Children from Rogers

SUMMER FUN

Children from Rogers

County visit the UKB

Museum.

EDUCATION, 5

LOOK FOR US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

AND AT WWW.UKB-NSN.GOV.

GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ ᎪᏪᎵ Official News Publication of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma August 2023

NARCAN TRAINING

UKB works

with U.S. Forest

Services for

youth service

Indian Youth Service

Corps was exposed to

historic preservation and

environmental services over

summer.

BY LANI HANSEN

Senior Reporter

Echota Behavioral Health’s Tribal Opioid Response Project Director Brittany Cheater presented on Narcan Nasal Spray to

146 tribal employees. COURTESY

The Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) program focuses on

prevention and harm reduction.

BY LANI HANSEN

Senior Reporter

T

AHLEQUAH – The Echota Behavioral

Health has started utilizing its Tribal Opioid

Response grant by bringing in the Narcan

(naloxone) training to the employees of the United

Keetoowah Band.

Project Director Brittany Cheater said the

TOR program has a focus on prevention and

harm reduction. They would like to educate

communities on common opioid overdose signs.

“This training was part of our goals out of four

projects,” Cheater said. “Our main focus is to reach

Keetoowah tribal members or those who work

with the tribal members.”

After speaking with UKB Tribal Administrator

Jennifer Cole-Robinson about bringing the training

to the tribal complex, Cheater said they were able

to host a two-day training. The evening before

meeting with employees, she met with the staff of

Henry Lee Doublehead Child Development Center.

“Opioid overdose or accidental death is the

number one cause of death for ages 50 and under

across the United Stated,” Cheater said. “Within

the TOR program we have two main avenues to

bring awareness. Those are prevention and harm

reduction, which Narcan training falls under

both.”

Within the training, Cheater presented on the

different type of opioid overdose signs. According

to her presentation, slow breathing, cannot be

woken up, coughing or choking, discoloration of

lips and nails, and extremely small pupils are all

signs. Other signs include dizziness and cold or

clammy skin.

Cheater said she distributed 146 Narcan

(naloxone) Nasal Spray’s during this training with

the tribe. The naloxone is an opioid antagonist,

a prescription drug that can temporarily reverse

opioid overdose and save lives.

There are six steps to administer Narcan for

someone who may have overdosed.

Step 1: Lay the person on their back to receive a

dose of Narcan Nasal Spray.

Step 2: Remove Narcan Nasal Spray from box.

Peel back the tab with the circle to open the

Narcan Nasal Spray.

Step 3: Hold the NARCAN Nasal Spray with

your thumb on the bottom of the red plunger and

your first and middle fingers on either side of the

nozzle.

Step 4: Tilt the person’s head back and provide

support under the neck with your hand. Gently

insert the tip of the nozzle into one nostril until

your fingers on either side of the nozzle are

against the bottom of the person’s nose.

Step 5: Press the red plunger firmly to give the

dose of NARCAN Nasal Spray.

Step 6: Remove the NARCAN Nasal Spray from

the nostril after giving the dose.

After all steps have been completed, get

emergency medical help right away. While waiting,

move the person on their side after giving Narcan

nasal spray. If they do not respond by waking up,

repeat steps 2-6, if another dose is available.

The Narcan (naloxone) nasal spray two-pack

that the employees received, maybe requested

by members at the Echota Behavioral Health

Department located at 16414 W 760 Rd,

Tahlequah, OK 74464.

Cheater said, “We were so thankful for the

turnout for the Narcan Training and look forward

to bringing more education and awareness in

regard to mental health to the UKB complex.”

Their next step with prevention is educating

the community on how to utilize Naloxone

(Narcan) if they notice overdose signs. They

will also be working with communities through

cultural activities to bring them opportunities that

strengthen their connection with others.

For information on Narcan training, call 918316-7805. For services with Echota Behavioral

Health, call 918-708-9009.

Narcan nasal spray is a prescription drug that can

temporarily reverse opioid overdose and save lives.

LANI HANSEN/GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

TAHLEQUAH – Over the summer two groups of

eight Native youths had the opportunity to travel to

Illinois and Tennessee to learn more about the forestry

environment.

The Indian Youth Service Corps was brought up to

the United Keetoowah Band Historic Preservation and

the United States Forest Services in collaboration on a

project where tribal youth took an active role in the costewardship process of Cherokee ancestral homelands.

The first group visited the Shawnee National Forest in

Illinois from June 10th through June 30th.

“They were exposed to a mixture of historic

preservation and environmental sciences work,” UKB

Acting Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Acee Watt

said. “They worked on botany and timber management.

They worked with Southern Illinois University on

a phase two archaeological dig, getting exposed to

experience and skills.”

With this trip, Watt’s said there is a possibility for an

internship with Southern Illinois University. The tribal

youth gained Public Land Corps (PLC) hours which

will be used by the Forest Service hiring authorities to

give tribal youth participants an advantage in career

opportunities within the Forest Service. The initial

Indian Youth Service Corps is planned for 4 years (8

trips total) with trips annually over the summers for an

opportunity to earn the maximum amount (640) of PLC

hours.

Those who participated on the first trip were Colton

Bunch, Cierra McCulley, Olivia Briggs, Tristan Vann,

Daryn Smith, Jacob Sam, Xaden Carshall and Hector

Falcon. After returning home, three of the participants

who are UKB tribal members shared about their trip.

Bunch, who is from Stilwell said it was a great

opportunity as he has been wanting to get into this field

of environment.

Briggs, who is from Tahlequah stated, “We got to visit

historical places like the Cahokia Mounds and a Trail

of Tears site.” She also went on the second trip of the

SEE IYSC, PAGE 2

The Indian Youth Service Corps gathers for a photo at the

Hamburg Hill Trailhead in the Shawnee National Forest.

COURTESY PHOTO

UKB senior reporter brings home NAJA award

Lani Hansen wins

second place for her

elder coverage story.

BY RITA COURTWRIGHT

Managing Editor

TAHLEQUAH – The Native American

Journalism Association recently

announced 200 winners recognizing the

best coverage of Indigenous communities

as part of the 2023 National Native

Media Awards.

The annual competition recognizes

excellence in reporting by Indigenous

and non-Indigenous journalist form

across the US and Canada.

This year, Lani Hansen, Senior Reporter

for the Giduwa Cherokee News placed

second in Best Elder Coverage with her

story “UKB Housing Replaces Elders

Home” in the August 2022 newspaper.

“To win this award solidifies my place

within the journalism community,”

said Lani Hansen. “It is an honor to

be recognized along with all the other

journalists and to be named a NAJA

recipient.”

Lani’s story focused on Bluejacket

resident and UKB member, Mart Smith

who had been given his keys to his brand

new home after waiting several years for

Giuduwa Cherokee News Senior Reporter

Lani Hansen has won a 2023 National Native

Media Award

a place to call his own.

This is the first NAJA award to be

presented to a reporter of the Giduwa

newspaper.

Hansen is no stranger to journalistic

awards as this is her second NAJA award

to have been received since beginning

her journalism career in 2019. Hansen

also garnered a first place win from the

Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)

in 2020.

“Upon receiving this recognition I will

continue to strive to become an even

better journalist,” said Hansen.

According to the NAJA website, this

year NAJA received more than 800

entries.

2

AUGUST 2023

Assistant Chief

Jeff Wacoche

jwacoche@

ukb-nsn.gov

Secretary

Joyce

Fourkiller

jfourkiller@

ukb-nsn.gov

Treasurer

Sonja Gourd

sgourd@

ukb-nsn.gov

Canadian Dist.

Eddie Sacks

918-822-1957

Cooweescoowee

Dist.

Clifford

Wofford

918-822-1953

Delaware Dist.

Elmer Panther

918-226-1668

Flint Dist.

Frankie Still

918-507-1822

COUNCIL•ᏗᏂᎳᏫᎩ

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ

Looking forward to FY 2023-24

Chief’s

Corner

Si yo, ni ga da

I will have a short column this month,

I have been on vacation. I enjoyed the

Minnesota cool days and nights, and they

can have the mosquitos.

We are a couple of months from the

FY 2024 year, we look forward to what

the new year brings, possibly higher

education fundings, adult education, and

medical services.

One item that came up during the

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian hearing

my plea at the Tri Council Meeting, was

informing us they will be donating a one-

JOE BUNCH

Principal Chief

jbunch@ukb-nsn.gov

time opportunity of $25,000.00 for our

children school supplies this year.

We are working with our departments

on formulating how this will be

distributed, so be sure and watch for

details on the web page.

We are also still waiting to hear back

on, Victoria Holland, to be nominated and

seated on the House of Representatives as

our delegate to Congress.

Where did the summer go? In closing

stay hydrated! I may see you at the

creek!

If there are any questions please call or

come by, my cell number is 918-772-0666

or office is 918-871-2824.

Pray of our council, our tribe and for

a positive ‘M’ opinion from the Solicitor

General.

ISYC: A second group went to Tennesee in July.

FROM PAGE 1

summer.

The Cahokia Mounds, which Briggs

mentioned, covers 2,200 acres and

contains 70 mounds. The site of an

ancient Native American city, the mounds

are in Collinsville, Illinois, in the southern

part of the state across the Mississippi

River from St. Louis, Missouri.

Smith, who is from Jay did enjoy the

sightseeing the group went on. He even

mentioned learning botany was his

favorite experience. Smith went on the

second trip to the Cherokee National

Forest, hoping to gain more experience in

wildland fire.

The second trip which was to the

Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee

from July 10th through August 4th, was

more of environmental work. According

to Watts, they went to Red Clay in

Tennessee, worked on rivercane and

learned work from wildland firefighters.

Those who went on both trips were

Bunch, Carshall, Briggs, Vann and Smith.

The others who attended the second trip

included Jordan Pritchett, Nathan Fox and

Lexi Hannah.

“I’m hoping after they complete their

hours, opportunities to work in the tribal

sector, forest service sector, internships

and scholarships become available to

these groups,” Watts said.

For more program opportunities,

contact UKB Office of Historic

Preservation at 918-871-2852.

The Indian Youth Service Corps consisted of two groups over the summer. Tthe second group

that traveled to the Cherokee National Forest are from left, Nathan Fox, Jordan Pritchett, Daryn

Smith, Colton Bunch, Xaden Carshall, Olivia Briggs, Lexi Hannah and Tristan Vann (LANI HANSEN/

GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

“They were exposed

to a mixture of historic

preservation and

environmental sciences work.”

Acee Watt, UKB Tribal Historic

Preservation Officer

Indian Youth Service Corps participants Xaden Carshall and Daryn Smith take a break from

work to enjoy the scenery.

Quilting leads off fall ‘Back to Basics’

Goingsnake Dist.

Willie Christie

918-822-3803

Illinois Dist.

Peggy Girty

918-457-7067

Saline Dist.

Charles Smoke

918-457-7071

BY MARILYN CRAIG

UKB Museum Marketing

Coordinator

TAHLEQUAH – The John

Hair Cultural Center and

Keetoowah Museum will begin

the second section of the

“Getting Back to Basics” series

when it begins its fall classes

on Quilting for Beginners.

This section will be offered

monthly on three Saturdays

beginning on September 9,

October 10, and November 11,

from 10 am to 2 pm.

The final group of classes in

the series will be the winter/

spring classes on Gathering

and Harvesting and this

session will be offered on

February 10, March 9, and

April 8, 2024.

Assistant Keetoowah

Museum director Barbara

Girty Foster said, “As a result

of the Cultural Preservation

Assessment collected from

UKB communities last year,

we are offering a quilting

class as part of our ‘Getting

Back to Basics’ series. Tribal

members had the most

interest in learning more

about Keetoowah Traditional

Quilt frames like this one were lowered when quilting, and then raised

up when not in use. Quilting will kick off the autumn “Back to Basics”

sessions. MARILYN CRAIG/UKB MUSEUEM

GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

Sequoyah Dist.

Junior Catron

918-315-0970

Tahlequah Dist.

Alvin Hicks

918-931-1462

Lifeways and quilting.”

Tribal elder and culture

bearer Betty Holcomb will

teach the quilting classes.

She will share resources

for the class and part of the

Giduwa Cherokee News

P.O. Box 746

Tahlequah, OK 74465

The Giduwa Cherokee News is mailed free to

Keetoowah registered voters, governments, other

offices and upon request, to other citizens.

Mail subscription requests and address changes to

Giduwa Cherokee News, P.O. Box 746, Tahlequah,

OK 74465.

MANAGING EDITOR

Rita Courtwright

SENIOR REPORTER

Lani Hansen

LAYOUT AND DESIGN

Travis Snell

MARKETING SPECIALIST

Shayley Fourkiller

content came from a 1977

Oklahoma Cooperative

Extension Services booklet.

“Today quilters generally

make quilts as a hobby unlike

the past when people made

quilts out of necessity for

keeping their family warm,”

said Girty Foster.

“I like hosting this quilting

class because it brings people

together and reminds us of

the ‘good ole days’ when

our grandmas, aunts and

neighbors would gather

around a quilt frame hand

stitching, telling stories and

laughing, then before you

knew it a quilt was finished

and ready to share with

someone in need,” she added.

There is still space available

for the “Getting Back to Basics”

quilting series.

The cost is $75. for all three

classes.

For more information,

contact Girty Foster at 918871-2794.

Editorial statements of the Giduwa Cherokee News,

guest columns and letters to the editor reflect the

opinions of the writer and not necessarily those of the

Giduwa Cherokee News editor, staff or tribal administration of the United Keetoowah Band.

All editorials and letters must be 650 words or less

and will become the property of the Giduwa

Cherokee News. Editorials must be signed and

include an address and telephone number. Send all

inquires to: Giduwa Cherokee News, P.O. Box 746,

Tahlequah, OK 74465. The Giduwa Cherokee News is

the only official publication of the United Keetoowah

Band. It operates a Giduwa Cherokee News

Facebook page, as well as the tribe’s YouTube and

Instagram accounts,@UKBMedia. Any other

publications or online pages are not an official source

of news and are not endorsed by the editor, tribe or

tribal administration. For advertising rates and media

inquiries, including permissions to reprint stories within

this publication, email lhansen@ukb-nsn.gov.

NEWS•ᏗᏕᏃᏣᎸᏍᎩ

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ

AUGUST 2023

3

UKB Housing hosts 5th annual retreat

BY SHAYLEY FOURKILLER

Marketing Specialist

TULSA – The United

Keetoowah Band Housing

Department held their 5th

Annual Housing Retreat at the

Osage Casino & Hotel.

The Housing Department

had prepared all year long for

their two-day conference to be

packed full of informational

trainings.

“The Housing Retreat is an

opportunity for members of

Council to learn what Housing

consist of: policies, procedures,

current and future projects,

grant opportunities and to

network with other agencies.”

said Roxana Wilden, Housing

Department Director. “It is also

an opportunity for Council to

present their ideas and assist in

developing our Indian Housing

Plan (IHP).”

With various speakers from

within the Housing Department

and outside sources like MCT

Law, Travois, AMERIND, and

Chickasaw Community Bank the

retreat did not have a moment

to spare.

MCT Law has helped the

Housing Department with

the legal aspects of Housings

program policies and

procedures.

AMERIND, a company the

UKB Housing Department

has worked with for over 6

years, has provided low-cost

homeowner’s insurance for our

tribal elders who have received

assistance from the Housing

Department.

Travois is a company that

promotes housing and economic

development among American

Indian communities.

While the UKB Housing

Department has not worked

with Travois, their presentation

has opened doors for what

Housing can do in the future.

Chickasaw Community Bank is

another company Housing has

not worked with but offer great

insight to more financing on

future hopeful projects.

Housing Department staff were all in attendance for the Housing Retreat for two days of learning at the Osage Casino in Tulsa. PHOTOS BY SHAYLEY

FOURKILLER/GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

“It is also an opportunity for Council to

present their ideas and assist in developing

our Indian Housing Plan.”

Roxanne Wilden, Housing Department

director

Nancy McCause, former Housing Department director and current Housing

Committee Secretary, speaks on the 2023 IHP and 2022 APR.

The Housing Department

staff were also available to give

presentations on their respective

programs with updates and

information for Council to take

back to their districts.

Along with the Housing

Department, members of the

Housing Committee were also

in attendance. Nancy McCause,

former Housing Director, gave

a presentation on the financial

report of the past year.

“The Housing Committee

role is to assist the Housing

Department with the policies

and procedures and the best

way to enforce them,” said

Keetoowah speaker and soon to be third grader, Lyric Muskrat talks to her mom, Rylee

Muskrat during a break in recording animal names for the Keetoowah Museum YouTube

channel. MARILYN CRAIG/UKB MUSEUM

Keetoowah Museum

launches YouTube channel

BY MARILYN CRAIG

UKB Museum Marketing Coordinator

TAHLEQUAH – The John Hair Cultural

Center and Keetoowah Museum will

launch their brand-new YouTube Channel

on August 1. Elders Oleta Pritchett and

Clara Proctor are joined by Keetoowah

youth eight-year-old, Lyric Muskrat, who

speaks the language fluently.

The content was filmed and produced

by the museum in collaboration with

Red Pony Film Productions. Red Pony

is a company that UKB Tribal member,

Dr. Eddie Webb Ed.D. MFA, founded

and operates, in addition to his job in

Arizona at Mesa Community College,

where he is the founding director of the

New Media Lab. Much of the footage

was shot during the UKB Red Pony Film

Academies I and II that were held in late

2022 and early 2023.

“The initial YouTube content is an

introduction to our Keetoowah People

through the John Hair Cultural Center

and Keetoowah Museum,” said Ernestine

Berry. “There are other stories to tell and

more elders and youth to film.”

One of the videos features first

Keetoowah Language Speaker and

Keetoowah cowboy and farrier, John

Chewey. In the video, Chewey speaks

first in the Keetoowah language and then

repeats parts of the story in English.

A second video highlights the

Keetoowah Celebration and interviews

attending tribal members, along with

some of the UKB Tradition Keepers and

tribal leaders.

There is a third video featuring JHCC

&Keetoowah Museum Director and

Tradition Keeper, Ernestine Berry. Berry

was honored as a Tradition Keeper in

2016 for her knowledge of UKB history.

Berry is interviewed inside the museum

history gallery.

The fourth video features 2016

Keetoowah Tradition Keeper and Stone

carver, Matt Girty. Matt is interviewed

in his “outdoor studio” located out near

Lake Tenkiller, where he creates lifesized stone sculptures and etchings.

“There are Keetoowah leaders and

other Keetoowah people who hold a

wealth of tribal, cultural, and traditional

knowledge that we can share with our

Keetoowah youth and with the world,”

said Berry. “Our People have traditionally

used storytelling to pass our history

and culture on to the next generation.

YouTube is just a current way to pass

these stories along and to share them

with more people.”

For information on the YouTube

channel or to learn more about the John

Hair Cultural Center and Keetoowah

Museum visit https://www.ukb-nsn.gov/

john-hair-cultural-center-museum.

Wilden. “Their assistance in

planning future projects and in

finding other funding sources

has been invaluable resource

with their countless years of

experience and expertise.”

Among those attending were

tribal district representatives,

Clifford Wofford of

Cooweescoowee District, Elmer

Panther of Delaware District

and Alvin Hicks of Tahlequah

District. Treasurer Sonja Gourd

and Secretary Joyce Fourkiller

were also in attendance for the

two-day retreat.

For more information on

Housing please call (918) 8712773.

“The Housing

Committee role is to

assist the Housing

Department with

the policies and

procedures and the

best way to enforce

them.”

Roxanne Wilden,

Housing Department

director

Missing something?

OPT IN and get the Giduwa Cherokee

News DELIVERED to your mailbox!

Email your name, mailing address and UKB membership number to:

ukboptin@gmail.com

4

AUGUST 2023

OBITUARIES

Patricia Dummitt

“Kay” Dummitt, age 66 of Grove, OK,

went to be with her Savior on Saturday,

June 10, 2023, in Joplin, MO, after a

short battle with cancer.

Kay was born April 13, 1957, to Isaac

and Eva (Keener) Whitson in Claremore,

OK.

She moved to Grove in 1991 and

married the love of her life, Joe Dummitt,

in 1992.

Wanda Lee Girty

Funeral Service for Wanda Lee Girty,

86, of Vian, OK, were July 3, 2023, at

Agent Mallory Martin Chapel in Sallisaw,

OK. Burial followed at Redbird Smith

Cemetery in Vian under the direction of

Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service.

She was baorn on April 21, 1937

in Qualls Community, OK, to Jennie

(Sequichie) Washington and William

Harold Wayne Hooper

Harold “Two Feathers” Wayne Hooper,

age 55, of Tahlequah, OK, passed away

on Thursday, July 6, 2023. Two Feathers

was born in Tahlequah.

A visitation for Two Feathers was held

July 11 at Reed-Culver Funeral Home

in Tahlequah. A funeral service was July

12, Reed-Culver Funeral Home.

Two Feathers was laid to rest in Agent

Cemetery, Moody, Oklahoma.

Serving as pallbearers were Corey

Hooper, Christian Hooper, Bryan

Hooper, Dallas Thompson, Richard

Snyder, Joseph Cloud Jr., Mark

Hitchcock, Bobby Blair, Billy Blair and

Colby Deerinwater.

Harold Wayne Hooper, or Two

Feathers, Tommy Hawkz, and several

other monikers, was born on August 28,

Joe Proctor

Joe Proctor, born on April 23, 1956,

a beloved husband, father, grandfather,

sibling, uncle and friend to many,

passed away at the age of 67 on June

18, 2023. Joe led a fulfilling life that

revolved around his love for family,

friends and the simple pleasures of life.

Joe took pride in his career as a UKB

transit driver and worked hard at his job

for many years. He also never missed an

opportunity to have fun.

God was always first in his life even

over his hobbies, which included going

to auctions, yard sales, fishing, hunting,

Tony Kay Russell

Tonya Kay Russell was born May 29,

1974, in Claremore, OK, to Toney Lee

and Mary Evalyn (Downing) Russell. She

departed this life on June 26, 2023, in

Tulsa, OK, at the age of 49 years and 28

days.

Tonya grew up in the Tulsa area

graduating from Will Rogers High

School. She also attended Talking

Leaves Job Corps and Community Care

College.

She attended church with her parents

at Elm Prairie Baptist Church in Leach,

OK. She lived for some time in Gallup,

New Mexico.

Tonya and Marlin Gene Harjo were

AnDrah LeiMaria Weeley

Scheimann

AnDrah LeiMaria Weeley Scheimann,

21, was born on August 25, 2001, to

Mimi Weeley in Tulsa, OK. She went

home to be with her Lord and Savior on

June 30, 2023, at her home in Langley,

OK surrounded by her loved ones.

She is preceded in death by her

grandparents Leo & Annie Weeley of

Jay, OK.

She is survived by her husband

Jeremiah Scheimann and their fur

baby Bentlee Ray of Langley; Parents,

Mimi Weeley and Randall of Langley;

brother, Emilio “Bubba” Villanueva,

Jr. of Langley; Sister, Audriahna “Ty”

Villanueva of Langley; Step-brothers,

Dwight Hunter of Langley; and Ollie

COMMUNITY•ᎾᎥ ᏄᎾᏓᎸ

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ

Kay cleaned houses and businesses

as her occupation, but that was only a

small part of who she was. Kay always

had a smile on her face and loved

to laugh. She was kindhearted with

a servant’s heart and willing to help

anyone in need.

She was a faithful member of Bible

Baptist Church and served in the

children’s program or wherever she was

needed. She was a wonderful cook

and enjoyed fishing and adored her

grandkids. Kay was a

hard worker and was

also known for her

massage abilities and

therapeutic hands.

Kay had a beautiful

soul and a bit of a

stubborn streak, and

she will be missed

dearly by her family, friends, and her

church family.

She is preceded in death by her

parents and sisters, Debbie Lowry and

Sandy Owens.

Left to cherish her memory, husband,

Joe Dummitt, children, Tammy Donahue

(Charlie) of Wyandotte, OK, Jason

Geer (Keri) of Grove, Billy Polk (Alicia)

of Gravette, AR and Alicia Kirksey of

Pittsburg, KS; siblings Larry Keener

(Diane) and Vickie Leaf, of Eucha,

OK, Jerrie Childers of Broken Arrow

and Monica Whitson of Grove; 12

grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren

and many loving nieces & nephews.

A visitation was held at NicholsStephens Funeral on June 14, 2023.

Funeral services for Kay were held

June 15, 2023, at Bible Baptist Church,

Grove, OK.

Donations in Kay’s honor may be

made to Bible Baptist Church, Grove.

Washington and

passed away on June

29, 2023 in Vian. She

was married to John

Edmond Girty Sr.

Wanda was a teacher

for Cherokee Nation

Adult Education.

Survivors are

six daughters, Susan Mae Adair of

Tahlequah, OK, Peggy Sue Flute and

George of Vian, Brenda Lee Harvell of

Gans, Linda Jane Girty of Vian, Elizabeth

Jones and Donald of Sallisaw and Joan

May Murphy and Gregory of Vian; one

son, John Edmond Girty, Jr. of Vian; 18

grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren

and four great-great-grandchildren; one

sister, Rachel Girty of Tahlequah; and

several nieces, nephews, cousins, other

relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her

parents; husband; one granddaughter,

Johnna Girty; three sisters, Emma

Washington, Nora Washington and

Lily Washington Waterdown; and one

brother, Raymond Washington.

Active Pallbearers were Stone Girty,

Jeremiah Caves, Jacob Caves, Martin

Morris, Derrick Morris, Stevie Morris, Jr.,

Frank Girty and Adam Fisher. Honorary

Pallbearers were her great-grandchildren

and great-great-grandchildren.

1967, in Tahlequah, the son of Bobby

Lee and Fannie Faye (Mouse) Hooper.

He grew up in a household with three

brothers and one sister, Sheila, Gary

Don, Bobby and Billy. He grew up in

Tahlequah, where he liked sports and

chasing the girls when he was young.

He graduated from Sequoyah High

School and then decided to attend OSU

Technical College, where he took auto

body and paint.

He was enlisted in the United States

Army and served three years. When

he came home, he hitchhiked between

California and Oklahoma, staying with

his cousin. He built pole barns by trade,

remodeling homes and building things

with his hands.

He adored his mother and would do

anything for her. He carved beautiful

walking sticks, yet he never sold one,

always gave them

away. He had a kind

heart, and loved his

children fiercely, the

father of four sons

and seven daughters,

Robyn, Corey,

Christian, Kasi, Bryan,

Brittani, Sadie, Eagle

Boy, Joselyn, and Bluesky.

He was an accomplished cook in

the biscuits and gravy department and

would fix breakfast for anyone anytime.

He was completely laid back, easy

going, slow to anger and helpful, you

needed help, he was there. He passed

from this life on July 6, 2023 in Tulsa,

OK, he was 55 years old and will be

greatly missed.

He is preceded in death by his

grandparents, Sampson and Leann (Dry)

Mouse, and Rufus and Nanny (Handle)

Hooper. He also joins his mother father,

brother Gary Don Hooper, a grandchild,

Jeremiah Hooper, and two nephews,

Colt Hooper and Caleb Deerinwater.

Those left to celebrate his life include

his children, Robyn Wilson of Yukma,

WA, Corey Hooper of Tahlequah,

Christian Hooper of Tahlequah, Kasi

Hooper of Tahlequah, Bryan Hooper

of Tahlequah, Brittani Rooster of

Tahlequah, Sadie Williams of Tahlequah,

Eagle Boy Hooper of Tahlequah, Joselyn

Hooper of Tahlequah, and Bluesky

Hooper of Tahlequah.

He leaves his sister, Sheila Hooper of

Tulsa and his two brothers, Bobby Blair

Jr and Billy Blair both of Texas. He also

leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins

and a host of friends and loved ones too

numerous to mention.

gardening, watching

basketball, and

spending time with

family.

Joe enjoyed

attending Harvest

Time Church in

Westville and loved

his church family.

Joe was a competitive man who

always enjoyed a challenge but took the

most pride in beating everyone in puttputt golf.

He loved to play fast-pitch softball

and horseshoes, where he made many

friends who still share memories of him.

Joe is survived by his wife Mary,

their children, Jana (and her fiancé

Daniel Napier), Brian (and wife Kaidena

Hubbard), RaLena (and husband Kirk

Norrid) as well as numerous siblings

– Woodrow Proctor; Croley (and wife

Cora) Proctor; Dennis Ray Proctor;

Wilkie Springwater; Mary Fourkiller;

Thelma (and husband Larry Leach);

Patricia (and husband Levi Catron); Lucy

(and husband Kenny Wolf).

In addition to his immediate family

members, Joe is also survived by

grandchildren Shayley Fourkiller, Luke

Hubbard, Aubrey Hubbard, Nate

Hubbard, and a host of nieces and

nephews.

Joe is preceded in death by his

parents Jim and Geneva Proctor,

brother Jimmy Proctor Jr., sister

Rachel Lawrence, nephew Malcolm

Spottedcrow and father-in-law Lee

Sellers.

Joe will always be remembered as a

kind and selfless individual. He was

known for incredible sense of humor,

and his ability to light up a room with his

smile.

His generosity knew no bounds, and

he was a friend to all who came into his

circle.

married on September 3, 2010, in Tulsa.

They were together for over 14 years.

Tonya was hard worker that provided

for her family. She was a certified

nursing assistant and anesthesia Tech at

Hillcrest Medical Center for many years.

She also worked as a cashier at a

convenience store, spent time in fast

food, as well providing housekeeping

and janitorial services to schools.

She also had been an employee at the

Hard Rock Casino where she attended

to winning machines.

Tonya loved and treasured time spent

with her children and surrounding loved

ones. She especially loved time with her

#1 grandson. She enjoyed drawing and

writing down how her day went.

She was known for

her good frybread and

enjoyed cooking for

others.

Tonya was a

spiritual person that

spent a lot of time

reading her Bible.

She was a wonderful

grandmother and a beautiful and loving

mother, sister, and friend. She always

spoke with her heart and soul and had

a creative mind. Her grandbaby was

always number 1.

Tonya is survived by her husband,

Marlin Harjo, of the home; 3 children:

Derrick Dixon of Tulsa, Shannon Russell

of Tulsa, and Tracie Russell of Tulsa;

1 grandson: Beau Russell of Tulsa; 1

brother: Joe “Mike” Russell and wife

Tammy of Bixby, OK; 1 sister: Debbie

Russell of Tulsa; numerous other

relatives and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her

parents; 1 brother: Porter Russell; 4

sisters: Julie Russell, Jeanell Miller,

Pam Russell, and Cindy Russell; 2

nieces: Courtney Denise Orange and

Janet French; and 1 nephew: David Joe

Russell.

Funeral services were held July 11,

2023, at the Locust Grove Funeral Home

Chapel. Rev. Joe Christie officiated.

Interment will follow at Elm Cemetery in

Leach.

Harn of Pehrump, NV;

Mother and FatherIn-Law, Brian and

Roxie Scheimann

of Iola, KS; SisterIn-Laws, Molly and

Katie Scheimann

of Iola; best friends

forever Mazzie

Jordan of Tulsa, and Jenna Yarbrough

of Catoosa, OK; her “adopted” little big

kid Blaine Garner of Langley; step-dad,

Emilio Villanueva, Sr. of Jay; and favorite

cousins Letisha, Ashlee, Jasmine, and

Pennie; along with many aunts, uncles,

cousins, extended family and friends.

AnDrah graduated from Adair High

School in 2020. She met the love of her

life in August 2020.

AnDrah planned on going to school

for business and culinary, but her

diagnosis in December of 2020 of AML

(blood cancer) changed all that.

Through all the doctor’s visits,

appointments, and hospital stays, Miah

never left her side.

She loved spending time with him and

their fur baby Bentlee, her mama, Mimi,

and her dad, Randall, siblings, little big

kid Blaine, and her 2 BFFs, Mazzie and

Jenna.

She also loved food, whether it was

cooking it, baking it, or just plain eating

it. She also had a love for nature. You

could find her outside playing in the

grass or the woods, admiring the garden

center at Walmart, or at the creek those

few days she wasn’t on the road for

appointments or in the hospital.

Despite having cancer and knowing

her time here may have been short,

she always had a smile on her face and

kindness for everyone she met.

Her main goal in life was to be there

and to help people however she could,

and she was always there if you needed

her.

Her toxic trait, if she had one, was

loving and caring for the wrong people,

but she had a heart of gold, full of

kindness, that of someone who had

lived a thousand lifetimes, and for that

she will truly be missed.

AnDrah’s family visitation to greet

friends was July 10, 2023, at Lawson’s

Funeral Homes and Cremation Services

in Jay.

AnDrah’s Celebration of Life Funeral

Service was held at Piney Baptist

Church in Jay on July 11, 2023, with

Rev. Jess Jones Jr. officiating. AnDrah’s

service concluded at the church.

BURIAL ASSISTANCE

The United Keetoowah Band wants to be a source of comfort during a family’s most difficult time. The UKB’s

Burial Assistane program can assist members with up to $3,000 for funeral services or cremation costs.

Please call 918-871-2800 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for a list of approved funeral homes

we partner with and income guidelines for this program.

www.ukb-nsn.gov/human-services info@ukb-nsn.gov

918-871-2800

HEALTH•ᎠᏰᎸ ᏄᏍᏛ EDUCATION•ᏧᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ

AUGUST 2023

5

Summer school group visits UKB Museum

Outside, children were running

and laughing, and talking filled

the air.

BY MARILYN CRAIG

UKB Museum Marketing Coordinator

TAHLEQUAH – Sounds of children playing, laughing,

and talking filled the air at the John Hair Cultural

Center and Keetoowah Museum on Wednesday, June 8.

The group was summer school and their teachers from

Rogers County.

While one group of the third through fifth graders

got a tour of the museum, followed by an arrowhead

hunt, the other group got to make mini gourd masks

first. Kids were deep in concentration, deciding what

color markers and how they would place the feathers.

Every mask, just like its creator, was unique.

Outside, children were guided on how to look for and

find their own “arrowhead.” Once found, they would

then bring it over to museum summer youth workers

and get assistance in making a necklace from their

treasure.

“Kids love the arrowhead hunts,” said Barbara Girty

Foster, Assistant Museum Director. “It’s like an Easter

egg hunt, and the arrowheads are machine made, but

they are beautiful and there are many different types

and shades.”

Before they left, in addition to their mini gourd masks

and necklaces, the museum gave all participants a

goody bag with a coloring book, crayons, and a water

bottle or a jump rope.

Keetoowah Museum Director Ernestine Berry explains the history of the Keetoowah to a group of students. PHOTOS BY

MARILYN CRAIG/UKB MUSEUM MARKETING COORDINATOR

Two students proudly show off their red, white, and blue masks they made during a recent trip

to the John Hair Cultural Center and Keetoowah Museum.

UKB Summer youth workers Mia Allan and Nevaeh Thirsty help student visitors make

arrowhead necklaces.

UKB’s CDC voted Best Daycare in Cherokee County

The UKB Henry Lee

Doublehead Child

Development Center is again

voted the Best Daycare in

Cherokee County.

BY LANI HANSEN

Senior Reporter

TAHLEQUAH – The UKB Henry Lee Doublehead

Child Development Center has won “Best Daycare” in

the Best of Cherokee County competition for the fifth

consecutive year.

Every year the Tahlequah Daily Press opens

nominations for the annual Best of Cherokee County

Readers’ Choice awards. With over 150 categories,

HLDCDC was one of four daycare centers nominated.

They went up against A Bright Start Development

Center, who they tied with last year for first place in

their category.

HLDCDC currently serves 47 children, ages infant

through five-year-old with 15 teachers on staff. The

center has been a part of the UKB tribe since 2006,

providing service for both tribal and non-tribal families.

HLDCDC is under the management of Director

It’s snack time for children at the UKB Henry Lee Doublehead

Child Development Center. LANI HANSEN/GIDUWA CHEROKEE

NEWS

Christie Kirk, who has been with the center for all five

years of receiving this award. She was beyond happy for

her staff.

“After the first year of getting this award, I thought it

was a fluke but then we continued winning,” Kirk said.

“I’m not sure where the nomination comes from, but

when it comes up every year the votes come from our

Henry Lee family and the tribe.”

After a few years of winning, Kirk has noticed it

LUNCH MENU

bringing the UKB and Henry Lee staff together. She

noted winning this competition leaves a positive remark

for the tribe.

“In addition of winning for the fifth year in a row,

we’ve celebrated with t-shirts for all those who have

supported us,” Kirk said.

The staff of HLDCDC continues their well driven goal

of meeting the needs of each individual child, while

educating and assisting the child’s family. Just this past

year the center broke ground on two projects.

Kirk said the HLDCDC multipurpose storm shelter

expansion project is expected to be completed and open

in the fall of this year.

“We are hoping by celebration time, it will be finished

and we plan on having an open house event,” she said.

The Stilwell center for HLDCDC is expected to be

completed in the winter and opened by early 2024.

As the winners of “Best Daycare” out of Cherokee

County, Kirk praises the works of her staff members at

the center.

“I’m proud of my staff and the hard work they put in

everyday with the children,” Kirk added.

Although there is a wait list at HLDCDC, according to

Kirk, applications are always available to enroll a child.

Applications can be found at https://www.ukb-nsn.gov/

henryleecdc. HLDCDC is open M-F, 7:30am-5:30pm. It’s

located at 18771 W. Keetoowah Circle, Tahlequah. For

information, call 918-871-2799.

The United Keetoowah Band’s Title VI Lunch Menu for August 2023 in the Jim

Proctor Community Center at 18419 W. Keetoowah Circle in Tahlequah,

Oklahoma. For information, call 918-871-2800.

We have moved to a temporary building while our dining room is repaired. Park

in the drive-thru so meals can be brought to you. Protect yourself by wearing a

mask, staying 6 feet away from others, washing your hands and staying home if

feeling sick. Meal service is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Meals are free to Keetoowahs 55 and older, as well as their spouses. Members of

other tribes and their spouses must show their CDIB cards and contribute to the

cost of a meal. Guest meals are $5, while meals for children 0-17 are $3.

August 1

BBQ Smoked Sausage

Potato Salad

Baked Beans, Bread

Pickles, Jell-O

August 2

Stuffed Peppers

Rice Pilaf

Mixed Vegetables

Hot Roll, Jell-O Cup

August 3

Loaded Baked Potato

Garden Salad

Crackers

Pudding Cup

August 4

Biscuits & Gravy

Scrambled Eggs

Sausage, Hashbrowns

Cranberry Juice

August 7

Ham & Cheese on Wheat

Potato Chips

Pasta Salad

Fruit Cup

August 8

Beef Tacos

Spanish Rice

Refried Beans

Jell-O Cup

August 9

Chopped Briscuit on Bun

Potato Salad

Baked Beans

Pudding Cup

August 10

Pizza

Garden Salad

Fruit Cup

August 11

BBQ Ribs

Potato Salad

Baked Beans, Texas

Toast, Watermelon

August 14

Goulash

Broccoli Cuts

Garlic Toast

Pudding Cup

August 15

Chicken Alfred

Italian Green Beans

Salad, Bread Stick

Jell-O Cup

August 16

Loaded Fries

Three-Beans Salad

Bread

Pudding Cup

August 17

Bean Soup

Mac & Tomato

Cornbread

Fruit Cup

August 18

Sloppy Joe on Bun

Potato Salad

Pickles

Fruit Cup, Cookie

August 21

Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce

Italian Green Beans

Garlic Toast

Jell-O Cup

August 22

BBQ Chicken

Mashed Potatoes

Corn on Cob, Bread

Pickles, Fruit Cup

August 23

Philly Steak Sandwich

Potato Wedges

Macaroni Salad

Pickles, Jell-O Cup

August 24

Bologna & Cheese

Sandwich

Potato Chips

Pasta Salad, Fruit Cup

August 25

Kitchen Closed

Cleaning Day

August 28

Hamburger Stew

Yellow Hominy

Crackers

Fruit Cup

August 29

Chicken Strips

Mashed Potatoes/Gravy

Green Beans

Hot Roll, Jell-O Cup

August 30

BLT on Wheat

Potato Salad

Macaroni Salad

Pudding Cup

August 31

Hamburger w/Fixings

Steak Fries

Birthday Cake

Ice Cream

M

6

AUGUST 2023

SERVICES•ᎾᎾᏛᏁᎲ BUSINESS•ᏗᎦᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᏗ

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ

UKB Housing uses Homeowner’s Assistance Fund

A program for eligible

UKB members

impacted by financial

hardships due to

COVID-19.

BY LANI HANSEN

Senior Reporter

TAHLEQUAH – After the COVID-19

pandemic impacted many tribal

members, the United Keetoowah

Band Housing Department utilizes the

Homeowner’s Assistance Fund (HAF) to

help eligible members.

According to the U.S. Department of

Treasury, the HAF program is part of

the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

administered by the U.S. Treasury. The

purpose of HAF is to prevent delinquency,

default and foreclosures among

homeowners who experienced financial

hardships related to the pandemic. In

order to qualify for assistance under HAF,

a homeowner must have experienced the

hardship after January 21, 2020.

UKBHD continues to help homeowners impacted by financial hardships related to the

pandemic. COURTESY

Some of the eligible activities under

the UKBHD HAF are delinquent property

taxes, mortgage payment assistance,

insurance assistance, utility and/

or internet assistance, homeowner

displacement assistance and legal

services related to foreclosure prevention

and displacement.

“One of the newest eligible activities

include, repairs limited to HVAC,

roofing, plumbing or electrical. And they

must be able to prove hardship due to

COVID-19,” Housing Specialist Jackie

Cochran stated.

HAF is designed to be a one-time

assistance for any of the eligible

activities. There are maximum assistance

caps in place in order to reach as many

tribal members as possible.

Some of the requirements to be

eligible for assistance include be an

exclusive enrolled member of the UKB,

a homeowner, the assistance must be for

applicant’s primary residence, located

within the tribe’s designated housing

service and not be a duplicate HAF

recipient.

“As of June 30, 2023, the UKBHD has

assisted 59 UKB homeowners under the

HAF program since funding inception,”

Cochran said. “This comes to nearly

$103,000.00 of assistance thus far.”

UKBHD plans to utilize the program for

eligible exclusive UKB homeowners while

funds last, which they are estimating to

be through the end of 2025.

For applications or assistance,

contact Jacqueline (Jackie) Cochran at

jcochran@ukb-nsn.gov or 918-871-2773.

Phone: 918-871-2773

PO Box 60, Park Hill, OK 74451

18300 W. Keetoowah Circle, Tahlequah, OK 74464

2023 UKB HOUSING PROGRAMS

v Repair/Rehab/Includes Emergency Repair

v College Student Housing Assistance

- To Assist Eligible UKB Members with the

necessary home Repairs and Rehab for them

to have decent, safe, and sanitary homes.

- Will Assist Income-Eligible, full-time

students who are attending an accredited

College within the United States. This Program

is active during the Fall and Springtime.

v Down Payment Closing Cost Assistance

The museum is still looking to purchase some rattles, shackles, moccasins, flutes, pipes,

ribbon shirts, walking sticks, blowguns, darts, and stickball sticks. COURTESY

Keetoowah Museum to buy

art by appointment in August

BY MARILYN CRAIG

UKB Museum Marketing Coordinator

TAHLEQUAH – The John Hair Cultural

Center and Keetoowah Museum has been

busy this summer with a steady flow of

visitors and customers to their museum

and gift shop.

“We are pleased with the increased

sales, and we are happy to sell

Keetoowah hand made items and art,”

said JHCCKM Director Ernestine Berry.

“We put a call out for quality, handmade

items, and our members responded.”

The museum has an inventory of

beadwork, stickball sticks and balls,

baskets, medicine bags, quilts , walking

sticks, tear dresses, ribbon skirts, ribbon

shirts, dolls, teddy bears, carvings, flutes,

blowguns, paintings and prints that are

all created by Keetoowah citizens.

The museum is still looking to

purchase some rattles, shackles,

moccasins, flutes, pipes, ribbon shirts,

walking sticks, blowguns, darts, and

stickball sticks. The shop is currently low

on these items, while the demand is still

high.

Due to increased programming and

customers, the museum is changing the

way they do business with members.

“If you are interested in selling your

merchandise to us,” said Berry, “We

welcome you to come on our set dates

with a scheduled appointment.”

Beginning in August, the museum will

only buy art or crafts by appointments

on Tuesday or Wednesday. To make an

appointment call 918-871-2866 or visit

https://www.ukb-nsn.gov/john-haircultural-center-museum.

- To Assist Eligible Tribal Members with

down-payment and closing costs in an

amount of $10,000 per household.

v Lease-Purchase Homeownership Program

- To Assist Eligible UKB Tribal Members in

becoming first time Homeowners.

v Storm Shelters

- To Assist Eligible UKB Members with a

storm shelter to be installed on their property

for security and safety.

v Rental/Mortgage Assistance

- Will Assist Income-Eligible Tribal Members

who reside within the Jurisdictional area of

the Tribe. Participants must establish that they

are renting a suitable affordable housing unit

or that they are delinquent in the payment of a

mortgage.

v Elder Cottage Program

v To Assist Elderly Tribal Members who

are precariously housed but who meet the

minimum income guidelines and the selection

criteria set forth in the program operating

policy.

v Weatherization Program (Wood Stove/AC)

- To Assist Elderly & Disabled with a window

unit air conditioner or wood stove and/or

weatherization materials as necessary to

control the climates of dwelling units and to

prevent infiltration of the elements.

v Coosa Wattee Income Based Homes

- Assisting UKB Tribal Members with

income-based housing in our Coosa Wattee

neighborhood.

v Goingsnake Elder Apartments

- Assisting our UKB Elders with a small

community in Stilwell. All are one-bedroom

apartments and fully furnished. This Program

is also income based.

ANI GIDUWAGI• ᎠᏂ ᎩᏚᏩᎩ

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ

“The River Woe” official poster, this movie was filmed in

2022. COURTESY PHOTOS

Richard Vann (left) and Marcus Thompson (right) on set for

the film “Eggs and Gas.”

AUGUST 2023

7

Danielle Campbell with Marcus Thompson on set of “The

River Woe.”

Member’s film to screen at Fort Smith film festival

BY LANI HANSEN

Senior Reporter

FORT SMITH – Out of 148 movies selected from

all over the world, two local films “The River Woe”

and “Eggs and Gas” will be screened at the Fort Smith

International Film Festival.

The films feature United Keetoowah Band members

from Northeast Oklahoma.

According to UKB tribal member Marcus Thompson,

the International Film Festival is returning for its third

year. Brandon Chase Goldsmith is the festivals founding

father. The festival will be August 25th and 26th in

downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas.

The theme of the festival is [re]Focused, according

to the Fort Smith Film website. It is celebrating a

storytelling renaissance by moviemakers who suffered

production obstacles posed by the global pandemic.

Artists who persevered are emerging with new focus.

People and groups who were on the margins or left out

of narratives are entering the picture with a sharpness

that reveals the details of life at a higher resolution.

“It was hard to believe that my short film (Eggs and

Gas) was selected, I was excited,” Thompson stated

about the recognition.

Two films he was part of that were selected are “The

River Woe” and “Eggs and Gas.”

“The River Woe” is about a Native American man who

gets laid off from his job, and when he gets home finds

out him and his wife have been denied government

assistance.

Thompson said, “We filmed ‘The River Woe’ in 2022,

and it has already been in a few film festivals this past

year.”

This film features Thompson, Danielle Campbell,

Marlene Glass Ballard and Marcus Pruitt.

The second film selected for this film festival is one

Thompson wrote himself, called “Eggs and Gas.” It

was filmed in early 2023 after dates of shooting were

pushed back multiple times. Thompson said they used

commodity eggs.

“The idea of this short film came to mind when I was

talking to my friend about the high prices of gas and

eggs,” Thompson said.

“Eggs and Gas” features Thompson, David H.

Ferguson and Richard Vann. This short film was

Thompson’s first script to write.

Unfortunately, “The River Woe” has not been released

to the public to watch, but “Eggs and Gas” can be

viewed on YouTube.

The Fort Smith International Film Festival is open

to the public and tickets can be purchased at, https://

fortsmithfilm.com/.

Meet UKB Tradition Keeper Carrie Grayson

Carrie Grayson has

taught traditional

crafts for more than a

quarer century.

BY MARILYN CRAIG

UKB Museum Marketing Coordinator

TAHLEQUAH – Boasting over 25 years

of experience in teaching cultural crafts,

Carrie Grayson is a proud member of the

United Keetoowah Band.

She was awarded the title of UKB

Tradition Keeper in 2017 for her

outstanding work in traditional arts and

crafts. This includes basketry, cornhusk

dolls, twining, cornbead necklaces and

moccasin making.

Growing up, Carrie was interested in

arts and crafts. She was in first grade

when she learned how to make baskets.

She was taught by her future mother-inlaw, Charlotte Grayson.

Carrie’s school, Sequoyah Elementary,

was the only school offering Indian

culture classes at the time. Carrie and

a friend, Christie Vann, would practice

singing and counting in Cherokee with

each other during recess.

In her early 20s, she wanted to learn

more about different types of arts and

crafts and had many wonderful teachers

who shared their craft with her. To her,

it was only right to share the knowledge

she had been given to others.

“Knowing these crafts and skills have

given me the opportunity to travel across

the United States and represent my

tribe,” said Grayson.

Carrie Grayson has represented UKB at

the Chuck Wagon Festival at the Cowboy

Hall of Fame Museum in OKC.

She has been involved in a STEM

Program with Seminole Nation as well

as participating in Sorghum Days for the

past 12 years.

In March of 2023, Grayson and her

fellow Tradition Keepers traveled to

Washington D.C. for Cherokee Days.

“I consider myself a cultural educator

by choice,” said Grayson. “I love teaching

children and adults. It’s rewarding to

teach someone something that they

would not have the opportunity to learn

otherwise. I’ve had people return year

after year to visit and to work on their

crafts. They’ve even brought the crafts

they’ve done at home for me to see.”

Carrie Grayson lives in Tahlequah

with her husband and fellow artist, Noel

Grayson.

They have two daughters to whom

they are passing their skills. For inquiries

about her art or classes, email her at

carrievancegrayson@gmail.com.

UKB Tradition Keeper Carrie Grayson works on a Cherokee craft. She’s known for basketry,

cornhusk dolls, twinning and more. LANI HANSEN/GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

“Knowing these crafts and skills have given me the

opportunity to travel across the United States and

represent my tribe.”

Carrie Grayson, UKB Tradition Keeper

8

AUGUST 2023

CULTURE•ᎢᏳᎾᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ

UKB’s ‘Back to Basics’ gets corny

The UKB Museum “Back to Basics” session

focuses on canning corn in July.

BY MARILYN CRAIG

UKB Museum Marketing Coordinator

TAHLEQUAH – The second session

of the “Back to Basics” canning series

focused on canning corn.

A small group of Keetoowah women,

ages 15 to 65, gathered to learn from

instructor Keetoowah culture bearer

Betty Holcomb.

The items needed to can corn include:

one bushel corn, salt, seven one-quart

jars, lids, and rings, pan for sterilizing

jars and lids, pan for boiling water, jar

funnel, large spoon or scoop, teaspoon.

The first thing they did was to get out a

big flat pan and put a couple of inches of

water in it.

Then, put the lids and the jars in the

water, neck down and turn up the heat to

boil the water to sterilize them.

The next step was to go outside to

shuck the corn. After removing the husks

and the silks, all the ladies put on gloves,

and the ends and any bad places were

removed.

Next, they stood the corn straight up in

a dishpan and cut it off the cob. After the

corn was all off the cob, any large clumps

of corn were broken down.

Then the funnel was put on the jar, and

the jar was filled to just below the mouth

of the jar. If desired, you could add a

teaspoon of salt.

They slowly topped the corn with

boiling water, leaving a bit of space.

Betty cautioned everyone to make sure

and wipe the inside and outside of the jar

neck. Debris around the top can prevent

the jar from sealing.

Then, they topped it with a lid and

ring, and screwed the lid on tightly.

Finally, they put their first jar in the

canner and filled each jar until they had

all the jars filled, sealed, and covered in

hot water.

They put the lid on the cooker with ten

pounds of pressure and let it cook for 85

minutes.

If you are canning at home, your

pressure cooker will have instructions

on how long to pressure each veggie.

Instructions may also be Googled.

Some important tips include:

Process time is the most notable

variable to pay attention to.

• The style of pack is either hot or raw,

but some foods have both packing styles

listed.

• Jar size is either pints or quarts, but

some foods have both jar sizes listed.

• Head space is often 1 inch but varies

for some foods.

The process just described to can the

corn is called “cold or raw packing.”

Raw packing is the practice of filling

jars tightly with freshly prepared, but

unheated food.

Such foods, especially fruit, will often

float in the jars. The entrapped air in

and around the food may also cause

discoloration within 2 to 3 months of

storage.

Raw packing is more suitable for

pickles; since pickles require minimal

processing due to the extremely high

acid content, and the need to retain the

crispness of the raw vegetable.

Hot packing is the practice of heating

freshly prepared food to boiling,

simmering it 2 to 5 minutes, and

promptly filling jars loosely with the

boiled food.

Whether food has been hot-packed or

raw-packed, the juice, syrup, or water

to be added to the foods should also be

heated to boiling before adding it to the

jars.

This practice helps to remove air from

food tissues, shrinks food, helps keep the

food from floating in the jars, increases

vacuum in sealed jars, and improves shelf

life. Preshrinking food also permits filling

more food into each jar.

The next session of the “Back to Basics”

canning series will be held on Saturday,

August 12 from 10 am to 2 pm. at the

Speedway.

The class will prepare bread and butter

pickles, as well as dill pickles.

For more information on the “Back to Basics” classes,

call Barbara Girty Foster at 918-871-2794.

Students work on the steps to remove the corn from the cob to prepare it for canning during

the UKB’s “Back to Basics” class. MARILYN CRAIG/UKB MUSEUM MARKETING COORDINATOR