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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aunited_keetoowah_cherokee%3A893eca8feb91b0c3

## Record

- **Collection:** Tribal code
- **Document type:** Tribal code

## Text

LOOK FOR US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
AND AT WWW.UKB-NSN.GOV

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

BEAD
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skirts

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etoo
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wah
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CRAFT
KITS

quilts

ARTS

artwork
& jewelry

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TRADITION
KEEPER
RAFFLE

AFTS

stickball
sticks

CHILI
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KEETOOWAH CHRISTMAS
ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW
Saturday, December 13 • 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

JOHN HAIR CULTURAL CENTER &

KEETOOWAH MUSEUM

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

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aunited_keetoowah_cherokee%3A893eca8feb91b0c3. Public record. Not legal advice.