Domestic Violence program

Member News

Red Sand for

Remembrance

Domestic Violence program

raises awareness for Human

Trafficking

February 2021

Tribal News

February 2021

Tribal Council members sworn in Saturday, January 16

On Saturday, January 16th, the newly elected Tribal Council members were sworn in. L-R: JoAn Schlotman, District 1

Representative; Becci Sullivan, District 2 Representative; Suzie Baker, District 3 Representative; and Alex Taylor, District 4

Representative.

District 1 Membership Meeting

Saturday, February 20 | 1 pm

Lifesize District 1 Meeting Space

Livestreaming on the member side of the Ponca Tribe website

District 1 Council Members Angie Starkel and JoAn Schlotman

are hosting a District 1 Meeting to introduce themselves to

members, review current activities and projects, and request

input from District 1 members on the needs and wants to be

addressed for District 1, and the Tribe as a whole.

This meeting will only be held virtually. If you wish to participate

in the meeting, please email angie.starkel@gmail.com to receive

the Lifesize link to attend via computer or phone.

Remember, to view any content on the member side of the

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska website, you MUST have a current

member login. Visit www.poncatribe-ne.org/login/ to login or

sign up.

On the cover: January was Human Trafficking Awaremess month. The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska offered opportunities to help create awareness of

the issue of human trafficking, including spreading red sand at the Ralston office. The red sand in the cracks of the sidewalk represents those who

have been trafficked, who “slip through the cracks” in the system.

February 2021

win

Language

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

1

Tribal News

February 2021

Outgoing Tribal Council members worked

hard to support Ponca Tribal citizens

Becci Sullivan

Tribal Council Representative

District 2

I would like to send a

special thank you to the

three outgoing tribal

council members for their

years of service and dedication to the tribe:

• Patrick Lamoureux

• Steve Laravie

• Candace Schmidt

Steve served on Tribal

Council for four years and

was rich in culture and

tradition. Steve served as

a D3 representative, and

this was his first term on

Tribal Council. He was a

former PTN employee and

will continue his involvement with the tribe. While

on Tribal Council, he focused many of his efforts

on our language and food

sovereignty.

Steve Laravie

Patrick Lamoureux

Candace Schmidt

Patrick served as a D1

representative for the past

eight years (serving two

4-year terms). He was the

previous Vice Chairman

of Tribal Council, Chairman of the Tax Commission, and Chairman of

the Liquor Board. Also

during his time on Tribal

Council, he married

(Amy) and added two

little members, Mikayla

and Taylor.

Candace Schmidt served

D4 for the last eight

years, having been

elected for two consecutive terms. During her

time on Tribal Council,

she served all eight years

as Secretary of Tribal

Council. She also served

on the JOM Committee

and Law & Order Committee and led the efforts

to develop the Elders

Council. As for her district activities, she led the

4th of July celebrations,

tailgating parties, Halloween parties, and Back

to School events. She also

assisted with leading the

efforts for iPonca, iMap,

iPep, iPep2, freezers,

Amazon cards, and Buffalo meat distributions.

District 2 provides extra Christmas cheer for members

When D2 Tribal Council

Rep Becci Sullivan found

out that many Toys for

Tots organizations were

unable to provide toys

this year due to the lack

of programs funds and

lack of donations caused

by COVID, she and her

helpers went into high

(elf) mode. The other

members of her elf squad

included members of the

Schott family (Candy,

Cami, Maci, and Ben).

2

They went out the next

day and purchased pres-

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

assembled, bagged and

tagged each gift. Then,

Ponca Express driver, Elf

Maylon Knudsen, delivered them to the Fred LeRoy Health and Wellness

Center. The drive-through

gift give was done by

Becci and staff members:

Elf Brook Zelasney and

Elf Emily Driver on Monday, December 21 at the

Fred Leroy Health and

ents for D2 members 0-13 Wellness Center.

years of age! They also

nonbá

February 2021

Tribal News

Member Spotlight: JP Pretty Bull

delivering Sunday meals

for elders and anyone in

need.

Amy Okamoto

Outreach Staff Writer

JP PrettyBull is pursuing

education as a means to

better serve indigenous

peoples. JP’s extensive

education already encompasses five degrees,

including a degree in

tribal historic preservation. They are currently

working on a Masters in

Social Work. JP is also a

veteran and earned the

classification of modernday warrior for serving

nine years of active duty

in the US Army.

That experience highlighted to JP the uniqueness of the situation for

indigenous veterans and

the lack of services that

addressed their needs.

was with the New York

nonprofit Live Out Loud,

which serves LGBTQ+

youth in grades 6-12.

During their internship,

JP developed a student

leadership program and

was instrumental in

raising awareness of the

Two-Spirit during Indigenous Heritage Month.

JP launched a discussion

series for Live Out Loud.

The first session was held

this past December, and

the virtual format drew

in youth from around the

country.

JP sees earning the Master in Social Work as a

way to bring full circle

their earlier education

degree in tribal historic

preservation. Their goal

is to help heal historic

trauma and develop a

synergy between traditional spiritual health and

clinical therapy, dispelling

any taboos about mental health care along the

way. JP wants to work

with Indian Health Services to serve all tribes

and has a special affinity

for indigenous veterans.

JP is an active Indigenous

Archeologist, working

with tribes across the

country to monitor and

JP began working toprotect heritage. Indigwards the Masters in

enous archeology differs

Social Work program

from traditional archejust 5 months ago. They

ology in that it seeks to

are quickly advancing

preserve the integrity of

through the two-year

the site rather than reprogram and anticipate

Much of JP’s family lives move pieces and place

completing all of the class

on the Flathead Reserva- them on display in a

hours and required field

tion in Montana. Curmuseum. Notable projplacement hours by Fall.

rently, JP is helping mem- ects that JP participated

JP’s latest field placement bers there, making and

in include Kerr Dam

NEW NORFOLK PHARMACY HOURS

The pharmacy at the Ponca Hills Health and

Wellness Center in Norfolk is now open on

Fridays.

on the Flathead Indian

Reservation in Montana,

now known as the Seli’š

Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam, and

the Grant-Kohrs Ranch

National Historic Site.

Though JP’s main focus

is outreach to indigenous

veterans and Two-Spirit,

they also are passionate

about promoting greater

inclusion. JP has facilitated talks with companies regarding diversity

and giving voice to indigenous populations. A

recent discussion with a

media company included

more than 100 employees

joining in to learn about

creating a more inclusive

environment for indigenous populations.

Having learned Salish as

part of their Tribal Historic Preservation education requirements, JP is

pursuing learning more of

the Ponka language.

We congratulate JP on

their educational successes and thank them for

their willingness to give

back to their community.

Ponca Health

Services

Pharmacy Hours:

Monday-Friday from 8 am-12 pm and 1-4:30 pm.

thábthin

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

3

Tribal News

February 2021

When Thunder met Lightning: The story of

how I met my brother Denny, Part 2

This essay from Ponca

author Cliff Taylor is a

continuation from the

January 2021 issue.

“Cool.”

Cliff Taylor

“I’m Cliff.”

I cut across the street,

went up the steps, flowed

forward in this busy,

swarming zone, got to

the door I’d exited from

and saw him still standing

there, still pseudo-looking

at the bulletin board. Not

stopping for a second, I

walked in.

“My name is Denny.”

we were both already

kicking it in.

“There’s a dinner pretty

soon at the Culture Center that I was thinking

of going to.” He looked

outside. “You want to go

sit outside?”

I stuck my hand out and

we shook hands.

“Are you new here?”

“I just moved here for

grad school.”

“What’re you studying?”

“Astronomy.”

He made me think of an

old book you’d always

“Hey,” I said, standing

come across at like the

behind him. He turned

library or the laundroaround. He looked fullmat and sometimes when

blood, had a sad, serious, you’d open it up it’d be

old face, acne, was prob- just hundreds of strange

ably about my age. A

blank pages or written

silence that I recognized

in a completely foreign

from my own conscious- language, but then other

ness seemed to permeate times it’d be stuffed with

him.

maybe the most unique

and original and potent

“Hey,” he said back,

shit you’d ever encounfriendly enough, returning from the depths of the tered as a rabid, hungercosmos that he had inside ing, lifelong book-freak.

of that snazzy jacket of

“What’re you up to

his.

now?” I asked, our connection pretty easy, both

“Are you Indian?” I

asked, direct, not smooth, of us dialing into each

other more than we were

going to the room some

part of me probably knew consciously aware of.

“I’m Lakota,” he said.

“I’m Ponca.”

4

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

We went outside and

found ourselves a seat

out-of-the-way on the

steps, facing the Centennial Mall corridor and

the towering, famously

phallic Capitol building

beyond it, and then we

slowly got to talking, like

in the far back of our

spirits we knew we were

building something good

and important with each

sentence, each question,

each exchange; the foundation of a friendship

that could support the

long-term projects of the

spirits and the meteoric

impacts of unforeseen

hardships still ahead; a

dreamworld village site,

half pre-Columbian and

half present-day, where

a piece of each of us

would always be living,

conferring, collaborating,

praying, remembering,

checking in, and doing

the sacred business of

what our connection was

fated for; a never-ending

crystal heart where everything from our favorite

Stephen King books to

our childhood visions to

our relationships with

different women over the

years would come to live

and run wild like so many

painted horses enjoying

the Plains of God’s Creation. He asked if I knew

a certain local medicine

man, said he was the

only person in town that

he knew; I told him that

I did, that the old man

was the first Indian I met

when I moved to Lincoln,

at a Village Inn, where we

were both sitting alone

in our own booths. And

we kept going from there.

A half hour slipped by

and then another half

hour after that. He was

the first Indian I’d ever

talked to who could

follow all the different

sides of me, my lone wolf

from Columbus side, the

emotional Sundancer, the

self-comforting artist, the

ecstatic in a brown body

who dreamed of writing

books and making horror

movies; he rolled with a

similar depth and versatility, relating to all of my

experiences, and then he

expanded the realm with

his detailed stories from

back home as a reservation kid who spoke Lakota and grew up around

ceremony; the tales that

issued forth from him

were riveting, vibrating

with the unseen, cavernous, well-articulated, not

to be forgotten. Night

fell over the campus and

I’m sure there were many

relatives peeking down at

continued on page 6

dubá

February 2021

Health

Dr. Paul Rozeboom joins Fred LeRoy Health & Wellness Center

The Fred LeRoy Health

and Wellness Center is

proud to welcome Dr.

Paul Rozeboom as our

new staff pediatrician.

Born and raised in Winterset, IA, Dr. Rozeboom

completed his undergraduate studies at Drake University in Des Moines, IA,

attended medical school

at the University of Iowa

in Iowa City, IA, and did

his Pediatric training at

Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, IA.

Dr. Rozeboom’s career

has spanned 30 years,

with work in Wisconsin,

Minnesota, and Iowa,

and IHS experience at

Crow/Northern Cheyenne

Hospital, Dr. Rozeboom

truly enjoyed his time,

and only chose not to

continue with that tribal

organization because of a

prior obligation. With the

Fred LeRoy Health and

Wellness Center, Dr. Rozeboom is once again able

to pursue these fulfilling

experiences with an IHS

facility, working to make

Hospital in Crow Agency, a difference.

Montana.

Medicine is somewhat of

Dr. Rozeboom’s prior

experience working

with IHS is part of what

brought him to work

for the Ponca Tribe. As

a contract physician at

Crow/Northern Cheyenne

a family profession for

Dr. Rozeboom, whose father was a family doctor.

His mother, as well as his

wife, Julie, are Registered

Nurses, his younger sister

is a nurse practitioner,

and sons Andrew, 25, and

Jonathan, 22, are pursuing careers in medicine.

In his free time, Dr.

Rozeboom enjoys photography and is currently

engaged in digitizing his

older projects along with

those of his father, who

also enjoyed photography.

Dr. Rozeboom would like

members to know that,

“As a pediatrician for 30

years and a parent for 25,

I strive to give children

the individual attention,

compassion, and care I

would give to my own.”

Hy-Vee adopts Fred LeRoy Health staff

as part of “Adopt A Healthcare worker”

nate me to be adopted.

That brings me to HyVee. The 50th and Center

store decided they wanted

to adopt our clinic staff.

Someone had seen the

page on Facebook and

knew what they wanted

to do - show their appreciation to the staff of a

small clinic who has been

working hard.

Nancie Velasquez

Community Health Manager

We all know that healthcare workers have been

stressed, tired, and may

be feeling unappreciated

since COVID-19 showed

its ugly face at the beginning of 2020. The Ponca

Tribe has had a great

partnership with Hy-Vee

for years, and they decided to show their appreciation for our clinic staff

right before Christmas.

It all started with a Facebook page dedicated to

“Adopting a Healthcare

Worker.” What was a

local page, grew into

sáton

something so much more.

People from all over the

US and different countries

started adopting CNA’s,

MA’s, nurses, doctors,

Nurse Practitioners. I

myself was lucky enough

to have someone nomi-

We can’t thank them

enough for the beautiful basket full of goodies

they sent over to us. It

brightened our day!!

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

5

Tribal News

February 2021

TAYLOR: The magic that we all have to share

continued from page 4

just using the place as

a haunt and setting to

continue launching all

of our probes into what

was by then clearly the

actual passion of both of

our souls: the vast reality of our people, our

culture, our spirituality,

as it extended throughout the Ages, the planes,

Eventually we left our

the wondrous landscapes

spot on the stairs and

and human interiors of

walked back to my apartthe Earth. We grubbed at

ment, grabbed my car,

IHOP, good, greasy food

and went cruising around,

that gassed us both up for

continuing to do nothmore; it never occurring

ing but talk, laugh, joke,

to either of us that there

open up, share, tell long

were any sort of polite

stories, unwrap dreams,

parameters of time that

speculate on the nature

we new friends should

of different entities, talk

heed; we were Indians

about his grandpa, things

and we’d been through

on Standing Rock, the

things most couldn’t

strangeness of Columbus

imagine and if something

and all that happened

was happening, like the

with my friends, and on

best conversation we’d

and on; time disappearboth had all year, then

ing, the car full of all the

you just bought another

characters we recognized

pack of smokes and kept

as precious in the prirolling with it, ya know?

vacy of our overflowing

memories. We went and

We probably talked for

practically knocked down about 10 hours straight

the door of my salty old

and then, by the light in

grandma mentor friend

the sky, you could tell

Char’s place, the elder

that morning was comwho introduced me to the ing. He gave me the direclittle people, and got a

tions to the University

raucous multi-hour long

professor’s house where

conversation going with

he was staying and I

her and her husband, to

dropped him off there. It

the joy and benefit of us

all felt pretty cool, pretty

all. We went and wannatural, seismic but also

dered around Wal-Mart, second-nature.

looking at movies, really

us from the luminous rim

up in their world, blowing on our fires, watching the beginnings of this

long-anticipated friendship unlock and add a

profound new light to the

epic story where we were

all making a go of it.

6

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

“Give me a call when

you’re free for some more

chatting,” I said, roasted

from the kind of allnighter my sober coffeedrinking Sundancer self

has always preferred.

“All right,” he said.

“Later, brother.”

“Later.”

He walked up to the

professor’s house and I

drove off. It would be

many years before I told

him the story of why I

turned around and went

back to talk to him, of

what that voice had told

me. Thank God for such

voices. Thank God for

such instructions.

communicating all of the

emotions of the story

like some ancient clown

who’d volunteered to

wear the people’s lives on

his whiskery mug long,

long ago. Now the story

was hers. Everything

that was inside of it and

more, was hers. Someday

it’d grow into something

that it never was with me

while in my possession

and maybe she’d pass it

on, its medicine doctoring someone, plugging

up a hole in their hull, or

just making them believe

again.

“And then your dad

moved into the apartment

below mine and we really started hanging out,

And that’s the story of

haha!” I laughed, rememhow I met my brother

bering the five months he

Denny.

lived below me, before

Denny was still running

he moved back to Kansas

hard on the treadmill in

to be with his kids. “I’d

the kitchen down the hall. have a dream, wake up

I wish that growing up

with my eyes buggin’,

someone would’ve told

pound down on my living

me about all the magic

room floor, your dad’s

we have to share as huceiling, and then he’d

man beings; instead of

pound back up that he

maybe putting so much

was home and I’d go on

emphasis on getting a

down and tell him about

respectable job or makmy dream, about what

ing sure to buy all the

the spirits were doing and

things with the right

telling me and all that. He

brand names. It felt kind ever tell you that?”

of magical to share that

She shook her head, her

story with Nona, Netflix

mood shifting as she

automatically playing the

recognized that I was

next episode of SVU on

continued on page 6

the flatscreen, my face

shápe

February 2021

Environmental

Spotting air pollution at home

lutants are in or around

your home especially if

When most people think someone in your home

has a respiratory disease.

of air pollution the first

thing that comes to mind Air pollutants can cause

further respiratory illnessis the big factories with

the large plumes of smoke es and aggravate illnesses

that others already have,

in the industrial parks

such as asthma.

of major cities. There

are many different types

There are many differof air pollution around

ent sources of air polluus. Whether that pollution around your homes,

tion comes in the form of both inside and out. Help

one of the major criteria

yourself and others to

pollutants (which can be cleaner air by limiting the

found at https://www.

exposure of harmful air

epa.gov/naaqs) or from

pollution around your

the weird smell your

home. Here is a list of

new carpet gives off after things to look for to help

being installed in your

combat air pollution at

home. It is important to

home.

understand what air polAllison Gienapp

Air Technician

Attention All AVT/HIED

Students Nationwide:

Please remember to submit your official

transcripts after EACH term funded in

order to be eligible to receive future

funding.

Summer 2021 deadline: May 15, 2021

Fall 2021 deadline: August 15, 2021

The Ponca Educational Trust Fund

is available nationwide to students

who enroll at one of the University of

Nebraska Campuses/Online Courses:

Lincoln ~ Omaha ~ Kearney (Must be

enrolled in 12 or more credit hours per

semester to be eligible)

· Motor Vehicle exhaust

· Gas-powered yard

equipment

· Residential wood/trash

burning

· New carpets and flooring

· Cleaning supplies with

harsh chemicals

pollutants and make sure

to take frequent clean air

breaks.

For more information

contact Allison Gienapp,

Air Technician at agienapp@poncatribe-ne.org.

Sources:

• https://www.lung.org/

clean-air/outdoors/10tips-to-protect-yourself

· Paints and some craft

supplies like polyurethane

• https://www.lung.org/

sealants

clean-air/at-home/indoorair-pollutants

When using items that

could produce harm• https://www.epa.gov/

ful air pollutions make

naaqs

sure you are using them

in well-ventilated areas.

Limit the amount of time

you are exposed to air

Attention All K-12 YIP Students Nationwide:

• High School Seniors for the 2020-2021 school year are eligible to

receive a $500.00 Graduation Incentive!

• Our department is accepting projects for incentives in the following

areas: Art, Essay/Poetry, and Student of the Month. *Winners may

receive $100.00 for 1st place, $50.00 for 2nd place, and $25.00 for 3rd

place. Grade divisions are as follows: Primary (K-2), Intermediate (35), Middle (6-8), and High School (9-12)

• Perfect Attendance $100.00 (0-.49 days of absenteeism), $50.00 (.53.49 days absenteeism), and $25.00 (3.5-5.49 days of absenteeism).

Deadline to apply for the 2020-2021 school year is July 31, 2021.

All Education Department Applications and Program Information is available online on our tribal website. If you

have any questions for the education department, please feel free to contact Aubrey Knudsen @ office (402)3718834, work cell (402)844-0957, or aknudsen@poncatribe-ne.org.

*Ponca tribal enrollment is required for ALL education programs*

péthonba

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

7

Tribal News

February 2021

TAYLOR: Indians are always at the center of it all

We both laughed. I

looked off into the clouds

getting jokey again, that

thing she was supposed to of the ceiling. “I think I

might’ve been a drunk

really hear and listen to

bear in my past life.”

receding back into those

pools where we trusted

She shook her head and

it’d be safe.

picked up the remote,

“I remember you always un-muted Olivia Benson

and Ice-T. In a couple

coming to visit us down

years she’d send me a text

in Lawrence. That one

asking me if I was going

time we got you to run

on the track with us. That to come to her graduation. She’d tell me that

was funny. You looked

she’d gotten accepted to

like a drunk bear.”

continued from page 6

the college that was at the

top of her list. When I’d

ask her what her major

was going to be then,

she’d text me back, “Creative Writing.” I’d text

her back, “That’s what I

was going to guess.”

“You know who I think

did it?”

I heard Denny in the

kitchen powering down

the treadmill and joined

Nona in the easy trance

of watching SVU.

Cliff Taylor is an enrolled

member of the Ponca

Tribe of Nebraska. His

first book, “The Memory

of Souls,” is available on

Amazon.

“Who?” Denny said,

standing between us.

“The Indian. The Indians

are always at the center

of it all.”

Easter Baskets

District 2

March 27, 2021 | 9-11 am

Ralston Administration Building

5805 S 86th Circle | Omaha, NE

District 2 is providing Easter baskets to District 2 Ponca

youth ages 0-12, living in the Service Delivery Area (must

be registered with Enrollment). For the health and safety

of our Tribal citizens and staff, this will be a drive-thru

event. Baskets will be distributed on a first-come,

first-served basis, one basket per registered child.

Parent or guardian must be present

to pick up for their household,

unless a prior authorization

is given. For more information,

please call Becci Sullivan at

531.222.4471.

8

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

pethábthin

February 2021

Youth Council

Youth Council gets creative with outreach

Maci Schott

Youth Council is excited to announce that to start this year we

have created an e-newsletter! We

hope that this acts as a virtual

way to stay connected with the

youth of our tribe. In this upcoming e-newsletter, youth will hear

from each member of the Youth

Council and their take on projects

we have accomplished and look

forward to accomplishing in the

rest of the 2021 fiscal year. In addition to this, Sofia Hegstrom has

attached an educational brochure.

We hope that this assists youth in

their studies and academic work.

Plus, Makala Laravie has written a

piece on Culture & Tradition with

a glimpse at Chief Standing Bear’s

Journey to Sanctuary Hall. Lastly,

Maci Schott spotlights Rebecca

The Ponca Youth Council now has an

Instagram account to showcase their

activities.

Sullivan and Candace Schmidt for

their dedication to helping our

tribe receive an abundance of services during this pandemic. We are

excited for this first e-newsletter to

go out in the upcoming month! We

look forward to hearing feedback

from youth, informing them of

upcoming events they can participate in, and creating a community

of leaders within our tribe. In other

exciting news, the Osni Ponka

Youth Council officially has an

Instagram account! Please inform

your family and friends to follow

us @poncatribeyouthcouncil for

information about Youth Council,

events, and other exciting news!

With this new form of social media

we hope for it to act as a platform

for youth in our tribe to learn more

about getting involved and having

a voice!

If you, your family, or friends are

between the ages 14-24 years old

and would like to be included in

receiving the e-newsletter please

email the Youth Council email at

youthcouncil@poncatribe-ne.org

Elder feedback needed regarding COVID vaccine interest

Ponca Health Services is

conducting COVID19

Vaccine outreach to our

Elder population. Elders ages 55 & Up interested in receiving the

COVID19 vaccine once

available at either Fred

Leroy Health & Wellness

Center (Omaha) and/or

at Ponca Hills Health &

Wellness Center (Norfolk) are encouraged to

complete an interest form.

This form can be completed online at https://

app.smartsheet.com/b/

form/f9498dfaac7848d1a17bc05e94944048, or

by calling 402-738-3169.

Additional information:

shónka

• Vaccines will be available to elders 65 years age

group first, then 55 and

older age group. Number

of persons vaccinated

will be dependent on the

number of vaccine doses

received by Ponca Health

Services.

your contact information

and good time for a staff

member to contact you.

A Ponca Health Services

staff member will contact

you regarding the registration process and schedule the vaccination.

been received. Please do

not call the clinic regarding the vaccination, as the

clinic is still serving patients. Instead, please call

402-738-3169 with any

questions regarding preregistration for the COVID19 vaccine (55 years

• If you have been seen

& Up). The expected

• Ponca Health Services

and have an up-to-date

timeframe to receive a call

is not able to offer home

registration at Fred LeRoy

from a Ponca Health Staff

visits at this time due to

Health and Wellness Cenmember is end of January

vaccine storage/use reter or Ponca Hill Health

to the middle of March,

quirements.

and Wellness Center,

2021.

please complete the form

• If you have not been

to include a good contact • Ponca Health Services

seen at either Fred LeRoy

number.

serves members of federHealth and Wellness or

ally recognized tribes.

Ponca Hills Health and

• Ponca Health Staff will

Proof of tribal enrollment

Wellness in the past 3

contact persons completis required for registration

years, please still complete ing the interest form when

purposes (Enrollment ID,

the interest form with

the COVID vaccine has

Abstract, CDIB, etc.)”

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

9

Tribal News

February 2021

Ponca member Robinette reflects on significance of corn harvest

The 7th annual Ponca

Corn Harvest was held at

Helen and Art Tanderup’s

farm, in Neligh, Nebraska. The plot of land

where the Corn is planted

was deeded to the Ponca

Tribe of Nebraska and

the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma in 2019.

It was a first-time event

for Debbie Robinette

and her six-year-old

great-grandson, Stanford

Robinette. “It was superhot, but it was a beautiful

day, and I really, really

enjoyed it. The field was

tall, weedy, and hot, and

Larry got the first corn,

he went in and he got it

for me. We took a picture with Stanford, really

proud, holding that first

cob. They also gave him a

little red-seeded one, told

him it’s sacred. Stanford

can always have that

memory. I think the best

part of the whole thing

is, teaching my grandkids

the stuff that’s important,

that what we lost.”

“We’re always whining

about we lost this and we

lost that, and people say

‘they want to do this’ and

‘they want to do that’ and

‘they want to know’…

but we don’t do anything

about it, so now I’m trying. It was really cool to

see Stanford’s little eyes

light up just so happy and

having so much fun. He’d

just run, run, run, saying

‘Look at this one, it’s so

special, and this one is

10

one with a mix- it had

a little blue, little red,

and a little white in it.

He pointed out one little

cob that he said, ‘Those

shells, those seeds, look

like the back of a turtle.

They look like a turtle

shell!’ That was clever.

“They talked about how

this bundle of seed came

back to Nebraska, and

how it has connected the

tribe in Nebraska with

the tribe in Oklahoma. I

Helen Tanderup, Stanford Robinette, and Art Tanderup

think we can learn from

so neat!’ It was really a

we never got to go when the Ponca in Oklahoma

blessing to watch him.”

they did any of the plant- about the sacredness of

ings or harvests. But we

the Red Seed and why

“What was really unique

were there when they first it was considered more

about the day, was that

started doing the planspecial. My Mama never

all little boys need heroes.

ning and talking about

hardly talked about her

They need somebody

it, and it was really cool

mom and stuff. Sandy

that they can look up to,

then, they showed us

(Stanford Taylor), my

someone that is teachthe blue, the white, the

brother, sometimes would

ing, and the Chairman

red, you know, the difmention stuff, but he

was there and just kind

ferent colors that they

never told a lot of stuff

of took him right along. I

had. And then this was

either. As Stanford would

don’t think Larry realizes

the first time I got to go.

say, ‘When it went South,

that he’s a hero to these

I wasn’t quite sure bethey left it down South.’

young kids. He cares

cause I’d had pneumonia, They just kind of never

about the People. And

but then when I slept on

revived it until we were

he doesn’t even realize it,

it overnight, I thought,

reinstated, and they’re

but he has a little bitty

you know, that would be trying to bring it back.

boy there, that probably

the best experience, we

He always said it was gosomeday will say, ‘That’s

have to take him. He’s six ing to be tough, for them

my hero.’ I know my Big

years old and if this stays to get it all back but I, I

Brother Ted is probably

with him and this is a

think they’ll get it.”

just smiling down at Larpart of my legacy to pass

ry, at his grandson, and

on to him, me and Gram- “The Ponca corn, the

all the accomplishments

pa’s, I need to do that, it blue corn, was a flour

he has made. Larry’s

don’t matter how I feel, I corn. When ground, it

grandpa Ted was my big

made a grey powder. A

need to pass it on.”’

brother, Ted Wright.”

Ponca word for flour

“There was that one

is wamóskexude. Xúde

“For me to see the Ponca

bright red ear that was

means ‘grey’, so their

corn for the first time was

so pretty! Really a bright word for ‘flour’ gives a

awesome, it was really

red! Stanford had a solid clue that it was ‘grey.’

cool! Gary (Robinette)

blue one, and then he had

continued on page 11

was kind of sickly, so

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

gthébon

February 2021

Tribal News

ROBINETTE: A moving experience for youth and elders alike

continued from page 10

You know, I don’t know

if my mom or grandparents ever cooked

with any of the old flour

corns.”

“Meeting the people was

really cool. They made

you feel so welcome.

Stanford was so wellmannered, like he knows

when to turn it off and

when to turn it on, and

when he’s genuinely feeling good and at-home,

his personality really

shines. He was just so

relaxed, like, ‘I’m here to

learn,’ He connected so

well with Art and Helen Standford Robinette with a variety bushel of Ponca Corn

(Tanderup), he really

enjoyed being with them. line. “The experience of the bread- basket of

America, the Ogallala

They topped the day off having to wear masks,

because

it

was

such

a

Aquifer, and the many

for him, with a load of

small group, it was very rivers and streams that it

pumpkins! He was just

supportive. I appreciate

will cross, including the

thrilled when Art said,

the care that they went

Niobrara and Missouri,

‘Take as many as you

to,

to

make

sure

everyis why we’re still fightwant!’ He will probably

one

was

masked

and

ing. “We think about

say his little prayers for

kept social distancing. I

all the animals that are

Helen, because when

actually

didn’t

even

think

going get hurt, all the

he makes that bond, he

about

the

Covid,

all

I

people that could get

will remember her. And

could think about was

hurt. All they’re thinkit was nice that there

the

corn.”

ing about is money and

were people there who

putting more money in

remember Gary, and that The Route of the protheir pocket. They have

they talked about his

posed Keystone XL tarno care for life itself. To

Grandpa Gary.”

sands export pipeline:

think that they’re damAt Tanderup farm, due

They talked about ‘emi- aging water and ground.

to the coronavirus pannent domain for private In our area we’re high

demic, a much smaller

gain,’ how politicians say risk for cancer; Knox

group gathered for this

County already has the

that they need this for

year’s seventh annual

highest cancer rate in all

public service, but the

harvest of sacred Ponca

of Nebraska. It’s just teroil isn’t going to pubcorn - on Ponca Narible.”

licly serve us; it will be

tion land, that crosses

shipped to other coun“I am hoping that next

the Ponca Trail of Tears tries, and serve corpoyear, hopefully without

and proposed path of

rations, and the route

the Covid, that maybe

the Keystone XL pipethat it takes through

agthín win

one of the youth groups

would take our children

out there - we’re hoping more children get

involved in these cultural

events. Also, there was

the young lady, Stacy

Laravie (our THPO).

Her great-grandfather

was Standing Bear, and

like she said, she’s learning herself, too. Larry

and Stacy both will be

an asset for anybody

else that goes, and that’s

what I told Stacy, ‘We

need to bring our children. We teach through

our children, and we

need to start doing it, instead of blowing smoke

up everybody’s níde, let’s

just do it!’

“Stanford was proud sitting next to Larry, under

the trees. I’m just so

proud of him, and Larry

as well, and Stacy. I’d

like to thank two young

heroes for our tribe, for

the youth - the Chairman

and Stacy. Yes, we need

heroes. Every group of

people needs their heroes, and I really would

like to thank them for

being heroes for our future youth of tomorrow.

I think that’s important.

Yes, it’s for our children,

for the future, the future

little Poncas. Our future

leaders!” Wibthahon!

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

11

Tribal News

February 2021

Cante’ Waste’ Win Tiospaye’ Talking Circle

Cante’ Waste’ Win Ti-

ospaye Talking Cir-

Please join our Female Talking Circle

Every 1st Friday of each month @ 7pm

Cante’ Waste’ Win Tiospaye’ Facebook Page

Online Facebook Messenger Rooms

Any questions contact Marissa Wright (402)841 -2474

Healing through tradition, ceremony and

prayer...

12

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

shápe nonbá

February 2021

Member’s Corner

Qualified Expert Witnesses

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is looking for any Ponca

members who would be interested in serving as a

Qualified Expert Witness in court proceedings involving

Ponca children.

QEWs are required in court hearings for foster care

placements and actions for termination of parental

rights. Court personnel should contact the tribe or other

agencies to identify persons with knowledge of the

cultural aspects of tribal life that may assist in determining

whether a parent’s or Indian custodian’s continued custody

of the Indian child will result in serious emotional or

physical damage.

If you have an interest please contact Joan Geardino in the

Lincoln office at:

402-438-9222 ext 2017

Elder’s Council

Meeting

February 1 | 9 am

March 1 | 9 am

March 2 | 9 am

Lifesize & Conference Call available.

jgeardino@poncatribe-ne.org

MEMBERS NEEDED!

CODE REVISION (LAW & ORDER) COMMITTEE

There is one vacancy that needs to be filled for a Tribal Member. This Committee reviews the Ponca Tribal Law &

Order Code to ensure that it is an expression of Tribal sovereignty, relevant and Ponca specific. The Committee

meets one time per month via video conferencing. Tribal members are paid a stipend of $250 and mileage

reimbursement up to 410 miles. If interested please submit a letter of interest to Tribal Council, P.O. Box 288,

Niobrara, NE 68760 Attn: Beth Barger or bbarger@poncatribe-ne.org. Deadline for submission is March 1, 2021.

PONCA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD

There will be two terms expiring on this Board. Applications are now being accepted. The purposes and powers

of the Ponca Economic Development Corporation are to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations

may be organized under the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Corporation Business Code. The business and activities of

the corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors which shall be persons with extensive experience in

business in Nebraska or Iowa. A $250 stipend per meeting is paid as well as mileage reimbursement up to 410

miles roundtrip. Applicants must submit a letter of interest and current resume to the Tribal Council, P.O. Box 288,

Niobrara, NE 68760 or by e-mail bbarger@poncatribe-ne.org. A background check and drug test are required per

the Articles of Incorporation. Deadline for Applications is March 1, 2021.

OSNI PONCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

There will be two terms expiring on this Board. Applications are now being accepted. The purpose of Osni Ponca

LLC is to engage in economic development activities for the benefit of the Tribe and its members. This Board

manages the activities and affairs of Osni Ponca. No member of the Tribal Council, employee of the Tribe or any

entities thereof, shall serve on this Board. The Board members must have the following minimum qualification: 1)

Be at least twenty–five (25) years of age; 2) either (a) possess a Bachelor’s Degree in business or a related field, or

(b) possess a high school diploma (or a general equivalency diploma) and have at least five (5) years of business,

financial, legal government contracting, tribal government or industry experience; 3) have no felony convictions;

and 4) submit to a background investigation which yields no results showing convictions involving tax evasion,

tax fraud, embezzlement or moral turpitude. Applications will be accepted from Tribal and non-tribal members. A

$250 stipend per meeting is paid as well as mileage reimbursement up to 410 miles roundtrip. Applicants must

submit a letter of interest and current resume to the Tribal Council, P.O. Box 288, Niobrara, NE 68760 or by e-mail

to bbarger@poncatribe-ne.org. A background check is required. Deadline for Application is March 1, 2021.

agthín thábthin

Ponca Tribe OFNebraska

13

P.O. Box 288

Niobrara, NE 68760

onc

p

.

w

w

w

org

.

e

n

e

atrib

Office Locations

NIOBRARA 68760

Headquarters

2523 Woodbine St., P.O. Box 288

Ph: (402) 857-3391

Fax: (402) 857-3736

Enrollment

2523 Woodbine St., P.O. Box 288

Ph: (402) 857-3391

Fax: (402) 857-3771

Cultural

P.O. Box 288

Ph: (402) 857-3519

Fax: (402) 857-3652

Ponca Hills Clinic

Ph: (402) 371-8780

(402) 371-5726

Fax: (402) 379-4291 - Pharmacy

(402) 379-4293 - Registration

(402) 371-4094 - Medical Lab

Administration

119 6th Street

Ph: (712) 258-0500

Fax: (712) 258-0762

OTHER RESOURCES

Ponca Express Child Abuse Hotline

Ph: 877-769-3111

800-652-1999 (Nebraska)

800-362-2178 (Iowa)

Northern Ponca Housing Authority

877-244-0864 (South Dakota)

1501 Michigan Ave.

Ph: (402) 379-8224

National Child Abuse Hotline

(800) 367-2320

800-422-4453

Fax: (402) 379-8557

Purchased/Referred Care

Ph: (800) 405-0365

Administration

Fax: (402) 371-0176

1701 E Street

Ph: (402) 438-9222

OMAHA 68107

Fax: (402) 438-9226

Fred LeRoy Health & Wellness Clinic

Osni Ponca

2602 “J” Street

2756 O Street

Ph: (402) 733-3612

Ph: (402) 434-2127

Fax: (402) 733-3487

Fax: (402) 434-2128

Administration

NORFOLK 68701

5805 South 86th Circle, 68127

Administration Building

Ph: (402) 315-2760

1800 Syracuse Ave.

Ph: (402) 371-8834

Dental

Fax: (402) 371-7564

2602 “J” Street

Ph: (402) 733-1325

Gym Building

Fax: (402) 733-3487

1800 Syracuse Ave.

Ph: (402) 371-8834

Northern Ponca Housing Authority

Fax: (402) 379-0988

10635 Birch., 68134

Ph: (402) 505-3055

Fax: (402) 505-3066

LINCOLN 68508

SIOUX CITY 51103

National Suicide Hotline

800-273-8255

Domestic Violence Hotline

800-799-7233

National Human Trafficking Hotline

888-373-7888

National Problem Gambling Helpline

800-522-4700

Elder Abuse Hotline

800-252-8966

Boys Town Crisis Line

800-448-3000

Drug Treatment & Referral Hotline

877-726-4727

Nebraska Family Helpline

888-866-8660

Veterans Crisis Line

800-273-8255

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Newsletter is published monthly and printed by Printco Graphics, Omaha, Nebraska. ahgthee dubah

Deadline for submissions is the 1st of each month. In the event the 1st falls on a weekend, submissions are due the Friday before.

All submissions of a political nature are subject to Tribal Council approval. Send to Jessica Hitchcock, jhitchcock@poncatribe-ne.org.

See or print the newsletter archives in full color on the member’s side (you must log in) of the web site at: www.poncatribe-ne.org