Thunderbird Casino Holds Street Dedication (2023)
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THE ABSENTEE
SHAWNEE NEWS
www.astribe.com
April 2023
Volume 33, No. 04
Thunderbird Casino Holds Street Dedication
Kenneth Blanchard and Dan Little Axe
were two of the most iconic tribal members and respected leaders. Their groundbreaking strides in gaming were honored
recently.
Thunderbird Casino in Norman held
a street dedication on March 24 for Kenneth Blanchard Drive and Dan Little Axe
Lane.
Blanchard and Little Axe passed away
in 2021 and 2022 respectively. They were
both former Absentee Shawnee executive committee members and helped play
a major part in bringing gaming to the
state of Oklahoma.
“Dan started this as a bingo hall and
converted it into a casino and Ken signed
the gaming compact with Governor Brad
Henry.” said Governor John Johnson.
Little Axe was instrumental in Thunderbird Casino’s beginnings as a bingo
hall in 1987. “This was an empty field. He
went to Browning Pipestem and asked
him how to get this started. “His daughter Diane Little Axe said, “Pipestem told
him to find three investors. He did and
then they signed a contract. I went on
and watched him show other tribes how
to get their bingo halls up and running.”
Blanchard signed the Oklahoma Tribal-State Tribal Gaming Act in 2004 which
paved the way for the state to offer Class
III gaming. Now almost 20 years after the
signing, Oklahoma has more than 140
casinos and gaming is a billion dollar industry.
Their political careers spanned decades
with both men serving multiple terms
as Governor and Lt. Governor. Little
Axe was the first elected Governor and
Blanchard was the first elected Lt. Governor for the Absentee Shawnee Tribe.
The pair even served in office together as
Governor and Lt. Governor.
The families of these two great men unveiled the signs. “It means a lot to me and
my family, especially my mom that she’s
here to witness this,” said Little Axe, “It’s
monumental and a long time coming.”
Thunderbird Casino was the first casino in Oklahoma so it’s only fitting that
the 2 men who were pioneers in Oklahoma’s gaming industry are honored on this
historic spot. Their names will forever
welcome all to the casino.
From The Election Commission
ANNUAL (RUN OFF) ELECTION
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
(Print Name)
Voter of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe on or before June 17, 2023. I cannot physically
be present to cast my Vote at the June 17, 2023 Annual 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 date of
May 28, 2023
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. 6271
Toll free number 1-800-256-3341 ext. 6271
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.
This form may be duplicated for your convenience.
______________________________________________________________________________
ELECTION COMMISSION USE ONLY
Received: _____________________ Approved:____________________ Disapproved: _______________
If Disapproved (reason): _________________________________________________________________
Denial Letter Mailed:___________________________ Ballot Mailed:_____________________________
_______________________________________
Election Commission/Representative
2A www.astribe.com
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
GOVERNOR’S REPORT
John Johnson, AST Governor
Hello tribal members,
Spring is here with the weather getting
warmer and plants starting to bloom.
Easter is a few short weeks away. Before
we know it, kids will be out of school for
summer.
The tribe held an Easter Egg Hunt
on March 25th. Lunch was provided
and we had prizes for the different age
groups. I hope you were all able to attend and have fun.
If you have been to the Shawnee campus you have seen the dirt work that is
GOVERNOR
John Johnson
Lt. GOVERNOR
Ezra DeLodge
SECRETARY
Alicia Miller
LT. GOVERNOR’S REPORT
Ezra DeLodge, AST Lt. Governor
Tribal Members,
Please see below for department updates. If you have any questions or
concerns please contact me by email
ezrad@astribe.com, call my office 405275-4030 x 6253 or cell 405-432-0733.
Maintenance:
The Maintenance Department has
been working hard to maintain all incoming work orders which consist of
minor repairs, plumbing, electrical,
welding, moving/rearranging offices
and assembling/installing new furniture, and ground maintenance. Housekeeping has been working effortlessly
with maintaining the upkeep of the
buildings on the complex.
OEH:
In total for 2023 OEH has assisted
Tribal members with 17 different septic renovations and installations, water well drilling and installations, well
renovations, and community water
connections. For 2023, we have collected, processed, and recycled 10 bales of
shredded office paper and cardboard
equaling roughly 7.5 tons of recyclable
waste that has been diverted from landfills.
The entry gate at Camp Nikoti has
been completed. Curbing for the dining
hall parking lot has been completed and
the parking lot is currently being paved,
which will be the final work done for
Phase II of Camp Nikoti. Dirt work has
begun on the new Police Safety Center
and is on schedule to be completed by
the end of March.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Alicia Miller, AST Secretary
TREASURER
Joseph Blanchard
REPRESENTATIVE
DeWayne Wilson
Ho wa se ke sa ke!
Happy spring! As we know, spring is
the season which the natural world revives and reinvigorates after the colder
winter months. Dormant plants begin
to grow again, those hibernating awake
and it also means our spring dances are
about to commence. I always look forward to this time of year because I also
feel invigorated.
The Rising Warrior (Domestic Violence) Department presented an updated elder code in the previous month’s
EC meeting. I felt more time was needed to closely review the code before its
actual passage and implementation. I
did spend a good amount of time reviewing, met with the department director and grant staff for their input and
discussed areas of concern. I feel the
domestic violence elder code may take
a bit longer before placing back on the
agenda.
The Indian Child Welfare Department
hosted a lunch and learn session for the
community on March 14th at the Shawnee Multi-Purpose building. I would
like to say thank you to the Director and
to her staff for holding these important
community gatherings and thank you
to the tribal members who attended
and voiced your thoughts. I appreciate
you for being present to support our
AST children in this fashion. This department has taken important steps by
having an in-depth review of their own
program by the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. The assessment team was
also present and I am glad they took
time out of their schedules to come and
April 2023
going on behind the All Nations Bank.
This is for the new police department.
Soon the foundation work will begin
and the building will start to take shape.
The After School building is coming
up quickly. There have been a few setbacks due to supply and demand but
it is scheduled to be completed in September of 2023.
The tribe’s newest department, 477,
was started on January 1st, 2023. 477
has taken some existing departments
and combined into one department to
offer more services for our tribal members. The director of this department is
Briana Ponkilla. She has been working
hard on the policy and procedures so it
is an easy transition for the departments
along with the tribal members. So be on
the lookout for more information regarding this great new program.
The 90th Semi-Annual General
Council is set for April 1st, 10am at
Thunderbird Casino in Little Axe. I
hope you plan to attend. We have some
exciting things happening in our tribe,
so please come out and hear about, ask
questions and voice concerns.
In closing, we are entering into spring
which is the start of storm and severe
weather season. Please get prepared and
have a plan for your safety.
We would like to remind Tribal Members that if they see any activities related
to illegal dumping of trash or other discarded items on Tribal lands to please
contact OEH at the email or phone
number listed below.
Jarrod Lloyd, OEH&E Director
jlloyd@astribe.com - (405) 214-4235
BIA Program(s)
The Roads Department has completed the Transportation Safety Plan.
During this process we have found
that 72nd street east of Norman has
several dangerous intersections. The
department will be applying for FY23
Tribal Transportation Program Safety
Funds (TTPSF). Throughout this year
the tribe will be working with the City
of Norman and Cleveland County on
72nd intersections and 156th S-curve
safety project.
We are also in the process of adding
a couple more routes to our inventory. The deadline to submit the routes
to Southern Plains is March 15th. As
long as all documents are good, Southern Plains will then send to the Albuquerque, NM office for final approval. It
might be as late as September before we
get a response.
In the next couple of months road
construction will begin on the campus.
The work will be done on Absentee
Shawnee Drive and White Turkey Street
that goes to the Cultural Preservation
building. During this time please use
James L. Edwards Ln.
If you have questions or need more
information on Self-Governance Programs please contact Twyla Blanchard
at 405.275.4030, ext. 6325 or email at
TwylaB@astribe.com.
Land Management
The Land Management Program was
established August 2021 and is funded
through BIA CARES. Land Management has just finished up the winter
season of splitting and delivering wood
to elders. During this winter season we
assisted 19 tribal elders and completed
1 land clearing project. We continue
working on land management projects
for the tribe such as land clearing, tree
cutting, and assessments. If you have
any concerns or questions call (405)3958101 or email cmartinez@astribe.com.
Clayton Martinez, Land Management
Coordinator.
Weatherization Program
The weatherization program has been
up and running for a year as of 3-3-22.
This program is funded through BIA
ARPA funds. We have had a total of 77
applications, 42 online applications and
35 paper applications. Out of the 77 applications 19 have been completed and
4 are in the process of being completed. Due to a work related injury in June
of 2022 the repairs have slowed down
due to work restrictions and inclement weather. As of February 2023 I have
been released with no work restrictions.
The repair process will be moving faster
due to the release. The repairs start with
elders first then the remaining applicants. Thank you for your concerns and
for being patient. If you have any questions you can e-mail me at dmarshall@
astribe.com or call or text at 405-8274311. Donnie Marshall, Project Coordinator.
meet with us. These lunch and learn
gatherings are about our AST children,
supporting the staff and families, and
how we can be better as a department.
We have areas to work on and we are
committed to seeing continued positive
change in this area.
I would like to thank the AST Tribal
Youth Program (AST Education) and
the AST Police Department for hosting the Fentanyl Awareness Class. The
information was presented by the Pottawatomie County Sheriff ’s Office and
it was eye-opening. This is a nationwide problem as well as a problem here
in our local community. There will be
more awareness classes offered by the
Sheriff ’s Office at different venues and
I encourage you to sit and listen about
Fentanyl awareness wherever it is offered. We all need to know the dangers
of this drug. The Indian Health Service
has re-issued a Public Safety Alert from
the Department of Justice, DEA Reports Widespread Threat of Fentanyl
Mixed with Xylazine. The alert states
the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartel,
in Mexico, are using chemicals largely
sourced from China, and are primarily
responsible for the vast majority of the
fentanyl that is being trafficked in communities across the United States.
On Friday, March 24th, Thunderbird
Casino, Norman and the Executive
Committee held a street naming dedication in honor of Mr. Dan Little Axe
Sr. and Mr. Kenneth Blanchard near the
casino entrance. These two gentlemen
were contributory to our tribe on so
many levels and this was a token of our
gratitude of their governmental service
for the AST people. It was my humble
honor to be a part of this with their
families.
The Annual AST Easter Egg Hunt resumed after being dormant the past few
years due to COVID-19. There were
5,000 eggs hunted and amazing prizes
handed out for all categories. Thank
you to all who came out participated
and had fun. The Secretary’s Office
typically spearheads this event and we
had an overwhelming response of volunteers and donations. I appreciate you
all in making this a great event for our
tribal community.
The Little Axe Health Center expansion is rolling along and is still projected to be completed in 2024. All the
earthwork, structural steel and concrete
pours have pretty much been completed. There is a re-route for the LA Pharmacy in order to accommodate the construction, so please be mindful of this
new temporary process when picking
up your medications from this clinic.
Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to all who
supported me in the Primary Election
in March. I am so humbled and again,
honored to represent YOU! I love our
Shawnee people and I feel I have a real
opportunity to make a difference for the
future of OUR TRIBE, especially coming out of these COVID-19 years. The
June Run-Off is set for Saturday, June
17, 2023, please let your voices be heard
if you want continued stability to move
the OUR TRIBE forward!
Respectfully,
Lt. Governor DeLodge
Si li no ke ka no la. Ne yi wa.
Respectfully,
Alicia Edwards Miller
Tribal Secretary
(405) 287-5247
April 2023
www.astribe.com 3A
REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT
DeWayne Wilson, AST Representative
Hello Tribal Members,
I wish everyone a Happy Easter! I
hope everyone is doing well and taking
care of one another. The Tribal Elections are being held March 18, 2023.
Please get out and vote! Due to weather this last month, it had slowed tribal
business (closures and meetings) and
construction from occurring.
Education Department:
As I have been advising in our
monthly Tribal newsletter, it is a good
time to get an education as well as applying for the other programs within
the education department. Education/
Tribal Youth program staff set up an
informational table at the AST Health
Native Connections College Fair. The
Education Dept. continues to collaborate with other tribal depts. (Courts
and Domestic Violence) and schools
to either develop programs and/ or stay
involved in changes that affect Tribal/ Native American students. Finally, on March 21st – Education/Tribal
Youth program/ASTPD will host the
Pottawatomie County Sheriff ’s Office
Fentanyl Awareness Class at 6:30 pm at
the AST Health Multipurpose Building.
Please call the Education Department
with any questions or concerns regarding their available programs to help our
Tribal Member students succeed. They
can be reached at (405)275-4030, Ext
6242 or education@astribe.com
Workforce Development and Career
Initiative Program: In Mid- March, our
first HVAC candidate started acquiring his required training hours under
the guidance of the Tribe`s HVAC
mechanic. These HVAC candidates
will be helping with AC &/or Furnace
repairs, replacements, as well as preventive maintenance responsibilities.
Our HVAC mechanic continues to fulfill work orders for the tribe as well as
tribal members (preference to elders)
on their heating and air conditioning
units. Spring is here; please don’t hesitate to call the Tribe if your units are not
working properly.
Cultural Preservation Department:
Since the last newsletter article, the
Language Program has uploaded six
pre-recorded language lessons to the
tribal member login page. For general
language questions and information,
please contact the department by phone
or email at ASTLanguage@astribe.com.
Also, Cultural Preservation/THPO
staff traveled to Cherokee, North Carolina during the week of February
13th through the 16th and attended
the National THPO Conference. At
this conference, the staff met with the
new staff Archaeologist with the U.S.
Department of the Interior – Bureau
of Indian Affairs. We discuss some of
the ongoing projects in the department.
Programs under Cultural Preservation
continuously have activities or events
that promote our culture.
Gaming Commission:
Gaming Commission continues to
work with Thunderbird Casino administrative staff to up- date the Casino`s
policy/ procedures. At the recent Executive Committee Meeting, the Executive Committee passed a resolution
approving the up- dated version of the
Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
Gaming Ordinance that was recently
approved by NIGC. I continue to attend the monthly Gaming Commission
meetings.
Youth Camp:
Construction of the basketball/ tennis courts is nearing completion, still
needs to install surface, marking, and
equipment. Construction of the softball field has started. The Tribe is cutting the trees and we will start hauling
dirt onto that location. Construction of
the Youth Camp entrance and the dining hall curbing (under OEH) has been
completed. The construction of dining
hall parking lot has started. The Tribe is
working with Cleveland County on the
parking lot project.
My prayers have been with those families who have lost loved ones. If you
have any questions or concerns, feel
free to contact my office at (405) 2754030, Ext 6238 or by email: dewayne.
wilson@astribe.
Respectfully,
DeWayne Wilson
Tribal Representative
Veterans Honor Tribal Member
AST Veterans Commander Jason Bender honors proud AST member Jimmy Squire, who is competing in
the Southwest Amputee Golf Association Tournament at WinStar in April. He is the only amputee golfer from Oklahoma to represent the state, City of Shawnee and the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. Squire has
placed the last couple of years at the tournament. The AST Veterans would like to wish him good luck on
all his endeavors.
8 week program starting June 5th 2023
Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm
•
•
•
•
•
On the job training
How to do a resume
Interview skills
Filling out applications
Customer Service
Application will be accepted starting April 17th and ending May 5th (No exceptions)
Must be 14 years old or older
Current CDIB card
Any question please call Governor’s office 405-275-4030 x 6307 or x 6269
VACANCIES FOR
ABSENTEE SHAWNEE TRIBE
AND ABSENTEE SHAWNEE
TRIBAL HEALTH SYSTEM
Apply at www.astribe.com/employment
ABSENTEE SHAWNEE TRIBE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT
EDUCATION INCENTIVE AND SUPPORT PROGRAM
(ARPA EISP)
Applications and Guidelines
Available at:
www.astribe.com/education
- 1
Pre-K
Coll
2th
Voc
atio
nal
ege
GED
Education Department
2025 S. Gordon Cooper Drive
Shawnee, OK
74801
405.275.4030
Education@astribe.com
April 2023
4A www.astribe.com
Agriculture Department
The agriculture department has continued to make progress in plowing and tilling tribal
members’ plots in preparation for this year’s growing season. If anyone is needing assistance or
has a request for plowing, tilling, or wanting garden boxes, please contact the Ag department
as soon as possible. We are making way for future events to come, such as, our Open house on
Saturday April 15, 2023 from noon to 4 p.m. We invite everyone to come to join us for food
and fun while getting to know the Farm on 43406 Benson Park rd. Shawnee, OK 74801. Our
highly anticipated event coming up will be our Plant Distribution, on April 17th- 21st from 9
a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday or
while supplies last. The plant distribution will be at the farm on Benson park rd. Last year we
gave away 2,200 plants of 12 varieties! Be on the lookout for future announcements!
Our cattle continue to grow in numbers; we currently have 21 new calves that have been
born in the past 3 months! We expect more to drop in the coming months as well. We have
been continuing our monthly gardening classes, focusing on various topics. For the month
of April we will be focusing on starting up a planter box. We continue to partner with Carla
Smith, horticulturist from OSU extension office, and our next class will be April 14, 2023 from
10 a.m. to noon at the Multi-Purpose building on the AST complex. If you have any questions
please contact us at (405) 827-6545 or by email at agricultural@astribe.com.
THANK YOU
The family of Joe Spoon would like to thank everyone for
their support during this difficult time. Special thanks to
Glenn Mann for officiating the funeral and the Absentee
Shawnee Tribe for all their help. Thank you for the flowers,
food, prayers, hugs and help. It is all very appreciated.
God bless everyone for supporting our family in this trying
time.
Ne yi wa
Thank You
The Spoon Family
2023 AST Annual Easter Egg Hunt - March 25, 2023
April 2023
www.astribe.com
5A
Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
Building Blocks C.D.C.
2025 S. Gordon Cooper Dr.
Shawnee, OK 74801
(405) 878-0633 Fax: (405) 878-0156
Building Blocks II
Building Blocks invited Kayla Cartwright from Oklahoma Family Dentistry
to visit with the children about Dental Health on March 8th. The children
enjoyed learning about brushing their teeth.
Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
Building Blocks C.D.C.
16051 Lttle Axe Dr.
Norman, OK 73026
(405) 360-2710 Fax: (405) 360-2726
Building Blocks III C.D.C.
Hello Spring!
We have enjoyed the rain and sunshine that comes this time of year. The
children at our center this month have been focused on: amazing critters,
family & friends, and the beginnings of springtime. We are also looking
forward to our Annual Easter Egg Hunt, and parties on April 6th for our
students to enjoy. We wish everyone a Happy Easter!
We will be closed April 7th for Good Friday.
If you love being around children, have early child care training/experience,
and are eager to learn APPLY NOW!
NOW HIRING! Multiple positions! Call (405) 360-2726 or Apply Online @
https://www.astribe.com/employment.
We are open to the public and ONLY accepting waitlist applications at this
time. If you are interested in your child attending Building Blocks Child
Development Center III, please call (405) 360-2710.
Please enjoy the pictures we captured over the past month!
Please enjoy the pictures we captured of the past month
We are currently hiring staff, if you are interested in applying visit https://
www.astribe.com/employment for applications and to see what positions
are available.
Building Blocks is accepting waiting list applications for all of our ages; 6
weeks through Pre-K/4 Year Olds. If you are interested in getting your child
on our waiting list please call and we can email you a waiting list application
or you may stop by to fill one out.
On March 14th we had our 3 Stars Review with DHS. Also, we are currently
preparing for 5 Stars and will be applying soon.
Building Blocks Easter Egg Hunts and Parties will be Thursday, April 6th.
Building Blocks will be closed Friday, April 7th
for Good Friday.
Have a Happy Easter and an Awesome April.
Help us celebrate Earth Day on April 22.
Earth Day was first created in 1970 as a way to educate the public about
environmental issues that were ongoing across our nation. The first
Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passing of other environmental laws including
the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act.
The Absentee Shawnee Tribe Office of Environmental Health and Engineering receives grants from the EPA that assist in recycling efforts as
well as ongoing water sampling and monitoring to ensure our natural resources are protected for our future generations to enjoy.
Recycling containers are set up for public use at many of our facilities.
These containers are for cardboard only. Through our recycling program, AST OEH has been able to prevent hundreds of tons of paper and
cardboard from being sent to a landfill, which helps to conserve our natural resources and reduce our waste stream.
April 2023
6A www.astribe.com
Cultural Preservation Department
Day to day operations have continued to be carried out by each program coordinator to ensure the department as a whole continues to function properly. Following is a
breakdown of each departmental program’s most recent activities.
Cultural Preservation
We are still looking into new ways to offer workshops to the community. We hope to begin recording how-to videos for such things as moccasins, yarn belts, etc. and offer
those to interested individuals. However, we still need individuals who can and would be willing to take part in this project. If you know of anybody or are interested yourself,
please contact Ms. Maureen Bemo at (405) 275-4030 ext. 6238 or at mbemo@astribe.com.
Gift Shop
The Gift Shop is open! We have two locations for your shopping convenience. Our Shawnee Gift Shop is located at the complex in the Cultural Preservation building (building 6), and our Little Axe Gift Shop is located in the lobby of the Little Axe Health Center. We are open in Shawnee Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and once a month, usually
at the end of the month, in Little Axe from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please be patient with us at the Little Axe location as there is currently only one individual to cover both shops.
Please come in on either April 5th or April 6th to take part in our Egg Extravaganza. Try
your luck in finding an egg containing a discount for the store, but be aware, you could also
find a zonk egg.
We are still working with distributors in producing new emblem barring items, and have
started working with a new distributor that offers different designs of blankets. Some of the
new items we have received can be seen in the pictures above and to the right. To better serve
your needs, we plan to survey our tribal members and patrons. So, please be on the lookout
for the survey on the website within the next month.
Also, we are still figuring out the details for getting the shop online. However, in the meantime, if you live out of state, we can ship items to you. Please contact the Gift Shop Manager,
Mrs. Merry Rodriguez, at (405) 275-4030 ext. 6310 or at mrodriguez@astribe.com for more
details.
Library
The Library is open! Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last month, activity in the library included 8 library visitors with 3 books checked
out. Also, 14 virtual books were checked out. Ms. Paula Jackson has been working on promoting the library and has added 5 new patrons to both libraries. To date, she has
cataloged over 795 books, 45 being added recently.
The month of February was Love Your Library Month. To help celebrate, the library hosted an event to get more people in the doors. All month
long, all new applicants and existing members received a raffle ticket for checking out a book. 10 entries were put in the hopper, and we drew the
lucky winners on March 2nd, Read Across America Day. Please help me in congratulating Maxine Little Axe and Saundra Stewart! They received
an AST throw blanket.
Also, on March 1st and March 2nd, Ms. Jackson traveled to both Building Block facilities to join them in celebrating Read Across America Week
which also coincides with the birthday of Dr. Seuss. She read the book “My Many Colored Days” by Dr. Seuss. She read to the three and four year
old classes. (Pictured to the right is Ms. Jackson reading to the class.)
If you would like to view what books we have in the library currently, please visit https://www.librarycat.org/lib/ASTribe to view the catalog.
Also, recently she added some new Native American titles available in either eBook or audio format to the virtual library (https://okvirtuallibrary.
overdrive.com/). If you would like to fill out an application for a library card, you may contact Ms. Paula Jackson at (405) 275-4030 ext. 6416 or at
PJackson@astribe.com.
Please come in and visit! We have a wide variety of resources available for checkout, and many magazines, newspapers and journals for your reading leisure. We are open to
your suggestions for the library and look forward to serving your informational needs!
THPO
The THPO Program continues to make great strides and advancements. The THPO staff has steadily been receiving Section 106 projects from various Federal Agencies.
Over the past month, the THPO Officer, Mrs. Devon Frazier-Smith, has received 560 new Section 106 projects for review. In conjunction with receiving projects, the program
has consulted on 368 projects. These projects were completed in 17 of our 25 areas of interest/states. The THPO and Cultural Preservation Director has also taken part in 18
teleconference calls as it concerns Section 106 projects as well as NAGPRA cases.
At the Elder’s Service Event in January, the THPO program presented the Oral History project. The power of storytelling is essential to preserving our Tribe’s history, and we
find the need or urgency for this project as we are losing more and more tribal members. We received a good response at the event and have seven elders interested in participating. However, we need more individuals. If you would like to volunteer for this project or have any other questions, please contact the Cultural Preservation Department.
From February 13th through February 17th, Cultural Preservation/THPO staff traveled to Cherokee, North Carolina for the 23rd Annual National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO) Conference. (Pictured to the left is THPO, Mrs. Devon Frazier-Smith, and
Cultural Preservation Director, Ms. Carol Butler, at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.) This year’s conference was hosted by the Eastern Band
of Cherokee Indians. After our attendance at the Annual NATHPO Conference, we were most thrilled about having learned of ongoing updates
and changes in nationwide historic preservation policy or procedure, like the National Register Bulletin 38 revision and the Land Area & Name
Directory (LAND) Initiative; the presentation of updates from ACHP and USFS Office of Tribal Relations; and, having had the opportunity to review geophysics and remote sensing utilizations at the provided Monday workshop. We were also very thrilled to meet the new Staff Archaeologist
for the U.S. Department of the Interior-Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mr. Christopher Blosser. We were able to discuss with him some of the ongoing
projects in the department.
Language
Mr. Scott Miller has continued working on building the foundations for the Language Program. We are happy to announce, at the writing of this article, there are six pre-recorded lessons on the tribal member login page of the website. Additional lessons are in the que to be recorded. We have also been given confirmation that tribal members can
use the tribal app to access the lessons.
Please note that the language surveys can still be completed. To date, the language program has received 90 surveys. So far, the results do not look promising for those
able to understand and even speak limited Shawnee. The idea from collecting data is twofold; one is to give us an indication of where fluency and proficiency is in the tribe and
where to focus lessons. The other is to have data to use when applying for other grants and funding for the program.
For general language questions and information, please contact the department by phone or email at ASTLanguage@astribe.com.
Your concerns are important to us. Ne yi wa for the continued support of our department as we continue to make changes to our programs to better serve the Tribal
community. Please feel free to contact me, Carol Butler, at 405-275-4030 ext. 6245 or cbutler@astribe.com if you have any questions or concerns.
Cultural Preservation Department
Language Program
K’te ki we ke s’fwa
(K’tee kah wee kee s’thweh)
Planting Month
Library News
by Paula Jackson
April 2023
Ti me – corn Wi pe ko - pumkin
(tah me) (wah pee koh)
April Fool's Day 04/01
Intl. Children's Book Day 4/02
Good Friday 4/07
M’s’ko ge fi ke – beans Fa m’qi - squash
(m’s’koh chee thah kee)
(theh m’qah)
Easter Sunday 4/09
Earth Day 4/22
Upcoming:
La ko ni qa – put in the ground; to plant
(leh koh nah qah)
S’ke pi k’yi - green
(s’kee pah k’yah)
S’ko ta qi le - grass
(s’ko teh qah lee)
Pa ti ka ne fe – rabbit
(peh tah keh nee thee)
Ho wi wi le – eggs Se se pi - duck
(hoh wah wah lee)
(see see pah)
Ma ta la me wa ti – Great Spirit
(meh teh leh mee weh tah)
Gi ka li ko te yi qa – all relations
(chah keh lah koh tee yah qeh)
We sa ke ta ha wa – hope
(wee seh kee teh heh weh)
Ho wa li ko te wa - peace
(hoh weh lah koh tee weh)
Pre-recorded language lesson are available on the AST Tribal Member Login
page.
Please fill out the language survey on the tribe’s website in the Language section
under the Government tab.
Ne yi wa!
National Day of Prayer
Cinco de Mayo
Mother's Day
Armed Forces Day
Memorial Day
Congratulations to
Maxine Little Axe &
Saundra Stewart.
The winners of
LOVE YOUR LIBRARY Month
Promotion
https://okvirtuallibrary.overdrive.com/
https://www.librarycat.org/lib/ASTribe
International Children's Book Day is always held
on or around April 2nd. This was the birthday of
Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen, who
wrote some of the best-known children’s stories,
including ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’, ‘The
Little Mermaid’ and ‘The Ugly Duckling’.
In February & March I visited both Building
Block locations for story time.
Love from the Crayons by Drew Daywalt
This book, featuring all The Crayons, explores
the bright colors and subtle shades of love.
Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse
The lyrical text introduces young readers to a
different culture, while at the same time showing
that the special love that exists between parent
and child transcends all boundaries of time and
place.
My Many Colored Days by Dr. Suess.
The late Dr. Seuss saw his original text about
feelings and moods as part of the "first book ever
to be based on beautiful illustrations and
sensational color."
You can find these books available on Amazon
or enjoy a free read along version on YouTube.
April 2023
www.astribe.com
Mom – Happy happy birthday
to you! The cutest beach baby
back in 71. We love you so
incredibly much!
Love your 3 – Just, Jop & Hils
7A
Happy Birthday Grandma!
We love and appreciate you
so much. We hope you have a
wonderful day.
From all your kids & grandkids.
Sherrie – Happy birthday to
my little baby sis. Wishing
you a most wonderful day.
Love – B
Happy 1st Birthday
to our Babygirl,
Stevie Jo Robison.
Mama & Daddy love you
more than anything in the
world!
Happy Birthday to my awesome Brother-Gene Alford Jr.
Aunt Gert
Happy birthday to my beautiful sweet auntie! Hope your day
is absolutely wonderful!
Love Sherrie & kids
Vikki – Happy birthday cousin. Many more are wished for
you!
Love, Sherrie & kids.
NOTICE
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SUBMIT AN ARTICLE OR STORY
Please give us a call at (405) 598-1279 or
send an email to media@astribe.com
All articles for the next month’s issue are
DUE by the 15th of the current month.
Unfortunately we can only accept ONE
PICTURE PER BIRTHDAY PERSON,
not per birthday wish.
April 2023
8A www.astribe.com
P H O N E D I R E C T O RY - D I R E C T N U M B E R S
O F F I C E O F T H E T R I B A L S EC R E TA RY
2025 S. GORDON COOPER DRIVE, SHAWNEE, OK 74801 • PHONE: 405.275.4030 • EMAIL: SECRETARY@ASTRIBE.COM • WEB: WWW.ASTRIBE.COM
AST Complex – (405) 275-4030
Toll Free - 800-256-3341
All Nations Bank…………………………………………(405) 273-0202
Brendle Corner…......……………………………………(405) 447-3372
Building Blocks….........…………………………………(405) 878-0633
Building Blocks III LA….....……………………………(405) 360-2710
Court………………………......…………………………(405) 481-8575
Domestic Violence…………….....………………………(405) 273-2888
Enrollment……………………….....……………………(405) 481-8650
Food Pantry………………………...……………………(405) 481-8640
Gaming Commission………………....…………(405) 360-9270 x1110
Housing Authority………………………………………(405) 275-1050
Human Resources……………………….....……………(405) 275-1468
ICW………………………………………………………(405) 395-4490
Media………………………….…………………………(405) 598-1279
OEH/OEP…………………….…………….…….………(405) 214-4235
Police…………………………………………(405) 275-3200/275-3432
Social Services…………….…………………….…….…(405) 878-4723
Tax Commission…….……………….……………….…(405) 481-8600
Thunderbird Casino Norman…….……….……………(405) 360-9270
Thunderbird Casino Shawnee…………….….…………(405) 273-2679
Tribal Store Little Axe……………………………………(405) 364-0668
AST Tribal Complex will be closed
Friday, April 7, 2023 - Good Friday
Home
Sweet
Home
At AllNations Bank, we have mortgages in all shapes and
sizes and we’ll find one to fit your needs. Stop by today
and let us turn a house into Home Sweet Home!
Purchase, Construction, Refinance,
Home Improvement
2023 Gordon Cooper Dr. • Shawnee, OK 74801 • (405) 273-0202
www.anbok.com
www.asthealth.org
April 2023
Section B
ASTHS April 2023 Monthly Update
April is Autism Awareness Month
Everyone’s story is different.
The experience of Autism is not one thing. It is many things. It is dreams, talents, relationships, victories, hurdles, and everything in between.
The connection between those experiences is you. You break the mold. No matter who you are, the person you are, is infinite—and you are the
only you there is.
Understanding Autism
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), hereafter referred to as Autism (which includes Asperger’s Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified [PDD-NOS]), is a complex, lifelong developmental condition that typically appears during early childhood and can impact a person’s social skills, communication,
relationships, and self-regulation. The Autism experience is different for everyone. It is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is often referred to as a “spectrum condition” that affects people differently and to varying degrees.
While there is currently no known single cause of Autism, early diagnosis helps a person receive resources that can support the choices and opportunities needed to live
fully.
Signs & Characteristics
Autism impacts an individual throughout the lifespan. However, research shows that early diagnosis can lead to improved quality of life. The behaviors of Autism may be
apparent in infancy, but they usually become clearer during early childhood. As part of a regular health visit, your child’s doctor should perform developmental screenings focused on Autism. This screening is recommended at ages 18 and 24 months for all children.
Social Communication and Interaction Skills
Social communication and interaction skills can be challenging for people with ASD. Examples of social communication and social interaction characteristics related
to ASD can include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Avoids or does not keep eye contact
Does not respond to name by 9 months of age
Does not show facial expressions like happy, sad, angry, and surprised by 9 months of age
Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age (for example, does not wave goodbye)
Does not point to show you something interesting by 18 months of age
Does not notice when others are hurt or upset by 24 months of age
Does not notice other children and join them in play by 36 months of age
Does not pretend to be something else, like a teacher or superhero, during play by 48 months of age
Restricted or Repetitive Behaviors or Interests
People with ASD have behaviors or interests that can seem unusual. These behaviors or interests set ASD apart from conditions defined by problems with social communication and interaction only.
Examples of restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests related to ASD can include:
•
•
•
•
Lines up toys or other objects and gets upset when order is changed
Repeats words or phrases over and over (called echolalia)
Must follow certain routines
Has unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel
It is important to note that children with ASD may not have all or any of the behaviors listed as examples here.
Ways To Get Support
The Autism Society’s National Helpline is a fantastic way to learn about resources and services in your area. Speak with a trained Information & Referral (I&R) Specialist
about desired resources and support options. While the Helpline isn’t able to provide direct services, the I & R Specialist will connect you to resources and providers that
can. You can speak with an I&R Specialist by calling 800-3-AUTISM (800-328-8476).
https://autismsociety.org
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/signs.html
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Little Axe Health Clinic
•
•
•
The temporary walls have been removed in the north corridor and Lab and Imaging (X-Ray) are expected to move into their new areas in early April (awaiting
furniture and equipment installation).
Pharmacy, with a modified drive-thru, will move to their temporary location on the west side of the building at the end of March/ early April.
Pre-construction work has begun in the Dental department and temporary walls have been erected.
Substantial completion/ occupancy of the Little Axe Expansion is expected for Spring 2024!
Shawnee Health Clinic
A site has been identified for our new Shawnee Clinic and a Purchase Agreement has been signed! We are currently awaiting Environmental and Engineering assessments to finalize the transaction. We will be providing updates to the General Council. (Note: Timeline for news article submission limited details that could be shared
at this time.)
March 2023 Health Employee Awards of the Month
Employee of the Month: Robert Schoolfield, Title VI Driver/ Kitchen Assistant
Team of the Month: CompleteCare Home Health (CCHH)
Special Leadership Award: Stephanie Ruby, CCHH Director of Nurses
Chris A. Larkin, MBA, FACHE, CHC
Executive Director
April 2023
2B www.astribe.com
Congratulations
February 2023 – Scheduled Closings
April 2023 - Scheduled Closings
Time(s)
Closed:
DatesTime(s)
Closed:
Dates Closed:
Closed:
Locations:
Locations:
AST Health facilities CLOSED
All AST Health facilitiesAll
CLOSED
Wed.,
April
5th
Noon
to
-PlusCare
RE-OPEN at 5 PM until 7 PM.
Wed., Feb 1st
Noon to
-PlusCare RE-OPEN at 5 PM until 7 PM
(1st Wed. Month)(1st Wed.5 PM
-LA
and
Shawnee
Pharmacies
RE-OPEN
at 5 PM
until 8 PM
Month)
5 PM
-LA and Shawnee
Pharmacies
RE-OPEN at 5 PM until 8 PM.
Mon., Feb. 20th
(President’s Day)
All Day*
Friday, April 7th
(Good Friday)
ALL AST Health facilities CLOSED
All Day
ALL AST Health facilities CLOSED
Saturday, April 8th Shawnee SameDay and
In the event of a predicted severe weather forecast, please call ahead for possible health system closure or delay:
PlusCare
OPEN
9am-4pm
Little Axe Health Center
at April
(405) 447-0300,
Shawnee
Clinic at (405)
878-5850,
or PlusCare
at (405) 447-0477
Sat.,
8th
OPEN
Shawnee and LA Pharmacy OPEN 9am-
All Health closures/delays follow the “Absentee Shawnee Tribal5pm
Health System” on Facebook or visit our website out at
www.asthealth.org.
Plaque: “Congratulations on your retirement. Presented to Shirley Walters
Sunday, April 9th
All Day refills
ALL
AST Healthoffacilities
CLOSED
Please plan ahead and allow up to 72 hours for medication
in anticipation
our facilities
closures.
in sincere appreciation for your dedicated years of service with Absentee
(Easter)
Shawnee Tribal Health Authority. We hope that you enjoy your welldeserved retirement. 2011-2023”
In the event of a predicted severe weather forecast, please call ahead for
Shirley Walters, an Absentee Shawnee Tribal member, was presented with a
possible health system closure or delay: Little Axe Health Center at (405)
plaque and a Pendleton blanket to recognize her recent retirement. Walters
447-0300, Shawnee Clinic at (405) 878-5850, or PlusCare at (405) 447-0477.
worked as a Phlebotomist and Lab Assistant at the Absentee Shawnee
Tribal Health System and previously with the Indian Health Services.
All Health closures/delays follow the “Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health
System” on Facebook or visit our website out at www.asthealth.org.
“Congratulations Shirley! Enjoy your well-deserved retirement! Thank you
for your dedication to patients and the community. You will be missed!”
Please plan ahead and allow up to 72 hours for medication refills in
Dara Thorpe, deputy director of AST Health System, said.
anticipation of our facilities closures.
A B S E N T E E
S H A W N E E
T R I B A L
HEALTH
SYSTEM
Prevention. Progress. Pride.
OPERATING HOURS EFFECTIVE FEB. 6TH
ARE YOU A NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENT WHO IS
SEEKING A FUTURE IN A HEALTHCARE RELATED FIELD?
LITTLE AXE HEALTH CENTER
405.447.0300
7:30am—6:00pm Mon.—Fri.
LITTLE AXE HEALTH CENTER
PHARMACY
FOR YOUR VISIT
PLEASE...
CALL AHEAD
405.292.9530 REFILL LINE
8:00am—8:00pm Mon.—Fri.
9:00am—5:00pm Sat.—Sun.
WEAR A MASK
SHAWNEE CLINIC
405.878.5850
7:30am—6:00pm Mon.—Fri.
SHAWNEE CLINIC PHARMACY
405.878.5859 REFILL LINE
8:00am—8:00pm Mon.—Fri.
9:00am—5:00pm Sat.
SHAWNEE WALK-IN CLINIC
405.878.5850
9:00am—6:00pm Mon.—Fri.
9:00am—4:00pm Sat.
AVAILABLE INTERSHIPS:
8 INTERNSHIP POSITIONS
DATE RANGE:
June 5th – July 28th (8 week program)
HOURS:
An average of 20 hours a week
PAY:
$13.00 per hour
I. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Must be Native American (AST Preferred) with a valid CDIB card
Current GPA of 3.0 or above preferred
Must be a High School Senior (Class of 2023) or current College/Vo-Tech student
PLUSCARE CLINIC
405.447.0477
8:00am—7:00pm Mon.—Fri.
9:00am—4:00pm Sat.—Sun.
2023 SUMMER INTERNSHIP
6ft
FOLLOW GOOD
SOCIAL
DISTANCING &
SPACING
Must be between the age of 18-24 years old
Must be available Monday - Friday 8a-5p, there may be some evenings and weekends
Must be fully vaccinated as identified by the CDC
Must be available the first two weeks of the internship
II. HOW TO APPLY
USE AVAILABLE
SANITIZERS &
HAND WASHING
ALLOW TIME FOR
ENTRY DUE TO
SAFETY
SCREENING
MEASURES
Applications can be found on the AST Tribal Website at ASTRIBE.COM or ASTHEALTH.ORG
under “Employment” or “Careers”.
Please submit a cover letter and resume along with the employment application found on
the website.
III. QUESTIONS
If you have any questions about the application or need assistance, please
contact AST Health Human Resources at 405.701.7638.
APPLICATION DEADLINE APRIL 28TH 2023
Last Updated: Jan. 28, 2023
P: 405.407.0300
PURCHASED REFERRED CARE
NOTICE:
In the event services are required beyond what is available at ASTHS, your
ASTHS primary provider may refer you for services outside of the clinic.
For AST enrolled citizens, Purchased and Referred Care (PRC) funds may
cover the cost for these services and some additional services such as hearing
aids, orthodontics, and emergency room visits. The expenditure of PRC/
CHS services is based on medical necessity and the current funding level of
the program.
Currently-enrolled Absentee Shawnee Tribal citizens MUST:
•
•
•
Provide proof of residency within the designated catchment areas for
the previous 6 months.
Reside within the AST catchment areas of Pottawatomie, Cleveland,
Oklahoma, parts of Logan and Lincoln Counties.
CDIB Card must be current and updated.
To coordinate these benefits on your behalf, we require you to call before
scheduling any appointments with outside providers or facilities. In the case
of emergency room visits, PRC will need to be notified within 72 hours of
admission to determine eligibility for payment.
PRC Little Axe Health Center 405.701.7951 • PRC@astribe.com
F: 405.701.7631
ASTHEALTH.ORG
April 2023
www.astribe.com
MONDAY
3
TUESDAY
4
PORK CHOP
MAC & TOM
FRUIT COCKTAIL
ROLL
10
BEEF FINGERS
MASHED POT/GRAVY
GREENBEANS
PEARS
17
BBQ CHICKEN
GREENBEANS
ROLL/APPLESAUCE
24
HOT DOG
POT. SALAD
MANDRAIN ORANGES
11
18
CHILI
W/ BEANS
CRACKERS
ONIONS, CHEZ
JELL-O
CHICKEN PATTY
SANDWICH
CHIPS
FLUFF
25
GOULASH
OKRA
BREAD
CAKE
CHICKEN STRIPS
MASHED POT/GRAVY
BROCCOLI
PEACHES
WEDNESDAY
5
12
19
THURSDAY
6
BAKED CHICKEN
PEA N CARROTS
BREAD
CRISP
FRIDAY
7
BOILED EGG
HAM
TOAST
13
BURRITO
SPANISH RICE
SALSA/CHIPS
FRUIT COCKTAIL
BAKED POTATO
HAM, CHEZ, ONIONS
BROCCOLI N CHEZ
PUDDING
20
BEANS
STEAKFRIES
ONIONS
SPINACH
27
SALMON PATTY
MAC & CHEZ
TURNIP GREENS
MIXED FRUIT
CHEF SALAD
EGG, CHEZ, ONIONS
COTTAGE CHEZ
PINEAPPLES
26
HAM
VEGGIES
BREAD
COOKIE
3B
CLOSED FOR
14
SCRAMBLED EGGS
SAUSAGE GRAVY
BISCUIT
21
28
EASTER APRIL 9
WAFFLES
BACON
FRUIT
OATMEAL
YOGURT
FRUIT
LUNCH SERVED MONDAY – THURSDAY 11 AM TO 1 PM
BREAKFAST ON FRIDAYS- 9 AM TO 11 AM
AST TITLE VI
ELDER INTAKE FORM
Interconnected Living & Wellness– What does this mean to you?
TODAY’S DATE______________________________ REFERRAL SOURCE_____________________
Interconnected living & wellness care is what our AST Health System strives to offer patients by
providing various services in a central location. We recognize that good health is inter-related by
multiple facets of daily life – physical, emotional, spiritual, occupational, social and environmental
elements. These 7 categories are known as the seven dimensions of wellness, and just like the domino
effect, they all interact and affect each other in some way. That’s why your AST Health System stands
unique in that it provides a central location to address all these important factors of your life!
LAST NAME___________________________ FIRST NAME____________________________ MI_____
DATE OF BIRTH______________________ MALE ____ FEMALE____ VETERAN___YES_____NO
STREET ADDRESS____________________________________________________
CITY___________________ STATE_____ ZIP CODE________ PHONE NUMBER _______________
SINGLE ____MARRIED ____ DIVORCED/SEPARATED
___WIDOWED ___ WIDOWER____
Your wellness holds the utmost importance to us and in acknowledging, “the whole person, not the
parts”, we as your health providers are able to care for you as a caring and collaborating team. So
moving forward, we at the Health System and at the Diabetes & Wellness Program wish you good
health & wellness in all elements of your life and stand to serve you as a whole.
SPOUSE’S NAME______________________________ SPOUSE’S DATE OF BIRTH _______________
NAME OF EMERGENCY CONTACT (1)______________________________PHONE______________
NAME OF EMERGENCY CONTACT (2) ______________________________PHONE _____________
Be Well.
PRIMARY LANGUAGE
ENGLISH___ TRIBAL___
OTHER______________________
For more information on the Diabetes & Wellness Program and/or to schedule an
appointment, please contact us at (405) 701-7977. We are here for you!
HOUSING ___ HOUSE ___ APARTMENT ___COMMUNITY HOUSING __OTHER EXPLAIN____________
COMPOSITION ___ LIVES ALONE ___ LIVES WITH SPOUSE ___LIVES WITH FAMILY/FRIENDS
For further reading on this subject and management tips on the 7 dimensions of wellness,
please reference the following:
NUMBER IN HOUSEHOLD _______ WHO HELPS ___________________________________________
HEALTH HISTORY ___ ASTHMA
___DIABETES
___ALZHEIMER’S
___ARTHRITIS
___CANCER ___DEMENTIA
7 Dimensions of Wellness: A holistic approach to health
By: Amy Green Published: 6/1/2016
http://www.alive.com/health/seven-dimensions-of-wellness/
___CHRONIC PAIN ___HEARING AID ___CHOLESTEROL ___BLOOD PRESSURE
PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION ___Own Car ___Friend ____Public Trans. ___Senior Trans. __Family
PROSTHETIC DEVIECS ___ Walker/Cane __Wheelchair ___Hearing Aid ___Glasses __Dentures ___None
ARE YOU ENROLLED WITH A DIFFERENT TITLE VI PROGRAM?
____ YES ____ NO
IF YES, NAME OF PROGRAM & WHERE LOCATED:________________________________________
HEALTH CONCERNS ___________________________________________________________________
SERVICES CURRENTLY BEING RECEIVED_________________________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS______________________________________________________
PROVIDE THE DATE OF YOUR VACCINATION COVID 19
1st__________ 2nd_________ BOOSTER__________
Johnson & Johnson __________ FLU__________
HEALTH BUZZ!!
In the February issue of The Absentee Shawnee News, I shared more information about one of our two caregiver
programs, Music and Memory. Now, I would like to do the same with The Savvy Caregiver in Indian Country.
Dr. J Neil Henderson, an Oklahoma Choctaw native and Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota, saw the need
for culturally specific caregiver training programs for American Indian elders. Dr. Henderson describes The Savvy
Caregiver in Indian Country as a “descendant” of The Savvy Caregiver by Dr. Ken Hepburn. Through a grant from the
National Indian Council on Aging, Dr. Henderson led a panel to indigenize The Savvy Caregiver, which Dr. Henderson
points out was created in an urban, non-Indian population.
The Savvy Caregiver in Indian Country is a series of six weekly training sessions for caregivers to learn how to keep the
person with dementia involved with the people around them while feeling safe, secure, and loved. It equips caregivers
with caregiving techniques to match the stage of dementia their loved one is in. The Savvy Caregiver takes a realistic
approach, Dr. Henderson says, and recognizes that you are not going to convert the person’s confusion, angst, and
anxieties into a really mellow condition. Dr. Henderson notes that The Savvy Caregiver was indigenized in one more way,
“…think of caregiving as an actual ritual of honoring the elder, that what we think of as caregiving tasks become
symbolically important tasks assisting them as they walk toward the other side.”
What is home health and how does it work?
Home health is professional skilled care such as nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy and
occupational therapy that is provided in the comfort of your own home. The goal of home health is to
help the patient remain independent in their home while regaining their health. Education is provided to
the patient and caregivers to help manage the symptoms at home and to prevent emergency room visits
and rehospitalization.
A doctors order is needed to begin home health services. Once your doctor sends in a referral to
CompleteCare Home Health we will schedule an appointment for a registered nurse case manager to
come to your home and discuss your needs and ask you some questions about your health. Afterwards
a plan of care will be established for your personal health goals and your doctor will be updated on your
progress.
Some examples of what home health can do are the following:
Dr. J. Neil Henderson
For more information on The Savvy Caregiver in Indian Country or Music & Memory, email me, Gayla Temple, at
gtemple@astribe.com or adpi@astribe.com, or call 405.561.7870. You can also visit the Seeking Hope webpage. Go to
the AST Health System’s website, asthealth.org, click on “Programs and Prevention” and click on “Seeking Hope”.
Warmest Regards,
Gayla Temple
Dementia Care Specialist
Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiative
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Check that you are taking medications and other treatments correctly
Check your blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and oxygen levels
Check the safety of the home (looking for fall risk situations)
Check on your pain level if any
Educate you and other caregivers about your personalized care (heart health, diabetes, etc)
Check glucose levels
Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy can be provided in the home if
ordered.
CompleteCare Home Health’s mission is “Promoting independence, healing, and comfort through quality
and compassionate care at home, while becoming the leading provider of care management and clinical
services for skilled nursing, rehabilitation therapies, personal and supportive care at home with your
family.”
Call us today for more information on how we can help. 405.701.7085
April 2023
4B www.astribe.com
AST HEALTH SYSTEM DIRECTORY
AST HEALTH SYSTEM DIRECTORY
LITTLE AXE HEALTH CENTER ..................................................... 405-447-0300
Administration
Business Office
Little Axe Dental
Health Information Management
Lab/X.Ray
Optometry
Patient Benefit Advocates
Primary Care
Public Health
Security
Electronic Health Record
Physical Therapy
Behavioral Health .................................................................................. 405-701-7987
Little Axe Purchased Referred Care ........................................................ 405-701-7951
Diabetes & Wellness ...............................................................................405-701-7977
Pharmacy ...............................................................................................405-292-9530
CompleteCare Home Health................................................................... 405-701-7085
Transportation........................................................................................405-701-7603
SHAWNEE CLINIC ............................405-878-5850 OR 877-878-4702 TOLL FREE
Administration
Business Office
Health Information Management
Lab/X-Ray
Patient Benefit Advocates
Contract Health
Physical Therapy
Primary Care
Public Health
Behavioral Health ...................................................................................405-878-4716
Diabetes & Wellness ...............................................................................405-701-7977
Pharmacy ........................................................ 405-878-5859 OR 866-742-4977TOLL FREE
Transportation........................................................................................405-701-7603
PLUSCARE ............................................................................................... 405-447-0477
GENERAL
AST Resource Center..............................................................................405-364-7298
Corporate Compliance Hotline............................................................... 405-701-7135
Patient Advocate .................................................................................... 405-701-7623
AST Tribal Complex ...............................................................................405-275-4030
AST Tribal Police .................................................................................... 405-275-3200
AST Housing ..........................................................................................405-273-1050
COVID Hotline ........................................................................................405-695-1787
Worried about losing your SoonerCare Coverage?
Two ways to renew
UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION
CHECK YOUR MAIL
Update your contact information
ie: mailing address, email and
phone number.
Take action quickly to avoid any
disruption in your coverage.
Online at
mysoonercare.org
Respond to the
request for
information
Contact a Patient
Benefit Advocate
Bring the letter to
a Patient Benefit
Advocate
FOR THOSE WHO NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR
SOONERCARE COVERAGE
If you no longer qualify for SoonerCare you could receive health insurance
coverage through the Marketplace at NO COST TO YOU or the tribe.
Our contracted benefits advisor
with Legacy Tribal Services is
available to assist in the
enrollment process.
Just give us a call!
Little Axe Health Center: 405-447-0300
Shawnee Clinic: 405-878-5850
www.asthealth.org
Special Enrollment Periods Did You Know?
Contact a Patient Benefit Advocate
Little Axe Health Center 405.447.0300
Shawnee Clinic 405.878.5850
y
The Tribe is only funded approximately
40% of cost to render care to patients?
Most people think it is funded 100%.
y
To add services, equipment, or help
more people, we need your assistance.
y
By signing up for a zero cost plan, you
allow the tribe to bill for services and to
be reimbursed by insurance companies.
This frees up more dollars to help those
who are are not eligible for a zero cost
plan helping Purchased Referred Care
dollars go further.
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.