Uncategorized

Thanks to our Elders Committee, we now have two stainless steel prep tables. A big thank you, Elders Committee!

Archie Elvington removing the protective cover.	Lucy Young, Thomas Selby and Archie Elvington ready to start using the new tables.

DELAWARE TRIBE SUMMER DAY-CAMP FOR TRIBAL YOUTH – Ages 13-18

PLANNED FOR JUNE 25-29, 2018 FROM 8:30AM – 5:00PM DAILY

We have seats for up to ten youth to participate in the Delaware Tribe’s first ever summer day-camp. Applicants must be registered members of the Delaware Tribe, between the ages of 13-18, and must participate all five days to receive camp materials and giveaways. Campers must arrange on their own to arrive by 8:30 am at the Tribal Cultural Center in Bartlesville and will be dismissed to go home by 5:00pm. Dress will be summer casual. Mornings will focus on outdoor skills and activities at the tribal campus or other local outdoor locations. Afternoon activities will be indoors at tribal headquarters. A healthy sack lunch and snacks will be served each day. Local transportation provided by tribal vehicle. Our emphasis will be on tradition, culture, learning, and FUN!

Outdoor activities may include: Make a camp fire, build a brush arbor, make an Indian football & play a game, learn social & stomp dancing, cook Indian recipes, archery, and swimming.

Indoor activities may include: Tribal history-culture-language lessons, archive and artifact maintenance, environmental practices, life skills and personal responsibility.

There is no cost to the youth camper. The camp is sponsored by the Delaware Tribe Cultural Resources Department. Applicants must have parent or guardian approval and prove age and tribal membership.

For more information or for pre-enrollment contact:

Curtis Zunigha, Director of Cultural Resources Department

(918) 337-6541 or email: czunigha@delawaretribe.org

Cultural Resources Department
The Cultural Resources Department is located at 166 N. Barbara at the tribal headquarters campus in Bartlesville. The staff includes Curtis Zunigha–Director, Anita Mathis–Library/Archives & Gift Shop Manager, and Jim Rementer–Language Program Director. Additional details about the department can be found on the tribe’s website: www.delawaretribe.org.
The department consists of:
Library—The tribal library consists of 1,160 titles of books, publications, discs and tapes (both audio and video). All items in the library are available to tribal members for reading and viewing IN-HOUSE ONLY in the department office by appointment with department staff. We currently do not offer check-out of library items.
Archives and Collections—Our department houses 135 artifacts, 1,573 documents, and 3,887 photos. Tribal members may view these items IN-HOUSE ONLY by appointment with department staff.
The department provides computer stations for IN-HOUSE ONLY research with access to archival and historical information. The research must be made by appointment with department staff.
Museum—The Cultural Resources Department has been tasked by the Tribal Council to develop and establish a TRIBAL MUSEUM on tribal property. A multi-year project could go from a small exhibit space in the current building to constructing a separate facility with state-of-the-art displays. The first phase of capacity-building begins in 2018.
Cultural Activities—The department staff serves on the Cultural Preservation Committee which includes tribal elected leaders and elders. CPC Activities during 2017 have included the monthly Second Tuesday Gathering featuring a potluck supper, social and stomp dancing, and language lessons. The Committee has also sponsored craft classes in leather purses and moccasins. The CPC also sponsors an annual stomp dance in mid-February. The biggest event of the year is the annual Delaware Days held on the last weekend of September. The two-day event features social dances, stomp dances, feasting, honoring of elders and veterans, games and storytelling.
History & Culture—The department maintains a considerable amount of historical data and institutional knowledge. It is shared and practiced at various tribal events and activities. Tribal representatives have also presented history and culture to non-tribal audiences across the country. Additional information can be found on the tribal website home page clicking on the Culture and Language button.
Language—The program has spent several years converting analog recordings to digital data now used on the language website www.talk-lenape.org. Word pages and lessons are presented at tribal events and cultural gatherings. Additional information can be found on the tribal website home page viewing the menu bar at the top and clicking on the Services/Programs drop-down menu tab, then click on Language Revitalization. Please read the accompanying Language Program article by Jim Rementer.
Gift Shop—The department operates a small gift shop with many items bearing the Seal of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. Some books and tapes are also available for sale. The Gift Shop also accepts items on consignment for sale at the discretion of management. Online sales are also available at www.delawaretribe.org viewing the home page and clicking on the Gift Shop button at the bottom of the page. ■

Delaware Tribe Launches Family and Children Services Division
Aimee Turner
The Delaware Tribal Council has recently taken steps to reinforce its dedication to preserving and protecting the rights of families and children by creating the Delaware Family and Children Services Division (DFCS).
The newly-formed Division was created to provide one central unit of services, said Chief Chet Brooks. “The Tribal Council has always been committed to providing as many services as possible to protect our families. The decision to create a division allows us to provide all available services under one umbrella which in turn, will allow our staff to ensure each family receives comprehensive services.”
According to the Chief, the Division includes such programs as Delaware Child Support Services, Indian Child Welfare, and the newly-funded Delaware Domestic Violence Prevention Office.
The Division is overseen by Aimee Turner, Director. Ms. Turner began her employment with the Delaware Tribe of Indians in October 2017, and comes to the Tribe with a vast amount of experience in children’s and social programs. “In the short time she’s been at the Tribe, Ms. Turner has already began organizing the three existing programs in such a manner as to provide the most effective services for our tribal members,” Chief Brooks said. “In addition, she is currently undertaking a review of available resources to provide additional services and we expect to make additions in the near future.”
According to Turner, the Child Support Services program is in its infancy but already has more than 25 cases in which support is being enforced on behalf of tribal children. More than a dozen of those cases have been initiated in the last few months as tribal members have become more aware of the service, she said.
In addition to child support services, the Division also houses the Indian Child Welfare program. There are more than 40 ongoing cases involving Delaware children throughout the United States and the Delaware Tribe is actively involved in each case.
“It is our responsibility under tribal and federal law, to provide input, guidance and counsel in matters concerning Delaware children who have entered the court system as deprived or children in need of care, regardless of where the child resides,” Turner said. “We are working diligently to provide the necessary services these children need and our goal is to develop additional resources to ensure Delaware children have every opportunity to succeed regardless of their circumstances.”
According to Turner, the Division will be evaluating available resources, including partnerships with other agencies, and implementing new techniques to provide holistic services to children who are impacted by physical and emotional abuse, drugs or alcohol, or other social impediments which affect today’s families.
The third program under the Delaware Family and Children Services Division is the newly-funded and -developed Domestic Violence Prevention program. The Tribe was awarded a grant to develop and begin implementation of a comprehensive program to address the legal, emotional and social service needs of victims of domestic violence.
Funding for the program was awarded by the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) in October 2017. The funds were awarded to provide the Tribe
To Contact Us
Bartlesville Tribal Offices:
5100 Tuxedo Blvd
Bartlesville, OK 74006
918-337-6590
Office Hours:
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. M-F
Chelsea Housing Office:
6 Northview Dr.
Chelsea, OK
918-789-2525
Caney Office:
601 High Street, Caney, KS 67333
620-879-2189
Tribal Web Site:
www.delawaretribe.org
General Email:
tribe@delawaretribe.org
Contact Information Change Form
Name: ________________________________ _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________________________________________________________
State: __________________________________________________ Zip: ________________
Telephone: ______________________________ Email: ________________________________
Others Affected: ___________________________________________________ _____________
_________________________________________________________________
To have a name changed on the tribal roll, send proper documentation, such as a legal document, stating the change (examples: marriage license, adoption papers, divorce papers, etc.). Be sure to include your previous name or names since that will be the way it is listed on the roll. Including Tribal Registration number is helpful, but not required. Please include others in your household who are affected by this contact info change, including children, so that their records can be updated.
Send completed form to:
Delaware Tribe of Indians
Enrollment Department
5100 Tuxedo Blvd
Bartlesville, OK 74006
Family & Children Services team preparing for a new year of growthwith financial resources to develop and implement a Domestic Violence Prevention Program which will respond to physical and sexual violence in a manner that promotes safety, emotional and physical well-being, and empowerment.
“We are pleased to be awarded the grant from OVW because we know domestic violence is prominent in today’s society and it is our goal to help as many families as possible to end the cycle of abuse and move toward a path of safe and healthy lives,” Turner said. “The program is currently in the development phase; however, we will begin offering services as soon as possible because we recognize time is of the essence for so many of these families.”
In addition to creating a new division, the Delaware Tribe has added new personnel to the three programs. Joining Turner is Shelby Lacey, who is the finance specialist for the child support program, and Karry Tripp, a case specialist for the division. New positions are expected to be added in the coming months to ensure full staffing for effective and comprehensive services.
For more information regarding the Division or any of the offered programs and services, individuals should call (620) 879-2189 or the Delaware Tribal headquarters at (918) 337-6590.
Aimee Turner
Director, Family and Children
Services Division
(620) 879-2189
aturner@delawaretribe.org ■

Congratulations Chief Justice Nathan Young III
Due to the recent resignation of Chief Justice Don Mason, the Delaware Tribal Court requested the Tribal Council to appoint one of the Associate Justices as Chief Justice for the three-year balance of the Term. The Tribal Council appointed Nathan Young III at the December 19 Council meeting, and he was sworn in by Chief Brooks at the Friday December 22 Elder Nutrition Christmas Lunch.
Chief Justice Young is not a newcomer to the Delaware Tribe, having served four years on the Business Committee in the 1970s, four years on the Tribal Council (2012-2016), and serving as Associate Justice for the last 14 months.
The Delaware Tribe extends thanks to Don Mason for his five years service and wishes Nathan Young III great success as Chief Justice. This appointment of course leaves an open Associate Justice Seat for the next three years. Tribal members wishing to fill this empty Associate Justice Seat should express their interest and send their resume of qualifications to the Tribal Court or Tribal Council. ■

Official Results of Special Election for Amendment to
Constitution
With 57.3% Yes and 42.7% No votes, this Amendment fails for lack of a 2/3 majority vote to amend our Constitution. If passed by 2/3 majority this amendment would have permitted Idaho and Kansas Delaware Blood Descendants of Delawares on the 1862 Kansas Delaware Census to join our Tribe upon payment of a per capita (so as not to diminish the services to our current tribal membership).
THE ADULT VOTING MEMBERSHIP OF OUR TRIBE SPOKE — AMENDMENT FAILS ■

Moccasin-Making Class
The Cultural Preservation Committee sponsored a Moccasin-Making Class from November 7 through December 18 at the Tribal Community Center. Each Tuesday evening 15 tribal students were led by instructors (and tribal members) Erica Zunigha-Magee and Luana Murphy. ■