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Elizabeth Reeve, a Delaware tribal citizen, recently competed in the Todays American Woman National Elegant Mrs. division, and won the national title. Along with the winning of her division, Elizabeth Reeve also won the Spirit of Pageantry (meaning she gave of herself even when it meant she might have to sacrifice some of her own goals to help other pageant contestants), Presidential Gold Community Service Award (she had well over 500 hours of volunteer time), and the Todays American Woman Community Service Award (she wrote an essay on community service and showed how she had performed the service, and had the top community service book over all of the other contestants). This year, Elizabeth is expected to continue on with the community service in order to try and get the Lifetime service award. The Lifetime service award consists of getting a certain amount of points for different activities. Such as promoting the pageant, getting sponsorships, making appearances, recruitment of delegates, and public relations.

The demographics of Todays American Woman pageant contestants could be any and every woman in America. TAW celebrates the diversity that makes America unique. We are a pageant for ALL women…REAL women….making a REAL IMPACT! Our age divisions range from Junior Teen, Miss, Ms., Mrs., Elite and Golden contestants. We have special divisions for Curvy & Petite ladies too! The Pageant is open to all eligible applicants, welcoming newcomers to join and see how wonderful pageantry can be!

Elizabeth is currently working on her EdD in Organizational Leadership at Grand Canyon University, and is almost done with the exception of her dissertation. She has a Masters Degree in Special Education, and two bachelor degrees (her Bachelors of Business degree was obtained at Northeastern State University). Elizabeth is active in Oklahoma City, with the inclusion of being on the Governor›s State Independent Living Council. Her platform is to help individual look at the abilities they have rather than the disabilities. She was recently in the Oklahoma City Memorial 5K and many other 5Ks, although she did them from her wheelchair. She has been an advocate for service dogs, and helping individuals find their independence. Elizabeth works at Oklahoma City Community College, as an English as a Second Language professor.

To find out more information about this pageant please go to www.todaysamericanwoman.com.

Elizabeth Reeve
Ms. Abilities America National Coordinator and Founder
Ms. Service Dog Angel Lifetime Queen
Elegant Mrs.

CALLING ALL STOMP DANCE LEADERS AND SHELL SHAKERS
THE DELAWARE TRIBE OF INDIANS ELDERS COMMITTEE AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION COMMITTEE ARE CO-HOSTING AN EVENING OF STOMP DANCING

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

THE EVENING WILL BEGIN AT 4:00 PM WITH SOCIAL DANCES
AT 5:30 PM WE WILL PROVIDE AN EVENING MEAL OF CHILI AND/OR BEANS
AT 6:30 PM WE WILL STOMP DANCE.

DELAWARE TRIBAL BUILDING
BARTLESVILLE, OKLAHOMA

Inviting stomp dancers of all tribes

Gas stipends will be paid to all Leaders and Shell Shakers 16 years and older.

For information contact Homer Scott at 918-332-8020 or Joe Brooks at 918-637-9397

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Garage Sale, Bean Lunch and Bake Sale

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Sponsored by Delaware War Mothers
Proceeds to benefit local veterans.

Have you done your spring cleaning early and don’t want to wait until nice weather arrives for a garage sale? Now is the opportunity to purchase a table for $10 and make some extra pocket money.

Delaware Tribe Community Center
170 NE Barbara
Bartlesville, OK 74006

Call 918-532-2289 or 918-336-0584

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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.

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

October 4, the Delaware War Mothers will be competing to be the “Best of the Best.” The War Mothers will be cooking batches of chili and we need your help to determine the winner.

It is with heavy hearts that we report that the Delaware Tribe has lost one of our most revered elders. Rosetta Coffey passed away on July 20. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers in their time of sorrow.

Rosetta Pearl Coffey

January 2, 1925–July 20, 2014

Rosetta Jackson-Coffey of Dewey, OK passed away July 20, 2014 at Forest Manor Nursing home of Dewey, OK. Rosetta was a full blooded Delaware Tribal member born in Dewey, OK on January 2, 1925 to James and Emma Jackson.

Wake services will be held in Bartlesville, OK at the Delaware Tribal Community Center on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 6:00pm. Funeral services will be held at Deyo Mission Baptist Church in Cache, OK on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at 1:00pm. Burial to follow at Deyo Mission Cemetery.

Rosetta is proceeded in death by her husband, Cheevers of 69 years, November 17, 2012. One son, Marvin “Rusty” Coffey and her only daughter Paulette Louise Tallchief-Morrow. Two brothers, John and Marion “Cowboy” Jackson and two sisters Evelyn Thomas and Elgia Bryan and one Granddaughter Jonita Coffey.

Rosetta is survived by sons, Jesse Coffey, Cache, OK; James Coffey of the home, Charley Eckroat, Oklahoma City, Two sisters, Bette Notah, Lawrence, KS; Jean Kirkendall, Claremore, OK. One brother, James Jackson of Catoosa, OK. Grandchildren Susan Hartman, Robin Coffey-Hopkins, Rusty Coffey, Carrie Coffey, Angie Thurman-Goodfox, Janet Coffey-Work, Kristie Coffey, Marty Thurman, Jesse Jr. Coffey, Jake Coffey, 17 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great Great Grandson “William”.

Rosetta started her family and lived in Faxon, OK, then made a few moves to Lawton, OK, Tulsa, OK, and then to Lawrence, KS where she then began working with Haskell Indian Junior College as a Supervisor of Residential Housing in the Women’s dorm. After working for many years she retired in 1989 and returned back to her hometown, Dewey, OK. Throughout those years she traveled, cared for family, and attended many pow-wow’s with her husband. While running for office for the Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma she was elected and served as a Trust Board Council Member for two terms. Also, Rosetta was the founder of the Delaware War Mother’s Organization in Dewey, OK which is still actively going strong to this day.

By Judy Dull, Retiring Nutrition Supervisor

Judy Dull (right) and Arleena Whittenburg

As I depart from the Delaware Elder Nutrition Center, I would like to say to the tribal members how much I have enjoyed working and serving you. I have worked at the Delaware Elder Nutrition Program for five years. My official retirement date was May 23, 2014. However, I assured the administration that I would not leave my position until they had a replacement.

The nutrition program has grown in leaps and bounds, which can be attributed to the Delaware Tribe having received an Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) and two consecutive Title VI grants to help with the expansion of the kitchen and dining room that has attributed to the growth of the congregate doubling during these years. But I also like to think that the nutri- tion department staff has had a hand in attracting more elders by providing good nutritious meals and great customer service. This past year we added a hearty salad bar that can be a meal in itself or selected features that vary from day-to-day, such as mixed salad, three-bean salad, pickles, olives, cheese, watermelon or other fruit, cottage cheese, pudding, and the normal salad ingredients.

During my time with the Delaware Tribe I have seen a lot of changes and much progress since Chief Pechonick came into office. There have been several departments opened to assist all tribal members. All of these departments have created more jobs for Delaware people. The Tribe has its own housing, EPA, nutrition, child support services, cultural resources and education, historic preservation, Lenape language revitalization, and a museum. The current administration is always looking for ways to improve the welfare of the Delaware people.

Never lose sight of what Chief Pechonick has brought to you. She works many hours and is always willing to go the extra mile for her tribe. Keep this in mind when it comes election time in November. Chief Pechonick should be re-elected to continue serving her people and to keep the progress rolling.

LEGAL AID SERVICES OF OKLAHOMA, INC.

We will be at the Delaware Community Center soon to answer yoiur questions and to help if you have legal issues.

Legal Aid Services is a Non-Profit Organization.

Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to eligible low-income Oklahomans and Seniors 60+

Legal Aid offers our Seniors free Estate Planning

We prepare Simple wills, Advance Medical Directives, Powers of Attorney, Transfer on Death Deeds.

Legal Aid also helps with Protection from Domestic Violence, Consumer Problems, Garnishment, Bankruptcy, Social Security Disability and SSI and many other areas of civil

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

MONDAY JUNE 30 – 10AM TO 2PM

COMMUNITY CENTER DINING HALL

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Bonnie Jo Griffith, Vice Chair, Elders Committee
Photos by Jim Rementer and Charles Randall

A ceremony to re-dedicate the Veterans Honor Wall was held on April 28 at 11:30 am. The Lenape Color Guard paraded in the flags, followed by the Delaware War Mothers’ Princess and then the Delaware War Mothers. There was a great drum and exemplary singing provided by Dee Ketchum and his troupe of Lenape singers. The music provided just added a sense of peace to this ceremony. Pat Donnell gave a very moving and “from the heart” invocation. All veterans in attendance were presented a small token of appreciation from the Delaware War Mothers. We had many veterans on hand for this dedication and an almost full house in Forsythe Hall for the lunch that followed.

The newly-repositioned Wall of Honor was unveiled by Kenny Brown, Chairman of the Delaware Tribe of Indians Veterans Committee and Tonya Anna, President of the Delaware War Mothers. The unveiling displayed the three rows of pictures along the south wall of Forsythe Hall. These are pictures of Delawares and other military veterans. Pictures range from members of the Cavalry to currently servicing members of our tribe. Not all pictures are of Delaware veterans but includes spouses of Delawares, individuals who themselves (or members of their families) have become a part of our family here at the Tribal Center, and employees. All veterans have given so much and we are extremely happy to honor all of them.

We have approximately 15 new pictures (and expect more) which are not yet on the wall. There was some concern from some individuals that the pictures had been removed and rumors were spreading that they were not going to be put back. For that reason a decision was made to go ahead and return the original display of pictures to the wall and then start working on updating the lettering on them and adding in the new pictures as we do that.

The hard work of so many went into this project that I hope I don’t miss anyone in my thanks. The Veterans Committee, the Elders Committee and the Delaware War Mothers all contributed to this project and it surely never would have happened without them. Charles and Mary Randall put in many, many hours working on this project taking the pictures down, scanning all of the pictures, cutting new rails and staining and varnishing them, putting the new rails on the wall, decorating the room for the dedication, and helping cover the pictures prior to the unveiling. Janifer Brown assisted in getting the rails attached to the wall properly. Beth and her husband, Pat and Walt Donnell, Barbara Wallace, Tonya Anna and Keith Anna helped me so much getting the pictures sorted and back on the rails. Cy Hughes was extremely helpful in getting Forsythe Hall back to normal after the ceremony. But I also want to thank everyone who: helped decide the new wall color, choosing how the pictures would be displayed, and basically gave much needed moral support to this project. The pictures are hung in alphabetical order so when you have a bit of time, stop by and take a look at this tribute to our heroes.