Favorable Ruling for the Absentee Shawnee Tribe

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The

Absentee

Shawnee

News

January 2014

Vol. 27 No. 25

Favorable Ruling for the Absentee Shawnee Tribe

On November 14, the Absentee Shawnee Tribe obtain a

favorable decision from the Interior Board of Indian Appeals

in the probate case – the case which concerns which tribe

is the “tribe with jurisdiction” over the Absentee Shawnee

trust allotments. The IBIA ruled that the Absentee Shawnee

Tribe is the “tribe with jurisdiction” and the ruling upheld

the Absentee Shawnee position in all respects.

The case involves probates of lands allotted in the late

1800’s to members of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. These

trust lands have always been subject to the exclusive tribal

jurisdiction of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. Under the

American Indian Probate Reform Act (known as “AIPRA”),

when an Indian passes away without a will and without

eligible heirs, certain interests in trust lands pass to the

“tribe with jurisdiction” over those lands. The term “tribe

with jurisdiction” is not defined in AIPRA. Beginning a few

years ago, a series of probates raised the issue of which tribe

is the “tribe with jurisdiction” over the Absentee Shawnee

trust allotments.

The Absentee Shawnee position is that the Absentee

Shawnee Tribe is the only tribe that exercises actual

jurisdiction over the Absentee Shawnee trust allotments,

and this has always been the case. These lands were set aside

by the United States for the Absentee Shawnee and have

been in Absentee Shawnee ownership and under Absentee

Shawnee governmental authority for generations. That is

all that is needed to resolve the case.

Inside This Issue...

Page 2-7...........................Executive Committee Reports

Page 9..............................Cultural Preservation

Page 12..............................Election Commission

Page 14-15.........................Title VI

Page 16-17........................January Birthdays

But Citizen Potawatomi participated in the case and

claimed that somehow they are the “tribe with jurisdiction.”

Citizen Potawatomi does not claim that they exercise

jurisdiction over Absentee Shawnee trust allotments

today – or that they have ever done so. Instead, they argue

that the Collier case somehow made Citizen Potawatomi

the “tribe with jurisdiction” over the Absentee Shawnee

trust allotments. Of course, as the Absentee Shawnee Tribe

has argued throughout the case, Collier involved only the

process for taking fee land into trust, and had nothing to

do with which tribe has jurisdiction over these Absentee

Shawnee trust allotments.

In a 2011 ruling, an Administrative Law Judge (Judge

Reeh) agreed with the Absentee Shawnee Tribe’s position,

and rejected the Citizen Potawatomi position. Citizen

Potawatomi then appealed that ruling to the IBIA.

The IBIA has now issued its decision. The IBIA ruling

provides an excellent summary of the historical background

of the 30-mile square. It contains an important discussion

of the Collier case – clearly stating that it only applies to

fee-to-trust issues, and has nothing to do with jurisdiction.

And the IBIA decision concludes that Congress intended

the Absentee Shawnee Tribe to have jurisdiction over the

Absentee Shawnee trust allotments.

We are very pleased with the decision, which strongly

supports Absentee Shawnee jurisdiction and sovereignty.

Page 18.............................Horse Shoe Bend

Page 20.............................Big Jim Youth Awards Application

Page 23.............................Spotlight Employee

Page 25..............................Fall Fest Pictures

Page 29..............................Foster Care

Executive Committee

Edwina Butler-Wolfe

Governor

Issac Gibson

Lt. Governor

Vera M. Dawsey

Secretary

Governor’s

Let’s Build For the Future (BFF)

Kathy Deere

Treasurer

Jeffrey Gibson

Representative

Report

Season’s Greetings, my Absentee Shawnee people!

In January the Election Commission will begin to take applications for those interested in serving on the Executive Committee. As you

may be aware every 2 years part of our elected body must run for Office again and/or must apply for the Offices that are open. This year those

Executive Committee positions are: Lt. Governor, Treasurer and Representative. Our Constitution governs the duties and responsibilities

within these official positions and I am finding that one must be dedicated and truly want to serve and represent you and your interests. In

our roles as elected officials we have sworn duties and took an oath to uphold that commitment and this means to me that we (as elected

officials) must be honest and sincere in our efforts. It is my hope that you, our Tribal members, consider that when you are voting. It is

vital to this Tribe that the right people be placed into these elected Office’s that are dedicated to moving the Tribe forward and not just in

getting a paycheck. We as leaders should be good representatives for you the people and shouldn’t harass or allow harassment to occur to

our employees; drink and drive; neglect our duties at our respective offices by not coming to work or come in whenever we would like to;

and not inconsistently attend Executive Committee meetings.

Instead we should be role models to our staff by being here timely each day in our Offices to me that means being here each day from 8

to 5 (at a minimum); work with our staff to advance service levels by supporting continuous training initiatives and incentivize excellent

work; advertise for and hire qualified applicants and rely on their expertise to guide us as leaders; and I find that it is very important for

elected officials to be at the Executive Committee meetings.

The Executive Committee, the Attorney General and my Office are currently working on a Code of Conduct – Ethics Policy which will hold

us, as elected leaders, to the high standards required of our Offices. This policy will be placed on the January Regular Executive Committee

meeting schedule.

The concerns the Election Commission brought up during the October General Council meeting is to be addressed by our Attorney

General. The AG has advised that he spoke with the Election Commission and has offered to sit down with them. At this time a time and

date hasn’t been set.

The child support enforcement and legal services issue with the Modoc tribe and their legal firm has been resolved for the time being.

There appears to be a new line of thinking going on with the Modoc tribe as they have placed a different legal firm under their Memorandum

of Understanding (MOU) agreement that ensures AST receives child support enforcement and legal services other than with the former

firm our Tribe separated from. We will continue with the Modoc Tribe agreement unless they revert back to that former legal team.

Emergency Management

This month the Emergency Management Coordinator offered a training plan for Tribal Employees to my Office for the Executive to consider.

This proposed plan is as follows:

1. Each full-time employee must take NIMS 100 & 700 courses by a set deadline

2. Dept. heads are responsible to track compliance and submit to Emergency Management Coordinator.

3. Directors, Coordinators, and Managers are required to take NIMS 100, 200, 700 & 800 by a set deadline.

4. Any employee that has completed the required NIMS courses will be given an incentive reward for completion, i.e. gift card or

certificate)

5. All new employees will be advised this is part of their employment.

These courses provide training for tribal personnel to obtain a basic understanding of the Incident Command System (history, features,

principles and organization structure) that is used during a disaster. The more we learn the better prepared we are when we are faced

with a disaster situation.

Continued on page 6

Lt. G overnor’s

Report

Interior Board of Indian Appeals (IBIA) ruled the Absentee Shawnee Tribe

is the “tribe with jurisdiction” over Absentee Shawnee trust allotments. As

in a previous article, the Citizen Potawatomi claimed to be the “tribe with

jurisdiction” over all trust lands within the 30 square mile boundary. Once

again we have defeated the Citizen Potawatomi and their notion they

have jurisdiction over our lands.

The ruling provided a very detailed and excellent history of how our

lands came to be. The history goes as far to show the Absentee Shawnee

was in this area 20 years or more before the Citizen Potawatomi; our

established land base in the mid 1800’s was south of the North Canadian

River and north of Little River; the Potawatomi gave up rights as “Indians”

and had to pay for their allotments; and the true “squatters” are the Citizen

Potawatomi.

The ruling also referenced the controversial Collier Case. The question

in Collier is whether the AST are able to place land into trust. For years the

Citizen Potawatomi has led many to believe the Collier Case is about tribal

jurisdiction, when really it is a question of placing land into trust.

The Probate ruling affirms that probates case with undivided interest

and no eligible heirs will go to the “tribe with jurisdiction”. So, in AST

probate cases where there are undivided interest and no eligible heirs, the

Absentee Shawnee Tribe will be awarded the interest.

This ruling strongly supports our tribal jurisdiction and sovereignty, in

a time when tribal sovereignty is slowing being taken away.

Below is a list of Tribal Allotment Probates that were on hold due

awaiting the ruling:

Wallace J. Cook; Oscar Little Doctor; Charles Kenneth Donaho; Martha

Lee Gibson; Harold Ray Day; Raymond Kenneth Guy; Delores June Harjo;

Gayla A. Horsechief; William

Delaware; Maurice Johnson; Tommy Ray Kionute; Jerry Ray Little

Charley; Calvin Jon Logan; Lawrence Ray Martinez; Carol Fern Najafian;

Dorothy Nemecek; Charles J. Squire; Carl Raymond Squire; Harold Tiger;

Timothy Don Tiger; and Robert Allen Washington.

If heirs to any of these probates have any questions, please contact our

Realty Office at (405) 275-4030.

I hope everyone has safe and Happy New Year!!!

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas,

as the Holiday Season is a time for family and giving thanks to what is

important in our lives. I would like to thank the Maintenance staff for

their hard work during this last round of winter weather. Parking lots

and walkways of all of our facilities were cleaned of snow and ice for our

tribal members, employees, and patrons’ safety. Slip and falls can lead to

very serious injuries and I hope each and everyone uses caution when out

during the winter weather.

My office has been working on several projects in the recent months,

namely securing a site and structure for the Tribal Elders and Tribal

Veterans. I am happy to announce a site has been secured here at the

Tribal Complex, just south of the Procurement Building and a double-wide

trailer will be set up as a gathering place for the Elders and Veterans. Over

the next few weeks, utilities will be extended to the site and the trailer

will be set in place. This has been a request of our Elders and Veterans for

some time and we have found a way to help them.

Many of us have been waiting for payments from the Cobell v. Salazar

Case. Here is information from the website, www.indiantrust.com:

TRUST ADMINISTRATION CLASS PAYMENTS EXPECTED IN EARLY 2014

Important Update: Trust Administration Class payments are expected

to be mailed in early 2014.

The Settlement Agreement approved by Congress and the Courts

requires identification of all Trust Administration Class Members

and calculation of their respective pro rata shares before the Claims

Administrator for the Cobell Settlement can mail Trust Administration

Class payments. That work is ongoing and is nearly complete.

After the membership of the Trust Administration Class is finalized,

it will take approximately a month to complete the calculations for

the over 500,000 Trust Administration Class Members. Once the Claims

Administrator receives those calculations and the Court approves the

Second Stage Distribution, the Claims Administrator will quickly prepare

and commence distribution within three weeks.

Thus, if the class membership is finally determined in December,

the payments can then be made in the first quarter of 2014 barring any

unexpected issues. Please be assured that all parties are doing everything

possible to issue the Trust Administration payments as soon as possible.

Any questions can be directed to the below:

Indian Trust Settlement

P.O. Box 9577

Dublin, OH 43017-4877

By Phone: 800-961-6109

By Email: Info@IndianTrust.com

The Roads Department is currently working with the awarded

contractor and engineering firm, to begin construction on the new AST

Police Sub-station parking lot, located between the Tribal Store and

Community House in Little Axe. The parking lot will not only be used by

our Tribal Police, but our store patrons and those using the Community

House as well. Construction will begin within the next few weeks, as

weather permits, and will not disturb the Tribal Cemetery. During the

construction period, activities will be limited at the Community House. In

the event funeral services are held at the Community House, construction

will cease out of respect for families.

My office has also started the process of replacing the old Community

House by obtaining approval from the Bureau of Reclamation to move

and replace the old Community House. We are putting a more user

friendly building in its place for the different activities held there. It is a

well-known place in the Little Axe Community and has seen many years

of activities. The house will be moved to another tribal location to make

way for the new Community House.

The Tribe received some very good news in regards to the “Tribe with

Jurisdiction” Probate Appeal case. The case involving the Absentee Shawnee

and Citizen Potawatomi, questions which “tribe with jurisdiction” is over

Absentee Shawnee trust allotments under the American Indian Probate

Reform Act (AIPRA). In a November 14, 2013 Order Denying Rehearing, the

Treasurer’s

Report

Greetings Tribal Members,

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Office of Treasurer wishes all

tribal members to have a prosperous 2014 year! If

you made a resolution or resolutions this year that

you can reach your goals! It has been a wonderful

2013 year for me and hope and pray 2014 will be as

wonderful for you as well.

It is with greatest sadness that we said goodbye to

a well-respected and honorable elder tribal member,

Wayne Longhorn. Our sincerest condolences go out

to his family. Also, our prayers and thoughts go out

to AST families, who have lost loved ones this past month and year!

• ASTHA and LSWN Health Board Meeting. The two health boards

concurrently meet third Tuesday of the month. They have newly

appointed ASTHA board members: Melford Switch, Sandra Vaughn,

Lancer Stevens, Lisa Johnson-Billy, and Dr. Surya Pierce. Mr. Mark Rogers,

Health Programs Director, gave his monthly report through a PowerPoint

presentation discussing his Top three issues, 2014 budget, strategic plan/

community needs assessment and several process improvement teams

activations. Reports on financials, business office third party collections,

credentialing and privileges, contracts, and other reports.

• Financials for Health Monthly Mtg, Monthly tribal finance, business

officer manager, health finance, and Health Programs Director meet to

review monthly financials and collections of the health clinics in Little

Axe and Shawnee.

• Financials for Tribe, Audits, 2010-2012, are “unmodified” opinion (which

when compared to education grading rating scale is an A. Indirect Cost

Proposal for 2014 has been submitted to the Interior Business Center (IBC)

and is ready to be assigned to a negotiator. Current 2013 rate is 27.39% with

2014 being undetermined until negotiations during 2014. We are preparing

for the 2013 Audit which will begin early 2014 for all of the Tribes’ entities

(Casinos, Store, Restaurant, Smoke Shops, ASEDA, Inc and Enterprises,

ASTHA & LSWN which makes up Absentee Shawnee Tribe Health Systems,

and the Tribal Government) All of the tribes entities must be audited first

and then they are combined with the Tribe’s Governmental Audit. Overall

Budgets approved during the Legislative Session of the Regular Executive

Committee Meeting. Our goals are always to limit spending and stay

within the budgets.

• Monthly Program/Departmental Directors meeting. Each director

comes every third Monday and gives a monthly update on their program/

department. Court, Cultural Preservation/Gift Shop, Education, Domestic

Violence/Family Services, Enrollment, Human Resources, Finance,

Maintenance, Music, MIS, Police, Procurement, Realty, Probate, Social

Services, Tag, TERO, Title VI, Building Blocks, Indian Child Welfare, Housing,

Media, OEH/OEP, and Health Programs. We, as the Executive Committee,

appreciate these departments who take the time to come and give us an

update on activities and events monthly and prepare monthly written

reports. We understand they may have circumstances occur that prevent

them from coming to the monthly meetings and appreciate the fact that

they let us know or send someone in their place when they cannot attend.

THANK YOU!

• REGULAR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, meet every third

Wednesday of the month to decide on executive and legislature resolutions

for the betterment of the tribe.

• Elders’ Monthly meetings are held every third Saturday, either at

AST Resource Center or Title VI Bldgs, 10 am. The elders had their annual

Christmas party at the Yellow Rose Theater in Moore, OK with a list of

Motown singers, Christmas music, and dinner. They exchanged gifts and

members of the Executive Committee were invited. Governor Butler-Wolfe

and I were in attendance. If you are 55 years and older, please come join

us for fellowship, food, and fun times together. Fund raisers, outings, and

cultural activities are planned monthly. Activities and Events the Elders

have hosted are: Veterans’ Pow Wow in November, Inaugural Ball, attended

various cultural events in Canada, Iowa, New Mexico, South Dakota, etc.,

in and around the state of Oklahoma. The officers are Dan Little Axe,

President, Mary Birdtail, Vice-President, Cynthia Longhorn, Secretary,

and Betty Watson, Treasurer. Elections for officers will be in January for

three year terms. If you would like more information about the Absentee

Shawnee Elders Council, please call Cynthia Longhorn, 405/273-4137.

• Internal Revenue Service, VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). VITA

is a program for free tax preparation for tribal members, Earned Income

Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit components, targeted toward lowincome families with children (Adjusted Gross Income Limit-AGI=$58,000)

and tax counseling for elders. Training for volunteer preparers and

screeners are underway. January 29 through April 12, 2014, will be the dates

on Wed, Thurs, and Saturdays. (See Flyer for times and phone number to

schedule appointments). If you have questions, or interested in becoming

a volunteer preparer or screener, please call Eddie Brokeshoulder, 405-2754030 x148, or email eddieb@astribe.com

• CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) Native American

CDFI Assistance (NACA). Grant was submitted February 28, 2013 and we

were one of 35 awarded. The grant was awarded at $92,290. If any tribal

member is interested in being on steering committee, board of directors,

or loan committee, (See Flyer) please contact Eddie Brokeshoulder, 2754030, Ext. 148 or email eddieb@astribe.com

• Constitutional Revision Committee (CRC): The next scheduled

meeting is January 16th, 2014. This committee would appreciate any input,

suggestions, or come to the monthly meetings. If you have questions or

would like more information, please contact Eddie Brokeshoulder, 405-2754030 Ext. 148. Or contact Briana Ponkilla, her email address: brianaponkilla@

yahoo.com.

NEWS FLASH

• Cobell Update (http://www.indiantrust.com): Have questions call the

Info Center: 1-800-961-6109. Important Update: TRUST ADMINISTRATION

CLASS PAYMENTS EXPECTED IN EARLY 2014 Important Update: Trust

Administration Class payments are expected to be mailed in early 2014.

The Settlement Agreement approved by Congress and the Courts requires

identification of all Trust Administration Class Members and calculation

of their respective pro rata shares before the Claims Administrator for

the Cobell Settlement can mail Trust Administration Class payments.

That work is ongoing and is nearly complete. After the membership of the

Trust Administration Class is finalized, it will take approximately a month

to complete the calculations for the over 500,000 Trust Administration

Class Members. Once the Claims Administrator receives those

calculations and the Court approves the Second Stage Distribution, the

Claims Administrator will quickly prepare and commence distribution

within three weeks. Thus, if the class membership is finally determined

in December, the payments can then be made in the first quarter of 2014

barring any unexpected issues. Please be assured that all parties are doing

everything possible to issue the Trust Administration payments as soon

as possible.

The Finance Department employees, very much deserve special

recognition as they daily continue the never ending processes for the

financial side of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. Without their tireless

diligence, dedication, and commitment we could not keep the financial

transactions processes flowing!

Also, appreciation to the Financial Consultant, Eddie Brokeshoulder,

who continues to assist me with numerous projects, recommendations/

suggestions, attendance at meetings where I cannot attend, and

consulting decisions in the office of Treasurer! Very special thanks to

Arlene Herrera who serves as Administrative Assistant in the office of

treasurer and secretary.

We appreciate all your phone calls, emails, and visits. May God continue

to bless you and yours! See below articles from Finance Department and

Financial Consultant, Eddie Brokeshoulder.

Respectfully,

Kathy Deere

Tribal Treasurer

“I hold before you my hand with each finger standing erect and alone, and as

long as they are held thus, not one of the tasks that the hand may preform

(to shape or form something beforehand) can be accomplished. I cannot lift.

I cannot grasp. I cannot hold. I cannot even make an intelligible sign until my

fingers organize and work together. In this we should also learn a lesson.”

~George Washington Carver

Secretary’s

Report

I sincerely hope that everyone had a very safe and Merry Christmas. I hope

that everyone got what they wanted for Christmas or at least a picture of

it.

I also send my condolences and heartfelt prayers for the Longhorn family

for the loss of their loved one, at this time of year, and also anyone else

who may have lost someone at this time of year.

Okay, just to let you know what my office has been doing this past

month,on November 26, we attended the Inter-Tribal Health Board open

house in Oklahoma City, which appeared to be a good turn-out.

On November 30, Steve Johnson and I volunteered along with Cherrah

Giles and other people from various tribes at the Iron Gate Trinity Church

in Tulsa to help feed the homeless. I lived in Tulsa for a number of years and

I knew that there were many Native Americans that lived on the streets in

Tulsa and I felt that it was a good thing to do. Steve is continuously working

to get all of the trailers moved, however, due to the weather, holidays and

other projects that going on there just does not seem to be enough hours

in the day to get everything finished.

Maintenance is taking care of the ground work for the trailers;

however,they also have a large work load, but have “Faith” it will eventually

be completed. Steve recently made a trip to Las Vegas for Tero Legal up

Date, He has come back with some good Ideals on ways to improve our

Tero office, once we get pass the Holidays and year end tribal business

we should be able to sit down and discuss new ways to improve our Tero

Program.

Well I hope and pray that everyone has a very safe and Happy New Year,

and if you have or will make News Year’s resolutions, attempt to make it a

goal that can be reached.

God Bless Everyone

Vera (Gibson) Dawsey

405-432-8745

405-307-0954

Representative’s

No Report

Financial Consultant’s

Report

Hello Tribal Members,

Hope everybody had a Merry Christmas and wishing each of you a

prosperous 2014 New Year! As the office of Treasurer begins year 2014, it is

our hope that we continue to provide you transparent fiduciary financial

information and continue to improve progress of our tribe.

The following activities I have been involved in and participated:

smoothly, and Indirect Cost rates stay up to date. Indirect cost proposals

cannot be submitted without completed audits as the audit is used

to calculate the proposal. There are many processes in place in your

Tribe’s accounting department that ensure we keep accurate records of

transactions. The Tribe’s accounting processes must be in compliance

with GAAP; (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and GASB

(Governmental Accounting Standards Board) and these rules are updated

annually.

The Tribe currently has compact funds of BIA, I H S, and approximately

51 Grants. In addition, the Tribe operates a General Fund and an Indirect

Cost Fund. The new clinic building payments are current and have not

been late and projections are that they will continue to be current going

forward.

The Absentee Shawnee Tribe’s Finance Department has very hard

working group of people and it is an honor to work with them, the

Treasurer’s office and at the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. The Finance

Department employs 14: with 6 (43%) being AST Tribal Members, 2 (14%)

non-AST tribal members, 6 (43%) being non-natives.

This department would like to extend a special thanks and note of

appreciation to the Executive Committee for providing the tools, resources,

and support to enable the finance staff to reach its accomplished goals

and to continue with this effort. A special thanks and note of appreciation

to Program Managers and Employees of the Tribe for their assistance and

dedication in our continued group effort toward accomplishing our goal.

If you have any questions or needs, please call 405-275-4030 ext 162 and I

will be glad to assist you.

Respectfully,

Belinda Collins

Controller

Financial Reports: Reviewed and analyzed monthly General Fund,

Indirect Fund encumbrance monthly budget reports.

Absentee Shawnee Economic Development Authority, Inc. (ASEDA):

ASEDA last board meeting was held, discussion centered on Little Axe

Water District development project and a business venture discussion of

local Clemence Tire dealership in Tecumseh, OK.

ASEDA 2014 budget was submitted to Executive Committee for approval.

ASEDA looks toward 2014 as a year of opportunity to progress in economic

development utilizing USDA funding for business development.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

U.S.D.A. Community Food Projects Grant: Participated in a free webinar

sponsored by First Nations Knowledge program titled “I’m Thinking of

Applying for the USDA Community Foods Projects Competitive Grants

Program. Since 1996, the USDA Community Foods Project Competitive

Grant has supported projects looking to promote sufficiency and food

security in low-income communities.

Programs are aimed to unite the entire food system, assessing strengths,

establishing linkages, and creating systems to improve self-reliance over

foods. A power point presentation was provided to each webinar attendee

by Vicky Karhu, Independent Consultant, topics covered James Lankford

picture

U.S. Congressman James Lankford, Oklahoma 5TH District: Attended

Tuesday Talk town hall meeting with Congressman James Lankford,

Gordon Cooper Vo-Tech, Shawnee, OK, with Governor Edwina Butler-Wolfe

and her son Josh Gibson. Congressman Lankford addressed current issues

with constituents and gave them a chance to ask questions. I personally

would like to invite tribal members as constituents to attend upcoming

community forum town hall meetings, beginning in January 2014.

Kerr Center Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program (OKBFRP): I

was chosen from many applications across the state of Oklahoma to

participate.

Our first class will be a welcoming meeting Saturday, February

1 , with students of Horticulture and Livestock. Kerr Center is a non-profit

educational foundation and leader in sustainable agriculture education

located in Poteau, Oklahoma. The OKBFRP program is sponsored by

Mvskoke Food Sovereignty initiative (MFSI), Oklahoma Farmer and

Rancher Association (OFRA), Oklahoma State University Cooperative

Extension Service and Rural Smallholder Association (RSA).

In closing, office of Treasure looks forward to our new year of providing

sound financial information of tribal programs and business enterprise

reports to our tribal members. If you have any questions please contact

Eddie Brokeshoulder (405)275-4030 x 148.

Respectfully,

Eddie Brokeshoulder

Financial Consultant

Finance Department

AST Constitution Revision Committee Report

The AST Constitution Revision Committee was established in

September 2008 under the Executive Committee at the time.

The Committee was made up of volunteers who were willing to

work on revising the Constitution and give their input and time. There

were many volunteers over the years and different EC members but the

Constitution Revision Committee has continued to work on the revising

the Constitution. The members and the EC at the time felt a revision to

the Constitution was necessary for the advancement of the Tribe and to

make the business aspect of the Tribe more profitable and productive.

The intent is to revise the Constitution so that it suits the need of our

Tribe and our people. The current AST Constitution is based on a template

that was given to all the Tribes to use and has been in place since 1988.

Much has changed since then.

With a revised Constitution, the hope is to have a more stable,

economically sound and self-sustaining government for our future

generations.

The Constitution Revision Committee will be meeting in January to

begin the discussion on the final articles of the revised Constitution.

The CRC feel we are to the point of making final changes and then

soon after going into the review process.

The AG and BIA will be sent a copy of our revised Constitution so they

can tell us if we need to make changes or if more discussion is needed.

Once the review is complete we will present the revised Constitution to

the people and to the Executive Committee. Then the EC will have the

option to pass a resolution agreeing that the revised Constitution be sent

to the BIA for a referendum vote of the people.

The BIA will set up the referendum vote with the assistance of the

AST. This has been a long process and we would like to thank all of those

that have stayed involved and continued to be patient with the process.

We would not have made it this far without out the dedication and

determination of these committee/Tribal members!

If anyone would like to attend the meetings and assist us with the

final revisions they are more than welcome to attend.

As we have always said this is the Constitution for everyone so as

much in put as possible is greatly appreciated.

The next meeting will be January 16th at 6:30pm at the Little Axe

Resource Center. The following meeting will be on February 20th at 6:30pm

at the Little Axe Resource Center.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact

Eddie Brokeshoulder in the Treasurer’s office or email eddieb@astribe.com.

You may also email Briana Ponkilla at briana.ponkilla@astribe.com.

January 2014

The Finance office continues our efforts in keeping

the day to day activities flowing effectively and efficiently through

communication between the Finance office and Programs. In working

together, we have found the most time effective and cost effective

processes for transacting business.

The Tribe’s 2010, 2011, and 2012 Audits are “unmodified” opinion; which

when compared to an educational grading scale is an A. The 2014 Indirect

Cost Proposal has been submitted to the Interior Business Center (IBC)

and I was notified this week that it is ready to be assigned to a negotiator.

Our rate is up from 17.74% for 2010 to 21.98% for 2011 to 22.35% for 2012 and

27.39% for 2013; with 2014 being undetermined until negotiations during

2014.

We are preparing for the 2013 Audit which will begin early 2014 for all

of the Tribe’s entities [Casinos; Store; Restaurant; Smoke Shop’s; ASEDA,

Inc.; ASEDA, Enterprises; ASTHA & LSWN which makes up Absentee Health

Systems; and the Tribal Government.] All of the tribe’s entities must be

audited first and then they are combined with the Tribe’s Governmental

Audit.

The finance department, for 2013, is completing accounting by the

10th day of the month which has been extended from the 7th allowing the

health finance to provide reports necessary for adjusting inventory and

accounts receivable. Financial reporting for the Health Authority and Li

Si Wi Nwi, Health Inc. boards for Absentee Health Systems, Shawnee and

Little Axe (LSWN) continues monthly. The Finance staff has completed the

November reconciliations and financials. It is imperative the accounting

staff continue to stay ahead of all of the accounting so that audits go

Governor’s Report cont. from page 2

A Severe Weather Policy for the Tribe is forthcoming. This policy is to be on the December Regular Executive Committee meeting agenda.

This will give the Tribe a policy to go by during extreme weather conditions and allow for the Executive Committee to decide on the closure

of the tribe. At this time closure of the Tribe is based on school closures. This needs to be changed so that the business of the Tribe may

occur. We are a Tribe but we also are a business and service needs don’t stop. We employ staff to take care of our programs, functions and

services. In 2014 the Emergency Management Coordinator position is to become full time (if I can get the budget in place) and be placed

within a full functioning office of Emergency Management (EM). During the tornado disaster we were caught without an EM plan in place.

We have had extreme weather issues before but the tornado disaster was one that made it clear we needed an office and staff in it. This

office in 2014 will do the following:

With the EM Coordinator in place more time will be devoted to meet the goals of Emergency Management for the Tribe. There are several

items that need to be addressed. The most important one is our Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan on file with the Region VI FEMA Office.

1. The Tribe’s Hazard Mitigation Plan that was approved by FEMA in 2010 is good for five years and will expire in 2015. The plan

outlines our proposed actions to mitigate natural hazards. The EM Coordinator will meet with the Region VI Mitigation Officer to

go over the Plan and update it. The mitigation activities outlined Plan needs to be completed and updated so that the Tribe will

be eligible for Pre-Disaster and Post-Disaster Mitigation grant funding. The Timeline: 1st qtr. of 2014 (contingent upon coordination

with Region VI Coordinator schedule).

2. Coordinate with the Tribal Grant Coordinator this month to write grant proposal(s) for mitigation funding will be on an ongoing

basis.

Linda Day is the acting disaster Emergency Manager, who is now located at the new substation in Little Axe. She is the contact for this

program and may be reached at 405-275ergency Manager, who is now located at the new substation in Little Axe. She is the contact for this

program and may be reached at 405-2753432. If she is unable to resolve your concerns please communicate with my office.

Law Enforcement

On Nov. 23, 2013 the Police Department participated in the Clinic Fall Fest, which allowed children to be fingerprinted for personal

Identification cards.

As of Nov. 13, 2013 the Police Department started using a web based software to enhance tracking of calls and to serve the Absentee

Shawnee Tribal members with better service which includes, allowing the officer to take reports and keep logs of activity without leaving

their patrol unit. This should improve the efficiency of our taking calls for the Tribe. Thus far this web based software is a success by better

kept records and serving the public.

The point of contact for this program is Police Chief, Brad Jackson, and he may be reached at 405-275-3200. If he is unable to resolve your

concern communicate with my office.

Building Blocks & CCDF

CCDF:

This month Billie Thompson, Building Blocks (BB) Director and Briana Ponkilla, the CCDF Project Coordinator, attended the CCDF New

Administrator training in Dallas, TX. They learned more about the grant and how to administer the program as well as incorporate quality

care in the facilities and through our providers.

The AST CCDF program utilizes the Data Tracker program for data processing of the CCDF subsidy program. For the program year we had

26 children who received child care assistance through the subsidy portion of the CCDF grant. All providers have been compliant with our

guidelines and processes for payment.

BBII is licensed for 90 children and currently have 58 children enrolled with 29 of those children being Native American. We have 18 people

on staff; a Director, an Assistant Director, a Food Service Specialist and 15 Teachers/Floaters. We will be adding a few more children by the

end of 2013. We would like to add more children to reach our capacity but we are finding the need to keep open spaces for current enrollees

due to the lack of spaces for those who are transitioning into the older rooms. Due to DHS ratio guidelines and the floor space of our current

rooms we are not able to reach our capacity. We strive to fill each room while still being in compliance with DHS. It may seem like we are

not filling up the rooms but there is a reason we keep the enrollment where it is. We feel it is a necessity to incorporate more after school

programs in our current system to accommodate higher enrollment for the younger children. Enrollment is an ongoing process we work

on weekly.

BBII does enroll off a waiting list. Currently there are 104 native children on our waiting list from Infant to After School age. The After

School waiting list consists of 40 Native American children who are waiting placement in our BBII Center. There is a great need for After

School programs in our area to offset the burden that parents face with childcare needs after school from Infant to After School age. The

After School waiting list consists of 40 Native American children who are waiting placement in our BBII Center. There is a great need for

After School programs in our area to offset the burden that parents face with childcare needs after school.

For 2014, we have joined the Let’s Move Child Care initiative for the center and will be working with the kitchen staff to ensure we meet

those recommendations.

There has been progress in the construction of the BBIII program in the Little Axe area.

There are a few modifications that we are working on but they are merely storage space issues and will not affect the classrooms or

child care areas.

We have started a waiting list for BBIII and will start advertising more as the opening of the center gets closer. The anticipated opening

date of this facility is June 2014. We feel the need for a center in this rural area will be beneficial to the AST and Little Axe community.

Building Blocks:

Building Blocks had a very busy December as they prepared for Christmas. Their Christmas Program was on Monday the 16th. It was a

huge success! The children and teachers worked very hard on their songs. We provided refreshments for the families.

Continued on page 7

Governor’s Report cont. from page 6

There was even a visit from SANTA!

Building Blocks also provided a gift for each child.

2 Year Old’s

Santa , our children and their parents!

Infants

Santa, our children and their parents!

2 Year Olds

3 Year Olds

4 Year Olds

3 Year Old’s

Our Master Teachers are in the process of completing

their Early Learning Guidelines Training, which is a requirement of our Stars Program. This

training details the foundations of learning and how we can support those areas through our daily4 Year

activities.

am also attending these trainings as a

Old’s to SchoolI Age

way to support my staff and to educate myself on these guidelines so that I may monitor their incorporation into our program.

Training, which is a requirement of our Stars Program. This training details the foundations of learning and how we can support those areas

through our daily activities. I am also attending these trainings as a way to support my staff and to educate myself on these guidelines so that I may

monitor their incorporation into our program.

As a part of staff development, I have presented the teachers with a challenge and that is to create a prop box for their classroom that is ageappropriate. This would be used as a dramatic play area. The activities must incorporate career ideas, reading/writing opportunities, and materials

that encourage exploration and cooperative play. For example: A flower shop would contain flower pots, empty seed packets, plastic flowers, pictures of

different flowers with the name printed below, hats, gloves, shovels, sand table, order pad, cash register and play money. The children play cooperatively

3 Year

asOld’s

store owner and customer.

The empty seed packets and labeled pictures introduce new words and encourage reading, while taking an order improves writing skills. The cash

register transactions introduce math concepts and the overall play increases social skills. The main part of the challenge was to find as many materials

as they could from free resources. Parents have offered to donate items to many of the prop boxes, which allow the parents a chance to be involved in

what we are doing here at Building Blocks.

Building Blocks continues to make great strides forward to improve child, family and staff satisfaction. Great compliments continue to be received

pertaining to the improvements from parents and teachers. We are looking forward to see what 2014 brings!!!

Santa, our children and their parents!

Building Blocks will be closed the following days:

January 1, 2014: New Year’s Day

January 20, 2014: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The point of contact for the Building Blocks program in Shawnee is Billie Thompson at 405878-0633. The contact for the Little Axe Building Block’s

program and/or CCDF is Brianna Ponkilla also at 405-878-0633. If they are unable to assist you with concerns contact my office.

Education

On December 10th and 11th, Tresha Spoon, Director and Blake Goodman, TYP Coordinator attended the Oklahoma Council on Indian Education’s

Annual Conference. This conference addressed issues regarding Indian Education funding, programming ideas, data collection/survey results, and OCIE’s

mission to increase the scope of its efforts across the state and nationwide. Tresha attended the Oklahoma Council on Economic Education’s Annual

meeting on December 13th. Tresha has been a board member since 2006 and sits on the Council’s Budget and Finance Committee. Following the OCEE

Annual meeting, Tresha, along with the Governor and Lesa Shaw attended a Listening session hosted by the Tribal Education Department National

Assembly (TEDNA) in partnership with the US Department of Education, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and the South Central Comprehensive

Center at OU. The Listening session was for tribe’s to voice their comments, suggestions, and concerns with all areas of Indian Education. As the Governor

I entered bullet points into the record on behalf of the Tribe.

December 12th TEDNA hosted a workshop with the BIE to demonstrate the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s data sharing tool. Also, the

BIE provided a template on creating an agreement with the BIE to facilitate the sharing of student data that is compliant with the Family Educational

Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Tresha is a Board member on the TCAP Advisory Board. The Board meets the third Thursday of the month at 8:30 am in

the AST Tribal Court.

The Education Department will begin accepting applications for the Big Jim Youth Award program on January 1, 2014. Please check for updates in

the Tribal newsletter and on the Tribe’s website under Education services.

The point of contact for this program is Tresha Spoon, Education Director, 405-275-4030, Ext. 121. Please feel free to communicate with her and if she

is unable to assist you then contact my office.

Health

The AST Health System has begun the implementation of its new Customer Service Hotline. Please direct all complaints or compliments to (405)

701-7623. Please use this line as a resource. We will have each situation addressed with consistent updates from your Health Staff. Once the inquiry

Continued on page 11

2 Year Old’s

Absentee Shawnee

Tribe Food Sovereignty:

Tradition, Food and theAbsentee

Future Shawnee Tribe

Food Sovereignty:

Tradition,

PSSF/ICW/FC

Food and

the Future

Up Coming Events

Pictures

November – Thanksgiving Food Baskets

We will be having our “Stuff a Family for Thanksgiving” event. Several boxes for

donated

foodFood

items will

be placed throughout

the Shawnee

and Little Axe

Complexes

The Absentee Shawnee Tribe on Wednesday, December

4th, sponsored the

first

Sovereignty

meeting

on Tradition,

Food

the Future

Oct 21 and willMO,

be collected

on November 18,

2013.

Everyone

encouraged

to donate

at the Human Resource Department conference room. Vicky Karhu of Springfield,

an independent

contractor

to isvarious

Native

Food

The Absentee

Shawnee

Tribe

on the

Wlist

ednesday,

ecember

4sovereignty

, sponsored

the

fbaskets

irst FAmerican

ood

projects across United States, presented attendees valuable

information

systems

with

onwith

food

Native

any food

items

from

that willfocus

beDposted

the

boxes.

Thanksgiving

will be

Sovereignty meeting put

on together

Tradition,

Food

the Future

t the families

Human

Resource

Department

communities.

and will

be distributed

to ouraICW

as well

as any tribal

members

The purpose of our first food sovereignty meeting was

bring

together

conference room. Vwho

icky are

Karhu

of Springfield, MO, an independent contractor to various

in need.

group of concerned individuals, various programs, elders

community

members

interested

in thevaluable

development

of a oFood

Native and

Food

projects across

United Swho

tates, are

presented

attendees

information

Sovereignty organization.

food systems Treasure

with focus

on food

sovereignty

in Native Joseph

American

communities.

The following attendees included Governor Edwina Butler-Wolfe,

Kathy

Deere,

staff members

Blanchard,

Thomas Owings,

White Jr., Shelby and Gary Smallwood of Aquaponics LLC, Raquel LeMaster of Okie

Emily Key, Sherman Tiger, Elder Robert White Sr., Robert

Fresh Company, Vicky Karhu and Eddie BrokeshoulderThe

organizer

purpose of

of meeting.

our first food sovereignty meeting was to bring together a group of

All attendees came away with informative information

the

development

of pan

organizational

sustainable

concerned individuals, various

rograms,

elders and structure,

community utilizing

members

who are food

processes in areas of community food gardens, our original

tribal

food

crops

and

most

important

efforts

grow

our

own

fresh

vegetables,

interested in the development of a Food Sovereignty organization. The following

attendees

so that our tribal community can share and reduce the EPIDEMIC OF DIABETES in our community.

included

Governor

Edwina

utler-‐Wolfe, Treasure

athy Consultant

Deere, staff (405)

members

Joseph

If you are interested in joining our food sovereignty cause,

please

contact

EddieBBrokeshoulder,

275-4030

x 148 or

December - Financial

AngelKTree

Blanchard, Thomas Owings, Emily Key, Sherman Tiger, Elder Robert White Sr., Robert

eddieb@astribe.com.

White Jr., Shelby and Gary Smallwood of Aquaponics LLC, Raquel LeMaster of Okie Fresh

The ICW department will be getting out the Angels to all their families this month. The

Company, Vicky Karhu

and will

Eddie

Brokeshoulder

organizer

of m#1

eeting.

Angels

be placed

on the Christmas

tree in Building

on November 25th. On the

back of each Angel will be information for a child such as age, gender, size and wish list.

All attendees came aAsway

with informative

iPSSF/ICW/FC

nformation

on tSIGN

he development

an return the

a reminder

for those who take

an Angel, please

OUT your Angelof

and

Angel uwith

the new,

unwrappedfgifts

ICW department

byoDecember

13, 2013.

organizational structure,

tilizing

sustainable

ood topthe

rocesses

in areas

f community

food

Coming

Events

gardens, our original tribal food crops and most important efforts to grow our own fresh

vegetables, so that our tribal community can share and reduce the EPIDEMIC OF DIABETES

in our community.

– Thanksgiving

If you are interested in joining our fNovember

ood sovereignty

cause, pFood

lease cBaskets

ontact Eddie

January

– Parenting

Classes

Brokeshoulder, Financial Consultant

(405) 275-‐

4030 x 148

or eddieb@astribe.com.

will

having

our

“Stuff

Family

for

Thanksgiving”

event. Several boxes for

donated

food

items

will

placed

throughout

the

Shawnee

and Little Axe Complexes on

Promoting

th Safe and Stable Families Program Practical Parenting Classes will begin its

Congratulations

Oct 21 and will be collected on November 18, 2013. Everyone is encouraged to donate

next session on January 8, 2014 in Building #16. The classes are held for 10 weeks every

any items from the list that will be posted with the boxes. Thanksgiving baskets will be

Wednesday evening from 6pm to 8pm. Dinner will be served and babysitter provided

put together and will be distributed to our ICW families as well as any tribal members

when needed.

who are in need.

Samuel Ezra Byers

For further information on any event please contact the ICW Department

for receiving his Associates Degree from

Haskell Indian Nations University

Lawrence, Kansas, on December 5, 2013.

We are extremely proud of you and wish you

continued success with your education.

We love you very much!

From, Auntie Sherry & Uncle Marv

Uncle Shawn & Aunt Marilyn

and your cousins

Sena Yesslith

Absentee Shawnee Tribe

ICW Department

December - Angel Tree

Promoting Safe and Stable Families

2025 S. Gordon Cooper Dr.

The ICW department will be getting out the Angels to all their families this month. The

Shawnee,

74801 #1 on November 25th. On the

Angels will be placed on the Christmas

treeOk

in Building

back of each Angel will be information

a child such as age, gender, size and wish list.

(Office) for

405-878-4702

As a reminder for those who take an Angel, please SIGN OUT your Angel and return the

(Fax) 405-878-4540

Angel with the new, unwrapped gifts to the ICW department by December 13, 2013.

The Giftultural

Shop continues reservation

to make progress in sales

and new inventory. Word of mouth is spreading about the types

epartment

of products that we are carrying, and this is in a constant state of change. We now have the capabilities to accept

The AST Cultural Preservation Department

would like to pass along the following information concerning updates to each of our

paymentand

by credit

card, and

thehours

future,ofthere

a possibility

thatare

youopen

may from

be able

to use

media

to viewthe

and

programs. I’d like to remind Tribal members

employees

of in

the

the is

gift

shop as we

8 to

5 associal

well as

through

purchase gift shop items. If you haven’t stopped by lately, come in and browse around. If we don’t have what you

lunch hour.

Gift Shop

need, let us know, and we can ‘special order’ your request. For all other questions, please contact Esther at ext. 122

The Gift Shop continues to make progress

sales and new inventory. Word of mouth is spreading about the types of products that we

or email in

at elowden@astribe.com.

are carrying, and this is in a constant state of change. We now have the capabilities to accept payment by credit card, and in the future,

there is a possibility that you may be able

to use social media to view and purchase gift shop items. If you haven’t stopped by lately, come

Library

in and browse around. If we don’t have what you need, let us know, and we can ‘special order’ your request. For all other questions, please

contact Esther at ext. 122 or email at elowden@astribe.com.

We will be advertising for library staff within the month and hope to have all programs in connection with the librar

Library

restored by February. If any tribal member has library experience, please apply.

We will be advertising for library staff within the month and hope to have all programs in connection with the library restored by

February. If any tribal member

has library

experience,

please

RESOURCE

CENTER

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apply.

Cultural

Preservation

Cultural Preservation

On November 15, 2013, we hosted1970

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eldest

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tribal

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picture

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OK 73026

RESOURCE

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time, we would like to thank everybody

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PARTICIPATE IN OUR

FOCUS GROUP & RECEIVE

Governor Butler-Wolfe, State Representative Justin Wood, and

Dell Krebs, President of Safe Events for Families of Shawnee

The Behavioral Health department will

be having a Focus Group in January. We

are looking for participants to discuss

and focus on underage drinking and

substance abuse. This is just a round

table discussion about community

concerns on the above issues. We are

looking for adult community members as

well as youth participants 15-18 years

old! The date is TBD in late January.

First come basis.

GOODY BAGS! Gift CARDS!

State Rep. Ron Sharp and Governor Butler-Wolfe

December 17, 2013 at Representative James Lankford, talk

community forum at Gordon Cooper Vo-Tech

For more information, or to add your name to

the list please contact Kasey Dean at:

Behavioral Health Services

Kdean@astribe.com

Office– 405-701-7993

Governor’s Report cont. from page 7

or action has been taken or process addressed, and the review of all

issues are completed, the Health Director, Mr. Rogers and/or his designee,

will personally contact each caller with updates, decisions, or questions

pertaining to how the case was fixed or addressed. This will allow the

leadership to expedite your concerns efficiently and concisely, as well as

monitoring and tracking the overall improvements in our services to the

tribe.

We are also updating our customer service feedback cards at the clinics

and will begin reporting them on a monthly basis beginning in Jan 2014

to the Governor’s office and to the Health Boards for visibility on action(s)

taken.

We are looking at entering into an agreement with the Veteran’s

Administration (VA) with eligible services for our tribal veterans to begin

in early Feb/Mar 2014. Veterans of course may already be seen at our

clinics but this agreement will allow the Absentee Shawnee clinics to be

reimbursed by the VA services, whereby many members access services

at the VA in OKC. eligible services for our tribal veterans to begin in early

Feb/Mar 2014. Veterans of course may already be seen at our clinics but this

agreement will allow the Absentee Shawnee clinics to be reimbursed by

the VA services, whereby many members access services at the VA in OKC.

A pending selection for a new medical director is under review by the

Governor’s office, Shareholders Representatives, the ASTHA and Li-SiWi-Nwi Health, Inc., Boards. The Shareholders Representatives will meet

and vote on this pending action. At the request of the Tribe the AG will

negotiate and/or work on an offer of employment to the prospective

Native American candidate.

Access to care in both the behavioral health and dental area’s is

improving by entering into additional service or employment agreements.

Our Primary care will add some new providers after Christmas to both

the Shawnee and Little Axe clinics to help with same day appointment

requests and/or acute same day appointment access needs.

The new Diabetes Grant Coordinator, Mrs. Emily Key, is also on board

now and making rapid gains in reinvigorating this effort with technical

assistance from the I.H.S. area office’s Endocrinologist, Dr. Briarasche.

If you have questions for the Health area please contact Mark Rogers,

Health Director, at 405-447-0300 (Little Axe) or 405-878-5850 (Shawnee). If

you are unable to get a response or your issue address please contact my

Office.

Office of Environmental Health & Engineering (OEH&E)

The OEH&E Director attended the Indian Health Service Fall Meeting

December 11&12, 2013. The agenda included Rural Development Funding,

Final Reports and HITS Reports-Tracking Progress through GPS site

locating home sites. Once the home sites are located we will report them

in the IHS Housing Inventory Tracking System (HITS) system online.

OEH&E is completing two water well renovations that include new well

houses that had been destroyed by the Tornadoes. OEH completed a water

well chlorination for a member that was having issues with bad smells in

the water system from non-use.

OEH met with the EPA on the Thunderbird Water System for sanitary

survey that was completed. The EPA will provide a final report sometime in

Jan 2014. The EPA did provide a preliminary finding report for deficiencies

that need to be resolved. OEH is working on resolving these issues now

before the final report is issued in Jan. Examples of deficiencies are: the

overflow on water storage tank #1 does not terminate within 12 to 24” from

the ground. Both standpipes need to be cleaned; standpipe #1 appears to

have a leak at the base. The EPA did recommend that we provide a full

time water operator for the AST water systems as we continue to expand.

I am finishing up on the Environmental Assessment for the Indian

Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Tribal Youth Camp

project at this time. The required Archeological Survey report has been

completed on the 200 acre site. As soon as we complete the Environmental

Assessment and post the findings, we will be able to start construction of

the camp site, which is expected within the month of Jan 2014.

The L.A. Daycare Project-I met with the contractor and Lauri Brockman

of Wasserstrom and Sons who is a commercial kitchen equipment supply

company. We sat down and figured the sizes of all the required equipment

for the kitchen. At the conclusion of the meeting it was determined the

kitchen size needs to be enlarged to accommodate the equipment, storage

and allow for an eat-in dining area.

On Friday, December 13, 2013 I met with the contractor and Briana

Ponkilla and went over the Daycare Kitchen layout and came up with a

kitchen layout that will accommodate all the kitchen equipment, storage

and eat-in requirements needed. I am scheduling a meeting with the

Daycare Architect as soon as possible to make these kitchen corrections.

Intergovernmental Relations & Planning

Again, I would like to bring up the need for a full functioning Planning

and Intergovernmental Relations Office. It is my intent to put this office

into place in January. Currently I am receiving some resistance from some

of the elected body and Finance. This office is strongly needed to conduct

planning initiatives, data accumulation, liaison efforts with regulatory

and legislative bodies. If we are to make progress for the future we have to

take the right steps to do it. This is one of those. Let me reiterate this office

will have 5 to 6 staff in it. The funding this year will come from ‘carryover’

from the clinic and not directly out of compact funds. Funds under Indian

Health Service are under my direct oversight. We as a Self-Governance

tribe are authorized under P.L. 93-638, as amended, which gives tribes

the flexibility to utilize compact funds within their systems as the tribe

deems appropriate. The planning function will assist the tribe and the

health department. Next year (or if possible to get the Indirect Cost rate

proposal modified this year) this function may be predominantly paid out

of indirect cost.

RecentlyI attended theTribal Nations Leaders conference in Washington,

D.C. and I along with many other Tribal leaders was interviewed by the

National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) about my viewpoint on

the mascots being used by professional teams. Of the many tribal leaders

interviewed I was one of the individuals used by NCAI to illustrate the

concerns of Tribes to our United States elected officials. Today our legal

firm advised that there is a strong push by Obama, the congressional and

senate majority leaders to take a position on the accurate portrayal of

Native Americans on the use of team mascots. I believe that although my

piece in this project was small it added to making a positive change that

will be felt by our Indian children. I, and my Special Projects Coordinator,

Lesa B. Shaw, while in Washington, D.C. met with Senator Coburn and

Inhoffe’s staffers; we also met with Congressman Lankford and with

Congressman Cole’s staffers; and Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn on

key issues facing our Tribe. It was a full and very productive visit.

In conclusion – I have 18 months to go and we are seeing some changes

taking place but I need your help and support to continue these forward

moving initiatives. Change takes time and I don’t have that much left.

While I am here I want to accomplish everything I can for you, for our

children, young adults, adults and elders. I am calling upon you to help me

move things forward – how can you do that? Support me through letters,

cards, calls – telling other Executive Committee members this is what you

want and please attend the Executive Committee meetings to be a part of

this great challenge and opportunity!.

While I am here I want to accomplish everything I can for you, for our

children, young adults, adults and elders. I am calling upon you to help me

move things forward – how can you do that? Support me through letters,

cards, calls – telling other Executive Committee members this is what you

want and please attend the Executive Committee meetings to be a part of

this great challenge and opportunity!.

Thank you again for your support.

I hope that you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season.

WE, meaning you, the people of the Tribe, and I, your Governor, are

Building For the Future

(BFF)! Let’s build together and move the Tribe forward.

FROM THE ELECTION COMMISSION:

The Election Commission is advertising an opening on the Election Commission for Alternates. If any Tribal Member is interested in serving, please call the Election

Commission office at (405)275-4030, ext. 150. If no answer, please leave your name and contact number. Thank you.

The following positions will be open for the Elections to be held in 2014.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Election Commissioner $ 84.00 (prorated) Two (2) Years (ends 2016) Commission Member #2 $125.00 Three (3) Years

QUALIFICATIONS:

A) An enrolled member of the tribe.

B) An eligible voter for purposes of voting in tribal elections.

C) Must be twenty-one (21) years of age on the date of the election for which he/she desires to be a candidate.

D) Physically reside within the following Counties: Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, McClain, Garvin, Pontotoc, Seminole, Lincoln, or Okfuskee.

E) In cases where a prospective candidate has been convicted of a felony, such person shall not be eligible for consideration as a candidate until at least five (5) years

have passed following completion of the penalty for such conviction(s).

F) Not more than (1) member of an immediate family shall be elected to the same tribal elective body except when running as a candidate for the same elective

position.

ELECTION COMMISSION

OFFICE HOURS

2014

PLEASE fill out EACH BLANK completely and return by the Deadline.

ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST

I, ________________________________, hereby certify that I am or will be an Eligible Voter

(Print Name)

of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe on or before March 15, 2014. I cannot physically be

present to cast my Vote at the March 15, 2014 Primary Election, therefore, I am requesting

an Absentee Ballot be mailed to me at the following address.

Name (please print): ____________________________________________________________

(first)

(middle)

(maiden)

(last)

Address:____________________________ City:_______________St:_______Zip:__________

CDIB#:______________________

Date of

Birth:________________________

Signature:________________________________ Date:_______________________________

All REQUESTS must be returned to the Election Commission by the deadline of

February 23, 2014

Mail to:

Absentee Shawnee Election Commission

P.O. Box 741

Tecumseh, OK 74873

Fax to:

Fax # (405) 273-1337 (Do not fax to any other fax #)

Phone: (405) 275-4030 ext. 150

Toll free number 1-800-256-3341 ext.150

Deliver in Person to:

Election Commission Office located in the Tribal Court Building

All eligible voters are entitled to vote either at the Polls or by Absentee Ballot.

For your convenience-This form may be duplicated

______________________________________________________________________________

ELECTION COMMISSION USE ONLY

Received: _____________________ Approved:____________________ Disapproved:

_______________

If Disapproved (reason):

_________________________________________________________________

√ Holidays

Election Day

Denial Letter Mailed:___________________________ Ballot

Open 8-12/1-5

X Open 1-5

FY-2013

YTD TAX COLLECTIONS

(thru 11/30/13)

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