LOOK FOR US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FULL CIRCLE

LOOK FOR US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

AND AT WWW.UKB-NSN.GOV.

Kitana Foreman

fulfills her childhood

dream of being Miss

Keetoowah.

ANI GIDUWAGI, 5

GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ ᎪᏪᎵ Official News Publication of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma May 2022

Council amends Election Ordinance

The general election this year

will be held on Monday, Nov. 7.

BY BRITTNEY BENNETT

Editor

TAHLEQUAH – The United Keetoowah Band of

Cherokee Indians Tribal Council unanimously voted to

approve changes to its Election Ordinance among other

business during its regular monthly meeting on April 2.

Councilors voted unanimously to approve changes to

its 2012 Election Ordinance, now known as the United

Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma Election Ordinance of 2022.

Assistant Chief Jeff Wacoche made the motion, with

Flint District Representative Frankie Still giving the

motion a second.

“On this right here, kind of a touchy subject,” said

Still. “The people are going to decide who they want in

are in there anyway. I don’t care if you hold a master’s

degree in whatever or you didn’t finish school. The

people are going to decide no matter what. They’re the

ones they decide who they want in there. I just want

people to know that.”

Major changes to the ordinance include eligibility

requirements for officer and district representative

positions.

In addition to being required to be a resident of the

Old Cherokee Nation for a period of no less than 12

EGGSTRAVAGANZA

months prior to filing, candidates for chief, assistant

chief, treasurer, secretary and district representatives

must also be exclusive UKB members for a period of not

less than five years prior to filing.

All candidates must not have served as an elected

official of another federally recognized Indian tribe and

must possess a valid driver’s license, as well as possess a

high school diploma or equivalent.

Treasurer candidates must also possess a minimum of

five years of experience in the governmental accounting

field to qualify.

Additional requirements state that all candidates

must not have a final felony conviction within the past

SEE ELECTION, PAGE 2

Keetoowahs

attend NSU

Symposium

on American

Indian

The theme of the event was

“Fulfilling Our Ancestors’

Dreams.”

BY BRITTNEY BENNETT

Editor

Nearly 300 children came to the UKB’s Community Easter Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 9. Children were divided

into four age groups, with prize eggs scattered throughout. PHOTOS BY BRITTNEY BENNETT/GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

The UKB community egg hunt

draws hundreds of children.

BY BRITTNEY BENNETT

Editor

T

AHLEQUAH – Nearly 300 children made a run for

approximately 6,000 eggs during the Community

Easter Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt event held Saturday, April 9 at the UKB Celebration Grounds.

The event was sponsored by the United Keetoowah

Band Child Care and Development Fund Program and

the Henry Lee Doublehead Child Development Center.

“I knew we were going to have a good turnout, but

even I couldn’t have expected the amount of children

that came,” said Kim Gourd, CCDF manager. “It was so

good to see everyone and to be able to do this event for

the community. We didn’t exclude anybody. It was free

and open to the public.”

The egg hunt featured four age groups, including 1-3

year olds, 4-6 year olds, 7-9 year olds and 10-12 year

olds.

Each hunt included prize eggs from CCDF and HLDCDC, as well as from various tribal departments including

Education, Enrollment, Environmental, Indian Child

Welfare and Title VI. Representatives from the Delaware, Sequoyah and Tahlequah districts also awarded

prizes.

“We did bicycles with helmets and protective gear. We

gave out fishing poles with a life vest and some tackle.

We also gave out little outdoor games that they could do

and splash pads for the little ones,” said Gourd. “Other

SEE HUNT, PAGE 3

The event was free and open the public, drawing hundreds of

families to the UKB Celebration Grounds in Tahlequah.

TAHLEQUAH – More than one Keetoowah was

in attendance for the 49th annual Symposium on

the American Indian, held April 4-9 at Northeastern State University.

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians

Chief Joe Bunch was asked to make remarks at the

opening ceremony festivities on Thursday, April 7.

“I mentioned to the crowd a brief history about

who we are as Keetoowahs and that we’re 14,000

strong with a 1/4 degree blood quantum. It’s

certainly a great time to assert our presence in

Tahlequah,” said Bunch. “I also thanked NSU and

its Center for Tribal Studies for hosting the event.

It’s a good place to be. Next year around this time,

put the 50th annual Symposium on the American

Indian on your calendar.”

The theme of this year’s symposium was “Fulfilling Our Ancestors’ Dreams” and “seeks to acknowledge the next generation of Indigenous scholars

and community leaders.”

SEE SYMPOSIUM, PAGE 3

Members of the UKB Tribal Council and Miss Keetoowah also

attended the event. From left are Sequoyah Rep. Junior Catron, Chief Joe Bunch, Miss Keetoowah Kitana Foreman, Secretary Joyce Hawk, Easter Bunny Sheila Bluebird, Treasurer

Sonja Gourd, Delaware District Rep. Caleb Grimmett, Assistant

Chief Jeff Wacoche and Tahlequah District Rep. Alvin Hicks.

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Chief Joe

Bunch stands onstage at the 49th annual Symposium

on the American as he gives remarks for its opening

ceremony on April 7. BRITTNEY BENNETT/GIDUWA

CHEROKEE NEWS

UKB takes lead at Oilers Native American Heritage Night

BY BRITTNEY BENNETT

Editor

TULSA – As the final siren sounded in the Tulsa Oilers

5-3 victory over the Wichita Thunder at the BOK Center

on April 1, the team wasn’t the only ones with something to celebrate.

The night was also the Oilers’ second annual Native

American Heritage Night, and after months of planning and organizing, UKB Education Director Dr. Leslie

Hannah pulled off what he considered to be a “great

success” as the lead tribe for the event.

“To be the lead tribe at the event this year, I think it’s

an opportunity that gives the UKB a solid footprint in

the tribal community of Northeastern Oklahoma,” said

Hannah. “For the Tulsa Oilers organization to ask us to

take the lead on this, that shows they recognize the UKB

as a legitimate force in the surrounding Native communities. With how the night went, I think it was a great

success.”

The Oilers began hosting Native American Heritage

Night in 2021 as a way to recognize all 39 tribes in

the state and to facilitate an interest in hockey within

Indian Country.

Hannah said the night began with a drumming and

intertribal dance demonstration on the BOK Center’s

main concourse before the game began, which drew a

curious crowd.

“The response was awesome,” said Hannah. “There

was several, several dozens of people gathered up

watching. It was great seeing their reactions because

after every dance and song, there was a little roaring of

applause and people wanting to take pictures. I appreciate the opportunity the Oilers gave us and I think we

capitalized on it.”

Hannah was also invited to emcee some of the pregame festivities, including introducing Assistant Chief

Jeff Wacoche on the stadium’s jumbotron.

“The Native American Heritage night at the Tulsa

Oilers was a great experience, as we got the opportunity

to offer the public information about the services the

tribe offers and also educate them on our history and

culture,” said Wacoche. “I look forward to more opportunities like this for the tribe to be recognized for the

work we do. Plus, the Oilers won the game, so it was a

great night.”

The event also gave an opportunity for the tribe to

share some of the Keetoowah language with a wider

audience.

SEE OILERS, PAGE 3

2

MAY 2022

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

Coeweescoowee

Dist.

Clifford

Wofford

918-822-1953

Delaware Dist.

Caleb

GrimmettSmith

918-791-8107

Flint Dist.

Frankie Still

918-507-1822

Goingsnake Dist.

Willie Christie

918-822-3803

Illinois Dist.

Peggy Girty

918-457-7067

Saline Dist.

Charles Smoke

918-457-7071

COUNCIL•ᏗᏂᎳᏫᎩ

Laying groundwork for tribal success

Chief’s

Corner

JOE BUNCH

Principal Chief

jbunch@ukb-nsn.gov

Giduwagi, digowale, siyo, nigada.

April has come and gone. Time is flying

by. As the old saying goes, April showers

bring May flowers.

The Oklahoma State Health Department COVID-19 report for the last four

weeks shows activity in following counties: Cherokee County 30 cases, Adair

County 11 cases and Delaware County 15

cases. The COVID-19 virus and its variants

have not completely gone away. We will

see its lingering effects for months and

years to come. We know that being vaccinated, washing your hands and distancing

from others helps in the prevention of this

virus. Please stay vigilant.

I gave a welcome address during the

opening of the 49th annual NSU Symposium on the American Indian. The

Symposium is open to the public and this

year’s theme was “Fulfilling Our Ancestors’ Dreams.”

I attended a presentation, “Teaching

and Learning of the Railroad in Indian

Country”, which was moderated by UKB

member Dr. Virginia Whitekiller and presented by Professor Farina King, students,

Jarren Fourkiller, Charlee J. Gilliam, and

John Hair Museum Director Ernestine

Berry. UKB tribal member Dr. Corey Still

also presented “Tricksters of Higher Education.” I had a great time!

The programs were not all in a virtual

setting. Some presentations were in real

time, along with vendors and much information about the American Indian. On

the weekend, there was a powwow, gourd

dancing, fancy dancing, two-stepping and

my favorite, Indigenous foods. Artisans

were also presenting their crafts.

Thank you NSU and the Center for

Tribal Studies for hosting this event. Much

can be learned from these activities and

they have memorialized the life and times

of the American Indian. So next year

around this time, put the 50th annual

Symposium on the American Indian on

your calendar.

Our Eggstravaganza Easter egg hunt

was a huge success! There were several

hundred Keetoowah kids and kids from

the public between the ages of 1-12 years

old on our grounds. There was great

weather and it was good to see the little

ones come out with parents and grandparents watching. Participants came

away with Easter eggs and prizes. Thank

you to our employees and volunteers for

planning, preparing and coordinating this

event, for without your help this would

not have been a huge success.

We also attended a series at Bacone

College by the United States Department

of Agriculture. They informed us and the

public of internships and educational

opportunities through the USDA. Anyone

Tahlequah Dist.

Alvin Hicks

918-931-1462

wanting a degree in the agricultural field,

I encourage you to meet with Dr. Hannah

in the UKB Education Department. We

met with Bacone officials and the USDA

regional and state leadership, discussing

partnerships with both the college and the

UKB. More to come as it is developed.

We are preparing to attend May’s

meeting with Eastern Band of Cherokees

to celebrate the placing of land in trust

for the Keetoowah Mounds in Bryson City,

North Carolina. The Keetoowah Mound

is one of six mother towns of the Cherokee, built about 1000 CE. It served as a

meeting place and cultural center for the

Keetoowah People.

We have much to learn from our ancestors and I look forward to this land being

preserved for all time.

This administration is working very

hard in continuing our relations with

the Indian Health Service, US Forestry,

USDA, HUD and Department of Interior.

The continuing dialog with these agencies

has developed a better understanding of

who we are and strengthen our government-to-government relations.

Our efforts are shown by our continuing services to our people and we are

reaching out for new services. We have a

good feeling about where we are and, as

always, we have room for expansion in

the future.

I am continuing the groundwork for a

successful tribal government. My door is

always open and keep the United Keetoowah Band and elected officials in your

prayers. Wado, dodagohvi.

ELECTION: New qualifications for candidates.

FROM PAGE 1

10 years and any tribal employee who

registers as a candidate must take a leave

of absence from their employment for

the duration of the campaign, except for

elected officers.

Voters also have new requirements,

including being required to reside within

the territory known as the Old Cherokee

Nation for their district for a period of six

months prior to the election.

In the event an eligible voter moves to

an address in a different district during

the six months prior to the election, that

voter shall not be entitled to vote in the

new district until the next election.

The ordinance now also allows for

referendum elections, both from tribal

members and from the Tribal Council.

Any tribal member may call for a referendum vote by filing a $500 fee with

the Election Board between Feb. 1 and

July 30 of the general election year. Once

accepted, the petitioner has 30 days to

collect the equivalent of 30 percent of

eligible voter signatures from the last

general election. Once those signatures

are verified, the item will be allowed on

the election ballot. If at least 50 percent,

plus one vote, vote in favor, the vote shall

become tribal law.

The Tribal Council may also refer any

matter on which it wishes to have a

referendum vote to the Election Board.

Within 30 days of receiving the referendum resolution from Council, the Election

Board shall schedule an election on the

Referendum. Any Referendum passed by

at least 50 percent, plus one vote, shall

become the law of the Tribe.

“This new referendum just allows the

people to have more of a vote on issues

that are important to them, as well as

allows Council to push forward issues that

they think the whole tribe should vote

on,” said Victoria Holland, UKB attorney.

Additional details on other changes

to the UKB Election Ordinance will be

announced in the coming weeks.

The general election this year will be

held on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022.

In other news, Council:

• Approved the UKB Tax Commission

report, with $27,227.11 reported in

revenue and of that amount, $2,773.23

is allotted to the Education Department

under the Motor Fuels agreement;

“The people are going to decide no matter what. They’re

the ones they decide who they want in there. I just want

people to know that.”

Flint District Rep. Frankie Still

• Approved the treasurer’s financial

report, which states the Corporate Board

paid leases in the amount of $21,367.08

and the tribe had $221,620 in expenses

due to elder fund disbursements, district

discretionary funds and contract services;

• Approved the request for a bank

account for the Federal Program accounts

under Environmental Services;

• Approved pursual for National Endowment for the Humanities Association

of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums

grant opportunities;

• Approved the creation of a YouTube

Channe for the preservation of traditional practices to be recorded and archived

under Historic Preservation;

• Approved the occupation of the

property at 20525 S. Jules Valdez Rd,

Tahlequah, OK 74464 to house Environmental Services and Historic Preservation

Departments;

• Approved a development and cooperative agreement with the Intertribal Buffalo Council on a 5 year, renewable lease for

120 acres;

• Approved all future requests for use

of Tribal property(s) are to go through the

UKB Realty Department with an acquisition form;

• Approved the request for Tribal Development Center Grant under the Bureau of

Indian Affairs, Office of Trust Services;

• Approved the creation of a Farmers

Market Program under the Environmental

Services Department;

• Approved opening a open a bank

account for the Redbud Apartments;

• Approved applying for the Workforce

Innovation and Opportunity Act, Indian

and Native American Programs Employment and Training Grant;

• Approved the proposed Election

Board Budget for the UKB Election 2022;

• Approved the ratification of the

allocation of funds to support renovations

at property #1, known as the Kenwood

General Store;

• Approved funding opportunity

T122013 for Echota Behavioral Health

and Department of Health and Human

Services Substance Abuse and Mental

Health services for the medicated treatment of opioid addiction;

• Approved funding opportunity

HRSA22061 for health resources and service administration for rural communities;

• Tabled a vote that would have made

tribal properties under rental agreements

pay a rate to the Tribe to take the place of

space allocations;

• Tabled a vote to approve or disapprove a partnership with Sequoyah

National Wildlife Refuge;

• Tabled a vote to approve/disapprove

a partnership with US Fish & Wildlife for

obtaining waterfowl feathers for distribution to Tribal members annually under the

UKB Fish & Wildlife Recreation Codes;

• Approved asserting the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the United Keetoowah

Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma

within the boundaries of the UKB Cherokee Reservation;

• and proclaimed April as UKB Indian Child Welfare Abuse and Prevention

Month.

To view the meeting in its entirety, the

public can visit the UKB Facebook Page

and see the “Videos” tab. The next regularly scheduled Tribal Council meeting is

set for May 7 at 10 a.m. at the UKB Judicial Center (former UKB Wellness Center).

“This new referendum just allows the people to have

more of a vote on issues that are important to them, as

well as allows Council to push forward issues that they

think the whole tribe should vote on.”

Victoria Holland, UKB attorney

GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

Sequoyah Dist.

Junior Catron

918-315-0970

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ

Editor: Brittney Bennett

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.

EDITOR

Brittney Bennett

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Travis Snell

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 bbennett@ukb-nsn.gov.

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ

NEWS•ᏗᏕᏃᏣᎸᏍᎩ

MAY 2022

SYMPOSIUM: Still says leadership tied to individual identity.

FROM PAGE 1

According to the symposium website,

the theme was inspired by a quote from

Dr. Twyla Baker, President of the Nueta

Hidatsa Sahnish College: “I am a pre-Columbian, post-modern, walking talking

anachronism. A throwback to the future,

the dream the old ones dreamed.”

Bunch also reflected over the theme

and how it affects Native communities as

a whole.

“If we’re not careful, we’ll be forgotten,” said Bunch. “That’s why this event

is important. Much can be learned from

these studies and activities, as they both

memorialize the life and times of the

American Indian, as well as show the

future and where we’re going. So that’s

what it’s all about, is to renew. We’re fulfilling our ancestors’ dreams of continued

existence by being here and remembering, while also going forward.”

Assistant Chief Jeff Wacoche also noted

how the theme strikes a chord directly

with the UKB.

“This year’s theme was ‘Fulfilling Our

Ancestors’ Dreams’ and we as a tribe

continue to work on doing exactly that,”

he said. “The UKB is the only OIWA Cherokee tribe in the world. Our Cherokee

Tribal Roll is the only open and active

Cherokee roll in the world that is audited

and approved yearly by the Bureau of

Indian Affairs. Our 1949 UKB Base Roll

had 3,700 members and after 72 years,

our enrollment is just under 14,000

members. We’ve continued to fulfill our

From left are Chief Joe Bunch, Miss Indian Oklahoma Madison Whitekiller, Miss Native American NSU Nicollette Stroud and Assistant Chief Jeff Wacoche, who were able to talk at the

symposium. COURTESY PHOTO/JEFF WACOCHE

ancestors’ dreams, but we have more

work and educating to do. I look forward

to the challenge.”

Symposium activities included various in-person and online presentations,

including “Teaching and Learning about

Railroads in Indian Territory.”

The presentation was moderated by

Keetoowah Virginia Drywater-Whitekiller

and included several individuals affiliated

with NSU, as well as Ernestine Berry, executive director of the John Hair Cultural

OILERS: The UKB is also

Center and Museum.

The panel detailed the efforts made to

collaborate in the learning and teaching

of Indigenous perspectives and histories

of railroads in Indian territory.

Keetoowah Dr. Corey Still also gave

three presentations for the event, including “Identifying the Tricksters of Higher

Education,” “Intersectionality of Indigenous Language and Culture with Leadership in Higher Education” and “Discussing Indigenous Leadership.”

Still was also one of the event’s keynote speakers.

“I was honored to speak at the Symposium on the American Indian at NSU,”

said Still. “I feel it is critical as Indigenous educators to create spaces like this

in historically exclusive places for Native

people. Education is one of the most

influential components of life. We are

lifelong learners, whether that be in the

classroom or in our daily lives. To have

spaces like the symposium for us to gather and be unapologetically Indigenous is

extremely special. I was humbled to be

asked to lend what knowledge I have to

this outstanding event.”

If there’s one thing Still hopes attendees got from his presentations, it’s to

celebrate their Native identity.

“One of the key takeaways that I hope

those that were able to listen in understood is that as Indigenous people, we

should never be made to feel like we

must check our Native identity at the

door when we enter a space,” he said.

“We carry our ancestors and their knowledge with us daily, and no institution

or place should dictate how we present

ourselves in any space. Each of us are

leaders in our own right, whether that

be in title or in the acts that we do every

day within our communities. Leadership

is tied to our identities and our identities

are composed of our own lived experiences. Never be scared to speak to your

experiences and never be scared to represent who you are.”

HUNT: UKB officers also give

planning a Tulsa Drillers event.

away prizes at the event.

“We had a swag table with some lanyards and Transportation gave me some

pom poms to give away, but we also had

little language booklets that were really

popular,” said Hannah. “We had individuals take the language booklets and if

I had time, they would come back over

and ask me how to pronounce this or

that. It was exciting to hear our language being spoken by people who had

never even heard of us before.”

Hannah also worked with Oilers

Corporate Ambassador Nathan Tyahla

to receive group ticket pricing for UKB

staff, tribal members and their guests.

“We had several tribal members there

and some UKB staff including Cooweescoowee District Representative Clifford

Wofford and Delaware District Representative Caleb Grimmett. We probably had

45 of us altogether. I think it’s a great

way to get to know your fellow employee, your fellow tribal member. Especially

staff,”

The UKB Education Department is

next organizing a similar night with the

Tulsa Drillers baseball organization on

May 13. Details will be announced on

the UKB Facebook page at a later date.

departments and representatives gave

gift cards, money, Easter baskets and

more. We’re a small tribe, but we have

that personal touch.”

The UKB Tribal Officers also gave out

grand prizes including an iPad mini, a

Nintendo Switch and two Oculus Rift

virtual reality headsets.

Other activities throughout the day

included free food and sno-cones,

bounce houses, face painting and photographs with the Easter Bunny.

“It was nice to see all our families

mingling and participating. I also can’t

say thank you enough to Sheila Bluebird for being our Easter Bunny in the

photo area. That was such a big hit. We

were glad to see all the happy faces,”

said Gourd.

Gourd also took the time to thank her

staff, HLDCDC staff and UKB staff for

volunteering to help during the event.

“I think we ended up with more than

60 volunteers and we couldn’t have

done it this big without everybody

pitching in,” she said. “If everybody’s

doing those little bitty things that make

up this big picture, that’s what makes

it work. It’s everybody putting in those

FROM PAGE 1

The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee

Indians in Oklahoma was the lead tribe during

Native American Heritage Night with the Tulsa

Oilers on April 1. In attendance from left are

Cooweescoowee District Rep. Clifford Wofford,

Education Director Dr. Leslie Hannah and

Assistant Chief Jeff Wacoche.

COURTESY PHOTO/DR. LESLIE HANNAH

3

FROM PAGE 1

“I knew we were going

to have a good turnout,

but even I couldn’t have

expected the amount of

children that came. It was

good to see everyone and

to be able to do this event

for the community.”

Kim Gourd, CCDF manager

little pieces that make the whole puzzle

come together.”

Gourd is already reflecting on how to

improve next year’s event.

“We had a few hiccups and there was

definitely some room for improvement,

so we’re going to have a follow-up

meeting to evaluate and brainstorm on

what we can do even better next year,”

she said. “We’re looking at ways to

get better organized and have a better

sound system, but this event has built

a great foundation of camaraderie that

will take us into next year’s event. I

think the staff and children had fun and

that’s why we do things like this!”

4

MAY 2022

BUSINESS•ᏗᎦᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᏗ

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ

Keetoowah Transit driving forward

The Keetoowah Cherokee

Tribal Transit Service is open

to the public by calling 1-888866-6705 or 918-871-2790.

BY BRITTNEY BENNETT

Editor

TAHLEQUAH – Since 2010, the Keetoowah Cherokee

Tribal Transit Service has helped provide thousands

of rides to doctor’s appointments, grocery stores and

everything in between for both United Keetoowah Band

members and the general public.

“We got our first grant in 2008, but we didn’t actually start giving rides until 2010,” said Toni Workman,

Keetoowah Cherokee Tribal Transit Service director.

“We actually operated out of the former UKB Wellness

Center until 2011, which is when we built our own

building. We just had two drivers and a dispatcher then.

From there we just kept applying for more grants.”

The service operates with eight employees including a

dispatcher, four drivers, a transit specialist and two administrative directors. The department was also recently

awarded a Federal Transit Administration grant that will

allow for the hiring of an additional driver.

Transit service is open to the public in Tahlequah and

Stilwell by calling 1-888-866-6705 or 918-871-2790.

One-way fares can range from $1 to a destination

in city limits up to $20 for transportation as far away

as Tulsa. Tahlequah transit services are offered Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the

exception of a lunch break for drivers from 12 to 1 p.m.

Mondays are considered “Courtesy Appointment Days”

in which riders can request roundtrip transportation to

medical appointments, while Tuesday through Friday

are demand-response request hours. The last call taken

for transportation outside city limits is 2 p.m. and in city

limits is 4 p.m.

Stilwell transit services are offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with

the exception of a lunch break for drivers from 12 to 1

p.m. The last call taken for transportation outside city

limits is 2 p.m. and in city limits is 4 p.m.

A cancellation notice is required 24 hours before a

scheduled ride is to take place. If a passenger has a record of three no-shows for scheduled rides, UKB Transit

has the authority to revoke the passenger’s ability to

receive transportation in the future.

Since opening its doors more than a decade ago, the

service has expanded its fleet from two commercial

buses to six vans to accommodate passengers, especially those with disabilities, according to Transportation

Assistant Director Ashley Hopton.

“Per Federal Transit Administration requirements, all

of our vehicles meet the accessibility requirements of

the Americans with Disabilities Act,” she said. “Four of

our smaller vans have rear access wheelchair ramps in

the back. We are also in the process of acquiring two

The Keetoowah Cherokee Tribal Transit Service has been in operation for more than a decade and has grown to eight employees. From left are Transportation Specialist Holly Noe, Drivers Leroy Hicks and Barbara Weavel, Transportation Assistant Director Ashley Hopton, Transportation Director Toni Workman and Driver Billy Robinson. Not pictured are Joe Proctor and Jennifer

Ludlow. PHOTOS BY BRITTNEY BENNETT/GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

“We’ve really grown and I’m proud

of my staff for their hard work and

dedication to serving our

surrounding communities,

especially amid the pandemic.”

Toni Workman, Keetoowah

Cherokee Tribal Transit Service

director

larger vans to accommodate wider wheelchairs and

those will also have an automatic lift and a handrail to

help people board.”

Certified service animals are allowed with a passenger

if in a crate, but only after showing proof of certification. Emotional support animals are not allowed.

“The animal must be officially trained and certified

and for the safety of our driver, and other people on

board, we do request that the animal be in a crate,”

said Hopton. “If passengers have questions about this

or transit in general, we encourage them to get in touch

with us before requesting a ride because we do have

guidelines.”

Passengers are also expected to adhere to Transit policy, including prompt payment of fare, wearing a seatbelt, no tobacco, drug or alcohol use while riding and

no food or drinks unless in a container or grocery bag.

Passengers are also responsible for providing a car or

booster seat if a child is riding with them. Children 16

and under must be accompanied by an adult.

The Keetoowah Cherokee Tribal Transit Service is open to the

public and operates in both Tahlequah and Stilwell. One-way

fares can range from $1 to a destination in city limits and up

to $20 for transportation as far away as Tulsa.

Like most businesses, Keetoowah Cherokee Tribal

Transit Services was also impacted by the COVID-19

pandemic.

It has adjusted its fleet to assure riders of its commitment to safety, including requiring masks, as well as

installing air filters and plexiglass for the protection of

both the driver and passenger. Only single passengers

are allowed at this time, though up to three individuals

can ride together if from the same household.

“I’m proud that we’ve come so far from where we’ve

started,” said Workman. “We’ve really grown and I’m

proud of my staff for their hard work and dedication to

serving our surrounding communities, especially amid

the pandemic.”

For a list of fares and schedules, visit www.ukb-nsn.

gov/transit.

Echota Village, RV Park float season opens May 13

“When our guests leave, I

want them to walk away

feeling like they had a

great experience with us

and that includes great

customer service.”

To see park rates or

to book a reservation,

guests can visit www.

echotavillagerv.com.

BY BRITTNEY BENNETT

Editor

TAHLEQUAH – Floaters, kayakers,

and campers alike are invited to spend

their summer vacations with the Echota

Village and RV Park, which begins its

floating season on May 13.

“It’s just a great place to be. It’s a

beautiful, beautiful place,” said Woody

Anderson, UKB Corporate Board executive director. “We’ve got a really great

property and we want people to come in

fill up our parking lot. We offer several

amenities to be able to take care of everybody and our staff is ready to show our

guests a great time.”

Echota Village officially opened on May

24, 2019, and is located at 16315 Hwy

10 in Tahlequah along the Illinois River.

Floating season officially begins on

May 13 and will allow guests to rent

kayaks and eight-person rafts, which are

also self-bailing rafts with an extra layer

on the floor allowing water to exit under

it. The park also offers a private shuttle

service to and from the Illinois River.

Other amenities of the park include

a primitive camping area and 16 recreational vehicle slips with 30-amp hookups that are already open for reservation

as of April 8.

“We have 16 slots with electrical hookups and a central dump station to serve

those slots,” said Anderson. “We also

have a bathhouse with hot showers. A lot

of places along the river do not offer that.

We also have really nice restrooms that

people can use whether they’re out there

primitive camping or if they’re staying in

an RV. We want to go that extra mile.”

A store is also on site for needs including firewood and ice, as well as smaller

items including drinks and candy.

The park is a business venture of the

UKB Corporate Board under Resolution

18-UKBCB-1 and is in its second year of

operations under a new board.

“We have a fairly new board, but we’ve

already had a year of operation, so we

know some things that we ran into,” said

Anderson. “We gained a lot of experience

Woody Anderson, UKB

Corporate Board

executive director

The Echota Village and RV Park offers kayak and raft rentals for guests, including 20,

eight-person rafts that are also self-bailing with an extra layer on the floor to allow water to

exit underneath. A private shuttle service is also available to transport guests to and from the

Illinois River. PHOTOS BY BRITTNEY BENNETT/GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

The Echota Village and RV Park opened for business in 2019 and is located at 16315 Hwy 10 in

Tahlequah along the Illinois River.

last year and we know the things that

we can improve on going into year two.

When our guests leave, I want them to

walk away feeling like they had a great

experience with us and that includes

great customer service.”

UKB Corporate Board Operations Manager Shelbi Doyeto agrees. She said this

year the board will be making a priority

of keeping the campground pristine for

all visitors.

“At one point, we kind of were not

the ‘family place,’ but we’ve flipped the

script on that really quick,” said Doyeto.

“Once we heard that, we made it a goal

to make it a family place and the number

one thing, believe it or not, is keeping the

restrooms clean. That will be a priority

this year.”

The board will also emphasize general

cleanliness on the river to all guests.

“The Grand River Dam Authority has

a lot of responsibility on the river with

safety and making sure its clean, so we

want to take that seriously,” said Doyeto.

“It’s a big responsibility and we think

about that when we have guests come

visit us. We provide everyone a complimentary trash bag when they go down

the river to keep all their trash in.”

Safety will also be a priority for guests

floating or kayaking on the river.

“Arrest rates go up dramatically when

floating season starts because of alcohol. As operators, we want to educate

our guests on safety,” said Doyeto. “It’s

almost a life and death issue because we

have the responsibility to make sure that

our guests are not abusing alcohol on the

river. We don’t want any accidents and

last year we didn’t have any issues, so

we want that to continue. We want to be

good stewards of doing our part to help

keep the river and our guests safe.”

As for the future of the Echota Village and RV Park, the board is planning

carefully.

“We are looking to add a stage for live

entertainment and cultural demonstrations. Hopefully we can get that done

later in the season. There’s other activities that we’ve also discussed, such as a

zip line,” said Anderson. “My thought is

always how can we maximize the return

on that property? We’re already looking

at what we can do to expand our offerings as part of the board’s planning.”

During the season, the Echota Village

and RV Park is open Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by reservation only Monday through Thursday.

For park rates or to book a reservation,

guests can visit www.echotavillagerv.com.

For more information, call 918-8712864.

ANI GIDUWAGI• ᎠᏂ ᎩᏚᏩᎩ

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ

MAY 2022

5

Foreman fulfills Miss Keetoowah dream

Kitana Foreman was crowned Miss

Keetoowah on Oct. 3, 2021, bringing

her childhood hope of winning the title

full circle.

T

AHLEQUAH – Kitana Foreman can still

remember attending the Miss and Jr. Miss

Keetoowah Pageants when she was only

7 years old.

“When I was younger, my mom was always

taking me to the pageants because my aunt

used to be one of the judges,” she said.

“One of the former Miss Keetoowahs came

to speak to me once during a pageant and she

told me that I could absolutely be Miss Keetoowah myself one day. Just seeing how

she held herself and how passionate she

was and how she cared for the kids, it

made me want it too.”

Foreman, now 21, finally came full

circle on October 3, 2021, when she

was crowned the new Miss Keetoowah.

“When they called my name,

I was just so happy,” said

Foreman. “It was like a

dream and it’s still hard

for me to grasp it at

times, that I’m actually

in the same role of the

young woman that

I looked up to. It’s

a big honor for

me and it’s such a big honor to represent my

family and my tribe.”

Foreman said she has grown up traditionally thanks to her parents, who made sure

she knew about stomp dances and traditional

foods, but she was most nervous about the

language aspect of the Miss Keetoowah competition.

“My mom is Choctaw and she speaks, but I

had to go to my family members on my dad’s

side because they speak fluent Cherokee. I

told them that I wanted to learn the language

and become more comfortable with trying

to speak it, because I need to learn the language. They were all helping me and were

happy and proud I wanted to do this.”

Foreman has an interest in helping Native youth in her role as Miss Keetoowah.

As part of her platform, she will focus on

combating suicide in Native youth.

“I went to a conference where I

learned that Native American children

have one of the highest rates of suicide. For Native youth ages 10-24,

suicide is the second leading cause

of death, which is 2.5 times higher

than the national average,” she

said. “After hearing that,

I’ve really become passionate about wanting

to help and let them

know they have a purpose.”

As part of her efforts, Foreman is planning

to organize an art show later this year.“I want

to put together an art show that asks youth

to showcase something that they stand for,

something that allows them to express themselves and their feelings,” she said. “Art can

be healing and help with mental health, just

getting things out. By doing an art show, it lets

them know not to be ashamed and that there is

help and to ask for it. I also want them to know

there is a whole tribe behind them and if they

just get involved, they will see how much they

matter.”

Foreman also plans to use her platform to

help raise awareness for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement.

“As Miss Keetoowah, I also want to bring

awareness to the higher level of violence that

our Native women experience,” she said. “I

want to inspire all Native youth and I want our

young Keetoowah women to feel strong, confident and proud of being Keetoowah. I want

them to know there is sunshine in the darkness

and they can be the sunshine our people need.”

Foreman is currently attending Tulsa Community College to get her associate’s degree in

business. Upon completion, she has plans to

transfer to the University of Oklahoma where

she tentatively plans to pursue a law degree.

“I haven’t decided exactly what path I want

to take, but I’m very interested in tribal law,”

she said. “I know the chief has really talked to

me about it and I’ve always been interested in

serving however I can. Since McGirt, tribes are

needing more help with the courts and help

with sovereignty issues. I have a big interest in

that and a lot of the tribe has been supportive,

including Dr. Hannah in the Education Department.”

Regardless of wherever she travels, Foreman plans to keep the tribe close.

“My biggest goal as Miss Keetoowah

will always be showing the Keetoowah

culture to others and bringing more

awareness to who we are. I’ll be

attending a lot of powwows this

summer and if someone doesn’t

know who the Keetoowahs are, I’ll

be there to represent us.”

“I want to inspire all

Native youth and I want

our young Keetoowah

women to feel strong,

confident and proud of

being Keetoowah.”

Miss Keetoowah

Kitana Foreman

As Miss Keetoowah, Kitana Foreman’s platforms include

combating Native youth suicide and raising awareness for the

Missing Murdered Indigenous Women movement.

BRITTNEY BENNETT/GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

WALKED ON

For a free Walked On listing, send the deceased United Keetoowh Band

member’s name, birth date and death date to Giduwa Cherokee News Editor

Brittney Bennett at bennett@ukb-nsn.com.

Jefferson Adair

Oct. 14, 1953 – April 3, 2022

Kenneth Jones

Feb. 20, 1960 – Feb. 6, 2022

Carl Wayne Proctor

Jan. 14, 1953 – April 9, 2022

Carolyn Castillo

Oct. 28, 1955 – March 27, 2022

Claudette Elaine Reasor

Sept. 1, 1951 – April 10, 2022

Terra Eli

March 13, 1973 – March 12, 2022

Leona Mae Cochran

Aug. 10, 1959 – March 25, 2022

Jennie Marie Foreman

Sept. 8, 1940 – March 16, 2022

Kristie Sands

April 27, 1975 – Feb. 28, 2022

Paul Pritchett

July 10, 1964 – March 18, 2022

Thomas Sequoyah Ketcher

Dec. 25, 1966 – March 25, 2022

LUNCH MENU

The United Keetoowah Band’s Title VI Lunch Menu for May 2022 at Jim Proctor

Community Center located at 555 Fake St. in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. For information, call 918-871-2860.

Currently the dining room is closed to the public and will remain so until further

notice. Park in the drive-thru area for your meal delivery. Meals are free to Keetoowahs 55 and older, as well as their spouses. Members of other tribes and their

spouses must show their CDIB card and contribute to the cost of a meal. Guest

meals are $5, while meals for children 0-17 are $3.If you feel sick, stay home.

Wash your hands and practice social distancing to help avoid the spread of

COVID-19 and its variants. Wado for your understanding.

May 2

Beef tips w/Rice/Gravy

Mixed vegetables

Texas toast

Dessert

May 6

Mother’s Day

Special lunch

May 12

Chicken n’ dumplings

Green beans

Corn, hot roll

Dessert

May 18

Spaghetti w/meat sauce

Italian green beans

Salad, garlic toast

Dessert

May 24

Country fried steak

Mashed potato/gravy

Peas/carrots

Hot roll, dessert

May 30

Tribal offices closed

Memorial Day

May 3

Homemade meatloaf

Mashed potatoes

Yellow squash

Hot roll, dessert

May 9

Turkey/cheese wrap

Broccoli mac salad

Potato chips

Dessert

May 13

Cook’s choice

May 19

Brown beans

Fried potatoes, okra

Cornbread

Dessert

May 25

Hamburgers w/fixings

Steak fries

Birthday cake

Ice cream

May 31

Chicken strips

Mashed potato/gravy

Mixed vegetables

Bread, dessert

May 4

Sloppy Joes

French fries

Pork n’ beans

Dessert

May 10

Baked pork chops

Mashed potato/gravy

Baby carrots

Hot roll, dessert

May 16

Loaded spud

Chef salad

Cupcake

Soda

May 20

Pizza

French fries

Caesar salad

Dessert

May26

Kitchen closed

Cleaning day

May 5

Pork tamales

Mexican corn

Spanish rice

Sopapilla w/honey

May 11

Stuffed green pepper

Rice pilaf

Cauliflower

Hot roll, dessert

May 17

Oven fried chicken

Mashed potato/gravy

Corn, hot roll

Dessert

May 23

Veggie-hamburger stew

Hominy

Cornbread

Dessert

May 27

Tribal offices closed

Employee Appreciation

6

MAY 2022

EDUCATION•ᏧᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ

ᎩᏚᏩ ᏣᎳᎩ

Catron earns CDL via Arbuckle agreement

Chester Catron

finishes the course in

just four weeks,

earning his Class A

Commercial Driver’s

License.

BY BRITTNEY BENNETT

Editor

TAHLEQUAH – After four weeks of

intense classroom and hands-on instruction, Chester Catron has become the first

Keetoowah to graduate with his Class

A Commercial Driver’s License from the

Arbuckle Truck Driving School in Tulsa.

A recent partnership between Arbuckle

and the United Keetoowah Band Education Department made it possible for

Catron to take the course at a discounted

rate of $5,900, more than $600 off normal course costs.

For Education Director Dr. Leslie Hannah, Catron’s accomplishment also felt

like a personal victory.

“When I found out, there was a moment of celebration where I was just

as happy for him as I think he was for

himself,” said Hannah. “He’s a pioneer.

Somebody has to go first and I was really

rooting for him. He mentioned he had

been having a rough time lately and told

me that he’s just so thankful and appreciative for helping him. It’s a win for all

of us.”

Catron also earned the “Top Dawg”

award during his exam, which is awarded to the highest scorer in the class.

Upon graduation, he was presented

with job offers from multiple trucking

companies.

“He got offers from at least six different places before even walking out the

United Keetoowah Band member Chester Catron was gifted a cake from the UKB Education

Department during a reception held in his honor on April 1 in Tahlequah. BRITTNEY BENNETT/

GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

“He’s a pioneer. Somebody has to go first and I was

really rooting for him.”

Dr. Leslie Hannah, UKB Education Department director

door,” said Hannah. “He told me that’s

the biggest problem he’s had throughout

the whole process, being overwhelmed

with deciding who to go to work for. It’s

the best kind of problem.”

To celebrate, the Education Department hosted a reception for Catron on

April 1 complete with cake and punch.

Various UKB departments also attended

to help celebrate.

Hannah has high hopes it won’t be the

last celebration the department hosts.

“It’s a goal of mine to get as many

Keetoowahs into as many different

professions as I possibly can, with what

resources I have. I can’t turn out truck

drivers and lawyers and doctors every

15 minutes, but I’m going to try. This is

proof that Keetoowahs can accomplish

great things,” he said.

Other Keetoowahs looking to start a career in the trucking industry are encouraged to reach out to the UKB Education

Department.

The CDL certification course starts a

new session each Monday in Tulsa and

runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.

to 6 p.m. for four weeks.

Students will complete all necessary

paperwork and pass a physical and drug

screening in week one. Weeks two and

three will teach students how to pre-trip

a truck and practice basic driving skills

on a driving pad. By week four, students

will be driving in the Tulsa area with an

instructor to prepare for the final exam.

The final exam is both written and

practical. It is completed on site using an

Arbuckle truck and is scored by a certified Department of Public Safety official.

The course is limited to five students at

a time and does not require any previous

experience.

Arbuckle Truck Driving School Director Amber Ennis said she was “thrilled”

for Hannah to reach out and propose a

partnership.

“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to tell Dr. Hannah about what we

can offer because there is such a driver shortage right now,” she said. “We

have recruiters coming to us looking for

drivers. There’s something for everybody, whether it’s over the road, small

businesses, local driving… We provide a

number of resources so when students

are ready, they have the knowledge to

make the best decision for themselves.”

Hannah is just as excited for the

possibilities that await Keetoowahs who

choose to go through the course.

“I don’t know of anything else, where

if you don’t know one end of the truck

from the other, just four weeks later

you’re able to be out on the road driving

as a career,” he said. “If you successfully

complete the course, you’re going to have

a career behind the wheel of something.

Some of the starting salaries are like

$60,000 and if students want to continue

their education and get different levels of

driving endorsements, they can do that.”

Keetoowahs interested in the course

can get more information by visiting

www.atds-cei.com.

Exclusive Keetoowahs can also apply

for a scholarship directly from the UKB

Education Department to help with the

cost of the course.

Applications can be obtained at the

Education building located at 4547 S.

Whitmore Lane in Tahlequah or by calling 918-871-2796.

SPRING 2022 KEETOOWAH GRADUATES

Aspen Kortni Elizabeth Ford

Northeastern State University

Aspen will graduate from

Northeastern State University with

a bachelor’s degrees in media

studies and Spanish.

The family of Aspen

Kortni Elizabeth Ford are

proud to announce her

graduation from Northeastern State University

in Tahlequah this spring.

She will be graduating

with her Bachelor of Arts

in Media Studies, as well

as Bachelor of Arts in

Spanish with a minor in

Applied Linguistics.

Ford was awarded the

President’s Leadership

Class Scholarship during

her time at NSU and is

a member of the Alpha

Omicron Pi sorority.

She has also served as

president for the Spanish

Club and treasurer for

the Applied Linguistics

Club, as well as been inducted into Sigma Delta

Pi. She has also been

given an Honor Society

Award and received

the National Honorary

Hispanic Society Award

on behalf of the Spanish

Department.

During her freshmen

year, Ford also participated in a study abroad

program and attended

the spring semester at

the University of Puerto

Rico in San Juan. She

was able to use this op-

Mackayla Buzzard

Ketchum

Mackayla will graduate from

Ketchum Middle School as threeyear member of the Ketchum Junior

High Honor Society.

The family of Mackayla Buzzard are proud to

announce her graduation

from Ketchum Middle

School this spring. During

this time, Buzzard was a

three-year member of the

Ketchum Junior High Honor Society, Student of the

Month and member of the

STEM Club.

She also had the unique

opportunity to attend

Space Camp at NASA’s

Johnson Space Center

Tsu-tli J. Christie

Fort Gibson

Tsu-tli will graduate from Fort Gibson Public School’s kindergarten

and wants to join the Army when

he grows up.

family of Tsu-tli J.

Christie are proud to

The

announce his graduation

from kindergarten at Fort

Gibson Public Schools

David Israel Garza

Anderson, Missouri

David will graduate from McDonald

County High School this spring

and plans to become a real estate

agent.

The family of David

Israel Garza are proud to

announce his graduation

from McDonald County

portunity to develop her

Spanish language skills

and study the culture.

She has also participated in a program that

allowed her to live with

a host family in San

Pedro, Laguna Guatemala during the summer

of 2019. Residing in Guatemala extended her opportunities to study and

practice other dialects

and cultures.

Ford’s college experiences have guided

her towards a need to

help others with their

challenges and tell their

stories.

After graduation, Aspen will pursue a career

in investigative journalism and is considering

the possibility of applying to law school at the

University of Tulsa.

in Houston, Texas. In addition to academics, Buzzard

also placed in the Lucky 7

Conference Cross Country

Track Meet.

Buzzard is 14 years

old and will be attending

Ketchum High School this

fall. She is also a member

of the Cooweescoowee

District.

The family is very proud

of her accomplishments

and encourages her to

reach for the stars.

this spring.

Tsu-tli loves Pokémon,

hibachi steak, playing

guitar and spending time

with his brothers.

When he grows up,

he wants to join the U.S.

Army like his mother and

father.

High School in Anderson,

Missouri, this spring.

Garza has participated

in powerlifting while in

school and is a lifelong

member of New Life

Church.

His future plans include

becoming a real estate

agent.

Bobby N. Spradlin

Sequoyah High School

Bobby will graduate from Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah.

His future plans include obtaining

his CDL.

The family of Bobby

N. Spradlin are proud

to announce his grad-

uation from Sequoyah

High School this spring.

Spradlin is the son of Krissy and JB Spradlin.

Zayden Dreadfulwater

Salina

Zayden will graduate from Locust

Grove High School. He will attend

Haskell Indian Nations University

this fall.

The family of Zayden

Dreadfulwater are proud

to announce his gradua-

Lillian Sue Davis

James Madison High School

Lillian will graduate with cum laude

honors from James Madison High

School. She plans to attend

Northwest Vista Community

College this fall.

The family of Lillian

Sue Davis are proud to

announce her graduation

from James Madison High

Brianne Wofford

Brianne’s family says it is proud of

her and couldn’t be happier.

The family of Brianne

Wofford are proud to

announce her graduation

this spring.

Keiden Ballou

Locust Grove High School

Keiden will graduate from Locust

Grove High School. He plans to

attend Rogers State University this

fall.

The family of Keiden

Ballou are proud to

announce his graduation

from Locust Grove High

School this spring.

During his time in

school, Ballou won a poetry contest and participated

in basketball all four years

of high school.

An avid guitar player

He enjoys spending

time with his family and

driving his truck. Upon

graduation, he will continue his education at Indian

Capital Technology Center

in Tahlequah in the Auto

Mechanics, Automotive

and Collision program.

In the future, he plans to

obtain his CDL.

tion from Locust Grove

High School this spring.

He is from Salina, Oklahoma, and the son of the

late Wauneta Henson

and grandson of Bennie

and Carolyn Henson.

He will be attending

Haskell Indian Nations

University this fall.

School this spring. She

will graduate with cum

laude honors.

She plans to attend

Northwest Vista Community College in San Antonio this fall to continue

her love of art and study

3-D animation.

The family would like

to relay the following:

What a proud day! We

just couldn’t be happier

for you. Best wishes for

your next adventure

flying eagle.

God Bless and we love

you!

since eighth grade, he also

plays shows in Tulsa and

for his church.

He will be attending

Rogers State University

this fall with plans to major in education.

Ballou would also like to

thank his great-grandparents for their support for

both him and his siblings

and hopes to repay them

one day.

GOOD LUCK, GRADUATES!