ka:si:h ke?etara:kwa:ri “I’m going to tell you something“ - A publication of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes President’s Report NEWSLETTER P.O. Box 729 I hope each of you enjoyed the holidays. ness program is administered by the Anadarko, OK 73005 Hopefully, everyone is taking care of State Department of Health. [email protected] themselves with so much flu and oth- Wichita Language Class for Children er illnesses going around. This is the The Wichita Language Class for chil- November newsletter. This newsletter November, 2014 dren will begin on Sunday, January 25, does contain some December informa- 2015. The class will be held from 3:00 Distributed January 6, 2015 tion. Here are a few updates that I want Phone: 405-247-2425 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Portable Build- to provide you with right now. I will ing located at the Wichita Tribal Com- Fax: 405-247-2430 give my New Year’s update in the next plex. Parents may sign up their children Website: www.wichitatribe.com newsletter that should follow within the ages 6-17 beginning on January 5, 2015. next few weeks. Children enrolling in the class will be Smoke Free Policy In Effect January 1, performing and/or submitting entries This issue features: 2015 to the 2015 Oklahoma Native Youth Page 2 On November 24, 2014, the Wichita Ex- Language Fair in Norman under the President’s Report cont./ New Hires ecutive Committee, by a vote of 6-0-0, Wichita Language Class. In addition Page 3 approved the Non-Smoking Policy for to language, we will also set aside time Mini-Seminar/ Walk Your Mocs the Wichita Tribal Complex to be ef- for some Wichita history and learning Page 4 fective on January 1, 2015. The use of about the names of past tribal Presi- Veteran’s Flag Raising/ DOJ PR tobacco for traditional ceremonial pur- dents. I will be teaching the class with Page 5 poses is exempt from this policy. the assistance of Gary McAdams and Community and Family News Certified Healthy Business Doris McLemore. Please contact Gary Pages 6-9 On December 23, 2014, the Wichita McAdams at (405) 247-2425 ext. 169 Recovered Historical Site in and Affiliated Tribes received notifica- or me at (405) 247-2425 ext. 101 if you Pages 10 &11 tion that it met the criteria of a Healthy have any questions. Sydney Attends TNC in D.C. Business. There are three levels of cer- Community Building Policy Page 12 tification that include: basic, merit and The Wichita Executive Committee ap- Fitness Center/ Stay Connected excellence. Last year the Tribe received proved the Community Building Use Page 13 a Certificate of Merit. This year the Policy on November 24, 2014. There Current Events Tribe earned a Certificate of Excellence. is a $50 Non-Refundable fee for use of Page 14 An awards luncheon will be held on the building by tribal members along Vacancy Announcements February 4, 2015 where we will receive with a $50 deposit that may be refund- the award. The Certified Healthy Busi- able. Tribal programs are not exempt from fees. Funerals and funeral meals Wichita Executive Committee for the deceased enrolled tribal member Terms Expire 07/2016 are exempt from the fees. The Wichi- Terri Parton- President ta Service Club, Wichita Little Sisters and Wichita Young Men’s Society are Jesse E. Jones- Vice President the only organizations exempt from Myles Stephenson Jr.- Secretary the fees. Use of the property is to ben- S. Robert White Jr.- Treasurer efit an enrolled tribal member or one of Shirley Davilla- Committee Member the organizations listed above. A tribal Karen Thompson- Committee Member member cannot rent the property for Gladys Walker- Committee Member someone else’s use. The building will not be rented to non-tribal members Charles Tippeconnic- Tribal Administrator or organizations not listed. There is a 1 President’s Report (cont.) checklist of items that the Tribe will use that position, I appeared in the United more options, make the program more in consideration as whether or not the States District Court, Western District welcoming, and to increase attendance, deposit will be returned. of Oklahoma, to attend the sentencing especially among Wichita tribal elders. This is a new building and the Tribe put of Robin Jean Bitseedy. Ms. Bitseedy She has already taken strict charge, as a lot of money into the renovations. We pled guilty of embezzlement and theft was her goal, and cleaned out inventory want our tribal members to get use out from an Indian Tribal Organization. I to prepare for her term. She loves her of the building. Tribal programs of- provided a statement on behalf of WCD posistion and is grateful for the oppor- ten pay other entities for rental of the Enterprises, Inc. We have included the tunity. building. The fee will help the Tribe be press release from the Department of Samuel (Alex) Riffel, Transportation able to make necessary repairs, etc. as Justice in this newsletter that explains Director, is the an enrolled tribal mem- needed. If you are interested in rent- the sentencing. WCD Enterprises, Inc. ber. He is the son of Vanessa Vance and ing the building then please contact has since taken steps to prevent these grandson of the late Inez Vance. He has Kay Ahtone at (405) 247-2425 ext. 100. types of things from happening in the a Bachelor’s Degree from OU and has Ms. Ahtone will make sure the date is future. been training diligently for this posi- available and then provide you with the Conclusion tion since his hire in late October. He application. Our people have suffered a lot of loss is proud to be able to work for his tribe Indian Health Services of life over this last year. We have lost and is finding the position enjoyable On December 18, 2014, the Intertribal several young tribal members. We con- and challenging. Health Board held a special meeting to tinue to strive to provide activities for Wamblee Smith, Air Quality Coordi- discuss the Purchased/Referred Care our youth to help insure that they know nator, is enrolled with the Spirit Lake formerly known as contract health. they have choices in the future and as Sioux. He has always been interested During our meeting, we were informed they face issues. Please continue to keep in the environment and how Mother that there was $13.7 million carry over our tribal members and Indian people Earth is affected by people. He previ- from FY-2014 in third party billing. in your prayers as we enter a new year. ously worked for the Nation The Health Board had been previously God bless each of you! EPA and volunteered for other environ- informed that the funds could not be New Employees mental programs. His goals are to mon- used for contract health. The Health itor and collect data, participate in and Board asked for a meeting with the Area The tribe has recently hired several new employees to fill positions at the com- provide air awareness outreach for all Director. We sat down and discussed ages, and grow with the program. our concerns at the December 11, 2014 plex. A quick introduction to this per- meeting and then met again on the 18th sonnel is provided. Angel Botone, Juvenile Services Assis- to come with a plan. On December 18, Mary Botone, Cell Tower Administrator, tant, is an enrolled tribal member from the Intertribal Health Board added a is an enrolled tribal member, and held the Hunt family, and daughter of Mary line item to the proposed spending plan this position with the Nation for Botone. She has always wanted to work that was initiated by the hospital. The 15 years before joining our team. She for the tribe and is grateful for the op- addition of this line item to the spend- plans to assist in developing a Cultural portunity. She loves children, enjoys ing plan will allow $2.4 million to be Preservation Department to go hand in building relationships with those in the utilized for Purchased/Referred Care. hand with her posisiton. She visits po- program, and provides a fun and safe This will allow more services to be ap- tential cell tower sites, with our jurisdic- environment. She loves the posistion. proved for health care for those seeking tion over KS, OK, and TX, to maintain Amber Luke, myself, Communications contract health due to services that are any potential historical preservation. Manager, am an enrolled tribal mem- not offered at Indian Health Services in Judy Onkoba, hired as AoA Director, ber, the daughter of Vanessa Vance and Lawton. is an enrolled member of the granddaughter of the late Inez Vance. WCD Enterprises, Inc. tribe, but a descendant of the Wichita I truly enjoy my position, as daunting On May 8, 2014, I was elected as Chair- tribe through her grandfather Myles as it may be. I have always wanted the man of WCD Enterprises, Inc. Prior to Stephenson. She has 20+ years of food opportunity to work for the tribe, and that, the board had not met on a regular service experience, her safe serveli- hope to find new ways, and boost those basis and over a period of years issues cense, and an AA in Business Man- in place to provide up-to-date, relevant arose at WCD Enterprises, Inc. On De- agement from Kaplan University. Her news for the tribe. I am thankful for the cember 9, 2014, as part of my duties in goals with this position are to provide opportunity to do so. 2 Health Programs

ONAEMSA Mini-Seminar The walkers/runners at the starting point in front On Tuesday, November 25, the Tribe of the community build- hosted a Mini-Seminar for the Okla- ing being led by Special homa Native American EMS Associ- Diabetes Program Director, ation (ONAEMSA) in the community Robin White. building. There were 35 participants, representing a number of entities that enjoyed the informative health, safety and emergency preparedness. Tiana Babb, of Lawton IHS, Walk Your Mocs gave an informative presentation on Enterovirus D68. Teresa Miller, PHN On Saturday, November 15, the and Director of Nursing of the Lawton Special Diabetes Program held a Oklahoma Service unit spoke on “Walk Your Mocs” event, for dia- Ebola. Rebecca Villa-Winsett, LERC, betes awareness and in honor of Caddo//Comanche/Cotton Rock Your Mocs Day. There was Counties Health Department. Spoke on emergency preparedness. a health fair to check blood pres- Claudia Spybuck, and tribal employees Kateri (Kay) sure, blood sugar levels, and BMI Ahtone, Debra Lonewolf, and Mary Botone of all interested parties. There was a one mile walk/run with partici- pants given the option to walk their mile in- side the community building if they chose, due to the weather. Snacks and a meal were provided as well as a plethora of door priz- es given to those in at- tendance. A moccasin Some of the moccasins that came in for the contest contest was also held, and those participants were given Pendleton Health Program employees Nasi Manduja- mugs, provided by the no and Fran Harrison in attendance at the program. seminar. Everyone in attendance enjoyed the event, and we would like to thank everyone that attended. We anticipate holding a similar event this year, considering the success and attendance at this Moccasin contest winners with their mugs. Pictured left to right, Christy Cogburn of the Diabetes Wellness Center at LIHS and function. daughter, SydneyPrince, Verna Jane Capes, and Charlene Harris. 3 Veteran’s Flag Raising Want to get the Newsletter by email? Please send an email to [email protected]. You will be able to receive the newslet- ter days ahead of the paper copy. You may also opt out of the paper copy if you wish.

You may also access it the day it comes out on www.wichtiatribe.com.

Address Updates Please send address updates to: Wichita and Affiliated Tribes Pendletons available in gift shop Attn: Enrollment $180 P.O. Box 729 Anadarko, OK 73005

On Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2014, the Wichita Service Club provided breakfast for local veterans. The flag was Former Office Manager to Serve Year in Prison and Pay Over $141,000 in raised that morning by Leslie Standing Restitution for Tribal Embezzlement and Gordon Whitewolf. Also pictured Robin Jean Bitseedy, 41, of Anadarko, In pleading guilty to the embezzlement, are Clifford Attadlety, Myles Oklahoma, was sentenced by Chief Bitseedy admitted that she used the Stephenson, and James Nelson. District Judge Vicki WCD Enterprises Walmart credit card Miles-LaGrange to serve twelve months for personal use without permission Wichita LIHEAP and one day in federal prison for em- and wrote checks to herself with forged The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes- LI bezzlement from the Wichita and Af- signatures. She admitted she used the HEAP program is now offering winter filiated, Caddo, and Delaware Tribes, money to purchase gift cards and items heating assistance to enrolled tribal announced Sanford C. Coats, United for family and pay the rent and bills for members. Applications may be picked States Attorney for the Western District her family. between 8am and 4pm at the Family & Children Services Building at the Tribal of Oklahoma. Bitseedy was also or- Complex.Priority will be given to tribal dered to pay $141,820.47 in restitution Bitseedy was charged by information on elders, the disabled and households with to the tribes. August 11, 2014, and pled guilty on Au- enrolled tribal children. The assistance gust 28, 2014. At sentencing hearing, will be on a first-come first-served basis. According to Court records, Bitseedy the Judge ordered Bitseedy to report Applicants must meet income guidelines worked as the Office Manager for Wich- to the Bureau of Prisons on January 9, to be eligible.Those who have received ita, Caddo, Delaware Enterprises, Inc. 2015, to begin serving her prison sen- LIHEAP assistance from another tribe (“WCD Enterprises”), a corporation tence. or the Department of Human Services organized by the Wichita and Affiliated, during the months of December 1st, 2013 Caddo, and Delaware Tribes. Bitseedy’s This case is the result of investigations through December 1st, 2014 are ineligible. For more information, contact the Social position gave her access to tribal funds conducted by the Bureau of Indian Af- Services Office at 247-2425 ext. 120. which she used to embezzle money fairs and was prosecuted by Assistant from Dec. 2007 through June 3, 2013. U.S. Attorney Rozia McKinney-Foster. 4 Community and Family News President Terri Parton and other tribal leaders met on November 14, 2014 at the Phillips Pavilion on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion. Tribal leaders had lunch with Governor Mary Fallin. Governor Fallin discussed the last four years of relations with the tribes, various compacts, and past meetings with tribal leaders. Governor Fallin then opened the floor for discussion with tribal leaders. The main topics of discussion were taxation, economic development of tribes, and how economic development pursuits by tribes benefit rural Oklahoma.

On Saturday, November 1, 2014, the Anadarko High School Academic Team competed in the Tulsa National Aca- demic Quiz Tournament. After hours of intense competition consisting of history, humanities, math, science, pop culture, ect., Anadarko High School successfully defeated all teams in it’s division and qualified for nationals in Atlanta, GA in April 2015. Team members include (left to right) JD Bell, Brandon Alley, Wichita tribal member Dylan Williams, Mr. Sims, Whitnie Holten, Andrew Stephens, and Richard Hunter. Dylan is a sophomore at Anadarko High School. He maintains a 3.8 GPA, is the Sophomore Class Co-President, Secretary of the Native American Club, is actively involved Tulsa QB Dane Evans is AAC Player of the Week in Student Council, the Academic Team and other organiza- On November 11, 2014, University of Tulsa quarterback tions. He is the son of Carissa & Tim Williams, the grandson Dane Evans was named the American Athletic Conference of the late Cheryl Davilla Vance and the great-grandson of Offensive Player of the Week. Shirley Davilla. Evans was selected after completing 16-of- 24 passes for 286 yards Tribal and five touchdowns member DJ in TU’s 38-28 win over Kauley with SMU on Saturday. Evans governor Fallin during a recent secu- completed 12 consec- rity detail. utive passes during the DJ is the game. son of Betty Kauley, the Dane is a decendant of grandson of the Wichita tribe. He is Shirley the son of Damon Ev- Davilla. ans, the grandson of Peggy Evans, and the Tribal Enrollment great-grandson of Doris As of 12/31/14 McLemore. 2,817 5 ReprintedRecovered with permission from the WichitaHistorical Eagle Site in Kansas LYONS He thinks In Gary what he and others Miller’s Rice find there next year County cow pas- might rewrite parts ture, miles from of American history. anywhere, there’s For centuries, a long depression Blakeslee said, we in the prairie grass and our ancestors that zig-zags along assumed that peo- the western slope ple using Stone Age of a ridge. tools were unre- It’s a faint markable. image, only inch- He has spent es deep. But in decades studying springtime, wild artifacts taken from onions grow in an the ground just egg-shaped circle north of the serpent. at one end. And Ancestors of the Wichita tribe cut this 160-foot-long image of a serpent into the sod of Rice County He says we’ve seri- in 1983, a scientist roughly 600 years ago. This photo was taken in the 1980s when an archaeologist poured biodegrad- ously cheated those named Clark Mal- able lime into the cut to highlight the shape. people of their place lam poured lime AT THE CORONADO QUIVIRA MUSEUM/COURTESY OF THE CORONADO QUIVIRA in history. into the zig-zag showed up on the continent, this place Before small- and had an airplane fly over to take a was sacred and was thickly populated pox destroyed American Indian pop- photo. The yellow lime contrasted with with daring, artistic people mostly now ulations, they built complex villages, the pasture grass and revealed the im- lost to history. more populous than most Kansas towns age of a serpent, 160 feet long, jaws clos- The story that goes with the ser- today. The serpent shows that they cre- ing around an egg. pent has been lost for 600 years. Donald ated a powerful mythology that no Before Columbus and smallpox Blakeslee plans to go find it. doubt motivated people for hundreds of An underestimated people miles around, Blakeslee said. The serpent is roughly 600 They made musical instru- years old, a work of art cut into the ments, decorated themselves with tat- sod by the Quivirans, ancestors to the toos and walked hundreds of miles to Wichita. Blakeslee, an anthropologist lug home brightly colored stones to be and archaeologist, teaches at Wichi- made into arrowheads, jewelry, tobacco ta State University. Many years of digs pipes and hammer heads that looked turned him into an expert on the . Two miles north of the serpent are the remains of a string of Quiviran towns Coronado visited on his 1541 historic trek into what is now Kansas. Coronado came looking for gold, and A pink sledgehammer head, hand-crafted from left disgusted when he found none. heavy and hard Dakota Quartzite, and used by ancestors of the Wichita tribe in Rice County There are remains of big coun- to break up butchered bison bones for cooking cil lodges and another sacred place – a to obtain the nutritios marrow. To obtain the spring alongside a rock outcropping Handcarved grain milling stones of the an- stone, artisans would hike nearly 200 miles to alongside a creek. Bare earth, springs cestral Wichitas. The long stone is the metate, northeast Kansas and hunt for it among debris and rock outcroppings were considered where unmilled corn would be placed. A Wich- left hundreds of thousands of years ago by gla- ita miller would grind the mano, smaller stone, ciers. In the collection at the Quivara portals to the underworld by Plains In- over the corn turning it to flour. Museum, Lyons, KS--Roy Wenzl, W, Eagle dians, Blakeslee said. Roy Wenzl/ The Wichita Eagle 6 Recovered Historical Site (cont.) like works of art. ple even today is that people using stone In search of gold The biggest surprise of all, tools were savages,” Blakeslee said. “But Francisco Coronado came Blakeslee said, is the one he hopes to that’s not what the artifacts show.” north from Mexico to get rich. prove: that the Quivirans, ancestors to When Blakeslee invited leaders For the Spanish king, Corona- the surviving members of the Wichita of the Wichita tribe to see the serpent in do claimed the Grand Canyon and the tribe, turned trained dogs into pack an- May, they noticed the peace and quiet, Colorado River. imals and with them created a long-dis- breezes blowing, the song of In tance trading network, bigger than meadowlarks. There was sage what is now we’ve ever imagined, with the Pueblo growing there; the Wichita , Indians near Santa Fe. They established have burned sage for centu- when Indians foot-path trade routes 550 miles long to ries in cleansing rituals. resisted them, swap buffalo hides for cotton cloth and Terri Parton, presi- the Spaniards jewelry. dent of the Wichita and Af- marched in Trade network filiated Tribes, was surprised with swords Blakeslee and archaeologist to learn that her people once drawn. Scott Ortman of the University of Col- numbered in the tens of thou- orado plan expeditions in Kansas and sands in what is now Kansas Coronado’s New Mexico next year that will in- before Columbus arrived in soldiers took volve digging, dozens of volunteers, the Americas. Donald Blakeslee examines a cooking prisoner a DNA analysis of Indian dog remains, Perhaps ten thou- pot found in the archaelogical digs in Plains Indian ground-penetrating radar, linguists and sand were living north of the Rice County. The handcrafted pot was visiting the money from Wichita State, the National serpent. Another 20,000 were made by ancestors of the Wichita tribe. Pueblos. They Geographic Society and other sources. living around what is now At the Coronado Quivara Museum nicknamed Blakeslee even plans to deploy Arkansas City. ThousandsRoy Wenzl/ The Wichita Eagle him “the a thermal-imaging camera hung from a more lived near what is now Augusta, Turk.” The Turk told the Spaniards his motorized parachute to hover over lost Blakeslee said. people were rich and told Coronado a towns of the Wichita ancestors. When Blakeslee drove Parton story about a huge river and big towns. “Coronado was Kansas’ first and other tribe members along the The Spaniards thought he’d disappointed tourist,” Blakeslee said. eastern edge of the six miles of ancient help them find gold. They told the Turk The Spanish shortchanged settlement near the Arkansas City area, to lead the way. the Quivirans, he said. So has history so “they all got real quiet.” Blakeslee says the Turk was far, he said. “Standing there, trying to imag- a Wichita Indian. The Turk, probably “The assumption of many peo- ine 2,000 grass houses, trying to imag- trying to spare friends in what is now ine that many of our people there – that Kansas from meeting this armed gang, was amazing,” Parton said. led Coronado’s army straight east across What the scientists will hunt , Blakeslee said. for, in Kansas and in New Mexico, But after Coronado lost trust will be evidence of a big trade network in him, he was put in chains, and the crossing hundreds of miles, from the Spaniards followed another Wichita serpent in Kansas to the Pueblo Indian guide, all the way from Texas to Kansas. tribes of New Mexico. When they got to the headwaters of to- Blakeslee thinks the Quivirans day’s Little , they found created all this before Columbus, with soil that was black and rich. There no horses, no wagons, no wheels and no were springs and pools of clean water. pack animals except dogs. Springs, bare earth, springs and rock The people who created all this, outcroppings were considered portals he said, raised children, loved art, and to the underworld by Plains Indians, Terri was deeply moved when she found sage thought that eagles and hawks were sa- he said. And in that place, a few miles growing near the serpent in Rice County, say- cred because when they flew in spirals northeast of what is now the town of ing that some Wichitas still burn sage in cleans- ing ceremonies. She wondered if it was planted upward, they took prayers with them to Lyons, Coronado found a string of big there for cermonial use near the serpent. the top of the sky and beyond. towns, with big beehive-shaped grass 7 Recovered Historical Site (cont.) lodges. Coronado called the region They could have made arrow- built hundreds of years ago. Quivira. heads out of any flint but often sent To create the network Blakeslee He saw Indians raising corn, craftsmen on foot 330 miles, to what believes existed, the Plains people pumpkin, sunflowers and beans. Mil- is now the Texas Panhandle, to fash- would have had to cross dry plains and lions of bison grazed nearby. By any ion arrowheads of gor- standard, the Quivirans were wealthy – geous-looking and multi- farmers and skilled hunters so resource- colored Alibates flint they ful that they were multiplying rapidly, quarried there. thousands of them in the pre-smallpox They smoked to- centuries. bacco in little stone pipes, If he had not been so fixated on hand-carved from fine- finding gold, perhaps Coronado would grained and velvety red have given them more credit, Blakeslee pipestone. To get pipe- said. But Coronado found no gold. stone, their foragers walked So he erected a Christian cross 175 to 200 miles to glacial and ordered his soldiers south, to Mex- deposits in northeast Kan- ico. And he told his men to strangle the sas. An arrow point of Alibates flint, still razor sharp and deadly after hundreds of years, found in the digs in Rice County. Turk. From there, they Roy Wenzl/ The Wichita Eagle Made their mark also carried home heavy The lost serpent people left their mark hunks of hard pink Dakota quartzite drier deserts in large numbers, carry- in place names. and carved them into artistically shaped ing many pounds of goods on A-frame pink sledgehammer heads. Stone travois harnessed to the backs of dogs. Wichita – our city, their tribe. Age people didn’t expend enormous Bison hides are thick and amounts of energy such as those hikes heavy, so this would have been quite Quivira – the name of a National Wild- required unless their entire community a trick. “But if they had 50 or so dogs, life Refuge and a Boy Scout chapter. appreciated art, Blakeslee said. they could have done it,” Ortman said. They turned bison ribs into Burdened heavily, they would Waco – the name of a tribe and a Wich- musical instruments, making cuts have crossed rivers and mountain pass- ita traffic artery. across the width of the bone. Those cuts es, hunting and gathering food along turned the rib into a rasp. They would the way to keep themselves and the Kechi – an affiliated Wichita tribe and a hold a rasp across the mouth of a pot- dogs alive. It would have taken months local town. tery cooking pot and run a stick over to travel one way. the rasp. The echo-chamber grunt that In New Mexico among the – another affiliated tribe and this produced mimicked the guttural Pueblos, Blakeslee said, they probably the name of roads in Benton and Au- snort of a bison bull. traded for cotton, obsidian, turquoise gusta. Stories disappeared and glazed pottery that they then car- They left behind thousands of Historians have long known ried back, 550 miles, to those bee- tools, weapons, tobacco pipes and goods there was some trade between people hive-shaped lodges they lived in just at what are now Arkansas City, Augusta, from the Little Arkansas River headwa- north of the serpent. Waconda Lake and at a site north of the ters and those of the near The reason these stories dis- serpent called the Tobias site. Hundreds Santa Fe. Blakeslee and Ortman hope to appeared, Blakeslee said, is that small- of artifacts from there can be seen on prove it was much bigger than histori- pox and conquest nearly destroyed the display at the Coronado Quivira Muse- ans have realized. Plains tribes in the centuries after Co- um in Lyons. Blakeslee said those tools Archaeologists decades ago lumbus. Untold numbers died, prob- hint at a vast, compelling and mostly found bits of New Mexico turquoise, ably a million or more across North lost story of art and trade, religion and obsidian (volcanic glass) and Pueblo America. daring. Indian pottery at the Tobias site, now a When settlers began crossing They tattooed each other, using hayfield two miles north of the serpent. the Kansas prairie in the 1840s, they bone needles to draw images on their Blakeslee walked out there recently and found a landscape mostly empty except faces, embedding long lines of decora- pointed to a number of shallow depres- for an occasional war party or village or tive dots onto their arms. sions, indications of houses and lodges an occasional Indian begging for coffee, 8 Recovered Historical Site (cont.) tobacco or food. bushels of corn. And they said when the a serpent. Telling their history trader comes to town, the locals proba- In the , Blakeslee said, You can see outlines of the bly give more than his goods are worth, the word for “flint” and for “meteor” is great, lost story in the archaeological to encourage the record, Ortman said: In Kansas, pieces relationship.” of glazed pottery made near Santa Fe. You don’t Obsidian glass from the Jemez Moun- do any of those tains. things, or carve a “And in New Mexico you see giant serpent into it in the form of stone tools from the the prairie, un- Plains that show up in New Mexico. “In less you’re part of some of the Rio Grande sites, there are a rich and vibrant traces of a strong ramping-up of inter- culture, Blakeslee action.” said. Ortman believes the Pueb- “Their los and the Quivira ramped up trade, stories died with mostly Plains buffalo hides for Pueblo them, and so the cotton, starting in the 1400s. While Or- people who made tman is digging next year in New Mexi- the serpent and Members of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes visited the serpent site and co to find links to Kansas, Blakeslee will everything that Coronado Quivara Musem. Left to right, Gary McAdams, Mary Botone, Pricilla Zadoka, and tribal president Terri Parton. be digging in Kansas looking for links went with it, those to New Mexico. stories were lost, Ortman has asked the Pueblos and the people who built it all are name- the same. Flint was precious. what they know. They do not recall any less and unknown to us,” Blakeslee said. So it might not be an egg the traditions of extensive trade, Ortman “The story is that they didn’t record serpent is swallowing, Blakeslee said. said. But they did suggest that “trade” anything. But in fact they did record It might be a ball of fire the serpent is probably wasn’t what happened. things, in the things they left behind. coughing up as Morningstar fights to “They said it was likely more “What I do is find what they left get free. like gift-giving and not trade,” Ortman behind and tell what it shows – and in The serpent can still stir the said. “They said that in the Pueblo com- doing that, I can give voice to all those emotions of the Wichita. munities today, most exchanges are gifts who were nameless.” Gary McAdams, the former rather than monetary exchange, where Creation legend tribe president who saw the serpent people trade three blankets for two Most spiritual history of the site with Parton and Blakeslee in May, Wichita died with their wrote a note to the rest of the tribe af- ancestors. But among ter he came home to Anadarko, OK. their friends and linguis- “Standing there, you can see for miles,” tic cousins the Pawnee, he wrote. there are stories about the “There is a profusion of seeps spirit world. And there and springs which seem to flow from is a creation legend that the base of every sandstone bluff to feed Blakeslee says gives a the Little Arkansas River and its many hint of what that serpent tributaries and which watered the gar- might have meant: dens of the thousands of Wichitas who Morningstar wanted to made this their homes for hundreds of meet Eveningstar, whom years. he loved. So he crossed “Standing there, serenaded by the sky on a long and the songs of the meadowlark and other Tools made from bison bone hundreds of years ago by ancestors of the Wichita Tribe. The ones with cuts are rasps, a musical instru- dangerous journey. On grassland birds, all seems right with the ment. The user would place a rasp over the rim of a cooking pot, the way, he met with ad- w or l d .” running a wooden rod over it, mimicking the grunt of a bison bull. ventures and dangers. In Roy Wenzl/ The Wichita Eagle one, he was swallowed by 9 Sydney at the Tribal Nations Conference by Sydney Prince kept this quote in information he presented that day. mind during my Throughout the week we had stay in D.C., be- the opportunity to be featured in MTV’s cause by being a series called Rebel Music. In each series Native American MTV picks a group of people from dif- youth ambassador ferent backgrounds and lets them tell I was changing his- their stories for it can be heard around tory and I want the the nation. The series they are currently future generations working on is Native America. In many to be inspired to places around the world people still take part in sim- believe Indians are like the stereotypes ilar groups that in the Wild West. In this series Native can change the American youth tell and define what world. As I gazed Native Americans are today. During upon numerous the conference MTV focused on three monuments, I no- youth ambassadors that are trying to ticed they all had make a difference in their communi- Between December 1 and De- quotes from fa- ty. They recorded our breakout session cember 3, I was selected to be a Youth mous people regarding the subject that where we discussed the problems in our Ambassador at the 2014 White House monuments symbolized. Many of these communities and what we proposed to Tribal Nations Conference. During this quotes’ themes regarded courage, unity, do to impact the problems. duration of time, I had the opportunity and independence, without our nation Some of the problems among to meet inspirational figures that gave uniting into one, all of the youth ambassadors useful ad- many of the obsta- vice that we could apply to our commu- cles would not have nities, and to our futures. Being able to been overcome. meet new people from different back- One of our grounds opened my eyes to the prob- goals of this trip lems we are facing in Indian country. was to network with Many of the problems our nations are others. The point of facing need immediate solutions. Being networking was to able to be a part of the Youth Ambassa- be able to work to- dors was life changing, we were able to gether throughout experience the Washington D.C. atmo- our lives and im- For more information on this series, visit sphere, and we also were able to be the pact our communi- www.rebelmusic.com/#!music/rebel-music/episode/native-america voice of American Indian youth. ties. We were able During the first day, the chap- to meet youth ambassadors and other Native American youth are suicide, erones and youth ambassadors were influential figures through the events. drugs and alcohol abuse, and academic able to see the historic monuments. The On Monday we went to a lunch where failure. A statistic that stood out for me symbolic meaning of these monuments we got to meet Marcus Brownrigg. He was, out of three Native Americans, one filled everyone with emotions; we felt is the senior advisor for Pathways and will commit suicide. Some of the fac- what sacrifice that was given for us to acting deputy director, center for faith tors contributing to suicide is the per- live our daily lives. As we went down based and neighborhood partnerships son’s home life. Many Native Americans the elevator in the George Washington office of the secretary. During his pre- struggle with drug and alcohol abuse. Monument and saw the carved images sentation he told us about job opportu- Several adults will choose drugs and within the walls, the guide said, “When nities ranging from internships to the alcohol over their children. By having the people formed this monument they Presidential Management Fellows Pro- such a high demand for these negative were thinking about you, your future gram. He also gave us tips for writing items, is often a contributing factor to children and your great grandchildren. our resumes for these positions. I found families facing poverty. Due to the lack These images are telling the history of this information extremely useful and of responsibility among their parents where every American came from.” I was ecstatic to be given a copy of all the Native American youth have to take 10 Sydney at the TNC (cont.) care of their families. Due to these bur- of Native Americans in the future. If Leaders were sad and others were just dens Native American youth often turn they were not aware of problems accu- angry. As they pointed fingers, and told to negative alternatives to ease their mulating they told individuals to talk officials they were not doing everything pain. This includes using drugs and al- to them after the conference, or would they could do to help they told them cohol. Peer pressure often causes youth give them a number they could contact there is going to be a time soon when to do negative things like going to par- them with to fix these problems. Even Native Americans are going to stand up ties instead of doing their homework. though we had these great government for themselves and not take this abuse According to Richard Germaine 25% officials that wanted to change the neg- any longer. of Native Americans drop out of high ative aspects that were hurting Native Even though tribal leaders told schools, and even less Native American Americans, we also had officials that these horrific problems within their youth graduate from college. Due to all did not care about the conference. As communities, there still seemed to be these negative possibilities Native stu- some Native American speakers were no solution to any problems. All the dent often turn to suicide, because they pouring their heart out to them, oth- government officials seemed to say in believe it’s their only way out. As youth er officials were checking their phones beautifully scripted phrases is there is ambassadors we wanted to change these or talking among each other. Having no solution for any of the problems cur- statistics by forming groups within our these officials do such demonstrat- rently, but they would try to help in the communities. One of the youth ambas- ed their unwillingness to listen to our future. A particular woman even said sadors named Dahkota formed a group problems and made me question them we should use our creativity and our called “NERDS” during his 8th grade being there. Having people there that treaties to deal with our problems rath- year and is still a part of it today. This would not cooperate and were only er than have laws. I believe we cannot group is supposed go back to our treaties to help students because the majority of who are failing, them are broken, insuffi- but have potential cient, and outdated. I do to pass their class- not think this response es. He formed this was sufficient enough. group, because We have nations dying his teammates on out due to this lack of the football team help; we need help today, were failing and not tomorrow today! were not able to This trip has opened play in the games. my eyes to the problems He thought maybe Native Americans are if his teammates facing today. Without had a little bit of this trip I would not have help and support had the opportunity to they would be to meet other individuals succeed in school. that want to change their Through NERDS, communities too. This Dahkota was able conference has offered to make a difference in his community. there for a title was frustrating. networking, job opportunities, insight, During this conference we had oppor- Some Tribal leaders were open and lifelong friends. Since this confer- tunity to converse with each other share minded to the government and were ence has helped me grow as a leader in community issues and ideas for solu- willing to wait to work with the gov- only three days, I would love to be con- tions. ernment. Others were hanging on by a sidered to go to a similar conference in Some of these government of- thread, and were begging the govern- the future. ficials seemed shocked about the strug- ment to help or else they would have gles Native American people are still to take matters into their own hand to ----Syndey is a former Wichita Tribal going through. They told us they were help their people. People are dying and Princess and the current American currently working on projects that do not have time to get proposals ap- Indian Exposition Princess. would hopefully alleviate the struggles proved, they need solutions now! Some 11 Fitness Center Updates

Fitness Center Stay Connected Mobile APP Now Available in your APP Market The Fitness Center is open to the com- We are always looking for new ways The tribe now has a customized mo- munity to help promote physical ac- to get the latest, up-to-date news to bile app, that is available for FREE in tivity. We are committed to health and our tribal members. Utilizing so- the Google Play and iTunes stores wellness of native people. cial me- that allow you to download to your There is a Fitness Specialist on staff to dia is one smartphone. This app allows you assist with the equipment, check your of those to receive updates from the tribe BMI, help develop a fitness plan or weight loss plan, and educate on Diabe- t o o l s . without having to check one of the tes or other health issues. Please fol- previously mentioned social media low us on streams. Elder Exercise Program: 8:30-9:30am Facebook This easy to navigate application can After School Program: 3:30-5:00pm Find us as for news, be found by searching for “Wichita Chair Exercises for Elders: Wichita and Affiliated Tribes informa- and Affiliated Tribes” or by scan- Tuesday and Thursday after the meal in on FaceBook for the official tion, and ning the QR code below with your the AoA building communication pictures phone’s QR reader. of events and pertinent tribal mem- This allows for instant updates re- The fitness center is now equipped with ber activity. You can also find us on garding closings, changes to policy, RFID scanning capabilities. Interested Twitter. These social media streams, meeting notices, etc. It links to the parties may come in and be set up with an individualized tracking tag that can in addition to the website www. WordPress blog, Facebook, Twitter, assist in tracking your attendance in the wichitatribe.com, which is undergo- and website, features a sampling of facility, weight, lab results, BMI and re- ing constant changes, will allow you Wichita language in the linked dic- lated statistics. This is a new tool that to be in communication with the tionary, directory of tribal programs members can utilize to monitor perfor- tribe on a consistent basis. mance. Come in and get yours today. For more information, contact Robin White, (405) 247-2425.ext. 160.

Our Twitter name is Wichita Tribe. Follow this stream for more news and Scan this code with your phone’s QR information. reader to download the app to your device easily.

with contact info, allows for two way Hours of Operation messaging, and even photos of the gift shop items with in-app purchase Monday-Thursday 8:00am-7:00pm availability soon to come. There will Friday 8:00 am-5:00pm be uploaded videos and photos reg- ularly. Download today to stay in constant Come in and get fit for the New Year! contact!

12 Current Events

CASINO JOB POSTINGS

Bartender Maintenance/Shuttle Lead Cage Cashier/Supervisor Part Time Cook Cage Cashier Sugar Creek Casino is now accepting applications for the above positions.

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

All applications must be submitted to the Sagar Creek Casino’s Human Resources Department by the above date and time. Please see the job description for requirements. Wichita & Affiliated Tribal member and Indian preference considered. Applications may be faxed to (405) 542-2949 or mailed to Sugar Creek Casino, 5304 N Broadway, Hinton, OK 73047

13 Vacancy Announcements

WCDC JOB BANK APPLICATIONS Wichita Tribe Sports Commission Inspectors Wichita Child Development Center (WCDC) will be The Wichita Tribe Sports Commmission has immediate collecting applications for the center’s job bank for on-call/ openings for both male and female inspectors for the boxing substitue/future positions: and MMA events at Sugar Creek Casino in Hinton, OK. - Teachers with Bachelors in Early Childhood Duties include monitoring fighters and seconds, both pre- - Teachers with Associates in Early Childhood fight and during the event to ensiure the safety of the fighters - Teachers with CDA/CCP (or willing to obtain within and ensure strict adherence to the rules and 18 monts of hire) regulations set forth by the commission. No experience is - Teacher Assistants, willing to obtain required training/ necessary. All inspectors will obtain training and certification certifications by the commission. Applicants must be available on Fridays - Cook with food handler’s permit (or be willing to obtain and Saturdays to be considered. Applicants must be willing within one month) to submit to a background investigation and drug test. Interested parties may obtain an application at the All positions must possess a valid Oklahoma Driver’s Administration Building at the Wichita Tribe Complex License and have adequate transportation. These positions located 1.25 miles North of Anadarko on Hwy 281. Indian require a successful background check and drug screening. preference applies. Closing date is January 31, 2015, however Salary is contingent upon education and experience. the commission will continue to take applications for future Application acceptance is on-going. events. If you have any questions, please contact Commissioner Matt Roberson at (405) 623-4191. Please submit application, cover letter, and resume to:

Wichita and Affiliated Tribes Tribal members are encouraged to apply. Attn: Human Resources P.O. Box 729 Anadarko, OK 73005 Phone: (405) 247-2425 Fax: (405) 247-2430 Commissioner Vacancies

The following commisssion will have 3 vacancies on 1/31/15: Commissioner Vacancy Wichita Tribe Sports Commission The following Commission currently has one vacancy: If you are interested in serving on this Commission, Wichita Tribe Industrial Development Commission then please submit a cover letter and resume to the address below. The vacancies will remain open until If you are interested in serving on this Commission, filled. please submit a cover letter and resume to the address below. The vacancy will remain open until filled. Current Commissioners may submit letters to be reappointed. Wichita and Affiliated Tribes Attn: Secretary Wichita and Affiliated Tribes P.O. Box 729 Attn: Secretary Anadarko, OK 73005 P.O. Box 729 Fax: (405) 247-2430 Anadarko, OK 73005 Fax: (405) 247-2430

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