Archived News Item

On February 16, 2013, the Delaware Tribe and Bartlesville/Dewey Community held a Memorial Gourd Dance in honor of Cheevers Coffey. A lot of tribal members, friends of Cheevers and Rosetta Coffey, were unable to attend the services held for Cheevers in Lawton, and wanted to do something in his honor.

When talking with Rosetta, she thought a Gourd Dance would be nice. This gave the local community a chance to visit with Rosetta, and reflect on the great and wonderful memories that they had of Cheevers Coffey. The dance was a great success, and we want to express our appreciation for all those who helped out and all those who attended.

SUPPORT FOR NATIVE ARTISTS

Vancouver, Wash. American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian artists are encouraged to apply for the 2014 Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Artist Fellowships before May 3. This unique national fellowship honors excellence by Native artists in six disciplines: dance, filmmaking, literature, music, traditional arts and visual arts.

Ranging from $10,000 to $20,000, the fellowships awarded by the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) recognize the creativity and expression of exceptional Native artists who have made significant impact in the field. In past years, artists living in the Midwest, including Bobby Bullett (Chippewa), Brent Michael Davids (Mohican), Emily Johnson (Yupik), Bennie Klain (Navajo), Ronald Paquin (Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa) and Rosy Simas (Seneca) were honored with this award.

“Through the fellowship program, we hope to foster the creative voices of our indigenous artists,” said foundation Program Director Reuben Tomás Roqueñi (Yaqui/Mexican). “The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation believes in the beauty and inspiration of the work of Native artists and the fellowships provide a significant resource for their practice.”

Artists who are members of federally and state-recognized U.S. tribes, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities can review criteria in full and apply by the May 3 deadline at: http://nacf.us/2014-fellowships. The foundation will announce award recipients in November 2013. For questions and technical support, contact Program Director Reuben Roqueñi: reuben@nativeartsandcultures.org or 360-314-2421.

Since it was launched in 2009, the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation has awarded $1,341,000 in grants to 72 Native artists and organizations in 20 states. In addition to awarding Native artist fellowships, NACF has funded organizations including the American Indian Center of Chicago, the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums of Oklahoma City, the First People’s Fund in Rapid City, S.D. and the Northwoods Niijii Enterprise Community in Flambeau, Wis. Created after decades of visioning among the nation’s first peoples with the support of the Ford Foundation and others, NACF is a national charity solely dedicated to supporting the revitalization, appreciation and perpetuation of Native arts and cultures.

To learn more about the foundation’s mission and past fellows awarded, visit www.nativeartsandcultures.org.

As a part of the promise to the Kansas Humanities Council and Missouri Humanities Council, from whom we have been awarded development grants totalling $20,000 sponsored by US taxpayers and the National Endowment of the Humanities, we are seeking further funding for the production of Heart of the Drum. Currently working with colleagues and connections in Los Angeles and Kansas City, Edie Robinette-Petrachi is developing the necessary relationships to build upon the foundation for further funding. Additional possibilities lie not only within the film investment community, but also within the private foundation world. The Annenberg Foundation, based in Philadelphia, is an additional opportunity for us as well. We are working as quickly as possible to encourage participation from potential funders who are passionate about bringing the Delaware story to the screen for the world to see. Jack Robinette has been meeting with local corporation sponsors and foundations in the Kansas City area.

Jim Rementer has done some research into his collection of videos and recordings of Nora Dean Thompson and other tribal members to provide archival footage for the film. Additionally he has identified and succeeded in finding scholars in the Philadelphia area to provide history of the tribe in Pennsylvania. Anita Mathis has provided several wonderful suggestions for meeting on the campus with the youth of the tribe for the portion of the film that will include video interviews between youth and elders in a modern-day context.

Film Director Edie Robinette-Petrachi has been chosen to be a judge at the Kansas City Film Festival (April 10-15), as well as screen a film she worked on as a director and producer. This film was originally produced by HEART OF THE DRUM producer Jack Robinette. During the Kansas City Film Festival, Edie and Jack will be on hand to host a meet-and-greet with the directors of the Kansas and Missouri Humanities Councils. State and federal legislators introduced by Chief Paula Pechonick and Tribal Project Director Anita Mathis to the film project will be invited as well. We view this opportunity as an important step in raising local awareness in the Kansas City and Lawrence communities. The Humanities Councils are especially pleased with this invitation as it draws attention to the story of the Delaware Tribe’s important role in shaping the history of these two states, which otherwise have a bitter history of border conflicts dating back to the Civil War. The Delaware presence in the two states between around 1830 and the late 1860s, pre-dating the period known as “Bleeding Kansas,” is both an important story in itself, often untold and not properly understood, but also a message of healing. The positive resonance of this story is receiving favorable attention which we are depending upon to secure all of the funding we need. Edie is building community awareness and developing a Facebook Movie webpage to provide updates to her film community and develop an audience base for future crowd funding.

Edie Robinette-Petrachi

Native Hoops basketball tournament is sponsored by the University of Oklahoma Gamma Delta Pi to benefit Gamma Delta Pi Diabetes Philanthropy. 10-player teams are invited to enter.

» VIEW FLYER

Presented by Bartlesville Indian Women’s Club

Saturday, March 2, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm and 5:30 pm

Dewey Fair Grounds Building

Tickets: $8 ADULT and $4 CHILD

Call 918-914-3358 for mail order tickets

or

Purchase at:
  Bartlesville – Dr. Brad Cobb, 4037 Nowata Road
          Preferred Home Realtors, 510 Cherokee
  Dewey – Lenape Smoke Shop, Hwy 75 at Road 1200
  Nowata – Fuller PDQ Store, 219 North Ash

or

from any BIWC member

» FLYER

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.

–by Tonya Anna

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.
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!

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• Chief Paula Pechonick with Kevin Washburn, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, in Washington, DC.

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• Chief Paula Pechonick swears in council members Nate Young and An¬nette Ketchum, Judges Don Mason and Charles Randall, and Assistant Chief Chet Brooks.

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• 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.