Tribal HVAC Program Heating Up (2022)

THE ABSENTEE

SHAWNEE NEWS

www.astribe.com

October 2022

Volume 32, No. 10

Tribal HVAC Program Heating Up

Left Photo L-R: Workforce Project Coordinator Connor Edwards; HVAC Mechanic Joseph Burgess; AST Lt. Governor Ezra DeLodge; AST Representative DeWayne Wilson.

The Absentee Shawnee Tribal HVAC

Program is ready to serve the tribe.

The newly created program recently

purchased a work van and hired a licensed

HVAC Journeyman. The program was

started with CARES funding and is

under the office of the Lt. Governor and

Representative.

“This is a win-win for the tribe and for

our tribal members.” said Representative

DeWayne Wilson, “The tribe spends

money contracting out HVAC services

and now we can provide those services

in-house. This will allow us to use that

money for other services.

The tribe has had to pay for over a

dozen new HVAC systems for members

in the past year.

Joseph Burgess was recently hired as

the HVAC Mechanic. He will service

tribal HVAC systems, tribal entities and

will also serve as a training advisor for

the Workforce Development Career

Initiative Program. He will oversee the

tribal members who are entering the

three-year HVAC training program with

the tribe.

For questions about eligibility, please

call Workforce Project Coordinator

Connor Edwards at (405) 275-4030 ext.

6439 or by email, connore@astribe.com.

AST Court Holds OILS Wills Clinic

Oklahoma Indian Legal Services held

a Wills Clinic at the Absentee Shawnee

Tribal Courtroom on September 14th.

The free clinic was open to incomeeligible tribal members who were

interested in writing and setting up wills.

Having a will in place provides peace

of mind should something happen to the

individual. The will would express how

they want their property distributed.

OILS attorney Brian Candelaria

explains why wills are important, “A will

is an opportunity for the drafter (referred

to as the Testator) to have a say as to who

they want their property to go to after the

Testator dies. This is especially important

when the Testator owns property of

significant monetary and/or sentimental

value. “

If a person does not have a will, the

state may make a decision on the heirs

of the property. This usually happens

during probate. Keep in mind that even if

you have a will in place, you might not be

able to avoid probate.

“A will must be declared to be valid

by a judge using the Probate laws of the

State of Oklahoma. If the Will is declared

invalid, or if a person dies without a Will

(known as intestacy), the judge then

uses the Probate laws to make any final

decisions as to the way the dead person’s

property is divided.” said Candelaria,

“These statutory divisions are rigid and

may not reflect the true desires of the

person who has died. Therefore, having

a valid will in place can go a long way to

help the Testator make sure that their last

wishes are followed.”

Wills also provide peace of mind that

the wishes of the deceased are carried

out accordingly. Being prepared for

the unexpected can ease the burden

should something happen. Often times

it is as simple as having those difficult

conversations with your loved ones to get

the process started.

If you don’t own property, you may

not need a will. There are other end-oflife documents that might work for you

instead.

Wills are an important part of life. It

doesn’t matter if you own 8 or 800 acres,

having a will is a great way to preserve

future ownership of your property by

those you care about and love.

2A www.astribe.com

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

GOVERNOR’S REPORT

John Johnson, AST Governor

Hello fellow tribal members,

Fall is here, thank goodness for the

cooler weather and football season. We

are quickly approaching the holiday season. Before you know it, it will be Thanksgiving.

October brings a few important events

for our tribe. Starting off is the 89th

semi-annual General Council on Saturday October 1st, 2022. We will be fol-

LT. GOVERNOR’S REPORT

Ezra DeLodge, AST Lt. Governor

GOVERNOR

John Johnson

Lt. GOVERNOR

Ezra DeLodge

SECRETARY

Alicia Miller

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 405-275-4030

x 6253 or cell 405-432-0733.

Maintenance:

The Maintenance staff has been staying

busy taking care of the campus grounds

and completing 25 work orders in the last

month. I would like to thank the Maintenance crew and housekeepers for all their

hard work they do for the department.

OEH:

In total for 2022 OEH has assisted Tribal members with 67 different septic renovations and installations, water well drilling and installations, well renovations,

and community water connections.

For 2022, we have collected, processed,

and recycled 32 bales of shredded office

paper and cardboard equaling roughly 24

tons of recyclable waste that has been diverted from landfills.

Plans are being made for Cleveland

County to begin roadwork at the Youth

Camp, along with completion of the parking lot at the Youth Camp Dining Hall in

the coming months. The completion of

the entry gate at the camp will be scheduled around this construction.

We are now accepting bids from general contractors for construction of the AST

Police Safety Center. We currently have 9

bidders on our list that have shown interest in bidding the project. The deadline

for bidding is September 30th. After bids

are received, we will select a winning bidder and we plan to break ground on the

project sometime in October.

We would like to remind Tribal Members that if they see any activities related

SECRETARY’S REPORT

Alicia Miller, AST Secretary

TREASURER

Joseph Blanchard

Ho wa se ke sa ke!

Happy October! I cannot believe we are

entering the last quarter of 2022. The next

couple of months we will be working on

departmental budget projections for 2023

and closing out the 2022 fiscal calendar

year.

To recap some of my September activities, my office worked on the preparations for 89th General Council, I represented the tribe at the Oklahoma Tribal

Self-Governance Coalition hosted by the

Muscogee Creek Nation at Council Oak,

and I also represented at the National

Indian Health Board 50th annual con-

REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT

DeWayne Wilson, AST Representative

REPRESENTATIVE

DeWayne Wilson

Hello Tribal Members,

I hope everyone is doing good, we have

been blessed that this pandemic is decreasing in its intensity. I hope everyone

enjoyed their Labor Day Holiday. Stay

Healthy continue to practicing social distancing and disinfecting your hands due

to COVID 19 is still in our communities

and at our Tribal facilities. If you have not

registered to VOTE, you have until Oct.

14th, 2022 to get registered. Once you get

registered, you will be eligible to VOTE in

the November 8th, 2022. Let`s Go “Rock

the Vote”.

Education Department;

In the Education Department, we continue to look for ways to assist our Tribal

members who are furthering their educational endeavors. If you are in need of

educational financial assistance, the Education Department may be able to assist

you in other areas. In Workforce Development are taking applications for the

October 2022

lowing COVID protocol, mask and hand

sanitizer will be available, so I hope that

everyone will join us.

Another important October event is

the fall Bread Dance. With the cooler

temperatures I hope we have many of you

in attendance.

On September 21, 2022 I was able to attend the Oklahoma Self-Governance Coalition hosted by the Muscogee (Creek)

Nation. Indian Health Services and the

Bureau of Indian Affairs gave updates.

I was invited and attended the Vison

Expo with the Optical department Sep-

tember 14th to 16th. Dr. King, Rachel

Taylor and I were able to view and decide

on new optical equipment that we will be

purchasing to upgrade old equipment. I

would like to thank the Health and Optical departments for the invitation.

As I close for this month, I would like

to remind everyone to register to vote for

the November 8th Oklahoma elections.

You still have time to get those registrations in before the October 14th deadline.

Then be sure to go and vote on November

8th.

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 Self-Governance

For the past few months we have had

several programs researching and working on a 477 Plan. By the time you read

this our plan will have been submitted by

the September 30th deadline to the Department of Interior (DOI). They will

have 90 days to review our plan and respond back to us. As long as the plan

meets their criteria and we are approved,

the plan will begin January 1, 2023. Once

we are approved, more details will be provided. I would like to thank each of the

Coordinators/Directors for helping get

the plan together: Briana Ponkilla, Tresha

Spoon, Annie Wilson, Alvina Wilson and

Carol Butler.

BIA Roads Program

Some of this information was put in the

October General Council book so it may

seem repetitive.

We have completed three projects

with Cleveland County; 192nd Hwy 9 to

Lindsey (2 miles), 192nd to County Line

(1 mile) and Rock Creek Road 189th to

192nd (1 mile). We have three other projects they are currently working on and

are hoping they will be assisting us with

the road for the youth camp as well.

We hope to apply for additional safety funds as well as funding to improve

bridges in our area.

Driveway Assistance Program

We are slowly getting started up again

with the driveways. Any work that will be

done will be gravel only. We are no longer

accepting any other applications as there

may not be enough funds to assist all the

applicants.

Since the inception of the program,

we have received 78 applications. As of

August 31, 2022, we have completed 30

driveways. Donnie Marshall will be assisting with this program and can be

reached at Dmarshall@astribe.com

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.

Weatherization:

Since our inception (2-8-22) we have

received 56 applications 54 have been

assessed and 16 have been completed.

There are 37 applicants remaining with 3

in process of being completed. With material shortage and rainy season at the beginning of the year made progress slower

than expected. Since the month of August

repairs have been going faster and should

be moving at a good pace by mid, September.

Land Management

Land Management continues to work

on the camp project cleaning up wood

pile to put back in wood pile for elders.

We have been taking wood that we can

savage to split and have been burning the

odds and ends to get ready for the next

project. There will be a flyer in months

new.

Agriculture:

The agriculture department is making

steady progress in maintaining cattle and

fall crops. We have future plans of various fall activities and events. We continue to nourish and feed cattle; agriculture

department has steadily made improvements on recently acquired properties. If

you have any questions please contact us

at (405) 275-4300 EXT. 6263 or by email

at agricultural@astribe.com.

ference in Washington, D.C. Some of

these meetings are finally going back to

full in-person gatherings and it is good to

connect with familiar tribal representatives and meet new folks.

For the month of October, my office will

be accepting entries for the 2nd annual

ribbon skirt contest for November’s Native American heritage month. Winners

will be announced in November and this

year, there will be an adult category (18 &

up) and a youth category (17 & under).

I cannot wait to see the submissions – I

am always in awe of our sewers’ talents.

Good luck to all those who enter. (Additional details are included in this month’s

newsletter)

I would first like to wish my youngest

son a happy 18th birthday and a happy

birthday to all of those who are celebrating their birthday this month. I hope

good bread dances are had and blessings

to those who help carry on our traditions.

I also send my deepest condolences to

those who are grieving for lost loved ones.

Before I conclude this article, if you are an

Oklahoma resident, you have until October 14th to register to vote. Around the

corner are some very important general

elections and tribes can play an important

role in their outcomes.

HVAC Program. We have conducted several interviews with Tribal members who

have shown an interest in HVAC Program. If you are an Absentee Shawnee

Tribal member and have some interest in

obtaining a HVAC Journeyman license,

contact Mr. Conner Edwards of Workforce Development office.

Cultural Preservation Department;

In Cultural Preservation, In reference

to the ANA/ Language Grant, now that

we have filled the Linguist/ Project Coordinator position, we will be inventorying

the different components the Absentee

Shawnee language that we have accumulated over the years. Cultural Preservation Director is in the process of job

interviews to fill the other two positions

that are opened in that department.

Gaming Commission;

The Gaming Commission continues

to move along. Gaming Commissioners`

continue to work with the Thunderbird

Casino pertaining to up- dating their (Casino) policy/ procedures. I continue to attend the Gaming Commission meetings.

The Executive Director and staff continue

to network/ work with NIGC and other

tribal Gaming Commission staff.

Youth Camp;

There has been a lot of construction going on at the Youth Camp. The playground

project is closed to being completed. We

have had meetings with the construction

manager of these projects. The construction manager is in the process of obtaining three bids for the tennis/ basketball

courts project. Once a decision is made

they will start the construction of tennis/

basketball courts project. Also, the BIA/

Self- Governance continue our discussions with OEH dept. and Cleveland Co

pertaining to the road at the Youth Camp.

Again, if you have any questions or

concerns about the programs or positions

mentioned in this news article, feel free

to contact my office at (405) 275-4030,

Ext.6239 or by email: dewayne.wilson@

astribe.com.

Respectfully,

Lt. Governor DeLodge

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

Respectfully,

Alicia Miller

Tribal Secretary

Respectfully,

DeWayne Wilson

Tribal Representative

October 2022

www.astribe.com 3A

TREASURER’S REPORT

Joseph Blanchard, AST Treasurer

Hello Tribal members, friends, and family:

I hope this notice finds things well

within your household. October is officially here and many will start to feel

and smell the aromas of Fall. I hope you

were able to attend one of our traditional grounds to participate in Bread Dance

ceremonies. By the time many receive

this newsletter, the Semi-Annual General Council Meeting will have concluded.

For those in attendance, I appreciate your

opinion and suggestions. This is beneficial and helps provide direction to the

Executive Committee. Should you want

a copy of the Booklet, please submit a request to the Secretary’s office and one will

be mailed to you.

I will be brief in my report this month

as I’ve provided a lot of information to

our People over the last several weeks.

At this time of year, we are beginning

to put together projections for the 2023

Operational Budget. Contrary to public

comments, we have done a good job of

staying within spending limits and cutting unnecessary costs. Recently, I sat in

a presentation on the status of our overall compensation system. The Executive

Committee requested a study of our salaries to provide confirmation of how com-

petitive we are with the local economy.

As suspected, our Health system pays at

or above the regional average; and the

Tribe is at or below the average.

There are simple reasons for this and

I’ll explain. Regarding Health, the majority of jobs in their system have been

supported by grants and then their ability

to collect 3rd party payments from insurance, Medicaid and Medicare for the

roughly 17,000 monthly appointments.

As such, the existing facilities have experienced tremendous growth which requires more space. There was comment

or concern wondering why it’s taking so

long for the Shawnee expansion to move

forward. The explanation here is the

Tribe is completing the process to get

the chosen site approved by FEMA and

ensure we’re not violating any NEPA or

NHPA requirements.

Regarding pay at the Tribe, we can only

afford or distribute what we collect in

revenue or taxes. General Fund increases

and decreases based on yearly expenses,

which fluctuate. One of the simple questions I asked when coming into office is,

“do we need 550 employees to run our

operations and provide a minimal level

of service to our membership? What can

we do to improve efficiency and effectiveness?” Also, taken into consideration are

grants, indirect costs, and funding agreements from BIA and IHS. When one asks

or says, “The Tribe doesn’t hire qualified

ABSENTEE SHAWNEE TRIBE

HOMEOWNER

ASSISTANCE FUND

(HAF)

SERVICES

OFFERED

Mortgage Payment

Insurance Payment

Property Charges, such as

Property Taxes

Utility Payment, such as electric,

gas, home energy, water, sewer,

solid waste disposal, and

internet

The maximum amount for this

one-time assistance per

household is up to $8,000.

All assistance will be issued

directly to companies indicated

by the applicant.

FOR MORE

INFORMATION

CALL (405) 275-4030

Ashlynn Gouge, ext 6446

HAF Lead Specialist

AGouge@astribe.com

Taylor Masquas, ext 6440

HAF Specialist

TMasquas@astribe.com

ELIGIBILITY

Applicant or Spouse must be at least 18 years of age. (Cohabitant applicants do not have to be legally married.)

Applicant or Spouse must be a homeowner, meaning a

property deed must be provided with the county clerks

stamp from the county in which the applicant resides.

Applicant or Spouse must be a member of a federally

recognized tribe.

If Absentee Shawnee tribal member, residence can be

anywhere within the US.

If tribal member of other tribe, residence must be within

Pottawatomie County.

Annual household income cannot exceed 150% of the

area median income.

Applicant must be able to attest to financial hardship after

January 21, 2020 due directly or indirectly to COVID-19.

tribal members.” I disagree with this

statement. The reality is most of our population chooses not to work for the Tribe

because we cannot pay them the salary

they currently receive. Common sense

suggests if you have the ability to make

$25/hr, why would one choose to come

work for $15 when that’s what the grant

affords?

In the last year, I have worked to create additional revenue. However, there

is a saying, “to make money, you have to

spend money.” This is the reason for the

creation of the Agriculture Department.

I have suggested that instead of giving

away our assets and resources, we should

sell these to the General Public at market

rate, and our members at reduced costs.

As an example, a rick of green post oak

wood costs $60-75. As a consumer, I

would be agreeable to buy that product

from the Tribe at the reduced rate of $5060 so that the Tribe is still receiving payment and saving me the time from doing

it myself. Another example regards hay.

Regular prairie hay has a cost of $50-75

per round bale, with Bermuda and Alfalfa running between $100-150 a bale. The

Maxwell Property has the ability to produce 900 bales per year. The projected

return to the program should be between

$60,000-90,000 annually. The assumption is there would be at least 600 bales

for sale, after we put away the approximate 300 we need for our livestock. But

this also doesn’t take into consideration

the other properties we can now harvest

product from.

By the time members receive this edition, the Finance Department will have

concluded Department meetings for the

2023 Annual Budgets preparation. These

are important so that we make certain

programs have the monies to operate and

provide service to members. Some may

not remember but I updated previously

at the conclusion of Mid-Year Reviews.

The majority of programs were about

8% under projection. The few issues we

do not control are gaming revenue and

tax collections. I’ve explained to others,

as excess or free money becomes smaller due to recent inflation and economy

concerns, individuals have less to spend

on entertainment. Instead they focus on

priorities and necessities; especially when

on a fixed income.

As I mentioned at General Council, if

you have any specific questions related to

my oversight, do not hesitate to contact

me personally or by email. My office and

staff will continue to look for ways to save

our Tribe money and to get the best bang

for our buck. Again, thank you for the

continued support, encouragement, and

advice.

Neyiwa!

Joseph H. Blanchard

October 2022

4A www.astribe.com

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Understanding Breast Cancer

Cancer is a broad term for a class of diseases characterized by abnormal cells that grow and invade healthy cells in the body. Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast as

a group of cancer cells that can then invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.

What Causes Cancer To Develop?

Cancer begins in the cells which are the basic building blocks that make up tissue. Tissue is found in the breast and other parts of the body. Sometimes, the process of cell

growth goes wrong and new cells form when the body doesn’t need them and old or damaged cells do not die as they should. When this occurs, a build-up of cells often forms

a mass of tissue called a lump, growth, or tumor.

Breast cancer occurs when malignant tumors develop in the breast. These cells can spread by breaking away from the original tumor and entering blood vessels or lymph

vessels, which branch into tissues throughout the body. When cancer cells travel to other parts of the body and begin damaging other tissues and organs, the process is called

metastasis.

When you’re told that you have breast cancer, it’s natural to wonder what may have caused the disease. But no one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors seldom

know why one woman develops breast cancer and another doesn’t, and most women who have breast cancer will never be able to pinpoint an exact cause. What we do know

is that breast cancer is always caused by damage to a cell’s DNA.

Known Risk Factors

Women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer. A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of getting a disease. Some risk

factors (such as drinking alcohol) can be avoided. But most risk factors (such as having a family history of breast cancer) can’t be avoided. Having a risk factor does not mean

that a woman will get breast cancer. Many women who have risk factors never develop breast cancer.

Facts About Breast Cancer In The United States

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In 2022, an estimated 287,500 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 51,400 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast

cancer.

65% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage (there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the breast), for which the 5-year relative survival

rate is 99%.

This year, an estimated 43,550 women will die from breast cancer in the U.S.

Although rare, men get breast cancer too. In 2022, an estimated 2,710 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. and approximately 530 men will die from

breast cancer.

1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. It is estimated that in 2022, approximately 30% of all new women cancer

diagnoses will be breast cancer.

There are over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.

A Global Burden

According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of women

each year and affecting countries at all levels of modernization.

Male Breast Cancer

All people, whether male or female, are born with some breast cells and tissue. Even though males do not develop milk-producing breasts, a man’s breast cells and tissue

can still develop cancer. Even so, male breast cancer is very rare. Less than one percent of all breast cancer cases develop in men, and only one in a thousand men will ever be

diagnosed with breast cancer.

Breast cancer in men is usually detected as a hard lump underneath the nipple and areola. Men carry a higher mortality than women do, primarily because awareness among

men is less and they are less likely to assume a lump is breast cancer, which can cause a delay in seeking treatment. The majority of men diagnosed are over the age of 50.

Risk Factors

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Radiation exposure

High levels of the hormone estrogen

Family history of breast cancer, especially breast cancer that is related to the BRCA2 gene.

Signs & Symptoms

Male breast cancer can exhibit the same symptoms as breast cancer in women, including a lump. Anyone who notices anything unusual about their breasts, whether male

or female, should contact their physician immediately.

Most men find their own lump while in the shower and it is usually located underneath the nipple and areola. It is common for men to delay reporting the lump to a

physician which can result in the patient requiring more treatment.

Nearly all breast cancer in men is estrogen receptor positive with treatment including hormonal therapy, just as it does for 70% of women. Survival rates and treatment for

men with breast cancer are very similar to those for women. Early detection of breast cancer increases treatment options and often reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer.

Genetic Testing

Although treatment outcomes are very similar to women at the same stage of detection, a man diagnosed with breast cancer should also consider seeing a genetics counselor

for a consultation. If a man tests positive for a defective gene (most commonly either BRCA1 or BRCA2) that can lead to a future diagnosis of breast cancer and his children

have a 50% chance of carrying the gene. In addition:

A male child of a man with breast cancer who inherits the defective BRCA2 gene has only approximately 6% chance of eventually developing breast cancer and just over 1%

with BRCA1.

A female child of a man with breast cancer who inherits the defective gene has a risk between 40% and 80% of eventually developing breast cancer.

Men with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer (carrying BRCA2 gene mutation) are also at higher risk of getting prostate cancer at a younger age than usually diagnosed,

as well as being at higher risk for melanoma and pancreatic cancer.

Breast Self-Exam

Once A Month

Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month. ,

While mammograms can help you to detect cancer before you can feel a lump, breast self-exams help you to be familiar with how your breasts look and feel so you can alert

your healthcare professional if there are any changes.

Clinical Breast Exam

What’s The Difference Between A Breast Self-Exam And A Clinical Breast Exam?

A clinical breast exam is performed by a healthcare professional who is trained to recognize many different types of abnormalities and warning signs. This in-office exam

will most likely be completed by your family physician or gynecologist at your annual exam, whereas your breast self-exam is something every woman should do at once at

month at home.

Mammogram

What Is A Mammogram?

A mammogram is an x-ray that allows a qualified specialist to examine the breast tissue for any suspicious areas. The breast is exposed to a small dose of ionizing radiation

that produces an image of the breast tissue.

Why Do I Need A Mammogram?

Mammograms can often show a breast lump before it can be felt. They also can show tiny clusters of calcium called micro-calcifications. Lumps or specks can be caused by

cancer, fatty cells, or other conditions like cysts. Further tests are needed to find out if abnormal cells are present.

How Do I Schedule A Mammogram?

Many women encounter barriers when trying to schedule a mammogram. Often, things like concerns with cost or not knowing who to call can be discouraging when setting

up an appointment. Read this article to learn the essential information you need so that you do not miss out on this important exam.

Recommendations for all women:

Women 40 and older should have mammograms every 1 or 2 years.

Women who are younger than 40 and have risk factors for breast cancer should ask their healthcare professional whether mammograms are advisable and how often to have

them.

Even women who have no symptoms and no known risks for breast cancer should have regularly scheduled mammograms to help detect potential breast cancer at the

earliest possible time.

What Happens If My Mammogram Results Are Abnormal?

If the mammogram shows an abnormal area of the breast, your doctor will order additional tests offering clearer, more detailed images of that area.

Although lumps are usually non-cancerous, the only way to be certain is to perform additional tests, such as an ultrasound or MRI. If further tests show that the mass is solid,

your radiologist may recommend a biopsy, a procedure in which cells are removed from a suspicious area to check for the presence of cancer.

Reference: National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

October 2022

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

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 has 48 children enrolled in the center currently. We are

currently accepting waiting list applications for Ages 6 weeks through

Pre-K/4 Year Olds. Please call to inquire about our wait list; we can email

you one or you may come by to pick one up.

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.

Building Blocks will be closed Monday, October 10th for Indigenous Day.

Our children love the month of October and enjoy doing lots of arts &

crafts for Fall and Halloween. October 24-28 Building Blocks will be doing

Spirit Dress Up Week for Red Ribbon Week and Halloween. Halloween is

Monday, October 31st, everyone have a safe holiday.

Have a Safe and Happy October!

Director: Skye Foreman, Assistant Director: Renee Richardson.

Happy Halloween! October has been filled with lots of fun fall activities,

nature walks, and spooky adventures. Our students are excited about

attending a pumpkin patch, trick or treating around our center, and having

goodies for their Halloween parties.

You can find us on Facebook @ AST Building Blocks Child Development Center

III-Little Axe page to see all the latest updates.

Our center will be closed October 10th, in observations for Indigenous day.

Please enjoy the pictures we captured over the past month.

“LITTLE EINSTEIN’S NURTURED HERE”

Building Blocks

Spirit/Red Ribbon

Week (Oct. 24th-31st)

Monday: Cozy PJ Day

Dress in Your Comfy Pajamas

Tuesday: Super Hero Day

Dress in Your Favorite Super Hero Character

(We will be walking around L.A. Clinic @10am for Drug Awareness Week)

Wednesday: Red Day

Wear Red to Support Red Ribbon Week

Thursday: Elder Day

Dress as up an Elder

Friday: Halloween Costume Day

Wear Your Costumes

Monday (Halloween): Halloween Shirt

Day

Central Tribes Shawnee Area, Inc. (CTSA HEAD START)

Administrative Office

1535 N. McKinley

Shawnee, OK 74801

P: (405) 275-4870

F: (405) 275-9684

Little Feet Big Steps

Early Bird Head Start

Yellow Earth Learning Center

806 E. Grant

111 W. Vine

920884 S. HWY 99

Shawnee, OK 74801

Cushing, OK 74023

Stroud, OK 74079

P: (405) 878-5820

P: (918) 225-1029

P: (918) 968-9445

F: (405) 275-9684

F: (918) 225-9969

F: (918) 968-1763

Parents and Guardians…

Little Feet → Big Steps is enrolling NOW

for the 2022-2023 School Year!!!!

Early Head Start ~ Birth to 3 year olds

Head Start ~ 3 year olds – 5 year olds

Child Care~ Birth to 5 year olds

At CTSA, our goal is to meet the individual needs of ALL of our children – especially those with disabilities.

We offer a fun and exciting programs for your children to learn and grow!

Our qualified and dedicated teachers and staff provide rich learning environments at our centers, where

families and friends are encouraged to volunteer and spend time with their child.

If you have a child or know of a child that would benefit from an interactive,

engaging, stable, and safe learning environment – please call today!!!

We look forward to sharing your child’s learning years with you!!

Little Feet → Big Steps

806 E. Grant St

Shawnee, OK 74801

Ph: (405) 878-5820

Head Start →

Ages: 3-5

Early Head Start → Ages: Birth to 3

*Extended Day Child Care

available to those who qualify*

Dress in Your Spooky Halloween Shirt

Administration for Enrollment Questions

Ph: (405) 275-4870

melaniew@ctsaheadstart.org

October 2022

ai166327171069_Now Hiring_AST Paper_third page_REV.pdf 1 9/15/2022 2:55:11 PM

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ai166327175373_TEC AST Job Fair.pdf 1 9/15/2022 2:55:53 PM

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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

Experiencing increased

stress or sadness?

Earn up to $410 for testing the EASE

Smartphone app. Use QR code to complete

the study screener.

EASE (405) 271-1803

If you do not have a smartphone, a phone will be provided for you.

Scan the code or visit the link:

redcap.link/EASE

2023 Gordon Cooper Dr. • Shawnee, OK 74801 • (405) 273-0202

www.anbok.com

MOD00004740

UH IRB Approved

8/1/2022 - 2/24/2023

TSET Health Promotion Research Center

October 2022

www.astribe.com

Happy Birthday

William “Doug”

Littlehead

Hope your day is

good. Love you,

from all of your

family

Happy Birthday

Tara Battise

Hope your day

is great.

Love you, Your Family

LEGAL NOTICE

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.

7A

October 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

The Absentee Shawnee Complex will be Closed

Monday, October 10, 2022

For Indigenous Peoples' Day

PUBLIC NOTICE TO THE AST COMMUNITY

The Absentee Shawnee Tribe has limited supply of firewood to provide to Elders 55 and up in the

community. The firewood assistance is available for elders in dire need of this resource to keep warm

and healthy during the winter months.

Please call Land Management 405-395-8101 or email cmartinez@astribe.com. We will have a short

application to fill out for first time elders. For elders that received wood last year, please call and

update. Priority will be given to the elderly members that have limited means to get firewood during this

time.

Delivery time will depend on number of first priority.

WE WILL NOT DELIVER WOOD DURING BAD WEATHER.

www.asthealth.org

October 2022

Section B

ASTHS October 2022 Monthly Update

PRESS RELEASE: AST Health System Offering Vaccination Clinic for COVID-19 and Flu

15 September 2022

The AST Health System will be hosting Flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics during the months of October and November, for ages 12 years

and older. The best way to reduce your risk from seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated every year. The CDC

recommends that everyone age 6 months and older receive a yearly flu vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of COVID-19, including the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death among people who are fully vaccinated. The updated COVID-19 boosters can both help restore protection that has decreased since the

previous vaccination, and provide broader protection against newer variants. The updated boosters target the most recent Omicron sub variants, BA.4 and BA.5, which

are more contagious than the earlier sub variants by providing more specific antibodies for protection.

The vaccination clinics will be held at the following locations and times:

Shawnee---Multipurpose Building 5:30 pm-7:00 pm

October 4, October 18, November 1, November 15, 2022

Little Axe---Little Axe Health Clinic 5:30 pm-7:00 pm

October 6, October 20, November 3, November 17, 2022

We will be offering Pfizer for ages 12 and older. Moderna will also be available for ages 18 and older. The new bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are available for those that

qualify.

For those unable to attend one of the vaccination clinics or for those with children under the age of 12, please schedule appointments for Flu vaccines with your primary

care provider. COVID-19 vaccinations for children under the age of 12 can be scheduled through the AST Health System Public Health Department.

Please call the AST Health System Public Health Department at (405)701-7190 to schedule appointments or with any questions regarding COVID vaccinations.

Remember, you are considered up to date when you have received all primary COVID-19 vaccine doses and all COVID-19 boosters that you are eligible to receive.

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/

Sarah Lawerance

Logan Bush

Lead Fitness Specialist

Lead Fitness Specialist

The AST Diabetes & Wellness Fitness Center is located at: 1970 156th Ave NE, Norman, OK 73026 and provides

state of the art fitness equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. The AST Fitness Center is available to

AST Diabetes Program patients, all Native Americans and their household family members, and the AST employees. Our goal is to provide appropriate and educational fitness training to all AST diabetes patients while

promoting a safe, fun, and positive experience. Take some time to come by and visit the Diabetes and Wellness Fitness Center today! Fitness Facility Hours of Operation are Monday—Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM BY

APPOINTMENT ONLY

the alzheimer's disease Program initiative and

absentee shawnee tribal health system

present

FOR

DEMENTIA PREVENTION

JOIN US FOR AN AFTERNOON OF GAMES, AND LEARN

ABOUT DEMENTIA AMONG NATIVE AMERICANS.

entry

and

bingo play

DOOR PRIZES, T-SHIRTS, GREAT BINGO PRIZES, & SNACKS!

November 5th

from 1pm to 4pm

multi - purpose building

IN SHAWNEE.

For ast tribal members & native Americans

Masks are required

October 2022

2B www.astribe.com

Help Yourself, Help Your Tribe

SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR A $0 COST HEALTH PLAN

AT NO COST TO YOU OR YOUR TRIBE

2023 Open Enrollment Did You Know?

OPEN ENROLLMENT

Oct. 15 Dec. 7, 2022

OPEN ENROLLMENT

Nov. 1 Jan. 15, 2023

• Patient Benefit Advocates and our contracted benefit

advisers can help you qualify for a $0 cost health plan via

Health Insurance Marketplace or Medicare.

• You may also qualify for extra benefits such as Dental

(including dentures or major services), Vision (exam/lenses),

Hearing Aids, Prescription Drug Coverage, and more!

• Enrolling in a health plan expedites the Purchased Referred

Care referral process, providing you immediate access to

specialized healthcare services and gives you peace of mind

when you travel at zero cost to you and our tribal community,

if eligible.

• Per Purchased Referred Care guidelines, all Native American

patients must apply for all available resources, if eligible.

• Contact a Patient Benefit Advocate to see if you are eligible for

Native American Cost-Savings under the Affordable Care Act.

• The Tribe is only funded approximately

40% of cost to render care to patients?

Most people think it is funded 100%.

• To add services, equipment, or help

more people, we need your assistance.

• 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 not eligible for for a zero cost

plan helping Purchase & Referred Care

dollars go further.

We Can Help

Contact a Patient Benefit Advocate

Little Axe

Shawnee

Health Center

Clinic

405.447.0300

405.878.5850

A contracted benefit adviser is also available

to assist our tribal community with their

open enrollment options free-of-cost.

www.asthealth.org

UPDATED PHARMACY MAIL POLICIES

Please be advised:

It is solely the responsibility of the patient to

confirm the desired shipping address for

mailing of any medication from our Health

System Pharmacies. Failure to do so may

result in shipping delays.

Please ensure all address changes are made

directly with the pharmacy staff regardless of

any changes made elsewhere in the health

system. Not all systems communicate with

each other if changes are made.

As our clinics continue to grow and mail

volume increases, the above policies will help

ensure you continue to receive prompt and

accurate mail delivery of your prescription

medications. We appreciate your

anticipated assistance in this matter.

Thank you!

October 2022

OCTOBER TITLE VI MENU

MONDAY

3

TUESDAY

BBQ PORK SANDWICH

PICKLES, ONIONS

POT. SALAD

FRUIT COCKTAIL

10

4

11

BRISKET

BROCCOLI

POT SALAD

ROLL/PEARS

17

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK

MASHED POT/GRAVY

GREEN BEANS

PEACHES

18

24

25

KRAUT & WEINERS

MAC n CHEZ

VEGGIES

BREAD

MANDARIN ORANGES

31

BAKED ZITA

TOSSED SALAD*

GREEN BEANS

HAM

BLACK EYED PEAS

CORNBREAD

JELL-O

HAM & CHEESE

SANDWICH

LTOP

CHIPS

PINEAPPLES

MANWICH

PICKLE SPEAR

PORK N BEANS

BANANA PUDDING

WEDNESDAY

5

CHICKEN SALAD

CROSSIANT

LETTUCE & TOMATO

BAKED CHIPS

PEACHES

12

BAKED CHICKEN

WILD RICE

CARROTS

ROLL

MANDARIN ORANGES

19

BEANS W HAM

SPINACH

ONIONS

CORNBREAD

26

POPCORN CHICKEN

MASHED POT/GRAVY

GREEN BEANS

ROLL

COBBLER

BEEF FINGERS

MASHED POT/GRAVY

BEETS

BREAD

JELL-O

*MENU SUBJECT TO CHANGE

AST TITLE VI

ELDER INTAKE FORM

TODAY’S DATE______________________________ REFERRAL SOURCE_____________________

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____

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____________

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

NUMBER IN HOUSEHOLD _______

HEALTH HISTORY ___ ASTHMA

___DIABETES

WHO HELPS ___________________________________________

___ALZHEIMER’S

___ARTHRITIS

___CANCER ___DEMINTIA

___CHRONIC PAIN ___HEARING AID ___CHOLESTEROL ___BLOOD PRESSURE

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

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

6

BEEF TIPS & NOODLES

VEGGIES

ROLL

CAKE

7

13

14

20

27

SPAGHETTI

W MEAT SAUCE

GARLIC BREAD

GREEN BEANS

CRISP

SOFT TACOS

LTOC

REFRIED BEANS

SALSA

OATMEAL COOKIE

BEEF STEW

CRACKERS

CHEESE STICKS

PEARS

www.astribe.com

PANCAKES

SAUSAGE PATTIES

BLUEBERRIES

SCRAMBLED EGGS

SAUSAGE GRAVY

BISCUITS

21

CEREAL

BACON

BANANA NUT MUFFIN

28

SCRAMBLED EGGS

SMOKED SAUSAGE

TOAST

FRUIT

3B

4B www.astribe.com

October 2022

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

$18,768

$38,304

WE CAN HELP

Contact a Patient Benefit Advocate

Little Axe

Shawnee

Health Center

Clinic

405.447.0300

405.878.5850

www.asthealth.org