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The Otoe-Missouria Tribal Newsletter VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1 • COVID 19 EDITION THE OTOE-MISSOURIA TRIBAL NEWSLETTER Shuttered Businesses Mean Less Funding for Assistance; Per Capita Payments By Courtney Burgess, are all funded by revenue from April 1st. The Otoe-Missouria Tribal Treasurer our tribal businesses. Tribe is fortunate enough to I hope you and your families Additionally, many of our be able to provide this aid dur- are staying safe and doing well programs are supplemented ing this time. during this challenging time. by the revenue in our Gen- Per Capita payments are Dear Otoe-Missouria It has been hard for all of us, eral Fund to help meet short- also stimulated by the revenue and even harder for some of falls that the program’s grant from our casinos. With the ca- Tribal Members, us who have been affected by doesn’t cover or as a required sinos being closed, per capita I hope that this correspon- COVID-19. match to the grant. payments may not be as high dence finds you and your loved The Tribal Council has taken A significant portion of our as you normally receive. How- have been working very hard ones in good health. Like the all precautions to keep tribal General Fund goes to fund ever, this all depends on when to keep our children’s money rest of the world, we have deal- members, children, employees our Tribal Assistance Program we reopen our casinos. safe. ing with the effects of the Co- and visitors safe. The Tribal (TAP). TAP is funded EN- The minor’s per capita in- We are currently practicing vid-19 Virus. It has been a very Complex has been closed TIRELY from our business vestments have not had a loss social distancing and other trying time for the Otoe-Mis- since March 18. We have been revenue. Without the revenue on the original investment. recommendation per the CDC souria Tribe. Through these un- We have two accounts based in the office. Please bear with operating remotely when pos- coming in from our tribal precedented times; the Council, businesses, the assistance is on the age of the minor. Our us at this time and allow a few sible and with essential staff Tribal Administration, and Tribal not there to provide what we 15-year-old to 17-year-old ac- extra days for mail to be de- to meet the needs of opera- Businesses have been working to normally do. count is invested very conser- livered. There is a higher de- tion while maintaining social provide essential services to the At this time, the Tribal vative, so those minors should mand in mail service during distancing guidelines. tribe and community, while at the Council has decided to tem- not have a loss before turning this time. In addition to our complex same time following the safety porarily suspend tribal loans, eighteen. During my consulta- Check our website and Face- being closed, our casinos have precautions provided by various school reimbursement, home tion with Morgan Stanley last book page for updates about been closed during this time federal government agencies and repairs and homebuyer’s as- week, they confirmed that services available. as well. Our casinos generate healthcare professionals. sistance so that we are able there was no loss of original Please stay safe, wear your Right now, for the safety of our revenue to fund our tribal gov- to have enough funding for investment in either account, mask, wash your hands and members and employees, most ernment and Tribal Assistance the Extraordinary Assistance, with only our gains falling. In keep social distancing. Several of the Otoe-Missouria Tribal Programs. Elder Assistance and Medical other words, all the money tribal members have battled Departments are closed until we Our tribal government uses Benefit Cards for this fiscal that was originally invested this disease and we have lost are told it is safe to return by the our business revenue to fund quarter. into your minor’s account, is several as well. Please keep our proper authorities that are pro- programs that are not cur- The Extraordinary Assis- still there and has not been mourners in your thoughts. I viding guidance on the situation. rently funded by a grant—for tance, Elder Assistance and lost. The only loss was from pray for you and your fami- Only essential personnel such as example, the after-school pro- Health Benefit are funded the interest earned. Morgan lies during this time. May you Law Enforcement, Finance, and gram, maintenance depart- through the second quarter. Stanley works with 29 tribes all stay safe and healthy. God a few other limited staff are on ment and language program The second quarter began in 13 different states and they Bless! the campus on a daily basis. Like all other tribal and non-tribal gaming facilities, we have tempo- Tribal Council Member Recovers from COVID-19 rarily closed all our casinos. The Greetings to all! tribal convenience stores are still I pray that you and yours are doing well during this COVID-19 pandemic. I ask that you take all precautions to help protect not only you but your loved ones currently open to provide essen- as you go out and get your groceries, medications, and go to your doctor appointments. Continue to wash your hands and wear masks when you are out in public. tial services to the community. This virus does not discriminate, and anybody can get it. 7C Land and Cattle Restaurant As many of you may already know, I tested positive for COVID-19 on March 24, 2020 after 2 weeks of feeling bad. I had a doctor’s appointment on is open limited hours for takeout Monday April 6, 2020. My doctor had told me that my double pneumonia had cleared up and my breathing was almost at 100%. He said that I have recovered only. PK Propane is still deliver- and now I am a survivor of COVID-19! This whole sickness has been life changing for me…personally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. I truly believe all ing propane to its customers as the prayers that were said for me and my family have helped tremendously. I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. I want to take this opportunity to say needed. Please watch the tribal WARIGROXIKI, THANK YOU! To ALL of you who have said prayers on my behalf. I truly appreciate all of you, near and far. Facebook page and/or webpage Please continue to say prayers for the sick, their families, and everyone all over this world! May God be with us all. for announcements about chang- Myra L. Pickering es in programs, services, and/or 2nd member operations. The Council made sure that On March 9, Otoe-Missouria have shortness of breath. The that my levels were all good so the Extraordinary and other pro- Tribal Council Member Myra next day, she went to Pawnee therefore I would not be admit- grams were funded through the L. Pickering went to work at Indian Health Service to get ted,” Pickering says. “They sent second quarter of the year. How- the tribal complex. As the day checked out and they diagnosed me home, again.” ever, with the casinos being closed progressed, she started to feel ill her with pneumonia, gave her On March 24, Pickering’s test for over a month with a targeted with flu-like symptoms. She told antibiotics and told her to fol- results came back positive for re-open date constantly moving the front office receptionist she low up with the doctor the fol- COVID-19 and she was told further out, there may have to be was headed home and would be lowing Monday. by Pawnee Indian Health Ser- some changes in the tribal assis- out the rest of the day. Pickering says at the time vice Infectious Control Nurse Pickering went to the doc- of the appointment she did that her, her husband and son Tribal Council Member tance programs for the rest of the Myra L. Pickering year. We are doing everything that tor that evening, who tested not have a fever, so she did would need to self-quarantine we can to avoid that scenario, but her for flu. She was negative. not meet the CDC guidelines themselves for the next 2 weeks she wants people to take the it may be a reality. The tribal gov- And because she hadn’t trav- to be tested for COVID-19. (14 days). She was also told that warning seriously. It is true that ernment and tribal enterprises are eled abroad, she didn’t meet the On March 18, Pickering was feel- the Pawnee County Health De- this virus does not discriminate. applying for every federal stimulus criteria in Oklahoma for CO- ing worse. She went to the Still- partment would be in contact “The tribe and casinos are program available through the Bu- VID-19 testing at that time. water Emergency Room to get with her soon. closed,” Pickering says. “I want reau of Indian Affairs, Small Busi- Pickering was sent home with checked out, hoping for relief. Currently, there is no specific people to listen to what the ness Administration, Homeland some antiviral medication and “They basically told me I was treatment for COVID-19. In- healthcare experts are saying. Security, Indian Health Services to rest. The doctor told her not considered critical and that stead, healthcare providers are Educate yourself. Stay home if and various federal and state enti- when she was 24 hours free of my levels were all good so I treating symptoms at home.
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