VOLUME 16 EDITION 5
Minor Trust Account Investments will go to Vote on Ballot
Lawton, OK
GENERAL COUNCIL EDITION 2015
Encampment Will Bring Comanche Traditions Alive
By Stacey Heminokeky/News Staff
During the April 4 Comanche Business Committee (CBC) Meeting, a motion was made by CBC No. 1, Jonathan Poahway, regarding the Comanche Nation’s Minor Trust Accounts. His motion was to have the Minor Trust Fund Investment Committee explain to the tribal people the details about the goals they wish to accomplish with the minor trust fund, and to place the question whether to pursue the investment of the Minor Trust Funds on the 2015 voting ballot, so tribal people will have a voice in the matter. The motion was seconded by CBC No. 2, Sonya Nevaquaya, and she reassured tribal members that the trust funds have not been used, invested, or pulled in any way during the discussion period of the motion at the April meeting. The motion unanimously passed. The Minor Trust Fund Investment Committee consists of Chas Robinson, Jim Patterson, and Jerry Tahsequah. An informational forum was presented to interested tribal members April 15 at the Comanche Nation Complex, hosted by the Minor Trust Fund Investment Committee. The minor trust accounts have been a hot topic among tribal people since the March 2015 CBC meeting, when a resolution was presented to invest the accounts. City National Bank (CNB) has specific telephone numbers available for anyone interested in inquiring about Minor accounts. CNB is urging all interested tribal members to call so they can answer all questions or concerns regarding accounts, balances, etc. Toll Free: (877) 585-4177 In-State: (580) 585-4121
Comanche Nation Constitution Trivia By Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
Tribal members will take a pause from technology and re-connect with tribal traditions June 14-17, at the Comanche Nation Encampment, west of Indiahoma, Okla. Story and Photo by Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
Tribal members will have a unique opportunity to learn, firsthand, some of the traditional techniques and games during a three-day encampment in June. The encampment will take place June 15-17, and ending with a gathering on top of the Medicine Bluffs 10 a.m. June 19, for the Summer Solstice. Chairman Wallace Coffey is coordinating the event with the goal of teaching younger tribal members, and other tribal members who are interested in learning, some of the basic traditions to keep them alive for future generations. “We will begin with a breakfast Monday morning,” said Chairman Coffey. “Then we will have activities for the children. Some of
our Comanche Children have never walked along a creek bed, or even fished. This will give them and others an opportunity to experience these things.” The encampment is for tribal members and their families only, and will take place on tribal property west of Indiahoma, Okla. Surrounded by foothills and trees, the area is a good place for tribal members to gather and camp. Tipis and brush arbors will be placed throughout the camp, Some of the activities planned include butchering a buffalo, making drying meat (Tha-Aw), dried corn soup (Ah-Tha-Kwas), hand games, horseback riding, hiking, and a powwow-by-bonfire. There is no electricity in the encampment, so
technology will be left behind. “We will have a Peyote Meeting on the 17th, with a lunch when the men come out of the tipi. On the 19th we will go to Ft. Sill for the Summer Solstice,” said Coffey. Portable showers, portable outhouses, and water will be made available for the campers. Dome type tents will be in a separate camping area, and there will not be hookups for RVs or trailers. “This will allow the camp to remain as primitive as possible,” said Coffey. For more information about the encampment, contact Donna Wahnee, Special Projects Director, at (580) 492-3629.
How well do you know the Comanche Nation Constitution? This document is the foundation of the tribal government, to which tribal business and resolutions are branched from. In light of the annual General Council Meeting, a set of trivia questions has been made to test your knowledge of the Comanche Constitution. The answers are on Page 3. Go ahead and look up the answers in the Constitution. A copy is provided in the General Council Program Book. Good luck! 1. What date was the Comanche Nation ratified? 2. How many time has the Constitution been Amended? 3. What years did the amendments take place? 4. What is the name of the Supreme Governing Body of the Comanche Nation? 5. How old does a tribal member have to be to be considered a member of the Governing Body? 6. What is the number to have a quorum to do business at the General Council Meetings? 7. How old does one have to be to run for a Comanche Business Committee position? 8. How many days prior to the General Council Meeting should the audit of the prior fiscal year be published in newspapers? 9. How long is one term for a CBC member? 10. How many days after the General Council Meeting must the election of CBC members take place?
Important Dates and Information for Comanche Voters Upcoming Election Dates General Council, Saturday, April 18, 2015 (voting will take place for Tribal Administrator and Tribal Attorneys); Early/In-House Voting, Thursday, May 14 & Friday, May 15, 2015; General Election, Saturday, May 16, 2015; Early/In-House Voting for Run-Off Election (if needed), Thursday, June 11 & Friday, June 12, 2015; Run-Off Election (if needed), Saturday, June 13, 2015. All eligible tribal members will receive a ballot in the mail. Tribal members will no longer have to submit a request to receive a ballot. The Election Board will pay the cost of the return postage. There will be no cost to the tribal member to mail their ballot in. Early voting will be on Thursday and Friday preceding the General Election. Early voting will be held at the Tribal Complex and at the Comanche Nation Elder’s Center/Nutrition Site located at 1107 SW “H” Ave., Lawton, OK. Please make sure your address is current with the enrollment office. The Election Board encourages all eligible tribal members to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming election. Please contact the Election Board office at 580492-3272 if you have any questions.
April 2015
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GENERAL COUNCIL EDITION 2015
Qualifications for Chairman, Vice Chairman and Election Board Officers Submitted by Comanche Nation Election Board
Comanche Nation Constitution, Article IX, Qualifications of Officers: Section 1. No person may seek tribal office unless he/she will be at least twentyone (21) years of age at the time of his/her election and is a member of the Comanche Nation. Section 2. No member of the Comanche Nation who has been convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor involv-
ing dishonesty or of accepting a bribe shall be eligible to hold office. Section 3. Any person recalled from office as a result of action by the Comanche Tribal Council in accordance with Section 2 of Article VIII of this Constitution shall forfeit the right to seek election to any position on the Comanche Business Committee for a period of three years beyond the expiration of the term
of office in which the recalled person was serving at the time of recall. And also per: Comanche Nation Constitution, Article XV, Nepotism: Section 1. A relative of a member of the Comanche Tribal Business Committee (to include wife, husband, mother, father, son, daughter, sister, brother) shall not be employed within the Comanche Tribal governmental system.
In Accordance with the Comanche Nation Election Ordinance: Section 207: Qualifications: A candidate for the Election Board shall: (a) Be an enrolled member of the Comanche Nation who is eighteen (18) years of age or older (must provide copy of CDIB); (b) Not hold any other elective office with the Nation at the time of his/her candida-
cy; (c) Not be an immediate family member of a Comanche Business Committee member or a Comanche Nation Election Board member; (d) Reside within the Voting District he/she intends to represent if not seeking the At-Large position (must provide copy of driver’s license or state ID); (e) Have obtained a high school diploma or G.E.D.
(must provide a copy prior to certification); (f) Not have been convicted of a felony, a crime involving dishonesty or a crime of moral turpitude; (g) Not be an employee of the Comanche Nation’s government, college, agencies, commissions or enterprises; and (h) Not be a candidate for any other office.
Dear Comanche Nation Tribal Members, I would like to take this time to thank you for entrusting me to serve in the capacity of Chairman of the Great Comanche Nation. It has truly been an honor to serve you during these past three years. My number one priority is to raise the esteem and elevate the pride of the Comanche people, and every project that I take on is done with careful consideration and with this goal in mind. With the help of our staff, the CBC, and most importantly you, the tribal council, we have been able to accomplish many things in the past three years. In 2012, the general council voted to build the Red River Hotel, an establishment that would increase gaming funds and showcase our unique culture to visitors. The Comanche Nation Travel Plaza, located on the Oklahoma-Texas border has created jobs for our people and boosted the economy in Cotton County. The newly renovated Comanche Spur Casino offers excitement and entertainment for visitors. The Edith Kassanavoid Gordon Assisted Living received full certification from the Oklahoma State Board of Health last year, and is now open serving the needs of our Comanche elders. We have also made great strides in building relationships with the Lawton Fort Sill Community. Fort Sill recently named its newest facility in honor of our Code talkers. In May, the public will be invited to view the new granite headstones and pay respects at the Indian Agency Cemetery. We have partnered with Comanche Country Memorial Hospital in an effort to increase tribal employment in the healthcare industry. With your support, there are many projects I would like to continue working on. The Comanche Star House Bed and Breakfast project will feature a casino, restaurant, and open air market to increase profits and create jobs for tribal members and give a boost to the economy of Cache, America. I would also like to actively pursue restoration of the original Star House, home of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker. As a tribal leader, economic development is always at the forefront of my thoughts, but I feel that it is also important to celebrate and preserve our rich Comanche culture. In June, I would like to have the first annual Comanche Encampment, a three day event that will feature a powwow by bonfire, camping in teepees, butchering of a buffalo, and other traditional activities. Under my leadership and with your support, the Comanche Nation has been prosperous. I would be honored to continue serving the Comanche Nation as Chairman. I am humbly asking for your vote during this election.
April 2015
GENERAL COUNCIL EDITION 2015
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Technology Helps Comanche Nation Distribute Events and Information
Three Announce their Candidacy to Run for Tribal Administrator
By Will Niedo/ IT’s Media Division
Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
Three have announced their candidacy to run as the Tribal Administrator (TA) this year at the General Council Meeting. Incumbent, William Owens, has been the TA since 2010, coming into the position as an Acting TA, then being elected by tribal voters in 2011 until present. Former Comanche Business Committeeman, Robert Komahcheet, has also announced his willingness to run for TA, as well as, Baliente Herrera. The Comanche Nation Constitution explains the TA position in Article V-Tribal Council-, Section 9, which states, “To hire an Administra-
tor/Manager to administrate the tribal government. The Administrator/Manager shall be under the direction of business Committee. Members of the business committee shall not be an employee of the tribal government.” Although three candidates have announced their candidacy, persons can still be nominated for the position by a tribal member who is eligible to vote. Tribal people will nominate and vote for the TA at the Annual Council Meeting, which is a one-year term. The position begins immediately after the person with the most votes is announced.
ANSWERS TO PAGE 1 TRIVIA: 1. November 19, 1966 2. 8 times 3. 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1994, 2002 4. Comanche Tribal Council (Article IV, Section 1) 5. 18 years (Article V, Section 1) 6. 150 tribal voters (Article V, Section 6) 7. 21 years (Article VI, Section 1) 8. 60 days (Article VI, Section 7(h)) 9. 3 years (Article VI, Section 8) 10.60 days (Article VII, Section 2)
VOTE FOR Mr. Baliente Herrera For Comanche Nation Tribal Administrator Mr. Baliente Herrera is a graduate of Cameron University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance. He also earned an Associate of Science in Business. Mr. Herrera served in the U.S. Army where he proudly served his country in “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. Mr. Herrera received an Honorable Discharged from the Army and is designated as a disabled Veteran. He is a member of the Comanche Nation and is proud of his Comanche Nation heritage. He is an active member of the Comanche Indians Veterans Association. Mr. Herrera’s philosophy and goals as your Tribal Administrator is to find a way to make each existing program more resourceful than it currently is and to modify or put in to place procedures, with the purpose that all programs are to serve the people of the Comanche Tribe first in a more efficient and productive way. He plans to achieve this while exercising responsible spending in pursuit of a balanced budget. Mr. Herrera realizes to implement this plan will take a lot of hard work and a willingness to lead by example. He believes this example needs to begin by establishing standards in the work place beginning first with the Administrators office. Mr. Herrera has demonstrated a disciplined work ethic which he attributes learning from his time spent in military service. Add to that valuable military experience is a desire to make his Tribe the model by incorporating the wisdom and lessons learned and passed down from the Tribal Elders and blending it with the need to serve the needs of today’s young adults, young families and youth with a goal of “All for one and one for all”, which he feels the Tribe has lost that kind of pride, structure and identity. He desires to establish to go back to our programs fundamental design and goals so that all Tribal Programs have the resources it needs to meet the needs and demands of today’s business environment with the interest of putting the Tribal Members first. He believes that proper Tribal management and oversight should insure that each program and all of its employees should be treated fairly and with the highest standards, respect and professionalism found in any other Indian Tribe, corporation or organization in this great country and to become the model for others to follow. Mr. Herrera believes that in order to be competitive in today’s work or business environment, it is essential for Tribal members and employees to have a chance to further their education for any and all; and to create an environment where that is encouraged with the ultimate goal of establishing a sense of self-worth which is invaluable for any individual to succeed. “As the individual tribe member succeeds so do the Comanche Nation also succeeds….” We encourage all tribal members to make plans to attend the General Council, April 18, 2015 and exercise your right to vote and consider voting for Mr. Baliente Herrera to serve as your Tribal Administrator. “I understand challenges of the daily life and the desire to self-improve. With my "Proud Heritage" of the Comanche People along with my education and self-discipline, I know that, together, anything is possible to further the success and growth of all our Tribal Programs and to serve the Comanche Tribe and to bring a positive image of the Tribe to the Lawton Region and beyond. I'm asking for your vote at the General Council April 18, 2015.”…..Baliente Herrera, March 2015.
"Vote" "Mr. Baliente Herrera" For your next "Comanche Nation Tribal Administrator”
With the information super highway being used for many platforms of media, the Comanche Nation has embraced these forms of technology to help tribal members near and far keep in touch with events and information. With the use of the Internet, useful tools, such as email, is rapidly replacing the traditional mail. Mobile cell phones is rapidly replacing land line telephones. News on Demand is rapidly replacing the traditional news times, with information being updated by the minute. Keeping up with ever-evolving technology, IT’s Media Division, has made leaps within the past two years
to improve the way news and information is delivered to tribal members. The first real time video and audio recording of the 2014 General Council Meeting (live-stream) was introduced to the tribal people. Since then, a total of 10 out of 12 Comanche Business Committee (CBC) monthly meetings have been live streamed, giving the public the accessibility and convenience to watch the meeting anywhere either live or at their desecration. Meeting addresses (links) are published on the Comanche Nation Website, to offer tribal members one-click access. UStream.tv now car-
ries the Comanche Nation’s webchannel free, for tribal members. Search UStream’s website by entering The Comanche Nation in the search bar, to find a host of archived tribal meetings. Other events, such as the Comanche Homecoming Powwow and the Comanche Nation Fair are also streamed for the tribal people. Candidates running for CBC positions have the opportunity to be interviewed for the Comanche Nation’s You Tube Channel. The goal is to “Bring Tribal Members Home” though technology.
April 2015
Comanche Nation Proposed FY 20152016 Budget In accordance with the Comanche Nation Constitution, Article VI, Section 7(d)(1)
The Annual Comanche Nation General Council Meeting will take place 1:30 p.m. April 18th, at the Watchetaker Hall, Comanche Nation Complex
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GENERAL COUNCIL EDITION 2015