Day Work Program returns - Cherokee Phoenix

Navy bound
Dry is the third student from Sequoyah
to receive an opportunity to attend a
military academy. EDUCATION, 16
Waiting
A Cherokee family waits for a
new heart for a 2-year-old girl.
HEALTH, 17
Community....... 10
Council............... 5
Culture.............. 13
Education......... 15
INSIDE UWnd<
Health............... 17
Money................ 9
Opinion.............. 6
Sports............... 11
cherokeephoenix.org • Celebrating 182 Years of Native American Journalism • February 2010
Councilors
propose
penalties for
tErO act
The penalties would be
for when CN entities do
not hire TERO-certified
Indian workers and
vendors.
By WILL CHaVEZ
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Eight Tribal
Councilors want to amend the Cherokee
Nation’s TERO Contracting and Employment
Act so CN entities can be penalized if they
don’t use Indian workers and vendors.
Tribal Councilors Tina Glory-Jordan, Jodie
Fishinghawk, Chuck Hoskin Jr., Bill John
Baker, Janelle Fullbright, David Thornton,
Joe Crittenden and Curtis Snell are lobbying
to add penalties to the current law to give it
“some teeth.”
The Tribal Employment Rights Office
licenses vendors to be used by the tribe
and its entities. It was created to provide
opportunities to Indian-owned businesses
and Indian employees for economic
betterment of Cherokee people, according to
a resolution recently approved by the council.
Councilors unanimously approved that
resolution on Jan. 11 calling for Cherokee
Nation Businesses and Cherokee Nation
Entertainment to hire only TERO-certified
Tahlequah area
needs workers for
the 2010 Census
The Tahlequah Census
Office is looking to hire
up to 1,000 people to
work the 2010 Census.
By JaMI CUStEr
Staff Writer
Bois d’arc
See tErO, 8
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The U.S. Census
Bureau announced the expected hiring of
1,000 people in the Tahlequah area through
next spring for its 2010 Census.
Anthony Sottile, local area Census
manager, said the Tahlequah Census Office
is responsible for 23 counties in eastern
Oklahoma.
“We cover from the Kansas to Texas
borders and go west to Pontotoc, Johnston
and Marshall counties,” he said. “This area
represents over 225,000 households and a
population in excess of 1 million according
to the 2000 decennial Census.”
Sottile said during the 2000 Census
Oklahoma lost a congressional seat and
billions of dollars each year as a result of the
response rate of its citizens.
“The response rate of Oklahomans trailed
the national rate by some 14 percent,” he said.
“Our goal is to regain a congressional seat
and the billions of dollars that can be used
for such projects such as affordable housing
and improvements to our infrastructure both
of which will need to employ thousands.”
He said to get response rates up, about
1,000 Census jobs for the area need to be
See Census, 8
A Cherokee National Treasure
gives insight on the art of
bowmaking. CULTURE, 13
Stilwell High School’s mascot, Tommy Tomahawk, makes
an appearance at a Jan. 26 pep assembly after the
school’s board voted 3-2 to reinstate it.
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
The program that
provides daily jobs to
tribal citizens was set
to restart on Jan. 25.
By JaMI CUStEr
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee
Nation officials said the Day Work
Program, which provides day jobs to
unemployed tribal citizens, was expected
to restart on Jan. 25 after being put on
hold on New Year’s Eve.
Officials said when the program came
about in October they were given a
budget of $200,000 to provide day labor
at CN field locations. Tribal citizens
earned $25 for four hours of work and
$50 for eight hours at CN work sites for
up to 12 weeks.
Another $300,000 was provided to
fund the program through mid- January.
However, the program became so
Goodrich injured
The former Sequoyah Lady Indian
suffers her second major knee injury
in as many years. SPORTS, 11
Stilwell school board
keeps disputed mascot
By CHrIStINa GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
STILWELL, Okla. – Stilwell
High School will keep its mascot,
Tommy Tomahawk, after its board
of education voted 3-2 to reinstate
the mascot at a special meeting on
Jan. 25 in the school’s gym.
School officials received
complaints from people about
the new mascot after a photo of it
ran in the Jan. 13 issue of a local
newspaper. The photo showed the
mascot with a large head, long black
hair in braids and exaggerated
American Indian facial features
such as a scowl, large nose and
bushy eyebrows. It was dressed in
a fake buckskin shirt and leggings.
Superintendent Mary Alice
Fletcher said after hearing
complaints the mascot was put “on
hold” until the school board voted
on it.
Board members Andy Inman, Bill
Muskrat and Jess Merriott voted to
keep the mascot, while Eli Pumpkin
and Jeff Johnson voted against it.
popular the money ran out before 2010
began. The program provided day jobs
to more than 800 citizens and averaged
about 200 participants daily.
“We had a high number of people
coming in the two weeks before the
holiday, which pretty much depleted the
budget,” said Steven Edwards, Career
Services special assistant. “We attribute
the influx of people to the college and
university break.”
He added that since it is a “pilot
program,” it needs additional funding
because funds were not allocated to it
during the tribe’s budget process in 2009.
At its Jan. 11 meeting, the Tribal
Council approved another $750,000
to fund client services through March
and cover administrative costs for the
remainder of the fiscal year, which ends
on Sept. 30.
The program was established to
provide immediate work for tribal
citizens. Officials said it was not meant
for participants to depend on for an
extended time, but to make them more
Portland
Johnson said he supports the
student body but was concerned
about the mascot.
“It obviously has offended
some Native Americans,” he said.
“We obviously have to vote on it
tonight, but I’d like to see both these
groups maybe come together and
work together to come up with a
mascot that’s not offensive to those
cultures.”
Johnson said with a compromise,
the students still get a mascot and
both parties are happy.
But Merriott said he supported
keeping the mascot because many
of the calls he had received were
from people in support of it.
“The ones I have received that
have been against it have been from
people outside our community,”
he said. “I’m here to represent
our community and the way our
community feels.”
But board president Eli Pumpkin
said the mascot was “ugly” and
agreed with Johnson’s comments
See Mascot, 8
Day Work Program returns
Jacob Rock washes dishes at Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Indian Hospital in Tahlequah, Okla., as part of his job through
the tribe’s Day Work Program. FILE PHOTO
employable by other companies.
“Day Work’s intent was to have
a program to help those who have
fallen on bad times, don’t qualify
for unemployment, have barriers to
employment and haven’t been able to
obtain a job or just between jobs due to
contract work, seasonal type jobs, college
graduates and so on,” said Edwards.
He said Career Services officials
expect the economy to improve and that
the program would not be needed as
much by Cherokees.
“We hope our economy will turn
around and we won’t need to depend
on a program such as Day Work. But as
long as there is a need, I’m sure the chief
and Tribal Council will work diligently
to have some sort of a program to assist
our Cherokee citizens,” Edwards said.
Career Services officials determine
assignments and hours for day workers.
Applications can be picked up at any
CN field office in the county where the
citizen resides.
jami-custer@cherokee.org • (918) 453-5560
Sequoyah Lady Indians make a
trip to an Oregon tourney during
the holiday break. SPORTS, 12

‘Valentines
for Vets’
drive
underway
By WILL CHaVEZ
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.
– The Cherokee Nation
Office of Veterans Affairs
is coordinating its annual
“Valentines for Vets”
campaign to honor
disabled, hospitalized and
elderly veterans.
Valentines will be given
to veterans at the Jack C.
Montgomery Veterans
Affairs Medical Center
in Muskogee, the Ernest
Childers Outpatient
Clinic in Tulsa, outpatient
clinics in Jay and Vinita
and the Claremore and
Talihina VA nursing
homes.
This is the ninth year
for the “Valentines for
Vets” project.
CNOVA Tribal
Veterans representative
Rogan Noble said
there are a number of
organizations, Web sites
and agencies that cater
to active duty troops, but
veterans confined at VA
medical centers and older
veterans are sometimes
forgotten.
“We are asking all civic
and service organizations,
schools, churches and
individuals to contribute
their valentines for those
veterans,” Noble said.
The deadline for
getting valentines to
the CNOVA is Feb. 10.
Noble encouraged people
making valentines to be
creative and to sign the
valentines with a first
name only.
People may also sign
the name of their school,
church or organization.
He said veterans especially
appreciate valentines
addressed to “My Hero,” or
“Our Vets” or with other
personalized salutations.
People may bring
valentines to the CNOVA
(in the Human Services
group area) or send them
to the Office of Veterans
Affairs, P.O. Box 948,
Tahlequah, OK 74465.
will-chavez@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3961
Call (918) 453-5695
or e-mail
veterans@cherokee.org
2 Cherokee Phoenix • February 2010 Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010
AERT plant to begin production soon
The Arkansas-based
company will open
the plant with 32 to
35 employees.
By WILL CHaVEZ
Staff Writer
WATTS, Okla. – Advanced
Environmental Recycling
Technologies is working to open its
new polyethylene reclamation plant
by the end of February.
AERT develops, manufactures
and markets composite building
materials used in place of
traditional wood or plastic
products for exterior applications
in building and remodeling homes
and for certain other industrial or
commercial building purposes.
Its products are made from
approximately equal amounts of
waste wood fiber and reclaimed
polyethylene plastics.
“Pretty soon we’re going to have
some start-up procedures that we’ll
be going through. We’ve got the
first group of people in training,” Al
Drinkwater, AERT vice president,
said. “We’re ready to get up and
running as quickly as possible.
We’re excited about it.”
He said the company, which is
based in Springdale, Ark., will open
the plant with 32 to 35 employees,
but may have 50 or more employees
once more of the plant’s equipment
goes online.
“We don’t know how that’s
exactly going to look since this is
new equipment to us. We’re having
to imagine how all this is going to
work,” Drinkwater said.
The average wage for the plant,
which includes staff, operators and
management, is approximately
$15 an hour, a good wage for the
economically impoverished area of
northern Adair County.
By JaMI CUStEr
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Deputy
Chief Joe Grayson announced in a
Jan. 17 e-mail that he would not run
for re-election with Principal Chief
Chad Smith in 2011 and that he
endorses Dist. 6 Tribal Councilor
Chris Soap to take his place.
Grayson has served as the
Cherokee Nation’s deputy chief since
2003. He said he would serve the
remainder of his term and then fully
support Soap, who is the son of CN
Community Services Group Leader
Charlie Soap and stepson of former
CN Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller,
to be the next deputy chief.
“I am very thankful for the
honor the Cherokee people have
given me by electing me twice to
serve as deputy chief, and I’ll carry
that honor with me long after I
leave office,” he states in the e-mail
forwarded by CN Communications
Officer Mike Miller.
Grayson, a full-blood Cherokee,
Arkansas-based Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies is working to open its new polyethylene
reclamation plant in Watts, Okla., by the end of February. PHOTO BY CRAIG HENRY
To bring in those jobs, state,
Cherokee Nation and county
officials offered AERT incentives,
including tax-exempt bond
financing.
CN Career Services officials also
assisted the company with the
hiring process.
“The Cherokee Nation has
just been wonderful to us from
the standpoint of helping us get
in,” Drinkwater said. “Anytime
you go to a new community you
always have issues you don’t know
anything about and people you
have to be introduced to. The folks
at the Cherokee Nation have done a
great job of helping us and working
with us to become acquainted with
the community.”
The U.S. Commerce Department’s
Economic Development
Administration also provided a
$900,000 grant to Watts and Adair
County. The grant supported
infrastructure improvements in Watts
related to connecting the AERT plant
to the Watts wastewater system.
An available water source, the
nearby Illinois River, made Watts an
attractive site for AERT since water
is a decorated Vietnam veteran.
According to the CN Web site, he
instituted the Cherokee National
Medal of Patriotism honor, launched
the Cherokee National Park System
and started community groups to
protect and restore historic sites and
buildings.
Grayson states in the e-mail that
Soap would be a great candidate for
the position and that his reason for
announcing his intentions this early
was because he wanted “people to
understand there is a man (Soap) I
fully support to carry on the work
we’ve started together.”
“Chris Soap is a strong young
leader of the Cherokee Nation,”
is needed to wash recycled plastic
materials. Once used, that water
will be filtered and released into the
Watts wastewater system.
After ground was broken
for the plant in 2008, state and
area environmentalists became
concerned about the plant’s storm
water runoff going into the Illinois
River. State law prohibits any
additional pollutant going into the
Illinois River basin because it is
designated as an outstanding water
resource.
AERT redrew the 74,000-squarefoot
plant’s design so that the
water would drain in a direction
that is three miles away from the
river. Also, the plant will have a
containment storage lagoon that
has more than 1.6 million gallons
of water storage.
Materials made from waste wood
fiber and reclaimed polyethylene
plastics at the Watts AERT plant
will be sent to nearby Springdale
to the company’s composite
manufacturing plants. The durable
composite material is also used for
decking, trim and privacy fencing
and is non-toxic and termite
Grayson states.
“He serves on our
Tribal Council,
has a heart for
our communities
and our people
and will make
an outstanding
deputy chief.”
In the same
e-mail, Principal Chief Chad Smith
states he was happy for Grayson
and that he had done an incredible
amount of work for the Cherokee
people.
“But I’m also sorry that the man
who has helped the Cherokee
Nation so much over the past seven
years won’t be serving as my deputy
chief if I’m elected to another term,”
Smith states.
Smith, who seeks his fourth term
in 2011, agreed “wholeheartedly”
with Grayson that Soap was a good
choice for deputy chief.
Soap, who was elected to his first
Tribal Council term in 2007, said
his decision to run for the deputy
resistant.
Drinkwater said the second phase
the Watts plant includes additional
equipment to produce a “quality
virgin resin substitute” used by
other conventional plastic molders
or companies who make everyday
plastic items for consumers.
“That’ll be a big deal because it
opens the doors up to hiring more
people. It also will entail more
investment and manufacturing of
other products at that site,” he said.
AERT’s initial investment for five
years was approximately $42.85
million. The recent drop off in the
housing market has forced AERT
to rethink its initial three-phase
plan, Drinkwater said, because the
demand for composite materials for
housing has dropped.
The company’s initial investment
is now approximately $15 million,
he said.
“We now have a different scenario
of investment and a different
scenario of hiring as opposed to
the one we originally had three plus
years ago,” Drinkwater said.
will-chavez@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3961
Grayson not to seek re-election in 2011
”… there is a man I fully
support to carry on
the work we’ve started
together.”
– Joe Grayson,deputy chief
chief position came after many
prayers requesting guidance and
wisdom in addition to discussions
with CN leaders and citizens.
“Joe Grayson’s decision has
provided a potential opportunity for
my continued support of initiatives
that are very important to the both
of us in an active administrative
role,” Soap said. “I feel most honored
to have his support as well as the
support of other tribal leaders…
I graciously accept the support of
the citizens that have voiced their
support and encouraged me to
become a candidate for this public
office.”
He added that he is qualified
to hold the position because he
“believes in a happy and health
Cherokee Nation” and that he is
“familiar with the legislative process”
and “various departments of the
Cherokee Nation’s government,
programs, and their group leaders.”
jami-custer@cherokee.org
• (918) 453-5560

Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010 February 2010 • Cherokee Phoenix 3
Tribal Councilor
files appeal against
disposal well
By CHrIStINa GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
VIAN, Okla. – A proposed saltwater
injection well in the southern portion of
the Cherokee Nation is causing controversy
as the Tribal Council and local residents
oppose its approval.
The injection, or disposal, well has been
proposed by Muskogee-based I-MAC
Petroleum Services, which is seeking to
construct it in Vian for the disposal of
saltwater that’s left over after drilling for
natural gas in Arkansas.
With the Tribal Council’s support,
Councilor David Thornton filed an
appeal with the Oklahoma Corporation
Commission, which recommended the
approval of I-MAC’s permit to construct
the well.
Thornton said a Jan. 25 hearing in Tulsa
was slated and that every Cherokee opposed
to the well needed to be there.
“(The OCC) can’t just rule over our land,”
he said. “We were given this land and they
need to talk to us, too.”
Many Vian residents fear the well could
pollute ground, surface and drinking water.
However, their fears are unfounded, said
Greg Riepl, a geologist hired by I-MAC.
“It could be five years from
now, 50 years from now, but
it will get in our streams,
creeks and rivers...”
–David Thornton,
Tribal Councilor
Riepl, who has worked as a geologist for
more than 30 years, said he has experience
with saltwater disposal wells and that neither
Vian residents nor Tribal Councilors should
worry about pollution.
“It’s a complex issue,” he said. “I’m very
sorry these folks have gotten so upset about
it but there really isn’t going to be a problem.”
Riepl said protests of disposal wells aren’t
uncommon, but he’s not used to the level of
opposition shown in this case.
“It’s really kind of unusual to see this
type of protest,” he said. “I think part of the
problem is Sequoyah County is an area that
isn’t familiar with the oil and gas industry.
These wells are pretty common throughout
the state of Oklahoma and for the most part
operate safely and effectively.”
Riepl and I-MAC began the permit
process in July 2009, and he said one of his
primary tasks when hired by the company
was avoiding any area of geologic hazard.
“That was foremost in my mind,” Riepl
said. “There aren’t any geologic hazards in
the Vian area that would create problems
from the Vian disposal well.”
Tom Elkins, administrator of CN
Environmental Programs, said from a
scientific standpoint, saltwater injection
wells aren’t that dangerous because they
inject water underground where there is
already saltwater.
“That’s what this well is supposedly for,”
Elkins said. “What they’re wanting to do with
that is take water from multiple oil wells and
inject their production water – saltwater –
back down into these formations.”
The formations underground where
I-MAC plans to inject the water is already
saltwater, and it won’t affect drinking water,
he said.
“It’s well below the freshwater that
anybody would drink,” Elkins said. “The
controversy is if that saltwater is spilled, it
can for many, many decades ruin the ground
for crops or anything. If the well itself is not
completed, and if the cement and grout –
the sealing stuff that seals the well on the
sides – isn’t done well, that saltwater can
leak into other formations before it gets
into that saltwater formation where they’re
wanting to inject it.”
Riepl said there are more than 10,000
disposal wells in Oklahoma and there
haven’t been any problems with water
coming back to the surface.
“These wells are designed mechanically to
keep that from happening,” he said.
But Thornton said even if the wells don’t
present a danger or pollution risk now, they
will eventually.
“It could be five years from now, 50 years
from now, but it will get in our streams,
creeks and rivers, and at that time it’s too
late to do anything,” Thornton said. “(At
that point) we can’t go back and stop it. It’s
already there.”
He said those responsible for the wells
aren’t allowed to dump
disposal water into
streams or rivers because
they call it pollution,
but it’s still pollution if
they’re disposing of it
underground.
“We need to get together
as a Nation and a people to
stop this,” he said. “I haven’t
run into anyone who’s for
this.”
CN citizen and Vian resident Lacey Horn
said the disposal well proposal is predatory
and careless.
“I-MAC saw a small, innocent community
with direct access from Interstate 40 and
decided they would take advantage and try
to dump toxic waste from Arkansas into our
water systems,” Horn said. “The company is
well aware that this well is shallow, highpressure
and high-capacity in comparison
to other wells and will no doubt affect our
fresh water.”
Horn said the well could be detrimental
to Vian residents because it could lead to
contaminated drinking water, ground and
soil.
“The group that would suffer the most
is our schoolchildren who play on the
playgrounds and practice sports on the track
and baseball and football fields just across
the street,” she said. “They’d be breathing
in the toxic fumes of hydrogen sulfide gas
and exposed to the contaminants in the soil
every day.”
Horn said she believes the land and
resources enjoyed by the Cherokees would
be destroyed.
“I hope that not only is the door slammed
shut for I-MAC and any other company
wanting to dump toxic waste here, but other
communities become aware of the effects
of frack water injection wells and stand up
and fight properly before it’s too late and the
dumping begins.”
christina-goodvoice@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3825
The Nike Air Native N7 shoe is designed for Native American feet. The shoe features a
wider, larger toe box, fewer seams and a thicker sock liner for comfort. FILE PHOTO
CN to offer specially
priced Nike Native shoe
The Cherokee Nation
and Nike are working
together to offer Air
Native N7 shoes at a
special price.
By Staff rEPOrtS
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Through a
partnership with the Nike shoe company,
the Cherokee Nation plans to provide the
Nike Air Native N7 at a special price to CN
citizens and citizens of other tribes.
Nike researchers studied the feet of more
than 200 people from 70 tribes nationwide
and determined that Native Americans
have a much wider and taller foot than the
average American. Nike then created the
Nike Air Native N7, designed specifically
for Native American feet. The shoe features
a wider, larger toe box, fewer seams and a
thicker sock liner for comfort.
Now for a limited time and via a
partnership with Nike, the CN will offer the
Air Native N7 at a special price of $58.30,
tax included. Since the Air Native N7 is only
available through tribal programs, Cherokee
Nation Entertainment, in conjunction with
the tribe’s Health Services Group, will take
orders for the custom shoes in the lobby
area from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 12 and
13 between the Restaurant of the Cherokees
and the CN Gift Shop in Tahlequah.
For men, sizes range from 6 to 12 and
colors are dark brown or black. For women,
sizes range from 5 to 12 in golden straw
or white. Sample shoes will be available in
the CN Gift Shop to assist in selecting the
correct size. There is a five-pair limit per
customer.
Customers must be citizens of a federally
recognized Native American tribe and must
provide a copy of their Certificate Degree of
Indian Blood card to be eligible to order the
Nike Air Native N7 shoes at the special price.
Shoes will be available for pick-up on from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 6 in the lobby
area between the restaurant and gift shop. A
valid form of identification will be required
during ordering and picking up of the shoes.
Shipping to other locations or directly to
customers is not available.
“We are dedicated to helping Cherokees
become a healthy people,” said David Stewart,
CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment,
which operates Cherokee Nation Gift Shops.
“Through our partnership with Nike in this
special program, we are able to encourage
walking, physical exercise, fitness and health.
I hope those who are able to do so will take
advantage of this opportunity.”
Nike launched the N7 collection in 2009.
The collection includes the Air Native
N7 shoe among others in support of its
N7 Fund to promote youth fitness and
youth sport programs in Native American
communities. Two lines of shoes comprise
the N7 collection. The first line is the “Air
Natives.” Anything in the N7 collection
with the word “Native” means that the shoe
draws inspiration from Native culture and is
designed specifically for the morphology of
the Native foot.
The shoes can be found through Native
American health promotion disease
prevention programs across the U.S. The
other line draws inspiration from Native
culture and is available to all U.S. consumers
at select Nike Community Stores and online
at www.nikestore.com. Profits from the sales
of both shoe lines go to the N7 Fund.
To learn more about the Nike N7 collection
and Nike N7 Fund, visit www.facebook.
com/nikeN7. For more information, call
Linda Taylor at (918) 456-2793.
For these stories and more go to cherokeephoenix.org
By WILL CHaVEZ
Cherokee awarded Bronze Star for military service
Cherokee Nation continues appeal to join poultry lawsuit
Cherokee Marine who fought on Iwo Jima remembered
Casino employees credit jobs for improving lives
By JaMI CUStEr
Winterize home and auto due to colder temps
CN employee’s embezzlement trial set for March

4 Cherokee Phoenix • February 2010 Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010

Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010 February 2010 • Cherokee Phoenix 5
Council approves TERO legislation
It calls for CNE and
CNB to use only TEROcertified
vendors on
future construction
projects.
By CHrIStINa GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – At their Jan. 11
meeting, Tribal Councilors unanimously
approved a resolution calling for Cherokee
Nation Businesses and Cherokee Nation
Entertainment to construct all Cherokee
Nation and its entities’ construction projects
using only TERO-certified vendors, if
available.
TERO is the Tribal Employment Rights
Office and it licenses vendors to be used
by the tribe and its entities. It was created
to provide opportunities to Indian-owned
businesses and Indian employees for
economic betterment of Cherokee people,
according to the resolution.
Councilor Jodie Fishinghawk commended
CNE CEO David Stewart and Shawn Slaton,
CNE senior vice president of Finance,
for talking with the council about the
legislation.
“I know there were several sticking issues
with it, and you both came to the table and
were willing to talk with us about it,” she
said. “I really appreciate that. You all told us
if we pass something you’d have to follow it.
It was law.”
Councilor Bill John Baker said
Fishinghawk’s comments to Stewart “hit the
nail on the head.”
“It’s a resolution that says we want to
build our construction and businesses
Process in place for
community assistance
By CHrIStINa GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – A process is now in place
for Cherokee Nation citizens to apply for tribal
funds that once came from the Tribal Council’s
defunct General Assistance Fund. However, one
councilor said more work needs to be done.
Community assistance money is available
through the tribe’s administration for Cherokee
youth sports teams, county livestock auctions and
a new Adult Student Community Grant Program,
as well as donations and contributions to food
pantries and food backpack programs.
Councilors moved $425,000 from the legislative
branch to the administrative branch in a close
September vote, effectively killing their GAF. CN
Secretary of State Melanie Knight said though the
GAF doesn’t exist anymore, several programs took
its place. In order to receive community assistance
from those programs, organizations need a CN
citizen enrollment of at least 51 percent.
Knight said other activities and organizations
requesting assistance may fall under the tribe’s
$689,000 Donations and Contributions Fund,
which does not require a CN citizen enrollment
of 51 percent.
Examples of those include the Five Civilized
Tribes Museum in Muskogee, Special Olympics,
Will Rogers Museum in Claremore, shelters and
events such as the gigging tournament in Jay,
she said.
“Essentially, these are donations to organizations
or events that are not eligible for any established,
ongoing programs of the Nation,” Knight said.
“During the budget process, the council approved
an itemized list of donations, and also set aside an
additional $150,000 for future donations that may
be approved during the year.”
Speaker of the Tribal Council Meredith Frailey
said several councilors who opposed transferring
community assistance money from the GAF to
the executive branch voted for the new process
because they believed Cherokee people were being
Tribal Councilor Bill John Baker, left, addresses the audience at the Tribal Council’s Jan.
11 meeting. PHOTO BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
held hostage during negotiations and deliberation
of the administration of the program.
“They (opposing councilors) wanted to ensure
that help be provided to organizations in need of
assistance as soon as possible as the timeline on certain
community events has already lapsed,” she said.
And though the new process is in place, a
considerable amount of development is still
needed, Frailey said.
“For instance, how can we streamline the
assessment and approval process? How do we
ensure accountability?”
Frailey said other concerns some councilors
have are whether applicants are competing against
each other on the basis of the contribution they
make to the community outcome standards of the
CN or their respective community, how often the
policy will be reviewed and the basis for allocating
assistance.
She is also uncomfortable with a provision that
allows a subcommittee to approve funds for the
needed assistance.
“Since the (council) has a well-developed policy
for approval of funding requests, we need to
follow that policy,” Frailey said. “The (council) is
responsible for oversight of the Cherokee people’s
money, so we need to ensure there is a welldeveloped
process for distribution of any funds.”
She said another troubling provision is that
assistance approval must be unanimous among
the subcommittee members.
“If one (councilor) or the principal chief decides
against a request, the request is not fulfilled,” she
said. “Thereafter, the denied funding request must
be submitted for approval through the (council’s)
established funding process, provided there are
funds in the budget to cover the request.”
Frailey said citizens requesting community
funds are being told to contact Dianna Turtle in
the executive branch by calling (918) 453-5289 or
e-mailing dianna-turtle@cherokee.org.
christina-goodvoice@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3825
and enterprises with 100 percent TERO if
possible,” Baker said. “In the last 10 years
we’ve done a half a billion in construction
and far too little of it was done by Cherokee
vendors.”
Baker said the resolution calls for that to
not be the case anymore.
The council also amended the CN tax
code for retail smoke shops to include
penalty and interest on delinquent accounts
and failure to file monthly tobacco reports.
The act states that if any amount of tax
imposed by the act is not paid before it
becomes delinquent, 10 percent interest will
be calculated and collected as part of the
delinquent tax until paid. It also imposes
a penalty of 10 percent per month of the
tax due for failure to file monthly tobacco
reports.
Councilors also approved an act calling
for the tribe to pay attorneys fees for CN
employees wrongfully terminated from their
jobs and then reinstated to those jobs after
administrative and judicial procedures are
followed.
Councilor Baker said the CN had the back
pay act for employees for many years, but
has never paid employees’ attorney fees.
“If an employee chooses to challenge their
termination, it’s extremely difficult to find
an attorney to represent them because they
can’t get their attorney fees back and too
often employees don’t have a reserve to hire
a counsel to challenge what they believe
would be a wrongful termination,” he said.
“Under this act it will add attorney fees if
they are successful, and I think it’s just the
right thing to do.”
The act passed by a vote of 16-1, with only
Councilor Brad Cobb voting against it.
christina-goodvoice@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3825
Council Briefs
CNE to implement hiring
freeze at WSS
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee Nation Entertainment officials are
taking steps to initiate a hiring freeze at Cherokee Nation Casino West
Siloam Springs, CNE CEO David Stewart told the Tribal Council at its Jan.
11 meeting.
Councilor Jodie Fishinghawk said she’s heard from citizens that the
casino had implemented a hiring freeze.
“People keep telling there’s some sort of hiring freeze up at West Siloam
(Springs,)” Fishinghawk said. “Are we on one?”
Stewart said technology at the West Siloam Springs casino has made
employees more efficient and it won’t need to hire any new employees
right now.
“Yes, we are getting ready to do that,” he said. “Over the past couple of
years we’ve made significant changes in technology … so the technology
has really made us more efficient with regard to that. We believe we’re
staffed fully, right now.”
Stewart said when the casino’s new hotel opens this year it will be able to
absorb existing casino employees to reduce costs and keep payroll as it is.
“We’re getting ready to take some steps like that,” Stewart said. “But we
would not have any layoffs or anything, but we will have a freeze just so we
can use our people in the best way we can.”
– Christina Good Voice
Motor vehicle registration fees
reduced for disabled veterans
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Tribal Council approved an act that
amends registration fees and taxes on motor vehicle tags for military
veterans who are 100 percent disabled.
The act changes the registration fee for disabled veterans from $7 to $5.
The registration fee is the 1.5 percent that’s charged on the purchase of
the price of value of the vehicle, said Cherokee Nation Tax Administrator
Sharon Swepston.
The fee was lowered to keep up with the state’s registration fee, she said.
The $5 is for a vehicle that is 1 to 8 years old, and there is no fee for a
vehicle that is over 9 years old.
– CGV

6 Cherokee Phoenix • February 2010
February 2010
Bryan Pollard
Executive 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
Media Specialist
(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)
Jason Terrell
(Cherokee)
Gerald Wofford
(Cherokee)
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Another government official’s influence
The decision to donate funds to Felton Newell’s campaign was
welcomed news. Newell, a California Democrat, is well-known
in his district and is running for the seat occupied by Rep. Diane
Watson for the 33rd Congressional District in California.
Watson for the past two years has tried to separate the Cherokees
from federal government by writing legislation. All this effort to try
to force the Cherokee Nation to accept descendants of Freedman
slaves with no Native American blood as CN citizens. She is not
willing to accept that there are many mixed bloods who are on
the Cherokee rolls. Watson has used her influence as an official of
the federal government. She does not recognize the sovereignty of
Indian nations and is a threat to all tribes.
The idea of Freedmen to become citizens of Indian tribes came
about because of another official of the U.S. government – Dennis
N. Cooley. He came up through the ranks and attained the job as
Commissioner of Indian Affairs at the end of the U.S. Civil War.
He was also assigned to plan and conduct the peace negotiations
with the Indian nations without resignation of his Commissioner of
Indian Affairs for the U.S. government. Sound fishy to you?
Cooley used his government position to dismantle the Cherokee
sovereign tribal government.
He worked hard to label the Cherokee chief as a traitor. In his
report to President Andrew Johnson, Cooley avoids talking about
any conversations the Cherokee chief may have had with the federal
government before they pulled all the federal troops out of Indian
Territory, which was the protection the Cherokees had, and all the
treaties, including the unofficial one that Rev. Schermerhorn made
with unelected Cherokees. This was the treaty that deposited the
Indian nations of the East in the midst of the Confederate states.
Nowhere have I found the Confederate president being treated as
badly as were the Indian nations, and I think Confederate President
Jefferson Davis was even offered a pardon. He refused. I hope I live
long enough for a pardon to be offered to our Cherokee Chief John
Ross who was chief for nearly 40 years.
John A. Ketcher
Tahlequah, Okla.
Tribal tag query
I am a Cherokee Nation citizen living in Oklahoma but outside of
the CN jurisdiction. Recently, I made some friends who are citizens
of the Miami Tribe. Though they also live outside of their tribe’s
jurisdiction, they have Miami tribal license plates on their cars. I
asked if living within the boundaries of their tribe’s jurisdiction was
a requirement for them and they said that it was not. In fact their
registration shows the address where they reside.
In light of that I am wondering why it is a requirement that we live
within the CN jurisdiction to have CN license plates. If other tribes
do not have that kind of requirement, I would like to know why we
do. It seems like there is the possibility there for some additional
revenue for the tribe, and I know that many of us who live outside of
the CN jurisdiction would like to be able to have CN plates on our
vehicles. I’m not complaining, just wondering.
Matt Scraper
Stroud, Okla.
Editor’s Note: We confirmed with the Cherokee Nation Tax
Commission that because the tribe has a motor vehicle compact with
the Oklahoma government, Cherokee car tags cannot be sold outside
of the CN jurisdiction. The CN is the only tribe in Oklahoma with
such a compact.
Another casino?
Do we really need another casino? And where is all this money
going? I’m full-blooded Cherokee from Delaware County living out
of state. I read about things that the tribe does but it seems like a
small percentage of our tribe benefits.
The Cherokee Nation should be helping more of our citizens.
We are such a large group. I would understand if there was a blood
quota to qualify for financial help. For example one-quarter or above
or even on a sliding scale, like the higher the blood more financial
benefits. Why is our tribe so different from other tribes who own
casinos and give citizens money from the profits? I think it’s time
that we got our share. I was born and raised in Jay, Okla., and I’m
proud to be a Cherokee. I have been living in Oregon for several
years. Once I asked my tribe for help and was told I was considered
a dislocated citizen because I did not live in Oklahoma. Therefore, I
was not eligible for anything. This made me think of the past when
our ancestors were forced to live in a place not of their choosing. I
would like to believe our tribe does not force our citizens to live in
Oklahoma in order for them to be recognized as a Cherokee. I am a
Talking Circles
Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010
Cherokee no matter where I live or travel. Start supporting all of our
citizens and give us a share of the profits.
Bobby Tanner
Via e-mail
Answers please
Can or does anyone want to address the reason why citizens of
the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina receive
per capital payments and yet we Cherokee Nation citizens do not?
Can anyone explain to me why my ancestors are any less Cherokee
then the Eastern Band? Also, is Mr. Chad Smith really for our tribe?
He is discriminating against us just like the white men have for
generations. Why would any Native America treat his people this
way? I sure hope someone can get this printed in the (Cherokee)
Phoenix, but I doubt that any of that happens.
Martha Williams
Via e-mail
Editor’s Note: According to Cherokee Nation officials, CN citizens do
not receive per capita payments because per capita payments are an
option that a few tribes (generally smaller tribes in high-population
areas such as the East and West coasts) choose for their citizens.
It is the exception and not the rule, and we are not aware of any
Oklahoma tribes that make per capita payments to their citizens. The
CN has chosen to use its profits to provide government services to
its neediest citizens and create jobs for Cherokees through expansion
and diversification.
We still have a voice
I am proud of the fact that I am a Cherokee and try to keep an
open mind about everything. I have always been bothered by the
fact that we are basing so much income on gambling. I know that
some of the money goes to help folks but gambling also hurts folks.
I know of two people who committed suicide because of gambling
addictions. How many families are being hurt by spending too
much money at the casino? If we help 10 people and hurt even one
is it really worth it?
Now our proud name has been sold out when it changed to Hard
Rock, and we have no idea of how much it cost us. I talked to an
employee of the casino and he said they could not even mention the
Cherokee name, just Hard Rock, and that is sad.
Things are getting so political and that worries me. We’ve got the
Freedman issue and we’re giving monies to political parties to get
someone elected.
It’s time for everyone to take a hard look at who we have spending
our money without letting us know how much and if they are not
willing to tell us. Then when the next election comes around, take a
hard look at who we are voting for. Don’t be swayed by a hog fry or
a fish fry to get your vote. Make them earn it instead. We still have
a voice.
Rod Lace
Claremore, Okla.
Recognize all Cherokee veterans
I enjoy Staff Writer Christina Good Voice’s reporting for the
Cherokee Nation. I do have one question. On her article “Council
approves community assistance act” in the January 2010 issue, there
is a picture of Brad Carson receiving a military service blanket. Is
this a special gift just for him or is it available to the citizens who
fought, were wounded, for overseas service? If it is not available
through the tribe, why not? I do appreciate his, and any Cherokee
citizen’s military service, but there has been and continually will be
Cherokee blood spilt on foreign shores, and I believe they should be
recognized even as Brad Carson was.
Delbert M. Roberts
Via e-mail
Editor’s Note: According to CN Communications, Brad Carson was
honored for his military service like other Cherokee warriors, with a
certificate, a medal and a brick at the Cherokee Warriors Memorial.
Principal Chief Chad Smith gave Carson the blanket as a symbol of
respect and honor for a man who, as a Cherokee in the U.S. Congress,
worked to assist the tribe on issues of national importance, and as
a retiring CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses led key initiatives in
creating jobs and profitable subsidiaries for the CN.
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
by citizens, Tribal Councilors or officials do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial staff or
Editorial Board of the Cherokee Phoenix.
The deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month prior to the month of publication. Letters
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Cherokee related. Anonymous letters will not be published.

Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010 February 2010 • Cherokee Phoenix 7
CHIEF’S PERSPECTIVE
Spirit of self-reliance embodies Cherokee way
By CHaD SMItH
Principal Chief
I have always believed a basic
Cherokee cultural value is selfreliance.
Red Bird Smith 100 years
ago said, “A kindly man can not
help his neighbor in need unless he
works.”
Many elders like my dad spoke Chad Smith
of how it was the Cherokee way
to take responsibility of yourself and take care of your
family. Several years ago at Rocky Ford, we asked an
elderly Cherokee man if he wanted his worn down house
replaced. He said no; he just needed some repairs and
paint, and to please give the new house to someone that
really needed it. That is the Cherokee way as I know it.
We recently started a program I have long wanted, the
Cherokee Day Work program. For a limited number of
days, Cherokees can come here and work and receive a
stipend at the end of the day. It allows Cherokees to earn
some money but also allows our staff to help place them
in permanent jobs, assess career training opportunities
and see the work habits and performance of the workers
so our staff can encourage them to apply for employment
at the Cherokee Nation.
The response of the day workers has been refreshing
and inspiring. We’ve been able to help more than 800
participants and have found that they are appreciative of the
opportunity to help themselves and support their families.
Know student
loan repayment
options
By CHrIStINa GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
Ten years ago this month I was
18, a senior in high school and busy
applying for scholarships, financial aid
and work study to pay for college. I
had been accepted to the University of
Oklahoma, and being a first generation
college student, my parents and I
didn’t really know where to start when
searching for ways to pay for college.
My family wasn’t able to contribute
financially to my education. My mom
had recently returned
to work after staying at
home with my younger
siblings, and my dad
had been supporting
our family of six on
a bakery manager’s
salary.
After months
of anticipation, I
received word that I
had received a small
scholarship from OU
to help with my first
year. I also learned I had received
every form of federal aid available,
including grants and work study. On
top of that, I received a good amount
of grants and scholarships from my
tribe. But even after all the grants and
scholarships, there was still a small
balance left to cover for college. My
parents and I decided I would get a
student loan to help with my college
expenses. Thankfully, I didn’t have to
get a large loan, and what I did get was
a subsidized federal student loan rather
than an unsubsidized loan.
Those two terms right there might
already have people confused. I didn’t
know at the time what the difference
was and I had my parents there to
help me make the right decision when
choosing my loan.
A subsidized loan is where the
government pays the loan’s interest
while a student is in school, while
unsubsidized means the student pays
all the interest, although they can
have the payments deferred until after
graduation.
Fast forward 10 years to present day.
I’ve been out of college for four years,
but during my college career I attended
OU and Northeastern State University,
got married, started a family and got
larger student loans as I furthered my
education.
I began repaying my student loan the
fall after my last semester. When I look
at the numbers, I think my eyes bug a
little bit when I see how much student
loan debt I racked up while in college.
Some people are secretive or ashamed
“When I look at
the numbers, I
think my eyes bug
a little bit when
I see how much
student loan debt
I racked up while
in college.”
The Cherokee Nation Career Services Group, which
manages the Day Work Program, has used many day
workers to assist with the day-to-day operation of
the program, making it even more self-reliant. At the
Tahlequah Career Services office, several day workers
are assigned to the clerical aspect of the program such as
filing paperwork and finding jobsites. A number of other
tribal programs have been able to use these great workers
in a wide range of work positions.
For instance, one worker was assigned to the Child
Care Resource Center. The manager of CCRC was
impressed with the woman’s work and noted that she
was pleasant and dependable, a hard worker and had
the desire to succeed at her assignments. As a result, she
was hired in December on a permanent, full-time basis
as a custodian for the center. She credits the Cherokee
Day Work Program with getting her foot in the door and
giving her a chance to show her capabilities.
Another Cherokee Nation citizen who had moved
from California to Oklahoma had a terrible time finding
work and being able to keep up with his household bills.
He was unable to afford basic needs such as eyeglasses.
Through the Day Work Program, he found the confidence
to work towards his GED and was even able to work with
program staff to find a way to purchase eyeglasses.
The benefit of the program hasn’t always just been to
the workers either. The Cherokee Heritage Center has
been assigned as many as 37 day workers at once to assist
in maintaining the grounds and the Ancient Village.
Many of the day workers were quite skilled at their trades.
OUR VIEWS
of their student loan debt, but I’ll share
my amount still owed. It’s a little more
than $14,000.
I have heard others’ student loan
debt totals and sometimes think
they’re exaggerating. They must be. No
one can have $50,000 in student loan
debt. But then again, not everyone had
scholarships, grants and other financial
aid along the way to help them pay for
school like I did.
I pay $133 each month to my lender.
That’s $1,596 a year, but not all of that
goes toward my principal. Most goes
toward the interest,
which accrued over the
years after I had to get
an unsubsidized loan
in 2004 so I could pay
for college and living
expenses.
At this rate, I’ll be
paying on my student
loan for at least a decade.
When the recent
recession hit, my family
fell on hard times. Gas
and grocery prices
killed our budget, and we struggled just
to get all our bills paid. It was then that
I discovered a little known fact about
student loans. The words “deferment”
and “forbearance” were music to my
ears.
A deferment lets a person
temporarily suspend making their
student loan payments. Forbearance
allows a delay or postponement of
student loan payments under certain
circumstances. During forbearance
the person is responsible for paying
the loan interest that accrues during
the period of delay. Forbearance may
also allow you to make smaller loan
payments for a certain period of time.
During deferment the interest on any
subsidized loans is not accrued.
In 2009, I deferred my student loan
payments for three months. I thought
after the three months my family would
be steady on our feet and able to pay my
loan again. I was wrong. A few months
in, I had to request forbearance. This
time I requested an extended period of
time to ensure that I could financially
afford the payment each month.
When it’s time to begin making
my student loan payments I know I’ll
be prepared. Anyone who finds they
are falling behind on their student
loan payments should remember
that defaulting on their student loan
doesn’t help anyone, and lenders are
usually more than willing to set up
arrangements for their customers.
christina-goodvoice@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3825
Loss of leaders
after removal
hurt tribe
By WILL CHaVEZ
Staff Writer
I’ve written about Elias Boudinot,
Samuel Worcester, John Ridge and
their contemporaries before. Some
readers may think I’ve written about
them too often. But so much Cherokee
history revolves around the actions of
these men.
Yes, I am proud of our history and
the history of the Cherokee Phoenix
and revere the men who started the
newspaper 182 years ago this month.
I guess that pride may
be elevated because I
work here, but I hope our
readers are proud, too.
My office sits about
a mile from Park Hill,
Okla., where Boudinot
and Worcester lived,
worked and are buried. I
have visited their graves.
Worcester’s marker
has nearly faded, while
Boudinot’s modern,
marble marker stands
above all the others in the cemetery,
fittingly honoring a man who did so
much for our Nation. When I visited the
cemetery recently, I tried to imagine the
turmoil that was taking place here 171
years ago and led to Boudinot’s untimely
death at the hands of his own people.
I also tried to imagine what he and the
others (Major Ridge and John Ridge)
who were killed on June 22, 1839, would
have accomplished and contributed to
the Nation had they lived longer. I have
debated this subject from time to time
with friends and co-workers. Some
say the men knew the penalty if they
ceded Cherokee land and deserved to
die. The three leaders signed the Treaty
of New Echota in 1835 and sold what
remained of Cherokee lands in the
east. Major Ridge himself composed
the law that prescribed death for those
who sold Cherokee land without tribal
council approval.
I’d be interested to know what
Phoenix readers think about this issue.
Do you believe these men did what
they did to save Cherokee people or
that they suffered the consequences of
a law they all wholly supported when it
was first written?
There were other circumstances
that may have led to the men’s deaths
that I hope to write about later. For a
long time I have been conflicted about
this part of our history. If you study
it closely, you can see both sides of
the conflict that existed between the
Ross faction and the Boudinot/Ridge/
Stand Watie faction. I believe each side
thought they were doing what was
In fact, they did such a good job that CHC requested the
same workers be assigned again in the new year.
Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital has been
assigned day workers since the start of the program,
utilizing as many as 43 workers per day. The workers
have assisted in areas such as supply, dietary, facility
management and housekeeping. They were able to
complete a hospital repainting project within a week,
where it was estimated that it would have taken the
facilities management staff nearly six months to complete
alone. The workers also have assisted in keeping the
dining hall, Café Hastings, clean while serving meals to
patients and visitors.
Often the Cherokee Day Work participants are college
graduates who lack only the work experience needed to
qualify for some jobs. Wherever possible, day workers are
matched with programs in their field of interest, giving
them a chance to gain real world experience.
The day workers are a special group of people. They have
faced economic tough times and are doing everything
in their power to pull through it. They do not expect
someone to give them something for nothing. This is the
strength of the Cherokee people and something in which
we can have faith. Their spirit of self-reliance confirms
our historic cultural values. It makes us wonder how the
idea that “someone owes you something for free” ever
snuck into our national thought.
“I wonder
where we would
have been as a
Nation if more
of our leaders
had survived
the removal and
its aftermath…”
chad-smith@cherokee.org
• (918) 453-5112
best for the Cherokee Nation. I can’t
imagine how tough that situation was
for everyone involved. Whites were
invading and taking land and resources
in Georgia and the Cherokees had no
recourse. And like many times before,
the whites had divided and conquered
a tribe and ultimately caused the CN
to lose valuable leaders just when they
were needed the most.
There were other concerns
immediately following the removal,
but without Boudinot, the tribe did
not publish a newspaper again, the
Cherokee Advocate,
again until 1844. Who
knows if he would
have helped restart the
Cherokee Phoenix, but
he and Worcester were
engaged in translating
and publishing materials
using the Cherokee
syllabary when Boudinot
was killed.
John Ridge was an
attorney with experience
in dealing with leaders
in Washington. His skills likely would
have been a great benefit to the tribe
as it worked to recover after the forced
removal. And Major Ridge, by many
accounts, was a force of nature. Though
he barely spoke English, his leadership
had been a major factor in the formation
of the CN government. I believe he was
also a bridge between the old ways of
the tribe and “civilized” direction it
was headed to appease and assimilate
with its white neighbors. He knew how
valuable educated Cherokees would be,
so he sent his son John to school and
encouraged his brother to send his
sons Stand and “Buck Oowatie,” who
later became Elias Boudinot, to learn
under missionaries.
The formation of a government, a
newspaper and the reformation of
that government after removal were
amazing accomplishments for a people
who were persecuted, removed and
provided nearly nothing to start over
again in a strange land. I wonder where
we would have been as a Nation if
more of our leaders had survived the
removal and its aftermath, and if the
Cherokee people didn’t spend so much
time exacting revenge on each other
over the three leaders they lost.
Today, as I walked by the places
Boudinot, Ross and Worcester lived
and walked, I thought that I should
write about them again. Or maybe they
were there and told me I should not
forget them.
will-chavez@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3961

TERO
from front page
8 Cherokee Phoenix • February 2010 Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010
vendors, if available, for CN construction
projects. But the resolution is nonbinding
and meant to communicate the
council’s wish that only Indian-owned
businesses be used when possible.
“Real TERO reform involves holding
Cherokee Nation and its business entities
accountable,” Glory-Jordan said. “This
(proposed) act does just that.”
Fishinghawk said initially the CN
and its business entities were exempt
from major enforcement and penalty
provisions relating to Indian employment
and contracting preferences. She said the
proposed act includes a penalty of $25
per day per employee for any CN business
entity or TERO contractor if it “employs a
non-Native American employee when a
Native American employee is available.”
“The Nation and our business entities
are, collectively, the largest employer in
the area, and we’re sending a message that
they need to work harder to put more
Cherokees to work,” said Hoskin.
Baker said some tribes might penalize a
TERO contractor with a one-time fine of
$50 or $500 for not hiring Indian workers,
which is usually not effective.
“I definitely think it ought to be a
compounding-type fine and not just
a one-time deal that gives them a free
pass to ignore TERO. If it’s $25 a day…
and they’ve got 10 workers, the fine is
$250 a day,” Baker said. “We need to stop
talking about creating jobs and start
doing something about it. This reform act
will put Cherokees to work and hold the
Nation accountable.”
Hoskin added that among the
Mascot
from front page
“…we’re sending a
message that they need to
work harder to put more
Cherokees to work.”
– Chuck Hoskin Jr.,
Tribal Councilor
on a compromise.
“I’m from this community, and I’ve
got a lot of calls from Native Americans
in this district and they’ve certainly been
offended,” he said. “I think we could’ve
done a better job with what we picked. I
think we made him look awful ugly.”
More than a hundred people turned
out for the meeting. Most of those in
attendance were Stilwell students and
parents. The crowd also included people
who oppose the mascot.
Board members allowed six speakers
from each side of the issue two minutes
each to speak. The six speakers supporting
the mascot included four students, a
school employee and a school alumnus.
The six people opposing it included two
members of the Tulsa Indian Coalition
Against Racism; a Stilwell resident; and
Cherokee Nation citizens and employees
Jamie Hummingbird, Charlie Soap and
Dr. Neil Morton. Morton spoke on behalf
of the CN.
After the board’s decision, students
broke into applause and began cheering.
CN citizen Troy Littledeer said he sees
the issue as a Stilwell resident, not as a
Native American.
“It was a community matter, and when
I spoke I mentioned this may not be
a winnable argument,” Littledeer said.
“What some people find offensive, others
Census
from front page
filled. He said the Tahlequah office is now
hiring office staff, but will later hire crew
leaders and enumerators.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau,
the jobs are good paying, but temporary.
The amount of pay depends on position
and location, and work-related mileage is
reimbursed.
According to the bureau, the jobs would
be a “strong economic shot in the arm”
and likened them to “several factories
open up in the Tahlequah” area.
Positions are available in every
community, Sottile said.
“Testing sites are located throughout
provisions in the proposed act is injunctive
relief against the tribe or its entities for a
failure to comply with Indian-preference
law and a limited waiver of sovereign
immunity to give aggrieved Cherokees
access to Cherokee courts for relief.
Councilor Cara Cowan Watts said
that TERO, in its current form, protects
the employment rights of tribal citizens
but that its implementation is where CN
leaders missed the boat.
“Implementation of TERO relies on all
of the leadership in executive positions –
the executive branch of government and
the administrators to do their job and
comply with TERO – all the way down
to the hiring manager and procurement
officer,” she said.
Cowan Watts said CN leaders should
have been using
existing TERO law
all along to provide
an acceptable level of
Cherokee employment
and for the awarding
of tribal contracts to
Indian vendors.
“If the leadership and
individuals making the
decisions every day
have not bought into
TERO preference, not matter what law we
implement, it will never be good enough,”
she said.
The council was expected to discuss
the proposed TERO act during its Jan.
28 Executive and Finance Committee
meeting. If it passes, the full council
would vote on it on Feb. 15 at its monthly
council meeting. Should it pass then,
Principal Chief Chad Smith has the
choice to approve or veto it.
Fishinghawk said she expected the
E&F Committee to complete its work at
the Jan. 28 meeting.
“Our TERO reform package will
create more Cherokee jobs and promote
Cherokee-owned businesses, so I expect
that Chief Smith will sign it,” she said.
Snell said that if CN leaders are serious
about helping Cherokees live betters lives
then “we need to give TERO some teeth.”
will-chavez@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3961
will not. I’m in favor of the vote, only
because it upholds the community and
the interest of the students. I know they
worked hard; they deserve the reward for
their hard work.”
But some people opposed to the mascot
were disappointed with the vote. CN
citizen Sedelta Oosahwee said she finds
the mascot offensive, but went to the
meeting to hear both sides.
“I knew coming in I probably wouldn’t
be swayed, but I was very disappointed
with the meeting itself,” Oosahwee said. “It
felt like a joke.”
She said the students should not be held
responsible for the poor choice of mascot.
“I feel like the adults in the school and
community should’ve come forward
earlier to try to mold this process earlier
before it got to this point,” she said. “I’m
not happy with the result. We’re going to
try to keep coming out and we’re going to
keep trying to let people know this isn’t
right and we’re not going to stand for this.”
Morton, a longtime Stilwell resident, said
he appreciated the opinion of everyone
in attendance, especially the students,
but the school might need to teach more
Cherokee concepts to the children.
“Naturally, it is a student project and
students are very protective of their
projects, as well as they should be,” he said.
“Perhaps a more in-depth understanding
of Cherokee culture, Cherokee life ways
and Cherokee history would cause a
person not to want Tommy Tomahawk to
represent them as a people.”
christina-goodvoice@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3825
the area, and tests are usually held in
town halls, libraries, and churches,” he
said. “In order to accomplish our goals we
have employed recruiting assistants who
cover the 23 counties spreading the word
to have individuals take the test to work
for the Census as well as encourage the
people to respond to the questionnaires.”
The mission is to count the people in
the area with the questionnaires and later
follow up with those who do not respond,
he said.
“The response of the citizenry is critical
to both their representation in Congress
and the dollars available to Congress for
distribution to their constituents,” Sottile
said. “The Census is asking people to take
just 10 minutes to answer 10 questions.”
jami-custer@cherokee.org
• (918) 453-5560

Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010 February 2010 • Cherokee Phoenix 9
Banks. Credit unions.
What’s the difference?
Differences between
credit unions and
banks go further than
services offered.
By CHrIStINa GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Both credit
unions and banks offer loans, credit
cards, checking and savings accounts,
among other services. But the two types
of institutions have differences people
may not be aware of.
The biggest differences are that credit
unions are member-owned and not-forprofit,
while banks are privately owned
and for-profit.
To be member-owned means members
who join the credit union control it, said
Todd Matthews, Tulsa Teachers Credit
Union vice president. “(It) operates solely
for them,” he said.
Matthews said because credit unions
are member-owned, their boards of
directors don’t get paid like a bank’s
board does, which allows net income to
be given as dividends to members.
“It doesn’t just go to a bunch of board
members and executives, it goes back
into the credit union,” he said.
Matthews said this process allows
credit unions to have lower loan rates.
“We have lower auto rates, mortgage
rates and fewer fees on the accounts
because we operate for the members
because if they didn’t have an account
with us we wouldn’t be here,” he said.
Matthews added that credit unions also
pay higher rates to members who save.
“Traditionally, credit unions will offer
rates that are lower than competition, as
well as on the deposits in terms of savings
and certificates, we traditionally pay a
littler higher too,” he said.
According to the Credit Union
National Association, credit unions boast
more than 90 million members who save
$8 billion a year thanks to better interest
rates and reduced fees.
The association also states members
may get better deals on credit-unionissued
credit cards because many don’t
The Muskogee Federal Credit Union, left, and BancFirst, right, are two financial
institutions located in Tahlequah, Okla. PHOTO BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
charge annual fees or interest rates for
a single late payment, as a majority of
bank-issued credit cards do.
Most anyone can belong to a credit
union, depending on where they live and
work or the associations to which they
belong. Jim Harig, president and CEO
of Muskogee Federal Credit Union, said
the MFCU has a community charter for
Muskogee and Cherokee counties, and
as part of that, a person is eligible to be
a member of the credit union if they live,
work, attend church or school in either of
the two counties.
Most credit unions set requirements
for membership based on employment,
residency or other criteria. But many
credit unions don’t have credit criteria for
membership.
Harig said the MFCU doesn’t have a
credit criteria membership, but it does
have credit criteria for its lending process.
The MFCU has a one-time membership
fee of $25 when establishing membership
and a minimum share value, he said.
“When a member joins the credit
union, we have what’s called a minimum
share value, which is their membership
account, and that’s $5,” Harig said. That
means a member must have at least $5 to
begin membership in the union.
Another difference between the two
might be that since their inception, credit
unions have always looked toward the
financial soundness of its members,
Harig said.
“We look to try to meet their minimum
financial needs,” he said. “Also, our goal
is to increase their financial awareness
where they can shop and find the best
product. But the end result of credit
unions is actually the financial benefit of
the members.”
Banks may not always do that since
they are for-profit organizations. They
hold deposits, make loans, pay checks
and provide other related services for
the public. They collect funds from
three sources: demand, savings and time
deposits; short-term borrowings from
other banks; and equity capital, according
to the Federal Reserve.
Joe Butts, executive vice president at
Banc First in Tahlequah, said both credit
unions and banks exist to give financial
services. While credit unions were set
up to serve certain groups of members,
banks serve all the public, Butts said.
“Banks are community, regional or
national corporations, and BancFirst
Tahlequah is owned by BancFirst
Corporation, which is a multi-bank
holding company,” Butts said.
And because credit unions fall into
the not-for-profit status, they are exempt
from federal and local taxes.
“Credit unions are tax-exempt,” he said.
“Banks pay taxes. (It’s an) unfair practice.
A lot of the public doesn’t really seem to
understand that difference.”
christina-goodvoice@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3825
EItC offers big tax benefit
By JaMI CUStEr
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Since 1975 the U.S. government has
offered the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is for people
earning income under a certain amount throughout the
tax year. Earned income includes wages, salary, tips, other
taxable employee compensation and net earnings from selfemployment.
The credit normally benefits low- and middleincome
working families, as well as some single individuals
with earned income and no children.
“Taxpayers making less than $49,000 may be eligible. Also,
some individuals with low earned income and no children may
also qualify,” Deborah Vanderpool, Self-Sufficiency supervisor
with the Cherokee Nation Commerce Department, said.
In 2008, nearly 316,000 Oklahoma taxpayers claimed the
EITC for a total impact of about $654 million. Each taxpayer
additionally received an average of more than $2,069 on their
federal refunds, she said.
“It is estimated that up to 25 percent of eligible taxpayers
may be unaware of and overlooking this valuable tax credit,”
Vanderpool said.
Individuals interested in the EITC, must file a return regardless
of whether or not they owe any taxes or had any withheld.
“If you owe federal taxes, the EITC may reduce the amount
you owe and may result in a refund check,” Vanderpool said.
“You can receive your EITC refund in a lump sum with your
tax return or, if you are eligible, you can claim it in advance
throughout the year in your paycheck.”
She said even if taxpayers do not file for the EITC credit,
but qualify for it, they still have the ability to file and receive it
within a three-year period.
“We need to get the word out that if you had earned income
for the 2009 year, you need to pursue determining eligibility
for EITC” Vanderpool said. “Our VITA (Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance) sites offer free tax preparation in over 17 different
locations throughout the Cherokee Nation’s 14 counties. All
returns will be e-filed at no charge and there are volunteers
and staff available to assist you in determining the tax filing
requirement and your potential refund for this filing season.”
Vanderpool said she expects an increase in the number of
returns filed through the VITA sites due to hard economic times.
She said this would help keep people from seeking refunds from
“predatory” tax businesses.
“Some tax preparers promise large and fast refunds and try to
encourage individuals to use their returns as a down payment
on a large purchase such as an automobile or a mobile home,”
she said. “They might offer a rapid refund through a loan or a
debit card. These businesses are called ‘predatory’ because they
prey upon people’s needs, fears and lack of knowledge about
options.”
jami-custer@cherokee.org • (918) 453-5560
To claim the EITC with or without qualifying children,
the following must be met:
• You must have earned income,
• Your earned income and your adjusted gross income must be
less than an amount specified annually by the Internal Revenue
Service, depending on how many qualifying children you have.
Even if you report other income on a 1099 form, you may still
qualify for the EITC if your total earned income falls below the
applicable limits,
• You must have a valid Social Security number,
• Your investment income must be below a certain amount,
• Your filing status cannot be “married filing separately,”
• You must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident all year,
• You cannot be a qualifying child of another person.
To claim the EITC with qualifying
children, each child must:
• Have a valid Social Security number,
• Not be used by more than one person to claim EITC, and
• Be your son, daughter, adopted child, stepchild, descendant
of any of them (e.g. your grandchild) or eligible foster child.
Your brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister or a descendant of
your brother, sister, stepbrother or stepsister (e.g. your niece or
nephew) may also qualify if you care for this individual as you
would your own child,
• Be under age 19 at the end of the tax year, a full-time student
under age 24, or any age if permanently and totally disabled,
• Live with you in the United States for more than half of the
tax year.
To claim the EITC with no qualifying children:
• You must be at least 25 years old but under 65,
• You cannot qualify as the dependent or qualifying child of
another person,
• You must have lived in the United States more than half the
tax year.
When filing this year’s taxes you should bring the
following items to your tax preparer to determine
whether you are eligible for the EITC:
• Photo identification cards,
• Social Security card(s) for you and your spouse (if married
filing jointly),
• Forms or records to verify your earned income, such as W-2
and 1099 forms, and records or logs of self-employment income,
any notices, tax forms or other mail you received from the IRS
during the year,
• A copy of previous year’s federal and state tax returns,
• Social Security card(s) and birth dates for any qualifying
children,
• Bank account and routing numbers will be required if you
would like to have your refund deposited directly into your
bank account.
When
unemployment
runs out
By DEBOraH
VaNDErPOOL
Self-Sufficiency
Supervisor
Many businesses
have suffered the
effects of a downturn
in the economy and
have been forced to
close their doors,
causing an increase in
Deborah
Vanderpool
unemployment. If you receive unemployment
benefits, here are few ways to assist you until
you get on your feet again and back in the
workforce:
• Ask for help. Don’t be proud as your
temporary financial circumstances may
entitle you to food stamps, commodities
and other assistance that you have paid
for through your tax contribution each
year. Community organizations often have
resources with food baskets, babysitting,
donations, utility assistance and emergency
housing. Cherokee Nation’s Human Services
may have assistance available also.
• Go to the library. Many libraries have
computers you can use to search for jobs as
well as workshops or other free trainings in
resume writing or interview skills.
• Check with your local One-Stop Career
Center. It often has information on local
resources that may have temporary positions,
job trainings and possible funding for college
education. The tribe’s Career Services may
be able to assist you as well.
• Try temping. Call Kelly, Manpower and any
other temporary employment agency in your
area to make an appointment. Temp work is
an excellent way to generate revenue quickly
but can also lead to a permanent position.
Resources such as the United Way and
211 can provide referrals to agencies from
charities, social services, credit counseling
centers, foreclosure prevention and other
resources. Networking is important and
exploring your options is a must. The CN
provides services in credit coaching and
repair, foreclosure prevention and financial
literacy.
Self-awareness of your mental health is
important during these times. There may
be days that nothing seems like it is going
to turn out right, and these are the days that
you may need to talk with someone. There
is always hope for your situation to get
better and setting small attainable goals will
provide a sense of achievement. Set yourself
up for success, not failure.
As a last resort you may be faced with some
difficult decisions. Selling your household
items, extra cars and generally downsizing
can seem like a defeat, but in the grand
scheme of things you may be losing the
battle to win the war. Long-term planning,
especially in tough times when success
seems far away, is a must. Prioritizing the
basic four needs of food, shelter, clothing and
transportation is imperative in your recovery
from this difficult time.
Unemployment insurance benefits are
available to workers who are unemployed
through no fault of their own. Eligibility
requirements for collecting benefits vary
from state to state so it always makes sense
to check the eligibility guidelines with your
state unemployment office and to verify that
you are receiving all the extended benefits
you qualify for.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act allows high unemployment states to
provide up to 13 to 20 weeks of additional
extended benefits to workers who run out
of federal funded unemployment benefits. If
you are close to running out, take a look at
the other resources available to unemployed
workers and take advantage of whatever you
can to help get you by until you find a job.
The National Employment Law Project
reports the number of unemployed workers
and the percentage of workers out of work
for six months have reached record highs
and the average length of unemployment
is now over six months. In better shape
than most states, Oklahoma has a current
unemployment rate of 7.1 percent.
There is an alternative to seeking
employment. If you have a skill or a hobby
that can generate income for your family
during these tough economic times, then this
may be the best time to consider starting your
own business. The CN provides training and
resources for small business development.
For more information,
call (918) 453-5536.

10 Cherokee Phoenix • February 2010 Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010
Community Meetings
feb. 1
Brent, 6 p.m.
Call Sam Bush (918) 316-1054
Marble City Community Organization
7 p.m.
Call Ellen McClendon (918) 775-2158
or 774-0074
feb. 2
Muldrow Cherokee Community
Organization, 7 p.m.
Call Tim Laney (918) 427-4006
Tulsa Cherokee Community
Organization, 6 p.m.
Call Jean Vann Breed (918) 808-4142
Belfonte, 6 p.m.
Call Glen Qualls (918) 427-1700 or
427-0227
Rocky Mountain, 6 p.m.
Call Doris Shell at (918) 207-4924
feb. 4
Lyons, 7 p.m.
Karen Fourkiller (918) 696-2354
Greasy, 7 p.m.
Call Charlie Shell (918) 774-0857
Washington County Cherokee
Association, 7 p.m.
Bill Foster (918) 440-9695
feb. 8
Marble City Pantry, 7 p.m.
Call Clifton Pettit (918) 775-5975
Four Corners, 7 p.m.
Call Sue Fine (918) 386-2352
feb. 9
Oak Hill/Piney, 7 p.m.
Call Dude Feather (918) 235-2811
Collinsville, 6:30 p.m.
Call Danny Stanley (918) 798-2402
feb. 11
South Coffeyville, 6:30 p.m.
Call Vickie Brokeshoulder (918) 822-2893
feb. 14
Rogers County Cherokee Association
2 p.m.
Call Lee Keener (918) 283-2145
feb. 16
Vinita Indian Territory Coalition, 5 p.m.
Call Lisa Trice-Turtle (918) 453-2988
Fairfield, 7 p.m.
Call Bill Collins (918) 696-2961
Dry Creek, 7 p.m.
Call Jim Robbins (918) 457-5023
feb. 18
Tailholt Community, 7 p.m.
Call Tammy Marshall (918) 458-0142
Blue Sky Water, 7 p.m.
Call Sam Bush (918) 316-1054
feb. 22
Christie, 7 p.m.
Call Shelia Rector (918) 778-3423
In Memoriam dmcdsdi
Sandra Pollard
April 16, 1945 – December 31, 2009
Wilma Dean Lewis, 81
1928 – Dodge, Okla.
December 15, 2009 – Wichita, Kan.
Homemaker
Eudora May Morgan Byfield, 87
March 30, 1922 – Coody’s Bluff, Okla.
Sandi, born Sandra Lou Stivers,
passed away in her home after a 15-year
battle with breast cancer.
She was born in Poteau, Okla., and
graduated from Oklahoma State
University with a degree in vocational
home economics. She married Eugene
Pollard and they started a family of two
boys, Bryan and Nathan. They moved
to New Orleans in 1975, and then Sandi
and Nathan moved to Portland, Ore.,
in 1991. She worked as a researcher
and drug study coordinator until her
retirement in 2008.
Her son wrote: “Always know that
your strength and values will live
through those you have touched with
your wisdom, wit and compassion. We
love you and will forever treasure your
loving touch and guidance.”
Sandi is survived by her mother Maye
Stivers, her sister Connie Stivers, her
niece Neile Blackwell and her son Bryan
Pollard. She was preceded by her son
Nathan who lost his lifelong battle with
Cystic Fibrosis in 2003.
Charitable donations may be made
in her name to the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation and Street Roots.
January 5, 2010 – Skiatook, Okla.
Dean Hays Cheek, 73
April 18, 1936 – Mangum, Okla.
January 6, 2010 – Gore, Okla.
U.S. Marine Corp. Veteran of Korean War
Classifieds dgCAm
GENEALOGY
the Legacy of Ludovic Grant by Jerry Maddox. A non-fiction biography about an ancestor
of thousands of mixed-blood Cherokees, who’s legacy has continued to this day throughout the
Cherokee Nation and America. To Order Direct from Author House call 1-888-280-7715 or go to
www.authorhouse.com. Hard cover $28.99 or soft cover $18.99.
Cherokee adairs book. Historical and genealogical accounts of numerous Cherokee families.
Large, hard bound, well-referenced, with many pictures and documents. $60 plus $6 s/h. Send check
or money order to: Rt. 2, Box 287, Sallisaw, OK 74955
George M. Bell’s 1972 book, Genealogy of Old & New Cherokee Indian families. $50, plus $7
for S&H. Send check or money order to: Mr. Watie Bell, 1808 SE Crescent Dr., Bartlesville, OK 74006.
E-mail: watiebell@sbcglobal.net
SERVICES
Corner Stone tree Service, Best prices in Oklahoma. Insured, easy pay, senior citizen and veterans
discount, free estimates. Indian Owned. (918)850-5105
Corner Stone Demolition, specializing in 500 to 5000 square feet. Tear down, haul off. Insured,
free estimates. (918)850-5105.
Brewer Painting - Interior/Exterior. Free Estimates, reasonable rates. Call Adam 918-431-1816
REAL ESTATE
Selling homes in NE Oklahoma at 10% below value. Low downpayment. Call (918)323-2890.
avoid foreclosure. Sell Your Home! No cost to you. Call (918)256-6755.
Homes for rent. Verdigris. Like new 2, 3, & 4 bdrms. $695-995. Owasso and East Tulsa. Call
(918)371-2316. Homesbyfreeman.com
for rent. Owasso Office/Beauty Salon/Retail 9200 N. Garnett. Call (918)371-2316.
homesbyfreeman.com
FOR SALE
Hay for sale. $20-35 per bale. Call (918)371-2316 or email homesbyfreeman@sbcglobal.net
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
must be prepaid by check or money order to the Cherokee Phoenix, Attn: Classifieds, P.O. Box 948,
Tahlequah, OK 74465
Community Calendar
Feb. 4
Chocolate affair, Stonebrook Inn, Grove,
Okla., Phone: (918) 253-4249
A small entrance fee will apply.
Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27
Eagle tour and Loon Watch
Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge & Tenkiller
State Park, Vian, Okla.
Phone: (918) 489-5641
Tours will occur unless there is a travel
advisory for the area.
Feb. 12-14
an affair of the Heart, State Fairgrounds
Oklahoma City, Phone: (405) 632-2652
Feb. 12-14
tulsa Indian art festival, Spirit Bank
Center, Tulsa, Okla., Phone: (918) 298-
2300
E-mail: culture@nimi.us
Web site: www. tulsaindianartfestival.com
Feb. 12-14
Home and Garden Show, Grove Civic
Center, Grove, OK 74344, Phone: 918-
786-9079
Hours are from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb.
12, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 13 and from
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 14.
Feb. 13
Chili Cook-off, Bernice Nature Center
Bernice, Okla., Phone: (918) 257-8330
Feb. 18-21
Green Country’s Mid-south Hunting,
fishing and tackle Show
Will Rogers Downs Event Center
Claremore, Okla.., Phone: (918) 520-3474
Hours are from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Feb.
18, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Feb. 19 and 20
and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 21.
Feb. 24-27
fiddler’s festival
Western Hills Guest Ranch, Wagoner,
Okla.
Phone: (918) 772-2545
Feb. 27
flying fez Wine tasting festival
201 S 6th, Muskogee, OK 74401
Phone: (918) 348-0376
Events from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Activities
include music, food and a fashion show.
Feb. 27
Okie flyers fly-in
Claremore Regional Airport, Claremore,
Okla., Phone: (918) 343-0931
This event is open to the public.
March 6
Peoria Stomp Dance, 114 S. Eight Tribes
Trail, Miami, Okla.
Phone: (918) 540-2535
From 7 p.m. to midnight
Third Tuesday of even numbered months
Mayflower UCC Church, Oklahoma City
Phone: (405) 408-0763
The next meeting is Feb. 16.
Year Round
Will rogers Memorial Museum
Claremore, Okla., Phone: (918) 341-0719
The museum honors the Cherokee cowboy,
movie start, writer and humorist
every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with nine
galleries, three theaters and a special children’s
museum. Admission by voluntary
contributions
Fourth Thursday of each month
american Indian Chamber of Commerce
of Oklahoma – Eastern Chapter
monthly luncheon at Bacone College
Muskogee, Okla., Phone: (918) 230-3759
The lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. at Benjamin
Wacoche Hall.
First Tuesday of each month
Cherokee Basket Weavers association
at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Tahlequah, Okla., Phone: (918) 456-7787
Monthly meetings are at 6 p.m. the first
Tuesday, but if it is a holiday it’s on the
second Tuesday.
Second Tuesday of each month
Cherokee artists association at 202 E.
5th Street, Tahlequah, Okla.
Phone: (918) 458-0008
Web site: www.cherokeeartistsassociation.
org
The CAA meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday
of each month.
To have an event or meeting listed,
fax information to (918) 458-6136
attention: Community Calendar.
The deadline for submissions is the
10th of each month.

Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010 February 2010 • Cherokee Phoenix 11
Cherokee to play in World Lacrosse Championship
By WESLEy MaHaN
Sports Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Cherokee
Nation will be proudly represented at this
year’s World Lacrosse Championship in
Manchester, England.
Marty Ward, a CN and Iroquois citizen,
will play in the tournament for the Iroquois
Nationals, a team of Iroquois who compete
as nation against teams such as Canada,
England and the United States.
The Nationals are currently ranked fourth
in the world heading into the 31-team, 10day
event, which is held every four years.
Ward grew up in Syracuse, N.Y., where
lacrosse is a way of life.
“I think I had my first lacrosse stick right
when I was born,” he said. “The culture of the
Iroquois people in upstate New York is very
proud and strong-willed. We are known as
the inventors of the game. We play the game
to please the Creator and his surroundings of
nature. That’s one reason I play the game.”
After graduating high school, Ward
continued his career at Division II power
Limestone College in South Carolina. While
there he was a two-time All-American
goalkeeper and compiled a 55-9 record. He
led Limestone to four consecutive NCAA
semifinal appearances and was a three-time
all-conference selection and the 2007 Player
of the Year in the Carolinas Virginia Athletic
Conference.
In 2006, Ward joined the Iroquois Nationals
for the world championships.
“I was approached and asked to tryout
for the team. For me not being full-blood
Iroquois, that made me very proud. It was a
very prestigious honor,” he said. “I ended up
making the elite roster for the 2006 World
Games and taking over the starting position
Indians place 4th in
CNE tournament
By WESLEy MaHaN
Sports Writer
TULSA, Okla. – The Sequoyah Indians
made their sixth appearance in seven
years at Cherokee Nation Entertainment’s
Tournament of Champions in late December
and finished in fourth-place.
The Indians closed out the basketball
tournament with a hard fought 57-51 loss
to Class 5A No. 2-ranked Tulsa Memorial in
the third-place game.
Sequoyah battled a size disadvantage
on the interior as the Chargers were led by
6-foot, 9-inch center Cameron Downing,
who controlled the game early.
Memorial charged out to an 18-7 lead in
the first, with half of those points coming
courtesy of Downing. Heading into the
second quarter, Sequoyah head coach Larry
Grigg pulled Ramsey Nofire off the Indians
bench and teamed him with Jarrett Travis to
hold Downing to four points the rest of the
way.
“The first quarter we didn’t do a very good
job of defending the backside. After that we
did a lot better job on their big kids inside,”
said Grigg.
Sequoyah then went on a 16-5 run and
grabbed a 25-20 lead. However, Memorial
battled back to take a 32-29 lead at
intermission.
In the third period, each team scored only
nine points, with Sequoyah still down three
heading for the fourth.
The Indians tied the game at 41 when
Nofire popped a 3-pointer, which was one
of only four field goals in the second half.
The majority of their offense came from free
throws, going 10-of-14 in the fourth.
The two teams traded leads before
Memorial surged with a 9-3 run and a 48-45
Cherokee Nation citizen Marty Ward tends goal for the Iroquois Nationals. Ward will be
the team’s goalkeeper during this summer’s World Lacrosse Championships.
COURTESY PHOTO
lead. Sequoyah got no closer than one as the
Chargers closed out the Indians.
“Defensively, I thought we played well
enough to win. We missed some free throws
down the stretch and a couple of shots. In a
tight game that’s kind of the way it always
goes,” Grigg said.
In the semifinals, the Indians committed
25 turnovers as Booker T. Washington took
advantage for a 72-55 victory.
The Indians got out to an 8-0 lead and
held a 16-14 advantage at the end of one.
The Class 5A No. 3 Hornets came alive in the
second period and took a 36-26 lead into the
locker room. The Hornets kept pressuring in
the second half and rolled to the easy victory.
Sequoyah opened the tournament with
a thrilling victory over 6A’s No. 4 ranked
Muskogee Roughers. The game was fast
paced from the outset as Sequoyah turned
up the pressure in the second period with
defense and 3-point shooting. The Indians
went on a 10-point run to grab a 19-15 lead.
The Roughers and Indians traded blows
before Sequoyah exploded for a 7-0 run to
close the half with a 33-26 lead.
The third period mirrored the first half
with Sequoyah building leads and Muskogee
fighting back. Sequoyah scratched out a 48-
44 lead heading to the final stanza.
The Roughers briefly led in the fourth, but a
9-2 Indians run put Sequoyah back on top by
six. Muskogee had one more run in them, tying
the game at 63 with 24 seconds left. However,
Travis Sanders put back a missed shot with
eight seconds left for the 65-63 victory.
“We played really well. I thought we
played like we’re capable of even though we
lost a couple of games. We played really good
competition. Playing people like that only
makes you better,” said Grigg.
wesley-mahan@yahoo.com• (479) 427-9101
Sequoyah’s Ramsey Butler tries to drive past a Muskogee defender during a recent
game at The Place Where They Play in Tahlequah, Okla. PHOTO BY WESLEY MAHAN
and finished ranked second in the world
in save percentage and saves. It was a huge
honor to play in that type of tournament
and for that type of team. I represent two
communities when I play for the Iroquois
team and that is the Onondaga and the
Cherokees.”
Ward said he’s a lifer when it comes to
lacrosse, envisioning himself playing well
into old age.
“I’m going to be playing this game till I can’t
walk. That’s the grandest thing about this game,
you can play it your whole life and it never gets
old,” he said. “It’s just a great medicine game for
us and a strong game spiritually. Being Native
American and being able to play this game that
was designed and built by Native Americans
is something I’m never going to give up. My
goal is to play in four world championships
throughout my life.”
Ward has also started teaching the game.
In 2008, he was a student assistant coach at
Limestone. In 2009, he was the head coach at
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in South
Carolina, where he led his squad to a regional
title. Today, he is the top assistant coach at
Florida Southern College.
“In college, I kind of took a liking to
coaching. I started working a lot of various
lacrosse camps throughout the country,” he
said. “It got me into coaching a little bit and
I got a knack for it. I’m going to be a college
lacrosse coach for the rest of my life. I’m going
to be a head coach eventually and work hard.”
Ward also takes pride in his heritage and
appreciates what it means.
“I’m very proud to have Native American
blood in my veins. Being Onondaga and
Cherokee is a very special thing for me and
I take pride in it everyday. Being Native
American is the greatest honor in the world.”
wesley-mahan@yahoo.com • (479) 427-9101
Kansas University guard Angel Goodrich goes down with a knee injury on Jan. 12 at
Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. Oklahoma State outlasted the Jayhawks with a
layup to win in the final seconds. PHOTO BY RICHARD GWIN/LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD
Goodrich suffers
right knee injuries
The former Sequoyah
Lady Indian suffers her
second major knee injury
in as many years.
By Staff rEPOrtS
LAWRENCE, Kan. – University of Kansas
freshman point guard Angel Goodrich
once again finds herself on the long road to
recovery following her second major knee
injury in as many years.
Goodrich, a Cherokee Nation citizen and
former Sequoyah Schools standout, will
miss the remainder of the 2009-10 season
after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament
and suffering meniscus damage in her right
knee on Jan. 12 against Oklahoma State in
Lawrence.
The Jayhawks lost the game, 70-68.
Goodrich was taken to the locker room
midway through the first half after a fall
appeared to injure the knee. She returned
late in the half. Goodrich left the game again
late in the contest after a collision with an
Oklahoma State player.
KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said
Goodrich tweaked her right knee during
KU’s Dec. 30 victory over Pepperdine.
Goodrich was expected to have surgery in
late January and to return for her sophomore
season. She was averaging 6.8 points, 7.1
assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game. At the
time of her injury, Goodrich was second in
the Big 12 and fourth in the nation in assists.
Goodrich was off to a fast start in her career,
stabilizing the point for the Lady Jayhawks.
She was the fastest player in Kansas history
to record 100 assists, achieving the feat in
only 13 games. She also had double-digit
assists in four games and posted a careerhigh
20 points against Creighton.
Goodrich sat out the entire 2008-09 season
after tearing her left ACL in a preseason
practice.
The 5-foot, 4-inch guard from Tahlequah,
Okla., led her high school team to three
Class 3A state basketball titles and four state
title games.

By WESLEy MaHaN
Sports Writer
12 Cherokee Phoenix • February 2010
Lady Indians guard Nikki Lewis cuts off a Muskogee player attempting to drive to the
basket during a recent game at The Place Where They Play. PHOTO BY WESLEY MAHAN
Lady Indians make trip
to Oregon tourney
By WESLEy MaHaN
Sports Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Sequoyah
Lady Indians spent a portion of their holiday
break in the Portland, Ore., taking part in
the Nike Interstate Shootout.
The Lady Indians played in the 32-team
tournament, four-day event that featured
big-school powers from California,
Washington and Oregon. They finished the
trip with a 2-2 record, after falling 49-41 to
Redmond, Ore., in the consolation finals.
Nikki Lewis led Sequoyah in scoring with
15 points, and Lynsey Dry chipped in with 10.
In the semifinals, the Lady Indians had
to fight off a scrappy Liberty team from
Hillsboro, Ore., for a 54-47 win.
Sequoyah built a double-digit lead in
the second quarter, but only led by one at
halftime. The Lady Indians stayed one step
ahead in the second half, never trailing and
holding on for the win. Taylor Johnson led
Sequoyah in scoring with 13 points, while
Tara Comingdeer added eight timely points.
The Lady Indians played their best game
of the tournament against Rex Putnam High
CATOOSA, Okla. – The Hard
Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa is set to
host the fifth annual Oklahoma State
Championship of Poker in February.
The 28-event series will run Feb. 11-
22 and feature two huge events. The
first is set for Feb. 13 and will be the
No-Limit Hold ‘Em
state championship
with a $340 buyin
and a $100,000
guaranteed prize
pool. The second is
the Oklahoma State
Championship Event
on Feb. 21 with a
$3,150 buy-in.
Adding to the poker buzz, Cherokee
Nation Entertainment officials said this
year’s state championship will feature a
new points contest.
“The casino is adding $15,000 for a
best all-around competition,” Brooks
Turk, Hard Rock Tulsa poker tournament
director, said. “Every tournament you
enter you get a point. Then depending on
where you finish (in the tournament) you
receive additional points. At the end of
the entire series, the top 10 point earners
will share the $15,000.”
The 2009 series saw 3,085 players take
to the felt. Turk said he expects that
number to swell to around 3,500 this
year because of the new features and the
addition of some less expensive buy-ins.
School from Milwaukie, Ore. Sequoyah held
a slim lead after one quarter and turned up
the heat in the second to build a 12-point
lead at half. Sequoyah kept up the intensity
in the second half stretching the lead to 21 at
the end of the third period.
The Lady Indians finished the job and
cruised to the 54-24 win. Johnson led with
14 points, and Lewis helped out with 10
points. Only two of Sequoyah’s 12 players
didn’t score in the rout.
Sequoyah kicked off the tournament with
a 42-31 loss to Lakeridge High School from
Lake Oswego, Ore. Sequoyah fell behind
early and battled uphill the rest of the way.
Lewis paced the Sequoyah offense with
11 points.
Sequoyah head coach Bill Nobles said
everything comes back to consistency,
something the team has lacked this season.
“Inconsistent. I think that’s the keyword
for our whole season. We have quality wins
against quality teams. I know the caliber of
basketball we’re capable of playing. But we
have difficulty playing it consistently,” he said.
wesley-mahan@yahoo.com • (479) 427-9101
Hard rock to host 4
major poker tourneys
“When we first opened
they (tournaments)
were enormous.”
– Brooks Turk, Hard Rock
poker tournament director
Turk said he’s watched the poker
market and the competition for players
explode over the years.
“When we first opened, they
(tournaments) were enormous. Poker
was at its height, the biggest boom it’s
ever seen,” he said. “We’ve got more
competition than ever right now. When
we first started running big tournaments,
the next closest place you could find a
tournament like this
was Mississippi. We
pretty much owned
the market on it.
But now with all the
different casinos and
card rooms around
it’s become more and
more competitive
with each series.”
Turk said Hard Rock Tulsa has been
an industry leader in the region when it
comes to poker and that despite increased
competition, poker will continue to
flourish in the area.
“It’s still going strong. It’s not as strong
as it was three or four years ago when it
was on TV all the time, but overall it’s still
growing. It’s doing all right and it’s not
going anywhere,” he said.
Turk added that in May Hard Rock
Tulsa will be home to the Mid South
Poker Classic. This series is geared more
towards local players because of the
smaller buy-ins and is used as a way to
give back to them, he said.
wesley-mahan@yahoo.com
• (479) 427-9101
Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010
Sports Shorts
Rocky Mountain softball team wins ORES title
ROCKY MOUNTAIN, Okla. – The
Rocky Mountain School’s softball
team recently won the Oklahoma
Rural Elementary Schools state fast
pitch championship.
The team traveled to McAlester for
the tournament which saw the Lady
Rockets play 10 games in two days and
come up victorious in nine of those.
Rocky Mountain’s only loss during
the tournament was to Oak Grove,
which they were able to Savenge in
the championship series by sweeping
them in two straight games.
Coach Kenny Littlefield said the
team came together at the right time.
“Down the stretch we won county
and we took that and rode that into the
ORES playoffs. They had a confidence
about them that had been gained as
the season went along,” he said.
With this being Littlefield’s first
year coaching the Lady Rockets,
there was an adjustment period.
“We went through some growing
pains early and they responded well.
They stepped up and really gained
confidence in themselves each time
out. They really grew as a team and
worked as a team,” he said.
Rocky Mountain finished the
season with a record of 20-5.
– Wesley Mahan
Sequoyah sports teams earn academic awards
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Sequoyah
Schools’ fast pitch softball
and volleyball teams received recognition
from the Oklahoma Secondary
Schools Activities Association
for their outstanding academic
performance. Both teams earned the
OSSAA’s Distinguished Academic
Award for the fall 2009 season.
“The OSSAA academic awards
earned by our student athletes in
both softball and volleyball are very
good examples of how athletics and
academics can work together when
students manage their time effectively,”
said Mitch McGehee, Sequoyah
Schools’ principal.
To qualify for the award, all team
members had to have a 3.5 grade
point average, and rank in the upper
10 percent of their classification.
“Winning the distinguished academic
achievement award for this
season was such an honor for the
team,” said Jay Herrin, Sequoyah
Schools’ volleyball coach. “I am very
proud of these young ladies for their
dedication both on the court and in
the classroom. The team had an over-
all grade point average of 3.77 on a
4.0 scale and our goal for next season
is to have a 4.0 and win the academic
state championship.”
Members of the Sequoyah Schools’
fast pitch softball team are Nikki Lewis,
Cortney Glass, Caitlin Dry, Megan
Tehee, Haylee Beck, Lindsey Hammer,
Taylor Johnson, Ashton Parent, Taylor
Yochum, Brenna McLemore, Dee
Adair, Trinity Busby, Summer Cunningham,
Shannon Barnett, Kristan
Carder, Kalley Garrett, Mason Slaton,
Saharra Henson, Sabrina Martinez,
Keishia Jones, Kara Linch, Megan
Chewey, Jessica Bluebird, Courtney
Jones, Heather Chuculate and Ashely
Mounce. They are coached by Jeff
Turtle and Jake Tanner.
Members of the Sequoyah Schools’
volleyball team are Ashley Belcher,
Paige Budder, Nakayla Dunn, Hope
Harjo, Laurin Keen, Skye Norwood,
Megan Larney, Anaweg Smith, Jessica
Velasquez, Pretty-Sky Wilden and
Bryna Wilson.
Both teams have received a plaque
for their honor.
– CN Communications
Crawford wins gold in Junior Olympics
DES MOINES, Iowa – Tahlequah
Middle School student and Cherokee
Nation citizen Bretly Crawford spent
his summer winning Olympic gold.
Crawford traveled to Des Moines,
Iowa in August to compete in the
National Junior Olympics, winning
a gold medal in the Tae Kwon Do
sparring competition. Crawford’s
coach Orvel Baldridge said that
Crawford was determined to win a
gold medal after taking silver in the
2008 Junior Olympics.
However, Crawford said he’s not
stopping there and that his next goal
is to qualify for next year’s National
Junior Olympics and bring home a
gold medal in the forms competition.
He placed fifth in this year’s forms
competition.
Cherokee wins local Punt, Pass and Kick level
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee
citizen Jordan Blalock, 13, recently
won the local level of the NFL’s Punt,
Pass and Kick competition, in Gore,
Okla., entitling him to compete in
the sectional competition at Boone
Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.
With a combined yardage of more
than 267 yards, Blalock won the
12-13-year-old age division.
Earlier this summer, Blalock
also won the local and sectional
divisions of MLB’s Pitch, Hit and Run
competition, which entitled him to
compete at the team championships
at Texas Rangers Stadium in
Arlington. He came in second in his
age division there.
Blalock is an eighth grader at
Tahlequah Middle School, a citizen
of the Peoria and Cherokee Nations.
He is also of Absentee Shawnee
descent. Blalock is the son of Diane
Hammons of Tahlequah and Jeff
Blalock of Miami, Okla.
Cherokee signs with the Toronto Blue Jays
TULSA, Okla. – Pryor native and
Cherokee Nation citizen Johnny
Roberts Jr. recently signed a minor
league free agent contract with the
Toronto Blue Jays.
Roberts completed his college
career at Oral Roberts University
by winning the Summit League
Tournament MVP award. He hit .545
with two home runs and nine RBI in
three tournament games, including
a grand slam in the championship
game against South Dakota State
University.
Roberts also was named to the
Summit League’s first team this past
season as the designated hitter. He hit
.305 with nine home runs and 45 RBI
for the Golden Eagles.
Before taking the field for ORU,
Roberts spent his freshman and
sophomore seasons at Coffeyville
Community College in Coffeyville,
Kan. He earned second-team all
conference honors there in 2007 by
hitting .423 with nine home runs.
Roberts graduated from Pryor
High School in 2005, where he
earned all-state honors in baseball
and football. He was originally
drafted by the Blue Jays in the 29th
round of the 2005 amateur draft, but
opted to hone his skills in Coffeyville.
After signing the contract, Roberts
was assigned to the Gulf Coast Blue
Jays in Dunedin, Fla. They play in the
Gulf Coast Rookie League.
– WM

Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010 February 2010 • Cherokee Phoenix 13
Bois d’arc and Cherokee bow making
After the first hard freeze,
most of the sap from the
tree moves underground
and into the roots.
By SHaWNa CaIN
Cherokee National Treasure
Winter is important to Cherokee bow
makers. This is the season preferred to cut
the hard woods used in making bows, ball
sticks, fence posts, gigs and tool handles, as
well as other durable wooden items.
Richard Shade, a Cherokee National
Treasure, said winter is when he prefers to cut
bow wood for the year.
“After the first hard freeze is when you
should cut your wood because this is
when most of the sap from the tree moves
underground and into the roots. But, you
also have to go by the moon phases when
cutting your wood for bows.”
Most Cherokees who specialize in making
traditional bows and ball sticks agree that
the short period between December and
February is the ideal time to cut hard woods
for carving such as bois d’arc, black locust,
hickory and mulberry.
Shade, from Lost City in Cherokee County,
prefers bois d’arc and black locust when
making traditional Cherokee long bows due
to the strength and durability these woods
afford. However, Shade also stresses the
importance of moon phases when collecting
these woods for making bows.
“I know that I will be cutting wood pretty
soon now that we have had a good freeze. But
before I go to cut, I have to check the phase
of the moon. The time to go is about a week
before the new moon because this is when
there is the least sap in the tree and the grain
of the wood is most dense.”
Shade said as a child he watched his
grandfather and other “old Cherokee
men” make bows, mostly out of bois d’arc,
hickory, black locust and mulberry. Already
experienced with a compound bow, Shade
decided in his mid-20s that he wanted to make
Cherokee long bows like his grandfather.
Cherokee National Treasure Richard Shade tests his long bow that he made from bois
d’arc wood. PHOTOS BY SHAWNA CAIN
“After I made my first bow, I put down the
compound bow and switched real quick to
the long bow.” Since that time, Shade has
become known as a skilled Cherokee bow
Cherokee Historic Profile
Cherokee Phoenix first published 182 years ago
By WILL CHaVEZ
Staff Writer
Sequoyah’s completion of the Cherokee
syllabary in 1821 induced activity in the
Cherokee Nation as tribal leaders began to
think of ways to incorporate the language
into daily life and government.
The National Council used
the syllabary in its new constitution
and voted in 1825
to establish a tribal newspaper,
the Cherokee Phoenix,
which would use the
syllabary as well as English.
Elias Boudinot was
named editor of the
paper.
Also in 1825,
Samuel Worcester,
a minister from
Massachusetts arrived
in the CN
to minister at
the Brainerd
Mission, near
present-day
Chattanooga,
Tenn.
He was
pivotal in
the formation of
the Phoenix and the translation
of many tribal documents
and the Bible into the Cherokee language.
Little money was available for the newspaper,
so Boudinot and others went on a
fundraising tour in the northeastern United
States, which raised enough money to start
the paper.
Worcester returned to Boston to supervise
the manufacture of type for printing the
Cherokee syllabary. Worcester also used his
missionary connections to secure funds to
build a printing office and purchase a printing
press and ink.
On Feb. 21, 1828, the first edition of the
Cherokee Phoenix was printed in New
Echota, Ga., the new capital of the CN, using
the goals and subject matter established by
Worcester. It was the first newspaper operated
by an Indian tribe and the first bilingual
newspaper in the U.S.
As the newspaper increased in popularity,
Boudinot realized other tribes were also
facing many of the issues the CN faced. He
requested the name of the newspaper be
changed to the Cherokee Phoenix and Indian
Advocate in 1829. The National Council
approved the name change and both the
masthead and content were changed to re-
flect the paper’s new mission.
The Cherokees’ white Georgia neighbors
were not impressed by the tribe’s advancements
and oppressed the Cherokees in an effort
to force them to leave what remained of
their original homelands. Boudinot used the
Phoenix to present the Cherokee people’s
struggle to the rest of the country. As the situation
in Georgia worsened, Boudinot
sided with those who
called on Principal
Chief John
Ross to negotiate
with
the U.S. and
give up what
remained of
their lands. This
led to a division
between Ross
and Boudinot as
Boudinot resigned
as editor in 1832.
Elijah Hicks replaced
him, but he
lacked Boudinot’s experience
and the quality
of the newspaper declined.
The paper ceased
printing on May 31, 1834,
due to a lack of funding.
Following the Trail of
Tears, a CN newspaper was
again published in September
1844, in Tahlequah, Okla., in the
form of the Cherokee Advocate.
The Advocate was published off
and on until 1906 when the CN government
was dissolved by the federal government in
preparation for Oklahoma statehood.
The Cherokee Advocate returned after
the Cherokee government was reformed in
1975. The newspaper continued under that
name until October 2000 when the paper
began using the name Cherokee Phoenix
and Indian Advocate again. In 2002, the
newspaper returned to its original name –
Cherokee Phoenix.
will-chavez@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3961
Sources:
Dale, Edwards Everett, “Cherokee Cavaliers; Forty
Years of Cherokee History as Told in the Correspondences
of the Ridge-Watie-Boudinot Family,” Norman,
Okla., University of Oklahoma Press, 1939.
Wilkins, Thurman, “Cherokee Tragedy: The Ridge
family and the Decimation of a People.” Norman, Okla.,
University of Oklahoma Press, 1986.
Purdue, Theda, “Rising From the Ashes: The Cherokee
Phoenix as an Ethnohistorical Source,” Ethnohistory,
Vol. 24, No. 3, 1971.
Conley, Robert, “The Cherokee Nation,” University of
New Mexico Press, 2005.
maker who now only hunts with bows he has
made from bois d’arc and black locust.
“I believe that Cherokees have always used
black locust because it was plentiful in the
East, but after we came to Oklahoma I think
that bois d’arc was used more because it was
easier to find and was good for bow making.”
Bois d’arc is well known for its value in
bow making but also has valued medicinal
properties. The heartwood of the tree has
been utilized as an antifungal agent and
a nontoxic antibiotic also useful as a food
preservative.
Many Cherokees also attest to the
potency of the bois d’arc fruit as a bug and
rodent repellant. One Cherokee elder from
Sequoyah County said, “You just throw some
of the horse apples around the foundation or
under the house to get rid of cockroaches,
crickets and spiders.”
A deciduous tree of the mulberry family,
bois d’arc was named by French explorers
who were attacked by Indians using bows of
bois d’arc. So impressed with bois d’arc, it was
the first tree sent overseas by early explorers
to be transplanted in the Old World.
A little-known fact about bois d’arc is
its small “natural” habitat range. Before
the 1700s Native Americans living in the
Red River drainage of Oklahoma, Texas
and Arkansas controlled the only bois
d’arc habitat in the world, a precious trade
commodity among Southeastern and Plains
Indians. Today bois d’arc is considered one
of the “healthiest tree species” and is actively
grown in 48 states in North America and
transplanted around the globe.
A closer look at Cherokee National
Treasure Richard Shade’s bois d’arc long
bow.
cherokeephoenix.org

14 Cherokee Phoenix • February 2010 Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010
Entertainment Center
Merchandise by, about and including Cherokees
BARJACK AND THE UNWELCOME GHOST.
(Robert J. Conley, Leisure Books, 227 pp., paperback
– $6.99)
Marshal Barjack likes to keep peace and quiet in
the tiny town of Asininity. It’s better for business at
the Hooch House, the saloon that Barjack owns. But
peace and quiet got mighty hard to come by once
Harm Cody came to
town. Cody’s made a
lot of enemies over
the years and some
of them are hot on
his trail, aiming to
kill him—including
a Cherokee named
Miller and a pretty
little sharpshooter
named Polly Pistol.
And when the
Asininity bank gets
robbed, well, now
Cody has a whole
new bunch of
enemies…including
Barjack. (2009)
CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE
CHEROKEE NATION. (John L. Adair and the
Cherokee Nation, Cornell University Library, 302 pp.,
paperback – $23.99)
Originally published in 1875, this volume from
the Cornell University Library’s print collections was
scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG
2000 format by Kirtas Technologies. All titles scanned
cover to cover and pages may include marks notations
and other marginalia present in the original volume.
(2009)
T R A C I N G
A N C E S T O R S
AMONG THE
FIVE CIVILIZED
TRIBES. (Rachel
Mills Lennon,
G e n e a l o g i c a l
P u b l i s h i n g
Company, 156 pp.,
$24.95)
Stories about
Indian ancestors in
the family tree are
common among
both black and
white families
whose roots go
deep into the
American Southeast, especially those with links to the
Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole.
If the accounts of family elders can be believed,
those ancestors lived in the not-too-distant past. Yet
despite the strength of family convictions--and the
prized portraits of forebears whose features suggest
Indian heritage--most researchers who pursue these
traditions feel they are chasing a phantom.
TRACING ANCESTORS AMONG THE FIVE
CIVILIZED TRIBES is designed to eliminate
speculation and help you determine the truth about
your Indian ancestry. It focuses on the toughest period
to research--the century or so prior to the removal
of the Southeastern nations to Indian Territory, the
point at which records were regularly maintained.
It provides the cultural, genealogical, and historical
background needed to turn family stories into proved
lineages. And it outlines a method of research that can
carry you from the colonial period to the great tribal
rolls of the mid-to-late nineteenth century, using the
unique records kept by American, English, French and
Spanish governments. (2009)
FOR OUR FUTURE. (Cherokee National Youth
Choir, Cherokee Nation, 10 songs, CD – $11.99)
The Cherokee National Youth Choir performs
traditional Cherokee songs in the Cherokee language.
It is an important symbol to the world, demonstrating
that Cherokee language and culture continues to
thrive in modern society. Founded in 2000, the group
has recorded eight CDs. The Youth Choir acts as
ambassadors for the Cherokee Nation, their beautiful
voices showing the strength of the Cherokee Nation
and its culture more than 160 years after the Cherokees’
forced removal
from its eastern
h o m e l a n d s .
The goal of
the Cherokee
National Youth
Choir is to increase
awareness of
Cherokee culture
both within the
Cherokee Nation
as well as among
the dominant
culture.
The Cherokee National Youth Choir is made up of 40
Cherokee young people from northeastern Oklahoma
communities. The choir members are middle and
high school youth between grades 6 through 12. The
students compete in rigorous auditions every year. The
main online distributor for their CDs can be found at
http://cdbaby.com. (2009)
WILLARD STONE. (Randy Ramer, Carole Klein,
Kimberly Roblin and Regan Hansen; University of
Oklahoma Press; 190 pp.; paperback – $24.95)
As a boy growing up in eastern Oklahoma, Willard
Stone spent much of his free time drawing. Admiring
the work of Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci,
he dreamed of becoming a painter. When he was 13,
a dynamite cap he was holding exploded and he lost
segments of two fingers and the thumb of his right
hand. Deeply affected, he withdrew, thinking he would
never become the artist he hoped to be.
But Stone’s desire to create motivated him to rise
above his disability. He began shaping little animal
figures using
the wet clay
from the
ditches near
his home.
Eventually he
discovered that
the medium of
wood appealed
to him more,
and he adapted
carving tools to
fit his injured
hand. He was
transformed
by his love of
wood and his
desire to shape it.
This illustrated volume presents the life and work
of Cherokee woodcarver Willard Stone. Four authors,
including staff of the Gilcrease Museum and one of
Stone’s grandsons, provide insight into the artist’s
biography, his carving techniques, his sources of
inspiration and his legacy as an Oklahoma artist. These
essays and more than 200 full-color and black-andwhite
photographs of Stone’s pieces follow the grain of
a human life, visible in sublimely carved wood.
Stone’s sculptures exhibit his love of nature,
representing fertility, birth, regeneration, and the
seasons while reflecting his deep understanding of the
balance of nature. His masterful use of the wood grain,
an integral element in his carvings, demonstrates his
thoughtfulness in the planning stages of the artistic
process. Referring to himself as a “folklorist in wood,”
Stone carved his philosophy of life into his works,
creating stories that glowed with universal truths
and resonated with his own personality. In addition
to his ability to create beautiful forms, it is his gift of
storytelling that lends the carvings of Willard Stone
their profound mark of distinction. (2010)
Cherokee Nation Immersion School fourth grader
Sean Sikora helps with a Cherokee presentation
of the months during the annual Oklahoma Native
American Youth Language Fair in Norman, Okla.
FILE PHOTO
Oklahoma Humanities
Council recognizes CN
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Cherokee Nation has been
named the 2010 recipient of the Humanities in Education
award for its significant contribution to the humanities in
Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Humanities Council.
The CN was selected for the award in recognition of
the tribe’s Cherokee language program and the Cherokee
Nation Immersion School.
“We are honored to receive this recognition of
outstanding achievement in a comprehensive Cherokee
language and culture
“This is the
time that we
acknowledge
outstanding
contributions
that enhance
our quality of
life and help
us understand
our place in the
world.”
– Ann Thompson,
OHC executive
director
initiative,” said Dr. Neil
Morton, group leader for
CN Education Services. “The
award brings special honor
to the dedicated staff of the
language program and to all
the Cherokee Nation Group
Leaders for their support of
the tribal language initiative.”
The CN Education Services
coordinates many aspects of
the tribe’s language initiative,
including the immersion
school, curriculum and
instruction, the arts program,
the translation department
and the Cherokee National
Youth Choir.
The immersion school
offers classes from preschool
through the fourth
grade and operates on a
method of teaching a second
language by “immersing” the students in the language
as part of their overall studies. As the students learn the
school curriculum, they also learn the language, in both
written and spoken forms. The philosophy of the program
has been used in other areas of the world where use of the
native language is limited.
The OHC Humanities in Education Award honors
administrators, instructors, tribal education programs
or school districts that exhibit or support excellence in
humanities education. The council is an independent,
nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide
meaningful public engagement in the humanities.
The annual awards demonstrate how Oklahomans are
enriched by humanities education, conversation, exhibits
and other events.
“This is the time that we acknowledge outstanding
contributions that enhance our quality of life and help us
understand our place in the world,” said Ann Thompson,
executive director for the OHC. “The Oklahoma
Humanities Awards give us an opportunity to recognize
that important work.”
The award will be presented to the tribe during a formal
awards ceremony on March 4 in Oklahoma City.
– CN Communications

Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010 February 2010 • Cherokee Phoenix 15
By CHrIStINa GOOD VOICE
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – As high school seniors buckle
down for the last leg of their high school career, many
will apply for admission to college, financial
aid, student loans and housing.
This guide can help students and their
parents who may not know where
to start in the college process,
which can be confusing and
overwhelming.
It starts with
the FAFSA
According to the Cherokee Nation Higher
Education Office, the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid starts the process when
applying for federal a Pell Grant, Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG),
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG),
state-based grants and federal student loans.
CN Higher Education officials said when a
student initially completes a FAFSA, several
items are needed. Those items include:
• A personal identification number or PIN,
which students and parents can apply for at
www.pin.ed.gov. Once the pin has been obtained,
the FAFSA may be filled out online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov. FAFSA applications may
also be filled out and mailed in.
• Social Security numbers, parents’ information,
driver’s license number, alien registration
number if not a U.S. citizen, federal tax
College Prep 101
information
for both the
student and the parents (including W-2 information)
and records of untaxed income
such as Social Security benefits, Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families benefits and
veterans benefits.
FAFSAs are available after Jan. 1 each year.
It is recommended that students get their
FAFSAs in as quickly as possible to avoid
missing out on state and federal aid since
state and university deadlines are usually earlier
than the federal deadline in June.
What’s the difference between
grants and student loans?
There are actually three types of federal student aid: grants, work study and student loans,
according to www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov.
A grant is financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid unless, for example, a student withdraws
from school and owes a refund. Work study is a campus job that allows a student to
earn money for education. Loans allow students to borrow money for their education, and the
loans must be repaid with interest.
The five types of federal student aid grants
are Pell, FSEOG, ACG, National Science and
Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National
SMART) and Teacher Education Assistance
for College and Higher Education
(TEACH).
The Pell provides need-based grants to
low-income undergraduate and certain
post-baccalaureate students to promote access
to postsecondary education, according
to the student aid Web site. Grant amounts
are dependent on the student’s expected
family contribution (EFC), the cost of attendance
as determined by the institution,
the student’s enrollment status (full-time or
part-time) and whether the student attends
for a full academic year or less.
The FSEOG is awarded to undergraduate
students with exceptional financial need –
those with the lowest EFC amounts. Pell recipients
receive priority for FSEOG awards,
which range from $100 to $4,000 a year. The
amount of the award is determined by your
school’s financial aid office.
For the ACG, the maximum award for a
first-year eligible undergraduate student is
$750, while the maximum award for a secondyear
eligible undergraduate student is $1,300.
To get the ACG, students must be Pelleligible
during the same award year and be
enrolled at least half-time in college. Students
must be a first-year or second-year undergraduate
student or a student in a certificate
program of at least one year in a degree program
at a two-year or four-year degree granting
institution and have completed a rigorous
secondary school program of study.
Students must be a first-year student; have
completed secondary school after Jan. 1, 2006;
not have been enrolled in ACG-eligible program
while at or below age of compulsory
school attendance. Or if a second-year student,
have completed secondary school after
Jan. 1, 2005, and have at least a 3.0 grade point
average as of the end of the first year of undergraduate
study.
The National SMART Grant is for full-
Grants
time undergraduate students enrolled in the
third or fourth year of undergraduate study.
The award is for up to $4,000 for each of the
third and fourth years. To be eligible for the
grant, students must be Pell-eligible during
the same award year, enrolled at least halftime,
in the third or fourth year of an undergraduate
degree program (or fifth year of a
five-year program), pursuing a major with at
least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in physical, life or
computer sciences, mathematics, technology,
engineering or a critical foreign language or
non-major single liberal arts programs, and
have at least a 3.0 GPA as of the end of the
second award year and continue to maintain
a 3.0 GPA that must be checked prior to the
beginning of each payment period.
The TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 a
year in assistance to students completing or
who plan to complete course work needed to
begin a career in teaching.
A student must sign an Agreement to Serve
as a full-time teacher at certain low-income
schools and within certain high-need fields
for at least four academic years within eight
years after completing or ceasing enrollment
in the course of study for which the student
received a grant.
TEACH Grant recipients must submit
evidence of employment as certified by the
chief administrative officer of the school
upon completion of each year of teaching
service.
If the grant recipient fails or refuses to carry
out the teaching obligation, the amounts
of the grants received are treated as an unsubsidized
direct loan and must be repaid
with interest.
Full-time students may receive $4,000 per
year, up to a maximum of $16,000 for undergraduate
and post baccalaureate study and up
to a maximum of $8,000 for graduate study.
Amounts are prorated for less than fulltime
enrollment. The award, when combined
with other assistance cannot exceed cost of
attendance, and the EFC is not taken into account.
Federal Student Aid: www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov; FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.gov
FAFSA PIN: ww.pin.ed.gov:
Cherokee Nation Higher Education Scholarship guidelines: www.cherokee.org/Services/190/
Page/default.aspx
According to the
student aid Web
site, students
should considerfede
r a l
aid first
because
f e d e r a l
s t u d e n t
loans usually
offer borrowers
lower
interest rates and
have more flexible
repayment options
than private student
loans.
Federal student loans
are borrowed funds that
students must repay with
interest, and the loans allows
students and their
parents to borrow money
to help pay for college through
loan programs supported by the
federal government. They have
low interest rates and offer flexible
repayment terms, benefits and op-
The CN Higher Education Office would
like students to keep these tips in mind
when filling out applications:
• Keep in mind the deadline of June 11,
2010 for scholarship applications for the
2010-11 academic year.
• Submit complete applications by the deadline
to help speed up the process. Incomplete
applications will be returned to the student
with a letter stating what documents are
missing. By not submitting complete applications,
students risk not being selected for
a scholarship if not received by the deadline
date. Also, if students wait to turn in documents
during deadline week, because of the
high volume of student traffic and phone
calls, they may not be able to get the one-onone
personal advisement from the Higher
Education student advisors.
• The office strongly encourages students to
use certified mail when mailing documents
to Higher Education so students have a
tracking number in case documents are not
received by Higher Education.
• If students change schools or mailing address,
they must notify Higher Education
in writing to prevent a delay in payment to
the new school. They may also miss out on
important information or reminders from
Higher Education.
• There is a self-help component for the
scholarship. Students are required to complete
one hour of community service with
a non-profit organization for each $100
received in scholarship funds. For those already
with scholarships, community service
completed with a church must be for the
community or focused humanitarian functions.
Students are encouraged to contact
Student loans
tions.
One type of federal student loan is the
Subsidized Stafford Loan in which the U.S.
Department of Education pays the interest
on the loan while the borrower is in school,
as well as during grace and deferment periods.
Students must be enrolled at least half
-time.
The Unsubsidized Stafford Loan means
the borrower is fully responsible for paying
the interest regardless of the loan status.
Students must be enrolled at least half-time
and interest begins to accrue from the date
of disbursement and continues throughout
the life of the loan.
Parents can also apply for a PLUS Loan
to help pay for their dependent child’s undergraduate
education. PLUS Loans allows
parents to obtain unsubsidized loans to
help pay the cost of education for their dependent
undergraduate children. The loans
do accrue interest and there are no grace
periods.
Information was based on the academic
year 2009-10, according to CN Higher Education.
For more information, contact a local
school guidance counselor.
christina-goodvoice@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3825
Tips to consider when applying for the
Cherokee Nation Higher
Education Scholarship:
their student advisors with any questions.
• Students must apply for the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid and submit a
Student Aid Report with their scholarship
applications.
• Students seeking a license, training certificate
or associate of applied science degree
are not eligible for Higher Education funding.
Students may contact Career Services
for funding criteria at (918) 453-5555.
• Before the deadline, follow up with Higher
Education to make sure their documents
are received. There are now student advisors
who will assist students with any questions.
The alphabet assigned to each
advisor and their contact
information:
• A-G: Krista Boston-Stalnaker, (918) 458-
6951, krista-boston-stalnaker@cherokee.org
• H-M: Brenda Butler, (918) 207-3948,
brenda-butler@cherokee.org
• N-T: Valerie Patterson, (918) 453-5308,
valerie-patterson@cherokee.org
• U-Z: Taryn Taylor, (918) 453-5322, taryntaylor@cherokee.org
High Education scholarships are awarded
to selected CN citizens pursuing degrees at
a Carnegie-accredited college or university.
To apply for these funds, new and continuing
students must submit a complete application
packet to the CN Higher Education
office by the annual deadline.
The scholarship program includes accomplishing
three desired outcomes:
strengthen the sovereignty of the CN, increase
the capacity of its citizens and promote
the language and culture of the CN.

16 Cherokee Phoenix • February 2010 Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010
Lynsey Dry, a Sequoyah Schools senior and Cherokee Nation citizen, signs her letter of
acceptance to attend the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I., on
Jan. 15 at Sequoyah’s The Place Where They Play. Her parents Pat and Doug sit beside
her. PHOTO BY CHRISTINA GOOD VOICE
Sequoyah senior accepts Naval
Preparatory Academy appointment
Dry is the third student
from Sequoyah to
receive an opportunity to
attend a military service
academy.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Sequoyah Schools
senior and Cherokee Nation citizen Lynsey
Dry signed a letter of acceptance on Jan. 15 to
attend the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory
School in Newport, R.I.
Dry recently received official notification
of her appointment to the school, but signed
her acceptance letter at a special reception
hosted by Sequoyah Schools at its The Place
Where They Play gym.
Dry is the third student from Sequoyah to
receive an opportunity to attend a military
service academy.
“I’ve been around it (military) since I was
little,” Dry said. “My dad was a Marine and
I’ve just always had a respect for people in
the military and knew that I wanted to do it.”
Shayne Boyd, a 2009 Sequoyah graduate,
is a freshman at the U.S. Air Force Academy
in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Trey Francis,
a 2008 Sequoyah graduate, is a sophomore
at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point,
N.Y.
Dry received a recommendation for
appointment to the Naval Academy from U.S.
Sen. Jim Inhofe. She attended the summer
seminars at all three service academies –
West Point, Naval Academy and Air Force
Academy – in 2009, which solidified her
decision to attend the Naval Academy.
“The Naval Academy Summer Leadership
Seminar really helped me to make my
decision,” she said. “I liked the atmosphere
of the school and how the midshipmen were
all working together and they were very
supportive and encouraging.”
Acceptance and completion of the
NAPS assures her entrance into the U.S.
Naval Academy Graduating Class of 2015.
The school educates approximately 300
students annually with a mission to prepare
selected candidates morally, mentally and
physically with emphasis on strengthening
the academic foundation of individual
candidates for officer accession through the
U.S. Naval Academy.
The 10-month course of instruction
at NAPS, lasting from August through
May, emphasizes preparation in English
composition, mathematics, chemistry,
physics and information technology. The
school also offers a varsity athletic program
that competes against other preparatory
schools, junior colleges and college junior
varsity teams.
Upon Dry’s completion and enrollment
into the Naval Academy, she will be provided
with four years of college education in
return for five years of active duty military
service, during which time she will receive
full tuition, medical and dental benefits,
room, board and salary.
Dry is the daughter of Doug and Pat
Dry of Tahlequah. She is co-captain of the
Sequoyah girls varsity basketball team and
has completed advanced placement math
classes at the Oklahoma School of Science
and Mathematics. She plans to major in
mathematics.
– CN Communications
talented youth promotes
Cherokee awareness
Alexandra Downing
Tollefsen intends on
taking the knowledge she
has into making a better
Cherokee Nation.
By JaMI CUStEr
Staff Writer
TULSA, Okla. – Cherokee Nation citizen
Alexandra Downing Tollefsen aspires to
promote her Native American heritage
through accomplishments.
The Booker T. Washington junior, known
to friends and family as Lexi, is a Cherokee
National Youth
Councilor who is on
her school’s speech and
debate team, performs
in musical theater and
tutors the Chinese
language.
“I take pride in the
fact that I am a member
of the Cherokee Nation,
and I want to promote
the increase and
continuity of Native
American awareness,”
she said. “Cherokee
language and culture is incredibly special
and deserves to be respected and honored as
the beacon it truly is.”
Tollefsen said she “jumped at the chance”
to be a youth councilor in 2009 to increase
her Cherokee knowledge.
“It is a crucial learning tool that will
assist me in understanding the history of
the tribe, its current situation in our global
community and how I can contribute as an
individual.”
In addition to being on the CNYC,
Tollefsen also tutors students in Mandarin
Chinese.
“Once I discovered this interest, I signed
up to host a student from China. When
she arrived, we instantly connected. We
remain in contact today,” said Tollefsen. “Her
entrance into my life made Chinese culture
so accessible, which is a perfect learning
device.”
Although Chinese is the only language
she studies, Tollefsen said she would love
Alexandra
Downing
Tollefsen
“I look forward to
contributing as much as
I can and learning new
ways of life that shape
who I am as a student,
Oklahoma native and a
Cherokee Indian.”
– Alexandra Tollefsen,
Cherokee Nation citizen
to learn the Cherokee
language.
Aside from learning
Chinese, she recently
returned from the
University of Texas
where she and her
speech and debate
teammates participated
in a national
tournament. Tollefsen
competed in poetry
interpretation and
original oratory.
“It is a spectacular hobby that has
aggrandized my confidence,” she said.
“I received medals in both events as a
semifinalist.”
Tollefsen also
performs in the school’s
jazz choir. She said
musical theater is a
passion and that she
enjoys singing, dancing
and acting.
“It is an extremely
fulfilling outlet for me,”
she said. “It is liberating
to step on stage and
become a completely
different character, while
still letting my own
character benefit.”
Her plans for college are still up in the air
with what school she will attend.
“I am considering liberal arts studies at
an undergraduate level,” she said. “Once I
have had exposure to subjects on a collegiate
level, I can then choose my areas of focus for
graduate school.”
Whatever her accomplishments are after
high school, Tollefsen plans to use them to
further the CN and its endeavors.
“I look forward to contributing as much
as I can and learning new ways of life that
shape who I am as a student, Oklahoma
native and a Cherokee Indian.”
The CNYC is a 15-member council
patterned after the Tribal Council. Elections
for positions are held throughout CN
districts allowing for a geographical
distribution of representation. It provides
experience for future tribal leaders, role
models for Cherokee youth and a voice to
young Cherokees.
jami-custer@cherokee.org •(918) 453-5560
For more info on CNYC
www.cherokee.org/Services/186/Page/default.aspx

Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010 February 2010 • Cherokee Phoenix 17
Cherokee toddler waits for heart transplant
A Cherokee family
waits for a new heart
for a 2-year-old girl.
By WILL CHaVEZ
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Feb. 14
is National Donor Day, but for one
area Cherokee family the day has
extra meaning.
Two-year-old Kevlynn Jenkins
has been in St. Louis for a month
receiving treatment for dilated
cardiomyopathy, a condition that
causes the heart to weaken and
enlarge to where it cannot pump
blood efficiently. The decreased
heart function can also affect the
lungs, liver and other body systems.
Jenkins, a Cherokee Nation
citizen, was released from the
hospital on Jan. 14 and is stable
but waiting on a heart transplant
at the Ronald McDonald House in
St. Louis with her mother Kristal.
The CN is assisting the family with
housing expenses during their stay.
“It’s kind of like a waiting game
now. As long as she’s good and her
heart does all right, they are going
to let her stay out of the hospital.
Now she’s on the list waiting on a
transplant,” said her grandmother
Pat Garrett of Stilwell.
It may be two weeks to six months
before a compatible heart is found
for Kevlynn, the family has been told.
Garrett said her granddaughter’s
heart condition is genetic. The
mother carries the gene and usually
it only affects male family members.
“My dad, my younger brother and
my son all died from it,” she said.
When Kevlynn was born with
a heart murmur at W.W. Hastings
Indian Hospital in Tahlequah she
was sent for further testing in Tulsa
where it was confirmed she had
dilated cardiomyopathy.
Due to the rarity of the condition,
medical representatives from Baylor
University are interested in the
By JaMI CUStEr
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee Nation’s
Male Seminary Recreation Center
started a fitness challenge on Jan. 11 designed
to give participants the knowledge
and desire to do what it takes to accomplish
each individual’s goal.
“It’s the beginning of the New Year and
everyone is trying to lose weight with
their New Year’s resolutions and goals, so
we thought we would try it,” Hillary Fry, a
physical activity specialist at the center, said.
At the start of the challenge, participants
weighed and had their body fat percentages
and measurements taken. The challenge ends
on April 9. Until that day, each participant
works out according to his or her schedule
and takes part in weekly weigh-ins. The
goal for each participant is to lose nearly 5
percent body fat. Fry said much more than
that is pushing it.
“About 5 percent (body fat) in three
months is an achievable goal,” she said. “If
we can get them to do that then that’s more
important than just losing the weight…the
weight will come off later.”
More than 100 people signed up for the
fitness challenge, a bigger number than what
was anticipated.
Fitness challenge participant Becky
Jenkins case and have requested
blood samples and samples of
Kevlynn’s damaged heart once it is
replaced.
Previously, four members of the
family have submitted to providing
blood samples to Harvard
University for further research
on the disease. The Harvard tests
showed only Garrett and her
daughter to be carrying the gene the
causes the disease.
“It’s in our genes. And Harvard
said it might be just a normal gene
in Indian people, but they haven’t
tested many Native American
people yet,” Garrett said.
Garrett is raising funds to help
her daughter and granddaughter
pay expenses. She is selling chances
for $100 Wal-Mart gift card and
planning a spaghetti dinner from
4p.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 27 at the
Hulbert Senior Citizens Center.
Plates will be $5, which includes a
drink and dessert.
A bank account has also been
established for Kevlynn at Banc
First banks in Oklahoma. For more
information, call Garrett at (918)
905-1515.
Along with her fundraising,
Garrett is encouraging people to
become organ donors. National
figures show about 74 people receive
an organ transplant each day.
However, about 17 people die each
day waiting for a transplant due to a
shortage of donated organs.
“A lot of people just don’t think
about donating organs. It’s a hard
thing to think about, but when you
need one it’s a lot different,” Garrett
said. “When you go get your (driver’s)
license tell them ‘yeah, I’ll give you a
dollar and I’ll be an organ donor.’”
According to the National
Minority Organ and Tissue
Transplant Education Program,
successful transplantation is often
enhanced by matching of organs
between members of the same racial
and ethnic group. Generally people
are genetically more similar to
people of their ethnicity or race than
to people of other races. Therefore,
Shirley Goodlin, public health educator for the Cherokee Nation’s Male Seminary
Recreation Center in Tahlequah, Okla., measures Becky Wadley, a fitness challenge
participant. PHOTO BY JAMI CUSTER
Cherokee recreation center
holds fitness challenge
Wadley said she joined because she wanted
to get back into shape and lose some weight
she gained in 2009.
“I have a friend and she is doing it with me,
so we are helping each other out by keeping
each other motivated,” Wadley said.
Another participant, Wayne Kinsey, has
been working towards his goal of weighing
less than 200 pounds for the past 14 months.
He said he began losing weight when he was
diagnosed with diabetes, but wanted to try
and lose the weight before taking medication
or insulin shots.
“I am down to 225 by exercising, watching
what I eat and portions. I have gone 14
months without any insulin,” he said. “I have
lost friends who were diabetics…I’ve seen
them go to the hospital and every time they
come back they’d leave body parts.”
Kinsey said he wanted to see his
grandchildren grow up and knew he needed
to make a change. He said he joined the
fitness challenge to help him continue his
goal. He has lost 60 pounds, but would like
to lose 20 more.
Fry said this is the first fitness challenge
at the recreation center and that officials
haven’t thought about whether they’ll have
another. She said if this challenge goes well,
the center may host another challenge later
this year or in 2011.
jami-custer@cherokee.org • (918) 453-5560
Kevlynn Jenkins, a 2-year-old Cherokee Nation citizen, is all smiles while sitting in a hospital bed. Jenkins
suffers from dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes the heart to weaken and enlarge to where
it cannot pump blood efficiently. She is waiting to receive a new heart. COURTESY PHOTO
matches are more likely and
timelier when donors and potential
recipients are members of the same
ethnic background.
In Kevlynn’s case, Garrett said
the doctors treating her are not
necessarily searching for a heart
donated from a Native American
person. They just require a heart
that is compatible.
“There are so many people that
are waiting for transplants. You can
help someone by donating your
organs, Garrett said. “It may sound
weird, but you’re not going to need
them. Your spirit’s already gone. You
don’t need your eyes, liver and heart
and stuff when you go to heaven, so
donate them. I don’t know how else
to say it.”
will-chavez@cherokee.org
• (918) 207-3961
The need for transplants
is high among some ethnic
minorities. Some diseases
of the kidney, heart, lung,
pancreas and liver that can lead
to organ failure are found more
frequently in ethnic minority
populations than in the general
population. For example,
Native Americans are four
times more likely than whites
to suffer from diabetes.
Even if a person has signed
an organ donor card, the
decision on whether to donate
their organs or tissues after
they die would be made by the
family. So, it is important that
they know your wishes ahead
of time. If you want to donate
organs or tissue, make sure to:
• Obtain a donor card, sign it
and carry it with you. This card
allows you to specify which
organs and tissues you wish to
donate.
• Declare that you want to be a
donor on your driver’s license.
• Sign up with your state’s
donor registry (37 states now
have one).
To discover the procedure in
your state, contact the
Coalition on Donation at
www.shareyourlife.org.

18 Cherokee Phoenix • February 2010 Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010
Dental diseases big problem
among Native American kids
By JaMI CUStEr
Staff Writer
KEYS, Okla. – February is National
Children’s Dental Health Month and each
year the American Dental Association
attempts to raise awareness about the
importance of oral health.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control, tooth decay affects children in the
United States more than any other chronic
infectious disease. If untreated, the decay
can cause pain and infections that lead to
problems with eating, speaking, playing and
learning.
“By the first grade, more than 50 percent
of children in the United States have decay
in their primary teeth and more than 80
percent of U.S. adolescents have dental
decay by age 17,” said Dr. Jerry Snell II of
Keys Family Dentistry.
Snell, whose treats many children, said
reports show that Native American children
have more severe and greater levels untreated
dental disease.
“Low-income families and minorities are
much less likely to receive care and twice as
likely to remain untreated,” he said. “Dental
care has become the most frequent reported
unmet need of children.”
However, tooth decay and other oral
diseases that affect children are preventable.
The CDC suggests dental sealants and
fluoride treatments be used to prevent and
possibly eliminate tooth decay in school-age
children.
Snell said the best way to teach children
the importance of dental health is to start
young. He said it is essential to a child’s wellbeing
and that the child should be educated
in schools about dental health.
“Schools prepare girls and boys to accept
the responsibility for their own health and
to engage in personal care that will maintain
and improve health,” he said. “Reminding
children to brush and floss every morning
and evening, low sugar intake and the basic
knowledge of tooth decay will help a child to
have a healthy mouth.”
According to www.kidshealth.org,
proper dental care begins even before a
baby’s first tooth appears. Teeth form in
the second trimester of pregnancy, and
at birth a baby can have 20 primary teeth
developed in the jaw.
Dental assistant Lisa Barnett prepares
5-year-old Christian Ledesma for his teeth
cleaning at Dr. Tom McConnell, D.D.S and
Associates in Tahlequah, Okla.
PHOTO BY JAMI CUSTER
According to the CDC, use these tips to
encourage good dental health in children:
• Encourage children to eat regular nutritious
meals and avoid frequent between-meal
snacking.
• Use fluoride toothpaste. If your child is
less than 7 years old, put only a pea-sized
amount on their toothbrush.
• If your drinking water is not fluoridated,
talk to a dentist or physician about the best
way to protect your child’s teeth.
• Talk to your child’s dentist about dental
sealants, which protect teeth from decay.
In related news, the Cherokee Nation will
break ground on its new dental clinic at 10
a.m., Feb. 23 in Salina. The Cherokee Phoenix
asked CN health officials for more detailed
information regarding the groundbreaking,
but did not receive any as of press time.
jami-custer@cherokee.org •(918) 453-5560
Dietitian’s Corner
Show your heart some love in February
By traCy CaNaNt
Registered Dietitian
February brings
to mind hearts and
professing one’s love
to each other. What
better time than
National Healthy
Heart Month to Tracy Canant
show some love to
your own heart.
Lifestyle changes have long been the
top of the list for keeping a healthy heart.
Heart disease has moved up to the No.
1 cause of death among women and has
always been high among men. But the
good news is that following some basic
lifestyle habits, the risk can be decreased
and possibly prevented.
Decrease and keep saturated fat and
trans fat low. This means choosing meats
and dairy products that are lean and
low-fat/fat-free, not adding butter, sour
cream, cheeses or cream sauces to foods,
choosing baked, grilled or boiled foods
over fried, eating out less and preparing
foods from scratch rather than processed
or convenience foods. It is recommended
to keep your saturated fat intake to no
more than 10 to 15 grams per day.
Increase foods that are high in fiber,
especially soluble fiber. Soluble fiber
helps to specifically lower cholesterol.
Some foods to choose from are beans,
fruits, non-starchy vegetables, oat cereals/
breads, along with other high-fiber foods
made from whole grains. Most people
could benefit from trying to eat at least
25 to 35 grams of dietary fiber per day.
Of this total dietary fiber, it is good to try
to get eight grams of it from soluble fiber.
Soluble fiber is not always listed on the
Nutrition Facts label so trying to increase
your total dietary fiber will help you to
reach this goal.
Eat at least two servings of nonfried
fish per week. Limit added salt
and high-salt foods such as chips and
other convenience foods, canned and
processed foods and decrease fast food.
Balance the number of calories you eat
with the number of calories you use each
day. The number of calories you use each
day can be increased with the addition
of some deliberate exercise. If you are
gaining weight or want to lose weight
and you are not, you need to move more
than what you are currently doing.
If you smoke, quit. Limit alcoholic
intake.
The goal of making changes in your
eating habits is to keep or get your
cholesterol numbers in a healthy range.
There are two types of cholesterol that
we are concerned about, the HDL
(good cholesterol) and the LDL (bad
cholesterol). The goal for your HDL is
for women to be above 55 and for men
to be above 45. The HDL helps to protect
heart.
For your LDL we want to be below 100.
When you have your cholesterol checked,
ask for what your HDL and LDL numbers
are. Many times you will just be told your
total cholesterol. The suggestions above
will specifically help lower LDL and raise
HDL and keep a healthy heart. So start
celebrating February and Valentine’s Day
by showing some love to your heart by
following some of these healthy heart
guidelines.
The Cherokee Phoenix is now on Twitter. Be sure to check often for
updates on what is going on within the Cherokee Nation.
http://twitter.com/cherokeephoenix.
The Cherokee Phoenix is mobile. Keep informed on your iPhone,
iphone.cherokeephoenix.org.
Become a fan of the Cherokee Phoenix on Facebook.
Click on the link in the Check it Out section.

Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010 February 2010 • Cherokee Phoenix 19

20 Cherokee Phoenix • February 2010 Ewf #>hAmh • Kgl 2010