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GIDUWA CHEROKEE NEWS

Food Sovereignty Event brings

Community Together

UKB and Echota brings traditional processing of hog fry to UKB celebration grounds.

LANI HANSEN, Senior Reporter

TAHLEQUAH, Okla- Bringing

the community together like the old

days, is what the United Keetoowah

Band and Echota Behavioral Health

(EBH) wanted when planning for the

traditional hog fry.

To start off Native American

Heritage Month, which is recognized

for the month of November, the tribe

and EBH hosted the Food Sovereignty

Event. This event started in the early

morning as two hogs were donated

from Oklahoma State University Agriculture Department.

Men from the community came

out to present a similar traditional

way of processing the hogs, from

putting them down to skinning them

out. Following they took the meat

of the hog and started preparing it

as they cut it out and it was time to

cook it.

“The last time I saw this process

done before, I was about five years

old,” Prevention Team Kaleb Proctor

said. “My family used to do this, and

I have also watched elders do this

too. What they used to do is hang the

hog from the tree for the process of

the meat, but we had to adapt this

time and use a tractor. This is normally a whole day process.”

The processing and cooking of

the hog meat took all morning and

was ready to serve at noon. EBH had

some of their youth serving meal

trays to the elders in attendance.

“Our youth always love to volunteer, they always ask when the

next event will be,” Prevention Team

Angel Wolfe said.

Along with the hog fry there was

volleyball, stickball, painting and

bingo during the whole day. Tradition

Keeper Lena Deere and her daughter

Jesseca taught a painting session.

“The volleyball and stickball were

something we wanted to do so the

kids can enjoy being outside and

playing, instead of being on them

phones,” Wolfe said.

The goal that EBH wanted was to

allow the elders and adults to enjoy

fellowship without having to worry

about their kids.

“This event was special and it was

a great turnout,” Wolfe said.

EBH would like to thank the community for coming out and trusting

them on doing this event, to the volunteers and council for helping out.

Some men from the community came to

help with the processing of the hog meat.

Larry Pritchett cooked the hog meat for

the meal being served that day.

Finished paintings from the session with

Lena and Jesseca Deere.

Several stayed around to play bingo after

the meal.

December 2025

GONA Training comes to UKB’s

Diamondhead Resort

A training of cultural, healing, and planning curriculum for tribal communities.

LANI HANSEN, Senior Reporter

a framework to me. As, I have this

framework to do belonging, to talk

TAHLEQUAH, Okla- The Unitabout what happened and go to the

ed Keetoowah Band proudly hosted

GONA process, we have a chance to

the Gathering of Native Americans

(GONA) training at the Diamondhead invite community strengths to participate and help us lead this effort.”

Resort.

As part of this framework, LocarGONA is a curriculum with the

io

spoke

about it allows tribes, tribal

One Fire Associates, a research and

nations,

tribal

communities and tribal

evaluation firm that supports tribal

families

to

be

a

part of a healing procommunities and building their data

cess

in

real

time,

unpacking and the

and evaluation capacity, according to

strength

of

the

curriculum

is it’s built

President CEO Dr. Jamie Bartgis. Faon

collaboration.

cilitators with GONA are going across

Locario said they invited UKB

the United States and Guatemala

Historic

Preservation Roger Cain to

working with the Mayans.

highlight

the rivercane and the impor“One of the things we are focused

tance

of

preserving

the cane and how

on is building healthy communities

it’s

vital

to

the

community.

They also

who can resolve these huge issues

had

an

opportunity

to

come

together

that we’re having with our environto

break

bread

and

have

a

hog

fry.

ment,” Bartgis said. “Those issues

At

the

end

of

this

four-day

trainvary from community to community,

ing the facilitators had the opportunibut they’re all interrelated. So, we’re

ty to come together and present what

training helpers in different commutheir learning outcome was and how

nities to be able to facilitate conversations, a healing process, so together they will facilitate a GONA in their

own community.

they can create collective plans to

UKB Tribal Administrator Jennifer

make actionable change.”

Cole-Robinson

attended the training

This training is a cultural, healand

stated,

“This

has given me the

ing, and planning curriculum for

skills

and

tools

needed

to facilitate

tribal communities to address the

a

GONA

in

our

communities

to help

impacts of historical and intergenerwith

their

growth.”

ational trauma. Training programs

GONA Facilitators wanted to

exist to teach facilitators how to lead

thank

the tribe for the support, guida GONA, which is based on the four

ance,

welcoming,

space and location.

developmental phases of belonging,

mastery, interdependence, and generosity. These trainings are for a range

of community members, including

tribal leaders, social workers, and

youth workers, to help their communities heal and plan.

Master GONA Facilitator Maria

Trevizo said her first time attending a

training she didn’t know what it was

about, but by the end of it she learned

it was a response to a call on how

to motivate communities who were

struggling with substance abuse.

“We talked about the phase of belonging of people or babies,” Trevizo

said. “That shaped the curriculum,

as once we belong and feel safe, the

next part we would talk about what

happened. As part of this was the

‘where did it come from,’ and so there

was the examination of the process.”

GONA focuses on resiliency, the

joy and what is good in Indian Country. Its third phase is interdependence,

which covers how to work together

and how to be a healthy servant leader. The fourth phase is generosity, deciding of what to commit to and how

to support belonging and mastery.

Master GONA Facilitator Seprieono Locario said, “This is more of

Roger Cain presented on the importance

of preserving rivercane.

Facilitators made bracelets out of rivercane.

The United Keetoowah Band’s Right To Seat Its Congressional Delegate

240 years ago, the Cherokee

People signed the 1785 Treaty of

Hopewell with the United States

Government promising the Cherokee

a delegate seat in the U.S. House of

Representatives. The position guaranteed in that treaty, and reaffirmed

in the 1835 Treaty of New Echota,

grants the Historic Cherokee Nation

a non-voting delegate seat. As successors-in-interest to both treaties, the

United Keetoowah Band has the right

to a delegate seat in Congress.

Several years ago, the Tribe acted

on that right and appointed an accomplished Tribal attorney and UKB

Member Victoria “Tori” Holland as

the UKB Congressional Delegate. Tori

lives the Keetoowah Spirit both in her

advocacy work for the UKB, as well

as her legal work for Tribes across

Indian Country. She has served as the

Deputy Attorney General for several

Tribes, regularly prosecutes Indian

country crimes, reviews contracts and

regulations, drafts Tribal codes, and

represents Tribes in negotiations. Tori

is deeply passionate about the rule of

law and helping Tribes exercise their

sovereignty. Through her work, she

knows what the UKB needs to succeed and is the right voice to represent Keetoowah people.

The Historic Cherokee Nation

no longer exists as it did when the

Treaty of Hopewell and Treaty of

New Echota were signed. Now, three

federally recognized Cherokee Tribes

are descendants of the Historic Cherokee Nation, and all three are equal

successors-in-interest to the historic

treaties – United Keetoowah Band,

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians,

and Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

It is important to remember that the

Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is NOT

the Historic Cherokee Nation. Shared

Cherokee history is clear, as is the

Cherokee People’s shared right to a

congressional delegate.

The United Keetoowah Band has

made great strides asserting its inherent and unlimited sovereignty since

the Treaty of Hopewell and Treaty

of New Echota were signed. As the

Tribe continues to expand its impact

and prosper, it becomes more vital

with each passing year that the UKB

needs the voice that it has selected in

Congress – as is our right.

It is time for Congress to finally

keep its promise, to the whole Cherokee people, made more than 200

years ago. The United Keetoowah

Band is ready for the next chapter

in the implementation of this treaty

right. It’s time Congress seats Keetoowah Delegate Tori Holland.

GIDUWAH CHEROKEE NEWS

Assistant Chief

Amos Ketcher

aketcher@

ukb-nsn.gov

918-457-9645

Secretary

Caleb

Grimmett-Smith

csmith@

ukb-nsn.gov

Treasurer

Sonja Gourd

sgourd@

ukb-nsn.gov

Cooweescoowee

Dist.

Clifford

Wofford

918-822-1953

Delaware Dist.

Tishaleta

Smith-Guevara

918-718-4366

tguevara@

ukb-nsn.gov

Flint Dist.

Frankie Still

918-507-1822

Goingsnake Dist.

Willie Christie

918-822-3803

Illinois Dist.

Janelle Adair

918-457-7067

Saline Dist.

Charles Smoke

918-457-7071

Sequoyah Dist.

Donald Adair

918-931-0941

Tahlequah Dist.

Sammy Allen

918-931-0177

Siyo Keetoowah Family,

As we enter the holiday season, I

want to begin with gratitude. Gratitude for our elders. Gratitude for our

families. Gratitude for every United

Keetoowah Band Member who shows

up, works hard, and keeps our Tribe

moving forward.

We are also forever grateful for

our Keetoowah Veterans. This Veterans Day, we came together for the

UKB Veterans Appreciation Luncheon

and Veterans Day Parade, celebrating

the courage, sacrifice and service of

Keetoowah Veterans who, alongside

their families, have made profound

and often unseen sacrifices in defense

of the United States. Speaking with so

many of our Veterans that day filled

me with pride and deep reverence.

This time of year reminds us what

truly matters: caring for one another,

protecting our future generations,

and honoring the spirit of being Keetoowah. That spirit guided every step

we took in 2025. And this year, we

took big steps.

Defending UKB Rights

Our work to defend and protect Keetoowah rights continues in

Washington, D.C., and at every level

of government. Whether defending

Keetoowah interests in legislation,

protecting our land and economic

rights, or securing needed health care

funding, we were proactive, engaged

and busy standing up for the future of

our people.

In January, the United States

Department of the Interior released

December Edition

Chief's

Corner

JEFF WACOCHE

Principal Chief

jwacoche@ukb-nsn.gov

an M-Opinion that reaffirms UKB’s

jurisdiction on the Oklahoma Cherokee Reservation. Interior concluded

that the rights over the Oklahoma

Cherokee Reservation once exercised

by the Historic Cherokee Nation

continue today through both the UKB

and the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma

equally.

Advancing Keetoowah Healthcare

We finalized a historic agreement

with the Indian Health Service for

Hospitals and Health Clinics funding. This marks a major step forward

for the UKB Health System: expanding

care beyond Behavioral Health and

Contract Health to direct patient care.

It is the result of years of advocacy by

the UKB, and it will mean better services for more Keetoowah families.

The UKB Purchased and Referred

Care (PRC) program has officially

served its 1,000th patient. That’s

more than just a number, and a big

number at that! It shows that our

people are turning to us for care,

and we are stepping up to meet that

responsibility. The UKB PRC program

launched in January and has already

expanded access to vital specialty care

across our 14-county service area. The

PRC team is working closely with our

Wellness Center staff to make sure our

White House Event

DECEMBER 2025

members get the care they need and

have a right to.

We broke ground on a new

Council House, we opened the new

Saline District Community Center,

we marked the first anniversary of

our UKB Courthouse, and we joined

together for our 75th Keetoowah

Celebration.

We came together as a community

in the aftermath of tornados, we stood

together in Washington advancing our

Tribe’s rights, and wee enabled needed health care access. This was a good

year. I am proud to work alongside

our dedicated UKB Council, but most

importantly, I am proud of you, for

without your support these achievements would not have been possible.

Looking Ahead to 2026

We will carry this momentum into

the new year. More health care opportunities. More protection of our rights.

More opportunities for our people to

thrive on our shared Cherokee Reservation. We are inherently sovereign,

unapologetically Keetoowah and

always moving forward.

A Holiday Blessing

As we gather with our families

this month, I pray for warmth in your

homes, safety in your travels, and

joy with the people you love. May

the Creator bless you and continue

to watch over the United Keetoowah

Band.

Wado and Merry Christmas, Happy

Holidays, and Happy New Year.

Chief Jeff Wacoche

The UKB was grateful to be invited to the Native American Coalition for Economic Prosperity Event. Wado to Vice

President Vance for convening an important discussion on

issues impacting Indian Country. Thank you to Assistant

Secretary Kirkland and U.S. Treasurer Beach for your time

devoted to addressing issues affecting Keetoowah rights

and sovereignty. The UKB’s voice is heard loudly in Washington, D.C.!

Pictured with Vice President Vance, Assistant Secretary

Kirkland and U.S. Treasurer Beach are Chief Jeff Wacoche,

Secretary Caleb Grimmett-Smith and Tirbal Attorney Bryan

Shade.

DECEMBER 2025

GIDUWAH CHEROKEE NEWS

2025 - A Year in Review at the John Hair Cultural Center and Keetoowah Museum

“It is a privilege for us to share Keetoowah history from our ancestors' knowledge, perspective,

and experience.” Museum Director Ernestine Berry

tries and more participation for next year’s show, which

will open Saturday, October 3, 2026.

TAHLEQUAH - 2025 has been a busy and eventThe National Endowment for Humanities was the

ful year for John Hair Cultural Center and Keetoowah

source

of an Interpretive Planning grant that the museMuseum. The mission of the museum is to bring

um

was

awarded for 2024-25. A dozen UKB members

Keetoowah history, culture, and traditions to the public

along

with

museum staff came together, initially for a

through educational exhibits and cultural experiences

three-day

planning

session. After that, the group met

that stimulate discovery, understanding, and enjoyment

four

more

times

during

the year. The group was tasked

and understanding of Keetoowah lifeways.

with

identifying

how

to

tell the story of the Keetoowah

One of the museums most popular programs is the

people,

both

in

media

and

in the museum. Some main

Staff Development Lunch and Learn Series. Employpoints

they

wanted

to

stress

were:

ees are granted administration leave for lunch time to

•

The

Creator

said,

“You

shall

be Kituwah.”

come to the museum and learn or improve skills with a

•

In

the

beginning,

we

were

all

Kituwah.

cultural craft. The class size is limited to ten people, and

•

The

Keetoowah

are

Guardians

of the Culture.

classes are usually full.

•

To

get

away

from

European

encroachment,

the

This past year classes included flat reed weaving,

people

of

the

lower

towns

migrated

to

the

West

in

mini stick ball sticks, as well as making frybread, basket

the

early

1800s

to

Arkansas

Territory,

and

they

ceded

starts, grape dumplings, SE design painting, Kanuchi

their lands back East in a treaty for this land. At this

making, beading, and baby moccasins.

point, they became known as the Western Cherokee.

There is little doubt that the employees that take

• Sequoyah migrated to Arkansas with the Western

these classes will become the tribe’s future culture bearCherokee.

ers and tradition keepers, and the people that will keep

• After close to 30 years, in 1828, the US government

the culture alive by teaching traditional lifeways and

forced the Western Cherokee to move farther west to

crafts to younger tribal members. The Lunch and Learn

Indian Territory. They began to be referred to as the

program is sponsored by Echota Behavioral Health and

Old Settlers.

the Tribal Opioid Response ”Healing our Nations To• The Old Settler’s welcomed the Cherokee people

gether” grant. This grant pays for the presenter, as well

that came on the Trail of Tears.

as all materials for the class and lunch for the partici• The Keetoowah organized under the Oklahoma

pants.

Indian Welfare Act

Another cultural program at the Keetoowah Mu• The tribe’s corporate charter and constitution was

seum is the Getting Back to Basics series. This features

ratified on October 3, 1950.

three subject areas – Gathering and Harvesting, Canning, and Sewing. Each subject has three four-hour

The plan also includes additions and minor imclass times. Classes are held monthly on the second

provements to the history gallery that would make the

Saturday from 10 to 2. The last class for 2025 was held exhibit more interactive, which is extremely popular

on November 15 and it was the final session of the

with children.

sewing series.

The JCCHM also coordinated the tribes’ 2025

This past year, the museum hosted a couple of new Summer Youth Program. Last summer, there were six

events including a MMIW REDdress Project exhibit and summer youth that worked 7-9 weeks at different tribal

walk, in conjunction with Keetoowah Lighthorse. These departments including Education, Indian Child Welfare,

events give voice to the missing and murdered indigeHistoric Preservation, Environmental, Human Services

nous Women, Men and Children. The REDress Project

and of course, the Museum.

is a display created with empty red dresses, to give a

The Keetoowah Historic Preservation staff has

visual reminder representing the many MMIW/MMIP.

generously provided plants and labor to create and

Keetoowah employees toured the museum hallway

maintain a medicine garden in front of the John Hair

exhibit and then walked a mile around the complex.

Cultural Center and Keetoowah Museum.

The museum staff were waiting at the end of the walk

“We’re focused on growing cultural practice matewith strawberry floats for everyone.

rials for the John Hair Museum to use for their cultural

Chief Wacoche read a proclamation that said: THAT workshops and presentations,” said Historic Preservawe recognize and mourn every Indigenous woman, girl, tion Director Roger Cain. Plants currently growing and

man, and boy who has been taken from their families

thriving in the garden include Kochani, Buckbrush, Bee

and communities; and, THAT we commit to advocatBalm, Coral Honeysuckle, and Rivercane.

ing for stronger protection, better investigations, and

“This plant (Rivercane) is important to us,” says

greater accountability at every level of government and Cain, a member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherjurisdiction; and, THAT we will work to uplift the voices okee Indians and a tribal ethnobotanist. “For me, it’s

of survivors and families, and to honor the memory of

part my culture and my heritage. It’s part of our DNA

our loved ones with action and advocacy; and THAT we and RNA. It’s part of why we’re Cherokees.”

will continue to educate our citizens and the broader

Keetoowah first language speakers continue their

public about the MMIW crisis and the broader issue of

translation work in collaboration with Northeastern

missing and murdered Indigenous peoples; and THAT

State University in Illinois. Five speakers, Ernestine

we call upon all members of our Band, our neighboring Berry and Kyndal Aimerson meet every other Friday in

tribes, governments, and organizations to join in this

a zoom meeting. The language is also incorporated in

urgent work of remembrance, justice, and prevention.

games like ring toss at special events and meetings.

Another brand-new event this past year was hosted

The museum also sells craft kits to make cornhusk

at the museum during the Keetoowah Celebration was

dolls, mini stickball sticks, basket kit, mini gourd masks,

the Keetoowah Quilt Show, which opened on October 4 and flat reed mat kits. The museum has a group of voland ran through the month of October. The event was

unteers who assemble the kits, in fact, those volunteers

a crowd pleaser, and many members came up to the

are essential to the museum’s success.

museum to see the quilt show, shop in the gift shop, and

“Volunteers have assisted us with everything from

buy a Celebration T-shirt. Organizers expect more encooking lunch for our language instructors’ meetings to

Marilyn Craig, Museum Marketing Coordinator

Tribal employees Ashley Hopton and Toni Workman with

the baby moccasins they made during Lunch and Learn.

Carolyn Swimmer, Jami Studi-Dick, and Michelle Downing make bread and butter pickles in a “Getting Back to

Basics” canning class.

decorating the gift shop and museum for holidays and

the Keetoowah Christmas Art Show and Sale, assisting

with hosting special events, and putting together craft

kits and in setting up and cleanup as well,” said Barbara

Girty Foster, Assistant Museum Director.​

“I am most proud of the mission that we serve in

everything that we do at the museum. We have a vision

that guides our goals to offer events, programs, classes,

and cultural activities that inspire learning and participation by tribal members, students, volunteers, and the

public. My goal for 2026 is to increase visitation and

sales,” continued Girty Foster.

Museum Director and tribal historian Ernestine

Berry said, “I am pleased that the Museum has made

progress toward achieving its Vision. The vision of being

the premier location for learning about and experiencing Keetoowah history and culture. It is a privilege

for us to share Keetoowah history from our ancestors'

knowledge, perspective, and experience.

In the past, some have said, ‘The Keetoowahs have

no documentation.’ But I thankfully declare that the

Keetoowah historical record is intact and plentiful!

Visitors from many states hear the Keetoowah story for

the first time. They are amazed by the amount of documentation we have on display. Some have said, ‘This is

so much, I will have to come back again!’ And that is

exactly what we want to happen,” she said.

Nine UKB Elders travel to ancestral homelands through THPO Program

STAFF REPORTS

TAHLEQUAH, Okla- An agreement with Dr. Danielle

Shelton (Coordinator, Trail of Tears MOA Implementation, Forest Service, Southern Region) initiated in 2022

titled “Heritage Immersion Experience” led the United

Keetoowah Band Tribal Historic Preservation Office to

make a trip to the ancestral homelands.

THPO staff attended a meeting of the UKB Elders

Committee to announce opportunities for involvement,

and the UKB Tribal Council was consulted so that the

opportunity to participate was extended throughout the

Keetoowah community.

The trip was facilitated by Historic Preservation

Office Section 106 Coordinator Donna Gourd, who recruited Dale Eagle, Crew Lead of the US Forest Service

First stop of the Heritage Immersion Experience trip was funded Keetoowah Timber Strike Crew, to drive and

made to the University of Arkansas – Sequoyah National assist participating Elders with baggage. In total, nine

adults made the trip which spanned a two-week period

Research Center.

and included stops in Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia and crossed Kentucky and Missouri as

well.

Gourd said the itinerary was developed to gather

historical information specific to Old Settler Cherokees

who are the ancestors of the modern UKB, and to meet

with

Forest Service staff to provide consultation on repatriation and interpretive media at various public access

sites.

Pete Kingfisher served as Project Coordinator and,

with Eagle, was one of three men who made up the

group, including Richard Fields, husband of Sheila

Fields, one of the five female participants including

Norma Jimerson, Billie White, Sarah Noble, and Sharon

Benoit.

The group visited to the Bald River Falls.

The first stop on the Heritage Immersion Experience was Little Rock, Arkansas, site of the University of

Arkansas’s Sequoyah National Research Center, which is

headed by Dr. Daniel Littlefield, renowned scholar and

historian who conducted a tour of the SNRC facility and

spoke to the participants about sources of Old Settler

history as well as the life and work of the revered Old

Settler, George Gist, also known as Sequoyah.

After leaving Little Rock, the group traveled on to

Decatur, Tennessee, where they stayed for four days on

the Hiwassee River, as the location was central to other

sites of significance that had been scheduled for tours

by Dr. Shelton.

Prior to departing Tahlequah, the group learned

that Dr. Shelton had been furloughed because of the

The group spent time at Red Clay Historic Park near

federal government’s shutdown but had graciously

volunteered her time to act as guide. In addition to

Cleveland, Tennessee

scheduling tours of various Cherokee historic sites, Shelton had arranged meetings with other Forest Service

staff to discuss Section 106 consultations and potential

uses of Ft. Armistead, a site in the old Cherokee country

that has been listed on the National Register of Historic

Places and is currently under Forest Service protection.

Many of the sites visited during the Heritage

Immersion Experience have now been converted for

cultural tourism, including Red Clay, location of Cherokee seasonal gatherings in the early 1800’s, and the site

of the last Cherokee National Capitol in the old homelands.

​Cultural tourism in the area is solidly based on

the history of our Cherokee people. For example, the

historic Tellico Blockhouse had been a trading post and

became a site where treaties between the Cherokee and

the United States were negotiated from 1794 to 1807,

ceding large portions of land. Tellico is in the same

vicinity as the Fort Loudon State Historic Area and the

Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, all of which are adjacent

to the Unicoi Turnpike, a footpath of the 1700’s used

by natives that was converted to a toll road in the early

1800’s and now a stretch of highway and hiking trails

that draw tourists to the area and supports the local

economy. Like many historic locations, the site of the

Tellico Blockhouse is now under water because of rivers

being dammed to create hydroelectric power.

Students of Keetoowah Cherokee history are familiar with the names “Kituwah,” “Nikwasi,” and “Cowee,”

as they are sites of ancient tribal towns where our

ancestors lived for thousands of years prior to European colonization; and all three contemporary federally

recognized Cherokee tribes recognize Kituwah as the

Mother Town of our People.

Participants in the Heritage Immersion Experiences

visited these sites and were presented with research

done by Dr. Brett Riggs, professor of Cherokee Studies at Western Carolina State University, and recently named honorary member of the Eastern Band of

Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. Observing locations where history has given birth to cultural tourism

in contemporary times was an aspect of the Heritage

Immersion Experience that can be of benefit to the

participants who volunteer their time at the John Hair

Cultural Center and Museum. And the UKB Tribal

Historic Preservation Office will certainly benefit from

having met and talked with our partners in the U.S.

Forest Service. Many aspects of the trip also gave rise

to emotional observations that remind us our ancestors

endured over one hundred years of cultural upheaval

prior to the move west that has forever changed us.

GIDUWAH CHEROKEE NEWS

Education Day with the Tulsa Oilers Hockey

LANI HANSEN, Senior Reporter

DECEMBER 2025

UKB Education gives UKB tribal students opportunity to experience a hockey game.

last four years,” Dr. Hannah said. “This was our third year we were able to

take students to the day game.”

TAHLEQUAH, Okla- The United Keetoowah Band Education Department

The Tulsa Oilers hosts this game just for students from different schools.

took on the opportunity of Kids Day Game with the Tulsa Oilers Hockey.

It introduces them to the game of hockey.

Students from Kenwood, Epic and Cave Springs all enjoyed seeing the

“We can get different kinds of lesson plans out of hockey, such as physics,”

Oilers in action as they took on the Kansas City Mavericks. Although the OilDr.

Hannah

said. “There was several educational related vendor booths set up

ers did fall short 5-1, it was an exciting game for all students.

at the game, and that’s why this game was designed just for students.”

Education Director, Dr. Leslie Hannah has built a relationship with those

For Dr. Hannah this was more than attending a hockey game, it was a

from the Tulsa Oilers over the last few years. This relationship has grown into

reward

day for UKB students who were chosen from teachers at the school.

a great partnership where not only the UKB Education takes part in the Kids

“It

was

a joy watching the reaction on each of these kids faces,” Dr HanDay game, but also the Native American Heritage Night.

nah added. “They had never been to a hockey game before, so I am glad we

“We have been involved in the Native American Heritage Night for the

had the opportunity to give them this experience.”

UKB Education had nine kids from three different schools attend the hockey game.

Kenwood students enjoying the game.

Tulsa Oilers and Kansas City Mavericks in action.

DECEMBER 2025

GIDUWAH CHEROKEE NEWS

Keetoowah Women Honored at 2025 AARP Native American Elders Event

By Raelie Grayson, Museum Cashier, and Social Media Manager

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—

Three Keetoowah women were chosen as honorees at the 17th Annual

AARP Native American Elder Honors. Betty Holcomb, Norma Jimerson and

Eldine Stevens were three out of forty-nine elders chosen for this award.

Established in 2009 as the Indian Elder Honors, this achievement is to honor

and recognize Native American elders from Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations for

their contributions to their tribal nations, state, and nation.

“I feel honored,” said Betty Holcomb. "This is the first time I’ve gotten

something like this."

Holcomb grew up in Adair County. She was chosen as a 2024 UKB Tradition Keeper for domestic arts. She preserves culture through traditional

cuisine; her mother taught her to cook at an early age, and she learned how

to cook for a family of eleven. Holcomb was a middle child with six brothers

and two sisters. When she had her own family, she was still cooking for a

family of seven, which included her husband and five daughters.

Holcomb served on the UKB Tribal Council for several terms, representing

Tahlequah District. She was a hands-on councilor with a servant’s heart. She

was always helping tribal members to do better, whether they were in her

district or not.

She remains active with her family and tribe, and she is committed to

teaching others about her heritage, culture, and traditional lifeways.

"I'm proud of my family and proud to represent my tribe,” said Holcomb.

“I'll continue to represent our culture."

Betty was nominated by previous Keetoowah honoree, Rebecca Drywater.

Norma Jimerson was born in Cherokee County and grew up in Tahlequah. She attended Sequoyah High School and Indian College where she met

her husband Herman Jimerson, Seneca tribe upstate New York.

They have been married for 48 years and have one son and three grandsons.

Norma retired from Hastings Indian Health Services, and then she

worked for her tribe for 10 years as Election Board Chair. She also serves on

the enrollment committee and housing committee and is very active with the

elder committee and Tahlequah district meetings and has helped with the annual Keetoowah Celebration. She is a member of Echota Behavioral Health’s

Community Partnership Committee She is currently volunteering with the

Cherokee County Health Council’s AmeriCorps Seniors 918 program.

Norma is actively involved in the museum’s “Back to Basics” series, which

teaches gathering and harvesting buckbrush, wild onions, and fishing. She

has taught traditional classes making grape dumplings and Kanuchi. Norma

is a valued tribal elder who continues to give back to the Keetoowah people

and provide valuable information for retired people.

“I never really thought about that because I enjoy learning and helping

my tribe,” said Jimerson when asked about the impact of her volunteer service. Jimerson was also nominated by Rebecca Drywater.

Eldine “Deanie” Stevens has dedicated her life to serving Native communities at the local and national levels. She established the UKB Environmen-

Three Keetoowah Women were among the honorees at the 2025 AARP Native American

Elders Event

tal Department through a federal grant, later serving as federal programs

director and on the tribal corporate board, where she helped secure funding

and oversee planning for the UKB Federal Programs building in Tahlequah,

Oklahoma, now the tribal headquarters. She spent nine years as the Bureau

of Indian Affairs’ Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation

and Liability Act program manager, working with the Environmental Protection Agency to clean and restore contaminated lands across Indian Country,

including the Tar Creek Superfund site.

Stevens has served as board president of the Murrow Indian Children’s

Home in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where they have raised bison for more than

20 years. A devoted elder, she continues to serve her church. Ms. Stevens’

lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship, tribal sovereignty and

community care exemplifies the spirit of service and leadership.

Past Keetoowah recipients include Ernestine Berry, Former Chief Joe

Bunch, John William Cornsilk, Rebecca Dreadfulwater, Sequoyah Guess, Former Chief John Hair, Woody Hansen, Howard Hansen Sr., Former Chief Jim

Henson, Dorothy Ice, Jacob Littledave, Cmdr. Norman "Hominy" Littledave,

Dr. Ricky Robinson, Albert Shade, Frankie Still, Sammy Still and Former Chief

George Wickliffe.

For more information on the AARP Native American Elders Event and to

nominate a noteworthy elder, visit their website at https://states.aarp.org/

oklahoma/

Keetoowah Recognition: Jaelynn McConnell and Desmond McConnell

Siblings help their teams in winning championships.

TAHLEQUAH, Okla- Two kids who are proud members of the United Keetoowah Band have helped their sports teams out in winning championships.

Jaelynn McConnell and Desmond McConnell are the children of Kelli

Chewey. Jaelynn is in the 6th grade at Edison Preparatory School in Tulsa.

Desmond is in the 2nd grade.

Jaelynn and her team won the middle school all-city volleyball champion-

ship for Tulsa. Just a couple of weeks later her little brother won a championship also.

Desmond plays for the TYAA Red Team, they came out on top winning

the Indian Nations Football Conference Championship. This team went undefeated, with a record of 12-0.

Their mom is so proud of their achievements.

All-City Champions Edison Prep School

League Champions TYAA Bulldogs 2nd grade team.

Jaelynn McConnell helped volleyball team win championship.

Desmond McConnell helped football team win championship.

GIDUWAH CHEROKEE NEWS

Saline District Receives Community Stickball Pole

LANI HANSEN, Senior Reporter

DECEMBER 2025

EBH places stickball poles around communities as part of their culture is medicine.

KENWOOD, Okla- Through

Echota Behavioral Health, community stickball poles are being placed

throughout the United Keetoowah

Band’s nine districts with Kenwood

in Saline District being the fourth

area.

These stickball poles can be

found in Vian, Tahlequah at the

Speedway, Oaks at the Tucker Memorial Park and now Kenwood by the

George Wickliffe Community Center.

“This is part of our ‘culture is

medicine’ approach,” Prevention

Team Kaleb Proctor said. “So, we

look at our cultural activities to

prevent substance misuse, along with

suicide prevention. If you’re culturally attached with your community this

and fellowship like our hog fry are

outlets and coping mechanisms.”

EBH Prevention Team pushes the

‘culture is medicine’ as they place

these stickball poles in the communities, Proctor believes it’s a sign of

a healthy community. More of the

youth are learning and playing the

game.

“We do want to have a stickball

pole in each community, but we have

to wait for the district to have either

a community building or space and

time for pole to go up,” Proctor said.

When the pole is put up it is done

in a traditional manner. The head of

the pole faces east, it follows the sun

as it goes up. As the pole was being

taken out, it goes west.

Proctor said, “We try to honor the

traditions as close as we can, but still

having to adapt. It is also tradition

to play one game, so even though it

was getting dark we played under

the moonlight.”

After the stickball pole went up,

members who attended made mini

stickball sticks with Tradition Keeper

Char Wolfe. EBH provided a meal

and David Comingdeer gave a brief

history on stickball.

Saline District Rep Charles Smoke and David Comingdeer visiting as they are looking upon the stickball pole.

Men from the community came to help put up the stickball pole.

Tradition Keeper Char Wolfe taught how to make mini stickball sticks.

DECEMBER 2025

GIDUWAH CHEROKEE NEWS

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18280 W. KEETOOWAH CIRCLE, TAHLEQUAH, OK 74464

MORE INFORMATION: 918-871-2866 • www.ukb-nsn.gov/john-hair-cultural-center-museum

GIDUWAH CHEROKEE NEWS

DECEMBER 2025