Red Clay event unites Cherokees - Cherokee Phoenix

Cherokee Nation and
Eastern Band citizens
celebrate the event where
council meetings took
place in the 1830s.
BY WILL CHAVEZ
Staff Writer
Dance!
It can be for exercise, to boost
self-esteem or to just relieve stress.
For some, it’s an art. CULTURE, B-4
cherokeephoenix.org • Celebrating 181 Years of Native American Journalism • MAY 2009
RED CLAY, Tenn. – People of the
Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians gathered April 16-18
at the Red Clay State Historic Area to
commemorate the 25th anniversary of a
meeting between the two tribes.
The three-day event was held at the 260acre
site located 12 miles south of Cleveland,
Tenn., near the Tennessee-Georgia border,
where Cherokees once held council
meetings prior to their forced removal in
1838.
The theme for the event was “United We
Stand: A Celebration of Togetherness for the
Fading art
A Briggs weaving hall requires
major renovation to preserve its
tradition. CULTURE, B-5
Grow your own
A garden may sound simple,
but it requires tools, soil and
lots of work. NEWS, A-9
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith, center, and Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians Michell Hicks, left, carry torches to relight the Eternal Flame of the
Cherokee Nation located at Red Clay, Tenn. A team of runners from the two tribes
relayed torches from Cherokee, N.C., to light the flame. PHOTO BY WILL CHAVEZ
Bradford honored at Sequoyah event
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford, left, plays stickball April 17 at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Park Hill,
Okla. The tribe honored him at Sequoyah Schools later that night. PHOTO BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Taxing situation
An April 1 federal tobacco levy
increases burdens on border
smoke shops. NEWS, A-10
Classifieds........ A-8
Council............. A-6
Culture.............. B-4
Education......... B-7
INSIDE UWnd<
Sweet science
Health............... B-10
Money............... A-11
Opinion............. A-4
Sports............... B-1
Red Clay event unites Cherokees
Red Clay, A-7 Flame, A-7
Cherokee Nation and other Indian dignitaries recognize the Heisman
Trophy winner as a Native American role model.
BY WESLEY MAHAN
Sports Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Heisman Trophy winner Sam
Bradford’s April 17 visit to Sequoyah Schools was a returnto-roots
visit for the University of Oklahoma Sooners
quarterback. He was invited by Principal Chief Chad Smith
to be honored for his accomplishments.
Bradford spent much of the day meeting Sequoyah
students and learning more about Cherokee culture while
visiting the Cherokee Heritage Center. He even played a little
stickball before heading to Sequoyah’s The Place Where They
Play to address hundreds of gathered fans.
CN employee Charlie Shell opened the Sequoyah event
with a prayer in the Cherokee language. The Talking Leaves
Job Corps Color Guard then led Bradford, his mom and dad,
Smith and an entourage of delegates from seven other tribes
to their seats.
Following the national anthem, master of ceremonies
Jay Hannah delivered a speech listing Bradford’s many
accomplishments in and out of the classroom.
Smith, Bradford and his father, Kent, then took the stage
for a question-and-answer session in which the 21-year-old
told the audience of a typical day for him during the season.
“I wake up about 6:15 (a.m.) or 6:30, go workout for 45
minutes to an hour, go get breakfast,” he said. “During game
weeks, we usually have meetings with our position coach,
Bradford, A-2
Both tribes hold events
honoring ancestors and
those who died during
the removal.
BY WILL CHAVEZ
Staff Writer
RED CLAY, Tenn. – The whoops of
Cherokee runners echoed across the
grounds on the morning of April 17 as they
made their way to a monument holding a
sacred fire.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad
Smith and Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians Principal Chief Michell Hicks led
the runners while carrying torches to light a
flame honoring the Cherokee people of the
1830s and those who died during the forced
removal in 1838 and 1839.
Runners from the tribes relayed torches
145 miles from Cherokee, N.C., to Red
Clay for the ceremony, which was attended
by both Tribal Councils. Chiefs Smith and
Hicks ran the last three miles and relit the
Councilor calls for
immersion school
policy changes
Cowan Watts wants
students to be federally
recognized tribal
citizens.
BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Tribal Councilor
Cara Cowan Watts is pushing for a policy
change at the Cherokee Nation’s Language
Immersion Program to require students be
a citizen of a federally recognized tribe.
Currently, 63 students are enrolled in
the school, with 40 of them enrolled as CN
citizens, according to an enrollment list.
Of the 23 other children, most are enrolled
Decisions on
some stimulus
funds made
Cherokee Nation officials
have determined where
some of the $42.5 million
will be used.
BY JAMI CUSTER
Staff Writer
Immersion, A-8
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee Nation
officials have decided where and how some
of the $42.5 million in federal stimulus
funds the tribe expects to receive will be
spent.
Housing Services will receive about
$6 million in Native American Housing
Assistance and Self-Determination Act
money for its modernization program,
while more than $5.6 million will go to
Stimulus, A-2
To relieve frustration, a high school
senior now has boxing dreams.
SPORTS, B-1

A-2 Cherokee Phoenix • may 2009 Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
Why did you come
to see Sam Bradford
today?
Kennedy Brown,
Chickasaw
Bill Johnson,
Chickasaw
Rex Haley,
Seminole
Jamie Wagnon,
Sequoyah High
School
Matt Billy,
Sequoyah High
School
James Chaffin,
Sequoyah High
School
Stimulus
from front page
“To honor him as a
Native American and
as an inspiration to our
youth. Just to observe
him in person and hear
him speak.”
“I think it’s a good
thing to honor people
this way, and it’s
something we need to
do more of. I’m glad I
made the trip.”
“I was proud of
him for all his
accomplishments, and
being a role model for
the youth. It was an
honor to be here for
him.”
“Because I’m a big
OU fan and I love
Sam Bradford.”
“We’re all big fans and
we get to see an Indian
with a Heisman.”
“I wanted to see how
much of an influence
he has on everybody.
I was glad to see the
youth here and the
elders.”
housing rehabilitation.
Housing Services Group Leader David Southerland said
the focus will be energy efficiency. He said his group has
started replacing windows and plans to add insulation,
roofs and energy efficient heating and air units in
Cherokee family homes.
“We are looking at things that will help with the utility
bills,” he said. “We will be able to assist over 180 families.”
About $215,000 will go to the Housing Authority of the
Delaware Tribe. CN receives federal housing funds for
the Delawares and is required to pass those funds to the
HADT. Southerland said the Delawares are planning to
add porches and covers to about 24 homes in Chelsea.
The Supplemental Youth Program is expecting about
$900,000 in funding. The money will be used to hire
Cherokee youth for the tribe’s summer work program and
will be stretched through the 2010 summer.
“What we will do is break that out to supplement
existing slots. Slots are what we call eight- to nine-week
slots that we would actually put kids on a summer youth
program,” Diane Kelley, Career Services group leader, said.
“They would actually be eligible to work in an entity while
they are learning a various trade.”
In 2008, Kelley said Career Services had an
Five minutes with Sam Bradford
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – During his visit to the Cherokee
Nation and Sequoyah Schools, the Cherokee Phoenix sat
down with Sam Bradford. Here are excerpts from that
interview:
Q: Why are you visiting the Cherokee Nation today?
A: “Kind of like I said earlier, I know that I have Cherokee
ties in my family. I’m Cherokee and I really want to learn
more about it, and just learn more about the culture. I
thought coming up here and visiting today would be a great
way for me to learn more about it.”
Q: Sometimes being a role model is thrust upon you
whether you want it or not, how do you handle that
responsibility?
A: “I’ve learned more about that in the past couple of years
than I ever thought I would in my entire life. I think being a
good role model to kids for me is continuing to be who I am
and just continuing to be humble and set a good example,
and just try to lead by example.”
Q: Amid all the popularity that follows you, how do you
keep yourself grounded?
A: “I’ve really got to give credit to my family and my
friends for that. Something my parents have always taught
me is surrounding myself with good people. I’ve really tried
to do that. My friends are such a great group of guys. They
really keep me down to earth, whether I come back from
winning a game or losing a game, or winning an award. They
could care less – I’m still Sam to them.”
Q: How has winning the Heisman trophy changed your life?
A: “You know after I won it a lot of the previous winners
Bradford
from front page
coach (Josh) Heupel. We go watch
film for maybe 45 minutes before
class.
“Then go to class for a couple of
hours, maybe about an hour off, then
go to meetings for a good two and a
half hours before practice,” Bradford
added. “Then about three hours of
practice, usually ends about 6:30
(p.m.) or 6:45, go grab some dinner,
get to the house about 7:15 or 7:30,
and then depending on how much
school work I have to do, stay up as
late as I need to get that done.”
He was also sure to give credit to
others. The OU junior maintains a
3.9 GPA, but said he owes it to his
parents.
“I think a lot of that stems from
my parents when I was younger.
They’ve always pushed me to
succeed in the classroom, and it’s
something I’ve always taken great
pride in,” he said.
Bradford
shared how he
makes his quiet
leadership work
for him.
“Something
I try to do with
my leadership
abilities,
something
I believe is
important in all
leaders, is to lead by example,” he
said. “It’s real easy for people to talk
the talk, but it’s a lot harder to walk
the walk.”
“God has given me a
great platform, and
my Native American
roots extend that
platform even more.”
– Sam Bradford,
OU Sooners quarterback
overabundance of students apply for the summer
program and was unable to serve them all. With the
stimulus money, Kelley said there is a better chance at
serving more youth.
“I think it’s going to be real beneficial,” she said. “We
served about 426 youth last year, and if we would have had
additional dollars we could have served maybe up to 600.”
Kelley said with the economy
in recession she thinks her group
will have other students looking
at the program who may not have
normally looked.
“Because a lot of these people
who are unemployed are taking
up some of those jobs that these
kids were getting in the summer
months,” she said. “So therefore,
they may be on our doorstep
applying for the Summer Youth
Employment Program.”
In the tribe’s Health Services, Group Leader Melissa
Gower said proposals have been made on what do with
stimulus funds, but she was unsure on whether her group
would receive any.
“One, we still do not know if we will get any of it, and
two, we don’t know much we are going to get,” Gower said.
However, she said about $2.9 million has been proposed
for maintenance and improvement at Hastings Hospital in
Tahlequah.
told me it changes
your life forever.
Obviously my life
has changed, I
would say one of
the biggest changes
I’ve noticed is I’m a
lot more recognizable.
When I go out to
dinner or to pick
something up, it
seems like a lot
more people
recognize
me.”
Bradford also told the crowd his
approach to life in the spotlight as a
Cherokee.
“God has given me a great
platform, and my
Native American
roots extend that
platform even more.
Obviously I’m
Native American
and I’m proud of
it ... but beyond
knowing I have
roots with this
culture, I don’t know
much more than
that. For me to come here today, it’s
just a way for me to learn about the
culture,” he said.
Bradford gets his Cherokee blood
Q: You said
you know
you can get
better this
year, in what
way?
A: “There’s so many small details about playing quarterback
that people in the stands don’t see. One thing I definitely
want to get better at is defensive recognition. That’s
something I’ve put a lot of time into this offseason.”
Q: Some have compared being the Sooners quarterback
is like being a rock star, what has the experience been like
for you?
A: “I would say that’s very far fetched. I’m just a normal
college kid who happens to play football. I’ve wanted to
play at OU since I was little. Just to get to be a part of the
team and get to play out there in front of 85,000 people in
Norman has been one of the best experiences of my life.”
Sam Bradford, right, visits the Cherokee Nation Language Immersion
Program April 17 during his visit to Tahlequah, Okla.
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
“We served about 426 youth
last year, and if we would
have had additional dollars
we could have served maybe
up to 600.”
– Diane Kelly,
Career Services group leader
from his father and is the greatgreat
grandson of the late Susie
Walkingstick, a full-blood Cherokee.
Smith
said Native
Americans
couldn’t ask
for a better
role model
than Bradford.
“Of course,
he’s a success in football, but I think
that’s resonated in Indian Country
with his character off the field.”
After the event, Shell said his
6-year-old grandson wants to be
Bradford when he grows up.
“If trying to be Sam gets him
through college and an education,
that’s a great thing,” he said.
“We have submitted a (proposal to repair a) roof at
Hastings Hospital and a direct digital control system,”
Gower said.
A direct digital control system controls the hospital’s air
conditioning and heating digitally, so staff wouldn’t have
to control it manually.
Gower said she submitted equipment purchases for
pharmacy, surgery and optometry
areas. The pharmacy equipment
includes four robotic pharmacy
machines to make the department
more efficient, while optometry
equipment includes a camera that
helps diagnose retinal disorders.
Gower said the federal Indian
Health Service received $85
million from the stimulus package
for information technology
services and that the tribe could
receive about $3.3 million of it.
“What we anticipate is that we would get an IT system
for the emergency room called a ‘T system.’ It’s a system
that allows you to track your patients through the
emergency room and capture all the cost and the billing
for it. It’s just an efficiency system for the ER,” she said.
Also in the stimulus is $12.1 million for the Roads
Group, $846,000 for the Fuels Reduction Group and $10
million for Water and Sewage projects.

Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009 may 2009 • Cherokee Phoenix A-3
One of several tornadoes observed on May 3, 1999, in central Oklahoma PHOTO BY WIKIPEDIA
The Fujita
Scale
F0: Gale tornado of 40-
72 miles per hour winds.
Some damage to chimneys,
breaks branches off trees,
pushes over shallowrooted
trees and damages
sign boards.
F1: Moderate tornado
of 73-112 mph winds.
Peels surface off roofs,
mobile homes pushed off
foundations or overturned,
pushes autos off the road
and attached garages may
be destroyed.
F2: Significant tornado
of 113-157 mph winds.
Roofs torn off frame
houses, mobile homes
demolished, boxcars
pushed over, large trees
snapped or uprooted,
light-object missiles
generated.
F3: Severe tornado of
158-206 mph winds. Roof
and some walls torn off
well-constructed houses,
trains overturned and
most trees uprooted.
F4: Devastating tornado
of 207-260 mph winds.
Well-constructed houses
leveled, structures with
weak foundations blown
off some distance, cars
thrown and large missiles
generated.
F5: Incredible tornado
of 261-318 mph winds.
Strong frame houses
lifted off foundations
and carried considerable
distances to disintegrate,
automobile-sized missiles
fly through the air in
excess of 100 meters, trees
debarked, steel re-enforced
concrete structures badly
damaged.
F6: Inconceivable
tornado of 319-379 mph
winds. The small area
of damage they might
produce would probably
not be recognizable along
with the mess produced by
F4 and F5 wind that would
surround the F6 winds.
Tornado Warning
Everyone should have a plan of what to do during a tornado.
BY JAMI CUSTER
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – May means more than
just flowers in Oklahoma. It also means tornadoes.
In fact, May has more tornadoes reported annually
in the United States than any other month. So it is
important to learn what to do during a tornado.
Since tornadoes can strike quickly, a person should
have a designated safety spot to go to.
“Oklahoma is notorious for being in the middle
of Tornado Alley,” said David Shane McMahan, loss
control specialist for CN. “People really need to have
a designated shelter area in and around their houses.”
A safe area, McMahan said, would be the inner
most room in the home like an inner hall closet. He
said put as many load-bearing walls between yourself
and the outside as possible, preferably with no glass.
Stay away from corners, windows, doors and outside
walls if possible.
“It doesn’t have to be a bathroom…as long as it is
on the lowest level” he said.
Some people use storm shelters as safe rooms.
Shelters are similar to a cellar and can be put in a
home or outside. However, it is suggested that storm
shelters be put in the home so someone doesn’t
have to go out into a storm. The shelters usually cost
between $3,500 and $4,500.
McMahan said there are a lot of little things people
should and shouldn’t do doing a tornado.
Besides being educated about safety with regard to
Map of May 3, 1999, Oklahoma tornado outbreak MAP BY WIKIPEDIA
May 3, 1999: 36 dead,
$1.1 billion of damage
The most significant tornado of the outbreak
touched down as an F5 just southwest of Amber
and headed northeast, parallel to Interstate 44.
It then crossed the Canadian River, passing into
far southern Oklahoma City. It continued into
Moore and then passed over the intersection
of Shields Boulevard and I-35 and back into
tornadoes, he suggested people have a “grab and go
bag” ready in case of severe situations. In these bags
should be flashlights, a battery operated radio, keys to
house and cars, money, medications, shoes, clothing, a
whistle to call for help, a pocketknife and First Aid kit.
He said people shouldn’t rely on others telling them
what to do during a tornado, but research what to do
on their own. Another “don’t” is opening windows in
the home during a tornado. The Federal Emergency
Management Agency Web site states opening
windows brings in high-pressure air, which then must
escape, usually through other windows, doors or
through the ceiling or roof.
Mobile homes are also not safe during a tornado,
and those living in one should have a designated area
to move to during a tornado.
“There is no safe place in a mobile home or
structure of that type, mainly because there is no
foundation or anything planted into the earth that
would keep them from becoming mobile,” he said.
Things to look for during a possible tornado would
be dark or often greenish skies, large hail, a low-lying
cloud (especially if rotating) or a loud roar like a
train.
In 2008, 17 tornadoes touched down in Cherokee
Nation’s 14-county jurisdiction, while 77 tornadoes
were reported for in Oklahoma. From those 77
tornadoes, 21 people died and 359 were injured. The
majority of the injuries and 19 of the deaths occurred
May 10 from a F5 tornado that went through Picher
in Ottawa County.
Oklahoma City, crossing I-240 near Bryant
Avenue. The storm then turned more northerly,
striking parts of Del City and Tinker Air
Force Base near Sooner Road as an F4 before
diminishing over Midwest City and finally
lifting near the intersection of Reno Avenue and
Woodcrest Drive.
Thirty-six people were killed in this tornado.
This tornado caused $1.1 billion in damage,
making it the costliest single tornado in U.S.
history. – Wikipedia
Tips for
taking
shelter
outside
• Lie flat in a nearby ditch
or depression and cover
head with hands. Be
aware of the potential for
flooding.
• Do not get under an
overpass or bridge. You are
safer in a low, flat location.
• Never try to outrun
a tornado in urban or
congested areas in a car
or truck. Instead, leave the
vehicle immediately for
safe shelter.
• Watch out for flying
debris. Flying debris from
tornadoes causes most
fatalities and injuries.
Tornado Watch:
Tornadoes are possible.
Remain alert for
approaching storms.
Tornado Warning: A
tornado has been sighted
or indicated by weather
radar. Take shelter
immediately.
Tornado Alley
Most tornadoes in the
United States form in an
area called “Tornado Alley.”
This area includes parts of
Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas
and Nebraska. The land in
the central United States is
the best breeding ground
for storms to produce
tornadoes.
The land in the Great
Plains is relatively flat,
which allows cold dry
polar air from Canada to
meet warm moist tropical
air from the Gulf of
Mexico. It’s along the front
between the two air masses
that most tornadoes form.
– www.windowsucar.edu

A-4 Cherokee Phoenix • may 2009
May 2009
Bryan Pollard
Editor
(Cherokee)
Travis Snell
Assistant Editor
(Cherokee)
Will Chavez
Staff Writer
(Cherokee/San Felipe Pueblo)
Christina Good Voice
Staff Writer
(Muscogee/Choctaw/Rosebud Lakota)
Jami Custer
Staff Writer
(Cherokee)
Mark Dreadfulwater
Graphics
(Cherokee)
Craig Henry
Multimedia Producer
(Cherokee)
Roger Graham
Media Specialist
(Cherokee)
Nicole L. Hill
Advertising Coordinator
(Cherokee)
Dena Tucker
Office Manager
(Cherokee)
Joy Rollice
Secretary
(Cherokee)
Adam Brewer
Distribution
(Cherokee/Oglala Sioux)
Anna Huckaby
Linguist
(Cherokee)
Editorial Board
Dan Agent
(Cherokee/Choctaw)
John Shurr
(Cherokee)
Gerald Wofford
(Cherokee)
Cherokee Phoenix
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Tahlequah, OK 74465
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FAX: (918) 458-6136
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The Cherokee Phoenix also publishes an In Memoriam section at no
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away. That section includes the name of the deceased; age; birthplace
and date of birth; place and date of death; and occupation.
Member
Native American
Journalists Association
Oklahoma Press
Association
BY CHAD SMITH
Principal Chief
New homeowner grateful
I sat here inside my new home being so grateful that
my family and I are no longer living in a tent. (See
“Family overcomes obstacles to get house” in February
2009 issue.)
I’m wondering just how to go about thanking Tribal
Councilor Bill John Baker, his family and all those
wonderful people who made this possible. I can’t say
enough to or about those students and their instructor
who worked so hard to get us inside a solid building
before it turned cold and the rain came.
I can’t list names for fear of taking up so much space
in the paper, but you know who you are. People from
church, groups of young kids from Briggs and Sequoyah
schools and other individuals, I could go on. All I can
say is thanks a bunch and always feel free to come by
and visit. The door is always open, especially now that I
have one.
–Lou Acorn-Fulton
Welling, Okla.
Offended by education article
I am highly offended by the article “Cherokee Degree
program has first grad” in the (January 2009) Cherokee
Phoenix insinuating Greg Drowning Bear is a Cherokee
citizen. From my own personal conversations with Greg
and his family, none of them are enrolled Cherokee
Nation citizens. They bought their cards from a fake
tribe in Alabama or somewhere.
Our tribal paper should protect us from frauds and
fact check before printing. If an article must be printed
mentioning non-tribal citizens, the article should state
clearly that the person is not Indian or a non-Cherokee
citizen. Frauds use articles such as this to legitimize
themselves when going to outside people by saying
something like, “See, I am Cherokee. The tribe wrote
a story about me and published it. I must be a tribal
citizen.” The uneducated public never bothers to check
further and ask for tribal enrollment cards.
His children are using Cherokee Nation resources
in the Cherokee Language Immersion Program. This
is wrong. The non-Cherokee kids should never have
We often
misunderstand
what our law is.
It’s the recording
of an enforceable
public policy. A
public policy is a set Chad Smith
of principals that
brings order to society and directs our
future. An issue of public policy has been
considered by the Tribal Council regarding
voting districts. The council and I differ
fundamentally on how voting districts
should be structured to best serve our
people and our Nation.
The concept of voting districts was
created to ensure people are fairly
represented in their government. When a
Cherokee votes for a councilor or principal
chief or deputy chief, he has made his voice
heard. After election, he understands who
he can call on among his elected officials so
his voice can be represented.
The Cherokee Nation in 1975 had no
districts. The 15 candidates who received the
top number of votes were elected into the
legislative body, representing all Cherokees.
By that design they did not have local
constituents. There are positive aspects to
that, such as the 15 councilors looked at
the CN as a whole when making decisions.
However, many areas of the CN were
underrepresented when all councilors were
elected without any geographic districts.
In the 1980s, the law was changed to
create nine districts, which duplicated the
number of districts the CN had before
statehood. The current districting law
Talking Circles
passed by the council in July 2008, which
I vetoed, calls for 15 individual districts.
At first glance, that sounds logical and
reasonable. However, in a 15-district system
the reality for us is each councilor his own
territory, constituents and political agenda.
As an alternative, a proposal was
suggested to the council to have five
districts, with three councilors per district.
The five districts represented areas of
common interest, as well as a roughly equal
population for each district, instead of
the great population differences between
districts created by the council’s 15-district
plan, in which some districts have as
much as 60 percent variation in district
population. You might call this five-district
format a “Senate” design where there would
be multiple seats in a district in the same
manner that Oklahoma has two senators
representing the state in the U.S. Senate.
The Senate’s format encourages
both senators to work together for
the betterment of the state. Currently,
councilors from districts with more than
one representative work together on big
issues to represent a common area, and
in general I think our citizens like to see
Meredith Frailey and Chris Soap work
together for the good of the Cherokees not
only in Mayes County, but throughout the
Nation. Unfortunately, proposals for multiseat
districts were rejected by the council,
which chose instead to use a “House
of Representatives” format where each
councilor has a district.
When we think as individuals instead
of as a team, selfish decisions become
more common. As an example, in the past
few years we have seen pork barreling
and earmarking dramatically increase by
Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
been allowed into the program. The children should be
removed from immersion and room made for Cherokee
citizens. This whole mess needs to be cleaned up and
made clear for folks who might consider employing Mr.
Drowning Bear and assuming he is a Cherokee.
–Charles Dry
Tahlequah, Okla.
Editor’s Note: According to the Cherokee Language
Immersion Program, its admission practice is an open
admission priority for Cherokee citizens and case-by-case
consideration for non-citizens, only when such admission
does not affect class-size standards.
End idiocy, not tribal immunity
The following letter is in response to Kirk Harper’s
letter “End tribal immunity” that was published in the
March 2009 Cherokee Phoenix. That is what’s wrong
with people and greed (and idiocy) today. Always trying
to make a quick buck by suing the bar, alcohol company
or whomever when they need to face the fact that they
were the ones either drinking or driving or got hit by
someone who was drinking and driving.
Nobody forced booze down their throat and stuck
them in a car. Now if the injury occurred due to a
faulty issue in the facility, then the facility should be
held liable. You don’t sue the United States because they
made alcohol legal, you don’t sue the police station for
not finding the drunk driver and getting them off of the
street before they caused an accident and you don’t sue a
bar for serving alcohol. You sue the idiot who decided to
drink and drive.
–Tonia Williams
Via www.cherokeephoenix.org
The Cherokee Phoenix reserves the right to exercise editorial discretion on all content
appearing on the Web site or in the newspaper, including columns and letters to the
editor. Opinions expressed in columns and letters from citizens, Tribal Councilors or
other officials do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cherokee Phoenix editorial
staff or Editorial Board. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month prior
to the month of publication. Columns shall not exceed 750 words and letters shall not
exceed 300 words in length. Columns must receive prior approval from the editor before
submission. Letters intended for publication must be addressed to Talking Circles or
identified as a letter to the editor. Submissions from Cherokee citizens will be given
preference. Submissions from non-citizens will be published only as space permits and
must be Cherokee related. Anonymous letters will not be published.
Creating fair districts ensures Nation’s future
councilors. In fact, there is a community
assistance fund, which I refer to as a slush
fund, which was quadrupled in the last
budget. Each councilor has $25,000 to
disburse at his or her own discretion, and
fellow councilors rarely challenge what the
money is used for.
So one councilor gives a local school
state championship rings but the other
schools in other districts cannot get rings.
Or one councilor gives a group in her
district $1,500 to pay for utilities and the
other districts cannot have the same benefit
because their councilor chooses to fund
something else.
Decisions become random and arbitrary.
There are few, if any program or eligibility
guidelines other than the councilor gets to
say what community group in his district
gets the money.
With a 15-district system, even more
of these types of short-term benefit
decisions will be made. A 15-district
system encourages councilors to look out
for a small part of the CN, rather than the
CN as a unique cultural government and
community of communities.
I have brought suit in tribal court to
resolve the districting issue because I
believe that instead of leading the council
to look at what is best for the CN in
generations to come, having 15 individual
districts only aids and abets councilors’
own political futures. My message in this
is simple. We need to wake up and make
decisions that are good for our children,
not what is politically expedient or good
for any elected official’s political future,
and having 15 council districts will, by
design, make the council less likely to work
together for the good of the entire Nation.

Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009 may 2009 • Cherokee Phoenix A-5
Indians can’t
ignore diabetes’
dangers
BY WILL CHAVEZ
Staff Writer
A few years ago I wrote about a
monster living among our people –
diabetes. It’s still here and stronger
than ever. I’m embarrassed to admit
since I wrote that column I didn’t do
enough to prevent the monster from
catching me.
I pledged to prevent diabetes from
affecting me though I had long ago
realized I was destined to get the
disease because so many in my family
had it. My prevention efforts were at
best half-hearted and inconsistent.
I knew I wasn’t eating healthy and
exercising enough. I knew what I
had to do and didn’t do it. I foolishly
thought the diabetes monster would
somehow not find me.
How ridiculous was that thinking?
I wonder how many other Indians
believe diabetes is not meant for them
and that they can ignore warning
signs. The disease will
get you if you have a
family history of the
disease and don’t take
care of yourself. I had
a few warning signs
beforehand but didn’t
take them seriously.
Eventually, I got sick
after a surgery and
the monster attacked.
I noticed my vision
was blurry, and I was
constantly thirsty –
classic signs of diabetes.
My doctor took charge, ordered
blood tests and confirmed I had
“I wonder how
many other
Indians believe
diabetes is not
meant for them
and that they can
ignore warning
signs.”
diabetes and put me on medication.
My health returned, but it will never
really be normal again. I have to
be conscientious of what I eat and
drink, when I eat and how much. And
exercise is now part of my life.
I thought I exercised before, but now
I am exercising more frequently, a lot
harder and in longer sessions. Music
helps me get through many workouts,
but on some days to get through I have
to say to myself that exercising is a
matter of life and death. Not meaning
to be too dramatic, but I guess it is.
Exercise and better eating habits along
with the medication have improved
my blood sugar, and I have lost nearly
25 pounds since I was diagnosed.
My body is stronger, but there
are days when the monster tells me
I’m not winning the battle. We were
warned in my diabetes class that there
would be discouraging days. It is a
Red Clay inspires
pride and anger
BY CRAIG HENRY
Phoenix Staff
There are some experiences that are burned into my
heart and mind. I was fortunate enough to have one
of those experiences recently at the Red Clay Reunion
Cultural Celebration and I know my experience at Red
Clay will not be forgotten.
Though the trip home to Tahlequah was long and I
thought I would have enough
time to think about the
celebration and get my thoughts
in order, I left with a barrage of
emotions.
I am grateful and honored
to have had the opportunity to
attend such an event with so
many wonderful citizens and
leaders of our great tribe and from the tribe of our
brothers and sisters, the Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians. We shared three beautiful days full of food,
games, stories, songs, memories, hopes and dreams
surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
tough battle. I remember how tough it
was for relatives who had diabetes to
eat healthy and exercise.
In the past five years diabetes has
taken a beloved Cherokee aunt, a
Pueblo uncle and likely hastened my
father’s death in 2007.
Diabetes is a condition where your
pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin
or your muscle cells and fat cells do
not use insulin efficiently. There are
two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type
2. Type 1 is usually diagnosed before
the age of 30 but can develop at any
age. Type 2 (what I have) accounts for
95 percent of the diabetes population,
with most being over 40, but more
children are getting the disease
because more of them are obese.
A study from Pediatrics and
Adolescent Medicine magazine
shows that among 4-year-olds
obesity prevalence was 31 percent for
American Indian children, compared
with about 16 percent for white
children and 12.8
percent for Asian kids.
In another report,
researchers tracked
prescriptions filled
on behalf of children
and adolescents.
Research showed the
use of blood pressure
medications and
diabetic oral drug
use are rising among
children…in all age
groups between 6 to 18
years of age. The youngest age group,
the 6-to-10-year population, saw the
greatest increase in medication use.
One doctor in the study blames
the rise on one factor: the dramatic
increase in obesity among children.
The study also showed doctors are
becoming more aware of the health
consequences of obesity among
children and starting treatment early.
We adults have to learn to get
healthy and stay healthy if we want
healthy kids. We have to set good
examples. Again, it’s tough to do
especially when our daily lives are so
busy.
I’ll never forget the day I got the
call from my doctor telling me I was
diabetic. He was straightforward and
honest about what I would needed to
do. I couldn’t help but think as I talked
to him that the monster had caught
me. But before our conversation ended
I became resolute and told myself I
will fight this with all I got. So far, the
monster has been losing.
“I’m angry about the fact
that there ever had to be a
Red Clay…. I’m angry that
there ever had to be a CN
and an Eastern Band.”
Though I was covering the event for the Cherokee
Phoenix with my good friend and colleague, Will Chavez,
and did not get to fully experience all the goings-on,
I still feel like we were able to take part in something
OUR VIEWS
Home-buying
process a
wake-up call
BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
It’s exciting to drive around looking
at homes for sale. The thought of
having a home to call your own is a
feeling like no other. But beginning the
loan process is daunting, and if you
have some credit issues from the past,
it can be downright terrifying.
We are a society that loves to have
people agree with us
and say “yes.” No one
likes to hear the word
“no.” But that twoletter
word feels like
a shot through the
heart if you’re turned
down for a home loan.
You want to blame
the lender for tearing your dream of
owning a home to shreds, but we have
no one to blame but ourselves.
My family of six began this process
in April because we have outgrown the
three-bedroom home we rent. Besides
the fact that my husband and I share
our bedroom with our two youngest
sons, we realized we could be putting
the $750 rent payment into something
that’s ours. When we first rented our
home in 2007, it suited our family.
But with the addition of another baby,
we’re busting at the seams.
When we first signed the lease on
the home we’re renting, we pictured
“…the loan officer
told us we needed
to clean up our
credit before we
could proceed.”
ourselves living in that
home for many years.
Purchasing a home was
one of those fantasies
we talked about now
and then. We dreamed
of owning a home with
some land so the kids
would have space to
run around and play.
We wanted a large front porch or a
wrap-around porch and a back deck
for cooking out and family gatherings.
It dawned on me as I was writing
a story about the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development’s
Section 184 Indian Home Loan
Guarantee Program that this might be
our ticket to our dream home.
The Section 184 loan is a mortgage
product specifically for American
Indians that Congress established in
1992 to facilitate homeownership in
Indian communities.
The loan guarantee assures the
lender that its investment will be
repaid in the event of a foreclosure.
Other benefits include low down
payments, no mortgage insurance and
special. We were able to see
old friends and meet new
ones and share with them
this event.
Seeing our people travel
such great distances to
gather again on the sacred grounds of Red Clay as one
Nation to share our culture with one another, to remind
not only us but also the rest of the world that we are still
a strong and proud people, I can’t
help but feel joyful.
I believe CN At-Large Tribal
Councilor Jack Baker said it best
during the joint council: “Today
we are adding to the historical
significance of Red Clay as we’re
proclaiming to the world, while we
may have lost our lands here, our
ancestors succeeded in their greater
objective – the preservation of our Nation. True, we are
two nations, but as gathering today here shows, we are
not divided nations but are united nations – united as
one Cherokee people.”
But while I am happy to have made the trip, still, there
is a large part of me that is angry.
I’m angry about the fact that there ever had to be a
Red Clay. Angry that our tribe was forced to meet there
from 1832 until 1838 because Georgia prohibited the
“But that twoletter
word feels
like a shot through
the heart if you’re
turned down for a
home loan.”
flexible underwriting.
I’d never heard of the loan until
I read a story about the Cherokee
Nation’s Mortgage Assistance Program
written by Staff Writer Jami Custer. As
I conducted interviews for my story
and researched the loan, I wondered
how many people actually knew about
the loan.
My husband and I each have credit
issues from before we had our children
and some while we
were trying to make
ends meet in college
with a family.
We talked with a
mortgage company
and the loan officer
told us we needed to
clean up our credit
before we could proceed. It was a
wake up call. We were told that if we
can pay off those old debts and show
good payment history for the next 12
months, he would be able to approve
us for the either the Section 184 loan
or another HUD loan.
We’re determined to do this right.
I don’t know why we didn’t take care
of these debts before, but it is easy
to push them to the back of your
mind if you don’t have debt collectors
harassing you daily with letters and
phone calls.
I urge anyone thinking about
purchasing their first home to not wait
until the mortgage
company tells you that
you need to clean up
your credit and pay
old debts. If you are
thinking of beginning
the process, pay
those debts now or at
least make payment
arrangements to show
that you’re trying to take control of
your debts, not the other way around.
We spend weekends driving around
looking at homes. We’ve found three
that we can picture ourselves living
in. They will more than likely be sold
within a year, but it keeps us motivated
to pay those bills and save for a new
home.
My husband and I have set a goal
for ourselves. We want to be in our
own home before the end of 2011. It’s
a reasonable goal, but it’s not going
to be easy. But to upgrade to a fourbedroom,
two-bath home with a lot of
space for the little ones to run around,
we’re willing to forego vacations,
restaurants and other non-necessities
so we can reach that goal.
Cherokee Nation government from operating in New
Echota. I’m angry that there ever had to be a CN and an
Eastern Band. Angry that our great Nation was divided
and that so many of our ancestors lost their lives 170
years ago on their way to Indian Territory along the Trail
of Tears.
I’m angry that what was once the beautiful homelands
of our great people has been replaced with concrete
jungles and tourist traps that so flippantly use
bastardized versions of our culture
and language to rake in profits.
But I know this anger must be
used in a positive way. It should be
used as motivation to help ensure
that future generations will not
experience the same injustice that
our ancestors have experienced.
As former Principal Chief
Wilma Mankiller said it: “I
learned at Red Clay how
important it is to understand
and acknowledge history and
to understand past injustice. It’s
“I am
grateful and
honored to
have had the
opportunity
to attend
such an
event...”
equally important to channel our past injustices into
actions that will help us secure a future for our people.
Our ancestors suffered greatly, but they kept their vision
fixed firmly on the future. We today as Cherokee people
can do no less.”

A-6 Cherokee Phoenix • may 2009 Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
Tribal Council
overrides veto
on travel act
Legislators want to
set their own policies
regarding travel.
BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Tribal Councilors
voted 13-4 to override Principal Chief
Chad Smith’s veto of an act relating to the
legislators’ travel reimbursements at their
April 13 meeting.
The act, which passed in March, repeals
a previous law to allow councilors to
determine their travel reimbursement
policy, but still be in line with travel
procedures of Cherokee Nation employees
and Smith.
Councilor Chuck Hoskin Jr. said Smith’s
veto set a standard that not even the
executive branch would want imposed on
legislation.
“The chief says there’s not enough
specificity with respect to our legislation,
but that could be true of anything that
we pass,” Hoskin said. “We leave it to the
implementing body to come up with
those fine details and this legislation does
just that. So I hope for the sake of our
institution we override this veto.”
But Smith said the council should replace
reimbursement law with another law.
“I would ask the council to sustain this
veto and ask that you all as a council go
through the process to replace this statute
with another statute that reflects a policy,”
he said.
Smith added that he has no problem
with reimbursing
councilors for
expenses, but that
any compensation
and reimbursement
changes should be
effective next term.
“When we all
swore into our
respected oaths
“This is a
resolution
recognizing
Sam
Bradford
for his
outstanding
leadership
ability and
also for
winning the
Heisman
Trophy. He’s
the first
Cherokee
citizen to
win the
Heisman.”
– Councilor
Jack Baker
of office, we knew
exactly what the
positions paid, what
the terms of the
office were, what
the responsibilities
were and what the
expense would be,”
he said.
Councilor Cara
Cowan Watts
disagreed with
Smith.
“I guess I see this
issue differently
in that we set our
own policies and
procedures within
the confines already
of any federal
guidelines or tribal
guidelines,” she
said. “I’m going
to support the
override of the
chief’s veto. This is
the business of the
legislation branch
unless we also
want to go forth
and set guidelines for
the administrative
branch.”
Hoskin agreed with
her statements.
“We’re replacing
a statute that’s not
serving a purpose,”
h e said. “We will
adopt rules that
will govern our
internal policies as
it respects travel
reimbursement.”
Councilors
Meredith Frailey,
Jack Baker, Chris
Soap and Julia
Coates voted to
sustain the veto.
Legislators also
added $2.5 million
to the tribe’s 2009
budget for a total
budget of $551
million.
The increase
includes $61,868 to
the tribe’s General
Fund for a donation
to the Oklahoma
Academy, travel
costs for the Youth
Choir to travel in
April to the Joint
Council Meetings
in Red Clay, Tenn., and funds for the
Juvenile Healing Wellness Program.
The budget increase also adds $2.2
million in the Native American Housing
Assistance and Self Determination Act
Fund for the purchase of foreclosed
properties and reallocations of funds for
“I guess I
see this issue
differently
in that we
set our own
policies and
procedures
within the
confines
already of
any federal
guidelines
or tribal
guidelines.”
– Councilor
Cara Cowan
Watts
the Homeownership building packages and
Rental Assistance programs from the 2007
and 2008 Indian Housing Plans.
The foreclosed homes purchased by the
CN were bought at reduced prices, and the
savings were passed on to CN Mortgage
Assistance Program clients, the act states.
Councilors also waived sovereign
immunity for the CN Home Health
Services for a loan with BancFirst to
purchase a residential care center.
“We have discussed the last couple of
meetings for the purchase of a care center in
Jay, Okla.,” said Councilor Harley Buzzard. “I
think all the details have been worked out as
far as the BancFirst negotiations.”
The council authorized an Indian
Country Community Development Block
Grant application to the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development, with
plans to construct a Cherokee Elder Care
in Stilwell next to the Wilma P. Mankiller
Health Center.
Councilors also recognized and
commended University of Oklahoma
student athlete and Cherokee citizen Sam
Bradford with a piece of legislation.
“This is a resolution recognizing Sam
Bradford for his outstanding leadership
ability and also for winning the Heisman
Trophy. He’s the first Cherokee citizen to
win the Heisman,” said Baker.
Councilors also voted 11-6 to table
another vetoed act until the June meeting.
In March, councilors amended the Tribal
Employment Rights Ordinance, which
called for the prompt payment of vendors.
Smith vetoed it.
cherokeephoenix.org
Council Briefs
Council OKs donation of video games
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The
Tribal Council has approved the
donation of 29 Sony PlayStations
video game consoles from surplus
to the Community Organization
Training and Technical Assistance
Program for redistribution
to Cherokee community
organizations for the community
or youth programs.
The PlayStation consoles are
in good shape for donation, and
the COTTA Program recognized
the need to be resourceful with
the Nation’s assets by making full
use of the items, according to the
resolution.
– CGV
Council approves environmental resolutions
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The
Tribal Council approved seven
different resolutions at the
April 13 meeting relating to
the environment. Councilors
authorized the Cherokee Nation
Environmental Programs to
submit an application to the Tribal
Water Pollution Control Program.
Councilor Cara Cowan Watts said
the application was for a $300,000
grant over two years.
“This is an EPA clean-water act
grant,” she said. “It’s to do surface
water education and monitoring.”
The council also approved the
submission of a special grant
application to the U.S. National
Park Service for a historic
preservation fund grant.
As well, councilors approved
five resolutions allowing the
CNEP to submit applications to
the Environmental Protection
Agency for clean-air, hazardous
waste pickup, solid waste pickup
and dumps clean-up funding.
– CGV
Supplies to Peavine Schools approved
TAHELQUAH, Okla. – The
Tribal Council has allowed the
Cherokee Nation Education
Department to donate surplus
educational supplies from
Sequoyah Schools to Peavine
Elementary School in Adair
County.
Peavine Elementary is a
kindergarten through eighth
grade school that’s located in a
rural area, where the majority of
its students are Cherokee.
Donated supplies include
lockers, tables, office chairs,
television, stainless steel sink,
book shelves, chairs and a
treadmill.
Council approves board appointments
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The
council approved a number of
board appointments at its April
13 meeting, including Wayne
Dunham as commissioner of
the Housing Authority of the
Cherokee Nation board of
commissioners and Brad Carson,
Duane King and Wilma Mankiller
as honorary members of the
Cherokee Nation Education
Corporation.
David Ballew was appointed
as a member of the boards of
Cherokee Nation Business,
Cherokee Medical Services LLC,
CNI hit tough times in March
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. –
Cherokee Nation Industries CEO
Bryan Collins reported to the
Tribal Council April 13 that CNI
is still being affected by the rough
economy.
For March, Collins reported
revenues of $7.6 million and a loss
of $150,000.
“The market’s still uncertain,”
Collins said. “We still have certain
areas within our business structures
that are down quite a bit.”
CNI had budgeted revenues of
$12.9 million for March, he said.
– CGV
Cherokee Nation Aerospace and
Defense LLC, Cherokee Nation
Construction Services LLC,
Cherokee Nation Distributors
LLC, Cherokee Nation
Distribution LLC, Cherokee
Nation Health Group LLC,
Cherokee Nation Healthcare
Services LLC, Cherokee Nation
Logistics LLC, Cherokee Nation
Red Wing LLC, Cherokee
Nation Technology Solutions
LLC and Cherokee Nation
Telecommunications LLC.
– CGV
“A lot of
the budgeting
was done well
in advance, if
prior to our
knowledge,”
Collins said.
There
has been
a shortfall Bryan Collins
in CNI’s
construction area, he said, but the
entity does have ongoing contracts
and projects for it.
– CGV

Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009 may 2009 • Cherokee Phoenix A-7
Red Clay
from front page
Cherokee People.”
Speaking at the reunion, former CN
Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller said
her predecessor Ross Swimmer and
former EBCI Principal Chief Robert
Youngdeer chose the site in 1984
because of its significance to both tribes.
Mankiller served as CN deputy chief in
1984.
“It’s impossible to visit Red Clay
without thinking about the forced
removal of my ancestors, our ancestors,
from here to Indian Territory, now
Oklahoma,” she said.
Red Clay served as the CN
governmental seat from 1832-38
because of harassment from Georgia. In
1832, Georgia prohibited the CN from
operating, and as a result, the Cherokee
Capital was moved from New Echota,
Ga., to nearby Red Clay.
Eleven general council meetings
were held at the site from 1832-37. The
council heard reports from delegations
sent to Washington, D.C., and eventually
the delegations’ actions divided the
Cherokees into
“It’s
impossible
to visit Red
Clay without
thinking
about the
forced
removal of
my ancestors.”
– Wilma
Mankiller,
former principal
chief
factions.
Red Clay
proved to be
the Cherokee’s
last capital
before being
moved west.
In December
1835, a party
led by John
Ridge, Major
Ridge and
Elias Boudinot
signed the
Treaty of New
Echota, giving
up remaining
Cherokee lands.
In August
1837, the
Cherokee
people held their last Cherokee National
Council session at Red Clay prior to the
1838 forced removal. At that meeting,
the Cherokee people, led by Principal
Chief John Ross, again rejected the New
Echota Treaty and refused to relinquish
lands.
A regular council session was
scheduled for 1838 at Red Clay, but
due to removal activities, that meeting
never happened. An estimated 17,000
Cherokees were rounded up and held in
stockades until the government moved
them to Indian Territory.
Mankiller said the Trail of Tears
is a common reference point for all
Oklahoma Cherokees and that the CN is
commemorating the 170th anniversary
of the arrival
of Cherokee
“I learned at
Red Clay how
important it is
to understand
and
acknowledge
history and to
understand
past injustice.
– Wilma
Mankiller,
former principal
chief
people
to Indian
Territory in
the spring of
1839.
“When I
think about
the Trail of
Tears, I don’t
think about a
big historical
event, I think
about the
families…
and how they
must have
felt as they
were being
told to leave
everything
they’d ever
known,” she said. “No matter how many
generations pass, this is still home.”
Mankiller said as she stood on the
Red Clay grounds in 1984, she tried
to imagine the “anger, frustration and
passion” her ancestors probably felt in
their meetings debating whether to fight
to the death for their land or voluntarily
move to west. She felt anger over the
past, she said, but learned to redirect her
anger to something positive.
“I learned at Red Clay how important
it is to understand and acknowledge
history and to understand past injustice.
It’s equally important to channel our
past injustices into actions that will help
us secure a future for our people,” she
said. “Our ancestors suffered greatly, but
they kept their vision fixed firmly on the
future. We today as Cherokee people can
do no less.”
When the CN and the EBCI
governments met at Red Clay in 1984,
they dedicated a monument that holds
a sacred council fire. This eternal flame
honors the Cherokee of the 1830s, those
who died during the forced removal and
Cherokees living today and in the future.
The Eternal Flame of the Cherokee Nation sits on the grounds of Red Clay State
Park in Red Clay, Tenn. The flame was lit in 1984 during the first joint council
meeting between the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
PHOTOS BY WILL CHAVEZ
Cherokees tell what Red
Clay reunion means
BY WILL CHAVEZ
Staff Writer
RED CLAY, Tenn. – Most Cherokee
people who came to Red Clay for the
reunion likely knew the significance of
the land they stood and played on.
It’s impossible to visit Red Clay without
thinking about the forced removal in
1838, said former Cherokee Nation
Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller. The
removal, also called the Trail of Tears, is a
“point of reference” for Cherokee people,
she said.
Some Cherokees may have appreciated
that significance more than others,
but most appreciated that the CN and
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are
united and willing to meet.
Patsy Edgar, a CN citizen from
Dahlonegah, Ga., said she enjoyed seeing
people she wouldn’t ordinarily see and
seeing the Cherokee tribes united.
She said she came to Red Clay because
of its historical significance, both 25 years
ago and 171 years ago when the U.S.
government began collecting Cherokee
people in the area for removal.
“It’s very sad…but it also makes
you feel proud because there was
such determination. Our people faced
the odds and we did survive and we
did prosper and we are still here and
thriving,” she said.
EBCI Tribal Councilor David Wolfe
said it’s always enjoyable to come back to
Red Clay, a former meeting ground.
“I really enjoyed being out here today.
I’ve seen a lot of familiar looking faces,”
he said.
He said the historic grounds are a
perfect reunion site because Cherokees
considered the place, with its blue spring
water, a sacred site before removal.
It’s really a celebration of coming back
to an old Cherokee town, he said.
“Serving on the Tribal Council we
make a lot of decisions that affect
our tribe, and I can only imagine the
decisions that were made here and the
discussions that took place,” he said.
Pat Calhoun of Cherokee, N.C., said
he attended with his family to sell fry
bread, but enjoyed the activities going on
around his vendors booth.
“The weather’s been great. The people
have been great. I’m just having a lot of
fun, enjoying some of the singing and
dancing going on,” he said.
Red Clay’s sacredness was passed on
to him by his father, Walker Calhoun,
and his great-uncle, Will West Long, who
were honored for preserving Cherokee
ceremonies and art.
Missy Crowe of Cherokee, N.C., came
to sell “corn shuck” dolls and to watch her
children perform traditional dances. She
attended the first joint council meeting
in 1984.
“It’s good to see us coming back 25
years later and still being, you know,
relatives. I really like it,” she said.
Flame
from front page
fire that had been extinguished briefly
for the ceremony. The chiefs also spoke
about the Cherokee significance of the
flame and Red Clay.
Smith said Red Clay served as the
seat for the CN’s exiled government
for five years.
“It was our government in exile
because of hostile federal policy,”
Smith said.
Hicks said, “Every time I come
to Red Clay or even other areas in
eastern Tennessee, it’s very spiritual
for me. The guidance and unity of our
people is under God. We’ve had a lot
of tough times, but I know truly in my
heart that he has a plan for us.”
Cherokees from both tribes met at
Red Clay April 16-18 to commemorate
the 25th anniversary of a 1984 meeting
between the CN and EBCI. When the
governments met at Red Clay in 1984,
they dedicated the monument that
holds the sacred council fire.
Following the relighting of the
sacred fire, both councils held a
meeting and
approved a
resolution
recognizing Red
Clay’s historical
significance.
CN At-Large
Tribal Councilor
and Trail of
Tears Association
President Jack
Baker read
the resolution
and said Red
Clay was the
capital of the
CN after 1832
when Georgia
prohibited the
CN from operating at its New Echota
capital. It was at Red Clay where the
Cherokee people continued to reject
overtures from the U.S. government to
move west, he said.
“There was sometimes thousands,
most of the Cherokee Nation camped
here, and other times only a few
hundred. They met here in February
when there was snow on the ground,
“It was our
government
in exile
because
of hostile
federal
policy.”
– Principal
Chief Chad
Smith
in August when the temperatures were
near 100 degrees. They met in rainy
weather and met in fair weather, but
always they sought to retain our lands
here in the East and more importantly
to preserve our Nation,” Baker said.
Not until 25 years ago were the two
Cherokee factions, those who were
removed and those who were able to
stay in North Carolina, able to meet
again at Red Clay.
“Today we are adding to the
historical significance of Red Clay as
we’re proclaiming to the world, while
we may have lost our lands here, our
ancestors succeeded in their greater
objective – the preservation of our
Nation,” Baker said. “True, we are two
nations, but as gathering today here
shows, we are not divided nations but
are united nations – united as one
Cherokee people.”
The councils were treated to a
hog fry meal after their meeting
and participated in other activities,
including storytelling, stickball games,
Cherokee marble games, gospel
singing, artist demonstrations and
the burying of a time capsule that
held items from both tribes, including
a copy of the Cherokee Phoenix
newspaper.
Eastern Band
of Cherokee
Indians Principal
Chief Michell
Hicks, left,
speaks to
a crowd of
people before
a time capsule
containing items
donated by both
Cherokee tribes
is placed in the
ground at Red
Clay, Tenn.

Immersion
from front page
A-8 Cherokee Phoenix • may 2009 Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
with other tribes, including the United
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians.
But a handful of students – possibly
up to five – aren’t citizens of a federally
recognized tribe.
Dr. Neil Morton,
executive director of
the tribe’s Education
Group, said during
the April Education
Committee meeting
that a policy change
would affect either
four or five students
in the school.
The Cherokee
Phoenix attempted
to get a comment
from one of the
families with children who are not
citizens of a federally recognized
tribe, but the parents declined to be
interviewed.
Cowan Watts said she had planned
to introduce a legislative act regarding
non-citizens of federally recognized
tribes enrolled in LIP, but the act was
never placed on the council’s Education
Committee agenda because she wanted
to work directly with Principal Chief
Chad Smith on the issue.
“The purpose is ‘truth in advertising,’”
Cowan Watts said. “I believe tribal
citizens understood this program to
be funded by the tribe out of tribal
revenues for the purposes of serving
Cherokee Nation citizens.”
The LIP budget for fiscal year 2009 is
$2.6 million, and the program is funded
100 percent from the tribe’s General
Fund, according to financial documents.
“No other education program or tribal
program provides services to non-tribal
citizens using tribal funds other than
immersion, to my knowledge,” she said.
The policy change Cowan Watts is
calling for would allow current students
– who aren’t citizens of the CN or a
federally recognized tribe – to remain
in the program at the cost of the CN
until the fifth grade. However, beginning
in the fifth grade the families of those
students would be required to reimburse
the CN for program’s actual cost.
According to the LIP, its admission
practice is an open admission priority
“I believe tribal citizens
understood this program
to be funded by the tribe
out of tribal revenues
for the purposes of
serving Cherokee Nation
citizens.”
– Tribal Councilor Cara
Cowan Watts
for Cherokee citizens and case-by-case
consideration for non-citizens, only
when such admission does not affect
class-size standards.
“I believe our immersion school
should be open to all students wishing
to be bilingual in Cherokee and English,
assuming Cherokee students are given
priority for acceptance, retention and
tribal activities,”
Cowan Watts said.
“Tribal funds
should only be
used for our
citizens though.”
The immersion
school’s budget
includes the
total immersion
program, teachers,
curriculum
staff, translators,
technology,
program operation,
outreach and
public school pilot sites.
But Cowan Watts gave the example
that if the total budget were divided
by the total number of students, the
reimbursement to the CN would cost
families about $43,000 per student.
With that educational price tag,
parents with children who are noncitizens
might be forced to withdraw
their children from the school.
Some parents have also expressed
their concern that their children would
be delayed in public school because they
aren’t able to read or write in English.
“If the immersion school is working,
no student should have problems with
entering the public school system,”
Cowan Watts said. “I understand the
intent of the immersion school is for
students to be bilingual in Cherokee
and English. If they are not, we need
to look, again, at how we are measuring
success.”
Ultimately, Cowan Watts said she’s
concerned about preserving the
Cherokee language.
“Although the language is not
proprietary to just Cherokee citizens,
tribal programs should always be
focused on serving Cherokee citizens
and maintaining the language amongst
our tribal communities,” she said. “If the
programs begin to focus on others, the
focus will not be on Cherokees and thus
cost us in the end.”
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Scholarship Deadline: June 12, 2009. Cherokee Nation Higher Education Scholarship
applications are available for the 2009-2010 academic year. Visit http://scholarships.cherokee.org
or call the Cherokee Nation Office of Higher Education at 918-207-3948 or 1-800-256-0671, ext.
5465.
The Cherokee Phoenix publishes classified ads in good faith. However, we cannot guarantee the
integrity of every ad. If you have doubts concerning a product or service, we suggest contacting
the Better Business Bureau and exercising proper caution.
Classified ads are a minimum of $5.00 for the first 10 words and 25¢ for each additional word. Ads
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Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009 may 2009 • Cherokee Phoenix A-9
English-only measure passes state Senate
BY STAFF REPORTS
OKLAHOMA CITY – A resolution to let
Oklahoma voters decide whether English
should be the state’s official language passed
the Senate April 22 by a vote of 44-2.
House Joint Resolution 1042, the so-called
English-only bill, heads to the House as a
compromise bill between Senate and House
versions. It states that English is Oklahoma’s
common and unifying language and that all
official state actions will be in English.
If HJR 1042 wins final approval,
Oklahoma voters would vote on a
constitutional amendment in 2010 that
would require English in official state
business, such as government documents,
licenses and telephone systems. The measure
makes an exception for Indian languages.
Principal Chief Chad Smith said the
compromise version “lacks the spiteful
nature of the House version” introduced by
“Had I known about them
I would have been very
willing to work with him.”
– Rep. Lisa Billy
Farmers market
season opens May 2
BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Area growers and farmers
will kick off the season at the second annual
Tahlequah Farmers Market May 2 at the First
Lutheran Church on 2111 Mahaney Avenue.
“We’re going to officially open on May 2,” said
Loretta Merritt, Farmers Market Board of Directors
vice president. “I’m excited about it. This is something
I think Tahlequah is ready for, it’s so important that
people have healthy food to eat.”
Sellers will have a variety of homegrown produce
including peppers, squash, apples, potatoes and
tomatoes, homemade breads, cookies and soaps, grassfed
beef and other plants.
The first farmers market took place May through
October 2008, and saw a growing number of
customers by the end of the season, but board
members have high hopes this year.
“We have a lot of new members this year so we’re
going to have more variety than last year,” said Merritt,
who also owns Shortline Farms with her husband, Bob.
Lisa Turner, TFM board secretary, also sells extra
items she grows in her garden.
“I did pretty good (last year,)” Turner said. “I just
brought extra stuff, but that wasn’t my intent. I’m there
to promote sustainable agriculture and to show people
we have small farms around in this area – Cherokee
County. That people are growing things organically.”
Other benefits of shopping the farmers market are
the freshness of food and buying locally.
“You’re supporting our local community,” Merritt
said. “All of the growers are from Cherokee and
the surrounding counties. They all produce the
produce themselves. It’s all grown within the state of
Oklahoma.
Growers who sell at the markets sell chemical-free
produce, Merritt said.
“Our growers are making an effort to take care of the
environment,” she said. “They all use organic processes.
(Shopping the farmers’ market) helps limit our reliance
on corporate farms and on imported foods.”
It took a lot of effort to organize the market, but they
got the desired result, Turner said.
“We finally got this market together,” she said. “You
can get some good produce. I’m a real advocate for
locally grown foods. It’s better for everybody.”
A new feature to the market is the Web site,
Tahlequahfarmersmarket.com, she said.
“We’ll have weekly updates on what types of
vegetables will be available,” Merritt said. “And what’s
due to be in season week by week so people can plan
their menus before they go.”
The market is scheduled for every Saturday through
October 31, and the TFM board will coordinate other
activities throughout the season for customers.
“We’ll have special events throughout the season
just like last year,” Merritt said. “Our buyers and sellers
loved it.”
The events were a tomato contest, raffles and
October Fest with bratwurst and music.
Many items offered at the market will have prices
competitive with grocery stores, but those that do cost
a little more than store-bought produce is worth it,
Merritt said.
“Cost is relative of course,” she said. “You’re getting
very fresh produce – produce that’s picked within
hours of when you’re buying it – not days. Even if you
do have to pay a few more cents a pound, the payoff
is going to be in higher nutritional value and in just
better flavor.”
Other area farmers markets are the Muskogee
Farmers Market in Muskogee, Okla., and the Stilwell
Farmers Market, which is located in Stilwell, Okla.
info@tahlequahfarmersmarket.com.
Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Dist. 53.
The Five Tribes of Oklahoma (Cherokee,
Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek and Seminole)
and Indian members of the Oklahoma
legislature opposed HJR 1042.
Rep. Chuck Hoskin, D-Dist. 6, is a former
Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor who said
the legislation was “unnecessary” and flew in
the face of tribes fighting to maintain their
languages.
On April 6, Terrill got an identical version
of his bill approved by a House Judiciary
Committee – a move he hoped would head
off a similar but less restrictive measure.
Terrill, despite objections from
Democrats, was able to gut Senate Bill 1120
and insert wording that called for voters to
decide whether to make English Oklahoma’s
official language.
SB 1120, which originally intended to
allow law enforcement groups to hold
closed meetings, was insurance against a
“competing sham English
bill,” SB 1156, Terrill said.
SB 1156, introduced by
Sen. Patrick Anderson,
R-Dist. 19, specified that
English is the “common
language” of the state
instead of the “official
language.”
The following day the
House General Government Committee
passed legislation
declaring English as the common language
of Oklahoma, rejecting Terrill’s efforts to
replace the legislation. The committee sent
the common English measure to the House
floor for debate and a vote.
Its hearing was tense, with its House
author, Rep. Lisa Billy, R-Dist. 42, exchanging
words with Terrill.
Terrill reiterated the state needs the
official English bill to prevent it from having
to provide taxpayer-funded services in
languages other than English. He said his
bill included a lengthy list of exceptions
involving public health and safety, teaching
foreign languages, tourism and tribal
languages.
But Billy, who is of Chickasaw and
Choctaw descent, said she has “grave
concerns” about the measure and its tribal
impact. She said the bill would affect her
“What is unusual...is an elected member
being prevented from speaking to any
House committee about a bill’s merit, or
lack thereof.”
– Rep. Randy Terrill
communications with tribal constituents in
their native languages.
Billy’s committee rejected two
amendments filed by Terrill before passing
the common language measure. Billy said
Terrill did not meet with her in advance
about his amendments, a common practice
among lawmakers.
“That was very disappointing and
frustrating,” Billy said. “Had I known about
them I would have been very willing to work
with him.”
Terrill wanted to speak about the bill’s
merits but was denied.
“I think it is clear that Rep. Billy and I
simply disagree on the merits of the issue,
which is nothing unusual here at the state
Capitol,” Terrill said. “What is unusual,
however, is an elected member being
prevented from speaking to any House
committee about a bill’s merit, or lack
thereof.”
Home gardens require work
but fresh tastes pay off
BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Home gardening sounds like
a quick fix in tough economic times. And although
gardening can be rewarding, there’s a costly startup
requiring tools, seeds and sweat equity.
Pat Gwin, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources
supervisor, said with a struggling economy people are
jumping on the gardening bandwagon, not realizing how
much work it is. He said gardening is more than just
dropping seeds into dirt.
“Gardens take an awful lot of sweat equity,” he said. “That’s
a literal and figurative term because you’re going to sweat
working in the garden. It’s a lot of work.
“The first thing I like to tell people is home gardening
is generally not a good method of saving money on
food, “Gwin added. “With the amount of time, effort
and equipment, you’ll make them the most expensive
vegetables.”
The startup cost for a home garden may sound cheap
when browsing seed packets at the store, but it’s the cost of
the required tools that add up.
“Hoes, shovels and rakes add up to about $100,” Gwin
said. “That buys a bunch of veggies (from the store.) But
I think if you can get past the economic part of it, the
nutritional aspect outweighs that.”
Many people also believe if they can start a garden, they
can get their children to help work in the garden to grow
the “free” vegetables, he said.
“Almost universally, people do have a conception that
you get free vegetables from a garden,” Gwin said. “But
those kids are still having to put a lot of labor in it. And
unless you have a family of 12, it’s very difficult.”
But for serious gardeners who have done their
homework and know what they’re getting into, the
freshness of homegrown produce is unbeatable, said Gwin,
who’s grown a garden for years.
“The problem with kids is they tend to taste things a lot
more intentionally,” he said. “I hated growing a garden as
a young kid, and I promised I’d never do it again. But you
get so hooked on that fresh taste.”
Lisa Turner, a 10-year Tahlequah resident, said she
and her family grow a variety of produce in their garden,
including kale, beets, potatoes, Swiss chard, peas and
onions.
“We eat everything we grow, and I will sell the extra
things at the farmers market,” she said. “We eat it all, can it or
freeze it, and I make jellies from the fruit.”
Turner said she and her children know the benefits of
fresh fruits and vegetables over store-bought produce.
“It is cheaper than going to the grocery store, and it
tastes so much better because it hasn’t gone very far,” she
said. “It’s gone from your backyard to your kitchen, and it
To advertise
in the
Cherokee Phoenix
Please contact
Nicole Hill
(918) 453-5743
or
e-mail
nicole-hill@cherokee.org
Tahlequah, Okla., resident Lisa Turner works in the
garden she’s grown for 10 years. Turner grows most of
her vegetables, including potatoes, peas, Swiss chard
and beets. PHOTO BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
doesn’t get any fresher than that.”
Gwin said another problem with starting a garden is
that people tend to overestimate its size.
“I say whatever size of the garden you want, cut that in
half,” he said. “A 10 (foot)-by-10 (foot) is a good thing to
start with. Mother Nature can grow weeds better than she
can grow vegetables and that affects the quality of what
you can grow.”
Turner agreed that starting out small is a good idea.
“It’s always better to start out small and add a little more
each year,” she said. “You don’t need a whole lot, maybe 20
x 10 feet, just a little patch to get started.”
Choosing the best produce to grow is also a major factor.
“If you have a small garden, obviously corn’s not a really
good thing to grow,” Gwin said. “Peppers, tomatoes, squash
and cucumbers, you can spend that same amount of labor
but maybe have a month or six weeks of harvesting.”

A-10 Cherokee Phoenix • may 2009 Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
Carolyn Yocham, left, leaves the Briggs Tobacco Outlet March 31 as store manager
Alexis Ryan carries Yocham’s $500 worth of tobacco products. Yocham stocked up on
the tobacco products a day before a federal tax drastically increased prices.
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Tobacco users stockpile
products before new tax
BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
AND JAMI CUSTER
Staff Writers
BRIGGS, Okla. – Like many tobacco users
on March 31, Carolyn Yocham stocked
up on tobacco products one day before a
new federal tobacco tax went into effect.
She bought 22 cartons of cigarettes, seven
rolls of chewing tobacco and 12 boxes
of cigars, but they weren’t all for her.
Yocham, a 61-year-old administrator at
a Tahlequah residential care facility, purchased
more than $500 worth of tobacco
products, most of which were for the facility’s
residents.
“I work at a residential care facility where
people have a limited income, and I’m getting
them their cigarettes before they go sky
high,” she said. “I might have to quit smoking.
(The tax) is not good. Not good at all.”
The new federal tobacco tax took affect
April 1 and increased taxes on all tobacco
products – some drastically. For example,
the tax on a pack of cigarettes jumped from
39 cents to a $1.01.
Yocham, a smoker since age 16, recently
switched from Virginia Slims to the Echo
brand, which is about half the price.
Before her switch, she paid about $40
for a carton of Virginia Slims each week. If
she had kept smoking Virginia Slims, she
would be spending an extra $7 dollars per
carton under the new tax.
Instead Yocham now pays $30.40 per
carton of Echos, up from the $23.95 price
she paid before April 1.
“I’ve always smoked a pack a day,” she
said. “Personally, I think the tax is terrible
because of everything else is going so much
higher, and with the economy like it is
people are depressed and they do need an
‘out’ someway.”
Dottie Dorsel, a 59-year-old Player’s
Club representative at Cherokee Casino
Tahlequah, also bought cigarettes on March
31. Although she didn’t stockpile like other
tobacco users, she’s not happy with the new
tax either.
“The expense is just getting overwhelming,”
she said. “It is an addiction, and the
price is getting to be ridiculous. I know
physically, mentally and financially, I need
to cut back.”
Dorsel said she smoked three packs a day
until the 2008 tax hike took effect. She then
cut down to two packs a day.
“I’m hoping to get it to where I smoke
one pack a day or less than a pack a day,”
she said. “All of us want to quit. That would
be the ideal situation, but it’s not going to
happen, I’m not going to go cold turkey.”
Dorsel said she spends about $38 a week
on cigarettes, which adds up to more than
$1,900 a year. Luckily, she said she doesn’t
have to worry about picking her cigarettes
over living essentials.
“I’m not in the situation – thank goodness
because of my job – that I have to
worry about cigarettes or food, but I do
have to watch (the cost,”) she said. “I live
by myself. But I pity the people who have
children, not only for what the children are
exposed to but because their addiction to
cigarettes is going to cost them, and they’re
going to have to make a decision.”
Dorsel said she smokes a cigarette with
her coffee each morning and throughout
the day if she gets stressed. But despite the
higher taxes, it doesn’t bother her.
“We all know it’s been coming,” she said.
“Do I have a problem with it? No, it’s like a
sin tax. I’m paying for my addiction, either
physically, mentally or ultimately financially.”
Other tobacco users have taken a different
approach and decided to quit because
of increasing tobacco prices.
Linda Smith, a Cherokee citizen from
Dewey, Okla., said she smoked for 50 years
before deciding to quit in March because
cigarettes were getting to be too expensive.
“They were pricing me out of smoking,”
Smith said. “I smoked five cartons a month.
They used to be $14.75, which wasn’t too
bad. I could afford that. But when they
went to $22.75, I couldn’t afford that, and
that’s just a little over $100 a month.”
Smith said the new tax increase would
probably force other smokers and tobacco
users, especially lower-income users, to
quit as well.
“They are going to have to quit smoking
because they are not going to be able to
afford it,” she said. “The poor people aren’t
going to be able to afford cigarettes whatsoever.
They will have to go without food if
they want to smoke.”
She said when she decided to quit smoking
she used the Cherokee Nation’s smoke
cessation classes to aid her.
“I went to the non-smoking class that the
Cherokees put on, and I worked it around
my smoking so that I ran out of cigarettes
the night before so that when I woke up in
the morning I would have no cigarettes in
the house. Therefore I wouldn’t have an opportunity
to smoke,” she said.
Surprisingly, she said it was easier to quit
than she thought it would be and that she
should have quit a long time ago for health
reasons.
Border smoke shop
owners fret fed tax
BY WILL CHAVEZ
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – A federal tobacco
tax that took effect April 1 drastically
increased the price of tobacco products
overnight, and that has border smoke shop
owners licensed with the Cherokee Nation
worried about their businesses.
The tax on a pack of cigarettes jumped
from 39 cents to a $1.01, and
a carton of cigarettes is now
$6.10 more. With the new
tax, a pack of name brand
cigarettes range in price from
$4.55 to nearly $6 while a generic
pack is around $3.50.
Area border Indian smoke
shop owners said they and
their customers are dealing
with the tax as best they can.
Border smoke shops are located
within 20-miles of Kansas,
Missouri and Arkansas
state lines.
Alexis Ryan, a clerk at the Briggs Native
American Tobacco Outlet east of
Tahlequah, said her customers have made
adjustments because of the tax. She said
customers began “stocking up” on tobacco
products the day before the tax took effect.
“I think they will quit smoking the major
brands like Marlboro and Camel and go to
a cheaper brand until that cheaper brand
goes up in price,” she said. She added that
if tobacco prices continue to rise, many
people will stop smoking. “From here, we
probably go through 200 to 300 customers
a day. If the prices keep going up, I can see
us losing at least 50 to 100 customers.”
Border shops were already carrying an
extra tax burden because of a new compact
between the CN and state. The tribe’s
previous compact put non-border shop tax
rates at 86 cents per pack, with border areas
August 1990 – Cherokee Nation Tax
Commission is established.
Fall 1992 – The CN agrees on a tobacco
compact with the state.
1998 – The CN Tax Commission begins
collecting a 3 percent retail sales tax from
retail smoke shops and other tribally
owned businesses.
Dec. 20, 2002 – The CN begins
collecting a 6 percent retail sales tax from
retail shops and other tribally owned
businesses.
Feb. 10, 2004 – A renegotiated tobacco
compact with the state goes into effect.
April 1, 2006 – Tobacco sur tax into
effect. Tax revenues are allocated for the
“I think they will
quit smoking the
major brands like
Marlboro and
Camel and go to a
cheaper brand...”
– Alexis Ryan, Briggs
Native American
Tobacco Outlet clerk
taxes ranging between 6 cents and 31 cents
per pack.
Under the new compact signed in November,
cigarette prices at non-border
shops dropped about 20 cents per pack,
while border shop customers saw cigarette
prices rise 36 to 61 cents.
Border shop owners sought relief from
the higher prices with the Tribal Council in
the form of a monthly rebate. But in Febru-
ary the council denied the
measure.
Stilwell Native American
Smoke Shop Manager
Seth Gray said his business
shouldn’t suffer too much because
of the new tax.
“I don’t think we’ll lose any
employees or anything. It’s
going to slow down business,
but I think it’ll catch back up
eventually,” he said.
Gray said the U.S. government
should have placed
some of the tax burden on alcohol sales
instead of just tobacco.
Lisa Buckner, who manages the Double
Head Mountain Smoke Shop in Adair
County, said the tax should have been
phased in gradually.
“I don’t like the tax because I am a smoker,
and I do feel like it should have been
done some other way than all at one time,”
she said.
Z. Black Bull, a Double Head Mountain
Smoke Shop employee, said he isn’t concerned
about the tax since he doesn’t use
tobacco but understands why people who
do are against it.
“If they taxed
something that I
bought all of the time,
I would be against it,”
he said.
Timeline of Tobacco and Taxes
prevention and treatment of diabetes and
cancer.
Nov. 3, 2008 – CN signs a new tobacco
compact with Oklahoma. The agreement
provides a flat $6.65-per-carton tax on
cigarettes. The compact expires in 2013.
Feb. 5, 2009 – CN Tribal Council votes
9-7 not to provide a $1.50 rebate to
tribally licensed border smoke shops. The
legislation is intended to assist border
shop retailers in continuing to operate a
profitable business.
April 1, 2009 – A new federal tax law
goes into effect and raises the price of a
carton of cigarettes by $6.10. Chewing
tobacco goes from 20 cents per pound to
50 cents per pound, while snuff increases
in price from 56 cents to $1.51 per pound.

Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009 may 2009 • Cherokee Phoenix A-11
FHA
BY MACKIE MOORE
CN Bid Analyst
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For months we’ve heard help is on the way for people
in mortgage trouble. Luckily, the help is here for most.
As a part of the Cherokee Nation’s Mortgage Assistance
Program, I can say that for many Cherokee citizens
there is help for them, too. If you have a mortgage loan
and have fallen behind, or are on the verge of falling
behind, the MAP can often help you to work with your
lender to resolve issues.
Most mortgage companies will offer a modification
that allows the client to get caught up on their payments.
MAP can help you negotiate a modification plan with
your mortgage company. If the negotiation process leads
to anything other than a fixed rate mortgage, MAP will
help you negotiate a refinance, if at all possible, with the
mortgage company.
The key is seeking help at the right time. Seek help
early on in your financial crisis. If you wait until you’re
getting foreclosure notices, the process becomes more
difficult. Every time you miss a payment your credit
takes a hit, which might make refinancing difficult when
you get back on track.
Recently a CN citizen came in and talked to me about
184
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184184184 184184184 184184
184
The Housing and Urban
Development program
helps Indians buy homes.
BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Though in
existence for nearly two decades, many
American Indians know little about a
home loan through the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development with
flexible underwriting and isn’t based on
credit scores.
HUD’s Section 184 Indian Home Loan
Guarantee Program is specifically for
Indians. Congress established it in 1992
to facilitate homeownership in Indian
Country, and some of its benefits include low
down payments and no private mortgage
insurance.
“It’s specifically for Native American
buyers or Native Americans who want to
refinance,” said Stephanie Powell, a mortgage
loan officer at First Mortgage Co., in Tulsa.
In Oklahoma, the maximum loan amount
is $300,240, and there is no income limit.
“When I get all the information, I take
your income, your debts and analyze
everything and make sure that it fits within
the guidelines of the 184 program,” Powell,
a Muscogee (Creek) citizen, said. “It’s very
important to find an experienced lender,
one who knows all the ins and outs of the
program.”
Powell added that now is a good time to
apply for the 184 loan due to the financial
state of lenders and their willingness to
participate in the program.
“This year, with all the mortgage mess, a
lot of lenders have got on board with the
184 program because buyers can’t qualify for
your typical conventional loans anymore,”
she said.
The 184 guidelines do not have a
minimum credit score and might be the only
route in obtaining a home loan for those
who have credit issues, she said.
“So many of the other programs have
really tightened guidelines up,” Powell said.
184
“One of the things on the 184 program
is if someone has outstanding collection
accounts, they do require those collection
accounts be paid. But it’s definitely more
flexible on the credit guidelines.”
The program’s attractiveness also stems
from HUD underwriting the loan.
The 184 loan also has a low down payment
requirement of 2.25 percent for loans more
than $50,000 and 1.25 percent for loans less
than $50,000, as well as no private mortgage
insurance.
Instead the buyer pays a one-time, 1
percent loan guarantee fee that can be added
to the final loan amount.
The loan can also be used to refinance an
existing home mortgage, Shay Smith, a Self-
Sufficiency manager with the tribe’s Small
Business Assistance Center, said.
“The other thing about this is a lot of
people don’t realize that the 184 loan can
be used to refinance an existing loan, so it
doesn’t have to be new home purchases…
and there is no income cap.”
Another attractive 184 aspect is that it
can be combined into the tribe’s Mortgage
Assistance Program for home purchases,
Powell said.
The MAP helps citizens capable of
attaining a mortgage on their own, and
in attaining a mortgage, the CN gives
qualifying citizens $15,000 towards a down
payment and closing costs.
However, MAP applicants must
meet income guidelines, be a first-time
homebuyer, complete necessary paperwork
and applications, as well as complete a
homebuyer’s training class.
People who have seen their credit recently
and know they have issues should contact
a HUD-approved counseling agency.
Those agencies can typically provide free
homebuyer education.
“Counseling is key, especially for first-time
homebuyers,” Powell said. “Through a HUDapproved
counseling agency, they can get
free counseling to see maybe what they need
to do to get their credit to a point where they
can potentially go qualify for a lender.”
christina-goodvoice@cherokee.org •
(918) 207-3825
Mortgage trouble? MAP can help
his mortgage. He purchased a
house for his family two years
ago. At the time of purchase,
he and his wife were both
employed and made enough
money to make ends meet.
His wife’s hours were later cut,
which led her to go back to
school and pursue a nursing
degree. Looking toward their
long-term financial future was
Mackie Moore a good thing. The problem was
that they now had one income
instead of two.
By the time he came to see me he was four months
behind on their mortgage and didn’t know what to do.
The foreclosure letters were already coming in the mail.
I worked with him to create a budge. Together we
looked at every bill to determine what he could afford.
Luckily, his wife had finished school and was making
more money than she had previously, but he still didn’t
have the ability to make all the past due payments at one
time in order to keep his home.
The first thing he and I did was develop a household
budget so we could see how much he could afford to
VA
Direct
Getting a Section 184 Indian home loan
FHA loan
Federal Housing Administration
loans are options for first-time
homebuyers and those with less
than perfect credit.
The loan may be used to
purchase, refinance or manufacture
a home on a cement slab, plus the
loan includes options to avoid
foreclosure.
The debt-to-income ration is
flexible, a low down payment of 3.5
percent is required and the credit
score requirement is flexible.
Some benefits include:
• Easier to qualify. Because FHA
insures the applicant’s mortgage,
lenders may be more willing to give
the buyer loan terms that make it
easier for them to qualify.
• Less than perfect credit.
Applicants don’t have to have
a perfect credit score to get an
FHA mortgage. Even with credit
problems such as a bankruptcy, it’s
easier to qualify for an FHA loan
than a conventional loan.
• Costs less. FHA loans have
competitive interest rates because
the federal government insures the
loans. Always compare an FHA
loan with other loan types.
• Helps buyer keep the home. The
FHA has been around since 1934.
Should the buyer encounter hard
times after buying their home,
FHA has many options to help
keep them in their home and avoid
foreclosure.
• FHA does not provide direct
financing nor does it set the interest
rates on the mortgages it insures,
according to www.FHA.gov.
VA Direct loan
The program is for Native
American veterans wishing to
purchase, construct or improve a
home on federal trust land.
Loans are made through the
Native American Direct Loan
Program. One can also use it to
refinance an existing NADL.
The Veterans Administration
sets the interest rate. Loan lengths
are usually 30 years. The debt-toincome
ratio requirement is flexible
and there is a cap on closing costs.
Some requirements include:
• The home must be the primary
residence.
• Native Americans qualifying for
the loans include veterans, active
duty service members, current
reserve and guard members.
• Veterans must have been
discharged under conditions other
than dishonorable.
• Applicant must be a Native
American enrolled in an federal
tribe or Alaskan Native village,
a Pacific Islander or a Native
Hawaiian or be married to one.
• Applicant needs a valid Certificate
of Eligibility. COEs can be
requested from the VA or from a
lender.
• Applicant must also have a good
credit history.
• Applicant must have enough
income to meet mortgage
payments, maintain the home, pay
other debts and still have money to
cover day-to-day expenses.
pay. Once that was complete, it was time to make the
call to his mortgage lender and negotiate a modification.
Tip: Never settle for a customer service representative.
They will only tell you what you already know regarding
your late payments and foreclosure status. Instead, you
need to reach your lender’s Loss Mitigation Department.
The LMD is responsible for working out any loan
modifications. Once with the LMD, we explained his
situation and included information about his improving
financial condition.
The loan couldn’t be refinanced because of the late
payments but the LMD representative did work out a
repayment plan. The fact that his wife was working again
helped during the negotiation process. I encouraged him
to make more than the original payment as a show of
good faith, and asked the LMD representative to waive
the fees. Both parties agreed to the terms and the loan
modification was complete.
The process took about three hours, but worked out
for everyone. He kept his home, the mortgage company
didn’t take a loss, and I got to help a CN citizen through
a rough time. His story is just an example of the service
that the MAP provides, but the message is the same. We
are here to assist the Native American community with
mortgage needs.
Cherokee Nation Commerce Department, P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465; 1-800-256-0671, (918) 453-5536; Fax: (918) 458-4295
E-mail: commerc@cherokee.org; Web site: www.cherokee.org/Services/Commerce/Default.aspx

A-12 Cherokee Phoenix • may 2009 Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
CARING
For Those Who Need it Most
• Thirty percent of gaming profits go
to those who need it most through
vital services and programs.
• Gaming dollars accounted for 56
percent of the Cherokee Nation’s
$56.7 million general fund in 2007.
• These gaming dollars contribute
directly to essential government
programs, like health care,
housing, education and human
services for Cherokee citizens.
Cherokee Casinos generated $33.7 million for Cherokee Nation services last year.
The remaining gaming profit was reinvested to create jobs in Cherokee communities, a
formula that has produced more than 2,000 new jobs in the last four years.
TULSA | ROLAND | WEST SILOAM SPRINGS | SALLISAW | TAHLEQUAH | CLAREMORE | FORT GIBSON
www.CherokeeCasino.com • (800) 760-6700

B may
sports
unp5d
2009
District champs
Sequoyah’s slow pitch softball
team is district champions for the
second straight year. SPORTS, B-3
He is the only American
to ever win the
10,000-meter race in the
Olympics.
BY WESLEY MAHAN
Sports Writer
Indian symposium
It included Wes Studi, traditional
games and a competitive
powwow. EDUCATION, B-7
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Less than a week
after Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford
visited, Sequoyah Schools hosted 1964
Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills on April
23 as he delivered a message of inspiration
and encouragement to students.
Mills, an Oglala Lakota, spoke about Native
American youth overcoming obstacles.
“I think the overall message is in your
journey in life no matter what is dealt, no
matter what is dealt, what is thrown in your
path, there’s an incredible vast domain of
opportunity out there in the distance, waiting
for us to find. We have to look at the opportunities
within our life, not the struggles,
not the obstacles, regardless of what is dealt.
So I made my journey, the journey of opportunities,”
he said.
Mills is the only American to ever win the
10,000 meters (6.2 miles) in the Olympics,
doing so in 1964 at Tokyo, Japan. He travels
the country more than 300 days a year
INSIDE UWnd<
Culture................. B-4
Education............ B-7
Health.................. B-10
Cherokee girl well trained in ‘sweet science’
Taking up the sport to
relieve frustration, a high
school senior now has
boxing dreams.
BY JIM TRICKETT
Sports Writer
TULSA, Okla. – In the past, boxing was
a male-dominated sport. Now females are
learning the “sweet science,” and one of them
is Tulsa Washington High School senior and
Cherokee citizen Cheyenne McKinney.
McKinney didn’t think about joining the
Page One Plus Boxing Club or getting into
boxing until her grandfather’s death.
“My grandfather passed away on April 25
last year and I needed to take out my frustrations,”
she said. “It was something that helped
me take my frustrations out and my coaches
(Keith Reed and Ronnie Warrior) have really
been a big help to me in teaching me and
helping me improve my boxing skills.”
McKinney has also seen her grades improve
in school since her concentration is
sharper.
“The sport of boxing has made me more
aware and more focused on not only my
boxing, but my grades in school,” she said.
“I want to become a dental assistant, and I
needed my grades to improve and there is
no doubt that boxing has made me focus
more on not only my schoolwork, but being
a better person, as well outside the ring.”
Even though she lost her first two fights,
Reed saw something in McKinney that
made him enter her in the 115-pound
weight class of the Kansas Golden Gloves at
Hutchinson, Kan., in March. Not only did
she last the three 1-1/2 minute rounds, but
she walked away with the gold medal.
“It really felt
good when they announced
that I had
won the fight,” she
said. “I gave it all I
had in that fight and
I left my heart in
that ring. It felt really
good and my coaches were really proud of
me.”
But boxing hasn’t come without a price. In
April she skipped her senior prom to fight.
“I missed my senior prom…to go to Lawton
for another fight and I won that one by
a decision,” McKinney said. “It was a tough
decision, but it proved to be the right one
and I won, so I’m real happy, even though I
didn’t get to go to the prom.”
McKinney has another bout May 23 in
Oklahoma City, but before then she wants to
improve, which means splitting time in the
classroom and in the gym.
“I want to keep working in the gym and I
want to keep improving,” she said. “I want to
get to the next level. That’s my goal.”
That goal includes climbing the amateur
ladder and competing in not only national
events but international events. The International
Olympic Committee is considering
adding women’s boxing to the London
Olympics in 2012.
“I would consider that (the Olympics), but
I have bigger goals, like get my education out
of the way first,” McKinney said. “I’m planning
on attending Tulsa Community College,
Indians runner Aaron Henson passes a Keys runner April 25 at the Sequoyah Relays in
Tahlequah, Okla. PHOTO BY WESLEY MAHAN
Sequoyah wins its meet and eyes regional
The boys and girls track
teams dominate at the
Sequoyah Relays.
BY WESLEY MAHAN
Sports Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Sequoyah
Schools’ track teams hosted their annual
Sequoyah Relays on April 25, with both
the boys and girls winning their respective
divisions. But now their eyes turn to the
regional track meet.
On the girls side, Saharra Henson took
home first place in the long jump, while
Andi Pickup won the shot put and placed
third in discus.
The Lady Indians also won gold in the
distance medley relay and the 1,600-meter
relay.
Nikki Lewis won the 400-meter dash,
while teammate Ashton Parent grabbed
bronze in the event. The girls team also
swept the medals in the 800-meter run,
with Shakota Cutnose winning gold, Krista
Wildcat taking silver and Danetta Ross
bringing home the bronze.
Another positive sign for the Lady
Indians was Ashley Ross getting back on
the winning track in the 1,600-meter run
Cherokee citizen Cheyenne McKinney throws a left jab during an April 26 training session in Tulsa, Okla. PHOTO BY BRYAN POLLARD
after a foot injury.
The boys also put together a successful
meet. Caleb Deardruff won gold in the shot
put and third in the discus.
The Indians were also dominant in the
relays. Sequoyah placed first and second
in both the distance medley relay and the
1,600-meter relay. The boys also were third
in the 400-meter relay and sprint medley
relay. Sequoyah’s Dylan Tiddark took the
gold in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles,
while teammate Dalton McCuller finished
third in both hurdle events.
David Lewis was second in the
400-meter dash, while Traven McCoy won
the 800 meters. The 1,600-meter run was
a clean sweep for Sequoyah, with Robert
Ketcher in first, Brandon Gibson in second
and Laramie Fixin in third.
Sequoyah coach Sam HorseChief said
he was glad to get some work in before the
May 2 regional meet in Catoosa.
“I thought they did pretty good. I told
them this was a workout meet; don't worry
about your times. We’re looking forward
to that (regional meet). I think we have
a good chance to qualify a lot of people,
especially in the longer races,” he said.
Regional qualifiers will then move on to
the state track meet set for May 8 at East
Central High School in Tulsa.
which is very close to our gym, so I can go to
school and still be able to box as well.”
She is also eyeing the Ringside Nationals
in Kansas City, Mo., in August. But she
knows she has to get better. She also knows
she’s a long way from where she’s started.
“I’m 2-2 right now and both wins have
been by decision and I’ve seen a lot of improvement
in my boxing skills since the first
bout,” McKinney said. “My footwork is so
much better than when I started, and I’m a
lot stronger in my punches and my concentration
in the ring.
“Boxing is a sport and it is very hard and
very complicated. You must be willing to
listen and take criticism from your coaches
and trainers. That’s what can make you better
and train harder in the gym to get better,”
she added.
And it’s her coaches who have pushed her
to get better.
“She has really improved since coming to
the gym and she has a great chance to become
a very good female fighter at not only
the amateur level, but possible at the pro
level as well,” Warrior said.
Both men have had offers for McKinney
to enter the pro ranks, but they want her
to keep improving. “Before she goes to the
Ringside tournament in August, we are going
to send her to the Olympic camp in Colorado
Springs, Colo.,” said Reed. “We want
her to get better and that’s the place to do it
as she will train with the best from around
the country.”
If women’s boxing doesn’t become an
Olympic sport, Warrior said he would consider
McKinney going pro. “We’ve been approached
by a couple of promoters already
to see if she would possibly go pro within a
year, but we want to wait and see what happens
with her amateur career,” he said.
Olympic gold medalist
Mills visits Sequoyah
Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills speaks to
Sequoyah Schools students April 23 about
inspiration and encouragement.
PHOTO BY WESLEY MAHAN
speaking to audiences.
At Sequoyah, he spoke about overcoming
the perceptions Native Americans face by
sharing a story of he and his daughter overhearing
a conversation while in Barcelona,
Spain in 1992 during the Olympics.
He said a group of people were discussing
the greatest distance races in Olympic
history. The 1964 race came up and Mills
was mentioned, but nobody could recall his
name. Someone posed the question, whatever
happened to that
guy (Mills), to which
two reporters chimed
in and claimed they
knew what happened
to him.
Mills said one of
the men said that he
(Mills) was just like all the rest of them (Native
Americans), alcoholic, drug-addicted
and a quitter. Mills said that was the day
perceptions broke him. He spoke up for his
daughter and for all Native Americans who
are stereotyped.
Mills said the message he wants Native
youth to grasp is not to be held back.
Students said they enjoyed the message of
hope and learning some important lessons.
“I learned that being Native American has
its struggles, has its obstacles, but Billy was
a very good example about how you can
be an eagle and accomplish big things, and
be proud of who you are,” senior Sherniec
Scraper, a United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee
Indians citizen, said.
“I learned that if you have a dream, that
you can accomplish it. Even though you’re
Native American, that doesn’t mean you
can’t,” senior Anna Walker, who is Cherokee,
Meskwaki and Quapaw, said.
When asked how running changed his life,
Mills said it wasn’t setting records or winning
races that changed his life. It was the journey
that changed it and the critical times of his life
when running was a part of it.
“Running gave me a vision... and running
helped me mature. Without running I have
no idea what I would have done with my
life,” he said.

BY JIM TRICKETT
Sports Writer
B-2 Cherokee Phoenix • MAY 2009 Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
Sequoyah golfers
gear up for
regional tourneys
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – With
the golf season nearing a close, the
Sequoyah Indians and Lady Indians
teams were preparing for regional
qualifying tournaments on April 27 at
two courses.
For the Indians, they have shown
improvement under coach Shane
Richardson as they have cut nearly
50 shots off their team score since
their opening tournament in March
at Cherry Springs Golf Course in
Tahlequah.
Sequoyah shot a 392 at Cherry
Springs, then cut off 48 shots in a
tournament on April 14 at Nowata.
The Indians finished sixth out of a 12team
field with a 344, 18-hole total.
“This team has really improved since
the start of the season, and this is the
deepest team that I’ve ever had,” said
Richardson. “We have re-rankings
every week and we are a team that is
eight or nine players deep, so we might
not have the same lineup from weekto-week.”
The two mainstays have been
Nick Wacoche and Leighton Mouse.
Wacoche shot an 86 in the Kellyville
Tournament at the Sapulpa Country
Club course and then shot his best
round of the season the next day at
Nowata with an 80.
Mouse fired an 86 in the Kellyville
event and then cut three shots off his
score with an 83 to help the Indians
get sixth at Nowata. The Indians
finished ninth out of 28 teams at
Kellyville.
“We’ve got a legitimate shot to
make the regionals,” Richardson said.
“We play at Henryetta and we don’t
have to see Metro Christian, Victory
Christian and Cascia Hall all at the
same regional qualifier. We will see
Cascia (Hall), but that’s not as bad as
seeing all three. So we’ve got a chance
to advance.”
If the Indians do not get into the
top six teams at the regional qualifier,
then the top 10 individuals that do not
make it with their teams will advance
to the regional May 4 at Sapulpa. The
state tournament is slated for May
11 at Cimarron Trails in Perkins. The
regional is a 36-hole event with the
state tournament being 54 holes.
For the Sequoyah girls, Cheyenne
Roach and Hope Harjo will try to
qualify for regionals individually,
as there are not enough players to
compete as a team.
Roach shot a 109 at a tough Pryor
Creek Golf Course recently and Harjo
had a 117.
Coach Bill Nobles had his twosome
heading to Henryetta two days later
before taking part in the regional
qualifier at Eagle Crest in Muskogee
in late April. Roach and Harjo had to
place in the top 10 individuals of the
non-team qualifiers to advance to the
regional at Arrowhead Golf Course
in Canadian. The state meet is set for
May 6-7 at Cimarron Trails in Perkins.
“Cheyenne has a chance to make the
regionals, but will probably need to
drop four or five shots…to get in,” said
Nobles. “Both have a chance, but have
to play well at Muskogee to advance.”
June 18 - 21
Indians baseball team
picks up victories
BY WESLEY MAHAN
Sports Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Sequoyah
School’s baseball team and the Locust
Grove Pirates locked horns in a pitchers’
dual on April 21 at Sequoyah. It was a battle
of lefties with Dustin Jones for the Indians
and Chris Jones for Locust Grove.
The Pirates had a chance to score in
the top of the first with runners on first
and second and nobody out. Dustin Jones
then settled down, retiring the heart of the
Pirates order. Indians center fielder Trent
Johnston made a diving catch to end the
inning and save a run.
The Indians stranded Johnston at third
in their half of the first, also squandering a
scoring opportunity.
Dustin Jones continued his mastery over
the Pirate hitters, striking out four in the
second and third innings, while allowing
only one hit. His counterpart was equally
tough, quieting the hot bats of the Indians,
only giving up four hits over four innings.
The Indians finally got on track in
the home half of the fifth, scoring three
runs with two outs. Nate Linch drove
home Caleb Kingfisher with a RBI single.
Johnston then brought Linch home with
a single and Johnston scored on an error.
Sequoyah then loaded the bases, but left
them loaded when Dustin Jones flew out to
end the inning.
However, that was all the support the
Sequoyah pitcher needed, striking out five
of the last six hitters he faced and collecting
the complete game win, 3-1. The victory
was the 19th of the season for the 10thranked
Indians.
Earlier in the day, the Indians used
a game with Oaks as a batting practice
session.
The Warriors were able to get a couple
of base runners home in the first inning,
but couldn’t score any runs. The Indians
then got the bats going quickly, sending
14 hitters to the plate and scoring 10 runs
in their half of the first. The onslaught was
highlighted by a Jarrett Travis two-run
double to centerfield that missed leaving
the yard by inches.
Sequoyah pitcher Dustin Jones delivers a pitch in a 3-1 home victory April 21 against
the Locust Grove Pirates. PHOTO BY WESLEY MAHAN
The Warriors tried to battle back in
the second as Logan Reasor smacked a
three-run homer, cutting the lead to 10-3.
However, SHS answered back with six runs
in the bottom of the second. Linch had a
two-run double and Ryan Walker popped
a two-run homer for a 16-3 Indian lead.
Sequoyah put it on cruise control from
there, coasting to a 19-5 run-rule victory.
In action from earlier this season,
Sequoyah took part in the prestigious
BRANDY l june 19th JAMES OTTO l june 20th JOE DIFFIE l june 20th
Entries for the following must be submitted
___________________________________________________________
no later than Friday, May 29, 2009
Men’s Basketball 3 on 3 ...........Sprint Williams 918-759-1219
Youth Basketball 3 on 3.................Chad Smith 405-487-8864
Golf Tournament .................... Celesta Johnson 800-299-9458
Horseshoes ........................................Liz Holata 918-732-7614
Parade .......................... Melinda Deeringwater 918-759-4172
Slow-Pitch Softball Tourn ..........George Roach 918-458-0577
Fast-Pitch Softball Tourn .............. Skeet Bemo 918-344-0798
Volleyball ................................. Billie Harjochee 918-732-7960
Mickey Mantle Classic April 14-18 in
Commerce. The Indians brought home a
third-place finish, with a 5-4 victory over
Fairland in 12 innings, and Linch was
named to the all-tournament team.
On April 7, Sequoyah lost to one of the
top teams from Arkansas for the third time
this season. The Gravette Lions came to
Sequoyah and snuck out of town with an
11-8 victory. The game was marred by poor
defense and wild pitching by both squads.
Hood leads Pirates to state powerlifting title
The 123-pound
junior lifts his
teammates
to a Class 4A
championship.
BY WESELY MAHAN
Sports Writer
LOCUST GROVE, Okla.
– Locust Grove powerlifting
sensation Dylan Hood recently
completed a season for the ages.
The 5-foot, 3-inch 123-pound
junior, led his team to a Class
4A championship March 13
at McLoud High School in
Oklahoma City.
The Cherokee citizen also
grabbed his second straight
individual state championship
in his weight class. Hood
bench pressed
195 pounds,
deadlifted 365
pounds and
squatted 350
pounds for a
winning total of
910 pounds.
“It was an
awesome feeling, really hard
to describe,” Hood said on
consecutive individual state
titles.
His performance also caught
the eye of the Oklahoma All
Star high school powerlifting
coach Fred Peery. Peery asked
Hood to join the Oklahoma
All Stars to compete in the
recent National Powerlifting
“It was an awesome
feeling, really hard
to describe.”
– Dylan Hood, Locust
Grove powerlifter
Championships.
Teams from 25 states went to
Oklahoma City for the event.
Hood was once
again victorious,
out lifting some
of the best
powerlifters
in the country
by benching
198 pounds,
squatting
341 pounds and deadlifting
352 pounds for a total of 892
pounds.
Hood said it was an honor to
be selected to such a prestigious
team, let alone win.
“I went down there, not really
expecting to do that good. It
was really great to win,” he said.
Hood started lifting weights
almost by accident. His
freshman year at Locust Grove
coach Scott Martin was hired
as the new football coach.
He wanted his players to lift
weights as part of offseason
training.
“I think it’s fun, and it keeps
you in shape. It also will help us
mentally, building confidence
going into football season,
because we won state,” Hood
said.
Hood and his teammates are
also proving they aren’t a bunch
of dumb jocks. They won the
state academic championship
for football teams in Class 4A.
Hood maintains a 3.8 grade
point average and is interested
in continuing his powerlifting
career in college. He said he
would like to earn his degree in
physical therapy.
The 2009
MCN Festival Presents
For more information, contact:
Wendell Ratchford
405-306-9185
For entry contact:
1-800-639-9002

Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
Lady Indians wins
district title again
The Sequoyah slow pitch
softball team wins the
district crown for the
second straight year.
BY WESLEY MAHAN AND
MARK DREADFULWATER
Cherokee Phoenix
CHOUTEAU, Okla. – The No. 6-ranked
Sequoyah Lady Indians slow-pitch
softball team swept through the district
tournament April 22, beating Colcord and
Chouteau-Mazie.
Sequoyah opened the tournament
easily beating Colcord 15-0 in a run-rule
shortened game.
The Lady Indians defense was solid
behind senior pitcher Kayla Sourjohn and
did not commit an error. Sourjohn threw
four shutout innings and helped her cause
by hitting a three-run home run in the
second inning.
“She pitched well and really hit the ball,”
coach Larry Grigg said.
In the second game, Chouteau jumped
ahead by scoring two runs
in the first. However, those
were the only two runs
for the Lady Cats as the
Lady Indians pitching and
defense dominated the
rest of the game. Junior
first baseman Lindsey
Hammer hit a towering
two-run home run over the left field fence
as Sequoyah won, 9-2.
Game three against Chouteau was a
copy of the first meeting. However, the
Lady Cats were held scoreless. Sourjohn
pitched a second shutout on the day and
Sequoyah’s defense again did not commit
an error. The Lady Indians’ bats also
supplied 10 runs.
Grigg said his defense has played well,
but it’s his offense he was worried about.
“Offensively, that’s where we’ve struggled
at times,” Grigg said. “Today, I thought we
really hit the ball exceptionally well and I
was pleased with that.”
Sequoyah dominated the tournament
scoring 34 runs, while only giving up two
in three games.
“Offensively,
that’s where we’ve
struggled at times.”
– Larry Grigg,
Sequoyah coach
Prior to districts, the Lady Indians
hosted its annual tournament April 16,
but had to take the long road to the
championship game.
Sequoyah dropped the tournament’s
opener to Sallisaw, 4-0. The loss put the
Lady Indians in a must-win situation the
rest of the tournament.
Sequoyah then matched up with Stilwell,
scoring four runs in the first inning and
cruising to a 7-0 victory, setting up a battle
with the Tahlequah Lady Tigers.
The Lady Indians struck first, grabbing
a 3-0 lead in the third inning as Hammer
smacked a two-run homer. Tahlequah
fought back with a run in the sixth, but fell
short of a comeback losing, 3-1. Hilldale
was the next victim for Sequoyah falling,
6-1.
That set up a showdown with Gore, with
a spot in the championship game on the
line. The Lady Pirates struck first, plating
two runs, but Sequoyah answered with five
runs.
Gore didn’t go away quietly, scoring four
runs in the third and grabbing a 6-5 lead.
The Lady Indians fired back with three
runs to reclaim the lead, 8-6. The Lady
Pirates added four runs in the top of the
fifth, but Sequoyah tied it
up in the bottom of the
inning.
Sourjohn broke the tie
with her game-winning
solo home run in the
bottom of the sixth.
Sequoyah then matched
up with Fort Gibson in the
finals. The Lady Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead
in the first inning before adding two more
runs in the third.
Sequoyah scored a run in the bottom
of the inning to close the gap, 3-1. Fort
Gibson pushed the lead to 4-1 in the top of
the seventh. The Lady Indians tried to rally
in the bottom of the inning as Caitlin Dry
and Megan Tehee reached on singles.
But Taylor Youcum grounded into a
double play, putting Sequoyah down to
its last out. Saharra Henson singled in
Dry, and Nikki Lewis reached on an error.
Keishia Jones then hit a single to load the
bases, but Taylor Johnson hit into a fielder’s
choice to end the game and give Fort
Gibson the championship.
Sequoyah senior Kayla Sourjohn connects for a three-run home run against Colcord in
the first game of the district tournament April 22 at Chouteau, Okla. The Lady Indians
won 15-0. PHOTO BY MARK DREADFULWATER
cherokeephoenix.org
MAY 2009 • Cherokee Phoenix B-3
Sports Shorts
Stanley looks to be Rebels’ backup signal-caller
OXFORD, Miss – With junior
Jevan Sneed entrenched as the
University of Mississippi’s starting
quarterback, former Sequoyah
Indians signal-caller Nathan
Stanley is working to become the
No. 2 quarterback for the Cotton
Bowl champion Rebels.
Stanley, who was redshirted
during the 2008 season and
spent time as the scout team
quarterback, is battling senior
Billy Tapp for the backup
quarterback job with the
Southeastern Conference school.
In the second day of the Rebels’
spring drills, Stanley impressed
second-year head coach Houston
Nutt with the way handled the
pressure of college football.
“We’re just putting him in every
situation we can, to see linebackers
coming in his face, to see how
he’s going to respond, to see if he’s
going to get us out of this play and
into this play,” said Nutt.
“We’re not asking him to do
that much. Two days in a row,
he had an eight-man box and he
checked into max protection and
throws a fade. You know, in the
heat of the battle, when nobody’s
telling him, that’s what you’re
looking for.” – JT
Cherokee Hills Golf Club recognized
CATOOSA, Okla. – Cherokee
Hills Golf Club was recently
recognized as one of the top five
“Best Courses You Can Play” by
Golfweek magazine.
This is the second year in a
row Cherokee Hills has been
named to the list and it is the only
public golf course in Tulsa to be
recognized.
“Being recognized by Golfweek
is such an honor, and moving up
a rank from last year only proves
that we are continually making
improvements to ensure our
guests the best play,” said David
Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation
Enterprises, which operates
Cherokee Casinos.
Jeff Jarrett, general manager
of Cherokee Hills Golf Club,
said he was happy to receive the
recognition and hopes the ranking
will expose the course more and
create a bigger draw.
– Tulsa Business Journal
Cherokee Casino’s poker classic returns
CATOOSA, Okla. – One of
Cherokee Casino Resort’s largest
tournaments, the Mid-South
Poker Classic, returns for its
second year May 7-18.
The regional tournament draws
heavily from Oklahoma, Arkansas
and Louisiana and offers some
stiff competition among the area’s
best poker players. The highlight
of this year’s tournament is even
more events – a total of 30 events,
up from 20 in its inaugural year.
“This event generated a
great pull last year,” said David
Stewart, CEO of Cherokee
Nation Enterprises, which
operates Cherokee Casinos. “We
look forward to an even better
tournament this year with ten
more events, averaging about
three events each day.”
The 12-day tournament
features No Limit Hold ‘em, Limit
Hold ‘em, Omaha Eight or Better, a
Senior and Ladies No Limit Hold
‘em, No Limit Hold ‘em 6-Handed,
Head’s Up No Limit, 7-card stud,
2-7 Triple Draw, H.O.R.S.E and
Pot Limit Omaha with $100 rebuys.
Buy-ins range from $120 to
$1,590.
The Championship No Limit
Hold ‘em Main Event is at 11 a.m.
May 17, with play continuing at
11 a.m. May 18. 1-800-760-6700.
www.CherokeeCasino.com.
– CN Communications
Sequoyah football players win awards
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Hard
work and preparation earned
two Sequoyah football players
an invitation to attend Football
University in Austin, Texas, the
most elite football training camp
in the country.
Senior Chris Littlehead and
eighth-grader Brayden Scott
represented the school well by
bringing home a couple of the
camp’s top awards.
“Chris is one of the top recruits
in the state of Oklahoma,” said
Brent Scott, Sequoyah’s head
football coach. “He is very worthy
of this award and he will have
a few more awards to go with it
before he graduates.”
Littlehead won the Maxwell
Award for the Most Outstanding
Player at the camp, while Brayden
Scott won the award for being the
Top Underclassmen Quarterback.
“Football is challenging and
competitive,” Littlehead said. “I
hope to earn a scholarship to
play football in college and get a
degree.”
“He’s getting lots of attention
from colleges,” coach Scott said.
“Lots of schools have contacted
him. I think he will be able to
play at the college level and it will
be a nice way for him to pay for
college.”
The Sequoyah football team will
start next year off with 32 seniors,
the largest group of Sequoyah
seniors to ever play together on
one team.
– CN Communications

B-4 Cherokee Phoenix • MAY 2009
Natalie Walker, a 10-year-old Cherokee citizen, is a two-year ballet
student at On Your Toes Inc. Dance Studio in Tahlequah, Okla.
PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Darsi Woolard, 7, dances in a hip hop class at On Your Toes Inc.
Dance Studio. Woolard is one of four Cherokee children in the class.
DANCE!
It can be for exercise, to boost self-esteem or to just relieve
stress. But for some, it’s an art.
BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – About a dozen girls line
up at the ballet barre in a precise row, chins raised,
arms above their heads and on their toes in their
pink satin pointe ballet shoes.
This is a common sight at Tahlequah’s On Your
Toes Inc. Dance Studio, now in its fourth year.
Patricia Hendrix, the studio’s director, said
dance is important in staying active and building
self-esteem, but that one must remember it is an
art.
The studio opened with about 30 students, but
now has more than 200 students in a variety of
classes, including ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, modern,
clog and ballroom.
Hendrix also began the Tahlequah Ballet
Company in 2008 so that local dancers could
have the opportunity to perform in a professional
environment.
The company is dedicated to promoting
classical and contemporary ballet, offering
performance opportunities to youth and adults
and enriching and involving the community
through the art of dance, she said.
Natalie Walker, 10, is a Cherokee who has
danced for two years at the dance studio. In
December, she performed the role of Clara in the
company’s production of “The Nutcracker.”
“My family always said I was flexible and would
make a really good ballet dancer,” Walker said.
“I like getting in front of the crowd and hearing
them cheer.”
Despite her young age, she has advice for other
girls who’ve thought of dancing.
“Don’t worry about what other people might
think,” she said. “Just try it. You might end up
liking it.”
Walker’s mother,
Carla, said she
loves watching her
daughter perform.
“It’s good
because she loves
it,” Carla said. “She
does it at home,
too. She’s found her
niche.”
Another
Cherokee dancer, Darsi Woolard, is a 7-year-old
student at On Your Toes, and she’s been dancing
since she was 3.
Woolard previously took ballet, tap and jazz
classes, but is now taking a hip hop class, which
she said is her favorite.
“You can let yourself be free,” she said. She
added that dance also helped her be more
outgoing. “It’s changed me a lot.”
Although she plays sports, dance is her favorite
activity, partly because of her instructor. “Ms.
Tricia is a great teacher,” Woolard said of Hendrix.
And as much as her students liker her, Hendrix
enjoys her job of teaching them.
“I love being able to come in and teach children
and adults,” she said. “It’s great to see their faces. It’s
fulfilling for me and hopefully for the children.”
Hendrix said she realizes she is bringing the art
of dance to a community with a high percentage
of Cherokee children who might not otherwise
have that opportunity.
“I want to try to reach all children like that,” she
said. “Hopefully, I can touch them through dance
and give them what I was given as a child through
dance. It became my whole world.”
www.onyourtoesinc.com
christina-goodvoice@cherokee.org •
(918) 207-3825
ᏓᎵᏆ, ᎣᎦᎵᎰᎻ – ᏔᎳᏚ ᎢᏯᏂ ᎠᏂᎨᏳᏣ
ᎤᎾᏓᏅᎾᏅ ᎢᏥᏳᎪᏓᏊ ᎨᏒ ᎤᎾᎵᏍᎩᏍᏗ
ᎤᎾᎵᏏᎾᎲᏍᏙᏗᎢ, ᏗᏂᏳᎨᎾ ᏚᏂᏌᎳᏛ,
ᏗᏂᏃᎨᏂ ᏗᏂᏍᎪᎵ ᎦᎸᎳᏗᏟ ᏂᏚᏅᏅᎢ
ᎠᎴ ᏓᏂᎾᏌᏛ ᏚᎾᎳᏏᏛ ᏚᎾᎳᏑᏢ ᏗᎩᎦᎨ
Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
ᏧᏍᎪᎸᎢ ᎠᏎ ᏗᎪᏢ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ
ᎠᎾᎵᏍᎩᏍᎬ ᏧᎾᎳᏑᎸᏗ.
ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎾᎾᏛᏁᎰ ᎠᎪᏩᏛᏗ Ꮎ ᏓᎵᏆ
ᏧᎾᏁᏍᏈᏗ INC., ᎤᎾᎵᏍᎩᏍᏗ ᏧᎾᏕᏲᏗ
ᎪᏢᏒ, ᏃᏊ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏅᎩ ᎤᏕᏘᏴᏌᏗ.
Parricia Hendrix, ᎾᎿ ᎤᏙᏢᏒ
ᎠᏓᏅᏖᎵᏙᎯ, ᎠᏗᏍᎬ ᎠᎵᏍᎩᏍᏗ
ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏗ ᎬᎿ ᏂᎦᎵᏍᏙᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎣᏩᏌ
ᎣᏍᏓ ᎣᏓᏅᏛ ᎠᏓᏌᎳᏙᏗ, ᎠᏎᏍᎩᏂ
ᎢᎦᏅᏓᏗᏍᏗ ᎤᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎯᎠ.
ᎤᎾᎵᏍᎩᏍᏗᎢ ᎤᎵᏍᏚᎢᏏ ᏦᏍᎪ ᎢᎸᏢ
ᎾᏂᎡ ᏗᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᎩ, ᏃᏊᏃ ᎨᏒ ᏔᎵᏧᏈ
ᎾᏂᎠ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏧᏓᎴᏅᏓ ᏚᏙᏢᏒ ᏗᏂᏯᎢ, ᎯᎢᏃ
ᎢᎦ ᏧᎾᏁᏍᏈᏛ ᎠᎾᎵᏍᎩᏍᎩ,jazz, hip
hop tap, modern, clog and ballroom.
Hendrix ᎤᎴᏅᎲ ᏓᎵᏆ Ballet
ᎤᎾᏙᏢᎯ Ꮎ ᏔᎵ ᏯᎦᏴᎵ ᏧᏁᎳ
ᎤᏕᏘᏴᏌᏗᏒ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᎾᎵᏍᎩᏍᎩ ᎠᏁᎲ
ᎡᏍᎦᏂ ᎡᎵᏊ ᎬᏩᏁᏓᏍᏗ ᎤᏠᏯ
ᏯᎾᏛᏁᎯ ᎠᏁᏙᎲᎢ. ᎯᎠ ᎤᏙᏢᏒ
ᎠᏚᏓᎸᏍᎪ ᎤᏁᏉᏍᏗ classical ᎠᎴ
contemporary ballet, ᎠᏍᏚᎢᏐ ᎯᎠ
ᎢᎬᏩᎾᏛᏗ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎩᎳ ᏗᎾᏛᏍᎩ ᎠᎴ
ᏧᎾᏔᏂ ᎠᎴ ᎬᏩᎾᏟᏂᎪᏍᏗ ᏚᎾᏓᏅᏛ
ᎠᎴ ᎬᏩᎾᎴᏗᏓᏍᏗ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
ᎯᎠ ᎾᎾᏛᏁᎲ ᏅᏗᎦᎵᏍᏙᏗᏍᎩ
ᎠᎾᎵᏍᎩᏍᎬᎢ, ᎤᏛᏅᎢ.
Natalie Walker, ᏍᎪᎯ ᎢᏳᏕᏘᏴᏓ ᏣᎳᎩ
ᎾᏍᎩ ᏔᎵ ᎾᏕᏘᏯ ᎾᎵᏍᎩᏍᎪ ᎾᎿ ᎪᏢᏒ.
ᎥᏍᎩᏱ ᏥᎧᎸ, ᎤᎵᏍᎩᏒ Clara ᎤᏤᎸᏅ
ᎾᏍᎩ ᎤᎾᏙᏢᏒ ᎤᏂᎾᏳᎪᏫᏓ ᎯᎠ “The
Nutcracker.”
“ᎠᎭᏂ ᎣᏥᏏᏓᏁᎸ ᏂᎪᎯᎸ ᎾᏂᏪᏍᎬ
ᎢᎦ ᎯᏩᎾᎨ ᎣᏍᏓ ᎭᎵᏍᎩᏍᎩ ᏱᎩ
ᏧᎾᏁᏍᏈᏛᎯ ᎠᎾᎵᏍᎩᏍᎩ,” ᎤᏛᏅ
Walker.
“ᎠᎩᎸᏉᏓ ᎤᏂᎪᏓ ᎠᏂᏴᏫ ᎠᏂᏅ
ᎠᎬᏯᏗᏟ ᎠᏆᎴᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏆᏛᎪᏗ ᎤᏁᏡᎬᎢ.”
ᎤᏁᎳᎩ ᎯᎠ ᏳᏕᏘᏴᏓ ᎨᏒ, ᎤᎭ ᎠᏂᏐᎢ
ᎠᏂᎨᏳᏣ ᎤᎾᏓᏅᏖᎸ ᎤᎾᎵᏍᎩᏍᏗᎢ.
ᏝᏍᏗ ᎢᏣᏓᏅᏖᎸ Ꮎ ᎠᏂᏐᎢ ᎠᏂᏴᏫ
ᎤᎾᏓᏅᏖᏗ,” ᎤᏛᏅᎢ. “ᎢᏣᏛᏅᏗᏊ.
ᏙᎯᏳ ᏴᎯᎸᏉᏗᏊ.”
Walker ᎤᏥ, Carla, ᎤᏛᏅ ᎢᎦ ᎤᎸᏉᏗ
ᎤᎦᏙᏍᏙᏗ ᎤᏪᏥ ᎠᎨᏳᏣ ᎠᎵᏍᎩᏍᎬᎢ.
“ᎣᏍᏓᏃ ᏅᏗᎦᎵᏍᏙᏗ ᎤᎸᎴᏛ
ᎢᏳᏛᏗᎢ,” ᎤᏛᏅ Carla. “ᎤᏪᏅᏒ
ᎾᏍᎩᏊ ᎾᏛᏁᎭ, ᎤᎾᏩᏛᎲ ᎾᏛᏁᎲ
ᎬᏩᎪᏩᏛᏗ ᎤᏓᎣ ᎬᏩᎪᏩᏛᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ.”
ᏐᎢ ᎠᏣᎳᎩ ᎠᎵᏍᎩᏍᎩ, Darsi Woolard,
ᎾᏍᎩ ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎢᏳᏕᏘᏴᏓ ᏓᏕᎶᏆᏍᎪ
Ꮎ ᎤᎾᎵᏍᎩᏍᏗ, ᎠᎴ ᏦᎢ ᎢᏳᏕᏘᏴᏓ ᏥᎨᏒ
ᎾᎵᏍᎩᏍᎪᎢ.
Woolard ᎾᏝᎬ ᎤᎴᏅᎲ
ᎠᎵᏏᎾᎲᏍᏗᏍᎬ ᎠᎵᏍᎩᏍᎩ, tap, ᎠᎴ
jazz ᏓᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᎬ, ᏃᏊᏃ ᎨᏒ ᎯᎠ ᎾᏛᏁᎭ
hip hop ᎠᎾᎵᏏᎾᎲᏍᏗᏍᎬ, ᎾᏍᎩ
ᏭᎸᏉᏛᎢ ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
“ᏂᎦᏓᏊ ᏫᏓᏓᏲᎯᏍᏗ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬ.
ᏃᎴ ᎯᎠ ᏄᏪᏒ ᎦᎵᏍᎩᏍᎬ ᎠᎩᏍᏕᎸᎯ
ᎦᏲᏟᎨ ᎦᏕᎣᏍᎪ ᏴᏫ ᎠᏁᏙᎲ ᎠᏇᏓᏍᏗ
ᏱᏄᎵᏍᏔᏂ.
“ᎢᎦ ᎠᏆᏓᏁᏟᏴᏌ.”
ᏍᏆᏟᏍᏗ ᏓᏁᎶᎲᏍᎪ, ᎠᎵᏍᎩᏍᎬ
ᎾᏍᎩ ᏭᎸᏉᏛᎢ, ᎢᎦᏓ ᎨᏒ ᏧᏪᏲᎲᏍᎩ.
“Ms. Tricia ᎢᎦ ᎣᏍᏓ ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ,”
Woolard ᎤᏛᏅ ᎾᏍᎩ Hendrix ᎨᏒᎢ.
ᎠᎴ ᎢᎦ ᎬᏩᎸᏉᏛ ᏗᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᎩ,
Hendrix ᎤᎸᏉᏗ ᏕᎨᏲᎲᏍᎬᎢ.
“ᎢᎦ ᎠᎩᎸᏉᏓ ᎠᎩᎷᎯᏍᏗ ᎠᎴ ᏗᎨᏲᏗ
ᏗᏂᏲᏟ ᎠᎴ ᏧᎾᏔᏂ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ. “ᎣᏍᏓ
ᎨᏐ ᏗᎪᏩᏛᏗ ᏚᎾᎧᏛ ᎣᏍᏓ ᎤᏂᏰᎸᏒ.
ᎠᎩᎧᎵᏉᏊ ᎠᏋᏌ ᎠᏉᎯᏳ ᏗᏂᏲᏟ
ᎤᏠᏯ.”
Hendrix ᎤᏛᏅ ᎠᏕᎶᎰᏍᎪ ᎾᏍᎩ
ᎠᏲᎯᎲ ᎯᎠ ᎠᎵᏍᎩᏍᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎠᎭᏂ
ᎾᎥ ᏄᎾᏓᎴᏫᏒ ᎤᏂᎪᏓ ᎨᏒ ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ
ᏗᏂᏲᏟ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏂᎨᏒ ᏱᎩ Ꮭ ᏱᏅᎬᎾᏛᏁ
ᎾᎾᏛᏁᎲᎢ.
“ᎠᏆᏚᎵ ᏂᎦᏓ ᏗᏂᏲᏟ ᎤᎾᏅᏗ
ᎢᏳᎵᏍᏙᏗ ᎯᎠ ᏂᎦᏛᏁᎲᎢ, ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
“ᎤᏚᎩ ᎠᏋᎭ, ᎡᎵᏊ ᏂᎦᏓ ᎤᎾᏅᏘ
ᎢᏳᎵᏍᏙᏗ ᎯᎠ ᎠᎵᏍᎩᏍᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎦᏥᏁᏗ
ᎾᏍᎩ ᎥᎩᏁᎸ ᏥᏲᏟ ᏥᎨᏒᎢ. ᎾᏍᎩᎾ ᎡᎶᎯ
ᏄᎵᏍᏔᏅ ᎨᎥᎢ.”

Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
BY JAMI CUSTER
Staff Writer
BRIGGS, Okla. – In the late 1940s, Cherokee
weaving halls came to life in northeast
Oklahoma, with instructors Bill Ames, John
Ketcher and Emmitt Knight teaching the art
of loom weaving. Today, only the Sequoyah
Indian Weavers hall is in use, and it’s in need
of major repair.
History of the hall
Loom weaving in Briggs began in 1948
when Ames asked local church women if
they wanted to learn loom weaving for extra
money. Several women accepted Ames’ offer,
one of them being 92-year-old Lucille Hair.
“I said I would like to learn, and he said ‘if
you can get 10 women who would be interested
in it we will get a building down there
at Camp Gruber (near Braggs) and move it
over here and we will teach you all how to
weave,’” she said.
Hair said when the women were ready to
learn, there were 12 of them. So, as Ames
promised, a building was brought from
Camp Gruber to Briggs to house the looms.
With jobs difficult to find at the time, Hair
learned loom weaving because she needed
extra money.
“Yeah, that was part of it,” she said. “We
didn’t have nothing to do at that time.”
Hair said she would earn about 25 cents
for a rug and $10 for a blanket. She said the
women helped each other, but eventually
some got jobs with better pay and left.
Today, only two women – Hair and her
64-year-old daughter Wynona Dreadfulwater
– still use the Briggs hall. And when they
leave the hall, the tradition will likely leave
with them.
Preserving heritage
Daniel Harbour, chief estimator for Cherokee
Nation Construction Services, said he
is trying to get funds to renovate the hall
and its site, with hopes of saving the Cherokee
weaving
tradition.
“Preserving
the heritage
of the weavers
is my
primary goal,”
Harbour said.
“Right now
I’m getting organized with a presentation to
submit to the Nation as far as an informational
package. The positive side would be
we get it up to a standard that is acceptable.
We motivate schools or the people to start
an interest in weaving again and keep the
tradition alive for future generations.”
He said the project began with him driving
by the hall everyday to and home from work.
After researching the hall, he took an interest
in its heritage and wanted to keep it going.
“When I get a cause and it hits my heart
that’s where I try to go, and I haven’t started
anything that I haven’t finished yet,” he said.
Harbour said he isn’t trying to pursue CN
funding, but he is trying to bring it to the
tribe’s attention.
“Maybe they can help us to motivate the
people and find the funding that we need,
whether it be through donations or whether
it be through corporate contributions,” he
said. “I don’t really want to make it a corporate
issue. I want them to individualize that
and personalize it...”
Harbour said the facility is falling apart
and needs new doors and windows, among
other things. He said he would like to see the
hall brought up to “a good standard of quality
and assurance of liability.”
“Restoring everything is probably in the
neighborhood of $75,000, and that includes
the site work too,” he said. “With volunteered
labor it would be close to $75,000. If we
had to use paid labor it would be a different
story, and I haven’t ran those numbers yet.”
Help from the Nation
Dist. 1 Tribal Councilor Bill John Baker
said councilors take an oath to help protect
the culture, heritage and language of the
Cherokee people and that the hall is a part
of the oath.
He said as long as he’s known it’s been a
part of Cherokee life in Cherokee County
and in the Briggs community.
“The Cherokee weavers I have known
since I was a little boy. It’s close to my grandparents’
farm, and we would go by it quite
often,” Baker said. “It was a really great thing
for the Briggs community.”
That’s why Baker believes the Cherokee
MAY 2009 • Cherokee Phoenix B-5
Sequoyah Indians Weavers hall needs makeover
TRANSLATION BY ANNA HUCKABY
THE ICE MAN
Once when the people were burning
the woods in the fall the blaze set fire to
a poplar tree, which continued to burn
until the fire went down into the roots
and burned a great hole in the ground.
It burned and burned, and the hole grew
constantly larger, until the people became
frightened and were afraid it would burn
the whole world. They tried to put out the
fire, but it had gone to deep, and they did
not know what to do.
At last some one said there was a man
living in the house of ice far in the north
who could out a fire, so messengers were
sent, and traveling a long distance they came
to the ice house and found the ice man at
home. He was a little fellow with long hair
hanging down to the ground in two braid.
The messengers told him their errand and
he at once said, “Oh yes, I can help you,” and
began to unbraid his hair. When it was all
unbraided he took it up in one hand and
struck it once across his other hand, and
the messengers felt a wind blow against
their cheeks. A second time he struck his
hair across his hand, and a light rain began
to fall. The third time he struck his hair
across his open hand there was sleet mixed
with the raindrops, and when he struck the
fourth time great hailstones fell upon the
ground, as if they had come out from the
ends of his hair. “Go back now,” said the Ice
Man, “and I shall be there tomorrow.” So the
messengers returned to their people, whom
they found still gathered helplessly about the
great burning pit.
The next day while they were all
watching about the fire there came a wind
from the north, and they were afraid, for
they knew that it came from the Ice Man.
But the wind only made the fire blaze up
higher. Then a light rain began to fall, but
the drops seemed only to make the fire
hotter. Then the shower turned to a heavy
rain, with sleet and hail that killed the blaze
and made clouds of smoke and steam rise
from the red coals. The people fled to their
homes for shelter, and the storm rose to a
whirlwind that drove the rain into every
burning crevice and piled great hailstones
over the embers, until the fire was dead and
even the smoke ceased. When at last it was
all over and the people returned they found
a lake where the burning pit had been, and
from below the water came a sound as of
embers still crackling.
Wynona Dreadfulwater uses a wooden loom to make a blanket. The loom is the same loom her mother learned to weave on in 1948.
PHOTO BY JAMI CUSTER
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Nation Enterprises’ Cultural Tourism department
should consider the weaving hall
as a project.
“They are looking for projects that they
can take and revitalize that will make good
stops for a tour bus, and I think that this
would be an excellent one,” he said.
Amanda Clinton, CNE Communications
manager, said the Cultural Tourism department
has yet to receive a proposal involving
the Sequoyah Indian Weavers hall and could
not comment on it.
Baker said if for some reason CNE could
not assist if it was presented to them then he
would be interested in finding a way to help
revitalize the building.
“Literally hundreds, if not thousands of
kids, have been through there to see how the
blankets are really woven, and a lot of them
go out and take training and learn how to do
it themselves,” he said. “We have got to keep
the facility there to where they can continue
to teach and train.”
There were eight weaving halls that John Ketcher said he remembers: Jay, Briggs, Rocky
Ford, Tailholt, Stilwell, Peavine, Strawberry Springs and Bull Hollow. If anyone has information
on these halls, call Jami Custer at (918) 453-5560 or
e-mail jami-custer@cherokee.org.

B-6 Cherokee Phoenix • MAY 2009
Cherokee Historic Profile
Major Ridge:
Leader during turbulent times
BY WILL CHAVEZ
Staff Writer
A storied Cherokee
life came to a violent
end June 22, 1839, with
the killing of Major
Ridge by his people. It
perhaps was a fitting
Major Ridge
death for a man born in
turbulent times when
white people pushed onto Cherokee lands.
Though Cherokee prophecies told of
whites pushing the tribe westward, war
parties attempted to push back settlers and
militias in the late 1700s.
Ridge was born in 1771 in what is now
Polk County, Tenn. In 1788, he joined his
first war party at age 17 and took his first
scalp. He fought campaigns against the
whites, and by the mid-1790s a temporary
peace was formed between the Cherokees
and whites.
As a young man his leadership abilities
were obvious, and he was chosen to represent
his town of Pine Log on the council. He
helped outlaw the Cherokee blood law,
which called for eye for an eye. When a
Cherokee person from a clan was killed, even
accidentally, the killer had to forfeit his or her
life. If the killer fled, a person in their clan
had to take his or her place.
He married Susanna Wickett in 1792
and settled in Ootchcaloga in northern
Georgia. In 1807, after killing Chief
Doublehead for selling Cherokee lands
without permission, he was put in charge
of the Lighthorse Guard, a Cherokee police
force. He also began adopting white ways
and encouraged other Cherokee men to
farm and raise livestock.
In 1810, Ridge sent his son 7-year-old
son John to school at Spring Place Mission
near present-day Chatsworth, Ga. Though
he championed education and saw it as a
means to compete with the white man, he
remained illiterate and clung to Cherokee
beliefs.
In March 1814, Ridge was part of a
Cherokee force that allied with the U.S.
Army and militias to put down the Red-
Stick Creeks in Alabama. During the battle
of Horseshoe Bend, he distinguished
himself. After the war he began using his
military title of major as his first name.
Two years later, Andrew Jackson began
urging the Cherokee to move west in a
land exchange. The Cherokees’ service
during the war meant nothing to Jackson.
Some Cherokee chiefs were persuaded, but
Ridge and 66 other chiefs signed a removal
protest.
The American drive for land would not
cease, and much of Ridge’s efforts between
1817 and 1832 concentrated on saving
Cherokee lands. In 1829, he, along with
his son John and nephew Elias Boudinot,
pushed through an old law prescribing
death to any Cherokee who “sold lands in
treaty without authority of the Nation.”
The removal issue was debated
repeatedly at Red Clay, Tenn., but in the
end no one persuaded Principal Chief
John Ross and his followers to give up their
fight to remain in Georgia. The issue would
create a rift between Ross and the Ridges
that carried into Indian Territory.
In early 1832, John persuaded his father
to move west. On Dec. 22, 1835, a nonsanctioned
delegation met with American
commissioners at the Cherokee Capital of
New Echota to discuss a removal treaty.
Ridge said: “I am one of the native sons
of these wild woods. The Georgians have…
extended their laws, to which we are
unaccustomed, which harass our braves
and make the children suffer and cry. They
think the Great Father, the president, is
bound by the compact of 1802 to purchase
the country for them. I know the Indians
have an older title than theirs. We obtained
the land from the living God above. They
got their title from the British. Yet they are
strong, and we are weak. We are few; they
are many. I know we love the graves of our
fathers. We cannot remain here in safety
and comfort.”
Seven days later, Ridge and his son were
among the 20 Cherokee men who signed
the Treaty of New Echota. As he made his
mark, he reportedly said: “I have signed my
death warrant.”
After selling his property, he left with his
family for Indian Territory on March 3,
1837. They arrived in Fort Smith, Ark., on
March 27 and embarked for present-day
Delaware County (Okla.) on Honey Creek.
Two years later the Cherokees who
were forcibly removed to Indian Territory
began arriving. Among them were men
who blamed the Ridges for the loss of their
wives and children.
On June 22, 1839, 25 Cherokee men rode
to John’s home at dawn, pulled him out
of his house and stabbed him repeatedly.
That same morning, Boudinot was hacked
to death by a group of men near Park Hill.
Major, coming home from Van Buren, Ark.,
was ambushed and shot repeatedly a mile
outside the Cherokee Nation.
The men were victims of the law they
had drawn up 10 years before. Their deaths
caused revenge killings and resentment
that carried into the American Civil War.
Source:
Wilkins, Thurman, “Cherokee Tragedy – The
Ridge Family and the Decimation of a People,”
University of Oklahoma Press, 1986.
Bookshelf
Books by, about and including Cherokees
UNDER THE RATTLESNAKE: Cherokee
Health and Resiliency. (Lisa J. Lefler and
Susan Leading Fox, University of Alabama
Press, 200 pp., hardcover – $46.75)
For the Cherokee, health is more than
the absence of disease. It includes a sense
of a smooth life, peaceful existence,
unhurried pace and easy flow of time. The
natural state of the world is to be neutral,
balanced, with a similarly gently flowing
pattern. States of imbalance, tension or
agitation are indicative of physical, mental,
emotional or spiritual illness and whether
caused intentionally through omission
or commission or by outside actions or
influences, the result affects and endangers
the collective Cherokee.
Lefler and her colleagues provide a
balanced portrait of Cherokee health issues.
Topics covered include: an understanding of
the personal and spiritual impact of skeletal
research among the Cherokee; the adverse
reactions to be expected in well-meaning
attempts to practice bioarchaeology; health,
diet and the relationship between diet and
disease; linguistic analysis of Cherokee
language in historical and contemporary
contexts describing the relationship of the
people to the cosmos; culturally appropriate
holistic approaches to disease prevention
and intervention methodologies; and the
importance of the sacred feminine and the
use of myth and symbolism within this
matrilineal culture.
All aspects – physical, mental, emotional
and spiritual – figure into the Cherokee
concept of good health. By providing insight
into the Cherokee perspective on health,
wellness and the end of the life cycle, and
by incorporating appropriate protocol and
language, this work reveals the necessity of
a diversity of approaches in working with all
Indigenous populations.
Lefler is a medical anthropologist and
director of the culturally based Native
Health Programs. Leading Fox is deputy
health and medical officer for the Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians. (April)
GREEN PLANET:
How Plants Keep The
Earth Alive. (Stanley A.
Rice, Rutgers University
Press, 272 pp., hardback –
$27.95)
Plants are not just
a pretty part of the
landscape. They keep the
entire planet, with all of
its human and nonhuman
inhabitants, alive. Rice documents the many
ways in which plants do this by making
oxygen, regulating the greenhouse effect,
controlling floods and producing all the
food in the world.
Plants also create natural habitats for all
organisms. GREEN PLANET helps general
readers realize that if we are to rescue the
Earth from environmental disaster, we must
protect wild plants.
Beginning with an overview of how
human civilization has altered the face of
the Earth, particularly by the destruction of
forests, the book details the consequences
of these actions. Rice provides reasons for
government officials, economic leaders
and the public to support efforts to save
threatened and endangered plants. Global
campaigns to solve environmental problems
with plants, such as the development of
green roofs and the Green Belt Movement
– a women’s organization in Kenya that
empowers communities worldwide to
protect the environment – show readers that
efforts to save wild plants can be successful
and beneficial to the economic well-being of
Culture Briefs
Artist opens gift shop and studio
LOCUST GROVE, Okla. –
Artwork from Cherokee artists
will displayed May 2-3 at the new
Gourds, Etc. Native American Art
and Gift Shop.
Owner Verna Bates specializes
in gourd art, which has won
awards at local art shows. She
began her artwork in her home
and recently opened a gift shop
and studio. The gift shop is located
three miles south of the Locust
Grove exit of the Cherokee
Turnpike and two miles west on
East 580 Road. The studio will be
open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2
and from noon to 5 p.m. May 3.
People will be able to buy gourd
art, paintings, jewelry, baskets,
woven textiles, beadwork and
pottery. One of Bates’ decorated
gourds will be the door prize in a
drawing held May 3. Guest artists
include Janet “Nancy” Smith and
Cherokee weaver Cathy Moomaw.
(918) 479-8739.
Tribe gives $10K to Will Rogers museums
CLAREMORE, Okla. – The
Cherokee Nation recently
contributed $10,000 to Will
Rogers Memorial Museums, an
interactive museum serving as
both tribute and monument to
legendary Cherokee humorist Will
Rogers.
The contribution will be used
to expand and create a heritage
gallery to showcase the heritage
of Rogers and his family. The
foundation is working with the
CN on the project.
Conley gets lifetime achievement
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) –
Cherokee writer and Cushing
native Robert J. Conley was
presented with the Arrell Gibson
Lifetime Achievement Award for
a body of work contributing to
Oklahoma’s literary heritage at
the 20th annual Oklahoma Book
Awards in April.
Conley, 69, has written more
than 70 books and won many
awards, including three Spur
Awards from the Western Writers
of America.
CN offers wild turkey feathers
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – In
partnership with the National
Wild Turkey Federation, the
Cherokee Nation is offering wild
turkey feathers to its tribal citizens
this spring.
The tribe receives a large
contribution of the feathers
annually from the NWTF. Pat
Gwin, Cherokee Nation Natural
Resources supervisor, said the
feathers have been used for gift
giving, fletching on bows and
arrows, making decorative book
marks and several other arts and
nations.
Rice, a Cherokee Nation citizen, is
a professor of biology at Southeastern
Oklahoma State University and author
of ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EVOLUTION.
(February)
FORGOTTEN FIRES: Native Americans
and the Transient Wilderness. (Omer C.
Stewart, University of Oklahoma Press, 384
pp., hardcover – $24.95)
A common stereotype about American
Indians is that for centuries they lived in
static harmony with nature in a pristine
wilderness that remained unchanged until
European colonization. Stewart was one
of the first anthropologists to recognize
that Native Americans made a significant
impact across a wide range of environments.
Most important, they regularly used fire to
manage plant communities and associated
animal species through varied and localized
habitat burning. (February)
CHEROKEE: People of the Written Word.
(Wayne L. Youngblood, Chartwell Books,
160 pp., hardcover – $12.98)
First in a series that examines the
history and culture of individual Native
American tribes, CHEROKEE: People of the
Written Word covers the Eastern Band in
North Carolina, the Keetoowah Band and
Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, as well as
the affiliated and non-affiliated Cherokee
living all over the United States and in many
other countries.
Each book in the series examines
demography, history, cultural traditions,
religion, important chiefs and warriors
and recent experiences backed up by
specially commissioned maps and artwork,
as well as a strong collection of historic
and contemporary photographs of people,
Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
“It’s great to have the
opportunity to use these kinds
of funds that we are strapped for
otherwise and be able to apply
them as we see an opportunity,”
said Steve Gragert, museum
director. “It is our great pleasure
of getting a chance to work with
the Cherokee Nation to proclaim
the heritage of Will Rogers and
to have that partnership and the
friendship that we greatly value.”
– CN Communications
Most of Conley’s writing deals
with Cherokee characters, culture
and themes. His “Real People”
series traces Cherokee history,
beginning in the year 1500.
“I’ve been told that getting
this (award) doesn’t mean I can
quit writing, and that’s good,
because I still have a lot more to
do,” Conley, who is the Sequoyah
Distinguished Professor in
Cherokee Studies at Western
Carolina University, said.
crafts in years past.
“We are very proud to be able to
give these feathers to our citizens
with the help of the NWTF and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,”
said Gwin.
The wild turkey feathers are
available to any CN citizen as
long as supplies last. Feathers can
be picked up at the office of the
Natural Resources department
or may also be mailed out upon
request. (918) 453-5704.
– CN Communications
lifestyle, artifacts and material culture.
(February)
DARK THIRTY. (Santee Frazier,
University of Arizona Press, 96 p., paperback
– $15.95)
Writing sometimes in dialect, sometimes
in gunshot bursts, sometimes in sinuous
lines that snake across the page, Frazier
crafts poems that are edgy
and restless. The poems
address subjects that are not
often thought of as poetic
like poverty, alcoholism,
cruelty and homelessness.
“I search the cabinet
and icebox—drink the
pickle juice /from the
jar. Bologna, /hard at the
edges, /browning on the kitchen /table since
yesterday. /I search the cabinet and icebox—
the curdling /milk almost smells drinkable.”
Frazier takes us on a loosely
autobiographical trip through Cherokee
country, the backwoods towns and the
big cities, giving us clear-eyed portraits
of Native people surviving contemporary
America. In Frazier’s world, there is no
romanticizing Native American life.
Here cops knock on the door of a lowrent
apartment after a neighbor has been
stabbed. Yet even in the midst of violence
and despair there is time for the beauty of
the world to shine through: “The Cutlass
rattling out /the last fumes of gas, engine
stops, /the night dimly lit by the moon /
hung over the treetops; /owls calling each
other from /hilltop to valley bend.”
Frazier, a Cherokee Nation citizen, holds
a bachelor’s degree in fine art from the
Institute of American Indian Arts and a
master’s degree in fine art from Syracuse
University. (February)

Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – A group of
teenage girls sit in a Sequoyah Schools
dorm room – laughing, talking and waiting
their turns as their friend’s hair is curled,
combed and styled.
Most of them wait about two hours for
their hair sessions with Tahlequah hair
stylist Stacey Brown, but they don’t mind
since they were getting free ‘up dos’ for one
of the most significant nights of their high
school life – prom which was April 17. The
hair sessions were one aspect of an effort
from students’ parents, Sequoyah staff
and area residents to help give the girls a
memorable night.
Since many girls living in the dorms
are from outside Tahlequah or from lowincome
families, Tonya Bryant, a Cherokee
Nation employee, said she wanted to help.
Bryant’s daughter was a dorm resident
in 2008, so Bryant has witnessed girls at
Sequoyah struggling at prom time. This
year, Bryant and another Sequoyah mom
organized donations and announced they
were looking for goods and services to help
make the girls.
“Prom’s important,” she said. “People
think it’s just a social
event, but it’s not. It’s
an opportunity to
build confidence. They
have to have some
confidence to even take
the risk to try on the
dresses or wear heels. That’s not a normal
day thing anymore.”
About 20 dresses, two pairs of shoes and
hair and makeup sessions were donated.
In previous years, the girls styled each
other’s hair, but this year local hair stylists
handled it.
“This year, being able to get it done
professionally I think it was nice,” Bryant
said. “Everyone deserves a day to feel like
a princess. You only get your wedding day
and your two proms, then the rest of life
happens.”
Stacey Brown, a hairstylist at Sally’s Hair
and Nail Salon, volunteered to style the
girls’ hair. Each hair session lasted about
45 minutes, with the big curls and styles
Brown provided normally costing $45.
Fellow hairstylist Morris Sevenstar helped
Brown. Overall, they volunteered to style
the hair of about dozen girls.
“I think we should give back to our
community, show people a caring side.
I think it’s a great way to give back your
time and just to do something nice for
somebody,” Brown said.
Mary Chanate, Sequoyah Schools’ female
residential therapist, spent a couple of
evenings prior to prom night painting
some of the girls’ nails. Chanate said she
usually paints the girls’ fingernails and
toenails once a month anyway, but this
time it was special.
She also knows many of the girls’ families
might not have the money to buy a dress and
shoes or pay for hair and nail sessions, so she
was glad the donations came through.
“If some people didn’t step in and help
out, a lot of this wouldn’t be happening,”
Chanate said. “We’re really appreciative.”
Sequoyah junior Tiffany Rea said she was
excited as she readied for her first prom, as
well as grateful for the people who donated
time and dresses.
“This is my first year so it’s kind of
exciting,” she said. “I’m glad they’re doing
everything for us.
I don’t think I would’ve went to prom
if they wasn’t offering this because I don’t
have the money to do this.”
The school is accepting dress, shoe and
jewelry donations for 2010. All previously
donated items have been placed in a
checkout system to be used for future
proms.
MAY 2009 • Cherokee Phoenix B-7
Annual Indian symposium brings crowds to NSU
The 37th rendition of the event
included Wes Studi, traditional
games and a competitive powwow.
BY MARK DREADFULWATER
Phoenix Staff
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Hundreds gathered in April at
Northeastern State University for the 37th annual Symposium
on the American Indian. The theme “Legacy: 1909 to
2009” was chosen to celebrate the univer-
sity’s centennial, as well as distinguished
alumni.
All symposium events were free and
open to the public with the purpose of educating
people on Native American issues.
As part of pre-symposium events, a partial
screening of the PBS series “We Shall
Remain” was shown to nearly 400 people.
“We Shall Remain” is a five-part series,
and those in attendance saw the third part
titled “Trail of Tears.” Cherokee actor Wes
Studi, who portrays former Cherokee leader
Major Ridge in the film, was on hand
for the screening and said “Trail of Tears”
presents a new perspective of the events leading up to the
Cherokee removal.
Studi said the third “We Shall Remain” installment, which
aired April 27, offers a fresh and balanced look at the history
of the Trail of Tears.
“I think it has been kind of a long
time coming in that…we don’t take
sides, but we try to provide the best
balance possible between the two
sides that were involved in the issue,”
“…we try to provide
the best balance
possible between
the two sides that
were involved in the
issue.”
– Wes Studi, Cherokee
actor on the film “Trail
of Tears”
Hair stylist Stacey Brown, left, puts makeup on Sequoyah junior Tiffany Rea before
prom. Volunteers and others donated their time and prom apparel for the girls.
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Donations make Sequoyah
girls’ prom night special
he said.
Studi said it was also the first time he portrayed a Cherokee
in a mainstream film. Some of his more memorable Native
roles include the Apache Geronimo in “Geronimo: An
American Legend,” a Pawnee in “Dances With Wolves” and
Magua, a Huron in “The Last of the Mohicans.”
A host of local community members attended the film’s
screening, as well as “We Shall Remain” executive producer
Sharon Grimberg, who introduced the film.
Some traditional Native games were also highlighted during
the symposium, such as stickball, which nearly 50 men
and women participated in.
“We’re playing guys against girls. The girls
are allowed to use their hands and the guys
are required to use sticks,” Chris Smith, a
Cherokee citizen and stickball game coordinator,
said. “I came out to teach the public
about stickball and for the exercise. It’s
good to see so many people out to enjoy the
game.”
A traditional marble game and cornstalk
shoot were also part of the traditional
games played during the symposium.
Along with the film and games, many
discussion panels were available for symposium
participants to attend.
Cherokee and NSU alumnus, Dr. Leslie D. Hannah, was a
guest speaker a panel regarding American Indian literature.
“The panel allowed me to express points of emphasis
about how to read Native lit, what to read for and how to
enjoy it,” he said.
To close out the symposium, the annual alumni powwow
was held. Originally slated to be held at the university’s
football stadium, organizers moved it into the Jack Dobbins
Fieldhouse due to inclement weather.
This year’s powwow was a competition powwow, a first for
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Sequoyah
Schools recently announces its students
who were named to the Superintendent’s
and Principal’s honor rolls for the second
term of the fall semester.
To be named to the Superintendent’s
Honor Roll, students must receive all A’s
on their report cards. These students are
Harley Adair, Tanner Alley, LaDonna
Ballard, Shawn Belcher, Shyla Burgess,
Robin Collins, Shakota Cutnose, Kody
Fisher, Brendan Francis, Aaron Henson,
Cherokee Hughes, Bryce Ketcher, Richard
Kirkpatrick, Bluebird Linville, Kristin
Lochner, Makayla Mouse, Jacob Neighbors,
Sierra Phillips, Ashley Roach, Joleen Scott,
Dylan Tucker, Jessica Velasquez, Nicholas
Wacoche, Dillon Wade, Pretty-Sky Wilden,
Blake Adair, Tara Comingdeer, Melissa
Dowty, Logan Francis, Marisa Hambleton,
Martha Hardbarger, Laurin Keen, Kurtis
Mouse, Starla Tidwell, Christopher Walker,
Summer Weidel, Lynsey Dry, Kendall
Griffin, Lindsey Hammer, Christian
Hummingbird, Megan Larney, Terence
Scraper, Megan Tehee, Meaghan Williams,
Katei Belt, Shayne Boyd, Ronnie Davis-
Pashica, Garrett Drapeau, Nathan Linch,
Mallory Sequichie, Corey Still, Kourtney
Vann, Jamie Wagnon, Anna Walker and
Jordan Wapaha.
Students on the Principal’s Honor Roll
must receive no grade lower than a B on
their report cards. They include Taylor
Selky, Jamekah Rios, Ashley Belcher,
Shaina Budder, Mikah Campbell, Rocky-
Boy Chippewa, Kristy Daugherty, Tasha
DeGase, Nakayla Dunn, Tawny Gray,
Johnny Ray Haag, Shadow Hardbarger,
Natalie Hatley, Brittany Hensley, Saharra
Historian Gayle Ross, left, Cherokee actor Wes Studi,
center, and executive producer Sharon Grimberg answer
questions from the audience after the April screening of
“Trail of Tears” during the 37th annual Symposium on
the American Indian at Northeastern State University in
Tahlequah, Okla. PHOTO BY MARK DREADFULWATER
the annual event. Also for the first time, the powwow had a
southern drum as well as a northern drum.
Sequoyah announces
fall honor rolls
✃
Name: Phone:
Address:
Henson, Michelle Holmes, Keisha Jones,
Shandah Kingfisher, Tyler Kirk, Michael
Landaverde, Geoffrey Little, Kyla Martinez,
Vance McGowin, Tylar Nofire, Shannon
Orcutt, Joseph Pritchett, Jasmine Rios,
Ashley Roach, White Robertson, Bethany
Tiger, Chinequa Wacoche, James Wagnon,
Jr., Shane Wilson, Dalton Yandell, Casey
Arnall, Dakota Berryhill, Hannah Bird,
Shelby Botone, Censee Buzzard, Chelsea
Campbell, Kristan Carder, Dennis Chewey,
Jr., Jeremy Drapeau, Joseph Feathers, Travis
Fuentes, Kelsey Gann, Kalley Garrett,
Kinnitha Garris, Krissa Goodrich, Rozlyn
Locust, Leighton Mouse, Sanders Mouse,
Seth Newton, Skye Norwood, Terran
Pettit, Charmayne Shorty, Megan Smith,
Samantha Snell, Kelsey Washington, Kara
Yahola, Haylee Beck, Emily Buckner, Cija
Chavez, William Cora, Caleb Deardruff,
Darren Fields, Cory Fourkiller, Cortney
Glass, Rozanne Harmon, Jodi Hooper,
Robert Ketcher, Caleb Kingfisher,
Justin Lepley, Chris Littlehead, Brenna
McLemore, Ryan Mouse, Jacinda Pettit,
Tiffany Rae, Vera Rooster, Charliee Ross,
Clayton Saiz, Matthew Samuels, Rhiannon
Sanders, Dylan Tiddark, Chase Vanover,
Micah Williams, Taylor Yochum, Ashley
Ballard, Dallis Cameron, Stacy Carey,
Tafv Coachman, Sukey Deere, Evan
Evans, Curtis Glory, Christina Gonzales,
Keli Gonzales, Stephanie Hammer, Alma
Holmes, Kaheya Hooper, Dustin Jones,
Amber Locansello, Mindy Potts, Courtney
Reeder, Nikki Rock, Ashley Ross, Sherniec
Scraper, Dwayne Thirsty and Andrianna
Yahola.
City: State: Zip:
Amount Enclosed $ Mail to:
For more information: (918) 456-0671, Ext. 2420
Email: mraymond@cherokee.org
– CN Communications
YOU can make a
difference.
Support the Cherokee Nation
Education Corporation with a
Generous Donation Today.
Promote and preserve the language,
culture & history of the Cherokee Nation.
Create progressive learning
opportunities. Support Cherokee
students through scholarships.
Please accept my contribution to the Cherokee Nation Education Corporation.
Cherokee Nation Education Corporation
Cherokee Nation • P.O. Box 948
Tahlequah, OK 74465

B-8 Cherokee Phoenix • MAy 2009
Tribe
accepting
Head Start
enrollments
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Cherokee
Nation is accepting enrollment for
its Head Start and Early Head Start
programs located throughout the
tribe’s jurisdiction.
Head Start and Early Head Start are
nationally accredited comprehensive
development programs operated under
the tribe’s Early Childhood Unit.
Parents or guardians may fill out a
Head Start application for their child
when the child is 2, if the child is
turning 3 by Sept. 1 for the upcoming
school year. Children entering the 3-
and 4-year-old programs must turn 3
by Sept. 1 of the current academic year.
Copies of the following documents
must be submitted with the application
before it will be considered complete:
a Certificate of Degree of Indian
Blood card, Social Security card, immunization
record, state-certified birth
certificate and current verification of
income, which can be check stubs that
are no more than 30 days old, tax records,
W-2 statement from the parent’s
employer or a Temporary Assistance
for Need Families statement.
For the Children’s Village Head Start
and Early Head Start programs in
Cherokee County, parents or guardians
may pick up an application at the ECU
Office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday in Tahlequah. To have
an application mailed to you, call (918)
453-5757 or toll free at 1-888-458-
4393. All completed applications can
be mailed to the ECU Office at P.O.
Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465.
Parents or guardians who have submitted
applications on file but it has
been more than a year, an updated
application must be submitted. If
your address or phone number has
changed, contact ECU to update your
application.
The CN Head Start and Early Head
Start implement American Indian heritage,
Cherokee culture and language,
as well as provide services in the areas
of education, physical fitness, medical
and dental, health, nutrition and social
development with a special emphasis
for children with special needs including
significant disabilities. ECU does
not discriminate based on race, color,
national origin, sex or special needs.
Children with special needs are encouraged
to apply.
– CN Communications
Applications may be obtained from
the following Head Start centers:
Adair County
Big Cabin Early Head Start
(918) 783-5130
Greasy (918) 636-7768
Maryetta Head Start (918) 696-3751
Red Bird Early Head Start
(918) 696-7894
Maryetta Early Head Start
(918) 696-8060
Cherry Tree Early Head Start
(918) 696-2669
Zion Head Start (918) 636-7866
Cherokee County
Lowrey Head Start (918) 458-6183
Shady Grove Head Start
(918) 772-3505
Delaware County
Jay Head Start and Early Head Start
(918) 253-4002
Kenwood Emersion Head Start
(918) 434-5106
Mayes County
Sequoyah and Tsuni-Sti Early Head
Start, Salina (918) 434-5440
Salina Head Start (918) 434-6076
Pryor Early Head Start (918) 825-7987
Muskogee County
Webbers Falls Head Start
(918) 464-2959
Nowata County
Wauhillau Head Start and Early Head
Start, Nowata (918) 273-0623
Sequoyah County
Brushy Head Start (918) 775-0399
Tulsa County
Sperry Head Start (918) 288-7234
Wagoner County
Okay Head Start
(918) 682-7961, ext. 235
Sequoyah student accepted
to London film school
The 18-year-old has set high goals for
himself, including a win at the Oscars.
BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee citizen and Sequoyah Schools
senior James Chaffin II has aspired to be a film director since he
was a kid. Now at 18, he’s set to graduate from high school May 15
Cherokee citizen and Sequoyah Schools senior James Chaffin II
edits video for “The Show,” the school’s weekly television show
produced entirely by students. PHOTO BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
CN scholarships
deadline
approaches
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Cherokee
Nation Higher Education Scholarship
application deadline of June 12
draws near for the 2009-10 academic
school year.
The desired outcomes of the scholarship
program include strengthening
the tribe’s sovereignty, increasing
the capacity of its citizens and promoting
the Cherokee language and
culture, according to the CN Web site.
Applications may be picked up in
the CN Office of Higher Education
in the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex
or downloaded at http://scholarships.
cherokee.org, as well as the CN Web
site www.Cherokee.org, under the
“Check it Out” section.
Students may use a checklist of
required documents that are to be included
with the application. Students
also must have applied for the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid
or FAFSA. To apply for the FAFSA or
to get more information, go to www.
fafsa.ed.gov.
High school seniors graduating in
May can apply now with an official
seven-semester transcript.
Applications must be postmarked
by June 12. Applications received after
this date will be considered late and
unacceptable.
Scholarship recipients are required
to volunteer one hour of service to
the CN or community for every $100
they receive in scholarship funding.
For example, if a student receives a
$1,000 scholarship per semester, the
student will be required to volunteer
10 community service hours.
Students will be notified in writing
when the Higher Education office
receives their complete application.
Students will also be notified in writing
the first week of August if they are
selected for a scholarship. (918) 207-
3948. 1-800-256-0671, ext. 5465.
Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
and travel overseas to attend the Metropolitan Film School in London,
England.
“I have been doing film since I was about 8 years old, and I knew
that I wanted to have a career in film, and this is one of the leading
film schools in the world,” Chaffin said.
Chaffin is a big fan of famed director Stanley Kubrick, whose
1972 “A Clockwork Orange” tops Chaffin’s list of favorite movies.
“He believes in content and style,” he said of the late Kubrick.
But Chaffin isn’t content on just attending film school. He has
also set some high goals, including an Oscar win.
“I want to direct a feature film before I’m 20 years-old with a
major studio, and I’d like to be the youngest (director) to get an
Oscar nomination,” he said.
Sequoyah Principal Corey Bunch said Chaffin sets a great example
for other students.
“We’re so proud of him,” Bunch said. “He’s actually accomplishing
the goals he set for himself.”
To prepare himself for a directing career, Chaffin began watching
more movies and reading more.
“And I’d already been in art and music way before that, so I just
kind of put everything together,” he said.
His classes at Sequoyah also helped, he said. Chaffin was enrolled
in drama and media production II, which produces “The
Show,” a weekly television show produced entirely by Sequoyah
students.
“It’s been a creative outlet for me,” he said. “I’ve been coordinating
shots and acting in front of the camera.”
His senior year was his first year at Sequoyah, having come from
Tahlequah High School.
“Sequoyah Schools has been the greatest experience, school-wise
that I’ve ever had,” Chaffin said. “Without it, I would never have
had the ambition to go through with it (applying to film school).”
Chaffin also attended the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at
Quartz Mountain and the University of Tulsa Film Camp to prepare.
Some of his classes at the London film school will include film
directing, cinematography practices and sound editing.
“We’re so proud of him. He’s actually
accomplishing the goals he set for himself.”
– Sequoyah Principal Corey Bunch
“I want to direct a feature film before I’m
20 years-old with a major studio, and I’d
like to be the youngest (director) to get an
Oscar nomination.”
– James Chaffin II

Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
Education Briefs
Gans to host all-school reunion May 23
GANS, Okla. – Gans High
School will host its 35th all-school
reunion from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
May 23.
Gans alumni, former students,
teachers and friends from Gans
are invited to attend the annual
school reunion. Come join
the fun and visit with former
teachers, classmates and friends.
Classmates are urged to bring
cameras, old photos and year
books. Door prizes will be given
and the person traveling the
greatest distance to attend will be
honored. Dress is optional, but
the theme this year is Hawaiian.
A catered meal will be served at
11:30 a.m. Guest and children are
invited.
(918) 427-6509.
antlerlady1937@sbcglobal.net.
Lawmaker tour CN Child Development Center
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – State
Sen. Jim Wilson and Rep. Mike
Brown learned first-hand how
the Cherokee Nation Child
Development Center utilizes the
Pilot Early Childhood Program
during a tour March 27 at the
center.
Enacted by the Oklahoma
Legislature in 2006, the program is
dedicated to improving the quality
of early childhood education
services in the state and increasing
access to these services for lowincome
children from birth
through age 3.
The CDC has participated in
the program for two years. This
Sequoyah students earn art awards
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Twelve
Sequoyah Schools’ students
earned awards in the annual
Five Civilized Tribes Museum
Student Art Show in Muskogee
and 15 earned awards in the
Cherokee Nation’s Cherokee Art
Competition.
“This is the best we have ever
done, in these two shows. We have
more students that are talented
and dedicated than I have had in
the past,” Brandi Adair, Sequoyah
Schools’ art teacher, said.
The Five Civilizes Tribes
Museum Art show winners are
Roxanne Harmon, Nikki Rock,
Christie Tiger, Lisan Tiger-Blair,
Collin Vann, Matt Billy, Jennifer
year, the center received $105,540
in state funds and $158,310
provided by the tribe as a private
match to hire degreed teachers,
improve curricular resources
and classroom tools for teachers,
students and parents. To further
support the program, the pilot
project receives an additional
$33,000 from parent payments, on
a sliding-fee scale, and financial
assistance to parents from the
CN, said Laurie Hand, director of
the child care and development
department.
– George Kaiser Family
Foundation
Calico, Wyntre Grayson, Tawny
Gray, Shannon Orcutt, Andrianna
Yahola and Taylor Yochum. Lisan
Tiger-Blair also won awards for
two pieces of artwork that the
judges deemed “Best of Show.”
The Cherokee Art Competition
winners are Aaron Henson,
Dennis Chewey, Starla Tidwell,
Christie Tiger, Brendan Francis,
Tara Comingdeer, Hall Sanders,
Shaina Bolin, Taylor Yochum,
Lindsey Hammer, Deanna Adair,
Keli Gonzales, Alma Holmes, Eli
Baldridge and Roxanne Harmon.
All of the art show winners
received cash prizes.
– CN Communications
OIE announces art competition winners
WASHINGTON – The Office
of Indian Education of the
U.S. Department of Education
announced the winners of the
2009 Native American Student
Artist Competition, an annual
event that celebrates the values
and documents the successes of
education in American Indian and
Alaska Native Communities.
Four Cherokees were part of the
winners named. Mia Allen won
in the Pre-kindergarten division,
while Kinley Soap and Aubrey
Brown won the kindergarten
through second grade division. In
the sixth through eighth grades
division, Paige Fourkiller won,
while Zack Ellision won the 11th
and 12th grades division.
A total of 604 students from
30 states submitted works in a
variety of media. Entries relate
to the 2009 theme “Tradition
is My Life, Education is My
Future” and reflect the promise
and importance of pursuing an
education for Native youth.
– OIE
BY JAMI CUSTER
Staff Writer
may 2009 • Cherokee Phoenix B-9
Students gather for Global Youth Service Day on April 24 to clean up Peavine
Elementary School as part of a Cherokee Nation Learn and Serve initiative.
PHOTO BY JAMI CUSTER
Learn and Serve program cleans Peavine school
PEAVINE, Okla. – In coordination
with Global Youth Service Day and
the Cherokee Nation Learn and Serve
program, students from 17 communities
within the tribe’s jurisdiction volunteered
on April 24 to help clean up Peavine
Elementary School.
The school volunteered to be a host
for the Learn and Serve program since it
received heavy damage from an ice storm
earlier this year.
Donna Gourd, Learn and Serve program
manager, said the program works by giving
sub-grants to schools for service learning
projects.
“… so all of the schools here today have
their own Cherokee Nation-funded project
for service learning,” she said. Gourd
added that the cleanup was also part of
the Global Youth Service Day, where youth
from all over the U.S. and world complete
service projects.
About 190 students and 44 community
volunteers gathered for the Peavine project.
Ashley Tevebaugh, a junior from Vian
High School, said she volunteered because
she wants to help. “I am in the Learn and
Serve group and this is what we do and I
enjoy doing it,” Tevebaugh said.
Gourd said when a school receives a
Learn and Serve grant the tribe lets the
school know that it will bring area youth to
participate.
“Where we do the service is not as
important as the opportunity for the
kids from all the different Cherokee
communities to come together and have
this shared opportunity,” Gourd said.
Peavine Superintendent Mike Wolfe said
part of the school’s Learn and Serve subgrant
was to beautify the school.
“So we are going to clean the grounds
and fix our common area for our kids to
enjoy during their break time,” he said.
Students moved limbs that were knocked
down from the ice storm, repaired fence,
raked and bagged leaves, removed and
replanted shrubbery and removed plastic
from a greenhouse that was destroyed by
recent winds.
“The good thing about it is when a group
of people get together you can do a lot and
we are seeing the results now because of all
their participation,” Wolfe said.
The Learn and Serve program has
hosted group service activities for students
enrolled in schools receiving sub-grants
since 2004. Past activities have included
cleaning communities and planting
trees along a tribally constructed road in
Delaware County.
Gourd said the program offers Cherokee
students from communities to meet and
experience ga-du-gi, which means working
together in Cherokee.
“It gives us the opportunity to share
Cherokee cultural values by doing things
together. This is really ga-du -gi in action,”
she said. “You get people to come together
from other communities to help out a
community that’s not their own. I think the
most important thing about this Learn and
Serve program is that it gives us a chance to
practice what we preach as an organization
with our kids.”

B-10 Cherokee Phoenix • may 2009
Spring brings tick-borne illnesses
Better weather is here so be aware
of the diseases ticks can
carry.
BY JAMI CUSTER
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – With spring
here and summer approaching, more
people are getting outdoors, which means
they should take precautions of ticks and tickborne
illnesses.
The most common tick disease in the Cherokee Nation is
ehrlichiosis, a bacterial infection that kills white blood cells.
Symptoms of ehrlichiosis include fever, headache, fatigue,
muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, joint pains,
confusion and occasionally a rash. They usually appear
within one to two weeks after a tick bite.
If treated quickly with antibiotics, ehrlichiosis generally
improves within a few days. Only 2 to 3 percent of untreated
cases lead to death. The disease was previously known to infect
dogs but has recently been associated with human infection.
Dr. Anna Miller, chief of staff of the Medicine Clinic at Cherokee
Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital, said in 2008 in Oklahoma there were
105 confirmed cases of ehrlichiosis with one death.
“Not as many confirmed cases as I thought, but it is the most common tick fever diagnosis that
we make at Cherokee Nation Hastings Hospital,” she said.
The primary carrier of ehrlichiosis in Oklahoma and the U.S is the lone star tick. The female is
easily distinguished by a pronounced white dot or star in the center of her back.
Another tick-related disease is Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It is less common than
ehrlichiosis, but just as dangerous. The infection has the potential to spread to a person’s
bloodstream and other areas of the body. Its most common symptoms are fever, myalgias,
headaches and a rash on palms and soles of feet.
“At Cherokee Nation Hastings Hospital we very
frequently see ehrlichiosis and less frequently Rocky
Mountain spotted fever,” Miller said. “In a year we usually
only admit three to five adult patients with (Rocky
Mountain spotted) tick fever.”
In the eastern United States, where the disease is most
common, it’s transmitted by the American dog tick. In the
southern United States, the lone star and brown dog ticks
usually transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Both ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever
are treated with an antibiotic called doxycycline. However,
Miller said medical personnel have to be mindful of the
patient’s age because the antibiotic could cause dental
complications in children under 8 years old.
For both diseases, it is suspected that the vast majority of
cases go unreported.
“Most patients never come in for care at all,” Miller said.
Magnified view of a lone star tick
Map of where the lone star tick is prominent
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
Allergy and asthma
concerns are nothing
to sneeze at
BY JAMI CUSTER
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – When looking at
blooming trees, bushes and flowers, many
people might see nature’s beauty at work.
Others, however, see, think and feel allergies.
May is Asthma/Allergy Awareness
Month and the Three Rivers Health Center
has posted educational materials in its
lobby and exam rooms showing the causes
and effects of allergies and asthma-related
illnesses.
Tom Kincade, the health center’s chief of
pediatrics, said symptoms of allergies are
heightened during the warmer months.
“With the rapid changes in Oklahoma
weather, this can be a prime time to flare
up,” he said.
He added that allergy
symptoms can differ
among age groups and
consist of nasal congestion,
sneezing, nasal
itching, watery eyes and
sometimes itchy ears and
mouth.
“With the
rapid changes
in Oklahoma
weather, this can
be a prime time to
flare up.”
–Tom Kincade, Three
Rivers Health Center
pediatrics chief
“Our environment
contains a vast number
of allergens. These
include pollens, mold
spores, animal dander,
foods and chemicals,” said Kincade. “If
allergy symptoms are bothersome, most
medical providers recommend treatment.
Besides the different types of medications
that can be used, one of the key treatment
strategies of allergies is prevention.”
He said allergen prevention can include
closing windows and using air conditioning
when pollen levels are high, hypoallergenic
bedding, hardwood flooring, decreasing
clutter that attracts dust and avoiding
down or feather pillows and blankets.
Most children are not affected by seasonal
allergies until after age 1, but that idea
is argued because of the constant runny
nose with most children. And generally,
someone must be exposed to an allergen
multiple times to become allergic.
“So if a child is exposed to ragweed this
year and has the potential to be allergic to
it and then is exposed again next year parents
may start seeing symptoms,” Kincade
said, “hence the name, seasonal allergies.”
He said infants and children can have
recurrent wheezing, especially those under
5 years old and this symptom is typically
triggered by viral infections.
“These kids typically get treated like
asthmatics and sometimes even respond
to asthma medications. However, unlike
asthmatics, they out grow their symptoms,”
Kincade said.
Individuals who are diagnosed with asthma
will not grow out of it, but with medical
advances they can function and lead a normal
life like anyone else.
The occurrence of asthma
and its symptoms also
increase during allergy
season, Kincade said, and
that more than 70 percent
of people who have asthma
have allergies.
“In fact, these conditions
can be part of a grouping of
illnesses termed atopic conditions
–allergies, asthma
and eczema,” he said. “Having
allergies raises your risk
of developing asthma and/
or eczema. People can have
just one condition or any combination of
the three.”
Triggers of asthma can include allergies,
infections, exercise, weather change, emotions
and environmental pollutants such
as dust and smog, among other things.
Asthma symptoms can include, wheezing,
chronic cough, exercise intolerance and
nighttime coughing.
Much like allergies, to manage asthma, it
is suggested to avoid certain things such as
smoke.
“One of the biggest offenders is cigarette
smoke,” Kincade said.
He said asthma tends to get worse during
the winter months do to increased infections
and viruses.
Tick prevention
•Wear light colored clothing to make
ticks easier to see.
•Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
tucked into socks to deprive ticks of
attachment sites.
•Wear closed-toe shoes.
•When hiking, biking or walking, stay
in the center of trails to avoid grass and
brush.
•Check for ticks at least once a day,
particularly along waistbands, in the
armpits, groin area, back and scalp.
•Use a tick repellent with DEET on skin and
clothing according to the directions.
•Use a tick repellent with pyrethrum on clothing
only as directed by the label.
Remove ticks quickly
Once bitten by a tick, it is important to remove the tick
appropriately. Since the risk of contracting a tick-borne
illness increases the longer the tick stays attached, ticks
should be removed as quickly as possible.
Sometimes a small red welt may be present on the skin where the tick was attached.
This is generally due to localized irritation from the tick’s saliva and can be expected
to resolve in one to two days.
Tick removal tips
•Use tweezers or fingers wrapped in tissue to grasp the tick as close to the surface of
the skin as possible.
•Use gentle steady pressure to pull the tick from the skin.
Try not to twist or jerk the tick as you pull.
•Do not squeeze the body of the tick at any time while it is
attached. You can release disease-causing bacteria into the
bite wound.
•Do not squeeze the body of the tick to kill it after it has
been removed. You can force disease-causing organisms
out of the tick and onto/into your skin.
•Wash your hands with warm soapy water when finished
removing the tick.
•Do not use matches, gasoline, nail polish remover or
other ointments as methods of tick removal.
•Note the date of tick removal and report any symptoms
consistent with tick-borne illnesses to your physician.
Hearing loss a problem for Native Americans
BY JAMI CUSTER
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Hearing
disorders can be a problem for anyone,
but Native Americans have an increased
risk of being diagnosed with hearing
problems.
“African Americans, Hispanic
Americans and Native Americans are
particularly vulnerable to age-related
sensory losses,” Dr. Karen Patterson of the
Northeastern State University Speech-
Language Pathology program said.
An estimated 31 million Americans
have hearing loss, with most adult cases
related to aging or exposure to loud noise.
“Any noise loud enough that a person
must shout to be heard over it has the
potential of damaging hearing,” Patterson
said. She added that some hearing loss
can be avoided by wearing ear protection
and that it can benefit those already
have hearing loss. “Wearing earplugs or
earmuffs can help keep the loss from
getting worse.”
There are three types of hearing loss:
conductive hearing loss, sensory neural
hearing loss and mixed hearing loss.
Conductive hearing loss is a problem
in the ear canal or middle ear, which is
Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
directly behind the ear drum. This loss
is temporary and medically treatable.
Causes include ear infections, wax
buildup, colds, allergies or damage to the
eardrum or ear bones.
Sensory neural hearing loss is caused
by a problem in the inner ear or the
auditory nerve. This loss is permanent
and not medically treatable. Causes
include noise exposure, aging and side
effects of medications such as antibiotics,
quinine, some chemotherapy and high
doses of aspirin.
Mixed hearing loss is a combination
of conductive and sensory neural loss
due to problems in the ear canal and the
inner ear. This loss can be temporary or
permanent. Some losses are medically
treatable and some are not. The loss can
range from mild to completely deaf.
Diseases such as diabetes can also
affect hearing and cause hearing loss.
With Native Americans being prone
to diabetes, they in turn are at risk for
hearing loss.
Ear infections are a major cause
in cases of hearing loss in children.
Patterson said ear infections are
more prevalent in Native American
children due to genetics and physical
characteristics.

Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
Health problems from alcohol
abuse include liver, stomach and
brain damage.
BY JAMI CUSTER
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Alcohol abuse is prevalent among
many ethnic groups in the U.S., including Native Americans.
Dr. B.J. Boyd of the Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health
said research indicates that the rate of alcohol use disorders
among American Indians nationwide is around 10 percent
to 11 percent, with rates in northeastern Oklahoma comparable
to that figure.
The awareness of the dangers of alcohol abuse can help
discourage its use, he said, and CN is encouraging Cherokees
to get involved with local anti-drug coalitions to help.
“We have found the best way to address alcohol awareness
is to work through our community coalitions,” Boyd said.
“The best way to get involved is to become an active participant
in your local coalition.”
may 2009 • Cherokee Phoenix B-11
Behavioral Health combats alcohol abuse
‘
DIETITI ANS
CORNER
Grilling can be more
than just meats
BY TRACY CANANT
Registered Dietitian
Spring is here and so is the time to dust the grill off
and enjoy warmer temperatures. For some, the grill is
used year round. For others, it marks the beginning of
spring, and it’s a great way to add variety to meals and try
healthy ways to make vegetables, meats and even fruit.
Make sure your grill is cleaned and in working order.
Stock up on charcoal or make sure your propane tank
is full and keep an extra on hand. You also want to have
long-handled spatulas, tongs, grill brush and grill oven
mitts located near the grilling area.
In the summer we challenge ourselves to see how
often we can cook a meal without heating the house.
To always be prepared and to keep the cost down, I
recommend stocking up at the store on meats when they
are on sale. They can be frozen for future use.
To save time, marinade the meat in Ziploc bags before
freezing. Then all you have to do is grab a bag in the
morning, throw it in the fridge to thaw and grill after
work. There are great already bottled marinades or you
can save money and make your own. Basic marinade
He said reducing alcohol abuse and underage drinking are
major areas of concern for the coalitions.
“Each coalition conducts local activities that are specific
for their community,” he said.
The active coalitions are in Tahlequah, Pryor, Claremore,
Sallisaw, Stillwell, Jay, Nowata, Muskogee, Bartlesville, Vinita
and Marble City.
Aside from the coalitions, CN has a program called “Access
to Recovery.” Any person with a Certificate Degree of
Indian Blood card who lives in the boundaries of the Cherokee,
Muskogee (Creek) or Osage nations are eligible for the
program.
“It provides expanded access to substance abuse services
in the area so that we have a larger network of providers in
addition to the ones in our own health clinics,” Boyd said.
Boyd also said those who may be suffering from alcohol
abuse need treatment.
“I would recommend utilizing both professional help
from a licensed mental health or substance abuse professional
and utilizing community-based support groups like
Alcoholics Anonymous,” he said.
Just as alcohol abuse knows no ethnic differences, it also
knows no age differences. People who abuse alcohol in-
ingredients include a type of
vinegar or lemon juice, herbs
or seasonings, olive or canola
oil, garlic, soy sauce, honey,
hot sauce, etc. Another readyto-use
marinade idea is to
use oil-based, light or fat-free
salad dressings. A good old
standby is fat-free Italian. I
always get the generic. It’s
cheaper, and I can never tell
Tracy Canant the difference.
Another way to prepare
meats is to put a rub on them and let them sit in
the fridge, covered until time to grill. A rub is a
combination of dry spices. For salt-free versions, check
out Mrs. Dash seasonings, salt-free Cavenders or again
make up your own once you figure out what you like.
Some basic spices to experiment with are onion powder,
garlic powder, pepper, chili powder, cumin and Italian
seasoning.
Now that you have the meat figured out, focus on
the rest of the meal. We love to grill veggies. We grill
zucchini, yellow squash, onions, green beans, tomatoes,
sweet potatoes, and I have even heard of grilling
cabbage.
The best and cheapest place to get vegetables is your
garden, but if you don’t have one, the next best is a local
farmers market. Check out www.kerrcenter.com to find
clude teens, college students, pregnant women, professionals
and senior citizens.
The misuse of alcohol contributes to many safety and
health issues, such as conflicts between family members,
domestic violence and child abuse. The numerous health
problems caused by the overuse of alcohol can include liver,
stomach and brain damage, among others. Effects may not
be seen until later in life. Alcohol can also be blamed for
accidental injury or death. Children can also be injured by
alcohol excess. They can be born with birth defects, brain
damage and mental retardation when the mother uses alcohol
during pregnancy.
Substance abuse counseling is available at each CN health
facility, and there are Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in
most communities. (918) 207-4977.
“We have found the best way to address
alcohol awareness is to work through
our community coalitions.” – Dr. B.J. Boyd,
Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health
out where your closest market is and when they start.
Some quick ways to make veggies especially zucchini,
yellow squash, onions, sweet potatoes and potatoes is to
cut them long way, about one-quarter inch, brush with
olive oil or canola oil or spray with vegetable spray and
sprinkle with seasoning.
On a medium-heated grill, place veggies directly on
grate, cook on both sides until however soft or crunchy
you like them. Check after 3 minutes so they don’t
burn. Another way I like to make veggies is to make foil
packets. I usually cut veggies up into pieces no bigger
than 1-2 inch. Using vegetable spray, spray a piece of
foil big enough to hold the veggies and be able to fold
over and seal at the top. You are basically steaming them
so you want to keep as much steam in as possible. Add
some fresh herbs if you have them or onions, garlic or
any other favorite seasoning. Sometimes I just pour fatfree
Italian dressing over veggies. Put the foil pack on the
grill for a few minutes before starting meat, then move
off the hottest part of the grill and put meat on grill over
the hot part. Depending on the vegetable, some will take
a while to cook until done, and others such as tomatoes
will not take as long.
Kebabs are a way to cook both the meat and the
veggies simultaneously. I like to marinade the meat
and the veggies for kebabs, but remember to marinade
meat and veggies in separate containers to avoid food
poisoning. There are other grilling recipes at www.
kraftfoods.com or www.forecast.diabetes.org.

B-12 Cherokee Phoenix • may 2009 Ewf #>hAmh • anszT 2009
Amy Robinson was the “Biggest Loser” at the EBMM class
in Tiawah this quarter. She started the EBMM class to
learn more about being healthy in an effort to improve her
and her husbands’ health. On the first night of assessments,
Amy was shocked to see that she was not able to
complete one sit up. She decided to get serious. She
makes sure that her 2 year old daughter eats a healthy
meal, but she and her husband had not been eating
healthy or exercising. They bought a treadmill from
Craig’s list at a reasonable price and Amy followed the
guidelines taught in EBMM and began walking 5 times a
week for 30 minutes. She learned exercises to improve
her strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health in the EBMM class. She enjoyed
the exercise portion of the class and still continues the bodysculpting routine that was
taught in addition to walking on the treadmill. She learned how important eating right
is for your health. Slowly, she began to add more fruits and vegetables, eat less high
calorie and high fat foods, and added more fiber to her diet. She has now eliminated
all refined foods from her family’s diet and added all whole grain products including
pastas and breads. The last evening of EBMM class her numbers had improved along
with everyone else’s, but she had the most improvement.
Her overall numbers over the 8 weeks in class are:
23 pound weight loss • 6” less from her waist size
Sit-ups 0 at beginning to 5 in 1 minute • 1-mile walk – 18:31 first week to 16:52 last
week • Push-ups – 12 in 1 minute to 14 •Flexibility – 21.5” increased to 24”
Systolic BP from 160 to 127
Amy’s favoirite beverage is now one of her families favorite:
3 C. fresh Spiniach • 1 Banannna • 1 C. frozen strawberries
1 C. Orange juice • 1 pkg. sugar-free sweetener
Mix all in a blender till smooth. Amy says its looks a little odd, but it tastes delicious
and is the favorite drink of her 2 year old who now asks for “Green Juice”.
EBMM class – Tiawah, Rogers Co.
January – March 2009
EBMM participants in body sculpting portion of the class.
JUMP FOR A HEALTHY HEART
SEQUOYAH COUNTY: Healthy Nation staff, Mary A.
Owl-Batt, has coordinated a physical activity to encourage
Sequoyah County students to jump rope
more. The event is titled: JUMP FOR A HEALTHY
HEART. All elementary schools are invited to participate.
The event targets the fourth grade class.
Five schools participated this year. Each student
who participated received a free jump rope to use
at home.
The student with the most jumps this year was
Madison Petree with 488 jumps from Liberty Public
Elementary near Muldrow. Madison is ten years-old
and the daughter of Jeff and Myla Petree. Madison
stated she has been jumping rope since she was
around six years old. Shayleigh Honeycutt from
Moffett Elementary was second runner up with 447
jumps. Third place was Trey Shade from Brushy School near Sallisaw. A total of 90 students
participated from the five schools.
For further information contact: Mary A. Owl-Batt at 918-774-1429.
Upcoming Events
Male Seminary Recreation Center
(Former Markoma Building)
Hours of operation
Monday – Thursday 5:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday 5:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday noon – 5:00 p.m.
Child Watch Hours
Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – noon
Monday – Thursday 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday Evenings 5:00 p.m. –7:00 p.m.
Cherokee Tribal Members & immediate family members Free of Charge
Cherokee Nation Employees & immediate family members Free of Charge
Non-Tribal Community members (individual) $20 / Month
Non-Tribal Community members (Family) $30 / Month
For more information call (918) 453-5496
Wings Runs/Walks
May 2 Loyalty Day Run Westville
May 9 A “Run for the Berries” Stilwell
May 23 5K Run for Hope Muskogee
June United Way 5K Muskogee
June 13 Survivor Run Tahlequah
Healthy Nation Public Health Educator’s
Adair Co: (918)696-8875 Michelle Sweney • (918)696-8853 Randon Lowe
Cherokee Co: (918)453-5612 Cora Flute • (918)458-6989 Charlie Stilwell
(918)458-6989 Jodi Carman
Delaware Co: (918) 253-4271 – Betty King & Ida Gray
Mayes Co: (918)434-8500 – Laura Sawney-Spencer
Sequoyah Co: (918)774-9159 – Mary Owl-Batt & Sid Church
Nowata Co: (918)273- 0960 – Jaime Clark
Muskogee Co: (918)687 - 0201 – Jason Shelor
Rogers County: (918)342-6441– Tonya Solomon
Programs
Smoking Cessation, Eat Better Move More, Healthy Cooking,
Wings Fitness Club, Physical Activity Events, BMI’S, School Health Activities
and Community Activities.
Elton Sunday – Will Rogers Health Center Administrator, and Connie
Morris, who works with JOM in Vinita schools, mixing skillet bread for
healthier Indian Tacos.