to Oklahoma City, Bricktown or the Golden Corral, maybe even take in a ball game at some point.

Tribes’ Health Education Program is partnering with Oklahoma State Health Department HIV Division, Southern Plains Health Board Caring Van, Comanche County Health Department Caring Van, Cheyenne and Arapaho EMS, and Cheyenne and Arapaho CHR Program to provide confidential HIV Testing on Saturday, Aug. 5.

Health stations will set up near the softball fields during the Oklahoma Indian Nation festivities beginning at 1 p.m.

A Hydration Station will be set up where attendees will be provided water bottles and after the fourth refill throughout the day, participants will receive a free t-shirt.

The HED/MPOWER program will provide information on Smoking Prevention, including a one mile walking course after which participants will receive a free Fidget Spinner.

HED is bringing HIV awareness on prevention, testing, and knowledge of personal status.

According to the CDC website, “Stigma associated with gay relationships and HIV, barriers to mental health care, and high rates of alcohol and drug abuse, STDs, and poverty all increase the risk of HIV in Native communities.”

By taking this opportunity to educate the Native community on such risks, the chance

saying the words is something different. There are many different ways you can ask and many different ways people can be comfortable to tell you what they are thinking. Teaching that is one of the key elements. We have to talk about it in our Native communities. Diabetes is very important in our communities and nobody is afraid to talk about that.

Tribune: What has been the saddest situation you have faced in counseling kids?

Fletcher: The saddest for me, and probably my first experience of this kind. Last year right before summer ended, we had four suicides of our Riverside kids. Some of them were returning kids that were supposed to be there the following week, some of them were seniors that had just graduated. One of those students, who committed suicide had just graduated in May, was the first one to graduate in his family from high school and he saw no other option. That was so sad for me because he worked so hard this whole time, he struggled, he grinded, overcame, got that diploma and now he can’t even use it. And for me it hit me in a different place, because it was like, yes we are a school and education is important but our kids can’t use that diploma if they are not alive.

We have to do more, we have to be teaching them more than just math and geometry, we have to teach them life skills. We have to teach them things that will help them survive what they came from, but also what they are going back to. Let’s give them an opportunity to leave not just with a diploma.

Riverside is unique. Some people say it’s a school. Some people say it’s a home. Some of the kids will tell you it’s their home, the only

home they have ever had. Riverside is such a great place because it gives us this opportunity to have these students come from where they come from and leave with not only a diploma but the life skills, the strength and the courage to survive what they came from and do better.

Our kids need more than diplomas; our kids need more than just an education. They need strength, support, life skills and all these other things because they have all these other factors that are designed for them to fail. That was the saddest for me, he never got that chance, and for him it saw nothing else to live for at that point. He just graduated and everything waiting for him, but what he saw was there was nothing else left after that point and that is so sad and what really hit me. We’ve got to do more, do better … not one more.

In my profession you see more of the bad because they come to you in their worse times, but when it becomes better, they do start doing good, that’s when it’s time for them to go and you really don’t get to see the best parts doing great for themselves and that’s the way it’s supposed to be … the way you want it to be.

To me children are magic, they are special and have all these qualities inside of them that as adults we forget how special we are. If we can get it right in the beginning it can change the course of a lifetime.

Kateri Fletcher is a member of the Cheyenne & Arapaho tribes. Her parents are Charles Fletcher from Clinton, Okla. and Sandi Fletcher (Laguna/Navajo) from Albuquerque, N.M. Her paternal grandparents are Angeline Reynolds Fletcher Daniel Fletcher and her maternal grandparents are Santiago Lente and Mable

E a t i n g healthy for

DIABETES

Tara Conway, MS, RD, LD, CDE C&A Diabetes Wellness Program

for the prevention of HIV infection increases.

In an effort to meet our community, testing will be provided from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Participants will receive a free Rib Dinner plate.

For more information, please contact Darrel James at 405-422-7676.

With temperatures approaching 100° and above, it is important to stay hydrated to prevent heat strokes or other illnesses.

Dehydration is caused by consuming too little or losing too much fluid. While foods don’t directly cause dehydration; your eating habits can contribute, either by keeping you from consuming fluid-rich foods or by encouraging you to lose fluids. Improving your eating habits and replenishing fluids lost through sickness or perspiration can help stave off bothersome symptoms, such as headache or dry mouth. If you experience severe symptoms such as dizziness, a rapid heartbeat or very dark urine, seek prompt medical attention.

Eating Few Hydrating Foods Water isn’t only present in liquids, fruits, vegetables and broth based soups also supply valuable amounts, fulfilling at least 20 percent of your fluid needs. If you’re at risk for or have already developed dehydration due to hot weather, heavy sweat, a lack of a hydrating beverages, diarrhea, or vomiting, eating mainly non hydrating food could worsen your symptoms. To prevent these effects have fruit or veggies, a smoothie or broth based vegetable with your meals or snacks instead of merely dry foods, like bread and potato chips. Particularly fluid rich options include melon, citrus fruit, berries, leafy greens and celery.

Caffeine as a Diuretic Caffeine has long been con-

sidered dehydrating, however research shows consumed in moderation can be as hydrating as water and could be considered in your daily fluid intake.

Aim for no more than 300 milligrams a day or three cups of coffee per day. Caffeinated tea products contain between 14 to 16 milligrams per cup (8 ounces), a 1.5 ounce chocolate bar (Hershey’s) or 12 ounce can of soda contains approximately 45 milligrams per serving. Be cautious with energy drinks as they may contain 200 milligrams of caffeine per serving (one can may contain 2 or more servings) plus additional stimulants, such as ginseng, have high stimulant content and or likely to be dehydrating.

Alcohol and Dietary Supplements While not considered foods, alcohol and many dietary supplements can negatively influence your hydration levels.

Alcohol promotes urine production, which leads to fluid loss.

The more alcohol you consume, the more fluid you will lose, increasing your risk of a hangover. Hangovers are headaches caused by dehydration. Supplements geared towards weight loss and energy boosting often contain stimulants, such as ginseng. Ginseng is only considered possible safe for short- term use. And could trigger diarrhea, a common cause of dehydration.

Graduate students from the University of Connecticut studied super fit endurance athletes and the high protein diets they adhere to. The research found

Summer Heat & Dehydration when the athlete’s protein intakes increased they became more dehydrated even though they all drank the same amount of fluids. So if you eat a lot of protein make sure you consume twice as much water to make up for the possible dehydration effects. Same guidelines apply to salty foods and sugary drinks.

Salty foods increase fluid loss because water is needed to eliminate the sodium you consumed, Sugary drinks may seem refreshing at first, but high sugar drinks can increase water loss in your body by creating an acidic environment that can impair enzyme function and decrease your body’s water storage capacity., which is necessary to metabolize all that extra sugar.

Pay special attention to sports drinks with sugar (and sodium) because they may make you prone to losing extra fluids.

Lifestyle suggestions Individual fluid needs vary, based on factors such as age, activity level and gender. Most people need between 8 to 13 cups of fluids daily. You should drink enough so you don’t feel thirsty and until your urine appears clear or pale yellow. If you have diarrhea or vomiting drink whatever liquid, you can to stay hydrated. Keep a water bottle handy all day, add a splash of juice or fresh fruit such as apples, strawberries or oranges for flavor.

For more information and tips on eating contact Tara Conway @ Diabetes Wellness Program 405-422-7685 or email tconway@c-a-tribes.org.

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Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei