Tribe Offers Homeowner Assistance Fund (2022)

THE ABSENTEE

SHAWNEE NEWS

www.astribe.com

April 2022

Volume 32, No. 04

Tribe Offers Homeowner Assistance Fund

Photos L-R: Administrative Assistant, Ashlynn Gouge helps Tribal member Earl Ash and his wife Tammy with his application. The HAF Staff (L-R): Finance Clerk, Taylor

Masquas; Project Coordinator, Jordan Herrod; Administrative Assistant, Ashlynn Gouge.

The American Rescue Plan Act

provides the funds for the Homeowners

Assistance Fund to prevent mortgage

delinquencies and defaults, foreclosures,

loss of utilities or home energy services,

and displacement of homeowners

experiencing financial hardship after

January 21, 2020. $498 million has

been designated for Tribes or Tribally

designated housing entities and the

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

We are thrilled to announce the

Absentee Shawnee Tribe is a recipient

of a portion of these funds to provide

much-needed assistance to our tribal

homeowners and other local tribal

homeowners!

The program will focus on three areas

for HOMEOWNERS: mortgage payment

assistance, utility payment assistance and

property charges.

“Last year we surveyed members

and these were the top three areas that

tribal members wanted assistance with.”

Secretary Alicia Miller explained. “We are

glad to be able to use these funds to help

our members with mortgage payments

and utility costs. COVID is still here and

many members are still dealing with the

hardship this virus has caused.”

Nationwide eligibility is available to

AST members. Non AST’s (other Native

Americans) are eligible but must live in

Pottawatomie County.

“Many times the programs we offer

are strictly for the tribal jurisdiction. The

members who live out of state don’t get

to participate.” Miller said. “It’s a good

feeling knowing that we don’t have to

exclude members based on where they

live.

This is an income based program.

The program can provide assistance up

to a maximum amount of $8,000. The

money can be split between homeowner

utilities, homeowner mortgage payments

or homeowner property taxes and

insurance. Payments will be issued

directly to utility companies, mortgage

lenders, tax assessors and/or insurance

companies.

The money can also be split between

the three areas.

“If a tribal member is behind on their

house payment, they can use this money

to catch up. Or they could even use it on

different utilities. “Miller said. “The good

thing about this program is it can really

help members with their bills. Unlike

other assistance programs, HAF allows

members to pay more than one utility

bill.”

The Homeowner Assistance Fund will

help with electric, gas, water, internet

service, home energy, solid waste disposal

and sewer. Utility repairs and installation

are not covered.

Tribal members must be 18 years or

older at the time of application and limited

to one AST member per household. The

household income must be 150 percent

of the area median income and must be

for the applicant’s primary residence.

AST homeowner, residential and

habitable,

(includes

manufactured

housing), unpaid homes within a housing

authority program do not qualify;

however, paid off homes do qualify.

Members must also attest to financial

hardship after January 1, 2020 due to

COVID-19. HAF is a one-time assistance

and can’t be duplicative of any other

federally funded homeowner assistance

program.

To apply online, go to https://www.

a s t r i b e . c om / for ms / Hom e ow n e r s Assistance-Fund-Program. Applications

can be turned in by mail, email (HAF@

astribe.com) or delivered in person by

appointment. To make an appointment

or receive an application, please call the

HAF Staff at (405) 275-4030 - Jordan

Herrod - HAF Project Coordinator x 2009;

Ashlynn Gouge - HAF Administrative

Assistant x 6446 or Taylor Masquas –

HAF Finance Clerk x 6447.

“The repercussions of COVID will be

felt for a long time. The cost of food, gas

and utilities keeps rising. It’s a great feeling

know our tribal homeowners won’t have

to worry so much about keeping their

homes.” said Miller. “The great American

dream is home ownership and we want to

help them keep that dream alive.”

The HAF Program will be operational

until all funds have been disbursed.

Food Pantry Adding More Items

Pictured are items included in a monthly box.

The AST Food Pantry opened its doors

last September and has substantially expanded their offerings. The food pantry

initially served less than 50 families in the

opening month. Now six months later,

they are helping up to 200 families each

month.

When they first opened, the boxes of

food offered only canned goods, rice and

cereal. But now the boxes contain peanut

butter and jelly, juice, flour or cornmeal,

granola bars, more pasta and canned

good choices, oatmeal and pancake mix.

The pantry hopes to keep adding different food items and eventually giving out

cold items such as meat and eggs.

“We gave out hamburger meat last

December and hope to do it again.” said

Food Pantry warehouse shelves stocked.

Food Pantry Director Falon Powell. “We

have refrigerators here and we’re trying to

find more vendors to add more items.”

All AST households qualify as there are

no income restrictions.

Distribution dates are once a month by

appointment only. Distribution days are

on Wednesdays 9am to 6pm and Thursdays 9am to 5pm by scheduled appoint-

ments. Office hours are Monday thru

Thursday 9am to 5pm and Friday 9am to

3pm.

Applications are available online, www.

astribe.com or by calling the Food Pantry

at (405) 481-8640. There are also applications located outside of the food pantry at

40210 Benson Park Road.

2A www.astribe.com

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

GOVERNOR’S REPORT

John Johnson, AST Governor

Hello fellow tribal members,

Wow it is already April! Little league

baseball and softball have begun to practice and summer time will be here before

we know it. I am hoping the Oklahoma

weather lets us have a spring before that

hot summer weather is here.

April also brings the 88th Semi-Annual General Council Meeting. Our tribal meeting will be on April 9th, 2022 at

10:00am at the Thunderbird Event Center

GOVERNOR

John Johnson

LT. GOVERNOR’S REPORT

Ezra DeLodge, AST Lt. Governor

Lt. GOVERNOR

Ezra DeLodge

SECRETARY

Alicia Miller

TREASURER

Joseph Blanchard

REPRESENTATIVE

DeWayne Wilson

Tribal Members,

A few updates from departments within my oversight. These come directly from

the Directors and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact my

office or the Directors themselves.

Maintenance:

The Maintenance staff has completed

24 work orders since 2/14/22 and during

the time we are getting carports installed

in the parking lots for Tribal vehicles. I

also want to thank the Maintenance and

Housekeeping crew for all their hard

work.

Agriculture:

Spring time is almost upon us, and

that means that seeds have been put in

the ground. The Agriculture Dept. staff

has been working since the beginning of

the year to identify, improve and prepare

plots of lands that could be used for planting seeds to provide a variety of produce

to be utilized through the Food Sovereignty Project. Through the Food Sovereignty Project, several avenues have been

created and utilized to help promote production. A couple of avenues utilized are:

• Prescribed Fire- prescribed fire is

used as a land management tool as

a better low cost resource to clear

overgrown vegetation on lands that

have been sitting idle for several

years.

Greenhouses-Seeds have been

planted so that distribution can be

made to tribal members interested in planting them in their own

garden plots. A variety of plants

will be available such as: tomato,

squash, cucumber, peppers, beans

and any other suggestions from

those interested in gardening. Distribution will begin April 18, as this

will be the time in which the threat

of severe frost has passed and the

soil temperatures have risen. We

will be at 40210 Benson Park Road

for distribution.

SECRETARY’S REPORT

Alicia Miller, AST Secretary

Ho wa se ke sa ke!

As we embrace the spring season and

time change, it is also time to welcome

you, the tribal membership, to the 88th

Semi-Annual General Council set for a

little later this month. It is always good

to see everyone who can attend, and it is

always good to have active dialog for the

benefit of the tribe as a whole. I am very

much looking forward to it.

One topic I would like to cover this

month is the recent opinion handed down

on March 15th from the Supreme Court

of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. In short,

the Supreme Court affirmed the Lt. Governor’s term expires in 2024. There is no

Executive Committee seat that is up for

election in 2022. The Executive Committee petitioned the Supreme Court for

a Declaratory Judgment in December of

2021. The Executive Committee sought

an interpretation of Article VIII of the

Constitution of the Absentee Shawnee

Tribe of Oklahoma, last amended May 10,

2019. It was the Executive Committee’s

position, in regards (not Election Commission races) to the Lt. Governor’s position as defined in the Constitution; there

was no “annual election” in accordance

in Little Axe. The EC will be giving their

reports along with the report from our

health director on the expansion of the

clinic. I hope to see everyone there.

Soil samples and the survey have been

completed for the new police department

building. We are waiting on the reports

to be able to move to the next step which

will be the bidding process. It is exciting

to see the stakes and flags that will soon

become this new much needed building.

On March 10th, 2022 the flags on campus were lowered to half-mast to honor

the late Danny Little Axe Sr. Mr. Little

Axe served 2 terms as Governor and 1

•

April 2022

term as Lt. Governor of the Absentee

Shawnee Tribe. He also served on various

boards and was a consultant for the Tribal

Government Institute. My thoughts and

prayers go out to the family and friends of

Mr. Little Axe.

The complex has been opened and all

staff is on campus. But we still ask that

you make an appointment with the department that you need to do business

with to reduce the amount of people on

campus. We ask that you wear a mask and

please be sure to social distance as much

as possible.

Community Outreach- for those

interested in planting a garden and

need ground plowed, disked and

tilled, contact the Ag Dept. staff to

sign up.

• Growing Boxes- for those who

don’t have areas to plant in, an alternative is to plant in growing boxes. The Ag Dept. is working hard

on getting orders done to provide

a box that measures 4x8 to plant

seeds or put starter plants in. Soil

will be provided.

• 3-Sisters Youth Project- a package

containing seeds of Corn, Squash

and Beans, known as the 3-Sisters

will be provided to any youth interested in planting them as an introduction to gardening/agriculture.

Please contact the Ag Dept. staff if you

are interested in making a garden this

year. We will assist as much as possible,

provide any information needed and continue to create new avenues that could be

beneficial in providing fresh produce direct from field to table.

Andy Warrior (405) 432-6257

Jennifer Howell (405) 827-6545

Craig Blanchard (405) 434-4300

OEH:

OEH Update March 2022 in total for

2022 OEH has assisted Tribal members

with 12 different septic renovations and

installations, water well drilling and installations, well renovations, and community water connections. For 2022, we

have collected, processed, and recycled 4

bales of shredded office paper and cardboard equaling roughly 8 tons of recyclable waste that has been diverted from

landfills. OEH is currently working on logistics for transportation to deliver 5 large

storage containers of electronic waste for

recycling. This is roughly five years of

electronic waste that has been collected

by the Tribe and diverted from landfills.

Construction on the Youth Camp cabins, and bathhouse have been complete.

Engineering plans for the loop road at

the camp have been completed and construction of the entry gate is set to begin.

The architectural design and engineering

phase of the new Police Safety Center has

begun. The geotechnical report process

and land survey for the building have

been completed. We are meeting with the

Architectural Design team on a weekly

basis, updating timelines and fine-tuning

the building design. Construction is still

set to begin around June 2022. We have

received notification from EPA that we

have been awarded funding for Fiscal Year

2022 for 128(a) Brownfields Program. On

March 8 we submitted our grant application for Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 for the

EPA Performance Partnership Grant.

Jarrod Lloyd

OEH&E Director

jlloyd@astribe.com (405) 214-4235

Wood Cutting Program & Land Managment:

Land Management has been working

with Ag department with land projects.

The department assisted with prescribed

burns on tribe land, helping out with

plowing gardens and clearing fence row

for over grown trees. Land Management

has been clearing honey locust (big thorn

trees) on tribe lands. We will continue to

help tribe member’s needs.

Please contact me at 405-395-8101 or

email at cmartinez@astribe.com for any

questions or concerns.

BIA Tribal Housing Improvement Program:

Since our inception three months ago,

our department has processed 46 THIP

Applications, conducted 33 home assessment and working to complete our fifth

application. In March, we experienced a

few work delays due to inclement weather

COVID concerns and lack of staffing. The

THIP program is still seeking two (2) fulltime qualified candidates to complete our

team. See Employment Opportunities on

ASTRIBE.COM website. Keyword: Carpenter and Maintenance.

If you have any questions or concerns

please contact me by email ezrad@astribe.com , call my office 405-275-4030 x

6253 or cell 405-432-0733.

Respectfully,

Lt. Governor DeLodge

with the definition of “Annual Election”

under Article VI Elections, Section 7 (a),

which defines an annual election as follows:

“(a) Annual Election: Held on the third

Saturday in June primarily for the purpose of electing persons to fill those positions whose terms expire for the given

year. It is conducted by the Election Commission. Voting is by secret ballot at polling places. Absentee voting is permitted.

Unless provision is made in the Election

Ordinance for a run off, the outcome of

the election shall be decided by plurality.

Lt. Governor DeLodge shifted up to

complete Lt. Governor Blanchard’s term,

which expires in 2024. To me, whether

it is a 2-year term, 4-year term or whatever the term may be – the terms are to

be completed until the term expires for

the given year. This is what was done in

2003, when Governor James Lee Edwards

passed and in 2007, when Governor Jennifer Onzawah resigned. Thinking in a

governmental state of mind (but also generalizing), when U.S. Presidents or a state

Governor passes or steps down while in

office, the next in line shifts to fulfill that

term. There is a succession lined out in

the event of unfortunate circumstances such as these occurring. Contrary

to what some may think, the Executive

Committee is following the Constitution

and I feel, in this case, the Supreme Court

got it right.

Switching gears, learning the passing of

Dan Little Axe Sr. was a sad day - a sad

day for his family and a sad day for the

tribe. In the days that followed, our tribal campus flags were flown at half-staff

in his memory. His name will always be

synonymous with our tribal government

as the 1st Governor of our modern AST

Constitution. I also would like to acknowledge on behalf of the tribe of his efforts to institute tribal gaming for ASTs in

the 1980’s. My heart goes out to his wife,

Georgia, their children, and the entire the

Little Axe family. He will be missed by

many and may he rest in peace.

I also would like to restate my concluding sentiment from last month - I

give each of you well wishes, happiness

and joy in your times of celebration this

month. I also give to you my empathy,

kindness and compassion for those who

encounter worries, sadness, illness and/or

grief this month.

Si li no ke ka no la. Ne yi wa.

Alicia Miller

Tribal Secretary

(405)287-5247

April 2022

TREASURER’S REPORT

Joseph Blanchard, AST Treasurer

Hello fellow Tribal members and friends:

Spring is here. I always love this time of

year because one can see, hear, and smell

the changing of the seasons. Many events

will begin as families start to hit the lake,

attend softball games, and have outdoor

activities and cookouts. I love the smell

of a good fire and food cooking on the

grill. Also, our traditional grounds will

start preparing for Bread Dance ceremonies. As a practitioner of our culture, I

look forward to this special practice as

we become one with nature, nurture our

spirits, and enjoy the fellowship with our

relations.

Before I get into the rest of my article,

I would be remiss if I didn’t make a few

comments on the passing of one of our

former Executives, Dan Little Axe, Sr.

This is the 2nd consecutive year we’ve lost

someone that was a vital part of our history during their terms as an official. In

these situations, collaterally, much of our

institutional knowledge is lost with them.

As a show of respect for his contributions

and service to the Tribe, I requested our

flags at all AST properties to be lowered

to half-staff.

For those who were not familiar, Dan

was elected as Governor, Lt. Governor,

and he served on a multitude of AST

boards throughout his career. His vision and leadership assisted our Tribe

with many improvements to the AST

Complex; the creation of the IHS facility

which would later become our AST Clin-

REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT

DeWayne Wilson, AST Representative

Hello Tribal Members,

I hope your family, is in good health

and continue to take the necessary precautions pertaining to the pandemic.

This March, the pandemic and the winter

weather created more challenges (splitshifts and closing of the Tribal complex).

The good news is the Executive Committee decided to move the Tribe back

to Level 3, appointment only, due to the

decline of COVID 19 numbers in March

2022. For all the Tribal members that are

not able to attend the 88TH Annual General Council, I want to give everyone the

opportunity to see the department/program accomplishments that I have oversite of; Education, Cultural Preservation,

Gaming Commission, and Youth Camp.

Education Department;

• The Education Director and I developed a three year plan which

www.astribe.com 3A

ic; and was a part of the creation of our

initial bingo facility which would transition into Thunderbird Casino. There

are many other unmentioned things he

accomplished but I am fully aware of the

love he has for his family, his People, and

his Creator. He is someone to be emulated and recognized for his influence and

impact on the Tribe. Neyiwa, Pops! We’ll

take it from here.

In other news, the Semi-Annual General Council meeting is scheduled for

10 AM Saturday, April 9th at Thunderbird Casino in Little Axe. We encourage

membership to attend this meeting in order to participate in the process. This is a

chance to express your concerns to Leadership and have those issues addressed.

If you were unable to attend in person,

members can request a copy of the GC

Booklet be mailed to their residence. We

hope to see you there.

Recently, the AST Supreme Court issued their ruling regarding the Declaratory Judgement in Case No. ASSC 202101, Executive Committee vs. Election

Commission. This became an issue when

the Commission suggested there was a

vacancy in the Lt. Governor’s seat, due to

the passing of Ken Blanchard, and they

wanted to have an election to fill his seat.

The Executive Committee disagreed and

said, no vacancy exists since we have followed the Constitution and subsequent

Supreme Court rulings over “ascension”

due to death or resignation, and asserted

there is not to be an annual election until

at least 2023, and the term does not expire until 2024. The intent was to prevent

false information from being distribut-

ed and to not waste effort, time, and resources.

Here is an excerpt from the Supreme

Court Justice’s opinion: “the Plaintiff Executive Committee is granted permanent

injunctive relief, prohibiting the Defendant Election Commission from taking

any actions to fill Ken Blanchard’s elected

position as Lieutenant Governor, until a

time commensurate procedurally with

the expiration of the four (4) year term

when the next scheduled election for Executive Committee would occur.”

Normally, I would not make mention

about this determination as some might

take it as gloating. But, I have to say

this much as it reflects upon my interpretation and opinion of how a portion

of my term in office has occurred. Over

the last 18 months, myself or members

of the Executive Committee have been

ridiculed publicly and privately through

conversation, or slandered on Social Media. Yes, I understand these are some of

the downfalls of tribal service and being

in the public’s eye. As I have mentioned

in the past, these inherited issues have

been existent long before I came into office; but we are fixing the problems and

making amends as necessary. The majority has been resolved but some require

more work and can’t be completed overnight. The difficulty here resides in these

outlandish assertions or insinuations.

Some have asked, “why don’t y’all respond?” The simple answer is, I/we know

the truth about the improvements and

changes. Why argue with an individual

who already has their mind made up and

believes those comments. Even when

presented with the facts, that information

is manipulated or twisted into some other

allegation of fault or wrongdoing.

Here is the premise I want to convey to

our People. “We are in an historic time

of our Tribe due to the Pandemic. With

the CARES and ARPA funding, we have

been allowed an opportunity to expand

operations and provide assistance to our

members like never before. We should

be celebrating the new construction, the

extra distribution payments, the completion of projects, and the creation of

additional venues. As the Treasurer, I

have worked tirelessly with the Executive

Committee to find ways to help ALL our

folks, not just a select group or a specific

family. I have suggested Unity and Teamwork as alternatives to the dissension, division, and negativity. Though some may

not agree with the final decision, I always

provide an unbiased and fair opinion on

issues, always look for the good, ask how

does this improve our program, and how

does it help the tribal member.”

As I close, I want to say “Thank you!”

to those of you for the continued support

and advice. I am always grateful for the

opportunity to serve the People and my

Tribe. I look forward to seeing you in

the future and always do my best to acknowledge our Tribal members when I

see them in public. Should you have any

questions or would like to express your

concerns, do not hesitate to call or send

me an email.

increased the funding for the next

three years by using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. This

will apply to the different programs

within the Education Department.

This was long overdue.

• Also, we increased funding to the

Workforce Development and Career Initiative that allows funding

to tribal members/dedicated employees to acquire a skill set to further their careers. This initiative is

still in developmental stage.

Cultural Preservation Department;

• The Cultural Preservation Director and I recouped funding from

ARPA funding due to the negative impact the COVID- 19 pandemic had toward these programs

(Gift Shop and the ANA Language

Grant). Both the Education and

Cultural Preservation departments

were design/ categorized for ARPA

funding.

•

Also, we worked with representa-

tives of the ANA grant to obtain an

extension pertaining to the Language Grant which is a three year

grant. The Cultural Preservation

Director did a great job accomplishing this task.

Gaming Commission;

• A new Executive Director of Gaming Commission was hired who is a

Tribal member and filled two empty/ vacant Compliance positions

with Tribal members.

• A Resolution was approved to add

another Gaming Commissioner

(from two to three) to the Gaming

Ordinance and then it will need

NIGC approval.

Youth Camp;

• One Health Module building has

been completed.

• Two Camp Cabins and one Bath

house have been completed.

I would like to acknowledge these accomplishments were only possible with

this Executive Committee working col-

laboratively and having the shared vision to invest in our tribal membership.

I would like to say “Thank You” to all

the Directors and the many employees

for exhibiting a positive, team- oriented,

work environment that resulted in these

accomplishments. My hope is that this

Executive Committee will continue to

work diligently and efficiently to the continued advancement and development

our Tribal government/programs.

In closing, I like to send out my heartfelt condolences to the Little Axe family

and other families that have lost loved

ones. Our Tribe lost a great man and

Tribal leader in Mr. Danny Little Axe. If

you have any questions or concerns feel

free to contact my office at (405) 2754030, Ext.6239 or by email: dewayne.wilson@astribe.com

Neyiwa!

Joseph H. Blanchard

Respectfully,

DeWayne Wilson

Tribal Representative

April 2022

4A www.astribe.com

2022-2023 Little Miss Indian

Oklahoma City Princess

Hello my friends, it’s a good day! My

name is Pe Ti Ki M’se (pee-tah-kahmsee) Zoli Layne Gibson. I am 7 years old

and attend first grade at Little Axe Elementary. I am the only daughter of Taylor McClellan and Kyle Gibson. I have

four older brothers: Nick, Kelin, Kingston and Grayson Wayne. My paternal

grandparents are Pamela (Freeman)

Gibson and Jeff Gibson. My maternal

grandparents Teresa Bible and the late

Billy McClellan, Sr.

I was brought into the arena as soon as I could walk, just like my late

grandfather and mother before me. I am an enrolled member of the Absentee-Shawnee tribe, I am turtle clan and my Shawnee name translates as

“makes water foamy; when turtle swims up and makes the water foamy”.

I am a descendant of the Sac and Fox, Ioway, Otoe-Missouria, Cherokee

and Mvskoke Nations. I enjoy drawing, coloring, singing, dancing at powwows, attending our Native American Church, cheerleading, wrestling,

softball and time with my family.

Thank you to my family and friends for the support and encouraging

words, also to the Changing Winds Cultural Society for giving me the honor of representing your organization as the incoming 2022-2023 Little Miss

Indian Oklahoma City Princess. It will be a great year, Ne Yi Wa!

Melokami 2022

S P R I N G

B R E A K

C A M P

Education Department: Camp Nikoti Tribal Youth Program

Indian Child Welfare (ICW)

In this Tribe NOBODY fights alone!

April was first declared Child Abuse Prevention Month by

presidential proclamation in 1983. Since then, April has

been a time to acknowledge the importance of families

and communities working together to prevent child

abuse, and to promote the social and emotional wellbeing of children and families.

During the month of April and throughout the year,

communities are encouraged to share child abuse and

neglect prevention awareness strategies and activities

and promote prevention across the country.

Pinwheels are a national symbol for child abuse and

neglect prevention. Shining in the sun, the pinwheel is

reflective of the bright future all children deserve and our

belief that preventing child abuse early is less costly then

mending broken lives later.

Indian Child Welfare has planned several activities

throughout the month of April to share child abuse and

neglect prevention awareness strategies and activities as

well to promote prevention across our community.

During the month, you can make a big difference through

small acts that help protect children, strengthen families,

promote traits that help protect families – and,

ultimately, prevent the abuse and neglect of children.

For more information on how you can make a difference

during the month, please email ICW@astribe.com or call

405-395-4490.

Be a Child Abuse Warrior

Events and Activities

Fridays, April 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th

Wednesday, April 6, 2:00PM

Blue Selfie/Wear Blue Day

Pinwheel Garden

A simple gesture can make all the

difference. Ask your family, friends,

coworkers to join you for Wear Blue

Day to help generate awareness about

child abuse and neglect in native

country. Take a picture of you wearing

blue and holding one of ICW’s Child

Abuse Prevention signs, and then send

it to ICW@astribe.com to be entered

in our drawing for a prize.

Please join ICW and the AST Housing

Authority in Planting a Pinwheel

Garden to increase awareness and

prevent child abuse and neglect.

Monday, April 18, 10:00AM

Blueberry Muffins

Please join ICW and enjoy a muffin

and juice/coffee. We will have a Photo

Booth, so stop by and take a few

pictures.

If you see it, REPORT it!

Oklahoma Abuse Hotline: 1-800-522-3511

or www.okhotline.org

April 2022

www.astribe.com 5A

Cultural Preservation Department

The Cultural Preservation Department has continued to carry out essential day to day operations to ensure the department continues to function properly. Currently, all staff

members are available full time in the office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gift Shop

We are happy to announce the gift shop is open to all customers for in-store shopping! However, individuals wanting to shop need to make an appointment with the Gift

Shop Manager, Mrs. Merry Rodriguez, 24 hours in advance. Also, upon arrival please check in at the checkpoint. Mrs. Rodriguez can be reached at (405) 275-4030 ext. 6310.

We have two locations for your shopping. Our Shawnee Gift Shop is located at the complex in the Cultural Preservation building, 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 4 p.m.

Further, to ensure the safety and protect the health of all, the Gift Shop has implemented the following 5 safety protocols that we ask visitors to follow:

1. All are required to cover their mouth and nose with PPE (masks) when shopping in the Gift Shop.

2. Occupancy Control – for your safety and the safety of our employees, we are limiting the number of

customers in the gift shop.

a. Only 2 customers will be allowed in at a time

3. Avoid close contact (Social Distance)

a. Please keep 6 feet between you and other customers

4. Use hand sanitizer as often as possible

5. Sorry…NO public restroom is available. Temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

We continue to make progress in new inventory, but as stated previously, we still are experiencing shortages and delays. However, soon be on the lookout for new color schemes of our AST t-shirts for spring.

Also, we continue to look and reach out to new businesses especially Native American owned businesses in hopes of bringing in new inventory. Some inventory that the gift shop recently received can be seen

in the picture to the left.

If you haven’t been in the store lately, please make an appointment and stop by to shop.

Library

We are happy to announce that we have opened the library to the public! However, like the Gift Shop, we ask that you follow all the protocols mentioned above, and that you

call Ms. Casey Wilson, the Librarian, to make an appointment 24 hours in advance. She can be reached at (405) 275-4030 ext. 6416.

Since the launching of OverDrive, the online access to library holdings, we have had 28 online checkouts and 3 people use the ABCmouse app. For more information or to

receive your login information, please contact Ms. Wilson.

Also, the library will start to feature an article in every newsletter spotlighting a book of the month. For the month of April, the book on spotlight is “The Hidden One”. Please

see the separate article for more details.

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 200 new Section 106 projects for review. In conjunction with receiving projects, the program

has consulted on 160 projects. These projects were completed in 20 of our 25 areas of interest/states. The THPO has also taken part in 16 teleconference calls as it concerns

Section 106 projects as well as NAGPRA cases.

FCC/TCNS

In lieu of the shutdowns from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the incoming workflow of new and modified telecommunications projects has been steady for

the TCNS program. The THPO Specialist, Ms. Ashley Brokeshoulder, has been busy reviewing, researching and given recommendations to the telecommunications industry.

Over the past month, she has received 68 new telecommunications facility projects for review. These 68 individual projects will be completed in conjunction with 9 consulting

firms in 10 of our 25 areas of interest/states.

In conjunction with receiving projects, she has reviewed, researched and gave recommendation for the clearance of 54 telecommunications projects. These 54 individual

projects were completed in conjunction with 9 consulting firms in 10 of our 25 areas of interest/states. Also, 14 projects are awaiting clearance because their packages are lacking some information such as full archaeological reports, SHPO responses, or clear pictures.

EVENTS

The Library will be hosting a ribbon skirt workshop in April. For more information, please see the flyer located in this newsletter, on the website and on the Tribe’s official

Facebook page.

Your concerns are important to us. We thank you 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.

Book Of The Month

AST LIBRARY IS HOSTING:

RIBBON

SKIRT CLASS

Tuesday, April 12th, 2022

5:30PM to 7:30PM

Little Axe Community Center

Contact AST CP to sign up or with any questions @ 405-275-4030.

Hasiski

Earth

Kcikami

Ocean

ame'ki

Land

pemateki

Mountain Range

meskwatwi

Clear Sky

m'sotewe

City

pakwaci

Prairie, Dry Land

m'tekwi'ki

Forest

mene'fi

Island

lele'feta

Life, one who has

Answer Key on Page 6A

April 2022

6A www.astribe.com

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

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 II

Building Blocks III

Building Blocks is at 51 children enrolled in our center at this time. We still

have a few spots available in our 3 Year olds classrooms. We are accepting

waiting list applications for all of our classrooms. If you are interested in

putting your child on our waiting list please call and we can email you a

waiting list application.

Over spring break our school age class enjoyed time outside of the

classroom learning, they explored the Oklahoma City Zoo. (Pictures

below)

We are excited it is now Spring and Easter

is around the corner. Building Blocks will

be closed Friday, April 15th for Good Friday. We hope everyone has a wonderful

Easter.

Building Blocks is accepting employee applications. Please visit https://

www.astribe.com/employment for available job positions and to fill out an

employment application.

Have a wonderful April!

The children also went bowling, adventured out to the Tuttle

Tiger Safari, and explored the First American’s Museum in

Oklahoma City.

Answer Key From Page 5A

April 2022

www.astribe.com 7A

Happy Birthday,

Gerry!!

We love you,

Susan, Sarah,

David, Bev

Obituary

Danny Little Axe, Sr.

Happy Birthday

Winifred Robertson April 22.

We love you,

From your Family

AST After School Program

Organization

Lifelong Learning Begins Here

February 18, 1942 - March 10, 2022

Danny Little Axe, Sr., age 80, of Norman, OK passed away at his home on

Thursday, March 10, 2022 in Norman.

He was born to John and Lillian

(Sloan) Little Axe on February 18,

1942 in Little Axe, Oklahoma and has

been a lifelong resident there.

Danny attended South Gale elementary school in Hog Creek, USA Pawnee

Boarding School and Haskell Institute

in Lawrence, Kansas.

He married Georgia Jones on February 21, 1962 in Pauls Valley, OK.

Tutors Needed

The AST After School Program in Shawnee, OK is looking

for part-time Tutors to help school age children with homework and after school activities. We provide transportation

for children to and from local schools to our classrooms on

the located at 5812 S. Hwy 177, Shawnee, OK 74801. The

hours are from M-F 2:30p-5:30p and maybe some full days

during the summer but we are usually closed when the

schools are closed and most Tribal holidays and during

Christmas break. We will work with class schedules and

days off. Starting pay is $12.00DOE. To apply go to

www.astribe.com/employment. If you have any questions

please feel free to contact the ASP Manager at the contact

information below.

Danny was owner/operator of Little Axe Plumbing and worked Civil Service.

He served 2 terms as Governor of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, served 1 term

as Lt. Governor, served on various boards and also was a consultant for the

Tribal Government Institute.

He was an avid OU fan and greatly enjoyed golf and fast pitch softball.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and 2 brothers, Floyd Kenneth Little

Axe and Troy Little Axe.

Those left to cherish his memories are his wife, Georgia, of the home; children,

Rick and Tracy Little Axe, Danny Little Axe, Jr. and Anna Walking Eagle of

Norman, Diane Little Axe, Ronnie Little Axe and Debra Jac Ponkilla, all of

Little Axe, OK; 14 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 2 brothers, Jerry

and Barbara Little Axe and John Al Little Axe; 5 sisters, Glenda Sullivan,

Wanda Tiger, Carolyn Little Axe-Sadongei, and husband Keith, Marilyn and

Sean Byers and Sabrina Little Axe; and numerous other family and friends.

AST After School Program

2025 S. Gordon Cooper Drive

Shawnee, OK 74801

Phone: 405-445-6000

Fax: 405-878-0156

E-mail: ASTChildCare@astribe.com

Absentee Shawnee Tribe's Domestic Violence Department

We help with:

Our mission is to:

Domestic Violence

Eliminate violence in

Sexual Assault

Native Country and to

Dating Violence

strengthen

Stalking

Native families to end the

Sex Trafficking

cycle of violence.

Our services are confidential and include:

Safety Planning

Emergency Assistance

Court Advocacy

Shelter Placement Assistance

Referrals

Must be intimate partner

related violence and the

victim must be fleeing the

home/situation

Who we serve:

Where we serve:

Natives and non-Natives

LGBTQ2S+

Any Religion

Any income level

EVERYONE

Because we are federally funded

we get to serve all populations

within our *service area, which

includes Cleveland, Oklahoma and

Pottawatomie counties.

*If you are AST and outside the service area, please call our office and we will see what we can do to help

you.

Contact Us:

Office Line 405.273.2888

Fax 405.273.1192

Webpage https://www.astribe.com/domestic-violence

Link to intake https://www.astribe.com/forms/victim-intake

@ASTRisingWarrior

For emergencies call 911 or AST PD @ 405.275.3200

This project was supported byGrant No. 2015-TW-AX-0016 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations

expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

April 2022

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

88TH SEMI-ANNUAL GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE ABSENTEE

SHAWNEE TRIBE OF INDIANS OF OKLAHOMA WILL BE HELD ON

SATURDAY, APRIL 9th, 2022 AT 10:00A.M.

AT THE THUNDERBIRD EVENT CENTER IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA.

AllNations Bank announces added benefits for Absentee Shawnee Tribe members!!

Last year we partnered with the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, Inc. (ONAC) to establish the

Simply Safe Account. This account makes banking accessible to everyone. AllNations Bank was

the first Native American owned bank to offer this account, a certified Bank On account by The

Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. Simply Safe Account features are listed below:

•

A debit card that honors the Absentee Shawnee Tribe – issued to AST members.

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Low balance to open

Low monthly fee (Fee is now waived for AST members)

Free direct deposit

Free debit card

Free online banking, bill pay & mobile app

Free online monthly statement ($2.00 fee for a paper statement)

No overdraft fee (This is a check-less account. Account transactions are limited to

Withdrawals at the Teller Window, Debit Card and ATM transactions, Online Bill Pay,

Online or Mobile banking transfers.)

For any other questions about the Simply Safe Account features and benefits, please call

AllNations Bank at 405-273-0202. Or go to our website www.anbok.com to download a new

account application form and start banking with your Simply Safe Account today!

2023 Gordon Cooper Drive

Shawnee, OK 74801

FDIC Insured

www.asthealth.org

April 2022

Section B

ASTHS April 2022 Monthly Update

Understanding Your Options with Native American Healthcare Coverage

Health Care is an important component for everyone today, and knowing the availability of your potential coverages that are available as a

tribal member is imperative to both you as a member and for your family. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, has issued

10 important facts about Indian Health Service and Health Insurance for American Indians and Alaska Natives, and why your Indian health

program? Here are some facts to help answer those important questions below:

FACT #1: IHS is not health insurance. The Indian Health Service (IHS) is a part of the federal government that delivers health care to American Indians and Alaska

Natives (AI/ANs) and provides funds for tribal and urban Indian health programs. Health insurance, on the other hand, pays for health care covered by your plan. It

protects you from paying the full costs of medical services when you are injured or sick and pays for services to prevent you from becoming ill. Although AST members

are provided PRC contract health services, having insurance from these various programs offers flexibility and additional services to help close any gaps in care should

you or your family experience serious illnesses or injuries, especially if you are outside of a designated service area of your Tribe.

FACT #2: Even people eligible for IHS services need insurance. Health insurance covers many things Indian health care programs do not provide. With health insurance, you can: Get in to see specialists; get health care for covered services without IHS Purchase Referred Care authorization (formerly called contract health); and get

health care when you are away from home.

FACT #3: You’ll pay little or nothing! American Indians and Alaska Natives can find affordable insurance. If your income is:

Between 100% to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL), enroll in a zero cost sharing plan and have NO out of pocket costs for services received from an Indian health

provider or a qualified health plan (QHP). If below 100% FPL or above 300% FPL, enroll in a limited cost sharing plan (regardless of income). NO out of pocket expenses

for services received from an Indian

Health provider or through a referral to a QHP. Less than $12,000 for an individual (and you reside in a state that has not expanded Medicaid), limited cost sharing

plans are an important option to receive low cost health care coverage. Medicaid and CHIP insurance: There are no premiums, enrollment fees, copays, deductibles, or

coinsurance. Health care from IHS, tribal health programs, or urban Indian health programs. There are no deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments for covered services

provided directly or when referred to non-Indian health providers under the IHS Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) program.

FACT #4: Marketplace plans, Medicaid, and CHIP are not welfare Marketplace plans, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are health

insurance programs for individuals, families, and children who meet income and eligibility requirements. Medicare and employer-sponsored insurance plans are other

examples of health insurance with eligibility requirements.

FACT #5: You can stay with your Indian health clinic or tribal health program, get health care somewhere else, or both Indian health care programs gladly accept health

insurance, Medicaid, and CHIP. You won’t have to change doctors or facilities, if you don’t want to, even if your state has a Medicaid managed care network. If you want

a choice about who to see for health care, you will have more options. (Note: Establishing with your tribal health programs greatly increases a “win-win-win” scenario

for the tribe, tribal health programs, and the patient, as services brought to the tribe allows third party revenue to be invested into more services for the tribal members).

FACT #6: You won’t have to wait to sign up. Members of federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act shareholders can purchase or change

Marketplace health insurance coverage every month, rather than waiting for the yearly open enrollment period! So can non-enrolled family members, if they are included on the same application. This special protection for American Indians and Alaska Natives can be a lifesaver during a health crisis because it means insurance coverage

can start much sooner, and you can enroll in Medicaid or CHIP at any time. But why wait? The sooner you sign up, the sooner you can get the services you need!

FACT #7: Indian Trust income won’t stop you from qualifying for Medicaid or CHIP. Certain types of income, such as income from selling culturally significant jewelry or basketwork and payments received from farming, fishing, and natural resources on Indian trust lands, are not used to decide Medicaid or CHIP eligibility. For

example, the money you make fishing won’t count against you, as long as your tribe has fishing treaty rights, for example.

FACT #8: Medicaid estate recovery doesn’t apply to your Indian Trust property. Don’t let concerns about Medicaid estate recovery stop you from signing up. Indian

trust property and income cannot be recovered to pay Medicaid back for long-term care. This includes: Trust property located on reservations, certain trust lands, and

Alaska Native regions, income from treaty-protected natural resources, cultural, religious, or spiritually significant items, and items that support traditional or subsistence lifestyles.

FACT #9: Starting with the 2019 plan year (for which you'll file taxes in April 2020), the fee no longer applies for anybody, regardless of Indian status.

FACT #10: Even though health care is a treaty right, you should still get insurance. IHS has to work within yearly budgets approved by Congress and does not receive

enough funds to meet all the health needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives. That is why IHS does not offer or fund certain services, and why some services aren’t

available at certain times of year. In fact, the IHS budget only meets about half of the need of our tribal communities nationally, so enrollment in health insurance helps

expand needed care (at your AST Health System especially, to benefit all AST Tribal members and other Native American patients serviced). And with insurance, health

care is available when you need it.

Signing up today for the Marketplace or Medicaid is easy and affordable! The Health Insurance Marketplace is a resource where you can learn about options; compare

health insurance plans based on costs, benefits, and other important features; choose a plan; and enroll in a Qualified Health Plan. You can apply for the Marketplace

or Medicaid through healthcare.gov call centers and also with in-person assistance. Ask for help from your Indian health program, call 1-800-318-2596, or go online to

healthcare.gov/tribal. Also, our Patient Benefit Advisors (PBAs) with the AST Health System are poised and ready to assist you with your needs at any time – give us a

call today and see what YOUR options are (405) 447-0300!

April 2022 Health Employee Awards of the Month

Employee of the Month: Waynell Johnson, Patient Registration Director

Team of the Month: AST Health System’s Registration Team

Special Leadership Award: Sianna Morgheim, Lead Patient Registration Clerk

Mark E. Rogers, MAL, FACHE, CMPE, CHC

Executive Director

Autism Spectrum Disorder

By Emily Earnest

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause many challenges affecting social,

communication, and behavioral issues. Individuals diagnosed with ASD can differ tremendously among individuals ranging from being gifted to severely challenged

intellectually or emotionally. Diagnosing ASD can be difficult because there is no definitive test to diagnose like blood work or imaging. Doctors have to rely on the

child’s behavior and development to establish a diagnosis of ASD. This disorder occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. It is about four times more

common among boys than girls. The CDC estimates that 1 in 44 children in the United States are affected by ASD.

Signs of ASD can begin during early childhood and will typically last throughout a person’s life, but usually appear within a child’s first two years of life. Parents of

children may notice that their children may have trouble adapting to changes in routine, have unusual reactions/sensory issues to the way things taste/smell/look/

feel/sound, avoid eye contact, display repetitive actions over and over, delayed language skills, hyperactive or impulsive behavior, appear unaware when people are

talking to them, but respond to other sounds, and have issues understanding empathy. There is no cure for ASD, but early intervention utilizing therapy to aid in

helping the child talk, walk, and interact with others can help the child learn to function and be successful in the world.

There are many unknowns regarding the causes of ASD. It appears to have many factors that make a child more likely to develop ASD. These factors include

environmental, genetic, and socioeconomic factors. At one point in time, there were concerns that vaccines cause ASD. Studies have shown that there is no link

between receiving childhood vaccines and developing ASD. Children born to older parents are at a greater risk of developing ASD. Kids who have a sibling with

ASD are at higher risk of also having ASD.

Early intervention is imperative to treating ASD. If a parent has concerns about their child having signs of ASD, it is important to speak to their child’s doctor. The

child’s physician can then refer them to a specialist if more help is needed. These children and adults can live independent, fulfilling lives with the help of family,

community, teachers, and specialists.

April 2022

2B www.astribe.com

ASTHS PHARMACY IS HERE TO SERVE YOU WITH NEW UPDATES

Refill Requests can be made the following ways:

REFILLQUICK APP STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

How to Get Help from Social Security

Social Security is here to help. We want you to know how to get the service you

need and to be prepared so we can help you as quickly and safely as possible.

Go online to

SSA.gov. Our website

is the best way for most

people to get help.

If you cannot use

our website call our

National 800 Number

(1-800-772-1213) or your

local Social Security

office for help.

We will schedule an

appointment for you,

if necessary, to serve

you by phone or in person.

What to Know if You Must Visit an Office:

• You must have an appointment to visit an office.

• Masks are required for all office visitors and employees, regardless of vaccination status.

• Visitor capacity is limited to follow physical distancing requirements. This means you may need

to wait outside, so plan for cold or bad weather.

• We ask that you come alone unless you require help with your visit. If you require help, we can

only permit one person to accompany you.

We appreciate your patience and understanding.

SSA.gov

Social Security Administration

Publication No. 05-10558

December 2021 (First edition)

How to Get Help from Social Security

Produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense

April 2022

www.astribe.com 3B

Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma

2025 South Gordon Cooper Drive

Shawnee, Oklahoma 74801-0381

Title VI

Elderly Nutrition Program

2022

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

1

4

BBQ Pork Sandwich

Coleslaw

Pickles, Onions

Peaches

11

Kraut & Wieners

Green Beans

Bread

Apple Slices

18

Chicken Fry Steak

Mashed Pot/Gravy

Veggies

Apricots

25

Chef Salad

Onion, Chez, Ham

Crackers

Pineapples

5

12

Soft Taco

LTOC

Spanish Rice

Salsa/Pineapples

19

26

BBQ Chicken

Tossed Salad*

Veggies

Orange

Ham

Black eyed Peas

Cornbread

Ice Cream

Baked Chicken

Wild Rice

Veggies

Orange

6

Turkey Sandwich

LTOP

Chips

Mandarin Oranges

13

Bake Potato

Chez, Onions, Ham

Broccoli

Pudding

20

Pork Chop

Mac & Tom

Bread

Plums

27

Chicken Patty

Sandwich

LTOP

Chips

Applesauce

7

14

Baked Chicken

Brussel Sprouts

Bread

Pears

Bagel

Boiled Egg

Mixed Fruit

Cream Chez

21

28

Veggie Soup

Crackers

Jell-O

Pork N Potatoes

Turnip Greens

Bread

Cake

8

Boiled Egg

Sausage Gravy

Biscuit

Scrambled Eggs

Ham

English Muffin

15

CLOSED

GOOD FRIDAY

Dear Absentee Shawnee Tribal Members

For many years The Title VI Department has provided gas to mow your lawns. We are updating the

guidelines. The Title VI Grant provides gas as supportive services and for us to provide supportive

service you must be a participant in the Title VI Program.

Guidelines:

22

29

Scrambled Eggs

Sausage Gravy

Biscuit

Cereal

Toast

Sausage Patties

Apple Slices

MENU SUBJECT TO CHANGE

APRIL 9, ABSENTEE SHAWNEE TRIBE GENERAL COUNCIL AT 10 AM – THUNDERBIRD, NORMAN OK

APRIL 15, GOOD FRIDAY – Title VI will be closed no serving or delivery on this day

APRIL 17, EASTER

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Absentee Shawnee Member

Must be 55 years and older

Must be an Title VI Member, have a current intake form on file (FY-2022)

Must provide Proof of Residency (utility bill – in the applicants name)

Handicap/Disabled

NO RENTAL PROPERTY WILL BE MOWED

As a Title VI Member as long as you are within the guidelines you can put in your application and turn

in your applications to the Title VI Department. As stated on the application: Maintenance will only

mow and weed eat applicants lawn. Maintenance will mow every two (2) weeks weather permitting.

Also, the maintenance workers will not trim trees, shrubs, and will NOT move any items that are in

the way of cutting your lawn.

This year we are trying to get an early start on our grass mowing list,

th

We will announce the Winner of the March Madness After April 4 !!!

We handed out Our Surveys for our Title VI Grant and we appreciated each of you that took the time to fill out the

survey, yes it was long many questions but this helps The Title VI Grant for the next three years!!!

I hope you enjoyed the new menu items that the Diabetes Department cooked on Wednesdays in March!! We are

so thankful for all the work the Diabetes Department has helped The Title VI Program in the past two years.

Any questions you can reach me at 405-275-4030 ext. 6227 or email me at dowings@astribe.com

Thomasine Owings____

Thomasine Owings

Title VI Director

AST TITLE VI

ELDER INTAKE FORM

TODAY’S DATE______________________________ REFERRAL SOURCE_____________________

LAST NAME___________________________ FIRST NAME____________________________ MI_____

Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma

Title VI Department

2025 S Gordon Cooper Dr

Shawnee OK 74801

405-275-4030

CDIB # _______

Grass Mowing Application

D.O.B.________

DATE OF BIRTH______________________ MALE ____ FEMALE____ VETERAN___YES_____NO

STREET ADDRESS____________________________________________________

CITY___________________ STATE_____ ZIP CODE________ PHONE NUMBER _______________

SINGLE ____MARRIED ____ DIVORCED/SEPARATED

___WIDOWED ___ WIDOWER____

SPOUSE’S NAME______________________________ SPOUSE’S DATE OF BIRTH _______________

NAME OF EMERGENCY CONTACT (1)______________________________PHONE______________

NAME OF EMERGENCY CONTACT (2) ______________________________PHONE _____________

PRIMARY LANGUAGE

ENGLISH___ TRIBAL___

OTHER______________________

HOUSING ___ HOUSE ___ APARTMENT ___COMMUNITY HOUSING __OTHER EXPLAIN____________

The Following are the requirements for this program:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Must be an Absentee Shawnee Member

Must be 55 years and older

Must be an Title VI Member (have an current intake form for the current year 2022

Handicap/Disabled

Must provide Proof of Residency (utility bill must be in applicant’s name)

NO RENTAL PROPERTY will be mowed

The Absentee Shawnee Tribe Maintenance Department will ONLY mow and weed eat applicant’s lawn.

Maintenance will mow every two (2) weeks, weather permitting. Also, the maintenance workers will

not trim trees or shrubs.

COMPOSITION ___ LIVES ALONE ___ LIVES WITH SPOUSE ___LIVES WITH FAMILY/FRIENDS

NUMBER IN HOUSEHOLD _______ WHO HELPS ___________________________________________

If you have any questions, please contact Dos Owings at (405) 275-4030 ext. 6227

HEALTH HISTORY ___ ASTHMA

NAME: __________________________________________________

___DIABETES

___ALZHEIMER’S

___ARTHRITIS ___CANCER ___DEMINTIA

___CHRONIC PAIN ___HEARING AID ___CHOLESTEROL ___BLOOD PRESSURE

ADDRESS: ________________________________________________

PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION ___Own Car ___Friend ____Public Trans. ___Senior Tran’s __Family

CITY: _______________________

PROSTHETIC DEVIECS ___ Walker/Cane __Wheelchair ___Hearing Aid ___Glasses __Dentures ___None

HOME PHONE: ____________________ MESSAGE PHONE: ________________

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__________

ABSENTEE SHAWNEE TRIBE BEHAVIORAL

HEALTH/SASP GRANT PRESENTS

STATE:___________

ZIP: _______

EMAIL: ______________________________________________________

FINDING DIRECTIONS TO HOME:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

*DISCLAIMER

Maintenance will not move any items that are in the way of them mowing your yard so if you

are able or can get some help in getting your yard cleaned, will be very much helpful in

maintaining your yard.

Medicine Wheel & 12 Steps

The medicine wheel and 12 Step program was developed to provide a culturally

appropriate 12 Step program for Native American people. This program was developed by

White Bison, based upon teachings of the Medicine Wheel, the Cycle of Life and the Four

Laws of Change.

How the Process Works

WHITE BISON, INC.

A CULTURAL APPROACH TO PERSONAL RECOVERY

FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE

WELLBRIETY

WORKING LUNCH

Facilitated by: John Soap, LPC

EVERY THURSDAY VIA GOTOMEETING

HTTPS://GLOBAL.GOTOMEETING.COM/JOIN/801887957

BEGINNING MAY 27TH, 2021

12:00PM-1:00PM

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION,

CONTACT:

Brendan (SASP Coordinator) or John

(Facilitator/LPC) at (405) 878-4716

The Medicine Wheel and 12 Step program is designed in a series of modules that enable

people to meet their individual needs. Participants watch a video that explains Medicine

Wheel teachings and apply them to their lives. In addition, participants share their insights

and experiences in a talking circle. They also learn how to mind map their own innate

knowledge around these teachings and then apply that knowledge to their daily lives and

decision making processes. For those working through the program in a group setting

(i.e. Circles of Recovery) very strong social and emotional bonds are created that help

the individuals who participate to develop trust, autonomy, and other healthy feelings and

thought patterns that will help them to grow emotionally, mentally, physically, and

spiritually.

Focus

The focus of the program is on character and values. Thus each of the 12 Steps

is presented from the perspective of the value that it reflects.

Step 1: Honesty

Step 2: Hope

Step 3: Faith

Step 4: Courage

Step 5: Integrity

Step 6: Willingness

Step 7: Humility

Step 8: Forgiveness

Step 9: Justice

Step 10: Perseverance

Step 11: Spiritual Awakening

Step 12: Service

Teachings of the medicine wheel

The Medicine Wheel is an ancient method for teaching important concepts about truth

and life. Many Native American communities use a Medicine Wheel, although the colors

and the

symbols are different depending upon the culture. The purpose is the same in each

culture. These teachings, when applied to one’s life, have the power to influence significant

change in attitudes, behaviors, values and intent. The Elders have shared a series of

Teachings based upon the Natural Order of the way things should be. These are sometimes

referred to as the “original instructions.” These important Teachings are included in the

Medicine

Wheel

12 Steps: 10.) Comfort Zones

6.)

The 12 steps

ofand

recovery

1.) 4 seasons of change

2.) 4 laws of change

3.) 4 directions of growth

4.) 12 principles for healthy

living

5.) Reclaiming Our Power

7.) Nature's Way: Principles,

laws, and Values

8.) Cycle of Life

9.) 8 feelings for healthy

development

11.) The Two Thought System:

Love and Fear

12.) The medicine wheel

13.) The laws of the unseen

world.

4B www.astribe.com

AST HEALTH SYSTEM DIRECTORY

April 2022

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

TO SCHEDULE YOUR

APPOINTMENT CALL

405.701.7190

or

405.701.7600

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A 3RD DOSE OF

A COVID-19 VACCINE?

MODERNA:

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is recommending that moderately to

severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This

includes people who have:

Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the

blood.

Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the

immune system.

Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking

medicine to suppress the immune system.

Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge

syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).

Advanced or untreated HIV infection.

Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that

may suppress your immune response.

PFIZER-BioNTech:

The CDC is recommending that only certain populations initially vaccinated

with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can get a booster shot at this time:

Older adults and 50-64 year old people with medical conditions.

Long-term care setting residents aged 18 years and older.

People with medical conditions aged 18-49 years.

Employees and residents at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure

and transmission.

People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition

and if they meet the above criteria for getting an additional dose.

For more information, please visit www.asthealth.org

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html

Under 65? Apply for SoonerCare Medicaid Expansion

You could be eligible for SoonerCare Medicaid Expansion benefits, which

includes full-scope medical and limited comprehensive dental coverage, for

adults ages 19-64 if your income falls at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty

Level (FPL)- under $17,796 per year for an individual; under $36,588 per year

for a household of 4 (Children eligible at a higher income threshold under 210%

FPL). Per Purchased Referred Care guidelines, all patients under 65 years

old, whether insured or uninsured, must apply for SoonerCare to help

augment the cost of tribal healthcare services. Help yourself, help your tribe

and see if you and your family will qualify for state health insurance benefits at

no cost to you or your tribe.

Program rules and continuity of care necessitates completion of an annual application for benefits

to assure services are covered, even if ASTHS patient is already insured.

TO APPLY:

www.mysoonercare.org

WE CAN HELP

Contact a Patient Benefit Advocate

Little Axe

Shawnee

Health Center

Clinic

405.447.0300

405.878.5850

www.asthealth.org