Archives
now browsing by author
Oklahoma-Based Tribes Looking to Expand Service Areas
Kristi Eaton
10/24/14
Reprinted with permission from story on Indian Country Today Media Network (http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/10/24/oklahoma-based-tribes-looking-expand-service-areas-157499)
The Fort Sill Apache Tribe and Delaware Tribe are among the nearly 40 Native American tribes that call Oklahoma home after forced relocation.
Now, though, the two tribes are looking to return to their ancestral lands.
The Fort Sill Apache Tribe is composed of Chiricahua Apache who settled in southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and northern portions of Mexico. Hundreds of tribal members were held as prisoners of war in Florida and Alabama before they were relocated to what is now Oklahoma.
“There has been a desire to return since we were removed,” said Fort Sill Apache Tribal Chairman Jeff Haozous of the tribe’s efforts to expand into New Mexico. Haozous is the nephew of well-known artist Allan Houser, whose artwork is seen throughout Oklahoma, including at the state capitol.
The tribe acquired a parcel of land in New Mexico in 1999 to operate a casino, and the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the state must recognize the tribe.
The expansion would mean the tribe is in three states – similar to the Navajo Nation, which spans four states in the southwest United States. The only difference, Haozous said, is that the Fort Sill Apache Tribe’s land would not be continuous.
“I think Oklahoma is home to so many of our tribal members, so we’re not turning our back on Oklahoma,” he said, noting that Oklahoma is where many people live but Arizona and New Mexico is where much of the tribe’s history remains.
About half of the tribe’s 720 tribal members live outside Oklahoma and another three-quarters live outside of the tribe’s headquarters in Apache, Oklahoma. But the expansion is not an overnight endeavor. Haozous has said he envisions tribal members returning to New Mexico over many years and possibly generations.
Meanwhile, 225 miles to the northeast, the Delaware Tribe of Indians is also trying to expand its service area into another state. The Delaware Tribe, which is headquartered in Bartlesville, has an agreement with the Cherokee Nation that the tribe will not try to take land into trust in the Cherokee Nation’s 14- county jurisdiction in northeast Oklahoma, said Paula Pechonick, chief of the Delaware Tribe of Indians.
“We’re just not a fully recognized tribe,” Pechonick said. “If we move to Kansas we’re hoping to get these things back.”
The tribe, which already has a Kansas headquarters in Caney, Kansas, about 20 miles from Bartlesville, has been holding regular tribal council meetings in Kansas and working with county and local leaders as it looks to expand its service area to 36 counties in the state.
By expanding, the tribe, which has more than 10,000 members, would be able to provide a range of support services to Native American elders, children and families.
The tribe bought property north of Lawrence, Kansas, and has been meeting with officials about potential partnerships, specifically in agriculture because the property’s soil is excellent.
“It’s important to note that our goal is to serving that jurisdiction area and serve all Native Americans with the programs we are able to. Rather than applying to just serve Delawares. We think we need to take care of all of the Native Americans,” said tribal council member Jenifer Pechonick.
Delaware War Mothers Chili Cook-off and Halloween Party, October 25
The first annual Delaware War Mothers Chili Cook-off has been rescheduled for October 25, 5:00-7:00 pm, at the Delaware Community Center in Bartlesville.
Original post, note that there is a change in date and time
This event will be preceded by a Halloween party for the Lenapeowsi sponsored by the Delaware War Mothers from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.
Delaware Candidate Forum, October 11
NOTE: Videos now online at: https://www.youtube.com/user/DelawareTribe.
Photos
 Candidates for Chief |
 Candidates for Tribal Council |
 Candidates for Tribal Court |
When: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2014
FRONT DOORS OPEN @ 12:30 PM
Where: DELAWARE COMMUNITY CENTER
5100 TUXEDO BLVD.
BARTLESVILLE, OK
1:00 PM — CANDIDATES for CHIEF
2:30 PM — CANDIDATES for COUNCIL
4:00 PM — CANDIDATES for ASSOCIATE JUDGE
The Forum will be conducted by the Bartlesville League of Women Voters.
Hosted by the Delaware Election Board and the Delaware Elders Committee.
For more info contact:
electionboard@delawaretribe.org
or
elders@delawaretribe.org
Summit Meeting with Governor Fallin
 |
Chief Paula Pechonick (seated in center) with Oklahoma tribal leaders and Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin (standing at center) at summit meeting June 30 in Miami, OK.
Get Acquainted Meeting with U.S. Attorney’s Office
|
In late July the U.S. Attorney’s office-Northern District of Oklahoma asked to have a get acquainted meeting to speak with Chief Pechonick and the tribal council members about available federal resources and how the U.S. Attorney’s office can be of assistance to the tribe’s needs.
Official Announcement of Tribal Election and General Council
SPECIAL NOTICE TO TRIBAL MEMBERS
Tribal Election Date: Saturday November 1, 2014
General Council Meeting: Saturday November 8, 2014
This year the annual General Council meeting will be held one week after the election. The meeting is scheduled for Saturday November 8, 2014 at the Delaware Community Center, 5100 E. Tuxedo Blvd in Bartlesville. Doors will open at 10 am and a lunch will be provided at noon. The business meeting will start at 1 pm. Tribal members are encouraged to attend. The winners of the election for Chief, Tribal Council, and Tribal Judge will take their oath of office. The State of the Tribe address will be given as well as staff and department reports.
Please attend and support your tribe!
Delaware Tribe Moves to BIA Miami Agency
On June 20, 2014, the Delaware Tribe was approved to be placed under the administrative jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Miami Agency. The Delaware Tribal Council passed a resolution in support of the move to the Miami BIA Agency on November 5, 2013.
Recently, representatives from the Miami Agency met with Chief Paula Pechonick and Tribal Council members for a briefing regarding the Delaware Tribe of Indians’ programs and services and also to formally make introductions between the two groups. In attendance at the briefing held on August 14 from the BIA Miami Agency were Paul Yates, the Superintendent, Mary King, Deputy Superintendent, Mike Longan, Self-Determination Assistant, and Jan Williams, Realty Specialist.
Chief Pechonick said “we are really looking forward to working with the Agency. I think it will be a really good working relationship and that the Superintendent and his staff will be very helpful.”
In describing how the idea came about, Chief Pechonick said that the BIA Eastern Oklahoma Regional Director Robert Impson had suggested that the Delaware Tribe switch to the Miami BIA Agency some time ago. So Chief Pechonick wrote both agencies a formal request letter to change affiliation to the Miami BIA Agency. Director Robert Impson approved the request and instructed the Miami Agency and the Delaware Tribe to follow through with a meeting and introductions.
|
| Shown in photo (L-R): Mike Longan, Self-Determination Asst. Miami BIA; Jan Williams, Realty Specialist Miami BIA; Assistant Delaware Chief/Tribal Councilman Chester “Chet” Brooks; Mary King, Deputy Superintendent Miami BIA; Treasurer/Tribal Councilwoman Janifer Brown; Delaware Chief Paula Pechonick; Paul Yates, Superintendent Miami BIA; Tribal Councilwoman Jenifer Pechonick; Secretary/Tribal Councilwoman Verna Crawford; and Tribal Councilman Nate Young |
Delaware War Mothers Activities
The Delaware War Mothers meet monthly on the third Monday at 5 pm. A Chili Cookoff to decide the best chili maker among this group of ladies is planned for October 25 from 5-7 in Forsythe Hall at the Delaware Tribal Headquarters in Bartlesville.
The War Mothers will be providing the chili and the public can purchase a tasting kit or a bowl of chili for $5.00. We help those who can will come out and support this event. Proceeds are used for programs for our veterans. Helping us will help them.
At the November 1 Delaware General Council meeting, the War Mothers will host a booth with a bake sale and silent auction items. Then on November 7 we will be honoring all veterans at a program and lunch in their honor beginning at 11:30 a.m. in Forsythe Hall during the Elders lunch. We invite all veterans to come out and allow us to pay tribute to you. During this program, the reigning Delaware War Mothers Princess Hayden Griffith will crown the incoming princess, Skye Scimeca. Skye is the daughter of Bill Scimeca and the late Sarah Elizabeth Johnson Scimeca, granddaughter of Jack and Laura Maynor, and greatgranddaughter of Gilbert and Mary Watters.
» VIEW FLYER FOR NOVEMBER 8 RAFFLE
Justice Sonia Sotomayor Meets with Tribal Leaders
 |
 |
On September 11 Chief Pechonick attended a meeting and luncheon at the Oklahoma Judicial Center in Oklahoma City to meet with Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Sotomayer had requested this special meeting with the Oklahoma tribal leaders to hear their concerns.
Message from the Chief
He’! Nipen (summer) is about gone! Did you get everything accomplished that you wanted to do?
I have been to visit North Lawrence, KS several times. The Tribal Council had their July meeting there with a roomful of people in attendance. It was a really happy meeting with Tribal members in attendance who do not normally get to attend Council meetings. We’ve met with Haskell Indian Nations University (which just celebrated
their 130th anniversary), KU, KSU, the city of Lawrence, Douglas County, the school district, the USDA, and Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.
But in the end, we will do what’s best for the Tribe! We would like to have a multi-purpose building to house the programs we have in Bartlesville and Caney such as Elder Nutrition, Housing and Child Support Services. We would like to have offices and classrooms to further our culture, our language and other projects with other programs.
In August, the BIA from the Miami agency visited us in Bartlesville to discuss our move from the Eastern Muskogee Region BIA office to the Miami Agency. The Miami Agency and the nine other Tribes under its authority are excited for the Delaware Tribe to join them. The BIA approved “Start-Up” monies for the Tribe. These monies are provided to help the Tribe administer the Tribe’s ATG (Aid to Tribal Government) contract. We have been pursuing a direct contract relationship with the BIA since I took office in 2010. Under the Cherokee MOA, previously, our ATG was administered to the Tribe by the Cherokee Nation. We accomplished a modification to the MOA to change this restriction and to allow for direct funding from the BIA. Now that we are able to contract directly, the Miami Agency is working with us to obtain additional funding.
The election process is moving along and is in this DIN. I appreciate the election committee’s dedication to helping Tribal members vote. I hope that you will vote in person on November 1, or before by absentee ballot, in
this very important election.
I hope you enjoy the information about our programs and services in each issue of the DIN. I want to thank Greg Brown as well as all the program directors and Tribal members who submit information to share with the membership
as a whole.
I encourage you to check out our website www.delawaretribe.org and our official Facebook page “Delaware Tribe of Indians” if you have access to the internet. I also encourage those who are able to come to our General Council on November 8. Our goal is to have an orderly, informative meeting to share with you the successes of the Tribe and plan for the future.
As always, please update your addresses as well as those of your relatives through enrollment and take a moment today to contact Enrollment to determine what you need to do to help your relatives get enrolled.
Be nicer than you have to be and help those in need.
Lapich knewël! (See you soon)!
Chief Paula Pechonick
D5 Creation