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GIDUWA CHEROKEE

EE NEWS

August 2024

Chief Bunch Signs Historic

Lease Agreement

By: Troy Littledeer | UKB Media

@troylittledeer

August 19, 2024

TAHLEQUAH, Okla., – On August 13, Chief Joe Bunch signed an

agreement with the Department of Interior to reimburse the United

Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma for certain costs

associated with the UKB’s operation of programs under the tribe’s

Self-Governance Compact.

Under this agreement, known as an ISDEAA Section 105 (l)

lease, the BIA will commit to paying an additional annual payment

to the UKB Tribe based upon the appraised fair market rental rate.

"This is a tremendous day for the UKB as these agreements provide vital rental revenue to the Tribe as well as funding for utilities,

building security, upkeep, and those types of things," Chief Joe

Bunch said.

This arrangement with the BIA, as well as similar pledges made

with the Indian Health Service, will allow the UKB to receive annual general rent revenue in excess of $1.2 million.

UKB tribal member and attorney Bryan Shade with the assistance of the [UKB] Tribal Finance, Facilities, and Self-Governance

Programs staff, helped negotiate the ISDEAA Section 105(l) lease.

Photo Troy Littledeer

UKB Elder Housing Project Passes First Hurdle

By: Lee Guthrie

August 19, 2024

TAHLEQUAH, Okla., – A United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee

Indian housing project for elders

passed its first hurdle, with the

city leaders recommending a

zoning change to develop a modular home community.

The 18-unit, nine duplex project is proposed for 10 acres unofficially known as “Old Whiskey

Jim’s” property. The zone change

was approved by the Planning

Commission July 27.

“We call it the ‘Venue’ – until

we come up with another name

for it,” said Housing Director

Roxana Wilden. “The tribe owns

the building and its parking lot.

Housing owns the field next to

it, and where we want to put the

duplexes.”

The “Venue” is close to the

UKB offices off of Willis Road,

Wilden said.

Zoned RM-2, which is

multi-family medium-density/

community commercial, the

application requested a change

to RMH, which is the designation

for a mobile home park.

The modular homes were

built by Oak Creek Homes in

Texas and sold to UKB by Stepp

Mobile Homes. Each building has

two duplexes, and each unit is

1,009 square feet.

“I’ve had 38 years in the

mobile home business, and when

we saw these we knew it would

be a good fit for them,” said Pat

Ross, the developer and owner of

Stepp.

Tribal Councilor Pete Kingfisher attended the meeting to

support the Housing Department’s application.

“We need it for our elders,”

Kingfisher said.

Mary Ann Whittmore lives

across from the entrance to

the proposed development and

attended the meeting to express

her hope that the trees on the

wooded acreage wouldn’t be cut

down for the project. She said

the mobile homes/modular units

are nice looking and hoped the

buildings and site will be kept

up.

Assistant Director Richard

Vann assured Whittmore that the

property will be maintained for

the elder inhabitants.

“We are going to try and save

as many trees as possible, and

the ones we have to take out we

are going to replant,” Wilden

said.

Whittmore’s son, who did

not attend, is concerned about

the need for a bigger drainage

system, and Wilden said bids are

being solicited to make those

improvements.

Planning and Development

Director Paige Harjo presented

the project to the Commission,

and said after nearly two months

of consideration the staff recommends approval of the zoning

change.

“[The property] is designated

as residential reserve, and keep

that in mind in how it relates to

the comprehensive plan,” Harjo

said. “In our comprehensive plan

it states: ‘Our current demand

models may indicate that a particular density will be most likely

to serve the market, but changes

in economic and development

patterns in the next 10-15 years

may create a need we cannot

anticipate today.’”

The residential reserve areas

are intended to have housing

developments at some point and

time and this area was designated for this when the plan was

put together, Harjo said.

“If the zoning change is

approved the owner will be

required to meet all regulations

and zoning ordinances and the

proposed would be allowed by

right,” Harjo said.

“It is the rules and regulations

that a mobile home park will

have to abide by.”

Wilden addressed the Commission and said that 100 UKB

elders need housing. The units

were purchased by American

Rescue Plan Act funds, Wilden

said.

“This project will house up to

36 elders,” Wilden said. “Manufactured homes are an efficient

and reliable way to house elders

quickly; easy to construct, easy

to maintain, and the right size

for most single or couple elders.”

Vann said the homes are built

to Housing and Urban Development standards and are Ameri-

cans with Disabilities Act compliant. A park and walking path are

also planned for the community.

Chair Richard Cannonie

asked if the tribe was aware that

the zone change would cover the

whole 10 acres, not just the five

where the homes will sit, and all

city codes for landscaping would

apply for the entire plat.

The petitioning parties agreed

to abide by all the rules and regulations for the entire property.

The commissioners voted

unanimously to approve the

change in zoning. The Tahlequah

City Council must approve the

change before it is finalized.

This story comes to Giduwa

Cherokee News from Lee Guthrie

through her reporting work with

the Tahlequah Daily Press.

Housing Director, Roxana Wilden represented the UKB in the request before

the planning commission, Photo Lee Guthrie, Tahlequah Daily Press.

GIDUWAH CHEROKEE NEWS

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

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

Sequoyah Dist.

Junior Catron

918-315-0970

Tahlequah Dist.

Terry "Pete"

Kingfisher

918-822-5703

By: UKB Chief Joe Bunch

July 16, 2024

Si yo, ni ga da

Where did summer go? Kids are

already back in school, so watch

out in the early morning and afternoon traffic as kids are loading or

unloading off school buses in rural

Oklahoma. Is your high school

football team preparing for the upcoming season? Boy, its been hot

Last month we had the opportunity to show who we are

by hosting the Leadership Native

Oklahoma Conference, and we just

finished with Oklahoma Intertribal

Tax Association here at the venue and on our grounds. We thank

both associations for allowing us

to partner with them in their work

improving, informing, and bringing

Native America to the forefront.

It is always a pleasure and honor

to showcase our buildings and the

history of who we are.

We just completed the Ecohta

Behavioral Health outreach with

the Goingsnake district; we hosted

an elder’s event with food, program activities, and we played

bingo. It is always great to see

elders from the communities. Elder

and language teacher John Chewey

Chief's

Corner

AUGUST 2024

By the time you read this, we

will be in full election time, and as

time goes on, the names of candidates will be listed. I need to tell

JOE BUNCH

you it has been a privilege and

Principal Chief

jbunch@ukb-nsn.gov

honor to serve the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians.

was on hand to explain and gain

I have worked in Indian Country

information from the elders while

for 41 years, 19 years for the Unittalking in Cherokee; to hear all

ed Keetoowah Band of Cherokee

speak in Cherokee was good med- Indians. I have always said workicine as the words were familiar. It ing at Keetoowah is like coming

was difficult to understand all of

home and working for Indian peothe conversation.

ple. I have decided not to run for

We are still in serious IHS nereelection; it has been my greatest

gotiations, and things are moving

honor to serve our tribe. If needed,

in our direction. By the time you

I'll be a phone call away. We have a

read this message, we will have

strong team in place, and if all are

the resources to start a clinic for

reelected, we will and can lead and

our tribal people—no more being

move our tribal government into

denied or discriminated against be- the next level, generating services

cause we are Keetoowah—no more for our tribal members. Unfinsuppression of medical services or ished items like supplemental food

no more holding medical services

distribution, solar or wind power

as leverage to get our tribal mem- generation, affordable housing,

bers to switch tribes. Thank you,

continued medical services, and a

Lord, for answering my prayer in

casino are in store; we have put a

our own medical facility; you are

lot of items in motion.

most gracious. This administration

This is a historical time for the

and council have secured an oppor- Keetoowahs.

tunity to provide medical services

to our tribal people, meaning we

Wa do, do da go hv i

have laid the groundwork to have

a clinic on our tribal grounds.

Chief Joe Bunch

AUGUST 2024

GIDUWAH CHEROKEE NEWS

Language Pilot Program Completion Celebrated at Social

“Hopefully, these types of Keetoowah language events will attract more people as time goes on. We honor our ancestors, as well

as future generations, by learning and speaking our native tongue,” said Ernestine Berry, Museum Director.

have are going to go far in speaking. They all have

a desire to learn, which a lot of people don’t have.

I am still learning to speak and seeing everyone at

the language social was really encouraging.”

Museum Director Ernestine Berry said, “The

teachers and I are very encouraged by the progress the students made this past year. The students

were also pleased and expressed a desire to continue learning. We are hopeful that we will be able to

expand on the curriculum created by our first-language curriculum developers to continue with the

program.

By: Marilyn Craig, Museum Marketing Coordinator

TAHLEQUAH, OK -- The John Hair Cultural

Center and Keetoowah museum staff hosted another Keetoowah Language Gathering on Friday,

August 9th. The event was held at the Tahlequah

District Community Building. The gathering was a

celebration of the completion of a community pilot

program for Keetoowah conversational language.

The program was funded in part by the Institute of

Museum and Library Services. The gathering featured a traditional meal, gospel singing, ring toss

competition and a language bowl.

The goal of the program was to develop a multigenerational language curriculum and program

that is geared to native learners of all ages. JHCCM

Director Ernestine Berry, along with Keetoowah

first language speakers John Chewey, Clara Proctor, Oleta Pritchett, and Tyler Hodge developed the

curriculum.

When it was time to roll out the program to

communities, three additional Keetoowah first

language speakers joined the team including Cindy

Hair, Ronnie Livers, and Alice Wilder. These speakers began teaching the language program in their

communities.

The 2024 Language students who completed

all forty lessons include Angelina Badillo, Robin

Bailey, Kyle Bark, Robert Bark, Latisha Blackbear,

Anthony Blackbear, Natalie Blackbear, Kaiden

Blackbear, Kristie Bradley, Amber Dry, Antoinette

Keetoowah language instructors include: (front

row) Cindy Hair, Alice Jumper and Oleta Pritchett (back row) Ronnie Livers, John Chewey, Tyler

Hodges, and museum director Ernestine Berry. Not

shown is Clara Proctor (photo Raelie Grayson)

Ford, Caleb Grimmett, Tishaleta Guevara, Jarrett

Hammer, Ashley Hopton, Charlie Stilwell, Charolotte Teehee, Acee Watt, and Kendra Wiegand.

Museum student archivist Kyndal Aimerson

coordinated the Language Bowl. She said, “Everyone enjoyed it, and it was encouraging to see the

students’ improvement since May in the Language

Bowl. The first time we played it was a little messy,

but everyone did so well in the last game.

I hope this shows that we are accomplishing

something here by revitalizing the language. There

aren’t a great number of students, but the ones we

Tyler Hodge entertains the crowd as he strikes a

pose during the ring toss game.

(photo Raelie Grayson)

Echota Behavioral Health Hosts Keetoowah Elder Day

Keetoowah Elder Day brings in elders to shape and strengthen our knowledge into our overall wellness.

LANI HANSEN, REPORTER

the family usually goes to them. So, we want to

be able to bridge that gap for behavioral health or

mental health, and let people know what services

KANSAS, Okla- Elders play an important role

in shaping our communities. That is why Echota

Behavioral Health is working alongside others to

bring forth strength from our elders into our overall wellness.

On August 20th, the United Keetoowah Band

and Echota Behavioral Health hosted an “Keetoowah Elder Day” in the Goingsnake District.

“We look back at what each community used

to be by gathering the wisdom and knowledge of

the elders, and bridging the gap with our current

generation to learn how to build that up,” Community Prevention Coordinator Caleb Grimmett-Smith

stated. “The elders are still value to us, and we

hope to take what we have learned from the communities to incorporate in any events we do.”

Prevention Teams Manager Brittany Cheater

also added, “We know the elders are leaders of the Adalene Smith and John Chewey admire a tool belt that

was raffled off at the Goingsnake District Elder Day.

family, so when there is a problem or celebration

UKB Annual Golf Tournament

Opens Registration

Registration opens September 1 for the Senior, 2-man and 4-man scramble

Following the senior scramble,

the

2-man open will start sign-ins at

TAHLEQUAH, Okla- On the first

12:30

p.m. with tee time beginning

weekend of October the United

Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians at 1:30 p.m.

On Friday, Oct. 4th, the 4-man

will celebrate the 74th annual celescramble

sign-ins will begin at 8 a.m.

bration.

with tee time at 9 a.m. Lunch will be

Along with all the festivities offered during the weekend of October provided to participants in the 4-man

scramble.

3-6, is the UKB Annual Golf tournaThere will be door and cash

ment held at Cherokee Springs Golf

prizes

for each scramble, so be sure

Club. The tournament consists of

to

register

to get your team in. Regthree categories the 2-man senior 60

istration

opens

on the first day of

and over scramble, the 2-man scramSeptember. The senior scramble and

ble open and the 4-man scramble.

Beginning on Oct. 3rd, the 2-man 2-man scramble are only taking 40

teams. The 4-man scramble is taking

senior scramble will have sign-ins

25 teams.

at 8 a.m. with tee time at 8:30 a.m.

To register please contact, Larry

Lunch will be provided to seniors

Pritchett

at 918-506-7554.

participating in the tournament.

LANI HANSEN, REPORTER

The UKB Annual Golf Tournament will take place on October 3-4, 2024.

are out there.”

The “Keetoowah Elder Day” is meant to connect and engage with elders, to learn from them.

Echota Behavioral Health has already made plans

to continue hosting these events in other communities with different topics.

The day consisted of informational session

from various departments in the UKB such as Title

XI, Human Services, Environmental, Housing, Tribal Court, Indian Child Welfare and the John Hair

Cultural Center and Museum. Lunch was provided

to all those in attendance.

Keetoowah member Sharon Benoit stated, “I

enjoyed it, I am glad we learned more about the

Tribal Court. Any information we did receive regarding the elders, was positive and needed to be

shared.”

Echota Behavioral Health will be hosting

another “Keetoowah Elder Day” in November. For

more information, contact 918-871-2800.

GIDUWAH CHEROKEE NEWS

Announcing the LNO 2024 Graduating Class

(OSAGE RESERVATION) Leadership Native Oklahoma (LNO) proudly announces the

graduation of its Class of 2024. Facilitated by

the American Indian Chamber of Commerce

of Oklahoma (AICCO), this cohort of dynamic

leaders has successfully completed the program, which is dedicated to empowering Native American leaders and allies with the tools,

knowledge, and connections to drive positive

change in their communities.

Over the past several months, the LNO

Class of 2024 has engaged in a series of immersive classes, discussions, and interactive

learning opportunities designed to explore the

forces and trends shaping Native American

businesses, tribes, and allied enterprises. The

program offered participants one-of-a-kind

introductions to distinguished community and

tribal leaders, providing unique insights into

leadership, innovation, and community impact.

“The Class of 2024 has demonstrated

remarkable dedication, enthusiasm, and a

deep commitment to their communities,” said

AICCO State President Bailey Walker. “We are

incredibly proud of their achievements and

look forward to witnessing the lasting impact

they will have as they continue to lead and

inspire others.”

A graduation was held for the LNO Class

of 2024 at Osage Casino Tulsa on Thursday,

August 15. The Osage Singers honored our

graduates and guests with performances and

AUGUST 2024

DJ Matchison performed long into the night.

Leadership Native Oklahoma is more than

a leadership program—it is a supportive environment where leaders engage in transformational dialogues and connect with like-minded

individuals who share a passion for making a

difference. Graduates of LNO are equipped not

only with enhanced leadership skills but also

with a powerful network of peers and mentors

who will support them throughout their careers.

For more information about Leadership Native Oklahoma and the Class of 2024, please

visit https://aiccok.org/leadership-native-oklahoma/

UKB member Dr. Corey Still and Baily Walker.

Courtesy photo.

About Leadership Native Oklahoma:

Leadership Native Oklahoma is a leadership development program focused on empowering Native American leaders and allies to

drive innovation and positive change in their

communities. Through a combination of immersive learning experiences, mentorship, and

networking, LNO prepares participants to lead

with vision, integrity, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities

facing Native American communities.

Contact: Bailey Walker, State President

American Indian Chamber of Commerce of

Oklahoma (AICCO)

baileywalker333@yahoo.com

UKB member Trista Vaughn and Baily Walker.

Courtesy photo.

UKB Members Trista Vaughn and Dr. Corey Still

were graduates of the 2024 Leadership Native

Oklahoma class.

Museum Summer Canning Series in the Books

“The canning series has ended for 2024, but participants are already looking forward to participating in 2025, so if you are interested

you need to register today,” said Assistant Museum director Barbara Girty Foster.

the skins to come off easily, so there was not a lot

of waste.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The John Hair Cultural

After the peaches were peeled, each peach was

Center and Keetoowah Museum wrapped up the

cut

in

half and the seed removed. Then they were

canning portion of the Getting Back to Basics sumsliced

into

a big pot. Lemon juice was added to the

mer canning series on Saturday, August 10. The

peaches to preserve the color, and they were put

last class included canning peaches and making

peach jam. The students began the process by put- on the stove to reach a boil. Students filled quart

jars with peaches and liquid to the jar rim. The

ting clean jars face down in a big flat pan on top

next step was wiping the rim of the jar to make

of the stove. This sterilized the jars and lids. All

the peaches were initially washed, then they were sure there was nothing that would keep the jars

put in a pot of boiling water for less than a minute, from sealing. The lid was added, and a jar ring was

then plunged into an ice water bath. This allowed put on tightly.

Preparing peaches for jam was the same process, with the addition of sugar and gelatin and

bringing it to a boil. Students made pint jars of the

jam. All the jars of peaches were beautiful, and

everyone was pleased with their accomplishments.

“I have really enjoyed hosting these Back to

Basic workshops, it’s been so much fun getting to

meet all the participants, laughing at ourselves in

the kitchen and best of all learning lifelong skills

from elder tribal member and culture bearer Betty

Holcomb. The canning series has ended for 2024,

but participants are already looking forward to

participating in 2025, so if you are interested you

need to register today,” said Assistant Museum director Barbara Girty Foster. For more information,

These peaches, jam and pickles will be shared with

call 918-871-2866.

museum committees, special guests and volunteers.

By: Marylin Craig

Pretty as a peach, Janelle Adair shows off the Porter

peaches before making peach jam.

AUGUST 2024

GIDUWAH CHEROKEE NEWS

SCOTUS sides with Native tribes in health care funding dispute

By: Lee Guthrie

August 19, 2024

TAHLEQUAH, Okla., – Tahlequah’s two federally recognized

Native American tribes are moving to expand their health care

offerings after the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way.

The tribes won a victory June 27 when a court ruling sided

with them on a dispute with the federal government over health

care costs in their communities.

The “Secretarial Amount” refers to the money from the appropriate secretary, and in this case it is Secretary of Health and

Human Services, Shade said.

“In addition... tribes are eligible to receive certain ‘contract

support cost’ reimbursements for costs the tribe incurs while administering the program but which the secretary either does not

incur in administration of the program or that the secretary does

incur in administration of the program but pays from sources other than the ‘Secretarial Amount,’” Shade said.

The 5-4 ruling puts the onus on the government to cover

ISDEAA also requires any revenue generated from the adminmillions in overhead costs that two Cherokee County-based tribes

istration

of contracted or compacted programs must be reinvestfaced when taking control over their own health care programs.

ed into the program and expended in furtherance of the contract

This shift was due to a law meant to give tribes more local conor compact, Shade said.

trol.

Shade said IHS was designated as “payor of last resort,” mean“The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Becerra v. San Carlos

ing when a patient has Medicare, Medicaid, or other insurance,

Apache Tribe is a victory for all of Indian Country,” said Printhe tribe must attempt to recover the cost of services from one of

cipal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “Since Cherokee Nation assumed

those sources.

self-governance over our health care system, we have dramatically improved the quality of care and services available to tribal

citizens.”

The ruling was in favor of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, which

administers a health program on behalf of the Secretary of Health

and Human Services, and the tribe does third-party billing, and

reinvests the funds into further delivery of services under the

contract, Shade said.

The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act

enables an Indian tribe to enter into a “self-determination contract” with the Indian Health Service to assume responsibility for

administering the health care programs that IHS would otherwise

“But IHS denied reimbursement for contract support costs

operate for the tribe, states the summary of the ruling by SCOarising from the tribe’s expenditure of third-party funds, even

TUS.

though the tribe expended those funds in a manner identical to

how it expended the ‘Secretarial Amount’ – delivery of health

Hoskin said the reinvestment of revenue by CN into expandservices,” Shade said.

ed care did not receive the support of other federal health care

programs.

In 2023, UKB received $99,000 in secretarial funding for its

behavioral health program contract and just $16,000 for contract

“With this ruling, self-governance tribes will finally receive

that equitable support,” Hoskin said. “Thank you to Chief Justice support costs. Through intentional management and highly-ef[John] Roberts and the other justices who joined in this decision, ficient operations, third-party revenue from that year and prior

which moves the United States closer to fulfilling its trust respon- years reinvested and expended in 2023 on delivery of services

exceeded $5.2 million for that period, Shade said.

sibility to tribes.”

First, IHS must provide to the tribe the “Secretarial Amount,”

which is not less than the congressionally appropriated amount

IHS would use to operate programs; second, a contracting tribe

can collect revenue from third-party payers like Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers; and the third-party funds are called

“program income” and must be used by tribes to “further the general purposes of the contract” with IHS, states the summary.

Bryan Shade, attorney for United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, said the issue before SCOTUS was more nuanced

than just covering the cost of billing to these third-party payers.

“For background, Public Law 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, authorizes tribes to assume

control of certain federal programs by contract or compact and

administer them to their citizens on behalf of the federal government,” Shade said.

“Dollar for dollar, the full contract support costs could easily

reach or exceed $1 million,” Shade said. “Justice [Brett] Kavanaugh’s comment that ‘the extra federal money... does not come

free’ is ironic.”

The tribal dollars supporting the federal government’s shortfall are also not free, Shade said.

“The federal government should pay its bills,” Shade said.

“The majority on the Supreme Court correctly agreed.”

This story comes to Giduwa Cherokee News from Lee Guthrie

through her reporting work with the Tahlequah Daily Press.

GIDUWAH CHEROKEE NEWS

Event Info and Schedule Coming Soon

AUGUST 2024

74th Annual Keetoowah Celebration

Guardians of the Culture

as(b G%D ~xhK5#lC*

Phone Number:

918-871-2800

October 5,

2024

Tahlequah, Oklahoma