VOLUME 17 EDITION 12
Comanche Nation Public Information Office, Lawton, OK www.comanchenation.com
AUTUMN DANCE HELPS FEATHERED FRIENDS
December 2016
TA Arterberry Reflects on the 2016 Fiscal Year By Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
Comanche Nation Off of High Risk Status By Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
A milestone was reached when the Comanche Nation received a letter from the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) November 29, announcing the Comanche Nation is off of “High Risk” status. The notice, dated November 21, states: Dear Chairman Nelson, This is to notify the Tribe that the Bureau of Indian Affairs acknowledges the accomplishment of the Tribe in completion of all corrective actions to obtain removal of the “High Risk Contractor/Grantee” status which was imposed upon the tribe on June 11, 2008. As such, we hereby notify you that the Tribe is officially being removed from High Risk Status.” Past findings, such as not turning in reports, and other measurers, kept the Tribe on “High Risk,” and hindered attaining some grants. “This is quite an accomplishment,” said Denise Karty, Comanche Nation Compliance Director. “I was hired to get the Tribe off of High Risk. It took three years to get, and now applying for grants will be easier and more promising.” Karty also explained the Tribe will receive federal funding money up front. “Currently, we use gaming money, and the Bureau reimburses the tribe. Now that we are off of High Risk status, we will not have to use Gaming Money.” William Nelson, Comanche Nation Chairman, said, “This is great news for the Comanche Nation. The Federal Government has taken the Sovereign Comanche Nation off of ‘High Risk’. Please take time to thank our Tribal Administrator, Business Committee, and the numerous employees that worked their entire past fiscal year to take us to a progressive and fiscally responsible organization.” Comanche Nation Vice Chairman, Susan Cothren, said that it is a good day for the Comanche Nation. Cothren signed two letters to the BIA, through Karty, asking when the Tribe could get off of High Risk, and what steps were needed to make it happen. She and Karty pursued the task, and Chairman, Willie Nelson, followed up with a third letter. “This shows the BIA has faith in this administration, and is working with us,” said Cothren. “We had to prove ourselves to them, and we did.” Cothren acknowledged Tribal Administrator, Jimmy Arterberry, for making sure tribal programs stayed within their budgets, and the CBC (Comanche Business Committee) for their careful spending of tribal money. “Now, we can pursue more grants to help our Comanche People,” Cothren added.
Photos by Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
The Cyril Rodeo arena was booming with the sounds of Gourd Dance music the afternoon of November 26, as a benefit powwow was held for the Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative, or SIA, which is translated to the word ‘feather’ in the Comanche Language. Elegant eagles and hawks were witness to the outdoor event, and it was evident the birds enjoyed the crisp autumn afternoon sun. The Comanche Native American Church, Chapter 1918, helped coordinate the fund-raiser, and sold Indian Tacos, held a Silent Auction, and had many raffles throughout the day. TOP: From left, Bill Volker, director of SIA, Comanche veteran, Baliente Herrera, and Troy, Co-Director of SIA, dance with Red Plume Staffs during the afternoon session. CENTER: Wahkeah, a Leucistic Red Tailed Hawk. TOP RIGHT: Nuepi, a Golden Eagle. BOTTOM RIGHT: Mahwomeh, an African Battler Eagle. To see the magnificent birds, contact the SIA Program for times they are available for viewing, or to donate a monetary gift, call (580) 464-2750. The address is 106 Lookingglass Way, Cyril, Okla. For more information online, go to www.comancheeagle.org.
Comanche Veteran Completes Book “FROM WARRIOR TO VETERAN – A Written and Pictorial History of Modern Day Comanche Veterans that served in the United States Military” is a seven chapter, 92-page hard-bound program type booklet written by Comanche veteran Lanny Asepermy. The booklet was edited by Shelley Asepermy and Marla Nauni, designed by Mike Espinosa (of Intertribal Visions) and published by Intertribal Visions of Lawton. The date of publication was 10 November 2016. The writing of the booklet began in Jan-
uary 2014 with information and photos of Comanche veterans collected beginning in July 1992 by Asepermy. The first three pages contain the Cover, Introduction and information about the researcher. Chapter One is titled, “Fallen Warriors and Prisoners of War of the Comanche Nation,” and is 12 pages with details and 18 photos of the thirteen Comanche veterans that died as a result of war and the seven Comanche veterans that were Prisoners of War. Chapter Two is titled, “Numu Pukutsinuu aka Pukutsi – Comanche Contrary Warriors and list,” with 26 photos and details about the 24 Comanche veterans that have been decorated for Gallantry, Heroism, Valor and Bravery and the two See BOOK, Page 9
TA (Tribal Administrator), Jimmy Arterberry, is very pleased with the end results of FY 2016, because it ended with the tribe having extra money. “I came on in November of last year, and the FY (Fiscal Year) budget had ended a month earlier. It was $3.7 million dollars overspent for FY 2015. In FY 2014, they were overspent $14 million. In FY 2013, they were overspent $4.8 million,” explained Arterberry. “This year, we ended our fiscal year in the Black, and we have $4.8 million dollars in access. We were able to provide all the services, that our people voted on and approved, and that were needed. The employees had all the tools they needed to do their jobs, and we were also able to do a lot of positive things.” He wants to ensure tribal members the extra money from FY 2016 was placed in a restricted account, according to Arterberry. The money will be brought forth to the council by the Business Committee to discuss how that would like those invested. Some of the progressive actions from TA Arterberry included placing generators at all the tribal Community Centers for emergency situations, getting the Capital Improvement Program back to the original goals for which it was established, and started repairing and renovating our tribal owned properties. The Comanche Nation has insurance coverage now, so our water park has been completely rehabbed now and the insurance has paid for all of that. Tribal employees have had professional training in Ethics, and it will continue with Dispute Resolution Training. Arterberry hopes to have the training as a renewal class for employees that have had it, and as a new training for the new employees. This way, he said, the tribal government enters a new more professional realm of service and business for the people. “When our members are unhappy and they complain about something, we have to listen, because without them, none of us would be working. We rely on our members,” he said. “There has not been as many complaints as there were in the past.” But, Arterberry said not everything ran smoothly, and he had to step in to correct some errors. “Something that happened that was unfortunate was, in the past, some of the contractors that were paid a lot of money had been contracted to work on some of the tribal members homes. There were three tribal elder’s homes that they were paid a lot of money to do some rehabilitation. The contractors took the money but did not do the work,” he explained. He said he had to go in front of the CBC to get permission to use Home Improvement and Capital Improvement Programs’ labor to get this elder’s home fixed, because the elder has been displaced for 19 months. He was allowed to use the two program’s manpower to get the homes fixed and back in order. They See TA REVIEW, Page 9