Phone: 918-968-3526 • 920963 S. Hwy. 99, Bldg. A • Stroud, OK 74079 • Vol. 48 • No. 4 • April 2026

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Dr. Donald L. Fixico Inducted Into ‘Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame’

Sac and Fox Nation tribal

member Dr. Donald L. Fixico was among four individuals

inducted March 19, 2026 into

the ‘Oklahoma Historians Hall

of Fame’ during the Oklahoma

Historical Society Awards Banquet held at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.

Other inductees include:

David W. Levy (posthumous),

Linda D. Wilson and Timothy

A. Zwink. Instituted in 1993,

the Oklahoma Historians Hall

of Fame is the highest honor

awarded by the Oklahoma Historical Society. This honor recognizes distinguished and longterm contributions to Oklahoma

history through demonstrated

excellence in the preservation,

collection, interpretation and

dissemination of Oklahoma history. Each inductee receives the

Oklahoma Historians Hall of

Fame medal, and their biography is published in “The Chronicles of Oklahoma.”

Donald L. Fixico (Muscogee

Creek, Seminole, Shawnee, Sac

and Fox) is a Regents’ and Distinguished Professor of History;

Distinguished Scholar of Sustainability; and Affiliate Faculty

of American Indian Studies at

Arizona State University.

He was born in Shawnee and

graduated from Muskogee Central High School. A first-generation college graduate, Fixico

attended Bacone College before

transferring to the University of

Oklahoma, where he earned a

bachelor’s degree, master’s de-

gree and Ph.D. in history.

He is a member of the Fox

Clan on his mother’s side of the

family. She was Virginia Fixico

(nee Wakolee) and, his father

was Rev. John Fixico (Mvskoke/

Semvnole).

He is the author and editor of

over twenty books on the American West and American Indian

history, including recent works

such as “The State of Sequoyah:

Indigenous Sovereignty and the

Quest for an Indian State” and

“Chitto Harjo: Native Patriotism and the Medicine Way.”

Dr. Fixico has received numerous awards for his teaching

and scholarship, including the

National Museum of the American Indian Award in History and

Education in 2010. He has also

mentored dozens of graduate

students and has traveled widely, both nationally and internationally, to lend his expertise on

Oklahoma and American Indian

history.

Now a Regents’ and Distinguished Professor at Arizona

State University, his expertise

has been utilized at the highest

levels of government, including a presidential appointment

to the National Advisory Committee for the National Endowment for the Humanities and

an appointment to the National

Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names for the

U.S. Department of the Interior.

David W. Levy arrived at the

University of Oklahoma (OU)

after receiving his Ph.D. from

At Oklahoma

Historical Society

Awards Banquet

the University of Wisconsin

in 1967. He retired from OU

in 2006 as the Irene and Julian

Rothbaum Professor of Modern

American History. Dr. Levy was

best known nationally for his

work on American intellectual and political history. He also

became the official historian of

the University of Oklahoma by

publishing two volumes of “The

University of Oklahoma: A History.”

He also researched the Civil

Rights Movement in Oklahoma and highlighted the state’s

importance in national debates concerning equal access

to higher education. His 2020

book “Breaking Down Barriers: George McLaurin and the

Struggle to End Segregated Education” received the E. E. Dale

Award for the Outstanding Book

on Oklahoma History from the

OHS.

A valued colleague and mentor, Dr. Levy was inducted into

the Oklahoma Higher Education

Hall of Fame in 2006. Dr. Levy

passed away on August 9, 2025.

Prior to his death, he arranged

for the completion of a planned

third volume of his history of

the University of Oklahoma.

Linda D. Wilson has written,

published and edited articles on

Oklahoma and women’s history

for thirty years. After graduating

as valedictorian from Crooked

Oak High School in Oklahoma

City in 1966, Wilson worked

at Tinker Air Force Base. She

later transferred to the Veterans

Administration Hospital and the

Mike Monroney Aeronautical

Center.

Wilson took classes at the

(Continued on Page 4.)

Donald L. Fixico, Ph.D.

Corps of Engineers Reps Visit SFN Campus

Registration is Open for June 15-16

Sovereignty Symposium in OKC

Registration is now open

for the 38th Sovereignty Symposium. Deep discussions on

important tribal issues, a celebration of Native culture and

a keynote panel of five Native

American U.S. District Court

judges will highlight the 38th

Sovereignty Symposium to be

held June 15 and 16 at OKANA

resort in Oklahoma City.

This year’s symposium will

feature panel discussions on a

variety of topics including tribal commerce and economic development, energy and natural

resources, artificial intelligence,

tribal health care, and reflections on 250 years of federal Indian law.

A keynote panel discussion

titled “Ethical Leadership:

Honoring Sovereignty from the

Bench” will bring together a

distinguished group of Native

American federal judges to discuss the intersection of judicial

ethics, leadership and tribal sovereignty.

Throughout both days, tribal

and state leaders will join legal

and policy experts in the discussions. Registration and more information, including a schedule

and draft of the agenda, is available at sovereigntysymposium.

com.

The opening ceremony will

feature an invocation by Bishop David Wilson (Choctaw) of

the Great Plains Conference of

the United Methodist Church;

and Gordon Yellowman, artist

and peace chief of the Cheyenne

and Arapaho Tribes, will do the

Camp Call.

Sovereignty Symposium was

founded in 1988 by Oklahoma

Supreme Court Justice Yvonne

Kauger and has been hosted by

OCU Law since 2023. It provides a scholarly setting for the

consideration of legal and policy issues facing tribal communities, as well as a platform for the

celebration of tribal sovereignty

in all its forms: legal, artistic,

cultural and economic.

“The Sovereignty Symposium brings together leading

voices in tribal law and policy to

address the most pressing legal

and governance issues facing

Tribal Nations today,” Emily

Eleftherakis (Cherokee/Delaware Tribe), executive director

of OCU’s Tribal Sovereignty

Institute.

“By fostering collaboration among tribal leaders,

practitioners and policymakers,

the event highlights the continued importance of sovereignty,

self-determination and innovative legal solutionsy.”

OCU Law Dean David Holt

(Osage) said the symposium

offers a neutral space where the

state’s 39 tribes and others from

around the nation can discuss

common legal and policy issues

while sharing innovative ideas

and accomplishments.

“Sovereignty

Symposium

now has four decades of history and credibility, and it has become one of the most important

tribal gatherings on the calendar, especially when the topics

center around policy or the law,”

Holt said.

The symposium also includes

academic competitions, including a college student research

project contest named in honor

of longtime law professor and

historian C. Blue Clark [Muscogee (Creek) Nation] and writing competitions.

SFN Business Committee officials welcomed a group of visitors from the Tulsa

District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

on Feb. 26. Col. Jessica Goffena, shown at

center wearing a camo uniform, who serves

as commander and district engineer, along

with five other Corps of Engineers representatives, were welcomed at a meet-and-greet

in the SFN Cultural Center. Discussion included a partnership to address water infrastructure issues, including the spillway at

Veterans Lake. Following comments from

SFN Business Committee Member Robert

Williamson, and Cultural Center representative Dukon Harris, the group boarded a tribal

passenger van for a tour of the campus and

lake area. The visit at the Sac and Fox Nation was the first tribal visit planned across

the Tulsa district by Col. Goffena, who was

appointed to her post in recent months. (See

more inside this edition.)

(Photo by Mike Brown)

SFN Officials Attend ‘Every Student Succeeds

Act’ Consultation Meeting in OKC

Second Chief, Lorena K.

Wood, Education Director-Edwina Butler-Wolfe,

and Secretary, Shawna

Spoon are pictured from

left while in attendance

at the February 26, 2026

OKC Metro Every Student

Succeeds Act (ESSA) Tribal Consultation Meeting.

(Photo Provided)

Page 2 - Sac and Fox News - April 2026

Sac and Fox News

The Sac & Fox News is the monthly

publication of the Sac & Fox Nation,

located on SH 99, six miles south of

Stroud, OK.

Mailing address:

Sac and Fox Nation

Administration Building

920963 S Hwy 99 Bldg A

Stroud, OK 74079

Phone: 918-968-3526

Fax: 918-968-4837

The Sac & Fox News is the official

publication of the Sac and Fox

Nation. Our mission is to meet all

tribal members information needs

concerning the Nation.

The Sac & Fox News is mailed free,

one per address, to enrolled Sac and

Fox tribal members. Paid subscriptions

are available for $12.00 annually.

Editorial statements, guest columns,

and letters to the editor published in

this newspaper contain the opinions

of the writers. These opinions do not

necessarily reflect the opinions of

the Sac and Fox News staff or any

elected official or department of tribal

government or administration.

The Sac and Fox News reserves the

right to refuse publication of letters to

the editor. All editorials and letters to

the editor become the property of the

Sac and Fox News.

Submissions for publication must

be signed by the author and include

an address and contact phone number.

They are limited to 300 words. The

staff will not edit editorials or letters

to the editor to fit the 300-word limit.

Deadline for the May edition is:

Monday, April 20 at 4:30 p.m.

Reprint permission is granted, with

proper credit to the Sac and Fox News,

unless other copyrights are shown.

Articles and letters may be submitted

to the newspaper either by mail or Fax

to the address provided above, - or by

e-mail:newspaper@sacandfox.com.

Address corrections and changes are

accepted by the Business Committee

at the address listed below.

Obituaries

Timothy Lynn ‘Tahlee’ Redbird Jr.

Timothy Lynn “Tahlee” Redbird Jr.,

54, of Grove, Okla. passed away March

6, 2026 in Tulsa Okla.

Tahlee was born on September 21,

1971 in Claremore, Okla. to Cheryl McClellan and Timothy Redbird, Sr. He was

an enrolled member of the Sac and Fox

Nation and was of Kiowa, Creek, Seminole, Seneca-Cayuga and Wyandotte

descent.

He graduated from Flandreau Indian

School, Flandreau, SD and attended the

Institute of American Indian Arts Santa

Fe, NM.

Tahlee was a member of the Kiowa

Gourd Clan, the O-ho-mah Lodge Kiowa

Warrior Society, American Indian Science and Engineering Society Upward

Bound, Sequoyah Fellowship Member,

and was a youth member of the National Indian Education Association. He

was a native bead worker, artist, maker

of drums, shields, staffs, feather work,

leather work, and pow-wow regalia. He

loved to sing and dance and, began his

singing and dancing at the age of three.

Tahlee became a champion dancer and

Principal Chief:

Audrey Rose Lee

Telephone (918) 968-3526

Ext. 1004

principalchief@sacandfox.com

Second Chief:

Lorena Wood

Telephone (918) 968-3526

Ext. 1008

secondchief@sacandfox.com

Secretary:

Shawna Spoon

Telephone (918) 968-3526

Ext. 1007

secretary@sacandfox.com

Treasurer:

Jerri McClelland-Waldrup

Telephone (918) 968-3526

Ext. 1006

treasurer@sacandfox.com

Committee Member:

Robert Williamson

Telephone (918) 968-3526

Ext. 1005

cmember@sacandfox.com

Senior Executive Assistant:

Kelsey Byrd

kelsey.byrd@sacandfox.com

Business Committee

Stroud, OK 74079

Executive Assistant:

Niabi Hart

executiveassistant1@sacandfox.com

(918)968-3526

Ext. 1002

Stroud, OK 74079

Visit us on the Web @

sacandfoxnation.com

and Patricia Bucktrout and father Timothy Redbird Sr., and many extended family and friends throughout the pow-wow

world.

He was preceded in death by his mother

Cheryl McClellan, aunts Sandra McClelland, Terri Gibson maternal grandparents

John J. McClellan, Clara Bell (Emarthla) McClelland, paternal grandparents

Ernest Redbird Sr. and Ruth (Whitefox)

Redbird, paternal aunt Rozella Parton,

Avonna Redbird, Glenda Redbird, uncles

William Redbird and Herbert Redbird.

A prayer service was held March 9,

2026, at the SFN Community Bldg. A

graveside service followed on March 10,

2026, at the Sac and Fox Cemetery.

Beverly Springer

Beverly Springer passed from this life

on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at her home

with family by her side. Arrangements

were entrusted to the care of Palmer

Marler Funeral Home.

A supper and Wake Service were held

March 17, 2026 at the Phoebe Small

Community Building, Perkins, Okla.

On March 18, 2026 the Funeral Meal

was held at the Phoebe Small Community Building and, a Graveside Service

followed at the Ioway Cemetery.

ra Horton, Blaine Horton, Ryker Horton,

Willow Horton, Crystaleen Showecker,

Zaidan Harden, Keilani Harden, and Keiahna Harden.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Howard Springer and Ruth McClellan Springer; her siblings, Louis Springer, Tyrone Springer, Shirley Blenden,

Grace Springer, and Monica Harden.

Timothy Lynn ‘Tahlee’ Redbird Jr.

NOTICE TO VETERANS!

Men & Women, especially WWI, WWII & Korean War

The Sac and Fox National Public Library

is asking for your DD 214s for their records and

MEMORIAL MONUMENT PURPOSES!

Managing Editor

Mike Brown

(918) 968-3526 Ext. 1060

newspaper@sacandfox.com

Publisher: Sac and Fox Nation

~~~~~~~

Tribal Officers:

918-968-3526 or 800-259-3970

singer who traveled throughout the USA

and Canada. He danced as a Fancy War

Dancer, Norther Traditional Dancer and

Grass Dancer. Tahlee sang and performed

at various events and competitions during

his career most notably at the Heard Museum World Championship Hoop Dance

Competition in Phoenix, Arizona, as well

as having the opportunity to perform for

Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan

and George Bush.

In 1994, the Stoney Park Drum group,

whom he sang with, were nominated for

the prestigious Canadian JUNO Music

Awards. Tahlee was also a part of the

1996 Super Bowl XXX pregame show

at the Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Az.

Over the years, Tahlee served on the head

staff at many powwows in the capacity of

a headman dancer, MC, Arena Director

and as part of the Host Drum Group.

He is survived by his daughter Wynema Redbird, grandchildren Lillyanna

and Marcello Hernandez, sister Lyndee

McClellan and companion Joe Jourdain

Jr, aunts Pamela McClelland, Marilyn

McClelland, Jerri McClelland-Waldrup

Beverly Springer

Beverly Yvonne Springer, born on July

19, 1949 to Howard Leroy Springer, Ioway and Ruth McClellan Springer, Sac

& Fox/ Otoe. Her Ioway name is Me Hah

Ge and she is of the Buffalo Clan. Beverly was a strong believer in Native American Church which her parents raised her

in. She was raised in Ark City, Kansas

and attended Ark City High School.

When she was young, she enjoyed

playing softball with her sisters and

bowling in a league. Later, Beverly took

care of her mother and moved back to the

home place in Perkins, OK. In Perkins,

she worked at the Cimarron Casino for

19 years. She was beloved by many coworkers and many friends that became

family. She never met a stranger. She

would give anything to help someone.

Beverly enjoyed going to bingo and

casino. She liked going to movies and

eating popcorn. She enjoyed attending

powwows and camping. She loved her

family and spending time with them. She

loved going on drives with family. She

loved her dogs, Takoma and Bella.

She loved all her siblings, nieces,

nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will leave a huge hole in

the heart of our family.

Beverly is survived by her life-long

partner, Ivan Buffalohead; her daughter, Crystal Springer; and sons, Tyrone

Springer and Silas Cox; her siblings

Katherine Gashwazra and Thomas Leroy Springer; her granddaughter, Sadie Littlecreek and companion Michael

Knight Jr.; her nieces, Kiva Harden-Free,

Taryn Harden, Monica Hudson, Kia

Bellymule, Shelley Gashwazra, Ruthie

Springer, and Tonja Springer; her nephews, William Harden, Howard Michael

Gashwazra, Garrett Blenden, Eric Bellymule, and Justyn Hudson; her grandchildren, Xaine Cox, Skilar Showecker,

Kalief Harden, Kiylista Harden, Cleveland Harden, Kynzie Kaiden Harden,

Sianne Harden, Jalen Harden, Kassie

Harden, Devon Harden, Xailei Harden,

Elizabeth Townsley, Julian Hudson, Jasmine Hudson, Chamilla Youngbull, Luke

Bellymule, Eva Bellymule, Seth Horton,

Blake Horton, Cheyenne Meyer, Hunter

Meyer, Shirley Grace Springer, and Sophia Springer; great-grandchildren, Kei-

The Veterans are also requesting photos of tribal members in

uniform or on military or active duty.

These will be reviewed and may be selected to be put on one

of the monuments (WWI, WWII, Korean or Vietnam). A fifth

monument will be designated with the appropriate name for the

Peace Keeping Initiative Years

(Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Desert Storm and Desert Shield)

Contact: Sac and Fox National Public Library

918-968-3526

Happy April Birthday Elders!

Adkins, Galle Rae

Ahkeahbo, Elizabeth

Allen, Suzanne Elizabeth

Andersen, Shari Lynn

Barron, Shelly Ann

Beall, Sean Patrick

Bean, Rose Marie

Berryhill, Gregory Wayne

Blackburn, Tina Jean

Brady, Rebecca Donnell

Brown, Wanda Yvonne

Bryce, Vonda Joyce

Carr, Lisa Lea Ann

Carter, Truman Daman

Davis, Dana Katrina

Decker, Colleen Lisa

Ebbinga, Sharon Lee

Edmonson, David Allan

Ellis, Leva Marlene

Frazier, Pamela Dale

Gaddy, Marcia Gail

Gibson, Beverly Sue

Gillaspy, John William III

Givens, Deborah Kay

Grass, John Jr.

Hamblin, Ralph Maurice

Harris, Raymond Lee

Harris, Ruby Irene

Harshberger, Scott Eugene

Hernandez, Patrick Wood

Hocker, Earnest L

Hocker, Ricky Wayne

Hocker, Robert V Sr.

Holmes, Carol Ann

Huyghe, Sheila Ann

Jones, Joseph Todd

Keo, Dorene Katherine

Keo, Rudy

King, Roger Mc Carl

Lasley, Charles Dewayne

Lombardi, Carrie Patricia

Longshore, Lisa Leaellen

Manatowa, Phillip Joseph

Marez, George Mitchell

McCaulla, Dianna Sue

McCoy, William Scott

McCoy-Shognosh, Naomi Denise

McIntosh, Margaret Lee

Monday, Donald Chad

Northrup, Alma Faye

Pappan, Jeffrey Kevin

Payton, Pauline Elaine

Poitras, Charles A Jr.

Powell, Sunnykay

Pratt, Shawn David

Pratt, Shelly Renae

Raines, Terry Kent

Reim, Debra Yvonne

Rice, Harriett Oresa

Rowe, Sheryl Jane

Sarber, William Wayne Sr.

Smith, Barbara Thomas Mc Ilvaine

Stephens, Dallas James

Teague, Sherry Lynn

Thompson, Helen Jo

Thompson, Rose Marie

Tibbitts, Anthony Jerome

Tiger, Channa Lynn

Tiger, Robin Denise

Vandever, Ruby Mae

Wallace, Larry Dewayne Sr.

Waller, Jimmy Kent

Wano, Ronnie Eugene

Wilson, Aaron Fryor

Wilson, Katherine Margaret

Page 3 - Sac and Fox News - April 2026

Principal Chief’s Report by Audrey Rose Lee

Greetings, Fellow Tribal Members,

On Thursday, February 26, 2026, the

Business Committee had the honor of

hosting Colonel Jessica Goffena the Tulsa Commander with Tulsa District United States Army Corps of Engineers. Also

in attendance were Loretta Turner, Deputy District Engineer for Projects and

Program Management, Michelle Barry,

Tribal Liaison/Tribal Program Manager,

Meredith Streeter, Hydraulic Engineer,

Alexandra Peterson, Hydraulic Engineer,

Cortney Hawkins, Emergency Management Specialist/Silver Jackets Program

Manager and Cheryl Dillard, Project

Manager/Section 408 Coordinator.

Colonel Goffena and all the staff were

very informative on the districts that they

oversee, information on possible partnership opportunities, and services that they

can assist with and/or provide for the Nation.

We, the Business Committee, would

like to make our tribal members aware

that the Sac and Fox Nation’s Juvenile

Detention Center has temporarily suspended admissions at our facility so as

to enable staff to undergo federal correctional ofﬁcer training and certiﬁcation.

We anticipate that the JDC will resume accepting juveniles sometime in

the month of August. Our Juvenile Detention Center is an important facility in

Indian Country, and it is the only such facility in this part of the country. While we

would like to have avoided any suspension of admissions, we will be in a position to resume full services once training

is completed and we will continue offering the best-quality juvenile services

to Indian Country available. (Please see

statement for more information).

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the

Nation was selected to testify before the

Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies of the House Representatives American Indian and Alaska Native

Public Witness Days on Tuesday, March

17, 2026.

But unfortunately, on Monday, March

16, 2026, due to severe wind conditions

ﬂights were canceled, Second Chief

Wood and I were unable to make our

trip to Washington, D.C. However, the

Nation was notiﬁed that our written testimony was conﬁrmed to be submitted into

the ofﬁcial record. You can ﬁnd the testimony on our Nation’s website at: www.

sacandfoxnation-nsn.gov.

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the Nation submitted written comments on the

proposed Inter-agency Agreements and

Principal Chief Audrey Rose Lee

partnerships between the United States

Department of Education, the Interior,

and Labor. In last month’s newsletter,

I notiﬁed everyone that I had the opportunity to present the Nation’s verbal

testimony regarding the items addressed

above. You can ﬁnd the ﬁnalized written

comments on our Nation’s website at:

www.sacandfoxnation-nsn.gov.

Dates to Remember: The Easter Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, April

4, 2026, at 11am at the Sac and Fox Nation’s Community Building. We wish to

see you all there!

The Chicago Blackhawks Foundation

is hosting a “Bingo Night” for all Sac and

Fox Nation elders on Wednesday, April

8, 2026, from 5pm-8pm. Dinner will be

served at 5pm.

Jim Thorpe Day is Thursday, April 16,

2026. The Nation will not have an event

scheduled this year due to the Activity

Committee members resigning, but next

year we are hopeful that the Committee

will plan a fun and exciting event to celebrate. This is an example of why the Activity Committee plays a vital role in our

Tribe.

A Call to All Tribal Members: The

Nation would like to encourage tribal

members who would like to serve on the

Activity Committee to submit an interest to serve form to Secretary Spoon. At

this time, all the sitting members have

resigned from the Committee. The Business Committee would like to thank each

and every one who previously served on

the Activity Committee for their hard

work, dedication, and heart for serving

our people! Ketêpi!

(Continued on Page 5)

Treasurer’s Report by Jerri McClelland-Waldrup

Good day Tribal Members,

I have been attending different meetings for our nation and attending emails.

Our Business Committee members have

met with Black Hawk Foundation, getting to meet their personnel and our

Black Hawk Foundation board members.

We have had guests and tribal members attend our Business Committee

meetings, which are always welcome.

We have also met with our Education

Department Director Edwina Butler and

Stroud Public Schools’, Lynita Hixon,

who works with federal documentation

for federal aid regarding Native students.

HI have been reading Policies and Procedures, By-Laws and Tribal Law.

I volunteered in Finance with Cheri

Deer, Comptroller and staff stufﬁng

1099’s and W-2s while getting to know

them. They are a well-deserved 2025

Department of the Year. We have met

with a few directors and will meet with

more directors, committees and boards to

understand their programs, committees

and boards and their budgets.

A few of us were represented by attendance at the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award

in OKC. A few of us business committee

members had a meeting with Lina Ortega, tribal member, Curator and Professor

of Oklahoma University, regarding Sac

and Fox topics of interviews and recordings.

Business Committee members met

with Robert Cast and Dukon Harris, both

of SFN NAGPRA. We met with Colonel Jessica Goffena, of the US Army, and

others from the Tulsa District USACE.

We all rode on the little white bus, and

Robert Williamson gave a brief background of the history of the Sac and Fox

Nation with a tour of our nation.

As liaison of Elders Committee, I attended their meeting and, they have plans

to attend the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, NM. As liaison, along with

Secretary Spoon, with our Black Hawk

Health Clinic, attended their monthly

staff meeting and met their guest speakers.

Liaison for the Powwow Committee;

Secretary’s Report by SFN Secretary Shawna Spoon

Hello Tribal Members,

The month of February was productive. I continued to attend committee

meetings as my schedule allowed. The

monthly committee meetings attended

included the Gaming Commission, Sauk

Business Enterprise Board (SBEB), Elders Advisory Board, Pow Wow Committee, and the Housing Board.

Some of these meetings take place

during the workday and others are in the

evening hours. If anyone is interested in

learning more about committee meeting

times, please reach out. All committee

meetings are open to tribal members.

In February, the Business Committee

had two scheduled meetings. The Regular BC meeting was set for February 3,

2026, but was canceled out of respect for

a tribal member’s death. The Special BC

meeting was set for February 17, 2026,

and continued as planned.

Throughout February, the other meetings and events I attended included the

Southern Plains Tribal Health Board’s

Public Health Resiliency Conference

in Tulsa, Sac and Fox Nation’s Transportation Department long-range plans

meeting, Sac and Fox Nation’s Title VI

status meeting, OKC Metro Consortium

Tribal Consultation Meeting, and a meeting with the Colonel Jessica Goffena,

the Tulsa District Commander with US

Army Corps of Engineers.

The information from all these meetings was helpful to better understand the

areas we can improve upon and/or create

new partnerships. The Business Committee also continues to meet with our

Nation’s department directors. This will

Secretary Shawna Spoon

continue until all departments have been

reviewed.

I also attended the Language Department’s Indian Dice Tournament event

on February 21, 2026. The dice tournament had good attendance and several

tribal members participating for the big

win. The winners included Casey Q.

Wilson-1st Place and Elizabeth Wolftongue-2nd Place. Thank you to the Language Department!

As always, if anyone has a question,

needs information, or has a comment, I

can be reached at (918) 968-3526, extension 1007 or secretary@sacandfox.com.

Please take care.

Respectfully,

Shawna Spoon, Secretary

Second Chief’s Report by Lorena K. Wood

Hello Tribal Members,

First, I would like to offer my condolences to those who have lost loved ones.

My heart has felt heavy with the many

tribal members that have gone on the last

several months. Many prayers have been

said for the families.

Recently, we met with Colonel Jessica

Goffena with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Tulsa District staff. The

group was given a tour of our reservation

and discussions on how they could possibly help our nation. Thank you to our Interim NAGPRA Director and NAGPRA

Coordinator Charles Harris for coordinating this meeting.

The Education Director Edwina Butler-Wolfe and I attended an ESSA meeting with the Meeker School District.

This was the ﬁrst such meeting for the

Meeker School District with an additional meeting that will be held on an upcoming date.

We had a meeting with Lincoln County Commissioner Will Fine. We learned

there was multi-year partnership with

the Nation, the BIA and Iowa Tribe for

funding to work on bridges in Lincoln

County.

With this partnership, the BIA had

agreed to funding for the completion and/

or rehab of Lincoln County bridges. The

contract expired in 2025 with only two

bridges completed.

This month we had several meetings

about the JDC facility. Please take the

time to read our statement on the JDC facility that is included in this newsletter.

We met with Oklahoma City Mayor Da-

Second Chief Lorena K. Wood

vid Holt and Michael Byrnes, President

of Team OK2028, about the recognition

of Jim Thorpe at the next summer Olympics in 2028.

Lastly, Chief Audrey Rose Lee was

selected to speak before the House of

Appropriations in Washington D.C. this

past month. Unfortunately, due to the

weather in Washington D.C. our ﬂights

were canceled by the airline. Our written

testimony was recorded but I was disappointed it was not delivered in person.

Thank you for taking the time to read

my report, as always keep me in your

prayers.

Katepi,

Lorena K. Wood

Treasurer Jerri McClelland-Waldrup

they are working on plans for our July

celebration weekend. I made Easter baskets for the Easter Egg Hunt to be held

on April 4th. I tried to join our Cultural

Department in evening language classes,

except meetings and funerals have interrupted my attendance. I am getting my

steps for the BHHC challenge, but it is

allergy season, and high winds do not

help with allergies.

On a personal note, my husband (enrolled Cherokee) and I live on a farm in

rural Claremore. We enjoy watching the

wildlife which we feed, Tom the turkey,

squirrels, rabbits and deer (4-12). We

raise cattle, have two donkeys, named

Minnie and Pearl, and enjoy ﬁshing.

In December, I broke my right wrist

and have been taking occupational therapy in Shawnee and follow up appointments with the surgeon in Tulsa. Thankfully, I am left-handed. My wrist is 65%

bendable. My apologies if you call and I

do not answer.

I am trying to remember to change the

Mitel phone availability note assignment

when I am in a meeting or out of the ofﬁce.

Jerri McClelland-Waldrup

Treasurer

We want to feature the recent career, education or

notable professional achievements or milestones of

Sac and Fox Nation Tribal Members!

Please send all pertinent information, such as name, city,

town, company, milestone or award, and

relevant photo, if applicable, to:

newspaper@sacandfox.com or

Sac and Fox News

920963 S. Hwy. 99

Stroud, OK 74079

Page 4 - Sac and Fox News - April 2026

Sac and Fox Nation Education Department News

Hello, Sac and Fox Nation Tribal Members!

We are happy to announce the 20252026 senior high school student winners

of the Blackhawk Leadership and Jim

Thorpe Athletic Scholarship Awards:

• JIM THORPE ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP AWARD - FEMALE

CHELSEA BERRY

Chelsea is a senior at Snyder High

School and participates in basketball and

volleyball. Her plans are to attend college and become a nurse, with the hope

of bringing her knowledge back to serve

the Nation. Chelsea was strongly recommended by her history teacher and coach

for her demonstrated love of learning

and the level of commitment necessary

to succeed.

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Sac and Fox Nation

Sac and Fox Casino

Sac and Fox Language Program

Sac and Fox Dept. of Human Services

Sac and Fox National Public Library

• JIM THORPE ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP AWARD - MALE

TRISTAN BYNUM

Tristan is a senior at Meeker High

School and participates in basketball

and cross country. He has played varsity

basketball for four years and has been a

member of the Meeker Indian Club for

four years. He placed 5th in the Class

2A State Cross Country competition.

Tristan’s high school counselor describes

him as active in classroom discussions,

showing curiosity and attentiveness.

• BLACKHAWK LEADERSHIP

AWARD - FEMALE

LAYLA CARTER

Layla is a senior at Meeker High

School. She is a dedicated, high-achieving student with a 3.08 GPA. In leadership roles, she has been a member of the

Meeker Indian Club for 13 years and is

currently serving as president. Layla has

played on the varsity softball team for

four years and served as team captain for

one year. Her plan is to pursue a degree

in dental hygiene.

• BLACKHAWK LEADERSHIP

AWARD - MALE

ACEA WHITESHIRT

Acea is a senior at Meeker High

School. He plans to attend Rose State

College and major in business management and social media. Acea is an active

member of the Meeker Indian Club. His

counselor describes him as approachable,

‘Thank You’ to The Sac and Fox Nation!

Davenport Public Schools would

like to extend a sincere ‘Thank You’ to

the Sac and Fox Nation for their generous donation to our basketball program.

Their support in providing new

uniforms, warm up jerseys, and backpacks for our student athletes in grades

5th through 12th means so much to our

school and community.

In a small school district like Davenport, the support of partners and

neighboring communities makes a real

difference. This donation helps ensure

our athletes have the equipment they

creative, competitive, and confident.

Acea demonstrates strong character and

treats his peers and teachers with respect.

The scholarship winners will be recognized at the Blackhawks hockey game in

Chicago on March 22, 2026.

The Sac and Fox Nation Education

Department is currently in the planning

stages for the annual ‘Fun Day,’ which

by Edwina Butler-Wolfe

will be held on the Friday during the Sac

and Fox Nation Pow-Wow.

If you have any questions or concerns,

please let us know.

Edwina Butler-Wolfe

Director of Education

405-328-0402 (cell)

918-968-3526, Ext. 2046

Okla. Historians Hall of Fame Inductees

(Continued From Page 1)

University of Central Oklahoma (UCO)

in Edmond in the evenings during this

time, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting with minors in business and

history. In 2000, at age 44, she returned

to UCO and earned a master’s degree in

history. She began working for the OHS

while pursuing her master’s and was

eventually hired as an associate editor for

“The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History

and Culture.”

She remains an active contributor to

the encyclopedia, having written over

250 entries for the publication. She also

writes for the “Biographical Dictionary

of the Women Suffrage Movement in the

United States.”

Her 2020 article “‘An Appeal to Reason’:

Women’s Suffrage in Oklahoma and Indian Territories, 1890–1907” won the

Muriel H. Wright Award for outstanding

article published in “The Chronicles of

Oklahoma.”

Timothy A. Zwink earned a Ph.D. in

history from Oklahoma State Universi-

ty in 1980. He would spend much of his

professional career as an Oklahoma historian and administrator in higher education and for the OHS. Dr. Zwink joined

the faculty at Northwestern Oklahoma

State University (NWOSU) in Alva after completing graduate work, where he

taught courses in U.S. history and American Indian history.

While at NWOSU, Dr. Zwink conducted research and developed public

programs about Camp Alva, a German

prisoner-of-war camp during World War

II. He joined the OHS in 2002 after serving over a decade as vice president for

academic affairs at NWOSU.

As associate director of development,

Dr. Zwink’s skills as a grant writer directly contributed to the OHS securing

the final funding necessary to complete

construction of the Oklahoma History

Center. He retired from the OHS in 2016

as the agency’s deputy executive director and continues to work as an editorial consultant for books about Oklahoma

history.

need to represent Davenport with pride

while participating in a sport they love.

Athletics play an important role in

helping students build teamwork, responsibility, and school spirit. The

generosity of the Sac and Fox Nation

not only supports our basketball program but also encourages and uplifts

the young people in our community.

On behalf of our students, coaches,

staff, and families, Davenport Public

Schools is truly grateful for this investment in our youth. Thank you for

supporting our athletes and for being a

valued partner in our community.

April 2026

SFN Elders Title VI Menu

Page 5 - Sac and Fox News - April 2026

BC Member’s Report by Robert Williamson

President Richard M. Nixon, requested and authorized

Senate Joint Resolution 73, proclaimed April 16th as Jim Thorpe Day.

Circulation as it developed near SFN headquarters.

(Photo by Maintenance Dept. Staff Member Kelly Foutch

Tornado Passes Over Near SFN Campus

by SFN Library

Staff Member Karen Rice

As many of us saw from the dark skies

on Friday afternoon, March 6, 2026, we

had a very close call here at the Sac and

Fox Nation headquarters.

Just before 5 p.m., a severe storm moving through the area developed a strong

circulation right near our community.

The National Weather Service issued a

Tornado Watch for multiple counties and

towns, and a rotation was spotted very

close to home, specifically about 3 miles

southeast of Stroud and moving northeast.

For those of us at the headquarters or

living nearby, it was a tense moment.

The warning placed the circulation right

along the I-44 corridor, putting our buildings, tribal homes, and our community in

the potential path. Along with the threat

of a tornado, the storm also dropped large

hail about the size of half dollars in the

Stroud area.

Thankfully, we made it through. But it

was a powerful reminder of how quickly spring weather can turn in Oklahoma.

Stay alert out there, everyone, and make

sure you have a way to receive those

warnings when storms are in the area.

Senate Joint Resolution 73 was passed by the 93,d Congress and signed into

Public Law 93-20 on April 16th, 1973 reads as follows:

‘Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United states

of America in Congress assembled, That, (1) in recognition of Jim Thorpe having been chosen the greatest athlete in the first half of the Twentieth

Century by the Associated Press, (2)

in appreciation for the standards of

excellence set by Jim Thorpe which

have taught all Americans to recognize the innate dignity of their fellow

citizen, the American Indian. (3) In

recognition of Jim Thorpe’s example

of overcoming social and economic barriers to achieve excellence, and

(4) in honor of the recognition of Jim

Thorpe brought to all Americans with

his triumph at the 1912 Olympics, the

President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation designating April 16’”, 1973, as “Jim Thorpe

Day’; and calling upon the people of

the United States to observe such day

with appropriate observances.’

Submitted by Committee Member

Business Committee Member

Robert E. Williamson

Robert Williamson

Project to Provide Ribbon Skirts,

Shirts for Children in Foster Care

by Peggy Big Eagle

There’s a new project to provide ribbon skirts, shirts and vests to children in

Sac and Fox Indian Child Welfare foster

homes. Volunteers donated fabric, ribbon, elastic, boys’ shirts, cash, their time,

and sewing skills to kick off this project

in a big way on Saturday, March 14.

Skirts are made from scratch, and

shirts are provided to have ribbons applied. Our greatest need right now is ribbon 3/8” or wider and gently worn boys’

shirts. Outgrown skirts and shirts are also

being collected.

By the time the April newsletter comes

out, we will have gathered again to sew

and also provided supplies for people to

sew at home. The children are toddlers

through teenagers, so we need all sizes.

Right now, we have enough fabric and

maybe ribbons and elastic to let people

make one skirt for us and one to keep. We

will even mail you supplies if needed.

We have a goal of ten skirts and ten

shirts by April 15, that same amount by

May 30, and again by July 4. We are not