Follow us on Twitter #CATribalTribune CheyenneAndArapaho-nsn.gov July 1, 2019 -Vol. 15, Issue 13 In Rosemarya Stephenssea of RED they march Editor-in-Chief With signs held high above their heads, photos of (CONCHO, OK) Speak her name. Sonia Bernadette Lente. Emily Sue Zanne Morgan. Shan- their mothers, their daughters, their sisters, their non Kay Tahlo. Regina Marie Curtis. Leah Rochelle Mahseet. grandmothers, and their aunts are pictured along Ida Joann Beard. Britney Michele Tiger. And the names continue … with their names … all missing or murdered Indig- Marching to bring awareness to the epidemic spreading across the nation, the Cheyenne and Arapa- enous women (MMIW). ho Tribes Dept. of Social Services hosted a MMIW March on June 14, bringing families and commu- nities together to stand as one and begin the healing process. “Today we wanted to bring awareness to a big issue that is im- pacting Indigenous communities and specifically Indigenous wom- en, but also to honor those families who have lost loved ones. It will be a very powerful day but also a day of healing,” Kateri Fletcher, Chey- enne and Arapaho Tribes’ Dept. of Social Services executive director said. Sometimes being referred to as the ‘silent crisis,’ marches, such as the one hosted by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are taking place across the country in an ef- fort to take the word ‘silence’ out of the dialogue and bring national attention to the alarming numbers of Indigenous women, girls, boys and men continuing to disappear. One lawmaker stated, ‘As a nation we face a crisis, regardless of which number of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls is cited, the number is too great. The continuing murders, dis- appearances and violence prove that this crisis has escalated to a national emergency that calls for timely and effective responses.” “It is my honor to welcome you here today for this important event. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women is an epidemic that is sweeping across our nation, stealing our grandmothers, moth- ers, wives, girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, sisters, nieces and aunts. Eighty-four percent of Native women have experienced violence in their lifetimes. And on some reservations Native women are murdered at a rate of 10 times the national average. Those are the statistics. We hear them. We see them. But when it happens to your family, we feel them,” Fletcher, addressing the au- dience, said. “To the families here who have a missing or murdered loved one. Thank you for being here and for keeping their memory alive. I encourage you to keep telling your stories, because we know as Native people storytelling is healing. Keep speaking her name so that she will not be forgotten. Keep fighting for answers, and most of all keep praying.” MMIW MARCH / pg. 5 Photos / Rosemary Stephens PAGE 2 Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune Tsistsistas & Hinonoei Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes change domain name to reflect sovereign government Rosemary Stephens fairs without interference. Editor-in-Chief Indian tribes are sov- ereign entities. Tribal (CONCHO, OK) On sovereignty is not grant- July 5, 2019 the Cheyenne ed to tribes by the United and Arapaho Tribe will States, but rather reserved launch their new domain as inherent in their status name, cheyenneandarapa- as governments predat- ho-nsn.gov. ing the formation of the The tribe has operated United States. The fact under the .org domain for that the colonizing nations years, however being a and, subsequently the U.S. sovereign Tribal Nation, government entered into not an organization or a treaties with the tribes sup- commercial entity, chang- ports this view. ing the domain to .gov According to the Bu- reflects the sovereign gov- reau of Indian Affairs ernment of the Cheyenne (BIA) Website, the Dept. and Arapaho Tribe. of the Interior, Assistant “I felt we were not a Secretary-Indian Affairs .org, organization, but two office and the General Ser- Tribal Nations and as such vice Agency (GSA) col- we need to act like a sov- laborated on the Presiden- ereign Tribal Nation and tial eGovernment initiative be represented on the Web, which allows federally Social Media and other recognized Indian tribes media outlets as a sover- the opportunity to create eign Tribal Nation,” Chey- domain names recognized enne and Arapaho Tribe’s as a government entity on Gov. Reggie Wassana said. the World Wide Web. Switching from the eGovernment allows .org to a .gov Website and federally recognized tribes email domain will allow to utilize this unique ser- the tribes to be recognized vice which can transform throughout the world as an their business technologies official government entity. by expanding their Internet This will expand the tribes’ profile, convey helpful in- Internet profile while get- formation to specific users, ting the federal seal and and incorporate a social approval and inherent le- media element to share gitimacy and credibility and connect with the tribe that comes with it. or other intended audience. “We (the tribes) have Beginning July 5, when been in the infancy stage emailing employees of the and we need to grow, ex- Cheyenne and Arapaho pand, set our own pace and Tribes, the new suffix will continue to make good de- be @cheyenneandarapa- cisions for our Tribal Na- ho-nsn.gov, and to access tion as whole,” Wassana the Website use http:// said. cheyenneandarapaho-nsn. A sovereign entity is gov. one that is independent For questions contact from all other authority, re- the Office of the Gover- taining the right and power nor’s Communication Of- to regulate its internal af- fice at 405-422-7928. Librarian of Congress names Joy Harjo the Nation’s 23rd Poet Laureate Harjo is the first Native American to serve as U.S. Poet Laureate Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden today an- nounced the appointment of Joy Harjo as the nation’s 23rd Poet Laureate Consul- tant in Poetry for 2019-2020. Harjo will take up her duties in the fall, opening the Li- brary’s annual literary season on Sept. 19 with a reading of her work in the Coolidge Au- ditorium. Harjo is the first Native American poet to serve in the position, she is a citizen of the Muscogee Creek Na- tion. She succeeds Tracy K. Smith, who served two terms as laureate. “Joy Harjo has champi- oned the art of poetry, ‘soul talk’ as she calls it, for over four decades,” Hayden said. “To her, poems are ‘carriers of dreams, knowledge and wisdom,’ and through them she tells an American story of tradition and loss, reck- oning and myth-making. Her work powerfully connects us Rosemary Stephens, Editor-in-Chief to the earth and the spiritual 405-422-7446 / [email protected] world with direct, inventive lyricism that helps us re- imagine who we are.” or it is to be named the U.S. are powerful and can make Harjo currently lives in Poet Laureate,” Harjo said. change when understanding her hometown of Tulsa, “I share this honor with an- appears impossible, and how Oklahoma, and is the na- cestors and teachers who time and timelessness can tion’s first Poet Laureate inspired in me a love of po- live together within a poem. I from Oklahoma. etry, who taught that words count among these ancestors “What a tremendous hon- POET LAUREATE / pg. 7 Tsistsistas & Hinonoei Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune PAGE 3 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes awarded ICDB grant for youth shelter expansion, announces purchase of Clinton VFW building Rosemary Stephens two projects submitted to HUD has in Clinton, Okla. Editor-in-Chief been awarded,” Cheyenne and Arapaho The tribes’ won the bid for the Clin- Tribes Gov. Reggie Wassana stated in ton VFW property and are currently (CONCHO, OK) On June 19, the the press release. “It is a testament to discussing several proposals for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Gover- our staff’s hard work and strong func- building’s use, with two proposals be- nor’s office issued a press release an- tioning administration.” ing a bingo hall and satellite offices. nouncing the tribes have been awarded Established in 1977, the ICDBG “We are excited that we have suc- a $400K Indian Community Develop- Program supports a broad range of cessfully bid on the Clinton VFW prop- ment Block Grant (ICDG) from the housing and community development erty,” Wassana stated. “The tribes have U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban De- activities including: options to produce economic develop- velopment (HUD). Housing rehabilitation and land ac- ment along with helping other tribal According to the press release, $63 quisition to support new housing con- programs who could use the space and million was distributed to 85 Native struction, and under limited circum- we are always looking at other oppor- American communities across the stances, new housing construction. tunities to progress the tribe and local country. Infrastructure construction, e.g., communities to a level of success that The maximum amount for the grant roads, water and sewer facilities, and benefits all.” was $800,000 per tribe. Only 85 out single- or multi-purpose community Nathan Hart, Cheyenne and Arapa- of 573 tribes nationwide received the buildings. ho Tribes Dept. of Business executive grant. Seventeen out of 39 tribes in Wide variety of commercial, indus- director, represented the tribe during Oklahoma were awarded this grant. trial, agricultural projects, which may the bidding process. The tribes’ submitted two applica- be recipient owned and operated or “We were high bid so we will get the tions at $400,000 each for a veteran’s which may be owned and/or operated VFW building, but that sounds boring office and expansion of the tribes’ youth by a third party.