Shared History: Mission Church, Land Returned to Tribe Pages 4 - 6
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Turtle Speaks Gyah’-Wish Atak-iaA Wyandotte Nation Publication Volume 23, Issue 4 www.wyandotte-nation.org November 2019 Shared History: Mission Church, land returned to Tribe PAGES 4 - 6 Gyah’-wish Atak-ia is published quarterly for Tribal Citizens by the Wyandotte Nation at its Inside: headquarters in Wyandotte, Okla. • 30th Annual Wyandotte Nation Pow-Wow The Wyandotte Nation (918) 678-2297 • 'Gathering' sets more attendance records 64700 E Hwy 60 (800) 256-2539 • Scarecrow Run helps raise awareness Wyandotte, OK 74370 Fax (918) 678-2944 (C) Copyright 2019. All information, photographs, and other materials are copyrighted, and may not be reproduced without prior written consent of the Wyandotte Nation. Page 2 Wyandotte Nation / Gyah'-wish Atak-ia November 2019 Board of Directors From the Chief Billy Friend Chief .........................................Billy Friend Second Chief ...........Norman Hildebrand, Jr. Councilperson ........................Ramona Reid Councilperson ............................Vivian Fink Councilperson ...............Juanita McQuistion Councilperson ...........................Eric Lofland State of the Nation State of the Nation Address 2019 traditions such as this Annual Meeting. kinds of options, many tasks still need Content (Speech given Sept. 14 at the An- As our ancestors put us on the road to be accomplished and many victories nual Meeting): to being the great nation of people we are yet to be won! The Wyandotte Good morning! It is a great day in the are today; so we owe them a debt of Nation has accomplished much, but we CALENDAR ........................................... 3 Wyandotte Nation! A great day to be gratitude. Their foresight and desire to still have a lot to do, a lot ahead of us FEATURE: Shared History............... 4-5 Wyandotte! This is a day we celebrate make the future better have enabled us that we need to take on. Scarecrow Run & Proclamation .......... 6 all that makes our nation and our to grow and prosper. As we celebrate It’s my privilege and honor to serve Breaking Ground ................................... 7 people strong. It has been a wonderful our remarkable achievements, let us as your Chief. FEATURE: Gathering ....................... 8-9 week, a great week in the Wyandotte also celebrate those who came before I appreciate the support you’ve given 30th Annual Pow-Wow ................ 10-11 Nation! Our people have connected, us and made it possible for me to report me, and with your continued support, I Chili Feed raises money ......................12 reconnected, laughed and celebrated. It to you that the state of the Wyandotte look forward to continuing to serve you Community News ...............................13 is truly a great day to be Wyandotte! Nation has never been better! as we work towards the betterment of Tribal Department Reports .......... 14-19 Wyandotte people have always We have had another great year. The the Wyandotte Nation and its people Important Numbers ............................18 benefited from the foresight of our State of the Nation is still strong. This for many years to come. New Tribal Citizen Enrollment .........20 ancestors, we have added to and built is because we all pull together, and Ladies and gentleman, as you have upon that foresight to become the great we make it happen together. We are seen and heard this morning, the state Editor/Design: William Swaim nation that we are today! family. We have a common bond that of the Wyandotte Nation is strong and Cover Photo: Without the dedication of our ances- connects us, a heritage that binds us getting stronger. The procession tors to make sure the Wyandotte Na- and a culture that keeps us thriving. Each one of you, all of you, are impor- to the Mission tion continued to exist and to grow, we Each citizen, every citizen, of our tribe tant in our continued story – one that Church would likely not be meeting here today plays an important role, as does every has no end, one that we will pass to our to review our accomplishments. tribal employee and all the people who children and their children after them. Photo: William It is that spirit of our forefathers are committed to the success of the Wy- We are a strong Nation…Let's Swaim which continues to fire our souls to this andotte Nation. We have many things celebrate that strength today. May God very day. And it is in that spirit that to celebrate today. We also have many bless you and may God continue to we continue the traditions of the past, things that keep us striving toward all bless the Wyandotte Nation. Contact Us Submit a story idea or your latest news and photos. To submit, email William Swaim at [email protected] or call From the Second Chief Norman Hildebrand, Jr. (918) 932-4778. Looking for Elders, Veterans for 'Kill the Indian, save the man' Feature Stories We are looking for tribal citizens to Kweh, There has been a lot of discussion feature in upcoming issues, whether you The weather here in Oklahoma has the last few years about the Indian that had been established by the live in the Oklahoma area or some far off finally broke and we are experiencing Boarding School that was located here Quakers at what is now Wyandotte, distant land, we want to hear your story! some really nice temperatures. Fall in Wyandotte, Okla. Okla. The children stayed at the is here and I cannot wait to see what “Kill the Indian, save the man” was school and were allowed to go home Have News? kind of winter that is on the horizon. the motto of Capt. Richard Henry each six weeks and to stay from Fri- In September, I had the pleasure of Pratt, the most prominent Indian Share it day to Sunday, only if their families experiencing history in Upper San- educator of the late 1800s. Progressive could afford to get them. A lot of the We want to hear from you! Send us dusky, Ohio where our last federally reformers like Pratt believed it was children ran away only to be caught news or stories you may have or suggest recognized reservation was located. essential to get Indian children away and returned. Jerry Hubbard was in features for us to work on. Global Ministries signed over the Old from their families and nations in charge of the school, they had good Email: [email protected] Mission Methodist Church to the Wy- order to prevent parents from raising teachers, who although strict, were andotte Nation. Anytime you can get a children in their own cultures. Reform- good to the children. They had very piece of an original reservation that you ers founded boarding schools where poor clothing, food and quarters as were forced to leave 175 years ago, and children could be isolated from Indian they would be judged to today’s stan- not have to pay for it, is monumental. languages, values and traditions. dards, but they were feeding, clothing It was an honor along with many of Cultural erasure was the stated goal. and teaching them at no expense to www.facebook.com/WyandotteNation our Wyandotte citizens to experience At that time there was no school in history in the making. this area except the mission school See SECOND CHIEF, Page 3 November 2019 www.wyandotte-nation.org Page 3 UPCOMING EVENTS 2019 ELDER THANKSGIVING CHILDRENS CHRISTMAS PARTY ELDER CHRISTMAS NOV. Dec. Dec. 14 14 19 11:30 AM 1O AM 11:30 AM - 1 PM - NOON - 1 PM 2020 TOWN HALL MeetINGS GATHERING OF LIttLE TURTLES FIREWORKS CELebRATION! MARCH JUNE JULY TBD / APRIL 26 - 28 TBD THE GATHERING 31ST ANNUAL POW-WOW ANNUAL MeetING SEPT. SEPT. SEPT. 9 - 11 11 - 13 12 10 AM ALL EVENTS IN WYANDOtte, OKLA. UNLESS OTHERWISE NOteD Second Chief Continued from Page 2 tresses, coarse blankets and no sheets. tubs of bread and as a boy moved up Their clothes were grey uniforms with their parents on what the school re- Breakfast consisted of boiled beef, to the peg in front of the tub one of the red stripes and the girls received blue ceived from the Federal Government. gravy, light bread and weak coffee. women would say “with or without”, flannel dresses. Conditions at boarding The boys had red duck pants put For dinner it was cornbread, beans, and if he said “with” he was given two schools changed somewhat when the together with rivets, hickory shirts of gravy and water. For supper there slices of the light bread put together Government either took them over or blue and white, brogan shoes, common was two tubs, one filled with sliced with molasses and if he said without started them themselves but the hard black hats, no socks and no underwear. light bread, in the other tub was two he was handed two slices of dry bread, truth is they still tried to “Kill the The girls wore blue denim all made slices put together with New Orleans and then they would proceed to the Indian, save the man.” alike with course canton flannel under- molasses and there were rows of pegs pump to get water and that was their As one well known Indian Leader wear, heavy shoes and the little girls about 2 feet apart, each boy took their supper. once said; “Let us put our minds to- had copper toes on their shoes. The place at the pegs with the larger boys In the early 1880s the Government gether and see what life we can make sleeping room or dorm, as you would in front and these led up to where took over the school and then they had for our children.” --Chief Sitting Bull say today was without fire, hard mat- two women were in charge of the two plenty to eat, good clothes and sheets.