2rkg 2hUje Observer January 2006 #h'wx3 5 O b i t u a r y Tribe mourns loss of leader Quapaw business com- mittee member dies in The Whitepath Foundation accident Donation Form By Sam Lewin - Native American We provide articles, stories, lessons in our to as many Cherokee's that can only read & write and Times speak Cherokee. We have provided the Cherokee head start programs with on-site presentation of the & lessons, provided flash cards in Cherokee, published theses articles in the Cherokee Observer since A member of the Quapaw Tribe of 1992. We were the first Cherokee organization to publish HIV/AIDS information in our Cherokee language, pro- Oklahoma's business committee has vided Cherokee flash cards to headstart. Provided Cherokee fonts to Cherokee language in Oaks School system and died in a car accident. United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. Our Mission Mason McWatters was killed on To continue in being the leaders of our Cherokee language. We will provide December 10. At the age of 29 he articles, stories, lessons in our Cherokee language to as many Cherokee's that was the youngest person serving on can only read & write Cherokee. Provide to learn the Cherokee the tribe's governing board. Syllabary so they can learn to read, write and speak Cherokee. Company Profile The Oklahoma Highway Patrol re- In the late 1980's several Cherokee's felt the Cherokee people needed a pub- ports that McWatters was traveling lication that provided information in our Cherokee language. So a group of on Highway 10 near Wyandotte us Cherokees formed the 501(c)3 "The Whitepath Foundation" in 1991. The development of the Cherokee font by when he struck another vehicle. Franklin McLain (PC) & Al Webster (Apple) for use with the personal computers allowed us to print articles, stories McWatters was thrown from his car & lessons in our Cherokee Syllabary. Which our centerfold contained in every issue since 1992. The Cherokee and died at the scene. Observer, the first independent Cherokee newspaper was developed to publish these articles, stories & lessons. http://www.cherokeeobserver.org is still published today . . . this is the 13th year we have provided this.’ A passenger, 26-year old Ryan Crotts, also died in the accident. We're a Federal Tax Exempt 501(c)3 Foundation - All donations are tax deductible to donors. The driver and two passengers in With your continued support and donations, we will continue in keeping our Cherokee language alive for our future the other vehicle were taken to a generations. hospital, treated and released. Franklin McLain Sr., Chairman, The tribe is now coping with the DONATION Information loss. PH/FAX #: 1-580-363-5438 website: www.whitepath.org and www.cherokeeobserver.org Email: General Info: [email protected] Cherokee Language: [email protected] Webmaster: [email protected] "We really loved him," Quapaw Name: ______Address: ______Chairman John Berrey told the Na- tive American Times. "He brought City: ______State: ___ Zip: ______Phone: ______Email: ______a lot to the Business Committee. Donation Amount: $25 [ ] $50 [ ] $100 [ ] $250 [ ] $500 [ ] $1000 [ ] more than $1000 [ ] $ ______We had high hopes for Mason. He was really special...a lot of fun and SEND Check or Money order to: The Whitepath Foundation, PO Box 487, Blackwell, OK 74631-0487 always seemed happy, but he also You will be sent a donation receipt to be used with your Federal Tax return at the end of the year. had a knack for asking the right Call 1-888-363-5540 on Credit/Check/Debit Card (Order's Only) question at the right time." Phyllis was married to Jackson McLain, a Berrey said that McWatters leaves full blood Cherokee. All the children are behind a wife and "two young sons, Cherokee. copyright (c) 1992-2006 Franklin McLain Sr - The Whitepath Foundation and his youngest has medical prob- lems." Once a government is Some of the STORIES & ARTICLES in our 2005 Issues A fund has been set up for committed to the McWatters' family. The address is: principle of silencing the District 8 Councilman Housing Authority Flap Battle Begins To Increase Tribal Services With Gaming Dividend The Mason McWatters Memorial Sweat’n Bullets Threatens to Derail CNO Fund, c/o Quapaw Tribe, PO Box voice of opposition, it has Budget An Act proposing an increase in the dividend paid by 765 Quapaw, OK. 74363 only one way to go, and Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma members Enterprises from gaming revenues to the Cherokee Nation for services have alleged for years that some by Ed Crittenden was tabled on August 25th at the monthly meeting. Councilors who that is down the path of councilmembers gain favors from the This has been a difficult time for are undecided about the increase want to consider the long-term effects. increasingly repressive programs and business enterprises of the Council members voted Monday, the Quapaws. In May Robert September 12, to approve a $335 million Cherokee people. After an annonymous The sponsor of the Bill, Councilor Linda O’Leary of the Delaware Whitebird, the first ever head of the measures, until it tipster provided 12 pages of documents budget for fiscal year 2006. For the first tribe's business committee, died in becomes a source of to the Inspector General (IG) of the office time in , the Chief’s District 5, proposed an increase in the tribal dividend paid by the a nursing home at the age of 92. of Housing and Urban Development office now has control of the budget of Cherokee Nation Enterprises to one percent of projected gross revenues terror to all its citizens (HUD), someone is taking notice. the Housing Authority and all of its stating that, “The Cherokee people deserve actual services reaching employees. them to be at least one penny out of every dollar that is generated by "We just lost our oldest leader and and creates a country According to a source close to the now we have lost our youngest," where everyone lives in Council, District 8 (Tulsa and Following an hour of debate, Deputy the gaming operations of the tribe.” said Berrey. Washington Counties) councilman, Buel Chief Joe Grayson handed $13,462,703 fear. When even one of Housing Authority of the Cherokee “Compared to other tribes, the pittance that we are presently receiving Ed. Note: Mason was a personal friend Anglin, is the subject of an investigation Nation (HACN), funds to the CNO of our family. He served on the busi- American — who has by the HUD IG. The source said Anglin for services from tribal enterprises is almost criminal,” said O’Leary. had been in contact with the Cherokee administration by breaking a 7-7 tie in ness committee with my wife, Tamara. done nothing wrong — is Nation legal Council, Todd Hembree, the September Regular Council Meeting. But he was also her cousin and a special The original proposal sought a one percent dividend to be based on nearly all day, making extensive phone friend to me. Mason was a true Quapaw forced by fear to shut his the tribe’s gaming income before payouts rather than after all expenses calls from his home north of Tulsa. The Annual Tribal Budget, always a hot Warrior and his death truly stunned his mind and close his item on the agenda, was no different this are taken by the corporation. An amended version will return in friends, and his tribe. I've met many “Anglin is really worried, the source said. year during the three days of Committee November that asks councilors to consider an incremental increase people in my travels but Mason was the mouth, then all “He’s sweat’n bullets and wondering Budget Hearings just prior to the full only one that reminded me of me. We from projected gross revenues, instead of being based on what CNE Americans are in peril. what’s going to happen to him.” The council meeting with Council members accounting practices wishes to define as income. send our deepest sympathies and condo- source added that Cherokee Nation of questioning and debating to carve lences to his wife, Kristy, and sons, Aiden Harry S. Truman (1884- Oklahoma Office of Justice director political fat out of the proposed budget and Ace. And to his parents, Ranny and 1972), 33rd US President Diane Hammonds also has the and the administration busy lobbying CNE Financial Projections for 2005 Kathy McWatters, and sister, Macy. documents, but did nothing with them. councilors for enough votes to keep pork Please contribute to the Mason Fiscal Year Ends Sept. 30, 2005 $ In Millions “I believe she was told by the Chief (Chad barrel agenda projects in. Once the Gross Revenues $270,000,000.00 McWatters Fund. Smith) to sit on it and see if it goes away,” budget goes to full council it is but a vote the source alleged. away from turning the administration (After All Payouts To Winners) loose with over $300 million to spend Net Income $75,000,000.00 Documents show that Anglin, a member within the next year. (After All Expenses Including salaries and bonuses) of the slate of councilors, Tribal Dividend $18,000,000.00 which also includes Audra Smoke Connor, Cara Cowan, Phyllis Yargee, Bill (Anticipated For Services) Johnson, Jackie Bob Martin and Don Election Commissioner claims Source: CNE 2005 Financials Garvin, has a couple of relatives working harrassment for businesses owned by the Cherokee Nation, possibly in violation of Cherokee A lawsuit, filed by Principal Chief Chad What happen to these funds? Nation law. “That’s not the worst of it,” Smith, claims that his earlier approval according to the confidential source. of a fifth commissioner to the Cherokee 2005 Indian Housing Plan Funding Shift From HACN To Tribe Nation Election Commission was not Home ownership built packages $1,000,000 There are also allegations that Anglin really an approval of the commissioner, Mortgage Assistance $2,920,000 used his position as a councilman and as but was instead an approval of the a rubberstamp of the Smith Council’s approval. Housing Rehab Construction $4,200,000 administration agenda, to gain access to Housing rehab processing $411,000 lucrative contracts from Cherokee Nation Smith claims that he has not approved Self Sufficiency Counseling $2,000,000 Enterprises for a business enterprise he the fifth commissioner and informed the owns. Council of his refusal to approve the Administration and Planning $2,500,000 nomination in a letter 21 days after the Individual Sanitary Facility Construction $176,460 The source pointed out that the fact. Total Money Shifted To Tribe $13,462,703 documents also show that Anglin may Source: Tribal Documents have lied about his residency, garnering The lawsuit asks the Cherokee Nation large sums of money to repair his Judicial Appeals Tribunal to review the We will keep you informed on this issue. It is a travesty in our Cherokee mother’s home. “The tangled web of procedure for the appointment of Dr. History. deceit regarding the repairs to Anglin’s Charles Hathaway, a Tahlequah native, home, or his mother’s home, or and determine if he legitimately hold the For the first time in Cherokee history, the Chief’s office now whichever, will have to be sorted out by seat of fifth commissioner. the IG, according to the source. “He has control of the budget of the Housing Authority and all of (Anglin) used his position as a Documents filed with the suit show that its employees. councilman to do some sneaky deals to a the Principal Chief signed and approved home that didn’t deserve the repairs.” the appointment with his signature on the Following an hour of debate, Deputy Chief Joe Grayson resolution where the full council unanimously approved Hathaway’s handed $13,462,703 of Housing Authority of the Cherokee appointment. Documents filed with the Nation (HACN), funds to the CNO administration by court also show that all four of the breaking a 7-7 tie in the September Regular Council Meeting. previously appointed commissioners, two by the chief and two by the council, The puppet tribal council rubberstamps just gave Chief Smith the money also unanimously approved the with NO plan as to what it would be used for, just that he wanted it and appointment. they gave it to him on a silver plater, with puppet Joe Grayson vote to www.cherokeeobserver.org break the tie.