COKV TVLVME
The official publication of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
May 2008 Edition |
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Seminole Nation employees and General Council members met at the Marriot Courtyard in Bricktown on Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17, to discuss the future expansion of the Mystic Winds Casino. They also had the opportunity to observe early construction efforts for the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum, a state of the art facility located along the Oklahoma River near downtown Oklahoma City.
The two day event commenced with a Friday night presentation from Barry Thalden, managing partner for the highly reputable Native American owned architectural firm, Thalden Boyd Architects. Established in 1998, the firm offers a unique and accommodating philosophy to their clients, vowing to capture and express the cultural spirit of their Native clients in the design of their buildings. [Read More]
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After an extensive period of planning and evaluation by the Judicial and Constitution Revision Committees, and with the newly available funds from the National Indian Gaming Commission fine reduction agreement, the Seminole Nation is prepared to announce its intention to establish a tribal court.
Currently the tribe lacks a judicial entity. The General Council has the authority to pass legislation, but ultimately they are a political body, and they lack judicial privilege.
“In order to run a proper government, you need a court,” said Principal Chief Kelly Haney. “The Seminole people cannot afford to have the government be up and down because it doesn’t create any stability for our Seminole people. The one thing that we can do to stabilize the government is to create a tribal court.” [Read More] |
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 Hello to all Tribal Members:
As you may know, in the past months the Seminole Nation Health Board and I have been responding to letters regarding the health issues of our tribe.
Most recently, we received a letter from Senator Byron Dorgan (Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, Washington, D.C.). Senator Dorgan’s request of tribes was to have our input on hearings concerning the Contract Health Program. [Read More] |
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The General Council of the Seminole Nation held a special meeting on Saturday morning, April 26 to discuss and vote on several important tribal ordinances and resolutions.
Tribal resolution 2008-43 authorizes the Housing Authority of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma to submit the Indian Housing Plan for 2008 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HASNOK Director T.S. McGeisey Jr. attended the meeting to address the council’s questions and concerns regarding the proposed plan. The resolution passed by a wide margin.
Tribal resolution 2008-42 also passed by a substantial margin, and will effectively authorize the Seminole Nation Enrollment Office to assume the duties of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Wewoka Agency for preparation of Certificates of Degree of Indian Blood. This will hopefully alleviate the hassles of going back and forth between the BIA agency and tribal complex when trying to enroll. [Read More] |
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Sand Creek Eufaula thanks everyone for purchasing tickets for the eagle sculpture that was given away on Saturday, May 17.
The winner was Curtis Douglas. The $500 sculpture was created by artist Junior Crowels, Sand Creek member. [Read More]
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Rev. Houston and Margaret Tiger announce the wedding of their son, Jason Tiger to Darleata Harjo.
The couple was joined in union before the presence of the Lord at Sand Creek Eufaula Baptist Church in Wewoka on May 10, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Rev. Houston Tiger performed the wedding ceremony. [Read More]
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The Seminole Nation Beautification Committee met on April 17, 2008 at the Food Distribution Center share improvement ideas for the Mekusukey Mission grounds.
Proposals included replacing the old billboard with a new entrance sign, planting flowers and trees along the side of the highway and building new durable fencing that would look nice from the road. Old bleachers have already been removed and replaced with new metal bleachers at the arena. [Read More]
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It had to be a peculiar and startling sight for those that shared the road with Flora Factor that afternoon.
In a fit of wholehearted fulfillment, Flora freed her fists of the steering wheel and raised her hands above her head. Tears of joy welled in her eyes and she began to shout praises as the gospel station on the radio announced the opportunity to work with the World Mission Team in Africa.
Immediately, she had recognized God’s will.
“That day was the answer to my prayers,” Flora says. [Read More] |
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Bennie and Lenora Tiger proudly announce the births of their first granddaughter and first grandson.
Abryana Danielle Shackelford was born on February 20, 2008. She weighted 8 lbs. 4 oz and was 21 1/2 inches long. Parents are Lisa Carpitcher and Troy Shackelford of Shawnee.
Elyus Don Walker was born on April 21, 2008. He weighed 9 lbs. 4 oz and was 21 1/2 inches long. Parents are Ira and Stephanie Walker of Seminole. [Read More]
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Jesse Caleb Howard, Andrew Fixico, Jeremy Ryan Wright, Emma Wesley, Alexis Tubbs [Read More]
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By all accounts, the third annual Seminole Nation Food and Nutrition Services’ Social Services Day, held on May 1, was a resounding success.
Members of the community flocked to the event in droves for a chance to win one of several door prizes. Participants enjoyed free refreshments as they browsed through the various tables and booths, learning more about tribal programs and admiring the merchandise of arts and crafts vendors.
“Our third annual Social Services Day was outstanding,” said Kevin Bunner. “On behalf of the Seminole Nation Food and Nutrition Services and our committee programs: Seminole Nation Tribal Youth Program, Seminole Nation CHR Program and Wewoka Indian Health Services, we would like to thank everyone who helped make this day a grand success.” [Read More]
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The Community Health Representative Program returned to the auspices of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma on October 1, 2007. Previously, the program was operated by the Wewoka Indian Clinic for a period of five years and nine months.
The CHR Program is one of the established tribal programs with a vivid history of health service delivery to its community beginning in the 1970s.
During a time when health facilities like the Wewoka Indian Clinic and Carl Albert Hospital were unavailable, the Community Health Representatives were utilized to transport individuals to health facilities that were located in Lawton, Claremore, Talihina and Shawnee. At a time when CHRs were limited in training regarding patient care, transportation became priority for the Seminole Nation. [Read More]
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Laquita Fish and Carolyn Williams attended the “Family Violence in Indian Country” training seminar at the Comanche Nation in Lawton on April 17 and 18.
Carolyn Williams also completed her CPR training at the Cherokee Nation EMS Program in Tahlequah on April 30.
Vanessa Smith, a certified first responder and child safety seat safety instructor, recently attended the seventh annual Injury Prevention Conference hosted by the Chickasaw Nation in Ardmore on April 30 and May 1. [Read More] |
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The new official website for the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma has been launched.
The website now offers tribal members, as well as the general public, access to many of the tribe’s programs and departments. The site has been redesigned, reorganized and now offers a more comprehensible look at the structure of the nation.
Several application forms are available for download, and programs and departments will continue to be added to the growing information portal the nation now offers. [Read More] |
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A large congregation of peaceful activists traversed the state on foot in early May on their way to Washington, D.C. as participants in the Longest Walk 2, a trans-continental walk for environmental protection and Native American rights.
“The Longest Walk is an Indian spiritual walk, a historical walk; and it is a walk for educational awareness to the American and the world communities about the concerns of American Indian people,” said American Indian Movement Co-founder Dennis J. Banks. “From Alcatraz Island to Washington, D.C., through the elements of the seasons, we shall walk; nothing shall deter us from completing our mission: All Life is Sacred, Protect Mother Earth.” [Read More] |
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The Mvskoke language, as it is spoken by the Oklahoma Seminoles, is the same as the Mvskoke (Creek) language. This is due, particularly, to the fact that most Seminoles who were removed to Oklahoma, after the Treaty of Payne’s Landing in the 1830’s and subsequent “Great Seminole War,” were descended from the lower Creeks who had migrated to Florida in the 1700s.
Following removal, The Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, through their principal missionary, Rev. R.M. Loughridge, already had an active ministry in the Creek Nation, and was educating their children in Boarding Schools. In 1846, the Board instructed Loughridge to visit the recently arrived Seminole Chiefs to inquire of them regarding their willingness to have schools and allow preaching in their Nation. Most were supportive, and thus began the formal education and conversion of many Seminoles in Oklahoma. [Read More]
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Hattie Jean Harjo, Ozie Bob Stone, Jr., Lou Ann Cervantes, Kenna Harjo Sr., Pauline Harjo Byford, Opal Ahaisse [Read More] |
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Eleven representatives attended a quarterly meeting of the Inter-Tribal Council Language Revitalization Committee of the Five Civilized Tribes, held on April 28, 2008 at Seminole State College, to discuss vital issues facing the American Indian community.
Those in attendance included Dr. Gloria Sly of the Cherokee Nation; JoAnn Ellis, Vicki Renner and Stan Smith of the Chickasaw Nation; Richard Adams of the Choctaw Nation; Norma Marshall and Mary Frye of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation; and Janet Johnson, Jane Northcott, Edwin Marshall and Jennie Ross of the Seminole Nation. [Read More] |
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