2013
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Delaware War Mothers and November Veterans’ Activities
John Henry Mashunkashey
The Delaware War Mothers have been busy trying to get reorganized by January and have already participated in a couple of events. On Friday, November 9, the ladies joined the Delaware Veterans Committee and hosted the Veterans Special Recognition Ceremony at the Delaware Community Center. The Lenape Color Guard presented the flags while the Delaware War Mothers paraded behind them. The keynote address was delivered by John Henry Mashunkashey, a Marine Corps veteran from the Osage Nation. Russell Mashunkashey, K.C. Bills, and Bruce Martin were the drummers. After the speech CeCe Biggoose started her televised presentation of the pictures of the veterans on record. It was accompanied by each individual military theme song. Each veteran was asked to stand during their theme song and was presented with a pin by one of the Delaware War Mothers and thanked for their service. The ceremony was followed by a luncheon with tribal leaders and elders.
On November 10, the ladies participated in the Bartlesville Veterans Day parade. The tribe provided the truck, trailer and bales of straw for this event. Bruce Martin gathered a small group to help with drumming. Thank you to all who participated or helped in the organization of both events!
Our mission is to represent and honor our military relatives, so if you are a Grandmother, Mother, Daughter, Granddaughter, Sister or Aunt of a Veteran(s), Native American OR non-native but want to represent an Indian veteran and would be interested in joining, please attend our next meeting. You may also contact Bess Marler at 918-440-1955, Tonya Anna at 918-533-8035 or email the club at delawarewarmothers@yahoo.com.
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| Bonnie Thaxton near the Delaware War Mothers float at the Veteran’s Day parade in Bartlesville, November 10, 2012. | Tonya Anna, Laura Maynor, Bess Marlor, Susie Finney, Barbara Wallace, Mary Watters and Bonnie Thaxton smiling for the camera just before the Veterans Recognition ceremony. |
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| Bonnie Thaxton and Barbara Wallace standing in front of the Fallen Soldier silhouette that was provided by Susie and David Finney. | Kay Anderson, Susan Cade and CeCe Biggoose ready to roll! |
Mystery Photos from the Tribal Archives
Mystery Photos from the Tribal Archives
Do you know who these people are?
If you do, please contact Anita Davis Mathis at (918) 337-6595 or (918) 440-8734 or amathis@delawaretribe.org
Chief Pechonick Meets with Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn
- Chief Paula Pechonick with Kevin Washburn, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, in Washington, DC.
Chief Swears in New Council and Tribal Court Members
- Chief Paula Pechonick swears in council members Nate Young and An¬nette Ketchum, Judges Don Mason and Charles Randall, and Assistant Chief Chet Brooks.
Tribal Manager Curtis Zunigha Honored
- Tribal Manager Curtis Zunigha was recently honored by the Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission with the 2012 Will Anquoe Humanitarian Award. Zunigha was awarded for 25 years of service to Indian Country including his time on both the Tulsa and Oklahoma Indian Af¬fairs Commissions.
Tribal Administration Meets with Local Authorities
- City administration leaders recently met with tribal officials to discuss business and community relations.. Left to right: Bartlesville Police Chief Tom Holland, Chief Paula Pechonick, and Bartlesville City Manager Ed Gordon.
Local Chiefs Meet with Fallin Administration
- Tonkawa Tribe Chairman Don Patterson, Delaware Tribe Chief Paula Pechonick, and Osage Nation Chief John Red Eagle met in Bartlesville recently. They met with representatives of Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin’s administration to discuss taxation and jurisdiction issues.
Delaware Tribe Partners with Emporia State University
- Chief Pechonick signs partnership agreement with Emporia State University President Michael Shonrock. For details, see http://www.esubulletin.com/2012/11/29/13752
Idle No More Protest at Moraviantown
Our Moraviantown cousins made the news recently with an Idle No More peaceful protest:
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2013/01/11/peaceful-protest-staged-by-native-groups
The press release issued as part of this protest is given below:
Press Release, January 14, 2013
From: INM founders, organizers and Elder advisors
Idle No More has a responsibility to resist current government policies in a peaceful and respectful way. It can be done. It can be done without aggression or violence. This is an energetic, exciting and transformative time. This movement has been guided by spiritual Elders, dreams, visions and from peoples’ core values. We are here to ensure the land, the waters, the air, and the creatures and indeed each of us, return to balance and discontinue harming each other and the earth. To keep us on this good path, we ask that you, as organizers create space for Elders or knowledge/ceremonial keepers to assist in guiding decisions as we move forward. It is up to each of us to see that this movement respects all people, the environment, and our communities and neighbours. In peace and solidarity.
Events are happening throughout Canada, the United States and the World in support of Idle No More.
Other Idle No More Events in Oklahoma:
This is a call for anyone that willing to march in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade to represent Idle No More. Singers, signs, vehicle(s) are needed, as well as any suggestions. The parade is next Monday 21st @ 2pm. Of course arrival will need to be in plenty of time before 2. Thank you, your support is needed. (From the Oklahoma City Idle No More Facebook page )
An announcement from the UINOKT meeting last week:
Tribal members and members of other Nations and Tribes are encouraged participate in an Idle No More flashmob at the State Capitol Building in Oklahoma City at 11am January 25th.
Learn why Idle No More is dancing:
http://www.hashilthsa.com/news/2013-01-15/letter-chief-theresa-spence-jan-15
What’s a Flashmob?
A flash mob is a group of people in a public place who are seemingly unrelated erupt into what appears to be a spontaneous act at the same time.
A Flash Mob in Action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHEUghzYe3Y
Delaware Tribe Adopts New Tribal Seal
After over 40 years, the Delaware Tribe has adopted a new version of the official tribal seal. The changes to the artwork and lettering were developed in collaboration with tribal community members. It was approved by a resolution of the Tribal Council on January 7, 2013.
Look for the new seal on tribal flags, stationery, official documents, and tribal vehicles.
About the Seal
Colors: Red and black are the main colors used by the Lenape. These are on a white background.
Mesingw Face: The Mesingw face in the center of the seal is the Keeper of the Game Animals on which the Lenape depended for food. The face was carved on the center post of the Big House Church (“Xingwekaown”), a wooden structure which held the tribe’s historic religious ceremony (though no longer practiced).
Clan Symbols: These represent the three clans of the Lenape: Turtle, Wolf and Turkey.
Fire Drill: The Fire Drill next to the Mesingw face is used to build ceremonial fires.
Prayer Sticks: These are around the outer edge of the seal and represent the twelve prayer sticks that were used in the Big House Church.
Cross: There is also a Christian cross to represent those Lenape who accepted Christianity. Some of the Lenape people had converted to Christianity as early as the 17th Century.
The Old Seal (Tribal seal, 1970 to 2012)
The seal-revision project was started in mid-2012 in consultation with members of the Culture Preservation Committee and Elders Committee. Revisions included removal of the words “Seal of the” and replacement with the tribe’s official name; replacement of “Lenni Lenape” with the more common term “Lenape,” which means “The People”; and replacement of the Mesingw face, the wolf paw print, turkey talon, and turtle symbols with more accurate artistic representations. The plains-style “peace” pipe was removed as it wasn’t an actual part of the ritual instruments of the Big House Church ceremony. The Christian cross was changed to white with black border so as not to be confused with the Red Cross organization.
Old Seal |
New Seal |
Seal is copyrighted by the Delaware Tribe of Indians. All rights reserved.
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