SC Newsletter Fall 2021

A WORD FROM CHIEF CHARLES DIEBOLD

It is an honor and a privilege to serve our tribe. THANK YOU for the opportunity to serve as your Chief of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation. Time has been going by, it seems like at a record pace! As we sit and think back, we are going through the second year of this Covid-19 nightmare. Covid-19 has hit our Nation hard, as we have lost 58 family and friends in the last 2 years. While not all from Covid, we have never faced a tragedy like this before. The Nation has seen many changes in the past two years and, together, face more obstacles to come. Although recent times have seemed bleak, the future of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation is bright.

The business committee and I are dedicated to work hard and bring success to the nation and are excited to create and share programs with our tribal members and families. Utilizing grants and federal funding we hope to extend our current programs and create new ones to benefit tribal members. As these become approved or finalized, we will share the details. We are endeavoring to streamline the process for tribal member services, utilizing more technology to make member documents digital and sharable between programs. Our goal is minimizing the redundant requirements for paper documents.

We are still working out the details for the best method to disperse information to reach as many members as possible; you may see different efforts taking place in the near future. One area you can help is to make sure your address is up to date with enrollment and should a family member not utilize the internet keep them up to date on program availability.

At the General Council, we were able to add 321 new members, many who waited several years. This brings the SenecaCayuga Nation to 5,711 enrolled members. It was incredible to see everyone there who could attend. We were able to reach the quorum count of 225 at the beginning, but were unable to maintain attendance for the full meeting; this is one item the business committee is working to modify. Our casino has done well in rebounding from the Covid situations and customers are feeling better about getting out, so attendance is rising.

Regarding our ceremonies, back in the Spring the Faith Keepers made the decision to proceed as well. That was a tough decision to make but our ceremonies are for our people to be part of. We were successful, beginning with the Sun Dance, seeing all the boys dancing was medicine for the soul. With the help of our Nation departments, helpers, and Faith Keepers we concluded with Green Corn. Everything went smoothly beginning with Camp Day kids’ activities and cookout, to the Sun Dance and Pot Hanger Supper. When Spring comes around in 2022, I am confident our ceremonies will proceed as normal.

These are a few of the exciting projects we have in the works, and we will continue to provide more updates going forward.

As we look into 2022, I wish you all well and ask for your continued support.

Nya-Weh, Charles Diebold, Chief of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation

COMMITTEE SUMMARY

The Business Committee (BC) has re-established several committees, which include a BC member as the chairperson. They are actively collaborating on existing committees, both internal and external, to represent the Nation.

Kim Guyett (Secretary-Treasurer) is the chairperson for the Enrollment Committee.

Amy Nuckolls is the chairperson for the Housing Committee

Cynthia Donohue Bauer is the chairperson for the Education/Welfare Committee

Tonya Blackfox represents the Nation for the Northeastern Tribal Health System Governing Board and the Claremore Indian Hospital Board of Directors.

Curt Lawrence and Kim Guyett work with the Tax Commission.

BUSINESS COMMITTEE

Charles Diebold, Chief

Curt Lawrence 2nd Chief

Kim Guyett, Secretary-Treasurer

Cynthia Donohue Bauer, 1st Council Person

Amy Nuckolls, 2nd Council Person

Hoyit Bacon, 3rd Council Person

Tonya Blackfox 4th Council Person

Good NEWS

COVID-19 Food Subsidy Program Enrollment is Open

The deadline to apply is November 30th. Applications can only be made online.

The COVID-19 Food Subsidy Program is a disbursement for Seneca Cayuga Tribal Members who are 18 years and older.* The program helps these members buy food to fulfill their nutritional needs.

To apply find the link to the application on morescnation.com, sctribe.com, and on the Seneca-Cayuga Nation Facebook page. Computers are available Monday-Friday 8 am-12 pm, and 1 pm-5 pm at the Nation’s computer lab located at the Career Services building and the AOA building Monday-Friday 11 am-1 pm.

Once you have the card, please keep it for future projects that could be distributed via the same system.

*Must be 18 years of age before November 30, 2022

COVID Recovery Bags are Available

If you test Positive for COVID-19, we now have COVID-19 Recovery Bags available. These bags are full of items that will help you recover from COVID-19, including an Oximeter, Infrared Thermometer, Sanitizing items, and much more.

Please get in touch with the CHR, Mike Kerr, at 918-533-5515. Answer a few simple questions and provide Mike with a photo of your positive test results. Mike will deliver the bag within a 50-mile radius of the SenecaCayuga Nation Complex, or arrangements can be made for pick up by a family member.

Opening Soon: Tribal Gift Shop!

The new Tribal Gift Shop will feature crafts, jewelry, apparel, and other gifts. Contact Tiffany White at 918-791-6028 for information!

Glimpses of GREEN CORN

Accessing BENEFITS

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO ACCESS YOUR BENEFITS? HERE IS THE LIST!

There are many benefits available to you as a member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation. Most benefits are available to anyone, no matter where you live. A few benefits are funded by federal grants and have some limits based on geography. For a full list of benefits, visit www.sctribe.com/services. Here are some highlights:

Emergency Funds

Up to $1000 per year is available to help with rent, house repairs, medical bills, or financial hardship. Call the Benefits Dept. at 918-791-6025 or email benefits@sctribe.com for more information.

Hearing Aids

Up to $1,400 per year is available to help pay for hearing aids. Call the Benefits Dept. at 918-791-6025 or email benefits@sctribe.com for more information.

Optical Benefits

Up to $500 is available a year to help pay for eyeglasses or eye exams. Call the Benefits Dept. at 918-791-6025 or email benefits@sctribe.com for more information.

Dental Benefits

Money is available to help pay for dental treatment, braces for minors, and dentures. Call the Benefits Dept. at 918-791-6025 or email benefits@sctribe.com for more information.

Tribal Elder Benefits

Up to $2,500 per year is available to those 55 years or older, who have been a member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation for no less than 20 years. Call the Benefits Dept. at 918-791-6025 or email benefits@sctribe.com for more information.

Bereavement Funds

Money is available to help pay for funeral and burial expenses. An application must be made within six months of death. Call the Benefits Dept. at 918-791-6025 or email benefits@sctribe.com for more information.

Child Care Development Fund

Funds are available to help families have access to highquality child care. The child care program is funded by a federal grant and is limited to those living within 100 miles of Grove, OK. Contact Nikinzie Bowers at 918791-6056.

Youth Fellowship for School Clothing

$500 is available per student grades Pre K-12 to buy school clothing. Call Haley Buckallew at 918-791-6041 for more information.

High School Senior Fellowship Fund

Up to $500 is available to high school seniors to help pay for student’s cap, gown, graduation announcements, senior pictures, class ring, ACT/SAT fees, and any other seniorrelated costs associated with college entry. Call Haley Buckallew at 918-791-6041 for more information.

Education Fellowship Fund

Scholarships are available to pay for higher education expenses. These funds can be used to attend an accredited college, university, trade, or vocational training school. Call Haley Buckallew at 918-791-6041 for more information.

The Northeastern Tribal Health System (NTHS)

NTHS is a healthcare system for all native people. Located at 7600 S. HWY 69-A Miami, OK 74354. Call (918) 542-1655 for more information.

The Seneca Cayuga Wellness Center

The wellness center is a 24-hour fitness facility located at the Nation’s tribal offices. It is equipped with fitness equipment, showers, and lockers. Call Mike Kerr at 918-791-6051 for more information.

Employment

The Seneca-Cayuga Nation, Grand Lake Casino, and Tobacco Company have various job openings throughout the year. For casino jobs, visit www.grandlakecasino.com/employment. For all other positions, call SCN Human Resources at 918-7916036 or 6037 to learn more.

Food Distribution Program

The Food Distribution Program is a federally funded effort to provide food to qualifying households within a specific geographic area around Miami, OK. Call (918)542-3443 for more information.

Substance Abuse Program

Various substance abuse and mental health treatments are available to tribal members. Call Naomi Esparza at 918-791-6045 for more information.

Tag Office

The Seneca-Cayuga Tag Office offers tags to Oklahoma Seneca-Cayuga Members. Call Tiffany White at 918-791-6028 for more information.

Elder Nutrition Program

Seneca-Cayuga Tribal Members ages 52, along with their spouse, can eat for free at the AOA. Members of other tribes over 60 can eat for free. Anyone can buy a meal for $5. Mealtimes are 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Monday-Thursday, and 9:00 am – 10:30 am on Friday. Call Rob Gibson at 918-791-6052 for more information.

Community Health Representative/Caregiver

Contact Mike Kerr at 918-533-5515 for more information.

Violence Prevention & Victim Services

This program provides assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual assault, and victims of crime. Call Shiny Pandirla at 918-791-6059 or Wendy Nichols at 918-791-6057 for more information.

Indian Child Welfare

This program proposes to provide an avenue of hope for Seneca-Cayuga tribal children and their families by providing direct services and coordinating resources with other agencies in an attempt to prevent the break-up of Native American families. Call Kimberly Keller at 918-7916054 for more information.

Sex Offender Registration Act-SORNA Program

The SORNA Coordinator maintains contact with law enforcement and monitors our CFR Court and local county jail logs for sex offenders that would fall under our jurisdiction. Call 918-791-6061 for more information.

Environmental Protection

The General Assistance Program (GAP) is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency to support the capacity building of the Department while maintaining a Tribal presence in Environmental issues impacting Tribal lands and members. This program is also funded by the EPA under the Clean Water Act Section 106. This funding allows for monthly sampling and monitoring of rivers, streams, and numerous in-lake sites, all within tribal jurisdictional boundaries. Call Richard Schlottke at 918-791-6033 for more information.

Historical/Cultural Preservation

The Seneca Cayuga Nation has, through its Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO), assumed duties of the State Historic Preservation Officer on trust lands as allowed under the National Historic Preservation Act I16 USC 470] Section 101 (d)(2). This office is partially funded by the National Park Service. Call William Tarrant at 918-7916061 for more information.

Enrollment Department

The purpose of this program is to provide enrollment to eligible persons of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation. Call Leslie McCoy at 918-791-6027 for more information.

Department of Public Safety

Call Chris Arnold, EMT, CHPP, at 918-791-6062 for more information.

Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) News

Donation Made to Grove Public Schools

On Friday, October 22, the Seneca-Cayuga Nation Child Care Development Fund presented Grove Public Schools Superintendent Pat Dodson a $65,000 award that will support local after-school programs.

The donated funds were originated from the Department of Health & Human Services and are intended for community support. Niki Bowers, CCDF Director for the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, shared with us, “We are thankful to Mr. Dodson and Grove Public Schools for their effort in caring for our SenecaCayuga youth and are grateful for the opportunity to support their after-school program in a meaningful way.”

Donation Made to Turkey Ford School

The donated CCDF funds were originated from the Administration for Children & Families and are intended for community support. Turkey Ford Superintendent Julie Holloway stated, “We are very thankful for the support of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation. Our after-school program is vital to the community. More than half the students in our school have applied to take part this year.”

Niki Bowers, CCDF Director for the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, shared with us, “Turkey Ford school is in the heart of the Seneca-Cayuga territory and educates many of our children. We are honored to support their after-school program in a meaningful way and are thankful for the impact this program has on our local community.”

Pictured at the award presentation to the left are CCDF Director Niki Bowers, Chief Charlie Diebold, Grove Public Schools Superintendent Pat Dodson, and Emily Morris, CCDF Assistant.

Pictured at the award presentation to the right are CCDF Director Niki Bowers, Business Committee Member Hoyit Bacon, Chief of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation Charlie Diebold, Superintendent Julie Holloway, and CCDF Assistant Emily Morris.

Nation PROJECTS

COVID-19 Emergency Relief Aid - Completed. $5,231,000 distributed to tribal members to offset the financial burden brought on by COVID-19

All monthly Business Committee meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00pm, unless otherwise posted. These meetings will be held at the New AOA located on the North end of the tribal complex. The Old AOA/ACC Building is currently under renovation and will be the future home of the “Cultural Preservation” department.

We are preparing for the implementation of the One Tribe software that will be Nationwide. This will be an all-inclusive database of the SCN which, when complete, will be utilized by all departments.

Water and Sanitation upgrade Project - The Nation is working on upgrading the water and sanitation services that the Nation provides for the surrounding area. This will ensure clean water and provide for future demands.

New Childcare Facility - The Nation has received a grant through the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) to build a new child care facility. The project is in the preliminary stages at this time, but more information will be coming.

Seneca-Cayuga Nation Holiday Market

We are looking for Tribal Members that are small business owners and crafters to join our online Holiday Market Event!

Requested Items Include: shawls, skirts, ribbon shirts, moccasins, dreamcatchers, wampum belt replicas, other beadwork, cooking vessels/utensils, heirloom/traditional seeds, jewelry, children’s books, and more!

This will be a Facebook event that will run 11/15/21 - 12/10/21. You will be able to post your items, add pictures, and videos.

If you are interested in showcasing your items or business contact Kim Guyett - kguyett@sctribe.com

Housing Department: Benefits are Available

NAHASDA Program consists of Rehabilitation and Modernization:

The Seneca-Cayuga Nation Housing Program is designed to provide rehabilitation services for privately owned homes for low-income Native American tribal members. *Radius and Income restrictions apply.

NAHASDA Rental/Emergency Assistance:

Assists eligible Seneca-Cayuga Nation tribal households that are unable to pay rent, mortgage, and utilities (electric, water, gas). This is a federally funded program, and a tribal member must live within a 50-mile radius of the tribal headquarters and must be low-income.

NAHASDA Down Payment Assistance:

Assists eligible Seneca-Cayuga Nation tribal members for homeownership within a 50-mile radius of our headquarters. This is a federally funded program, and a tribal member must live within a 50-mile radius of the tribal headquarters and must be low-income.

LIHEAP Assistance:

Assist with Utilities (electric, gas, wood, propane). We also have space heaters, room heaters, and Heat/ air window units available. This is a federally funded program, and a tribal member must live within a 50-mile radius of the tribal headquarters and must be lowincome.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP):

Assists eligible Seneca-Cayuga Nation tribal households that are unable to pay rent and utilities (electric, water, gas, sewer, trash removal) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ERAP can assist eligible households with rental arrears, utility arrears, current rental payments, and current utility payments. Telecommunication services (telephone, cable, Internet) delivered to the rental dwelling are not considered to be utilities. This program is only available to rental households and does not apply to households with a mortgage or who currently own their home. This program is limited to one tribal member per household. Payments will be made directly to the landlord or utility company. This is a federally funded program, and a tribal member must live within a 50-mile radius of the tribal headquarters and must be low-income. Contact

Housing Committee members include:

Amy Nuckolls

Nikan Cary

Carrie Mott Campbell

Michelle Morris-Housing Director

Dennis Sisco-Executive Director

Seneca-Cayuga Nation Indian Child Welfare: Foster Care Homes Needed

Seneca-Cayuga Nation Indian Child Welfare is funded through Self-Governance and provides services to Seneca-Cayuga Nation children and families that support the Indian Welfare Act. We currently assist children involved in at-risk, abuse, and neglect cases.

Vision Statement

The goal of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation Social Services Department is to promote the well-being for all Seneca-Cayuga Nation Tribal families and children. The Seneca-Cayuga Nation Indian Child Welfare Department places special emphasis on children designated being at risk, as well as the promotion of foster and adoptive families. It also provides services to enrolled and eligible tribal members nationwide when involved in an ICWA case.

Foster Care

Our Nation is in need of foster homes for our children! Every year, a quarter of a million children come into foster care in this country. Many of them will be placed in group homes or other group residential settings because there are simply not enough foster families to care for all the children.

Foster parents play a critical role in helping children heal. They show children stability and teach them life lessons that last a lifetime—and potentially affect future generations. Foster parents are the backbone of the ICWA. Without strong foster homes, our department wouldn’t go smoothly.

For more information:

Contact Kimberly Keller ICW director, at 918-787-5452 Ext.# 6054 Email: kkeller@sctribe.com

In the event of a child welfare emergency, contact 911 or the child abuse hotline in the state where the child(ren) resides.

Enrollment Committee News

Members: Kim Guyett, Logan Line, John Birkes, Terry Whitetree, Joanne Edwards, Mary Coleman, Kathryn Schafer, Vestena Emerson, Roberta Smith, and Ray Rodgers.

Since the 2021 General Council meeting, the Enrollment Committee has been meeting regularly, and below are some highlights of what we are working on.

• Updated procedures for receiving/processing enrollment applications to increase accuracy and efficiency.

• Regularly reviewing and approving new enrollment applications for GC approval June 2022.

• Preparing for software changes to be implemented by the Nation

• Preparing for the upcoming 2022 elections and General Council

Notice to ALL MEMBERS

The Seneca-Cayuga Nation has several projects coming up very soon. We need the help and cooperation of all Tribal Members to make the implementation of these projects as smooth and successful as possible.

It is imperative that we have accurate up to date information in our system so that we can reach out and include/help as many tribal members as possible. As a matter of safety for all tribal members, we will start requiring a picture ID for all adult Tribal Members in the application for future projects.

We are asking all tribal members please:

1. Take a moment to make sure your contact (physical and mailing address) is up to date with enrollment.

2. If you have an old Tribal ID (without photo ID), please get your ID updated ASAP. You Can do this in person, by mail, or by email. The form can be found at sctribe.com/service/enrollment-department/

3. If you have had a name change, please update this information with Enrollment ASAP and get an updated Tribal ID. This is important as all payouts coming from the Tribe will be made out to the tribal member’s name as it appears on the roll.

4. If, for any reason, your Tribal ID does not match your enrollment information, please get an updated Tribal ID ASAP.

The offices will be closed on the following dates:

November 25th and 26th in observance of Thanksgiving

12:00 pm on December 23rd in observance of Christmas Eve

December 24th in observance of Christmas

December 31st in observance of the New Year

Drive-Thru Christmas Party!

Friday December 3rd • 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm •Tribal Complex

How it works:

You must be a member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation

Children between the ages of 0-17 years and Elders 55 years and up will receive a gift card.

Please bring your tribal ID for all members of your family that will be receiving gift cards. Gift cards will NOT be given to members that do not have a tribal card.

Please use the North gate as the entrance.

Stations will be set up along the driveway and manned by our tribal employees with sweets and treats.

Please stay in your car the entire time-staying warm and cozy!

If you are interested, there will be a photo op at the end of the drive thru!

Footprints on the MILKY WAY

The last two years have been shocking due to the Covid-19 sickness, and the emotional, physical, and spiritual effect it has had on our Tribe. To show respect for our tribal family that has passed on, we wanted to acknowledge them here today.

Emarthla, Micco 1/6/2020

Smith, Sidney Monroe 1/30/2020

Henson, Ashley Ann 2/4/2020

Charloe, John Henry 3/2/2020

Records-Fletcher, Geneva Kay 3/15/2020

Geboe, Fredrick Wayne 3/30/2020

Lamm, Rena Jo 4/5/2020

McFadden, Naomi Lucille 4/6/2020

Bitsie, Leondre Ponjma 4/25/2020

Enkey, Dietrich Karic Jobe 5/12/2020

Goins, Joan Logan 5/17/2020

Payton, Kurt Newton 6/24/2020

Young, Jeremy Tyler 7/12/2020

Spicer, William Henry 7/17/2020

Rosiere, Betty Jean 8/16/2020

Gonzalez, Dallas Wayne 8/21/2020

McGehee, Patricia May 9/9/2020

Fullhart, Daniel Curtis 9/18/2020

Gourd, John Louis 10/28/2020

Grant, Alicia Diane 11/3/2020

Thomas, Isabella Faith 11/3/2020

Snell, Homer Alexander 11/11/2020

Shamblin, Melvin Robert 11/12/2020

WhiteEagle, Cody Gean 11/16/2020

McKenzie, Alicia Kay 11/30/2020

McKenna, Karen Anne 12/9/2020

Rosiere, Kenneth Max 12/10/2020

Howard, Leroy Earl 12/19/2020

Tincher, Wilma Gene 12/27/2020

Bearskin, Dennis James 12/29/2020

Howard, Leslie Ray 12/30/2020

Beale, Margie Jane 1/3/2021

Rantz, Leroy Dean 1/7/2021

Oakley, Vera Joann 1/20/2021

Costello, Rita Lauree 1/24/2021

Lievens, Mark Anthony 1/24/2021

Branson, Winona Oleta 1/31/2021

Christie, John Glenn 2/1/2021

Wilson, Roger Curtis 2/3/2021

Wilson, William Willard 3/7/2021

Sharp, John Wayne 3/9/2021

Phillips, Jess Richard 3/20/2021

Ollis, Sally Dean 3/24/2021

James, Steven Michael 3/27/2021

Chaney, Mary Lois 4/2/2021

Bitsie Jr., Clifford Eugene 4/4/2021

Belkham, Jack A 4/20/2021

Barton, Karla Sue 4/24/2021

Laurie, Bernice Gail 4/29/2021

Denney, Mildred 5/2/2021

Spicer, Louis Zane 7/9/2021

Mersman, Deanna Rose 7/25/2021

Bell, Melissa Joellen 9/6/2021

Gonzalez, Barbara Ann 9/9/2021

DeRoin, Elden Ray 9/13/2021

Lively, Geraldine 10/3/2021

Merriman, Kelly Eugene 10/6/2021

Matthew Patrick Rankin 10/29/2021

To update your address please mail this form to”

If the change of address is being submitted for a minor child or incompetent adult, please sign below: Parent/Guardian