Most Decorated Native American in Vietnam War, Dies at 65
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Volume 5, Issue 6 • June 2009 The Official Newspaper of the Osage Nation ‘Buddy’ Red Corn Non-Osage shareholders named Most decorated Native American as defendants in Fletcher case in Vietnam War, dies at 65 By Shannon Shaw, By Shannon Shaw, Osage News Osage News For the fi rst time non-Osage shareholders and entities have The Osage community of been publicly named. Pawhuska fell silent May 18 as Plaintiffs in the seven-year-old lawsuit Fletcher v. USA, which Andrew “Buddy” Red Corn was seeks an accounting and restoration of Osage trust shares from laid to rest on the east side of what non-Osage shareholders, recently won a judgment in the 10th Cir- is locally known as Lookout Moun- cuit Court that allows the plaintiffs to name all non-Osage share- tain. A constant fi xture around holders as defendants in the case. Attorneys fi led the complaint the cooking fi res of the Pawhuska in Federal District Court in Tulsa on June 12, naming 1,747 non- district and a loyal attendee of the Osage individuals, churches, colleges, institutions and organiza- Osage Baptist Church, the humble tions whom they allege own Osage trust shares illegally. Red Corn never told people that he “We had a great victory at the 10th Circuit [Court] level,” said was the most highly decorated Na- Amanda Proctor, one of the attorneys for the Fletcher case and an tive American veteran of the Viet- Osage tribal member, at a June 11 trust update meeting at the nam War. Wahzhazhi Cultural Center. “This was one of many victories our “We don’t get the opportunity clients have had.” to meet people like him very of- The plaintiffs in the case – Bill Fletcher, Charles Pratt, Cora Courtesy Photo/Tonya Red Corn ten in life…someone so brave and Jean Jech, Juanita West and Betty Woody – do not seek money Andrew ‘Buddy’ Red Corn bringing in the with such strong faith,” said Cur- damages in the lawsuit but “instead seek an accounting and the colors at a dance. tis Kekahbah, a childhood friend of restoration of any and all trust assets the Defendants wrongfully Red Corn’s and Native American depleted by improperly distributing the trust property generated vice Medal with one bronze service traditional counselor for U.S. De- from the Osage Mineral Estate” during the case, according to the star. He also received the Combat partment of Veterans Affairs hos- complaint. Infantryman badge and was dis- pitals in Arizona, New Mexico and tinguished as a rifl e marksman South Dakota. “That’s how he got and a second-class gunner with an See FLETCHER V. USA his medals because he had amaz- —Continued on Page 5 81mm mortar. ing courage and bravery. He didn’t According to the book, “The run.” Deaths of Sybil Bolton,” by Denny In 1967, Red Corn McAuliffe, Red Corn was the most received four med- highly decorated Native American als for his heroism of the Vietnam War. in Vietnam. He was Complications from diabetes awarded the Oak eventually took Red Corn’s life. Leaf Cluster with The disease had taken his legs in Valor, the National previous years, and when it started Address Service Requested Service Address Defense Service to affect his heart, he was placed in PAWHUSKA, OK 74056 OK PAWHUSKA, Medal, the Republic a nursing home in Jenks, where he P.O. BOX 779 BOX P.O. of Vietnam Cam- died May 14. OSAGE NATION OSAGE paign Medal and See RED CORN the Vietnam Ser- —Continued on Page 8 2 June 2009 Osage News • osagenews.org Language program hosts seminar in Northern California By Benny Polacca, Osage News Offi cials with the Osage Nation Language Program conducted a day-long seminar last month with the Northern California Osage Group, teaching its attendees the language basics. Language Program Director Herman “Mogri” Lookout and in- structors John Maker and Talee Red Corn traveled to the group’s May 16 meeting in Petaluma, Ca- lif., and gave a presentation on their program and beginner-level language lessons. Lookout said it was the fi rst time the Language Program conducted this type of seminar for the Northern Califor- nia Osage Group. “A lot of (out-of-state Courtesy Photo/John Maker Osages) don’t come Osage Language Program Director Herman “Mogri” Lookout, top row, second from right, and Osage language teacher Talee Red Corn, top row, last one on the right, stand with participants of a one day language seminar at a Northern California Osage Group back here oft en… meeting May 16. guage’s orthography, pronuncia- contacted him about having the we think it’s great tion and an Osage history lesson program conduct a seminar. by Red Corn. “A lot of (out-of-state Osages) The presentation covers Osage don’t come back here often,” John 627 Grandview • Pawhuska, OK 74056 they invited us.” (918) 287-5668 history including the tribe’s trea- Maker said referring to dark peri- www.osagenews.org —John Maker ties, changes in the language, and ods in 20th century history, which words not covered in the textbook, resulted in many tribal members Interim Editor Maker said. Shannon Shaw leaving the area. He cited The The program has Osage words Great Depression and the Osage Reporter The event shows out-of-state and pronunciations listed on its de- Reign of Terror as examples. “We Benny Polacca Osages “what we’re doing with partment page of the Nation’s Web think it’s great they invited us,” the program and how we run and site, but Lookout said being taught Editorial Assistant Maker said of the Northern Cali- handle things,” said Lookout. The the language by someone else in- Chalene Toehay seminar ran from 9 a.m. and lasted person is different than learning it fornia Osage Group. Maker said the program would Editorial Council until 5 p.m. with about 12 group alone. Denny McAuliffe members attending, he said. “It’s better to have someone there conduct the language seminars The attendees each received a to go through it,” Lookout said of if invited by other out-of-state Editorial Council textbook and audio CD with be- the language textbook. Osage groups. The program has Tara McLain Manthey held about three seminars for the ginning Osage language lessons Maker said his cousin Charles Editorial Council and presentations by Lookout and Maker, who is president of the Southern California Osage group, Teresa Trumbly Lamsam Maker, which touched on the lan- Northern California Osage Group, he said. Osage News • osagenews.org June 2009 3 Osage runs Indian taco eatery in Denver By Benny Polacca in what Indian tacos are and are Osage News ready to answer questions.” Frybread fans visiting or living Tribes represented behind the in Denver don’t have to wait un- restaurant’s counter include North- til the next powwow, state fair or ern Cheyenne, Apache, Arapaho trip to the reservation to get an In- and Rosebud Sioux. dian taco thanks to an Osage tribal The recipes for Tocabe’s food member. are rooted in Jacobs’ elders. His Restaurateur Ben Jacobs co- grandmother Georgeann Robinson owns Tocabe: An American Indian taught his mother how to cook and Eatery in the Mile High City with she passed the recipes onto Jacobs, a menu offering Indian tacos with he said. all the fi xings, from spicy to sweet. While researching for other reci- Its menu offers taco toppings with pes, Jacobs came across one for choices of meat and beans and hominy salsa, which he and Chan- other toppings including six salsa dra offer at Tocabe and used it as options. For dessert, there’s tacos part of their Indian taco entry dish topped with powdered sugar or recently at the fi fth annual Na- fruit. tional Indian Taco Championship Jacobs, 26, said Tocabe, now the in Pawhuska. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News city’s sole Native American food The salsa, which includes hom- Ben Jacobs, Osage owner of Tocabe restaurant in Denver, competes in the National iny, cranberries and other spices, eatery, is similar to Grayhorse, Indian Taco Championships May 16. the Denver restaurant his par- topped the shredded beef, pinto ents owned about 20 years ago. paper’s story. “We’re the only ones beans for their taco dishes ranging beans and other garnishments on “It’s always a special occasion to in Denver that focus on frybread.” in price from $6 to $8.50. the duo’s entry plate. Jacobs and eat frybread, maybe we should do Chandra’s dish caught the judges’ a restaurant like (Grayhorse),” he attention and they won second recalled while he and others brain- place and a $1,000 check in the stormed ideas for the restaurant. “My heroes have always competition. Jacobs, who was born in Denver, Hundreds of people attended co-owns Tocabe, located at 3536 the May 16 cooking competition cooked frybread.” in downtown Pawhuska where Ja- W. 44th Ave., with friend Matthew cobs and Chandra cooked for the Chandra, whom he met while they —Tocabe slogan judges and also sold tacos to the both attended the University of hungry spectators including Re- Denver. His parents, Jan and Tom becca Brave who enjoyed the To- Jacobs, are also part-owners and cabe Indian taco. help at the restaurant. “It’s light and fl uffy and airy,” Jacobs said he and Chandra Jacobs attributes his restau- Tocabe, which according to Ja- Brave said of the frybread. She both work 13 to 15-hour workdays rant’s “pretty cheap” prices as one cob’s research means the color also enjoyed the taco’s green chili at least six days per week, “but attraction for his frybread-loving “blue” in Osage, opened on Decem- and hominy salsa topping, adding, ber 18 with its buzz spread mostly we really enjoy it.” Each week, Ja- customers or those curious to try “I need my food to have some piz- through small print publications, cobs estimates the restaurant goes an Indian taco.