TRIBAL MEMBERS for ELECTIVE OFFICES Lt
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COLOR The Absentee "A e" m o ne ng ha w The S ShawneeNews INSIDE THIS ISSUE Volume 27 No. 45 ❤ February 2016 2 - 3 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS 16 AST HEALTH SYSTEM UPDATE 28 - 29 TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH 4 TITLE VI MENU & NEWS 18 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORT 30 AST INDIAN CHILD WELFARE 6 ELDERS COUNCIL 20 - 21 HEALTH SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENTS 35 - 36 CAMPAIGN LETTERS 11 ELECTION COMMISSION 23 FROM THE DOCTOR'S NOTEBOOK 37 FOSTER CARE 13 OEHE 24 NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH 38 - 39 MINUTES 14 - 15 FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS 27 NATIONAL FOLIC ACID AWAreNESS From the Election Commission: TRIBAL MEMBERS FOR ELECTIVE OFFICES LT. GOVERNOR TREASURER Kenneth Blanchard Leah Bates Isaac Gibson, Jr. Scott Miller Twila Parker REPRESENTATIVE Kathy Deere Rick Little Axe, Sr. Anthony "Tadpole" Johnson COMMISSION Sherman Tiger MEMBER #1 Mary Birdtail No one filed: Election Commissioner, Election Secretary Executive Committee Edwina Butler-Wolfe Issac Gibson John Johnson Leah Bates Kenneth Blanchard Governor Lt. Governor Secretary Treasurer Representative Monthly Executive Committee meetings can be watched online at astribe.com Governor’s Report Hello my Absentee Shawnee people! named ‘Shawnee’ after our tribe. It can be done by incorporating I am often amazed at what electronic As I go out and meet with other tribal tribal culture and language into online libraries offer. I can still remember leaders or agency officials I am often the classroom; by acknowledging earlier days when the DOS (Disk Operating asked the question? Why are we called the role of tribal education System) was the first widely-installed the ‘Absentee Shawnee’s’? Our cultural departments in Indian education; operating system for personal computers department indicate the phrasing of our and by ensuring that students have and was considered the forerunner of name the “Absentee Shawnee” stems from adequate, safe, and modernized business computer technology. Much has a provisional clause in an 1854 treaty schools and environments in which changed since IBM began that computer regarding surplus lands in the Kansas to learn and thrive. line. These days have a host of explorable Reservation which were set aside for the ➢➢ Wellness. opportunities available to us both in the “absent” Shawnees. NCAI asked the federal government type of technology and the software that to permanently reauthorize the STATE OF INDIAN NATIONS can go on and in it. As an example: this Special Diabetes Programs for past week I was visiting the Wikipedia site On January 14, 2016 the State of the Indians, so that tribal communities and decided to put DOS (Disk Operating Indian Nations was given by the National can continue to combat this disease. System) was the first widely-installed Congress of American Indian’s President, NCAI called on Congress to provide operating system for personal computers Brian Cladoosby. He called on the federal advanced appropriations for the in the name ‘Oklahoma’. I was somewhat Congress and the President to address the Indian Health Service to eliminate surprised at what I learned. Many of you following issues in 2016: delays and uncertainties for clinics, probably know that ‘Oklahoma’ is derived Community Security. hospitals, staff, and patients. from the Choctaw language and liberally ➢➢ Reauthorization of the Tribal Law NCAI called on both the interpreted it means ‘land of red man’. and Order Act. Administration and Congress to But were you aware that the federal Economic Equality. relieve tribal communities of the government regarded our state as Indian ➢➢ Tribes should be able to collect financial burden they bear under Territory with the thought in mind that taxes without placing extra burdens the Affordable Care Act’s employer it would be an all Indian state controlled on local businesses. mandate. by the United States Superintendent NCAI called on the Department Threat Of Global Climate Change. of Indian Affairs? It was only later that of Interior to amend ‘The Indian NCAI asked for the establishment the name changed from Indian Territory Trader’ regulations, to eliminate of a permanent Climate Adaptation to Oklahoma, the de facto name for dual taxation in Indian Country, Task Force, in collaboration with Oklahoma Territory, in 1890. In review and empower tribes to invest in tribal leaders. of our own tribal history the Absentee the infrastructure and services Land Into Trust – Where Are We? Shawnee’s began early settlement into that make economic development In August 2015 the Executive ‘Indian Territory’ around 1839. This was possible. Committee legislated to make an offer brought about by Indian agents from the ➢➢ Tribes must be able to issue tax- on the Nettie Moreland trust property U.S. government bringing soldiers from exempt bonds. in Pottawatomie County. In November Fort Reno in western Indian Territory and Education, Health And Wellness Of expenditures of tribal funds were forcing the Absentee Shawnees located Tribal Communities. authorized for the purchase of this in Deep Fork River to leave. Our people ➢➢ Education is a promise made in property. The tribe owns the property and were brought south to the area known as exchange for our land. we are waiting for this land and numerous Hog Creek and Little River where the Big NCAI indicated there is ‘… other tracts of land the tribe owns to be Jim band remains to this day. The White work to do, to ensure that tribal placed into trust for the tribe. Turkey Band was moved to what is now governments are directing the Pottawatomie County near a town later education of their youth.’ Maintenance 2 3 For the past 31 months I have been condolences to you and your family on On November 24, 2015 I had a change bringing to your attention the concerns I your loss. of staff Leonard Longhorn is now the have in relation to getting the maintenance For those families celebrating a new Director of Cultural Preservation and and grounds needs of our tribal complex birth, birthday and/or anniversary I Diane Ponkilla transferred from AST taken care of. Our buildings are in dire extend my warmest congratulations. Police Specialist to the Representatives need of care both on the inside and the Administrative Assistant. outside. Two weeks ago part of my ceiling In Conclusion fell in. Pigeons and hawks are known to get I have 16 months left in Office and I The Representative has oversight of in our buildings due to holes and openings find each day both challenging and full of The Human Resources and The Cultural in our ceilings. If you were to come onto possibilities. Preservation Department. the campus you would see the negligence My door is always open (unless I am in both staff and visitors daily see. Yet there a meeting or at a meeting) and I welcome Human Resources Department: are exceptions to this. Finance has had your visits. The mission of the HR Department three building renovations done in a 3 year Help me to make a difference – stand is to recruit, retain and develop a highly period, with new equipment purchased beside me and Let us Build for the Future competent workforce that supports and ‘matching’ glass desk tops tailored to (BFF) - united and together! the core goals, vision and values of the their desks. This year’s budget for Finance Absentee Shawnee Tribe. HR is made of shows they included additional building Thank you for your support. (4) Employees: Cheri Hardeman, Human renovation funds; construction funds and Resource Director; Rachael Lankford, new furniture and fixture funds. It has Human Resource Generalist; Elizabeth been noted that two facilities located on Clark, Benefit Specialist and Casey the tribal campus have had to hire their Secretary’s Report Adams, Human Resources Assistant. own maintenance personnel. This is not good for business. The tribe needs to set Hello All, The HR Department is currently project prioritizations. These could be done The holidays are over and the New working on ACA1095 reporting and 401K by starting with buildings on the tribal Year has begun. I am ready to get things open enrollment. They have drafted (3) complex as the tribe operates business started and my goals accomplished. I'm policies for the Executive Committee and the services being provide from these hoping with a new year among us, I will be to review and are continuing efforts in buildings. As a secondary consideration able to exceed and excel in the goals that revising the Personnel Manuel. the community buildings as those serve I have set forth for the tribe. Due to the our tribal communities. The needs of funds running low for 2015, I was unable Coming events in the early part of 2016 the tribal members are important and to start my first goal of getting the tribal will be Supervisor and Safety Training for a system should be considered to assist resolutions set up on a database. By doing our Employees. HR has identified that tribal members based on an established this, the tribal resolutions will be made this is a need across the board to insure process and a budget line item specifically available via the tribal internet. This the safety of our Employees. for that to occur. At this time none of this will give AST tribal members complete is in place and it needs to be done and I access to the tribal resolutions that are The Absentee Shawnee Tribe currently am hopeful with a change in leadership being passed in the Executive Committee has 370 Employees and growing! that will happen. meetings. My second goal is to have a NEW If you have any questions regarding Meetings And Events TRIBAL TRAVEL STORE in Little Axe the Human Resources Department please Since my last report in the January built.