O K L A H O M A I N D I A N N AT I O N S C U LT U R E + E V E N T S
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Toni Braxton January 14 CONCHO
Loretta Lynn February 18 CONCHO
B.B. King February 24 CONCHO
Tickets available at Lucky Star Casino Box Offices, online at Ticketstorm.com or by phone at 866-966-1777. Subject to change. Management reserves all rights. Š 2011 Lucky Star Casino
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12 ........................ 5 Gatherings................... 6 A Look Back.................. 10 Grey Snow Eagle House......... 14 Eagle
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4 MAGAZINE
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Oklahoma Casinos & Entertainment
N O. 2 8 JANUARY 2012 http://www.dreamcatchermag.net info @ dreamcatchermag.net 405-360-8805 405-360-2228 FAX 3101 N Flood Ave Norman, OK 73069 Subscriptions: $25/year James T. Lambertus, Publisher james@dreamcatchermag.net Advertising Inquiries: ads@dreamcatchermag.net Letters & Editorial Submissions: edit@dreamcatchermag.net Laurie Haigh, Operations Manager laurie@dreamcatchermag.net ŠCopyright January 2012 OCE Publishing, LLC First Mesa, LLC N AT I V E A M E R I C A N OW N E D
American Indian Chamber of Commerce
Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association
Oklahoma Museums Association
Oklahoma Indian Tourism Association
PRINTED IN OKLAHOMA
Dreamcatcher Images
IOWA TRIBE'S GREY SNOW EAGLE HOUSE
EAGLE
Xuthappa OSAGE
LVMHE
MUSCOGEE (CREEK)
Osi'
CHICKASAW
VOAXÁA’E CHEYENNE
Que ni Puha COMANCHE (Eagle Spirit)
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KOOS
WICHITA
Beshknew POTAWATOMI
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BINGER Caddo Songs
January 1, 1889 Wovoka has his vision of the Ghost Dance
Tuesdays, 7 pm Caddo Nation Cultural Building
LAWTON Comanche Nation Museum and Cultural Center 701 NW Ferris Ave Artwork and arifacts of the permenant collection http://www.comanchemuseum.com
WWW
OKLAHOMA CITY American Indian Chamber of Commerce Post-Holiday Mixer Thursday, January 26, 5 to 7 pm Red Earth Gallery & Museum 6 Santa Fe Plaza Featuring works by photographer John Jernigan. Free refreshments and complimentary parking at the Santa Fe garage. Open to the public.
OKLMULGEE Smithsonian Native Words, Native Warriors/Muscogee Veterans
Eye on NDN-Country with dg smalling
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Museum & Cultural Center 2950 North Wood Dr http://www.muscogeenationmuseum.org
Saturdays, 9 am on http://www.thespyfm.com Conversations with Native leaders and friends of NDN-Country on current affairs in Oklahoma.
NORMAN
Research Your Indian Ancestry
Kiowa Language Class
Oklahoma Historical Society website http://www.okhistory.org/research/dawes
January 30, 1838 Seminole Chief Osceola passes away
Thursdays, 6 to 7:30 pm Jacobson House 609 Chautauqua Ave jacobsonhouse@gmail.com, 405-366-1667 http://www.jacobsonhouse.com
PARK HILL Brother vs. Brother Cherokee involvement in the Civil War Through April 15, 2012 Cherokee Heritage Center 21192 S Keeler Dr http://www.cherokeeheritage.org
Send us details or photos of your Gathering: edit@dreamcatchermag.net
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Living Arts
LIFE BEFORE STATEHOOD
Brent Learned (Arapaho) has a new exhibit at the Oklahoma State Capitol East Gallery. “I use bright bold colors, textures, and brush strokes that bring life to the Plains Indian way of life in a contemporary impressionistic style.� M-F 8 am to 6 pm; SAT-SUN 9 am to 4 pm. Through February 12. http://buffalobullhowling.com
Send us details or photos of your Gathering: edit@dreamcatchermag.net
To think Indian is to uphold a justice system older than any government.
ALAN WAUKAU, 21 years old Criminal Justice major College of Menominee Nation, WI Bear Clan member and guardian of his reservation.
HELP TRIBAL COLLEGE STUDENTS PRESERVE THEIR WAY OF THINKING. 1-800-776-FUND
AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND thinkindian.org The Fund gives more than 5,000 scholarships yearly.
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A LOOK BACK AT 2011 FROM OUR PAGES
25TH ANNIVERSARY RED EARTH FESTIVAL
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All: Dreamcatcher Images
CADDO NATION FESTIVAL AT THE OKL AKHOMA HISTORY CENTER
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OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE PENDLETON BL ANKET DESIGN
KIOWA /CHEROKEE AUTHOR & ARTIST N. SCOTT MOMADAY
THE SOVEREIGNTY SYMPOSIUM
All others: Dreamcatcher Images
CHICKASAW NATION RIVERSPORT PICNIC
KAW NATION POW WOW, WASHUNGA BAY, KAW L AKE
OKLAHOMA INDIAN GAMING CONFERENCE & TRADESHOW
Courtesy Choctaw Nation
NATIONAL INDIAN TACO CHAMPIONSHIPS, PAWHUSKA
CHOCTAW NATION TRADITIONAL POTTERY CL ASSES
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SAVING EAGLES SOMEONE MUST, AND WE WILL
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THOSE SIMPLE WORDS
are the Mission Statement of the Bah Kho-je-Xla Chi (Grey Snow Eagle House), open in January 2006 by the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, with two permits from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A Religious Use permit allows the tribe to house injured eagles and to collect feathers that are naturally molted for cultural ceremonies. The second permit allows the rehabilitation of injured eagles for eventual release. The Iowa Tribe was the first American Indian tribe to be granted this type of permit, and to date they have released eight eagles back into the wild. There are currently 35 bald and golden eagles that are cared for and live at the Grey Snow Eagle House, where they will remain for the rest of their lives.
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THE EAGLE HOUSE HAS HAD VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, SHOWN ON THIS MAP
FOUNDER AND WILDL IFE MANAGER VICTOR ROBIDOUX
NATURAL LY-MOLTED FEATHERS ARE COL LECTED, SORTED, AND USED BY THE TRIBE.
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SUSTAINABLE FOOD SOURCES (IN THIS CASE, RATS ) ARE BEING CREATED TO ENSURE LONG-TERM SUCCESS
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Under the leadership of Wildlife Manager Victor Robidoux, the facility continues to thrive, recently adding a large rehabilitation enclosure, a sustainable food source, and enhanced education and outreach. Visitors are welcome by appointment. Call for reservations: 405-334-7471 Located near the Iowa Tribal complex, south of Perkins. http://www.iowanation.org
EETODO (FRIEND ) IN THE NEW REHABIL ITATION ENCLOSURE
AVIARY ASSISTANT RUNNINBEAR GIBSON TRAINS DAVE FOR FOR OUTREACH
AVIARY ASSISTANT JIMMY GIBSON MONITORS THE EAGLES FROM THE OFFICE
Come for the cookies...
...stay for the chips!
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CASINO TRAIL
Š 2011 Dreamcatcher Magazine All Rights Reserved
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OKlahoma Casinos
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THE FUTURE IS NOW
Phase 1 of the renovations are now complete at the Osage Casino-Sand Springs, and now the greater Tulsa area has a new destination. The new space has a modern, nightclub feel and feature a new full-service bar, dance floor and stage, High Stakes room and more. The makeover continues with Phases 2 and 3 to be completed by Spring of 2012. Find out the specials and schedule of events at http://www.osagecasinos.com/locations/sand-springs.
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NATIVE AMERICAN CASINO POKER TOUR
By Sean Chaffin Shooter Hempkins was one of 324 players from Oklahoma and the surrounding states who turned out to the Choctaw Casino in earlyDecember for the final event of the Native American Casino Poker Tour, a new tournament series sponsored by Card Player magazine, a leading poker publication. Turnout for the final event, a $1,000 buy-in tournament, exceeded the expectations of Choctaw officials. Hempkins hailed the event a success as well as the casino’s new poker manager, Ken Lambert. “I’m excited about it,” he said of the tour. “I think it’s a good tournament. It’s phenomenal, Ken came on board and he’s really helped out. They’ve made a lot of good changes in poker.” This card player who calls Allen, Texas, home dabbles a bit in real estate investments, but spends much of his time at the Indian casino playing poker for a living. And seated at the end of his table, Hempkins had to overcome an early error that cost him about one-third of his stack and almost derailed his day early. “I reached down to grab a couple chips and accidentally threw in a 5,000 chip,” he said with a laugh. The player on the Big Blind (a forced bet that rotates to each player around the table) bet all-In and Hempkins was forced to fold his less than ideal hand. He’d lost much of his stack on the first hand of the tournament by accident, but was happy to continue.
BATTLE FOR THE BUFFALO Card Player officials approached the Choctaw because of the staff’s experience hosting major tournaments including a World Series of Poker Circuit event each year, which is scheduled this year for January 2012. The federal crackdown on online poker in April (known in the poker world as “Black Friday”) has fueled a need for more live poker tournaments – something Card Player was ready to offer. Dominik Karelus, spokesman for Card Player Media, said the online poker ban created a market need and that his company is filling a niche that has been overlooked for its own tour – American Indian casinos. “The idea for the tour was always there, but Black Friday made Card Player realize that there will be an increased demand for live tournaments,” he said. “Choctaw is one of the largest and nicest casinos in the United States, and they do a great job catering to their poker players. Native American casinos are great properties, as wells as great clients and partners. They deserve more exposure. By all measures, the event was a success. Attendance and revenue were both up for the host casino over last year. They also outdrew the other tournaments they were competing with during that time.” Traditionally, Lambert said December is a slow month for the poker room, and the series was a nice two-week boost. The low buy-ins for
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Casino: Courtesy Choctaw Casino Resort; Kirk Stewart courtesy Card Player; all others: Sean Chaffin
$ 50, 000 MAIN EVENT WINNER KIRK STEWART ANTHONY, KS WITH THE WINNING CARDS AND BUFFALO TROPHY
VAL WOOD DURANT, OK
SHOOTER HEMPKINS AL LEN, TX
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NATIVE AMERICAN CASINO POKER TOUR
the event (from $100 to $300 for preliminary events) also helped attract more players looking to test their poker skills and just have a good time for a couple days.
Diamond rating. The opulent Grand Tower features 330 rooms and luxury suites with exclusive amenities including flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi.
“Our idea was to give the average guys with a little money a chance to win some nice Christmas money. It has really improved our live cash games,” poker room manager Lambert said of the tour. “The whole event has been great for us. It was interesting to be first. If you’re first, you get the perks – advertising, notoriety, etc. We’re looking at being a part of it again next year.”
When looking to get lucky, gamblers of every level will find something to their liking. The casino features more than 4,500 machines for slot machine enthusiasts including a high-limit salon with cocktail bar. For those looking for Las Vegasstyle table games, the Choctaw offers more than 30 tables including Blackjack, Roulette, 3-Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Holdem, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Let It Ride, and Craps. The Poker Lounge is second to none. Located on its own exclusive venue on the second floor above the gaming area, the elegant lounge is set apart from the din of the casino. The area features more than 30 tables and spreads games of all levels and variety.
And beyond the thousands of dollars for winning the main event, Card Player and the Choctaw teamed up for some interesting prizes. Kansas wheat farmer and NACPT champion Kirk Stewart walked away with $50,000, an intricately designed buffalo trophy befitting Oklahoma’s Native American heritage, a buy-in to the casino’s World Series of Poker Circuit event, and will appear on the cover of Card Player. The final table was also broadcast live on the magazine’s website. The event brought in a prize pool of $290,681. After playing late into the night, Stewart was overjoyed winning the title and planned on investing his newly-won cash in his farm – and adding a bit to his poker bankroll.
At this lavish Indian casino resort, dining options also abound, with the 1832 Steakhouse, Butterfields Buffet, Blue Moon Café, Jackpot Java coffee shop and the Tomatillo Mexican Grill are sure to satisfy any taste. Those looking for entertainment options beyond the casino floor have many choices, including the Oasis Tropical Pool, The Natatorium, Oka Spa and the Choctaw Event Center.
DESTINATION CHOCTAW
For a quick getaway, the Choctaw offers a wonderful entertainment experience!
The Choctaw resort is the only Oklahoma hotel and casino recognized with an AAA Four-
Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer and editor of PokerTraditions.com
Save the Date april 1-4, 2012 • San Diego, ca. for more information, viSit www.inDiangaming.org
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www.dreamcatchermag.net CASINO TRAIL CASINOS
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OSAGE-SAND SPRINGS POKER
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NATIVE AMERICAN TOUR
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MAP
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