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June 15, 2019 -Vol. 15, Issue 12

Photo / Rosemary Stephens

Marnita Ramos Guerrero is healing from injuries she sustained during the May 25 El Reno tornado.

Her 11 year old son Juan Ramos stays constantly by his mother’s side.

Surviving a night of terror

One family’s fight to survive after the May 25 El Reno tornado destroys homes, lives, killing 2 and injuring dozens more Rosemary Stephens Editor-in-Chief

Saturday May 25 started out like any other day for Marnita (Nina) Ramos Guerrero. Little did she know by the end of that fateful day her life and the lives of many of her family and friends would forever be changed. Little did she know she would be

32nd annual Sovereignty Symposium in Oklahoma City

Photos / Latoya Lonelodge

Cheyenne and Arapaho citizen and Peace Chief Gordon Yellowman lead the opening ceremony alongside Yvonne Kauger, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice, Noma Gurich, Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt.

By Kimberly Burk CATT Correspondent (OKLAHOMA CITY) Cheyenne Peace Chief Harvey Pratt already feels greatly honored, having had his design chosen for the National Native American Veterans Memorial at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.

But Pratt received yet another outpouring of affection and respect on June 5, when organizers of the Sovereignty Symposium named him the 2019 Honored One. “I’ve just been overwhelmed this past year and a half with this award,” Pratt said of the selection of his design for the Cheyenne and Arapaho citizen Harvey Pratt, renowned artist and Peace memorial scheduled to be unveiled on Chief, spoke for the “Signs, Symbols and Sounds” panel and shared informaVeterans Day 2020 in Washington, D.C. tion about Native American veterans at the Sovereignty Symposium. Pratt was surprised with also being given the 2019 Sovereignty Symposium Honored SYMPOSIUM / pg. 5 One award.

fighting to walk again due to a broken neck and her 7 year old daughter Carisma would be fighting to stay alive.

In the late evening hours of May 25, an EF-3 tornado made a direct hit on the Skyview Mobile Home Park and American Budget Value hotel in El Reno, Okla. Nina and her three children, along with many other tribal families and non-tribal families lost evTORNADO / pg. 5

Call for letters of interest for Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Veterans’ Board (CONCHO, OK) Openings for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Veterans Board under Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Code §2.551 effective Feb. 18, 2019 The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Veterans Board is accepting letters of interest for consideration of membership.

The Veterans Board members shall serve as an advisory body for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Veterans Affairs Office related to rights and benefits. The Veterans Board shall consist of five members nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature as well as serve for a period of three years.

Regular meetings of the Veterans Board shall be held every second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m.

Interested partners need to submit a letter of interest for vonsideration to the Executive Office addressed to the Governor: Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Executive Office RE: Veterans Board Consideration P.O. Box 167, Concho, OK 73022 Include in your “Letter of Interest for Consideration:” 1. Basic Information.

A. Name

B. Address

C. Copy of your Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal CDIB

D. Copy of your valid driver’s license

E. Name Branch of Service

F. Service/Career History: Chronological order

G. Discharge documentation H. Statement of Interest: Paragraph stating why you want to serve as a member and contributions you would make to the Veterans Board.

Qualifications: 1. Honorable Service A person who has been inducted into, or voluntary entered, active duty in one of the service branches of the Armed Forces of the United States of America and who did not receive a discharge from active duty with that branch of the Armed Forces of the United States of America due to “less than honorable conditions.”

Active duty is having served 181 days or more of continuous active duty unless discharged early, with less than 181 days’ active duty, for a service-connected disability, or, Served as a member of the Selective Reserve and who has completed at least six years in the Reserves or National Guard, or who was discharged early because of a service-connected disability.

2. Shall be a citizen in good standing in the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

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Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Tribal employee celebrates retirement after 40 years at the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Latoya Lonelodge Staff Reporter

(CONCHO, OK) Retirement often comes with the anticipation of relaxation and happiness. After working 40 years for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes supplying vital input, support and commitment to education and various programs alike, retirement will happily welcome Wanda Whiteman who knows a thing or two about hard work.

Like a ray of sunshine, with an affectionate and charismatic soul, Whiteman has dedicated 40 years to working in education and helping Native students attend college through the Higher Education program. Her loyalty to the students she served throughout the years was shown through appreciation as the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes held a celebration in honor of Whiteman’s retirement on May 29.

“Today we are honoring and celebrating all the years of hard work, sacrifice, dedication and unselfishness, all of Wanda’s characteristics, she’s been here many years and many of you have gone through her to get educated. Most of you in here have approached her at one time for help and she’s always did everything she could to try to see that our tribal members and young adults get educated, or try to be educated,” Cheyenne and Arapaho Gov. Reggie Wassana said. “There’s not enough that could be said for somebody that has spent all these years with the tribe and never waivered on their support or their enthusiasm on anything she has tried to do for our tribal members. Everybody gets emotional and it’s always a sad time when someone leaves.”

As fellow tribal employees, friends and family listened, speakers shared words of encouragement in wishing Whiteman a happy retirement.

“I’m honored to be here to come and pray for this dinner with Wanda, she’s been there for me and my family many times and I’ve been here with the tribes for 18 years but that’s not even half the time she’s been here. On a personal note she’s really been here for me and I’m thankful for that friendship that we have together and not just as a co-worker but a real true friend and she did help my children go to college and helped me understand the process of getting that scholarship, so I want to thank you for that too,” Francine Williams, with the JOM program said.

Through Whiteman’s commitment to her students and to education within the tribes, she had been invested in the tribes before the inception of the Higher Education program.

Whiteman’s life has been dedicated to labor, even as a child, as she grew up picking cotton and worked while living on a farm outside of Hammon, Okla. Whiteman graduated from Riverside Indian School and while living in Weatherford, Okla., the Dept. of Labor initiated a new program called CETA. Whiteman was hired to work for Dr. William Berlin, a professor at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), where he received a grant to have Cheyenne classes at SWOSU. Whiteman followed Dr. Berlin when we was hired as the new Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Education Program Director, where they both worked without pay for two to three months while waiting on a contract to be approved.

Then in 1975, the Indian Self-Determination Act and Education Assistance Acts Public Law 93-638 was passed and tribes were allowed to contract and administer contracts funds, where the Bureau of Indian Affairs had previously managed the funds. In 1977 the education office was moved to Concho, Okla., where Dr. Berlin wrote various proposals and received contracts for scholarships, Adult Education, Johnson O’Malley and other programs. Marking the start of her career with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Whiteman worked and transferred to various programs within the tribes under the direction of Quinton Roman Nose, Nancy Welbourne-Herrod, Virgil Franklin and Robert Standingwater. In 1994, Whiteman began to work exclusively for Higher Education Scholarships. Under the direction of Teresa Dorsett, Whiteman and Dorsett wrote the Higher Education Scholarship guidelines and addressed various situations.

While promoting Native education, Whiteman also attained an education of her own as she earned two associate degrees from Redlands Community College, a bachelor of arts from SWOSU in 2007, and in 2016 she completed a Master of Science degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SEOSU).

“It’s been a ride and I’ve enjoyed it, I made so many friends, I met students all over the country and every once in a while I get an email from them about five or six years later saying, ‘I’m going to grad school would you send me an application,’ it’s always good to hear from students continuing their education. I always recommend, even to employees, if you don’t have a degree, resources are available, you can go to higher ed, talk to the counselors, they’ll tell you what you need to do to get start-

ed, and always improve your daily work ethics,” Whiteman said.

Whiteman also offered encouraging words of her own to fellow tribal employees.

“Be nice to tribal members, offer encouragement because we don’t know what they’re going through, a lot of them want to go to school, they want to get an education, but they don’t have anybody to help them, to push them, it was good for me to help my tribal members out and I made some new friends over the years. When I would see them somewhere, they would say, ‘I finally get to meet you instead of talking on the phone with you or emailing you,’ so that makes me feel good and some of them would say, ‘if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have stayed in school, wouldn’t have gotten my education,’ but that was my job, I really did encourage them because I want our students to be successful,” Whiteman said.

Whiteman stressed the importance of continuing to encourage students to seek and achieve their education.

“I know it’s fun being a student, you just need to push them and encourage them and get the word out there, be more visible,” Whiteman said.

With tear filled eyes and a warm smile, Whiteman thanked everyone Photos / Latoya Lonelodge for joining her in her celebration of After 40 years of working for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Wanretirement after 40 years. Fellow da Whiteman retires from the Higher Education program. Whiteman co-workers then took the podium was honored with a plaque and Pendleton blanket on May 29 at the and shared memorable moments R.E.Sp.E.C.T. Gym in Concho, Okla. and farewells with the crowd.

Administrative “I just want to thank Wanda for Assistant Rachel all of her service and all of her work Mowatt said that over the years, she’s told me a lot of Whiteman made stories about her life and her career and one thing I admire about her is her a better employshe’s a genuine person, she’s genu- ee since she started inely nice, she genuinely cares and working with HighI feel like that’s something that I re- er Education in Deally try to be, genuine, and it’s great cember 2018.

“Now I get to help to have someone that inspires you tribal members, I get to be that way,” Raven Morgan, to help them find Higher Education portal counselor themselves in edusaid. cation and I really Higher Education Counselor wanted to thank you Emily Chavez said that Whiteman for that.

I got to step helped her find a career.

Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Gov. Reg“I want to thank you (Wanda) outside of my of- gie Wassana honors Wanda Whiteman for her for leading me here because before fice in Treasury just 40 years of service to the tribes. programs I didn’t know what I wanted to do helping and now I get to help and your input and being there for with my life and you really helped tribal members and that’s what I alGordon (Yellowman) and I when me, I thank you so much. You’ve ways desired and again I just want we have questions about higher ed taught me everything I know when to thank you,” Mowatt said. and explaining things to us. We apit comes to Higher Ed and the whole Along with a table full of gifts preciate your time, your dedication process here at the tribe and you’ve from friends and co-workers, to your students, that’s always your been carefully listening to me as Whiteman was then honored with a priority is your students, so thank a mentor, as a counselor and as a plaque and Pendleton blanket from you and I hope we can continue grandma, you’ve taught me how the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. that,” Carrie Whitlow, Department to speak to the students and just go “It’s a huge accomplishment to of Education executive director about everyday office procedures. work for the tribe for 40 years for said.

I just want to thank you for being anybody and so I really commend Whiteman plans to spend most a kind, loving, caring and genuine you on that, it’s an accomplishof her time with her children, person, I know the Lord will give ment.

Thank you for all your advice grandchildren and traveling. you a great life,” Wilson said.

Dedication at the Chilocco Indian School Cemetery

On Friday, May 31 Cheyenne and Arapaho Gov. Reggie Wassana spoke at the Chilocco Indian School cemetery in Newkirk, Okla. A Memorial Wall is being erected at the school to honor all those buried there.

Known, as of right now, are five Cheyenne and Arap-

aho children buried at the Chilocco Indian School cemetery.

The school first opened in 1884 with 150 students from the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Wichita, Comanche, and Pawnee tribes. (Courtesy photos)

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

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#MeToo in Indian Country: “We Don’t Talk About This Enough”

Mary Annette Pember, Indian Country Today

Sexual harassment in Indian Country is an inconvenient nizations, like their mainstream counterparts, are not immune and deeply uncomfortable truth. from using the male privileges and protections of wealth, Most media coverage of sexual violence and harassment power, and social status to prey on the vulnerable. focuses on the high rates of non-Native perpetrators and NaNor are they immune from the desire to cover up these tive victims. While important, these articles fail to reveal the unpleasant facts. equally troubling stories about Native perpetrators who target “The MeToo movement has skipped Indian Country,” said Native victims.

Amanda Takes War Bonnet, public education specialist for Framing Native peoples as victims and focusing on the fact the Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains. that Native women are 2.5 times more likely than any other Takes War Bonnet of the Oglala Lakota Nation said Naethnicity in America to be sexually assaulted is a common tive women don’t report sexual harassment or assault because thread in legacy media. The broader story, however, is decid- they believe their communities won’t support them and little edly messy and deeply human; will be done.

30-35 percent of perpetrators “Constant racism, sexual and Sexual harassment in Indian domestic violence, childhood trauin sexual assaults against Native women are Native men.

Country is an inconvenient and ma, lack of accountability from Indian Country Today spent tribal law enforcement and court deeply uncomfortable truth. the past nine months investisystems and not being believed if gating sexual harassment isthey do come forward has contribsues. In the process of reporting, we learned about the lack uted to silencing Native women,” she said. of accountability, and procedures for reporting harassment in Although Native communities are working to address vitribal, nonprofit and federal government agencies. We also olence against women through greater compliance with the found high rates of unreported incidents, negative conse- Violence Against Women Act and the Tribal Law and Order quences for victims and a culture of protecting perpetrators.

Act and creating better sexual violence laws, they aren’t necThis investigation has been a time of furtive, late-night essarily working to address non-violent forms of abusive bephone calls from a vast cross section of women. Some are havior such as sexual harassment in their own communities, well-educated and lauded both in and outside of Indian Coun- according to Sarah Deer, a longtime activist for the rights of try; some are ordinary, hard working women laboring in ob- Indigenous women. scurity. The alleged perpetrators are similar in their diversity.

Deer of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation was named a Some are employed at the highest levels of tribal and govern- MacArthur Fellow in 2014 in recognition for her work on the ment leadership; some work in more prosaic jobs. They all, Violence Against Women Act and the Tribal Law and Order however, share attitudes of entitlement and impunity from the Act. She currently holds a joint appointment at the University consequences for their behaviors. of Kansas with the School of Public Affairs and AdministraIndian Country Today found that Native people and orga- tion and the Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality #MeToo / pg. 4

“

Election Commission releases official preliminary listing of eligible candidates for 2019 Elections (CONCHO, OK) Candidate registration for the 2019 Elections has closed and the following are the official preliminary candidates. The official final listing of candidates will be announced on Aug. 15, 2019.

LEGISLATURE CHEYENNE DISTRICT 1 LEGISLATOR CANDIDATES: Burl Buffalomeat Wilma Blackbear Carol Limpy Cato Redhat Bruce Whiteman Jr. CHEYENNE DISTRICT 3 LEGISLATOR CANDIDATES: Ronald Redshin Darrell Flyingman Theodore Nibbs Jerry Romannose Charlene Wassana Winnifred Whitetail Gerald Yelloweagle ARAPAHO DISTRICT 3 LEGISLATOR CANDIDATES Debra Gould Rupert Nowlin Chester Oldbear Linda Rhoads Travis Ruiz Anthony Spottedwolf

CANDIDATE Norma Yarbrough CHEYENNE DISTRICT 4 COMMISSIONER CANDIDATE Sarah Orange ARAPAHO DISTRICT 1 COMMISSIONER CANDIDATE Ray Mosqueda

ARAPAHO DISTRICT 4 LEGISLATOR CANDIDATE Robert Candy

ARAPAHO DISTRICT 2 COMMISSIONER CANDIDATE Dale Hamilton Sr.

ELECTION COMMISSION CHEYENNE DISTRICT 2 COMMISSIONER Rosemary Stephens, Editor-in-Chief 405-422-7446 / rmstephens@c-a-tribes.org

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

Latoya Lonelodge, Reporter/Advertising Sales 405-422-7608 / llonelodge@c-a-tribes.org 1600 E. Hwy 66, Suite 8, El Reno OK / P. O. Box 38, Concho, OK 73022 Fax: 405-422-8204

Society of Professional Journalists members

T

Oklahoma Press Association member

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.

2010-2018 NATIVE AMERICAN JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION MEDIA AWARD WINNER & 2012-2017 AWARD WINNER OF THE OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST

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Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

It’s Men’s Health Month: Why men should be aware of their health

Armin Brott, Men’s Health Network

In 1920, the female life expectancy in the United States was one year longer than for men. Half a century later, that gender gap had grown to 7.6 years. Over the next few decades, the difference shrank to 4.8 years. But, over just the past two years, while women’s life expectancy has remained steady, men’s declined, and the gender gap has crept back up to 5 years. Despite numerous advances in medical science, men continue to die at younger ages and in greater numbers than women of nine of the top 10 causes of death.

Within the broader men’s health crisis, there is one area where differences between male and female mortality and morbidity are especially stark: mental health, the most visible manifestation of which is suicide.

Across all ages and ethnicities, American men commit suicide at far higher rates than women. According to the most recent CDC data, between the ages of 15 and 64, roughly 3.5x more men than women commit suicide. From 65 to 74, male suicides outnumber females by more than 4:1. For those over 74, the difference is a startling 9.3:1. Overall, for males, suicide is the 7th leading cause of death. For females, it’s number 14.

One sub-population that’s profoundly affected by the epidemic of male suicides is the military.

Historically, service members were less likely than their civilian counterparts to take their own lives. But since 2001, more active duty service members (including Reserve/ Guard) have killed themselves than have died in combat. And the number of veterans who complete suicide dwarfs those numbers. According to the Military Times, veterans account for a total of 14 percent of all adult suicides in the US, even though only eight percent of

the population has ever served.

The alarming disparity in suicides is undoubtedly driven by equally alarming disparities in the underlying mental-health conditions that lead to suicide itself, including depression and anxiety[v], psychosis, and substance abuse.

In fact, nowhere is the connection between suicide and an underlying mental health condition more obvious than with substance abuse.

Between 2015 and 2016, male life expectancy decreased by .2 years, a rather dramatic decline over such a short period of time.

That decline was driven, to a large extent, by an even-more-dramatic nine percent increase in the male suicide rate, which, in turn, was related to a parallel increase in substance abuse, in particular opiate use, among men. Such a change in the suicide rate over the course of a single year could easily be classified as the bellwether of a looming public health catastrophe.

Actually two catastrophes.

The second is the dramatic increase in opiate overdose deaths. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, between 2015 and 2016, those deaths increased 20.4 percent among women and 31.5 percent for men, primarily middle-aged men, who would otherwise be expected to be among the most productive members of their communities and our society as a whole.

Medical providers, members of the public health community, community organizations, politicians, and the media have collectively been unable (or unwilling) to acknowledge the massive scope of the mental health issues

that affect men. As a result, tens of thousands of American men and boys are dying and suffering from what many experts believe are preventable or treatable behavioral and mental health issues.

The effects of this collective mismanagement of mental health issues in men and boys extend into nearly every aspect of American society and have broad implications for the ways we provide (or don’t provide) preventive mental health services to our fathers, sons, brothers, partners, and friends.

(The Affordable Care Act, for example, provides girls and women with annual, free, well-woman visits, which include mental-health screenings. No such coverage exists for boys and men.)

At the very least, the lack of adequate mental health care negatively

impacts men’s and boys’ academic endeavors and achievements, their productivity in the workplace, the overall quality of their family life, their ability to care for their children and spouse or partner, and their level of community engagement and the contributions they make to the social capital of their communities and our nation.

So what can we do about the male mental-health crisis? First, most experts agree that in order to help boys and men manage the behavioral health and mental health issues, particularly those that are inextricably linked to violence, we need male-focused tools, programs, social support systems and clinical care, not only in primary care providers’ offices, but also in our schools, work environments, social support networks, and community

organizations, both on the hyper-local and national levels.

Second, rather than criticize “toxic masculinity,” we need to celebrate fathers and other male role models. From a very young age, boys grow up hearing that “big boys don’t cry,” “play through it,” and “man up.” Those powerful messages keep boys and men from recognizing that they need help and from reaching out to get that help, especially with regard to mental health issues. Fathers and other adult male role models can help boys and young men understand that expressing emotions and asking for help are signs of strength, not weakness, and that caring and nurturing are far better ways of showing you’re a man than committing senseless acts of violence.

learned that perpetrators include a vast spectrum of men. Some are among those who speak publicly about supporting the Violence Against Women Act and who join rallies denouncing the rise of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

They work at nonprofits with missions to serve women and children suffering from the trauma of child abuse. Survivors shared similar stories of organizations dismissing ongoing complaints about these men. One source who prefers to remain anonymous described how the director of women’s services at a Native family community organization ignored her repeated complaints about unwanted sexual touching and advances from an employee. The source, “J” was 17 years old at the time. Later the man was arrested for sexually assaulting several teenagers. All organizations contacted by Indian Country Today used similar language to describe their response to complaints of sexual harassment or assault.

It’s often said: “We have zero tolerance for sexual harassment and assault.” Unfortunately, this declaration often represents the extent of their public policies.

The Institute of American Indian Arts Alumni Council released a public statement on the organization’s Facebook page on May 8 demanding that the tribal college investigate claims of sexual assault of a student by a staff member. The statement was signed by Alumni Council members Heidi K. Brandow, president, Tahnee Growing Thunder, Vice-President, Tristan Ahtone, Linley Logan and Kevin Locke.

The Institute of American Indian Arts is a tribal college located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Indian Country Today contacted the accused staff member via telephone and email offering him

an opportunity to respond to the Alumni Council’s and unidentified student’s allegations of sexual assault. He declined to provide a statement.

A student shared details of an April 9, 2019 alleged assault via Facebook that took place in the staff member’s office on the IAIA campus. According to the student, after asking her for a massage, the staff member forcibly pushed his hands under the woman’s clothing.

“He hurt me physically and mentally. He did not have my consent,” she wrote. According to the student she didn’t make a formal complaint with school administrators because they ignored her two previous complaints about another IAIA staff member for sending inappropriate sexual tweets to students.

“I don’t feel that IAIA takes our safety seriously therefore I didn’t go through the school’s protocol,” she wrote.

Indian Country Today reached out to the student but she has not yet responded.

On Thursday May 9, students gathered at the dance circle on the institute’s campus as a show of support for the woman.

Students placed copies of the woman’s statement throughout the campus according to students Michael R.L. Begay and Juliana Brown Eyes.

A second institute employee was also named in the flyer and accused of sending students inappropriate text messages inquiring about their sexual and romantic lives.

According to a Facebook post on the Three Sisters Collective public page, both men accused in the flyer were recently involved in planning a campus event designed to bring attention to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and members of the LGBTQ community. Three Sisters Collective is a social and environmental justice

organization based in Santa Fe. Members of the Three Sisters Collective did not respond to Indian Country Today’s request for comment.

The second alleged perpetrator responded to an email from Indian Country Today seeking comment.

“I haven’t sexually harassed anyone; I’m not under any criminal or any investigations or complaints here at IAIA.” Eric Davis, director of Marketing and Communications at the institute responded via telephone on May 10 to our request for comment regarding how the college is handling the situation.

Davis read a statement issued

by Institute of American Indian Arts President Robert Martin: “Today for the first time we learned of claims of sexual harassment and assault that allegedly happened one month ago. As soon as we learned of this alleged assault, we contacted law enforcement. IAIA takes all forms of sexual harassment and assault seriously. We will investigate in accordance with IAIA policies prohibiting harassment, assault and retaliation against students.”

In response to email questions about the second alleged perpetrator Davis wrote in an email message, “I am not at liberty to discuss Human Resources matters.”

The Associated Press reported that Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, Juan Rios, confirmed that an incident took place at the IAIA campus but that no one has been charged or arrested in the case. Rios would not comment further on the investigation.

According to Davis, the matter is confidential so he would not discuss any actions taken against the alleged perpetrator. “Victim counselors had a gathering with students on campus and have spoken to some of the students,” Davis said.

He said he didn’t know if coun-

selors had spoken to the victim.

On May 13, 2019, Tusweca Studio published a video entitled “Stop the Silence IAIA!” in which 14 individuals state that they don’t feel safe at the school. Several said that the school’s lack of response to allegations of sexual assault and harassment contributed to the lack of safety on campus. At the 1 minute mark, one student said, “I do not think this behavior is normal; it should not be normalized. Us as students do have a voice and we do have the power to make change and make progress for past students, present and future students who attend the Institute of American Indian Arts.”

Tusweca Studio was founded by IAIA students Michael R.L. Begay and Juliana Brown Eyes. Tusweca is a Lakota word for dragonfly according to Brown Eyes. Begay recently won the 2019 Tribal College Journal’s Student Best Film Award for his original work “Lightening Boy.” Both filmmakers are enrolled in the IAIA cinema arts program.

During a phone interview with Indian Country Today both Brown Eyes and Begay described the process of making “Stop the Silence IAIA!” “We were mad and hurt by the administration’s lack of response,” Brown Eyes said.

The victim is a close friend, according to the couple.

“We wanted to provide a safe space for students to provide their testimonies so we opened up our little studio space to them,” she said.

They filmed and edited the video over a nonstop period of 36 hours.

“We forgot to eat,” Begay said.

When they learned that IAIA president Martin was hosting a roundtable discussion with students about the incident they rushed the editing process and ran over to the meeting barely #MeToo / pg. 7

#MeToo continued from pg. 3 Studies.

Sexual harassment is considered a civil rights issue and includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature in the form of quid pro quo. This means if you accept my advance, I’ll reward you. If not, expect retaliation. It can also take the form of a hostile work environment that may include offensive jokes, threats, intimidation as well as offensive objects or pictures in the workplace.

Sexual assault is a criminal act and is usually physical; it involves any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient, according to the Department of Justice.

“Not everyone who sexually harasses people will become a rapist.

But it creates an atmosphere of lack of accountability if we fail to call out those who sexually harass others,” Deer said. “Since so many of our women have been physically assaulted, we tend to minimize harassment. We tell ourselves that if we aren’t hit or raped, it’s not that bad, even though we feel unsafe and afraid to be alone with the perpetrator.”

People may also fear negative fallout from airing the community’s dirty laundry, according to Deer.

“We’re already stereotyped as being dysfunctional; Native people may be fearful of adding to that perception by reporting harassment,” she said. “We don’t talk about this enough.”

Indeed, the barriers and repercussions to reporting both assault and harassment reach far and deep in Native communities; women have been effectively silenced for generations, especially when it comes to reporting their own.

Until now.

During the course of our investigation, Indian Country Today

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SYMPOSIUM continued from pg. 1 “I’m so proud to represent Native American veterans, proud for myself, my family, the Native American people of Oklahoma and all the people of Oklahoma for this honor that has come to our state.”

The Honored One recognition was presented by symposium founder and Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Yvonne Kauger, who said it has been given since the inception of the Sovereignty Symposium in 1988.

Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Gov. Reggie Wassana said Pratt is “very deserving” of the honor.

“The things he is accomplishing now are a testament to his ability to understand our traditions and customs and ceremonies,” Wassana said. “He’s put a lot of hard work into his craft and now it’s paying off for him.”

Pratt was a panelist for one of the opening sessions of the symposium, as were Wassana and Cheyenne Peace Chief Gordon Yellowman, who is an artist and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes assistant executive director of education. The symposium was established by the Oklahoma Supreme Court to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas about legal issues in a scholarly, non-adversarial environment.

Speaking during the “Signs, Symbols and Sounds” panel, Pratt talked about his memorial design titled, Warriors’ Circle of Honor.

The circle, he said, “symbolizes the hole in the sky where the creator lives.” The design will incorporate 14-feet-tall lances made from stainless steel with bronze points and eagle feathers, he said, and prayer cloths can be tied to the lances.

“When the wind blows, that prayer goes out again and again and again,” Pratt told the audience. “If you come to my house, you will see prayer cloths in my trees.”

Wassana, a panelist for the “Economic Futures” workshop, described the four-branch system of government under which the tribes have operated since 2006.

Tribal enrollment is 13,000 people, Wassana said, and 2,050 are 55 or older.

Wassana said he created the Department of Business after taking office a year and a half ago, because the constitution did not address economic development.

The tribes own six casinos, Wassana said, and 47 percent of casino employees are tribal members. He said the casinos are among the largest employers in some of the

small towns where they are located.

“In 1992, we had a 70 to 80 percent unemployment rate,” Wassana said. “With the casinos, there are more than enough jobs.”

Yellowman, a member of the “Spiritual Traditions” panel, said the home is where Natives teach about the traditional way of life.

“Indian traditions are about living and experiencing the spiritual ways of life with our people,” he said. “My knowledge, traditions and customs make me who I am. I am thankful to my grandparents for teaching me who I am.”

Yellow said that as a peace chief, “It’s my duty to maintain traditions and maintain purity.

I don’t change them. I don’t add on and I don’t leave any out.”

Symposium leaders honored Yellowman by asking him to give the camp call and sit at the head table during the opening ceremony held the afternoon of June 5.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who is Cherokee, spoke briefly during the opening ceremony, as did Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, who is Harvey Pratt is pictured with his wife Gina, wearing his 2019 HonOsage. ored One Award medal. Pratt was awarded the medal during the SovKeynote speaker was Emma Nicholson, Bar- ereignty Symposium June 7 in Oklahoma City. oness of Winterbourne and a member of the a delegation, Nicholson said and told her, “we want our House of Lords of the United Kingdom. Nicholtreaties.” son also spoke during the 2015 symposium.

Nicholson said copies of treaties that had been negotiatKauger said she and the baroness met when Nicholson th ed between tribes and the British government were burned served on an international committee with former 10 Cirby the U.S. Cavalry during the war of 1812, but Smalling cuit Court of Appeals Judge Robert Henry of Oklahoma, pointed out that treaties are signed by two parties. She “and we hit it off.”

Nicholson’s charity, AMAR, has done relief and eco- said she asked the librarian to search for certain treaties nomic development work with the marsh tribes in Iraq, that might be filed in the House of Lords library, “and 12 Kauger said, “and she sees a synergy between what we are weeks later he had found almost all of them.”

Nicholson invited symposium participants to go to doing, and what she wants to do. The (American) tribes London and see the signed treaties. are nations now, the economies are booming. They have “You will be enormously welcomed, each and every become economic powerhouses.”

Nicholson told the audience she had spent the past few one of you,” she said.

Nicholson said she is working with the archivists to get months working with the chief librarian of the House of copies made and photos taken of the treaties so they can Lords library, which was started in 1497 and is “the oldest be viewed outside of England, and wants to create a book, archival record of a parliament in the globe.” with input from the tribes, that would be a dossier “of what Her research was prompted by Oklahoma artist and once was you and what you are now becoming.”

Choctaw citizen D.G. Smalling who visited London with

TORNADO continued from pg. 1

Photo / Rosemary Stephens

Marnita Ramos Guerrero’s mother Norene Starr wraps her arms around her daughter with tears in her eyes as she gives daily thanks her children and grandchildren are still alive, surviving an EF3 tornado on May 25. erything, including the lives of two El Reno residents, Tim and Bridget Solis.

“Saturday afternoon my mom called and said, ‘get the kids let’s go eat at Denny’s.’ We were all excited, so we met my mom and was having dinner,” Nina said.

During the meal their conversation was directed towards

Indian Country Enrollment Summit June 25-27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information visit www.falmouthinstitute.com.

Budgeting for Tribal Office Managers and Administrative Professionals June 27-28, 2019 at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information or to register visit www.falmouthinstitute.com.

The 2019 National UNITY Conference July 4-8, 2019 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Conference Center in Orlando, Fla. For more information or to register visit www.unityinc.org.

Understanding the Indian Self-Determination Act: Contracting and Compacting Under P.L. 93-638 July 16-17, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information or to register visit

pending stormy weather moving into Western Oklahoma, near Weatherford, Okla., where Nina’s mother Norene Starr lives.

“I wanted my mom to stay, but she said she had better go ahead and head home before the storms got too bad out west,” Nina said. Her and her three children, Juan 11 years old, Mia, 10 years old and Carisma, 7 years old, stayed at Denny’s, finished their meal and headed home for the night. With no imminent warnings of severe weather in El Reno, Nina did what she always did, she got all of her kids ready for bed, tucked in and went into her room to do the same.

“I checked my phone to see if my mom had text because I told her to let me know when she got home. She had, and I text her I love you and goodnight and I put down my phone and laid down. I could hear the rain, but it wasn’t sounding like it always did, raining downward, it sounded like it was raining sideways hitting the sides of my trailer … a really strange sound and I thought to myself, ‘wow what is that?’”

Nina said, hardly able to finish the sentence as she began crying trying to share what happened next.

As she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, maybe a minute passed when she started to feel the trailer start a rocking motion back and forth. She said at that moment she jumped up out of bed to run towards her kids’ room and all she had time to yell was ‘get up’ before their home was picked up and began to be tossed like a ball in the air.

“I didn’t have time to do or say anything else. I couldn’t even make it to their room. The tornado had picked up our trailer and we began to flip over and over, and I started coming in and out of consciousness, struggling to stay awake,” Nina voice breaking, tears running down her face as her daughter Mia handed her a tissue.

Like many families in Skyview Mobile Home Park, Nina was unaware of the torrential devastation about to hit them, there were no warnings, no sirens blaring.

Nina’s son, Juan Ramos said he heard the wind, “but wind blowing wasn’t unusual, it happens a lot in El Reno, so I was like used to it and thought nothing bad is going to happen.”

But within minutes Juan said the wind picked up and he was up and trying to reach his sisters because he felt like something bad was going to happen.

“I heard my mom scream get up, I told Mia to go run and I tried to grab Carisma. Mia didn’t make it, she hit her head on the bed and then I think she got up and ran somewhere.

Carisma was thrown into the wall and that’s when the wall

BRIEFS AT A GLANCE

www.falmouthinstitute.com.

The 18th annual Native American Risk Management Conference July 17-19, 2019 at the FireKeepers Casino & Hotel in Battle Creek, Mich. For more information or to register visit www. narmconference.com.

Professional Communication Skills for Native Women July 18-19, 2019 in Phoe-

nix, Ariz. For more information visit www.falmouthinstitute.com.

Introduction to Case Management in Indian Country July 23-24, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information or to register visit www.falmouthinstitute.com.

The 2019 Diabetes in Indian Country Conference Aug. 6-9, 2019 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. For more infor-

Photo courtesy of Facebook

Seven year old Carisma Ramos is pictured after her 13th surgery at OU Children’s Hospital to save her right arm.

She is on her way to a full recovery. just broke. I was scared the whole time and I tried to save Carisma but I couldn’t save her in time … then I just laid down and passed out. When I woke up I saw lightning, turned and looked and I could see Mia’s face, but I never got to see my mom or Carisma that night at all … I was so scared,” Juan speaking in almost a whisper.

The tornado would later be classified as an EF3 strength tornado, based on a scale of one to five. The tornado was 75 yards at its widest point and was on the ground for approximately four minutes for a span of 2.2 miles. Long enough to completely destroy families’ homes, causing serious injuries, devastation and chaos. Oklahoma has recorded 83 tornadoes in April and May of this year and has also had the third wettest May since records started TORNADO / pg. 7

mation or to register visit www.diabetesinindiancountry.com.

The 21st annual Tax Conference National InterTribal Tax Alliance (NITA) Aug. 13-15 2019 at the Buffalo Thunder Casino & Resort in Santa Fe, N.M. For more information visit www. ncai.org.

The National Congress of American Indians Tribal Unity Impact Days

Sept. 10-11, 2019 in Washington, D.C. For more information or to register visit www.ncai.org.

The 2019 annual Conference & Marketplace of the National Congress of American Indians Oct. 20-25, 2019 at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M. For more information or to register visit www.ncai.org.

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

PAGE 6

E a t i n g healthy for

DIABETES

Hunger and overweight are linked and it affects millions of children and adults.

Food insecurity is when there is a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity also could mean someone is getting enough to eat in terms of calories but the quality, variety and desirability of their food is lacking. Food desert is a community wherein a third of its population is 10 miles or more from a large grocery store.

In the United States, nearly 12 percent of American households are food insecure, and nearly 16 percent of households with children are food insecure.

That’s 40 million Americans living in food insecure households. Food insecurity is definitely a challenge af-

The Hungry & Overweight Paradox

fecting 23 percent of Native Americans living on remote reservations at a much higher rate than any other group.

Beyond obesity, the consequences of food insecurity are profound. Children who don’t have access to enough nutritious food are more likely to experiences difficulty learning, behavior issues and anxiety. Adults who don’t have access to enough nutritious foods are more likely to experience mental health issues and chronic disease such as diabetes.

Poverty and unemployment are key drivers that have led to food insecurity in America. African Americans, Latinos, children, older adults, people living in households led by single parents and people residing in rural areas are at increased risk for food insecurity.

Tara Conway, MS, RD, LD, CDE C&A Diabetes Wellness Program As a result of these driving forces, individuals often choose less expensive, calorie-dense food that doesn’t deliver the nutrients they need. This can lead to overweight children who lack the healthy, nutrient rich foods their bodies need.

A recent study reported that almost 40 percent of families living on an Indian Reservation in South Dakota were food insecure and 43% of 187 AI households in Montana were food insecure. The relationship between food insecurity and obesity continues to be poorly understood. The lower intake of nutrients and significant decline in vegetable and fruit consumption among food insecure individuals is a potential explanation.

Because AI/AN’s have an annual average household

income that is substantially lower than nonHispanic whites, and their access to healthy foods is severely restricted putting them at a higher risk for food insecutiry. Access to healthier food such as fruits and vegetables decreases the risk of obesity and other diseases.

There are resources available to help with food insecutriy. There is the school breakfast program, WIC, Summer food program and SNAP. There are food banks that can often help you find the resources you need to help you feed your family.

For more information and tips on health and wellness contact Tara Conway at Diabetes Wellness Program, 405-422-7685 or toll free 800-247-4612 ext. 27685 or tconway@c-a-tribes.org.

Meet the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Director of Personnel

Hewohwhedus Starr Robideau-Morales named the new Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Director of Personnel.

Starr is a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. She is a product of

the relocation in the 1960s and was born in Los Angeles, Calif. to Paula Starr (Cheyenne) and Richard Robideau (White Earth & Turtle Mountain Chippewa). She is a mother of three children (Ceasar, William and Eliena) and proud spouse to Retired Army Veteran Steven Morales.

Maternally she is a direct descendant of Chief Black Kettle and on her paternal side she is the niece of Robert Robideau and Leonard Peltier. Starr comes from sunny Southern California, with 20 years of experience serving for Southern California Indian Center, Inc. (SCIC) as a former Board of Directors Member and Board Secretary (19972017), as well as their Human Resource Manager,

Operations Director and Director of Innovations & Opportunities. Her HR background began in 2007 when she worked for the multi-billion dollar sports and entertainment company Anshultz Entertainment Group (AEG) in their Los Angeles Corporate Human Resources Department.

She has served nationally on the National Indian & Native American Employment & Training Conference Committee as the Section 166 Secretary and as Co-Chair for the Western Regional Indian & Native American Employment and Training Conference.

During her tenure with SCIC, Starr assisted with the production of several short films, documentaries and PSAs.

Red Earth’s 33rd annual Festival

(OKLAHOMA CITY) With a break in the stormy rainy weather pattern Oklahoma has been in for the past month, the 33rd annual Red Earth Festival parade commenced under clear blue skies and mild temperatures on Saturday June 8 in downtown Oklahoma City.

Members of tribes throughout Oklahoma and other parts of the country rode on floats, motorcycles and trucks waving to the spectators, sometimes throwing candy and giving out memorabilia. A new face in the parade this year was the team of award winning Clydesdales from Express Ranches in Yukon, Okla.

Inside the Cox Convention Center, artists displayed their individual art pieces and the Red Earth Powwow

featured hundreds of dancers dressed in their individual full regalia as they competed against each other in different categories of dance.

The 2019 Honored One was awarded to Osage artist and educator Clancy Gray.

Some of Gray’s work includes a piece depicting a herd of bison seemingly running across a full moon pursued by a pack of hunters.

“Since buffalo herds are getting bigger and stronger, so is the Native American culture. It’s growing too, so each painting has meaning behind it,” Gray told a reporter from News 4.

The four art medians Gray works with are sculpting, jewelry, painting and pottery.

Gray taught for 39 years before focusing full time on his art.

Ret. Sgt. Steven Morales was awarded this year’s Red Earth’s Emerging Artist Award. He credits his art for helping him heal from a combat injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Morales was an Airborne Ranger deployed for multiple combat tours from 2002 until the summer of 2006 when, as a staff sergeant on patrol, one of his men stepped on a huge land mine.

Morales suffered a traumatic brain injury, a back full of shrapnel and the inner wounds of PTSD. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

For a full list of the 2019 Red Earth Festival powwow contest winners and artist awards visit www.redearth. org.

Ret. Sgt. Steven Morales wins the 2019 Red Earth’s Emerging Artist Award.

Morales resides in El Reno, Okla.

In her youth, Starr served as the 1998 Miss Indian California, 1997 United Nations Youth Earth Day Ambassador, 1995 Miss Medicine Ways Princess for UC Riverside, and as 1993 Miss Oyate Wokik’suye Wacipi Princess for the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians.

Morales said it has always been a dream of hers to move to Oklahoma and work for her Tribe. She and her family now can become more involved in the culture and traditions of the Cheyenne people. she hopes to learn the language and for her children to become fluent speakers one day. Starr is excited to take on the role of Director of Personnel and hopes to serve the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in the best way possible.

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

#MeToo continued from pg. 4

PAGE 7

Meet the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes’ Health Board

in time to show the video to the president and students there.

“It had a lot of impact. The president could see with his own eyes how the school’s lack of concern upset the students,” Begay said.

Begay, who served as headman at the school’s recent powwow, organized a blanket dance in order to raise money to help the victim get home.

“We raised over $500.00 for her,” he said. “The school didn’t provide her with anything.”

The response to the incident has all been student led according to Begay and Brown Eyes.

“School security guards threatened people who were putting up the flyers describing the assault with exNative women experience rampant sexual harassment, and often have few oppulsion; the guards ripped down the tions for redress. (Getty Images) flyers,” Brown Eyes said. gress of American Indians was roiled gress of American Indians are slowly The administration’s greatest conby its poor handling of charges of sex- exposing a shameful open secret in Incern seemed to center on containing leual harassment against staff attorney dian Country. gal fallout for the institution rather than John Dossett. Women employees comThe series of recent scandals underon the victim’s and students’ well being plained of leadership’s lack of response score a common, unfortunate human according to Brown Eyes and Begay. to repeated claims of harassment. truth. Native people and organizations “Many students were triggered by The National Congress of American are not immune from using the privireading the flyer and hearing about the Indians is the U.S’s oldest and largest leges and protections of wealth, power, incidents; they needed spiritual supintertribal organization. Founded in and social status to prey on people perport,” Brown Eyes said.

1944, the nonprofit organization ad- ceived as vulnerable.

The victim had to drive home alone, Indeed, during the many phone calls vocates for tribal governments with several states away, according to the the federal government and works to made across the country to Native womcouple. “We have been keeping in condevelop consensus on national issues en, they all shared an overwhelming tact with her though, making sure she’s according to its website. fear about losing their jobs, the chances safe,” they said.

The scandal soon led to investiga- for future employment, housing, social This is not the institute’s first experitions of leadership’s handling of em- services for themselves and their famence dealing with allegations of sexual ployee complaints of sexual harass- ilies as well as the love, respect and harassment and assault. ment. Dossett was no longer employed support from close knit Native comIn February 2018, the college was in that role when Executive Director munities. They described tribal leaders painted by the sexual harassment scanJackie Pata was placed on administra- who belittled them as women in public dal involving Sherman Alexie, a promtive leave in October 2018. An ad hoc meetings, compared them to photos in inent Native author. Several women, committee composed of members of pornographic magazines, suggesting including former IAIA faculty member NCAI’s executive committee then con- they should model for the publications; Elissa Washuta described incidents of ducted a review. Pata resigned in Feb- others described receiving ongoing sexual harassment by Alexie to Nationruary 2019. Findings from the ad hoc sexual propositions, sexually charged al Public Radio. According to Washuta, review have not been released publicly. texts and social media messages as well Alexie harassed her and tried to lure her NCAI President Jefferson Keel as unwanted touching. into his hotel room for sex. Washuta Many welcomed the opportunity to wrote in a statement released in Februclaimed that school administrators ary 2019 via email to press and NCAI share their stories. Although talking failed to act after she reported the inmembers, “Some of you have asked for helped ease their burdens a bit, few cidents. According to an article in the more specific information, such as pro- women held out much hope for jusAlbuquerque Journal, Davis didn’t reviding internal investigation findings tice. Caught in impossible situations, member Washuta’s allegations against and outcomes for review. But to com- they shared their survival strategies, Alexie but later noted that the school’s ply with these requests would jeopar- avoiding travel or being alone with perTitle IX office reached out to Washuta dize those parties who have chosen pri- petrators, arranging escape plans from after hearing about the incident. Alexie vacy over publicity.” work-related functions, ignoring inapserved as faculty mentor and consultant NCAI press representatives did not propriate, demeaning comments and for the Master of Fine Arts Creative respond to Indian Country Today’s re- direct solicitations for sex and worse Writing Program at the Institute. The cent request to see the ad hoc commit- deciding not to report unwanted physschool has since dropped the writers tee’s report. ical contact, from touching to assault. name from the Sherman Alexie ScholThe outing of men such as Alexie, All are united in a delicate and danarship renaming it the MFA Alumni several high level employees at the Bu- gerous dance of remaining employed Scholarship. reau of Indian Affairs and harassment and safe in unpredictable and hostile In August 2018, the National Conallegations within the National Con- environments.

Allen Sutton is a highly respected Arapaho Chief.

He is from Canton, Okla., and has served on the Health Board for approximately 25 years. Sutton was selected for the American Association of Retired Persons award for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes for his dedication to the tribal citizens.

Quinton Roman Nose has dedicated most of his career in the field of Indian Education to promote and develop educational initiatives and opportunities to improve the educational levels of the Native American students and tribal citizens. He is on the Board of Trustees at Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla., and serves on the Board of Directors as the Executive Director of Tribal Education Departments National Assembly (TEDNA).

Roman Nose is a moderator of the Watonga Indian Baptist Church, a member of the American Baptist Indian Caucus and a board member for New Baptist Covenant. He served on a board for Office of Health Equity to study health needs of un-

derrepresented populations and served as the Executive Director of Education for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

Phyllis Nabilsi has 25 years experience as a clinical registered nurse with both the Indian Health Services (IHS) and in the private sector. She has worked for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes’ Indian Child Welfare department.

Charles Fletcher is a Vietnam Veteran with 43 years of experience with Indian Health Service (IHS) in various positions. His last duty was with the Clinton Indian Health Center as the Health Systems Administrator. His awards include the NAIHS Area Director’s Award and the IHS Director’s Award.

Jennifer Hart is from Hammon, Okla., and a graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She has 30 years of nursing experience and served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corp. and in the private sector. Hart has served on her local school board for nine years.

TORNADO continued from pg. 5 being kept in 1895 according to the Oklahoma Climatologist Gary McManus.

Laying under piles of sheet metal, glass and rubble, Nina said at one point she remembers feeling a strong sense of peace coming over her and she personally believes she had begun to pass away.

“Then all of a sudden I heard a very low voice say no. I feel like God just told me no. No it’s not your time.

Then all of a sudden, like a jolt I was hit with fear of where my babies were and I became frantic. In my mind, in shock, I was thinking my babies are out there, it’s raining and it’s cold and they need me,” Nina said.

With her heart beginning to pound faster and faster, adrenaline kicked it and all Nina said she could think about was getting to her children. Not remembering how, but Nina clawed her way out from under the pile rubble she laid buried in and remembers standing up, looking around, crying out, “God help us.”

“And that’s all I could do was scream and cry standing there in the rain in only a t-shirt and underpants not realizing nor comprehending I was hurt … all I could think of was my babies and getting out of the rain,” Nina said sitting with her daughter

Mia and son Juan, looking at them both with a look of pure love coming from her eyes.

With her neck and leg broken Nina struggled through the dark eery haze looking for some kind of shelter from the rain all the while hearing the cries and screams of children coming from all around her.

“I just thought if I could just rest for a minute, then I could get up and find my babies, I couldn’t comprehend what was going on, and by this time I realized I couldn’t move any longer, like I was paralyzed and that when I started freaking out screaming and crying. I couldn’t see anybody, there was no light, only sounds of crying babies and people crying for help,” Nina said, knowing she will never forget the images, the devastation of that night in May. With her about to lose consciousness, Nina knew she had to continue to yell and scream so someone could find her. In what seemed like forever she finally heard a voice calling out to her to keep making noise.

“She finally found me and I asked her where my babies were and she told me, “I don’t know but I am pretty sure they are okay. They found a whole bunch of kids and they are fine. I don’t know who she was, but if I

could I would thank her for not leaving me that night,” Nina said.

El Reno First Responders, El Reno Firefighters and Police were on the scene within minutes setting up a triage area inside of car garages from a car lot located beside Skyview Mobile Home Park.

Nina said they were lining people up in the dealership’s garage and ambulances were coming in from the other end and that’s how they were being transported out.

Nina would end up being transported to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, with a broken neck, broken leg, cuts and bruises, but alive. She would not know until much later, that her 7 year old daughter Carisma was also rushed to Oklahoma City, to OU Children’s Hospital in critical condition fighting for her life. Carisma suffered a severe brain bleed, as well as having her arm literally shattered and ripped from her little body.

Doctors at OU Children’s have performed 13 surgeries attempting to save her arm.

(Update: Carisma is on the road to a full recovery as of press time.)

Nina’s mother Norene, who calls Carisma ‘Roo’ has been by their side 24 hours a day every day since May 25.

“Carima had wanted to come home with me at Den-

Marnita Ramos Guerrero (left) is pictured with her 10 year old daughter Mia Ramos, her mother Norene Starr and her 11 year old son Juan Ramos ny’s that night but I told her the weather is bad, you better not go with me this time. If I had taken her this wouldn’t have happened to her, I thought I was protecting her more from the weather by leaving her,” Norene broke down in tears struggling to keep talking, as her daughter Nina reached across the table to take her hand whispering, ‘It’s not your fault.’

With Carisma still hospitalized, all focus has been on her healing, but progress is slowly being made towards healing for Carisma with her mom being able to talk to her for the first time in over a week since the tornado.

The journey back to their

normal way of life, their life before the tornado, will be a long road. The family lost their home, their clothes, everything they owned, but those are just material things.

The miracles in their lives are Nina will heal from her broken neck and she will walk. Carisma is getting stronger and stronger with each passing day and appears to have no side effects from the brain bleed she suffered, and the doctors are hopeful she will keep her little arm.

“I have felt peace and my faith is as strong as ever. For Carisma all we need is prayer and I know God is hearing all those prayers being said.

I want everybody to know

how much we appreciate their help, how much we appreciate their prayers. There are a lot of tribal members holding sweats and we need those things, we need it and it means a lot,” Nina said. “It means a lot for people to be specifically praying for us and like I said, I know God is hearing them. He’s hearing all those prayers, because there is just no way He can’t.

A GoFund Me page has been set to help Nina and her family with medical expenses, and replacing clothing, hygiene items, shoes, etc.

To donate, visit www. www.gofundme.com/assistance-for-marnita-charisma-juan-and-mia.

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

PAGE 8

Don’t Gamble with your Health - Lucky Star Casino Employee Wellness Event (CONCHO, OK) Oklahoma is ranked as the 47th healthiest state in the U.S. according to Health Rankings 2018. Currently, the major causes of death and disability in Oklahoma are due to chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and Type 2 Diabetes. A significant portion of these conditions are preventable. On Thursday, May 23, 2019, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Health Education/M-POWER Program hosted a “Don’t Gamble with your Health” employee wellness health fair on site at the Lucky Star Casino in Concho to promote health and wellness among casino employees. The day’s festivities included a healthy lunch, live DJ, live food demonstration, free haircuts, photo booth, biometric screenings, colon cancer test kit, Emergency Medical Service’s demonstration of an Auto Pulse which provides 30 chest compressions and a pause for two breaths during a cardiac arrest, and other valuable informational

booths from over 17 exhibitors including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Delta Dental, Clinton Indian Health Service Unit, Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, American Heart Association, Oklahoma Blood Institute, Alzheimer’s Association, Faithful Ground Coffee, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Health Department, Foster Care and Domestic Violence Programs.

Ideal health involves taking care of your nutritional needs, maintaining your mental health, AND working on your physical health. Creating an on-site wellness event is important because the majority of an employee’s time is spent at the workplace. The goal of having a health fair was to promote free preventative services on site that often go underutilized. Employers that promote employee wellness see a value and return on investment with decreased health costs, decreased absenteeism, increased productivity, and better morale among em-

auntie, Merle Big Medicine.

Also surviving are nieces and nephews, Angela Little Thunder, Georgetta Majano, April Easeman, Yolana Little Thunder, Ebenezer Little Thunder, Linden Toby Little Thunder, Jr., Brittany Augustine, Melanie Feiter, Chrystal Felter, Sharon Felter, Lawrence Felter, Erica Lame Bear, Cora Lame Bear, Johnnie Big Medicine, Jean Big Medicine, Winslow Big Medicine, Merlin Big Medicine, Thomas Hicks, Linda Francis Armour of Danielle Blas, Joshua WebEl Reno died June 2, 2019 at ster,Jason Webster, JusMercy Hospital in Oklahotin Webster,Marin ONeil; ma City. She was born Nov. daughter-in-law, Juanita 5, 1946 in Clinton, Okla.

Little Thunder; son, Linden She was a certified nursing Toby Little Thunder, Sr. assistant and bead worker Her father, Nicholas Webtraveling the United States ster and mother, Merle Little attending art shows. She also Thunder Lame Bear precedparticipated in the Northern ed her in death.

Cheyenne Sundance and enA traditional all night joyed going to casinos. wake service was held June Linda is survived by 5 at the Canton Community brothers, Clifford Lame Center in Canton, Okla. FuBear, Chuck Lame Bear, neral services were held June Linden Toby Little Thunder, 6 at the same venue Rev. GerSr. and Larry Brown; sisters, ald Panana and Rev. George Nicki Thomas, Celine Carty, Akeen officiating. An interJune Lame Bear, Emma ment followed at the CanLame Bear; Georgia Little tonment Cemetery under the Thunder, Julia Little Thundirection of Huber-Benson der, Wilma Big Medicine Funeral Home. and Ernestine Whitebird and

Linda Francis Armour

the home of his daughter, Cindy Lou (Thompson) Jarnagin. Memorial contributions may be sent to Zach Webb Family Funeral Service, 1475 S. 10th, Independence, KS 67301.

‘Louie’ as he was known by friends and family, was born on November 11, 1927 to Lillie Leah (Haag) & Lewis Everett Thompson, Sr. in El Reno, OK. He served his country during WW2 as a member of the United States Army’s postwar efforts in Lewis E. Thompson, Jr., Yokohama, Japan. age 91, passed away on May While working in the 18, 2019 at the Kansas Vetoil fields New Mexico, he erans Home in Winfield, KS. met and married Beatrice Memorial services will Charlene (Lampkin) of be held at 10 AM, June 8th, Anadarko, OK, and adopt2019, at Webb Family Funered her twin daughters, Dial Service, with Zach Webb ana Lynn and Sherry Gwen. officiating. Immediately folNot long after the arrival of lowing the service, a gatherhis firstborn, Cindy Lou, the ing of family and friends will family moved from Livinghold a Celebration if Life at ston, New Mexico to Wich-

Calendar Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Dept. of Enrollment Outreach Meetings 2-4 p.m. June 17 at the Geary Community Center in Geary, Okla., 2-4 p.m. June 18 at the Canton Community Center in Canton, Okla., and 2-4 p.m. June 19 at the Kingfisher’s All Native Baptist Church, 600 E. Broadway Ave., in Kingfisher, Okla.

For more information call 405-422-7600

The Dept. of Health and Concho Lucky Star Casino teamed up for an employee wellness event in Concho, Okla. Pictured l-R standing: Rebecca Starr, Courtney Reeder, Darrel James, Charlie Welbourne and Deborah Ellis. Sitting is Laurie Crawford. (Submitted photos) ployees (Certified Healthy Oklahoma, 2017). In fact, wellness programs can save employers an average of $6 for every $1 spent, including $3.27 saved in medical costs and an additional $2.73 gained because of reduced absenteeism. The Health Education/M-POWER program plans to share wellness opportunities among other Lucky Star Casino locations throughout the Cheyenne and Arapaho service area.

OBITUARIES

Linda Francis Armour

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Transportation Safety Program’s Defensive Driving Course 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. June 19, 2019 at the Watonga Community Center in Watonga, Okla.

To register contact Andrea Coppage at 405-295-6504 or email cmatanane@c-a-tribes.org.

G.E.D. Pre-Test Day Thursday June 20, 2019 at the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Computer Lab located in the Dept. of Education building in Concho, Okla.

Registration 9 a.m. - 10 a.m., pre-testing 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. with lunch break from 12-1 p.m.

For more information call 405-422-7918 or toll free 800247-4612 ext. 27918.

Pictured l-r: Kristie Martin, Kristy Solansky and Laurie Crawford, all employees of Lucky Star Casino.

Ruth Cecelia Higgins

Ruth Cecelia Higgins was born Sept. 20, 1943 to George Little Elk and Mary Etta (Hayes) Little Elk in Clinton, Okla. and passed away peacefully in her home May 27, 2019 in Hammon, Okla.

Ruth was raised in White Shield Camps North of Hammon. She moved into Hammon when she was 12 years old and attended Hammon School. She was married to William Robert Higgins in Wheeler, Texas.

They moved to Dallas, Texquerque, N.M., Lillie Martias where she was A nanny nez of Mesa, Ark., Jennifer before working for a meHiggins of Hammon and teorologist for a television Lila Kauk and husband Dane station. She moved back to of Clinton, Okla., adopted Hammon in 1968. She was sons, Frank White Skunk employed at the Hammon Jr. of Towaoc, Colo., Moses Public Schools in the cafeteSantos of Hammon, Donald ria; she worked for the LeedMiles Jr. of Hammon and adey Nursing Home and the opted daughter Alisun Little Cheyenne Nursing Home as Coyote of Hammon, nephew well as Loves Country Store Greg Little Elk of Elk City, and Hammon Corner Store.

Okla. and niece Michelle She is a member of the Coker of Yukon, Okla. She Pentecostal Church, she is also survived by 11 grandloves to sew, garden, colchildren and 11 great-grandlecting knick knacks and children. going to garage sales.

Wake services were held She is preceded in death by May 30, 2019 at the Kiesau her parents, sister Thelma Lee Funeral Chapel in ClinLittle Elk and brother Morgan ton, Okla. Funeral services Little Elk, and her adopted were held May 31 at the parents, Curtis and Bev Page.

Hammon Auditorium, folShe is survived by daughters lowed by an Interment at the Bridget Higgins of Hammon, Hammon Indian Mennonite Okla., Mary Jo White and Cemetery. husband, William of Albuita, Kansas with a brief stay in El Reno visiting family.

A few years later, the couple had another child, Lewis Everett Thompson III. Louie lived and worked in Wichita most of his adult life. Having been employed in a variety of fields including manufacturing, airline assembly, and a meat processing plant, Louie always seemed to find his way back to ‘the garage’ working on automobiles.

A lifelong sports fan, Louie enjoyed a variety of spectator sports, especially racing. Whether it was a jockey on horse, or a driver commanding horse power, Louie loved the thrill of it.

He was known to help build race cars and repair them both in the pit and between races, getting them ready for the next go around.

Coming from a large

Community Health Representative (CHR) Car Seat Event 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. June 18, 2019 at the Geary Community Center in Geary, Okla. For more information call 405-4227670.

family himself, family was the center of his life. As his children eventually had children of their own, Louie’s family grew to include 11 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren.

Survivors include daughter Cindy Lou Jarnagin of Independence KS, son Lewis Everett III and wife Karen Thompson, and Diana Lynn Sadowski, all of Wichita, KS. Louie has one surviving sibling Reece and wife Kathy Thompson of Springfield, MO, including many nieces and nephews.

Louie was preceded in death by his wife, Beatrice Charlene, daughter Sherry Gwen Proctor and grandson, Martin Ray Galvan, Jr., parents, Lillie & Lewis, brothers, Fred and Everett, and sisters, Mary Antoine and Emma Archer.

Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Dept. of Transportation public meetings All meetings begin at 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and lunch will be served.

June 24 at the Geary Community Center in Geary, Okla., June 26 at the Watonga Community Center in Watonga, Okla., June 27 at the Canton Community Center in Canton, Okla., June 28 at the Seiling Community Center in Seiling, Okla., July 1 at the NAC building in Concho, Okla., July 2 at the Hammon Community Center in Hammon, Okla.

Oklahoma Promise Workshop hosted by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Dept. of Education June 24, 2019 at the Dept. of Education Computer Lab in Concho, Okla. Two sessions, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. To sign up call 405-422-7653, 405-422-7439 or 405-422-7646.

CHR Summer Splash Fun Day 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. June 27, 2019 at the Watonga Community Center in Watonga, Okla., June 28 at the Concho Powwow grounds in Concho, Okla., and July 11 at the Hammon Community Center in Hammon, Okla.

Hot dogs, watermelon, safety education, door prizes and water slide inflatable.

2019 Men’s Health Day hosted by the Health Education Program July 9, 2019 at the Clinton Church & Community Center, 1801 N. Littell Ave., in Clinton, Okla.

Resume Writing Workshop hosted by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Adult Education Program 9 a.m. Monday July 15, 2019 at the Clinton Adult Education Lab (by the R.E.Sp.E.C.T. Gym) in Clinton, Okla.

To register please email ctallbear@c-a-tribes.org or call 580-331-2412.

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

Congratulation to our 2019 College Graduate Amanda Gould Southwestern Community College in Sylva, N.C. We are so proud of you and love you very much.

Love your family, mom, Perry, Will, Aiyana, Isacc, Zaina, Ayden and Wasose.

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Happy Birthday momma! You’ve always been our biggest supporter and you’ve never let us down.

Thank you for all that you do and the endless amount of love that you give, you’ve helped us become strong mothers. Love you!

Toya, Jackie, Tommy and the girls.

Breaking the silence on violence against Native American men

By Mallory Black and Liz Hill

Anyone can find themselves in an abusive relationship. Contrary to a common misperception, women are not the only ones who can experience domestic violence: American Indian and Alaska Native men report high rates of domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking, too.

According to a recent study by the National Institute of Justice, more than 1.4 million American Indian and Alaska Native men have experienced violence in their lifetime. This includes: • More than 1 in 4 (27.5 percent) who have experienced sexual violence • Roughly 2 in 5 (43.2 percent) who have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner • About 1 in 5 (18.6 percent) who have experienced stalking, and • Nearly 3 in 4 (73 percent) who have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner This same study looked at how violence affects Native men. When looking at Native male victims of physical intimate partner abuse, sexual violence and stalking, the impact is alarming: • About a quarter of Native men (26 percent) expressed concern for their safety • More than 1 in 5 Native men (20.3 percent) were physically injured, and • About 1 in 10 Native men (9.7 percent) had missed days of work or school Similarly, the gaps in culturally-appropriate resources do not discriminate, considering that more than 1 in 6 Native male victims (19.9 percent) needed services, yet were unable to access the critical services they needed for safety and healing (17 percent).

Lack of attention on Native males as victims Domestic violence is a pattern of tactics that one person uses to maintain power and control over their partner. It can happen in any intimate partnership, whether you are dating, married, living together, or have children together, and it can include physical, sexual, emo-

tional, digital, financial and cultural/spiritual abuse. Domestic violence has a devastating impact on victims and happens to men from all walks of life.

Regardless of gender, victims of domestic violence often face significant barriers in speaking out. However, for Native men, there can be an added layer of silence and stigma in seeking help. In our small, Tribal communities, Native men may fear being judged or ridiculed as “less of a man” or “weak,” particularly if his abusive partner is a woman. In reality, when Native men are the victims of domestic violence, this in no way indicates weakness.

When abuse is present in a relationship, it can be traumatic and humiliating, often leaving victims feeling degraded and doubting their self-worth. Men who are being abused in this way are often reluctant to seek help or tell friends or family out of embarrassment and/or fear of not being believed. They may worry that they, and not their partner, will be blamed for the abuse (ex. “But he started it…”). The fear of being mistaken for the abuser may also keep a victim-survivor from reporting the abuse to police.

If you are being hurt by an intimate partner, the first step to getting help is to reach out when you’re ready. We encourage anyone experiencing abuse to talk to a trusted friend or family member, to call the StrongHearts Native Helpline for a safe, confidential space to talk about what’s happening in your relationship.

Here at StrongHearts, we are here to support all of our relatives, including Native men. Advocates can be reached by dialing

1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

CST, who can offer support, validation and a connection to culturally-based resources, if needed.

Admitting you are being abused does not mean you are not a good partner, husband or father. You are not to blame for the abuse. All of our relatives deserve to feel safe and loved in their relationships.

Abuse Against Our LGBTQ and Two-Spirit Relatives It’s important to note that domestic violence doesn’t affect only heterosexual men and women.

Across all racial and ethnic groups in the United States, about a quarter of gay men (26%) and more than 1 in 3 bisexual men (37%) have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime.

Native Gay or Two-Spirit Men may feel an additional stigma or barrier when seeking help for domestic violence. While an abuser in a LGBTQ relationship will use similar tactics as in a heterosexual

relationship, they may also exploit their partner’s identity – and the discrimination they may face surrounding their identity – to hurt them. For example, an abusive partner may threaten to ‘out’ their partner to family or friends before the victim-survivor has made that decision for himself.

Advocates at the helpline are knowledgeable in serving the unique needs of our Native LGTBQ2S relatives and offer a safe, anonymous and confidential space for you to share your story. Domestic violence affects all members of our community, and your story matters.

No matter who is being abused, domestic violence goes against the traditional values and ways of our Tribal communities, and it is never okay. To all of our relatives in Indian country, you can be assured that the StrongHearts Native Helpline is here for you when you’re ready to reach out.

While it’s important to shed light on violence against Native men, it

is important to recognize that violence overwhelmingly affects millions of Native women each year.

As such, it is crucial to remember that Native women have been targeted, degraded and sexualized by colonizers for generations and continues today.

Mallory Black, Diné, serves as communications manager, and Liz Hill, Red Lake Ojibwe, serves as communications consultant for the StrongHearts Native Helpline, a confidential and anonymous helpline for Native Americans affected by domestic violence.

If you or a loved one is in an abusive relationship, support is available at 1-844-7NATIVE (1844-762-8483), open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CST, seven days a week. Advocates offer peer-to-peer support and referrals to culturally-appropriate resources for domestic violence. After hours calls may choose to connect with the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and all calls remain anonymous and confidential.

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Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

CLASSIFIEDS

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS

To apply please submit a tribal application, resume, diploma(s), transcripts, valid copy of driver’s license and a copy of CDIB (if applicable) to the Personnel Department, PO Box 38, Concho, OK 73022 or call 405-422-7498 or email atisdale@c-a-tribes.org.

Asset Manager Fleet Management Closing: Until filled

Qualifications: Completion from an accredited secretarial school and/or clerical course/program with a minimum of two years experience in clerical, secretary or receptionist work or equivalent.

Minimum education requirement is high school diploma or G.E.D. certification. Must be willing and able to attend various training and/or certification programs as directly related to job duties and responsibilities. Applicant must provide a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) from the Oklahoma Dept. of Public Safety. Must possess a current Oklahoma state driver’s license. Must pass pre-hire drug and alcohol screening.

SALARY: Negotiable

Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes

P. O . B o x 3 8 Concho, OK 73022

(405) 262-0345 / (800) 247-4612

www.cheyenneandarapahotribes.org

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Human Res. Generalist Dept. of Housing Closing Date: Until filled

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in business, human resources or related field preferred. Five or more years of progressively independent professional work in human resources.

A combination of education and experience may be substituted for degree requirement. Computer skills.

Prefer a professional Human Resource certification. Must pass drug and alcohol testing, must pass a background check. Cheyenne and Arapaho preference.

SALARY: Negotiable Cook Child Care - Concho Closing: Until filled

Qualifications: High school diploma or GED certification required.

Must have a valid Oklahoma driver’s license. Must pass physical exam. Must have adequate transportation.

Ability to pass background check and drug screen. Must be willing to work flexible hours. Must have Food Handlers Card.

SALARY: Negotiable

Houseparent ShelterPart-time & On-Call Emergency Youth Do you like children of all ages? Do you like attending outings with kiddos to show them a great time? White water? Zoo days? Frontier City? Science Museum? Educational outings??

Come and join us! We are looking to hire part time/oncall workers with clean backgrounds to work as a Houseparents’ for the C&A youth shelter. $12.00 hourly.

Shifts are 5PM-12AM daily, 12AM-8AM daily, and 8AM-5PM weekends.

Job is located in Concho,Ok. MUST HAVE DRIVERS LICENSE AND BE ABLE TO PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK. High School Diploma or GED, with preference given to post secondary training in the following related fields: Child Development, Nutrition, Culinary Arts, and Psychology. One year’s experience working in situations related to children. Must be able and willing to work alternating shifts on weekends, nights and holidays. Must retain a valid Oklahoma Driver’s License and have a clean driving record. Must pass criminal record check. Must have a telephone or cell phone at place of residence. Three (3) current letters of reference required. Current TB skin test or chest x-ray and pass complete physical examination.

Master Teachers Child Care: Clinton & Concho Closing: Until filled

Qualifications: Required to be at least 18 years of age and have one of the following, AA/AS degree or higher with ECE/CD credit hours, 30 credit hours with at least 12 ECE/CD credit hours, Oklahoma Certificate of Mastery (Early Childhood Education or ChilDevelopment). Current Child Development Associate Credential or Current Certified Childcare Professional Credential Oklahoma Competency Certificate in Early Care and Education (Oklahoma Department of Career Technology and Education’s Master Teacher Certificate ONLY).

Must have a valid Oklahoma driver’s license. Must pass a physical exam, be able to lift 50lbs, be physically fit to work daily with children and demonstrate basic knowledge of early childhood development. Must attend staff meetings as well as parent meetings when required, submit monthly reports, attend workshops and have adequate transportation. Must have skills to relate to the community in general. Must pass drug test and submit to random drug testing. Must pass a criminal background check. Cheyenne and Arapaho preference.

SALARY: Negotiable Maintenance Worker Operations & Mainten.

Closing: Until filled

Qualifications: Completion of high school or GED required. One year experience in maintenance or construction work desirable.

Must know methods, materials, and equipment used in maintenance work. Must have safe work habits, be physically fit with ability to lift up to 100 lbs and be able to work independently in the absence of supervision. Must pass drug and alcohol testing.

Must possess a valid Oklahoma driver’s license.

SALARY: Negotiable

Caretaker (ON CALL)

Language & Cultural Closing Date: Until filled

Qualifications: Reliable and dependable.

Ability to handle weights and loads. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, bending, pushing and squatting; climbing ladders; works with hands in water containing stringent cleaning agents. Incumbent should be willing to work other than normal working hours, when necessary, especially weekends. Due to the sensitive nature of Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal customs and traditions incumbent should be familiar with Cheyenne tribal customs and Arapaho tribal customs.

Completion of high school or GED required. One year experience in custodial work desirable. Must know methods, materials and equipment used in custodial work. Ability to follow oral and written directions. Must possess a valid Oklahoma driver’s license. Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal preference.

SALARY: Negotiable Arapaho Junior Appren.

Language Program Closing Date: Until filled

Qualifications: Experience learning Cheyenne, Arapaho, or another foreign language. Experience teaching or leading a group of people. Ability to use language related technology, such as recording devices, video conferencing tools and electronic dictionaries.

Ability to track data and monitor progress using simple spreadsheets. Ability to work on a flexible schedule according to the availability of master speakers. Ability to work with children, adult learners and elders. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Must be able to pass a background check. Must have valid driver’s license. Must have clean driving.

SALARY: Negotiable Teacher

Child Care - Concho Closing Date: Until filled

Qualifications: Teachers hired after July 1, 1995 are required to be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED certification or have completed the10th grade and be in the process of obtaining a GED for a period not to exceed 12 months. Must sign employee contract stating employee will attain CDA or Mastery Certification to maintain employment. Must have a valid Oklahoma driver’s license, pass a physical exam, be able to lift 50lbs., and be physically fit to work daily with children. Must demonstrate basic knowledge of early childhood development, attend staff meetings as well as parent meetings when required, submit monthly reports and attend workshops. Must have adequate transportation.

Must have skills to relate to the community in general and pass a criminal background check. Must pass mandatory drug and alcohol test. Willing to work flexible work schedule. Cheyenne and Arapaho preference.

SALARY: Negotiable Notice of Holiday Closing Tuesday, June 25 Tribal offices will be closed in observance of Little Big Horn Day.

LEGALS NOTICE BY PUBLICATION

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

The fifth annual R.E.Sp.E.C.T. Invitational Basketball tournament was held in El Reno and Concho, Okla. May 31-June 2, 2019 The 2020 Sixth annual tournament will be held June 4-7, 2020.

Congratulations to the following teams: Chiefs High School Boys Champions 6-0 MVP Dyson Plumley Lady Unity High School Girls Champions 6-1 MVP Imani Bighorn Legendary Elite Boys High School 2nd Place Legendary Elite Girls High School 2nd Place Chiefs 7th/8th Grade Boys Champions – 5-0 Team Hustle 7th/8th Grade Boys 2nd Place War Cry 7th/8th Grade Girls Champions Team Unity 7th/8th Grade Girls 2nd Place Kings 5th/6th Grade Boys Champions Chiefs 5th/6th Grade Boys 2nd Place OK Storm 5th/6th Grade Girls Champions Blue Crush 5th/6th Grade Girls 2nd Place

CHIEFS - HIGH SCHOOL BOYS - CHAMPIONS

LADY UNITY - HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS - CHAMPIONS

LEGENDARY ELITE - HIGH SCHOOL BOYS 2ND PLACE

LEGENDARY ELITE - HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS 2ND PLACE

CHIEFS 7TH/8TH GRADE BOYS CHAMPIONS

TEAM HUSTLE 7TH/8TH GRADE BOYS 2ND PLACE

WAR CRY 7TH/8TH GIRLS CHAMPIONS

TEAM UNITY 7TH/8TH GRADE GIRLS 2ND PLACE

PAGE 11

Vincent Aispuro, 12, takes second place at the 2019 Chickasaw Nation Native American Junior Open golf tournament.

Youth golfer continues his success on the green

Vincent Aispuro, 12 year old Cheyenne and Arapaho citizen takes second place in this year’s Chickasaw Nation Native American Junior Open golf tournament held at WinStar Golf Club in Thackerville, Okla.

Competing in a higher age bracket of 14-15 year olds, Vincent held his own.

“He has loved this game since he was a toddler and continues to improve every year.

He usually can be found golfing at the Watonga Golf Course with his grandpa Charlie and their friends,” Monica Allrunner Youngbear, Vincent’s aunt, posted on Facebook.

I first met Vincent in 2012 when he was 5 years old when I interviewed him for an article in the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Tribune. It was the

Vince Aispuro at the age of 5 golfing at his favorite place at the Watonga Golf Club. He and his granpa Charlie can be found most days on the greens in Watonga.

KINGS 5TH/6TH GRADE BOYS CHAMPIONS

CHIEFS 5TH/6TH GRADE BOYS 2ND PLACE

OK STORM 5TH/6TH GRADE GIRLS CHAMPIONS

BLUE CRUSH 5TH/6TH GRADE GIRLS 2ND PLACE

year Vincent was to compete at the Jim Thorpe games held in Oklahoma City.

His love, his passion for the game of golf began before he could even walk. Sitting in his high chair he would stare out the window at his grandpa Charlie hitting golf balls or be sitting for hours in his grandpa’s lap watching golf on TV. When he began to walk, he began to swing, first hitting balls with plastic clubs and hasn’t stopped yet.

Vincent Aispuro is the son of Alicia Howlingwater and Alfonso Aispuro.

He is the grandson of Charles and Dee Howlingwater and great-grandson of Marie Whiteman.

Vincent has been competing in this event since 2016. He took first place two years running in 2016 and 2017, and third place in 2018.

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Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

Tsistsistas & Hinonoei