PDF. Version of April 2016 TCNN

Transcription

PDF. Version of April 2016 TCNN
VOLUME 17 EDITION 04
Published by the Comanche Nation Public Information Office, Lawton, OK www.comanchenation.com
honoring
comanche veterans
of wwii
Members of the CIVA (Comanche Indian Veterans Association)
honored six veterans of Wold War
II. The CIVA Master Listing contains the names of 1,171 known
Comanches that served in the military. The list indicates 218 known
Comanches served in the military
during World War II (1941-45).
Only six of those veterans are alive
today; they are Vernon Cable;
Theodore Chahtinneyackque; Leroy Esadooah; Lewis Kowena; Eldridge “Peaches” Tahdooahnippah; and Thurman Ray Tahsuda.
TOP PICTURE: Standing from
left to right: Clifford Takawana;
George Red Elk; Nyla Tahdooahnippah; Nolen Tahdooahnippah;
Sonny Hawk Tahdooahnippah;
George Tahdooahnippah; Ron
Mahsetky; Marie Blackstar; Roger Tehauno; Flavio Noriega; Comanche Boy and son Rivers Day;
Darrell Yazzie; Clyde Narcomey;
Mia Tahdooahnippah; Kevin Pohawpatchoko; Front row; Talon; Nacona; Eldridge; George
Jr; and Lulu Tahdooahnippah.
MIDDLE PICTURE: From left
to right standing: unknown; Lisa
Longhat; Cheryl Takawana; Roger Tehauno; Clifford Takawana;
Robert Cable; Richard Sapcutt;
Vernon Cable Jr; George Red
Elk; Billie Kruger; Kevin Pohawpatchoko; Charlene Tahdooahnippah; Sam Devaney; and
Darrel Yazzie; kneeling from left
to right: Flavio Noriega; Verna
Cable; Vernon Cable; and Ron
Mahsetky. BOTTOM PICTURE:
Ron Mahsetky; Roger Tehauno;
Clifford Takawana, and Flavio
Noriega standing behind Truman
Ray Tahsuda. All these veterans
were previously recognized for
their service by the CIVA at either the CIVA Armed Forces Day
Banquet, the Memorial Day Ceremony or the Veterans Day Celebration, with embroidered Grateful Nation Pendleton Blankets, a
plague and other gifts.
Comanche Nation
Election Board
Reminds Tribal
Members to Vote
Submitted by the Comanche Nation
Election Board
With the Annual General
Council Meeting weeks away and
elections for Comanche Business
Committee and Election Board positions, the Comanche Nation Election
Board reminds tribal voters of some
important information to remember:
All eligible tribal members
will receive a ballot in the mail.
The Election Board will pay
the cost of the return postage. There
will be no cost to the tribal member to
mail their ballot in.
Early voting will be on
Thursday and Friday preceding the
General Election.
Early voting will be held at
the Tribal Complex and at the Comanche Nation Elder’s Center/Nutrition Site located at 1107 SW “H”
Ave., Lawton, OK.
Please make sure your address is current with the enrollment
office. The Election Board encourages all eligible tribal members to
exercise their right to vote in the upcoming election. Please contact the
Election Board at (580) 492-3272 if
you have any questions. You can also
email any questions to [email protected]
Upcoming Election Dates
General Council, Saturday,
April 16, 2016 (voting will take place
for Tribal Administrator and Tribal
Attorneys);
Early/In-House
Voting,
Thursday, May 12 & Friday, May 13,
2016;
General Election, Saturday,
May 14, 2016;
Early/In-House Voting for
Run-Off Election (if needed), Thursday, June 9 & Friday, June 10, 2016;
Run-Off Election (if needed), Saturday, June 11, 2016.
Positions open on CBC:
Tribal Chairman (2 year partial term),
Committeeperson No. 1 and Committeeperson No. 2.
Qualifications for CBC:
Comanche Nation Constitution, Article IX, Qualifications of Officers:
Section 1. No person may
seek tribal office unless he/she will
be at least twenty-one (21) years of
age at the time of his/her election and
is a member of the Comanche Nation.
Section 2. No member of
the Comanche Nation who has been
convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor
involving dishonesty or of accepting
a bribe shall be eligible to hold office.
(Backgrounds checks are completed
See ELECTION, Page 6
Courtesy Photos
See VETERANS, PAGE 2
New Line Item on the FY 2016-2017 Budget Seeks Language Preservation
Grant Qualification of Cost Share
Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
A new line item will be on
the FY 2017 budget, titled New Mexico Language Project.
The purpose of the line item
is to fulfill a part of a grant’s qualifications as a Cost Share to help with
full language immersion classes, that
will be recorded and used as a tool for
learning Comanche.
“Even though it is called
the New Mexico Comanche Language Project, it is ultimately going to be called Numu Tuboo Kahni,
the language school,” explained Jan
Woomavoyah, who is applying for
the language grant. “It is a $300,000
grant for three years; $100,000 each
year, but I have to have a cost share as
one of the qualifications for the grant,
and I am hoping to get that support
from the tribe.”
“It is not just for the New
Mexico Comanches,” she said. “It is
for everyone. That is what our language is for; it is for everyone. It can
help anyone who wants to learn the
Comanche language.”
The language teacher for the
program is 90 year-old Comanche
Elder, Geneva Navarro. Navarro has
been an advocate for Comanche language preservation for decades, and
is a fluent speaker of the Comanche
Language.
In the early 1990s, Navarro
started teaching the Comanche language to tribal members living in
the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas,
meeting at tribal member, LaDonna
Harris’s, house. Now the language
class has moved to SIPI (Southwest
Indian Poly Tech Institute), in Albuquerque, and Woomavoyah is applying for the language grant to supple-
ment the cost of the program. The
cost will go toward maintaining the
program, and materials, such as microphones and other audio/video recording tools. The classes will be full
Comanche language immersion.
“We averaged 22 people
who are interested and can come,”
said Jan Woomavavoyah.
The next language meeting
for the Albuquerque area Comanches
will be in April, and a meeting for
the Comanches living in the Santa
Fe area is in progress, added Woomavoyah.
Woomavoyah is a teacher at
SIPI, teaching Speech Communications. She cut back her teaching time
to focus on attaining the grant.
To contact Woomavoyah
email:
[email protected].
April 2016
City National
Bank Answers
Per Capita
Beneficiary
Questions
City National Bank & Trust
Company takes updates to your per
capita information all year long. It’s
never too late to make sure that every
member age 18 and up has a Designation of Beneficiary form on file
to instruct us how to distribute their
per cap (and elder’s payment if applicable) upon their death. If a Designation of Beneficiary is not on file,
it prolongs the process and additional
paperwork is required to be completed by the surviving heirs. Be sure to
remind your children and grandchildren of how important it is to complete and send the paperwork.
The Bank also takes Direct
Deposit and Voluntary Withholding
Forms all year long. It is important to
note that September 30th will be the
cutoff for these two forms to impact
the 2016 per capita distribution. The
Bank’s Trust office is open MondayFriday 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m. for anyone who wants to complete the information on-site.
Please remember to bring
a voided preprinted check and your
current photo ID. All forms can be
mailed to:
Comanche Nation
c/o City National
Bank & Trust Co.
P.O. Box 1889
Lawton, OK 73502-1889
Annual
General
Council
Meeting
1:30 p.m.
April 16, 2016
Watchetaker
Hall
Comanche
Nation
Complex
Doors open at
10 a.m.
The meeting will
begin if there is a
quorum 0f 150 voters
signed in at 1:30 p.m.
April 2016
2
The Comanche Nation News
VETERANS
Continued from Page 1
Commander Ron Mahsetky making presentation to Lewis Kowena (seated) – to the left Left to right: Roger Tehauno; Lonnie Henderson; Ron Mahsetky; Leroy Esadooah; Lauren
is Princess Lauren Noriega, Flavio Noriega behind the framed citation, and Comanche Noriega; and Flavio Noriega.
Little Pony Princess, Katie Howell on the right (Howell is the granddaughter of Kowena); not in photo, Roger Tehauno and Lonnie Henderson.
World War II began on 8 December
1941 when the United States declared
war on Japan and on 11 December
1941 when Germany declared war
on the United States. Germany surrendered on 15 May 1945 and Japan
surrendered on 2 September ending
the war in both the European-Africa-Middle Eastern Theater and the
Asiatic-Pacific Theater. 16,112,566
Americans served during World
War II; 291,557 Americans died as
a result of the war including 7 Comanches; and another 671,846 were
wounded including 19 Comanches
(26 total counting the 7 Comanches
that died); another 94,000 were prisoners of war in Europe including 4
Comanches and 30,000 in the Pacific
including one Comanche. There are
currently about 697,000 World War
II veterans alive today (about 4.3%)
– about 430 of them die each day and
by the year 2028 the oldest World
War II veteran will be 100 years old
with few living.
The oldest living World War
I veteran was Frank Buckles who was
110 years old at the time of his death
on 27 February 2011. The oldest living Comanche World War I veteran
was Lawrence Bruce Tomah who
was born on 17 December 1890 and
died on 17 August 1989 at age ninety-eight.
On 27 February CIVA and
Auxiliary members Ron and Phyllis
Mahsetky; Roger and Linda Tehauno; Lonnie Henderson; Flavio, Mison
and Princess Lauren Noriega visited
with Leroy Esadooah and his family
at his home in Norman. After a prayer
was rendered, Mahsetky presented
Esadooah with a military service
certificate and Princess Lauren sang
a Comanche hymn that bought tears
to the family. The family was most
grateful for the presentation and the
visit.
Leroy Esahdooah
Leroy Esadooah is the oldest living Comanche veteran. He was
born on 25 August 1922. Esadooah
was drafted into the Army Air Force
on 11 January 1943 and served with
honor until 28 November 1945 earning the rank of Sergeant.
His service included assignments at Sheppard Air Force Base,
TX; Bowman Air Field, KY; Laurenburg Maxton Air Base, NC; Kairouan
Air Field, Algeria; El Djem Air Field,
Tunisia; Comiso Air Field, Sicily;
Rome-Clampino Air Field Italy; and
Camp Chaffee, AR. He served in European Theater from 1 April 1944 to
22 November 1945 as a Glider Mechanic for the 16th Troop Carrier
Squadron, 12th Air Force.
His awards include the Distinguished Unit Citation; the Good
Conduct; the European-Africa-Middle Eastern Campaign with/1 Silver
Battle Star (for 5 Campaigns); the
American Campaign; and World War
II Victory Medals; and the Honorable
Service Lapel Button.
It is noted that Esadooah
was an All-State Halfback for Lawton High School football team in
1941. He lives in Norman with his
wife, Betty, and two sons nearby.
George Red Elk reading Chaat’s citation.
Lewis Kowena
Lewis Kowena was born on
31 March 1926 and currently lives in
Tecumseh with his son. He enlisted in
the Army on 15 September 1944 and
served with honor until 26 November
1946 earning the rank of Private. Kowena completed his Basic and Field
Artillery training at Fort Sill before
being sent to the European Theater arriving in France on 13 January 1945 and immediately sent into
battle during the largest land battle
in US military history – Battle of the
Bugle.
He served in Europe until
27 March 1946. He was assigned as
a Field Artillery Gunner Crewman
on a 155mm Howitzer with the 974th
Field Artillery Battalion. Kowena
completed his military service at Fort
Hood, Texas with the 14th Field Artillery Battalion. His awards include
the European-Africa-Middle Eastern Campaign with/2 Bronze Battle
Stars; the American Campaign; the
Army of Occupation with/Germany
Clasp; and World War II Victory
Medals; and the Honorable Service
Lapel Button. Kowena was married
to the late Lena Porter Kowena until
her death in 1994. They had 5 sons
and 3 daughters and lived in Fort
Cobb and Tecumseh.
Also on 27 February, Clifford and Cheryl Takawana hosted a
9First birthday celebration for Theodore Chahtinneyackque at their home
in Fletcher. In the presence of eighteen family members, George Red
Elk presented Chaat with a military
service certificate. Chaat and his
family were both surprised and appreciative of the presentation.
sler Air Base, MS for Basic Training; Lake Ontario, NY for General
Education Training; Santa Ana Army
Air Base, CA for Pre-Flight Training;
Mesa Army Air Base, CA for Primary-Flight Training; Castle Army
Air Base CA for Basic Flight Training; Amarillo Army Air Base, TX for
Aircraft Mechanic Training; Smokey
Hill Army Air Base, KS with the 45th
Bomb Group; Salt Lake, UT with the
Overseas Depot; and Enid Army Air
Base, OK where he was discharged.
He was about two weeks away from
being commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant Fighter Pilot when World War II
ended. His awards include the American Campaign and World War II Victory Medals and the Honorable Service Lapel Button. He has a son who
lives in Oklahoma City and daughter
who drove from Las Vegas, Nevada
to attend his birthday celebration.
Chaat is an US Postal Service retiree.
On 6 March visits were
made with Vernon Cable at the VA
Center in Lawton; Eldridge Tahdooahnippah at the Comanche Assisted Living Facility in Lawton; and
Thurman Ray Tahsuda at his home
in Anadarko. Members and family
members are shown in the photos below. Each veteran was presented with
military service certificates. Each
visit opened with a prayer of thanks,
an introduction and presentation by
Ron Mahsetky and remarks from the
honored veteran. Tahdooahnippah
summed up the visits and presentations by saying “I thought no one remembered me but I see you haven’t
with all you people here today.”
Vernon Cable
Theodore Chahtinneyackque
(Chaat)
Theodore
Chahtinneyackque (Chaat) was born on 26
February 1925 and currently lives
in Lawton. He enlisted as an Army
Air Force Cadet on 7 July 1943 and
served with honor until 11 January
1947. His assignments include Kee-
Vernon Cable was born on 9
August 1923 and is currently a resident at the Veterans Affairs Center in
east Lawton. He served in the Army
twice from 28 April 1943 to 7 January 1946 earning the rank of Technician Grade 5 and from 5 June 1948
to 11 March 1952 earning the rank
of Corporal. During World War II he
was assigned to the 3177th Engineer
Pipeline Operating Detachment from
25 September 1943 to 30 December
1945 in the Pacific Theater. During
the Korean War he was assigned to
the 8055th Mobile Army Surgical
Chaat family members seated from left to right:
daughter Kathryn Huston; Chaat; niece Donna Pewo; standing left to right; niece Cheryl
Takawana; niece Maryland Brown; son Teddy
Chaat; niece Diane Smith; and niece Nancy Allen
Hospital (MASH).
His awards include the
Good Conduct with/2 Bronze Loops;
the National Defense Service; the
American Campaign; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign with/1 Bronze Battle
Star; the World War II Victory; the
Korean Service with/2 Bronze Battle
Stars; the United Nations Service;
and the Korean War Service Medals; and the Honorable Service Lapel
Button.
Cable was married to the
former late Gloria Wermy and they
had four sons and five daughters. He
retired from Civil Service at Fort Sill
a number of years ago.
bay and Calcutta, India; and many
other islands and island chains in
the Pacific. He and Robert Chahtinneyackque are the only two known
Comanches to be awarded both the
European-Africa-Middle Eastern and
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medals.
Tahdooahnippah was also awarded
the American Campaign and World
War II Victory Medals and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.
He has three sons and
a daughter and is the grandfather of
boxer George “Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnippah
Thurman Ray Tahsuda
Eldridge Tahdooahnippah
Eldridge Tahdooahnippah
was born on 11 May 1926 and is
currently resides at the Comanche
Nation Assisted Living Facility in
Lawton. He served in the Navy from
10 March 1943 to 28 February 1946
earning the rank Signalman First
Class. After completing Boot Training at the Navy Training Center in
San Diego, CA he was sent to the
Portland, Oregon shipyard waiting
completion of his first ship assignment aboard the SS John F. Steffen,
a Liberty Ship (aka Merchant Ship).
After about a week’s wait,
the ship departed for the AsiaticPacific Theater where it delivered
cargo and supplies throughout the
Western Pacific. He and his crew
then proceeded to the Atlantic via the
Suez Canal traveling to the Mediterranean Sea and the British Territory
of Gibraltar before docking at the
Shipyard in New York City. Tahdooahnippah departed the east coast for
California to serve aboard two other
Navy ships, the SS Cape Fear, another Liberty Ship for a brief time,
and the USS LC1 (L) 519 a Landing
Craft. Again he served in the AsiaticPacific Theater until his discharge.
Some of the locations he served include Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Sydney,
Australia; Shanghai, China; Manila,
Philippine Islands; Iwo Jima; Bom-
Thurman Ray Tahsuda was
born on 4 July 1926 and lives in
Anadarko with his wife, Dorothy. He
served in the Army from 6 October
1944 to 9 August 1946 earning the
rank of Private First Class. He served
in the European Theater from 28 February 1945 to 2 August 1946 assigned
as an Infantryman with Company E,
260th Infantry Regiment, 65th Infantry Division. His awards include the
Combat Infantryman Badge; Bronze
Star; Good Conduct; European-Africa-Middle Eastern Campaign with/2
Bronze Battle Stars; the Army of Occupation; American Campaign; and
World War II Victory Medals; and the
Honorable Service Lapel Button.
Tahsuda has two sons and
two daughters – a son and daughter are twins. He earned a Masters
Degree at both Southwestern State
University and the University of
Oklahoma. His children are all OU
graduates.
Tahsuda is a retired educator having served as a teacher, basketball and baseball coach. He taught
and coached at Devol, Navajo; Duke;
Altus; and Anadarko before serving
first as the Principle, then Superintendent of Riverside Indian School.
April 2016
3
The Comanche Nation News
Government
Back to Back Special General Council
Meetings Recall Nevaquaya; Pass Resolutions
By Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
EDITOR’ S NOTE: This is an
overview of the March 19, 2016
Special General Council Meetings,
and not the official minutes. To obtain a copy of the official minutes,
contact the Office of the Comanche Nation CBC at (580) 492-3252.
The first meeting was called
to order at 10:17 a.m. by Interim
Chairwoman, Susan Cothren.
Secretary/Treasurer, Jerry
Tahsequah, welcomes the crowd and
tells them the meeting is illegal, according to the Comanche Nation
Constitution.
“The polls opened at 8 a.m.
this morning,” said Tahsequah. “We
had 124 people sign in by 10 a.m.
The polls should have closed at 10
a.m.”
He further said he was not
going to stay because the meeting
was illegal. He then added the Comanche Nation has no Chairman.
“I am the interim Chairman,” said Cothren.
Following her statement,
CBC No. 4, Clyde Narcomey,
pushed Tahsequah’s microphone
down to keep him from addressing
the council. The Comanche Nation
Law Enforcement quickly gathered
around the quarrel, and Tahsequah
was escorted from the meeting by
the request of Cothren. CBC No.3,
Harry Mithlo, followed Tahsequah
out, and they both left.
Cothren apologized for the
disturbance, and began the Recall
Procedure, by allowing tribal member, Eleanor McDaniel, who petitioned to remove CBC No. 2, Sonya
Nevaquaya.
McDaniel read her Bill of
Particulars:
“As a member of the CBC,
she acted in violation of Article VI,
Section 7, (g) Comanche Tribal Constitution, Boards and committees are
created with duties and responsibilities delegated to them. It was not intended that members of the CBC she
acted in violation of Article VI Section 2, of the tribal constitution. The
CBC shall meet once a month on the
first Saturday at 10 a.m. The constitution does not provide for meetings
behind closed doors. As a member
of the CBC she acted to allow for
the over use of executive sessions to
keep tribal members out to provide
for continuation of meetings behind
closed doors. As a member of the
CBC she acted to allow for the over
use of executive sessions to keep
tribal members out of private meetings where he voted to overspend
millions of dollars.
As a member of the CBC
she did act in violation of Article V,
Section 7(f) of the tribal constitution.
The constitution is clear regarding
salaries for members of the CBC and
states that salaries shall be $250 per
month and does not provide for any
other compensation. Salary is a fix
amount, not paid by the hour and does
not provide overtime. $250 salary
pays for the whole job. The law does
not provide that the CBC be compensated with anything more than $250
per month. The chairman’s salary is
voted on and approved by the tribal
council in the amount of $75,000
but as a member of the CBC allows
for additional $75,000 for the chairman’s salary without the vote of the
Comanche People.
Since elected the unlawfully accepted special benefits paid
for with gaming funds like front
row seats to events, cell phones,
credit cards, numerous stipends and
new cars. Gaming revenue belongs
to the Comanche People. It is not a
slush fund for the CBC. As a member of the CBC she voted to approve
frivolous spending of gaming dollars for catering food for big events,
purchase of rodeo bulls, purchase of
rodeo arena and new cars for all the
Photo by Paula Karty/News Staff
Tribal members gather at the Comanche Nation Complex March 19 for
two back-to-back meetings. One was for the recall of CBC Sonya Nevaquaya, and the second was to vote on resolutions that could not be reviewed due to a lack of a quorum at the regular monthly CBC meetings.
CBC. As a member of the CBC she
approved unnecessary spending of
hundreds of hundreds of thousands of
dollars for numerous frivolous trips
for herself and other members of the
CBC. As a member of the CBC she
allowed for the purchase of 100 new
vehicles including one for her own
personal use. Allowed for the emergency sale of those vehicles to cover
budget shortages.
As a member of the CBC
she allowed legal fees to exceed the
tribal budget. As a member of the
CBC allows legal fees to mount up
by the hour whole the tribal attorneys waste time and money sitting
in on all CBC meetings continuation
meetings and many board/committee
meetings.
As a member of the CBC
she allows for $2,250,000.00 to be
put on the budget every year for a bogus tribal college and a bogus nursing
program. The college will not be considered for accreditation until 2016
with not guarantee of accreditation.
Since elected failed to hire a successful college president.
As a member of the CBC,
funneled millions of dollars into a
slush fund called Indirect/Administrative Costs. The Indirect/Administrative Cost slush fund confiscates
what should be going to programs
that provide direct service to the
People. As a member of the CBC
acted to confiscate funds from all the
programs on the tribal budget to purchase new cars for the CBC and millions in other non-essential expenses
such as the purchase of bull company
with rodeo bulls, purchase of rodeo
arena, high profile events with movie
stars, all-expense paid trips for numerous groups, numerous trips for
CBC, front row seats to sports events
and boxing, hand game sponsorships.
As a member of the CBC she demonstrated to be self-serving by using the
resources of the tribe for the personal
benefit for herself, members of her
family and friends.
As a member of the CBC
she approved an enormous budget
for the Gaming Board and Gaming
Commission without the knowledge
and consent of the Tribal Council.
She failed to account for
the 20% Funds. 20% Funds is the
first item listed on the budget with
no amount and only states that funds
will be invested. As a board member
of the Comanche Nation Enterprise,
Inc. (CONEI) she failed to fully
disclose any information regarding
funds and assets including business
purchased by including a construction company and oil drilling company and Information Technology
Company. CONEI was voted off the
budget and CONEI funds were redirected to Capitol Improvement but
as a member of the CBC she has not
accounted for all the funds. Since
elected she has filed to provide due
diligence in providing full accountability of the tribal budget.
As a member of the CBC
allowed for and acted in violation
of the nepotism clause as written in
the Comanche Trial Constitution that
they all swore to uphold. Article XV,
Section 1. A relative of a member of
the Comanche Tribal Business Committee (to include wife, husband,
mother, father, son, daughter, sister,
brother) shall not be employed within the Comanche Tribal Government
System. This clause as it is written is
still in full effect. The Tribal Council
has never voted to amend this clause
in the Comanche Tribal Constitution.
No policy, ordinance, motion or resolution takes precedence over the Comanche Tribal Constitution.
As a member of the CBC,
she failed to take corrective action
to bring Comanche Tribal Personnel Policies and Procedures in compliance with the Comanche Tribal
Constitution regarding nepotism.
As a member of the CBC he failed
to ensure that the personnel policies
did not override the Comanche Trial
Constitution. Comanche Nation Personnel Policies and Procedures state
than an employee that in an immediate family member of the CBC member shall not be under the supervision
of said CBC Member. According to
the tribal constitution the CBC oversees all area of the government to
include all areas of gaming so therefore their immediate family cannot
be employed with any department
or entity of the tribal government to
include gaming. As a member of the
CBC, acted to impose motions and
resolutions to override the Comanche
Trial Constitution to allow immediate family members of the CBC to
be employed in the tribal government
and gaming.
As a member of the CBC,
she acted in violation of Article V
Section V Section 7(d) Tribal Council Authority: to authorize the expenditure of funds deposited to the
exclusive credit of the Comanche Indian Tribe (e) to select and authorize
tribal delegations to transact business
on behalf of the tribe. When travel
is involved the terms of the resolution shall include the purpose of the
trip and the existence of the delegations authority. She contributed to
the spending of millions of dollars
on countless trips without the knowledge and consent of the Tribal Council.
As a member of the CBC
she continues to allow all tribal programs to be charged enormous administrative costs that deplete direct
service to tribal members.
She failed to provide allinclusive audits, financial reports,
See MEETINGS, Page 4
N-D-N Pat’s
TIRE & BRAKE
CENTER
2307 NW Sheridan Rd. Lawton, OK 73505
580-483-5217
580-284-5250
Flats Fixed Balancing Minor Auto Repair
Brake Service Road Side Service
“NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN OWNED & OPERATED”
Patrick Mahsetky
Owner
April 2016
4
THE COMANCHE
NATION NEWS
The award-winning Comanche
Nation News, the official communication
of the Comanche Nation, is available at
no charge upon request. The deadline to
submit information for the May 2016 edition is 5 p.m. April 15. Donations to help
cover the cost of printing and mailing are
welcome.
Contact:
The Comanche Nation News
P.O. Box 908
Lawton, Okla. 73502-0908
Telephone: (580) 492-3386
Fax: (580) 492-3709
Emails: [email protected]
[email protected]
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
TCNN Staff
Jolene Schonchin, Editor, Reporter,
Photographer-Email: jolenes@
comanchenation.com-Telephone
Number-(580)492-3382
Paula Karty, Assist. Editor, Reporter, Photographer- Email: paulak@
comanchenation.com Telephone
Number-(580)492-3383
Stacey Heminokeky, Reporter/
Photographer- Telephone-(580)
492-3385. Email: [email protected].
Candace Todd, Administrative
Assistant-Telephone Number
(580)492-3386
Tomah Yeahquo-AdvertisingTelephone (580)492-3384. Email:
[email protected]
News items of interest to the local
and American Indian community are
welcome.
Photographs will be copied and
will become the property of TCNN.
To return original photographs, send
a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Do not send faxed photographs or
newspaper copies of photographs.
The Milestones Page (Birthdays, Anniversaries, Engagements,Memorial
Pictures, Weddings, Births) are by
submission only. The Passings/
Obituaries are submitted by the
Comanche Nation Funeral Home or
by tribal members on a funeral home
letterhead. The Milestones Page
is for tribal members only. TCNN
publishes all services conducted by
The Comanche Nation Funeral Home
without discretion. Obituaries are
written for tribal members only.
TCNN will print a Comanche organization’s annual event flyer once
free of charge as a courtesy to our
tribal organizations. The guidelines
for flyer submission are: Pow-wow
flyers have to be from an established
Comanche organization. There has to
be contact person and number on the
organization’s annual flyer.
We reserve the right to edit all
material. Letters or articles that
contain libelous information, slander, or personal attacks will not
be printed. Letters to the Editor
must be signed with a legible name
and have a 1,500 word limit. The
Letters to the Editor or articles
contained in the The Comanche
Nation News does not reflect the
views or opinions of the PIO staff.
Comanche Nation
Officials
Chairman
Susan Cothren (Acting)
Vice Chairman
Susan Cothren
Secretary/Treasurer
Jerry Tahsequah
Committeeman No. 1
Jonathan Poahway
Committeeman No. 2
Vacant
Committeeman No. 3
Harry Mithlo
Committeeman No. 4
Clyde Narcomey
Tribal Administrator
Jimmy Arterberry (Acting)
To contact officials:
Comanche Nation
P.O. Box 908
Lawton, Okla. 73502
Toll Free: (877) 492-4988
Physical Address
584 Bingo Rd.
Lawton, OK 73507
Member of the Native American Journalist
Association since 2001
Member of the Society of
Professional
Journalists since 2010
Follow the Comanche Nation News
The
Comanche
Nation News
TCNNPIO
The Comanche Nation News
MEETINGS
Continued from Page 3
and forecasts for Comanche Gaming
including gaming commission and
gaming board budgets. She failed
to ensure for the hiring of tribal including the gaming commission and
gaming board budgets. She failed to
ensure for the hiring of members at
the casinos. Allowed for the termination of trial members employment at
the casinos and allowed members for
the outsourcing of food served which
eliminated more jobs for tribal members.
Used by Capitol Improvement as a slush fund.
Used Administrative cost
budget as a slush fund.
Acted to create tribal ordinances and by laws that have a direct
impact on tribal members without the
knowledge and consent of the tribal
council.
Failed to fully eliminate
CONEI and confiscate all funding
and resources and return everything
back to the nation. Allowed CONEI
to continue to operate the Comanche
Nation Construction Company out
of Oklahoma City, Oil Company and
Information Technology Company in
Wisconsin.
Failed to enforce the nepotism clause as written in the Comanche Tribal Constitution and failed to
ensure that the Comanche Tribal Personnel and Policies regarding nepotism fully complied with the Comanche Tribal Constitution.
Failed to account for use of
20% funds.
Failed to use proper contract bidding procedure for construction projects and allowed the same
company to receive the bids over and
over.
Every year since elected allowed for an enormous budget deficit.
Allowed a CBC member
to bring disrepute upon the tribe for
drunk driving in a tribal vehicles and
public drink at the casinos. Since
elected allowed for the misappropriation, misuse and overspending of
tribal funds.
Since elected acted to furlough numerous tribal employees for failure
to correct overspending.
Since elected allowed for
millions and millions of gaming dollars to be moved from account to account to cover shortages due to overspending without the knowledge and
consent of the tribal council.”
The voting results to recall
CBC No. 2, Sonya Nevaquaya are:
Yes to recall: 143; No not to recall:
20.
Cothren adjourned
the
meeting at 11:34 a.m.
“The people spoke today,”
said Cothren following the meeting.
“Despite the discrepancies, business
was taken care of. It was the right
thing to do.”
The second Special General
Council Meeting was called to order
at 1:32 p.m. Tribal member, Robert
Tippeconnie, gave the invocation.
Cothren began by making a
motion to amend the agenda by placing the list of resolutions that need
approval first, then go into the proposed fiscal year budget. A second to
the motion came from the audience.
The voting results to amend the agenda were: Yes- 177 No-0.
The General Council also
voted to use Hand Votes for the upcoming resolutions that were to be
put to vote.
Phyllis Narcomey made a
motion to remove Secretary/ Treasurer, Jerry Tahsequah’s name from
the specific resolutions on bank accounts. Mark Wauahdooah seconds
the motion. The voting results were:
Yes- 184 No-0. Cothren said they
will make those changes to the resolutions.
Norman Nauni addressed
the CBC , saying he does not feel
comfortable voting on all 17 resolutions in one bulk vote. He suggests
they get voted on in a singular basis.
Former Comanche Nation Chairman,
Mike Burgess, suggests it be one in
small groups.
Resolutions
Resolution # 37-16 Retain special legal counsel for the Nation’s forensic
audit, Graydon Luthey Jr.
A motion made by Susan
Cothren. The motion was seconded
by Phyllis Narcomey. The voting results were: Yes-166 No-1
Resolution # 26–16 Change signature card designee's for Safety Deposit Box , taking off the names of
Wallace Coffey and William Owens,
and adding the names Susan Cothren,
Jerry Tahsequah and Jimmy Aterberry. It is noted Tahsequah’s name will
be stricken from the resolution.
Resolution # 27-16 Establish New
operating accounts at Liberty National Bank
Resolution # 28–16 Changing Authorized Inquires and Signatories
on financial accounts for the Early
Childhood Development Center and
the Visitor Center Gift Shop. It is noted Tahsequah’s name will be stricken
from the resolution.
Resolution # 35–16 Establish Separate Bank Account for Funeral Home
to monitor the income of the Funeral
Home.
Motion to accept resolutions
2616, 2716, 2816 and 3516 was made
by Phyllis Narcomey. The motion
seconded by Beverly Isaac. The voting results were: Yes-179 No-0
Resolution # 22–16 Amending Property & Procurement’s Policy and Procedure to comply with governmental
guideline changes
Resolution # 23-16 Appointing Replacement Representatives to NIGA
from Wallace Coffey and Sonya Nevaquaya to Dan Bigbee Jr. (Chair of
the Comanche Nation Entertainment
Board of Directors) and Peggy Paddyaker (Vice Chair of the Comanche
Nation Entertainment Board of Directors) as an alternate.
Resolution # 24-16 Approving the
Comanche Nation Gaming Commission Patron Ban Policies
Resolution #25–16 Approving the
Comanche Nation Gaming Commission Tort Claim Policies
Phyllis Narcomey made a
motion to accept Resolution 22162516. The motion seconded by Beverly Isaac. The voting results were:
Yes-151 No-0.
Resolution # 31–16 Application for
Native American Language Preservation and maintenance
Resolution # 32-16 Application for
Native American Language Preservation and maintenance matching
Funds
Resolution # 33-16 Grant for Family
Violence Prevention and Service Act
Resolution # 34-16 Applying for a
Grant through Oklahoma District Attorney's Council Victims of Crime
Act
Resolution # 36-16 FY 2016 NAGPRA Grant Application U.S. Dept. of
Interior
Thomas Narcomey made a
motion to accept Resolutions 3116,
3216, 3316, 3416, and 3616. The
motion was seconded by Phyllis Narcomey. The voting results were: Yes184 No-0.
Resolution # 29-16 Roof replacement at the Comanche National Museum
Resolution # 30–16 Enrollment list
No. 1025 adding members who qualify
Resolution # 38-16 Allow the current working Business Committee to
approve resolutions for the purpose
of the government to continue to
function.
Michael Burgess took the
floor to explain to the Council Resolution 38-16 will be null when a full
CBC is restored.
Phyllis Narcomey made a
motion to accept resolutions 2916,
3016, and 3816. The motion second
by Jarvis Poahway. The voting results were: Yes-176 No-0.
Candidate for Comanche
Nation Chairman, Willie Nelson,
took the floor next to propose a resolution.
It reads: “ That the Comanche General Council/Tribal Council
assembled in Legal Quorum revoke
the Tobacco Compact with Jake
Sharp and Lance Ikner. The Business Committee of past did alter,
abridged, and affected vested property rights and income owned by an
enrolled Comanche Elder, Lorene
Koweno Bowen. May this motion
call for the Tax Commission to issue
revocation of this tobacco compact
no later than March 21, 2016, at the
East Gore Smoke shop, also known
as, Chiefs Smokin’ Ice House. This
property will be restored back to
enrolled Comanche elder, Lorene
Koweno Bowen no later than April 1,
2016, with all building effects inside
and outside intact and 100% operational, all utilities will be paid up and
in working order. The Eviction and
Inspection will be conducted by the
Comanche Nation Law Enforcement
under the direction of Police Chief
Vern Griffin.”
It was explained by the
a member of the Election Board a
motion must be made to amend the
agenda to allow New Business to be
presented before the discussion of the
FY 2017 budget.
Norman Nauni made a motion to move the New Business on the
agenda above the Discussion of the
FY 2017 Proposed Budget. The motion seconded by Mike Burgess. The
voting results were: Yes-153 No-0.
Susan Cothren identified the resolution presented by Nelson as Resolution Number 0319-01.
Billy Komahcheet addressed the CBC and said if this
resolution is passed, the Comanche
Nation is going to need legal representation to uphold the resolution in
court.
The motion to accept Resolution 0319-01 was seconded by
Phyllis Narcomey. The voting results
were Yes-159 No-0.
A motion by Gene Pekah to
re-establish the Rainy Day fund and
place any money not passed on the
FY 2017 budget in the Rainy Day
Fund Account. The only way to withdraw money from the account is to
call a Special General Council Meeting for the purpose of reviewing what
the money will be used for and put it
to vote by the General Council.
Michael Burgess seconds
the motion. The voting results were:
Yes- 134-No Abstain- 20.
Eleanor McDaniel made a
motion to have the General Council
demand Secretary/Treasurer Jerry
Tahsequah and CBC No. 3, Harry
Mithlo forfeit their positions on the
CBC, being in violation of Article 15
of the Comanche Nation Constitution.
Roderick Whitewolf took
the floor to say there is a Recall Process to remove CBC from their positions and her motion is not in compliance with the Comanche Nation
Constitution.
The tribal election board
took a quorum count and reported
there was 124 tribal members present
at 4:11 p.m. The motion by McDaniel
failed due to lack of quorum.
Cothren adjourned the
meeting at 4:21 p.m.
Secretary/
Treasurer
Tahsequah to Seek
Federal Investigation
Submitted by Jerry Tahsequah/
Comanche Nation Secretary/Treasurer
Comanche Nation Secretary/Treasurer Jerry Tahsequah will
be seeking a federal investigation
into findings of improper and unauthorized use of Tribal funds involving
Vice-Chairperson Susan Cothren and
Acting Tribal Administrator Jimmy
Arterberry.
Following Chairman Wallace Coffey's retirement February 4,
the Comanche Business Committee:
Cothren, Tahsequah, Poahway, Nevaquaya, Mithlo and Narcomey has
met once February 6, with an established quorum & agreed to uphold the
Comanche Constitution Article VIII
Section 1 & 2. On February 9, ViceChairperson, Susan Cothren went
on local Lawton television station
KSWO Channel 7 announcing her
self-appointed title of "Interim & Acting" Chairman of the Comanche Nation. At a town hall meeting held on
March 10, Secretary Treasurer Tahsequah informed tribal members that
this self-appointment directly violates
Article VIII, Section 1 of the Comanche Constitution which states: "When
such vacancy shall occur within four
months of the annual meeting of the
Comanche Tribal Council, the position shall remain "VACANT" until
the next election when provisions
shall be made to fill the vacancy."
The Annual Tribal Council is scheduled for April 16. At this time, nominations for Tribal Chairman, CBC
Members #1 & #2 and Tribal Administrator will be taken.
At the town hall meeting,
copies of a Tribal employee payroll check issued to Susan Cothren
on February 26, in the amount of
$4,258.63, the amount of a Chairman's salary, was paid and cashed by
Cothren. The payment was approved
by Acting Tribal Administrator Jimmy Arterberry without the authorized
Authority of a Tribal Resolution,
consent or knowledge of Tahsequah
and CBC Committee members Harry
Mithlo and Sonya Nevaquaya. Tahsequah has concluded that the payment
to Cothren is illegal according to the
Constitution, and will seek a federal
investigation into improper and illegal distribution of tribal funds against
Cothren and Arterberry.
At the town hall meeting
Tahsequah explained he would continue to not attend meetings due to
Cothren's refusal to stand down as
"Acting/Interim Chairperson" and
to prevent the legal repercussions of
signing Resolutions and Documents
affecting personnel and Comanche
Nation liability responsibilities from
failure to abide by the Comanche Nation Constitution.
April 2016
5
The Comanche Nation News
Interim Tribal Administrator, Jimmy Arterberry, Reflects on Progress the
Tribe has Made Since His Term Began in November 2015
Photo and Story by Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
As Interim Tribal Administrator (TA) , Jimmy Arterberry, reviews paperwork, answers telephone
and cell phone calls, and responds to
emails, he keeps a busy pace overseeing the day-to-day operations of the
Comanche Nation’s programs.
With the General Council
Meeting, April 16, around the corner,
Arterberry reflects on his role as the
TA, and the obstacles he had to face
and overcome to help move the Nation forward.
Q. When you were asked to be the
Interim Tribal Administrator (TA)
until April, what motivated you to
accept the position?
A. The first thing to address is that,
I am a praying man. So, when I was
approached with the possibility of
filling in for the Administrator’s position, my first instinct was to give other names, and I know there were other
names of people they had considered.
I, too, gave the recommendation of
other people I thought would be potential candidates. But in those discussions, what was discovered was,
they looked at the other candidates
and looked at things like compliance, their background record, integrity, and what I found out was there
three of the top programs that were
compliant; that did not have issues.
Two were Comanche, one was not.
The other Comanche that was considered had been compliant for one year,
whereas in my program, I had been
fully compliant since the time of me
being back in 2008.
So my initial instinct was
that I knew it was going to be a challenge. Because I am a praying man,
I had to pray long and hard about it.
I had been approached more than
once to fill that position because they
needed help. More than a couple of
the CBC (Comanche Business Committee) approached me and asked if I
would consider it, because they needed to fill it.
They had selected a candidate, but the former Chairman was
supposed to talk to that person, but
never did for whatever reasons, I
don’t know. It was one of our Comanche women, but that fell through
the cracks because he did not follow
through.
When the 11th Hour came,
so to speak, they asked me again, and
it was the night before the Saturday
meeting. I had to pray long and hard
about it and I told myself, if I don’t do
it, I will be just another tribal member who does not like what is going
on, but does not want to step up to the
plate and help. I also thought I could
get a boss who may get us deeper in
trouble and potentially fires all of us.
The better part of me said, ‘No you
have to stand up and be responsible,
even though it is going to be a tough
job, you can do it.’
From then forward, I decided that is what I was going to do.
If they want to make a resolution to
put me in that position, and put it in
the hands of God, and if it was meant
to be, they will approve it, and if not,
that is okay, because at least I know
I stood up. And that is exactly what
happened.
That Saturday at the monthly meeting, I did not attend. I was at
home with my mother and my father. I got a call that told me they had
passed a resolution to put me in as the
Interim Tribal Administrator.
Q. What were some of the obstacles
you faced coming in as the Interim
TA?
A. On the first day, I knew there were
a lot of things I had to figure out. Having served in the position of Historic
Preservation Officer and working at
the tribe as far back as 1999 in various positions, I already knew how the
system was, and I knew there was a
lot of issues. I made a mental plan to
begin paying the bills, and meet with
the employees to let them know what
the plan of action was. To make them
feel confident about this transition in
government, and to despell the fear
that was amongst the people, because
there were rumors of firing people
and a lot of turmoil, I wanted to bring
peace to the workers. Because they
pretty much all knew me, and as a
need to be in this fiscal year.
worker, I wanted them to
You can tell in the climate
understand I am a worker,
they are much happier.
just like they are, it just
Things right now are movhappens to be that now
ing along pretty good. We
I am their boss. Nothing
are excited in the direction
changed with me, except I
we are going.
was in the position of beQ. What is the most iming their supervisor.
portant task you accom
The first day I hit
plished since becoming the
the ground running. By the
Interim TA in November?
second day, I had met with
A. Getting our bills paid.
our accounting office, and
I think that is a priority. I
called a meeting with all
think the Comanche Nation
the employees to ensure
had a lot of obligations from
them we were moving
the former administration, a
forward and things were
lot of commitments, and a
looking positive. I also
lot of broken promises. Relet them know we were in
gardless of who made those,
debt. When I came on, we
they are the responsibility
were more than $2 million
of the Nation itself.
in the hole. Our bills have
Looking at paying
not been paid for months.
those bills and honoring
When I actually got my
those commitments, it was
eyes on the books, I really
really tough because , you
knew. When I saw the accan’t look at the individual
tual numbers and the bills
who did it. It is the responthat were outstanding, I
sibility of the tribe itself.
really knew the crisis the
For example, if there was a
nation was in.
credit card that was used for
Working
with
travel or something else, it
Finley and Cook, we stratwas not in the name of those
egies on how to make
individuals, it was in the
the main bills a priority;
name of the Comanche Nathings like electricity, wation. I can’t just ignore that
ter, services. Things like
bill and not pay it, because
the Charitable Contribuit will incur late fees, and
tions, there was so much
of it, that was still in the Interim Tribal Administrator, Jimmy Arterberry, goes it can potentially go to a
system, had to take a sec- through the files of past contracts between the Comanche collection agency, where
it will incur more fees.
ond seat. We rotated the Tribe and different entities.
It was challenging to be
bills to get the main bills
lion, so we were very blessed at that
paid first before we paid the other ob- point and time to have those resources able to pay those debts we were not
ligations. Within one month, we were to kind of pay the bill, fill in the debt, really responsible for.
The most important thing
totally debt free and back in opera- close that hole, and be able to start that
happened
since the short window
tion.
fresh with our new budgets and move
We looked at the budgets to forward. That was one of the main of time I have been here, which is
see where each program was in their things that happened that was pivotal around 120- plus days, is the fact that
budgets. We looked at what percent- in helping us to move forward in a the bills are paid and we are in full
operation. The fact that the Comanage each of the programs had spent positive way.
so far, and to get them to stay within Q. How did you overcome these ob- che People have someone here that
they don’t have to worry about stealthat budget. We strategised if there stacles?
is 12 months in the year, then they A. Having a plan of action and know- ing from them or being unfair. I am a
get one-twelfth of that budget. If they ing what the priorities were, which very reasonable and fair person.
can spend just that, then we can serve were to get our debt paid, get our Q. Are you going to run for the TA
all the programs in the community. programs back in operation, serve position if you are nominated?
We got the programs back in compli- the community, get our employees in A. When I was first approached for
ance and told them that they could not compliance, to be responsible, and this position, like I said, I thought
overspend.
working with the full CBC. There was long and hard about it. I was willing
What I found out was that, some conflict along the way because to step up and committed to being
and I saw memos from the former I had to terminate some employees, here until April. I always considered
Administrator, where there were but those were for legitimate reasons. the fact that it is still my choice.
When April gets here, and if
Directives given to these programs We had issues that arose where I had to spend money they knew they did no alternative but to remove some of the people are satisfied with the work
not have. The workers, even know those employees. It created a little that we done, and have the confidence
they knew they couldn’t do it, just conflict between me and part of the in me and really asked me to stay on
didn’t have the spirit to stand up to CBC. From that point, it seemed like this path, then I am more likely than
their boss and say ‘No.’ I understand there was a discord. For whatever rea- not to stick with it and accept that pothat. When people need their jobs, I son, those particular Business Com- sition.
I know the resolution that
understand, when you have to take mittee members couldn’t understand care of a family, that sometimes you it was on behalf of the Comanche place me here said that I can go back
don’t want to rock the boat or chal- People as a whole, that I had to make to my old office as the Historic Preservation Officer. I love that job. But I
lenge the status quo. But that is not in those tough decisions.
my nature. I am always going to ask Q. What is the current status of am a problem solver by nature, and I
questions, and not just go along with the day-to-day government opera- love to work here in this position to
help fix some of the things that are
something. But, I am fortunate, be- tions?
cause I have only myself to take care A. As of now, our programs is all op- broken to help our people. I will be
of. I don’t have to worry about a fam- erational. Our debt is paid. We still willing to say that, at the April meetily, so I understand where the workers have some old bills that are coming ing, if the people nominate me, then I
are coming from.
in. We have money in the bank. We would be willing to say, ‘okay.’
Unfortunately, they knew roughly have about $2 million in ad- Q. What are some of the facts that
they couldn’t do it and they were di- vance of what we actually have to pay can help disseminate the rumors
about how tribal money was spent?
rected to, so therefore, they did. My out. So we are doing really well.
objective was to empower them to The employees appear to A. I think it is important for the peoknow they had rights and they were be much happier. I am not hearing as ple to know the facts. Its true. There
able to say, ‘No.’ If they couldn’t do many complaints as I did in the begin- have been a lot of rumors that have
it, then they were able to say, ‘We ning. But I have met with every single been said.
Here are some of the facts I
can’t do it,’ and I would support that. one of the Program Directors, and That was one of the main challenges, discussed some of the deficiencies, can say to you: we did have a lot of
to instill a sense of responsibility. I and instilled in them the responsibil- contracts that were in the $100,000
told them, and continue to tell them ity to be responsible. I am not going mark. They ranged from steam cleanin meetings, that all they have to do to micromanage the programs. I do ing carpets all day to boiling meat and
is do their job, be honest, don’t steal not have to be the expert of those pro- peeling potatoes a few times a year.
from us, and if they can’t serve the grams; they do. They have to be able They were some ridiculous contracts.
Comanche People in a good way and to inform me so that I understand ex- When I came on board, they all evenbe happy about it, then they are free to actly what the issues are in their pro- tually came across my desk. I spent
leave. They should go if they are not grams and figure out how to support some time canceling those contracts,
able to do that.
them in the areas that they need it, and because I just couldn’t believe the
I try to instill that to all the figure out how to close any gaps or fill fact that we were paying these people
workers. We are here to serve our in any deficiencies in the areas where $100,000–plus, a year to do some of
these jobs as contractors. They were
people. I say that was the biggest they seem to have problems.
challenge.
Our programs are fully oper- just unbelievable.
About the rumors of the se
The CBC got a drawdown ational. In the beginning we had to be from the Tax Commission of $1.5 a little creative in figuring out how to, cret contracts they talked about; there
million during that first month, and within this limited budget, still serve is a clause in the contracts that actuthat really frayed a lot of our debt. It the same number of people, but we ally said you could not disclose your
retention with the Comanche Nation,
brought it down to a much reduced were able to make it happen.
level.
When we look at our month- and what it literally translates to is that
We had a payment from Red ly budgets now, all of the programs ‘this is a secret contract.’ I couldn’t
River Casino , which was an overage, are pretty much compliant. They are believe that language was actually in
from what I understand, of $1 mil- right at the percentage of where they the contract. So, it said it was a secret
contract within the contract itself.
We have been able to get
a full inventory of all the vehicles.
We have a complete list. We located
them and know where they are. So,
we have gathered a lot of accurate
data now.
There were a lot of discussions about the Charitable Contributions, and the massive spending that
went on. There is a lot of truth to that.
It is just a fact. There was a lot of
money that was expended that went
to some of the same people repeatedly. Unfortunately, that was money
that could have been utilized to serve
more Comanches. Unfortunately, a
lot of people got a lot of favors. In the
long run, it was damaging to all of us.
It put us in debt, and it created animosity amongst the people, because a
lot of people were turned away, where
others weren’t.
That is something with me is
to try to be fair with everyone. If we
do it for one, my theory is, why can’t
we do it for others?
In the cases where I have to
inform people, for whatever reason,
they do not qualify for a particular
service or assistance at this time, I try
to encourage them to not to be discouraged because maybe next year
we will be in a better place and we
will be able to do a little bit more.
The only way we are going to survive
is to continue to be responsible and
serve all of our people.
I think it is important for the
people to know when I first came on
and got access to the numbers and
the bills, there were things in there
that I would have immediately disapproved, and told the programs what
they couldn’t do. We had people eating lunch and billing it to the tribe.
When I saw those, I said, ‘No, those
are not allowed.’ The people did not
approve a budget to have people eating out. What was really insulting
about that was, not only were they
eating a nice meal, they had the nerve
to have dessert and leave a tip, and
the Comanche People were paying
for that. I let those program directors
know they were going to have to pay
out of their own pocket, and I was not
going to approve it.
We have cut down on a lot of
waste, just to be more responsible.
Q. Is there anything else you would
like to add?
A. I want the Comanche People to
know that I am just as concerned as
other tribal members about having
a fair and transparent tribal government.
Being the TA is a 24-7 job.
I get calls at all hours of the day and
night with things like losing electricity to getting informed of a tribal
member passing away. Every day is a
new challenge.
I can see where, being in
this position, you can take advantage
of the power and the money. But, you
have to be balanced in yourself, and
you have to have some integrity and
you have to stop yourself from doing
things that are wrong for your people.
You have to know yourself. For me,
my time is consumed by the bigger
audience, so I have not been able to
spend time with my friends and family like I did in the past. Now I have to
allocate my time a little differently. I
do miss being able to do some of that,
but at the same time, just maintaining who you are as a person, and that
balance of knowing whether you are
in an elected position or a hired position, you still have to be who you are
at your core. I pray every morning. I
ask for guidance, the courage to do
the things that I must, the strength to
follow through, and to be humble and
remain true to myself to who I am as a
person; which is someone who is trying to do the best that I can in serving
the community. It is very rewarding
to know you can help people who really need it. The challenge is not letting power go to your head. Knowing
you have the opportunity to use it for
the better of all. I try to maintain that
balance and using the power of this
position to the benefit of the whole,
rather than just a few.
April 2016
6
The Comanche Nation News
ELECTION
Continued from Page 1
by the Comanche Nation Police Department at this time).
Section 3. Any person recalled from office as a result of action
by the Comanche Tribal Council in
accordance with Section 2 of Article
VIII of this Constitution shall forfeit the right to seek election to any
position on the Comanche Business
Committee for a period of three years
beyond the expiration of the term of
office in which the recalled person
was serving at the time of recall.
Also per: Comanche Nation Constitution, Article XV, Nepotism:
Section 1. A relative of
a member of the Comanche Tribal
Business Committee (to include
wife, husband, mother, father, son,
daughter, sister, brother) shall not be
employed within the Comanche Tribal governmental system.
**Also per: Comanche Nation Constitution, Article VI, Business Committee:
Section 7. The duties, responsibilities and authorities of the
Business Committee shall include the
following:
(b) To determine qualifications of candidates nominated for office and to conduct election of tribal
officers and business committeemen
pursuant to the provision of Section
2, Article VII, of this Constitution.
Election Board
THE FOLLOWING POLLING SITES WILL BE
OPEN 8:00 AM TO 6:00 PM ON ELECTION DAY
ANADARKO
COMANCHE NATION OUTREACH OFFICE
LOCATED 117 SW 2ND ST., ANADARKO
APACHE
APACHE COMMUNITY CENTER LOCATED
ON JULIA MAHSEET RD, APACHE
CACHE
CAHOMA BUILDING LOCATED AT 752 NW QUANAH RD.,
CACHE
LAWTON
COMANCHE NATION HEADQUARTERS, NEW CONFERENCE
ROOM, LOCATED AT 584 NW BINGO RD., LAWTON
OKLAHOMA CITY
COMANCHE NATION OUTREACH OFFICE LOCATED
AT 7390 S. WALKER, SUITE G., OKLAHOMA CITY
WALTERS
COMANCHE COMMUNITY CENTER LOCATED
AT 905 E. MISSOURI ST., WALTERS
diploma or G.E.D. (must provide a
copy prior to certification);
(f)
Not have been convicted of
a felony, a crime involving dishonesty or a crime of moral turpitude;
(g)
Not be an employee of the
Comanche Nation’s government, college, agencies, commissions or enterprises; and
(h)
Not be a candidate for any
other office.
**Nominations for Election Board
Officers must be made by a person
from the respective voting district of
the candidate.
**Apache District includes: Apache,
Cement, Cyril and Fletcher. Anadarko District includes: Anadarko, Binger, Carnegie, Ft. Cobb, Gracemont,
Lookeba, Verden and Washita. Oklahoma City District includes: Oklahoma City, Moore, Midwest City, Del
City, Edmond, Norman, Yukon and
El Reno. Walters District includes:
Walters, Temple, Randlett, Grandfield, Frederick and Devol.
All candidates must complete and sign the Background Release/Authorization Form permitting
the Comanche Nation Police Department to conduct a background check.
Candidates must also sign a “Candidate Affidavit” (which must be notarized) stating that they meet all of the
requirements for candidacy for the
respective elected office. Candidates
must also sign a photo release form
authorizing the Comanche Nation
Election Board to publish their photo
on the ballot. All candidate paperwork must be received by the Election Board office by 5 p.m. April 18.
Positions open on Election Board:
Anadarko (1), Apache (1), Oklahoma
office with the Nation at the time of (d)
Reside within the Voting
City (1) and Walters (1).
shall:
his/her
candidacy;
District
he/she
intends to represent
Qualifications (a)
Be an enrolled member of
Not be an immediate fam- if not seeking the At-Large position
In Accordance with the Co- the Comanche Nation who is eigh- (c)
manche Nation Election Ordinance:
teen (18) years of age or older (must ily member of a Comanche Business (must provide copy of driver’s liCommittee member or a Comanche cense or state ID);
Section 207: Qualifications:
provide copy of CDIB);
Nationvoters.
Election Board
member;
(e)
Have obtained
a high
A candidate
for
the
Election
Board
Not hold any other
elective
The Comanche Nation (b)
has approximately
11,738
eligible
The approximate
breakdown
by states
is school
as follows: (there are also a
few tribal members who live overseas).
The Comanche
Nation has approximately 11,738 eligible voters.
The approximate breakdown by states is as follows: (there are also a few tribal members who live overseas).
Alabama
43
Louisiana
48
Ohio
36
Alaska
30
Maine
0
Oklahoma
7,123
Arizona
250
Maryland
52
Oregon
77
Arkansas
100
Massachusetts
28
Pennsylvania
32
California
702
Michigan
49
Rhode Island
7
Colorado
156
Minnesota
56
South Carolina
27
Connecticut
13
Mississippi
10
South Dakota
19
Delaware
2
Missouri
129
Tennessee
58
Florida
123
Montana
33
Texas
1100
Georgia
59
Nebraska
18
Utah
72
Hawaii
16
Nevada
61
Vermont
3
Idaho
34
New Hampshire
1
Virginia
82
Illinois
89
New Jersey
11
Washington
139
Indiana
46
New Mexico
242
West Virginia
10
Iowa
33
New York
57
Wisconsin
73
Kansas
254
North Carolina
55
Wyoming
10
Kentucky
27
North Dakota
14
April 2016
7
The Comanche Nation News
Programs
Grandparents
Raising
Grandchildren
The Grandparents Raising
Grandchildren Program will be traveling to the Walters Community Center and also the Apache Community
Center in April. The dates will be announced in the community newspaper.
The Grandparents program
is reaching out to the Comanche
grandparents in our community centers and also our outreach offices.
If you are a grandparent
raising grandchildren or know a
grandparent please have them get
in contact with Sandra Toyekoyah
at [email protected] or
by phone 580-450-0593 or 580-5749100.
Craterville Pictures for
Comanche Nation Fair
The CNF (Comanche Nation Fair) Board is requesting Comanche Nation Fair pictures from
years at Craterville Park, in Cache,
Okla. The first Comanche Nation
Fair was called Oklahoma State Indian Fair.
This year’s Comanche Nation Fair marks the 25th Anniversary.
The CNF board would like to share
these pictures with this year’s visitors, to help celebrate the history of
the Comanche Nation Fair.
Send all pictures and information to Francis Attocknie at [email protected] or call
580-492-3334.
Congratulations to
CRYS Basket Winners
Comanche Nation Employee’s, family and friends, have
supported the Comanche Nation
Residential Youth Shelter with their
Ice Cream Sundae Fund raiser, Child
To Washington, DC Tour and CRYS
Staff Chili Cook Off. Everyone was
invited to join in their first Basket
Fund raiser March 4 .
There were five great baskets available to win.
A. Native American Basket of gifts
and comforts of Native American
memorabilia’s and a Billy Sim’s
Meal. Winner- Miranda Hoahwah
B. Inspirational Basket of great reading material, medicine bag, warmth
of scented candles with refreshing
free drink gift cards.
C. Spa Basket wrap in a robe and
slippers after your free gift card mas-
sage. Winner - Dorothy Tahah
D. Sports Basket Thunder play live.
Winner-Georgia Gibson
E. Enjoy hours and hours of arts,
crafts and plenty of awesome sweet
treats with your kids with Toddler
Baskets. Winner Georgia Gibson,
CRYS Staff Winners for
Designing Baskets:
First. Jessica Pohawpatchoko and
Susan Childers-Toddler Basket/Most
Elaborate Basket
Second. Dakota Wahkinney- Sports
Basket/Most Wanted Basket
Third. Mari Lavatai and Joe AitsonNative American Basket
Third. Eva Rice and Rose Onco-Inspritation Basket
Fourth. Summer Blackstar and Deborah Wright-Spa Basket.
Workforce Students
Receive National
Phlebotomy
Certification
Photos by Stacey Heminokeky/News Staff
EASTER EGGS DISCOVERED AT ELDER CENTER’S EASTER CELEBRATION. The Comanche Nation Elder Center held its annual Easter Celebration March 23 at the Lawton facility. Lunch was provided
and after the elders headed outside to hunt for the prize eggs. Pictured above were the First, Second, and
Third place winners. From Left to Right; First place: Phyllis Kotay, Second place: Phyllis Crosby, and Third
place: Lydia Ramirez. The elders enjoyed the afternoon, making the event a success.
Comanche Nation College Strives for Excellence in Education
Pictured from left to right: (Back
Row) Candace Wilson, Briana
Hoahwah, Rolanda Santiago,
Julia Saupitty, Shannon Jones,
(Front Row) Tavia Torralba, Fiona
Kerchee, and Monica Niedo.
On February 26, eight Comanche tribal members successfully
completed Phlebotomy courses I &
II offered through the Great Plains
Technology Center, located in Lawton, OK.
In addition to completing the courses, they also received
national certification in the field of
Phlebotomy and began an eight week
work experience program at Comanche County Memorial Hospital in
March.
Those who received their
certification include Briana Hoahwah, Shannon Jones, Monica Niedo,
Rolanda Santiago, Julia Saupitty,
Tavia Torralba, Fiona Kerchee, and
Candace Wilson.
The short term Phlebotomy
courses and certification testing were
financially supported by the Comanche Nation Workforce program.
Submitted by Comanche Nation College Staff
Comanche Nation College,
the 37th tribal college of the United
States, and first tribal college established in the state of Oklahoma,
extends a greeting to the Comanche
Nation and that of the entire Numunu
people, with sincere gratitude for the
continuous support and contributions
since the College was established on
August 3, of 2002. The Comanche
Nation College was officially chartered by Comanche Business Committee Resolution No, 51-02. Your
unique Comanche Nation higher
education learning institution is a key
center of Comanche values which
have been refined with resiliency
and determination in many aspects
throughout our development as a college within the community. CNC is
a valued resource to students- Comanche and those of other tribal
and non-native backgrounds. CNC
offers a familial atmosphere where
a Comanche-centered education is
embraced by all our students. CNC
is 70% Comanche students. These
students will succeed and will follow
their path, whatever that may be.
Throughout
transitional
periods from change in leadership and staff in the past two years,
CNC’s employees have continuously sought to implement quality
strategies to train, educate and make
possible measures of improvement.
Aside from the assumed past shortcomings and or inequities that the
College may have endured we remain positive and optimistic looking forward toward our goal of full
accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission. We have strived to
and continue to seek improvement in
endeavors such as academic assessment, revising of key manuals and
documents which maintain compliance with higher education regulations and laws, and mentorships via
other learning institutions. CNC as a
whole continuously seeks to implement better practices, and facilitation
of higher levels of institutional effectiveness for those who seek educational opportunities on our campus.
These higher education opportunities
will open the doors leading to greater
success in their future beyond CNC,
whether to four-year degree colleges
or vocational training or other institutions of choice.
The purpose of Comanche
Nation College (CNC) is to provide
lower division programs and educational opportunities in higher education that meet the needs of Comanche
Nation citizens, all other tribal members, and the global society. The following institutional functions were
approved by the Comanche Nation
College Board of Trustees, which
acts as the governing body of the in-
stitution.
•
To provide a lower division
program of higher education based
on American Indian culture for traditional and non-traditional students in
Southwestern Oklahoma.
•
To provide a general education that enables students to become
informed responsible citizens in a
global society.
•
To provide programs of education in arts and sciences leading to
an Associates of Arts degree through
campus-based learning.
•
To provide transfer programs, which include liberal arts, sciences, and pre- and para-professional
subjects, thus enabling students to
pursue completion of baccalaureate
or professional degrees at four-year
institutions.
•
To provide developmental
courses, services, and programs in remedial education for individuals who
require such assistance to function effectively at the college level.
•
To provide guidance services and programs of student activities
for the promotion of personal development and tribal cultural awareness.
Kim ʉtsi n ʉm ʉn ʉ? ai t
ʉsua! Come Study With Us!
April 2016
8
The Comanche Nation News
The 1918 Native American Church is updating it’s roster of
members. If you need to update your information, or want to
become a member, contact Diana Doyebi at (580)365-4238. If
no answer, leave your name, address and contact phone
number.
There will be a Meeting of the 1918 Native American Church
men 5 p.m. April 22 at Anthony Monoessy’s house in Fletcher,
Okla. The women of the church will prepare a meal for after
the meeting. For more information, contact Diana Doyebi.
1918 Native American Church Roster Registration
Please Fill out and mail to:
Diana Doyebi
P.O. Box 202
Sterling, OK 73567
Photo By Paula Karty/News Staff
GIVING GIFTS TO HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN. Mary Austin, left, founder of
Team Jaden, and BJ Anderson, Treasurer of Relay for Life’s Team Numunu, collect
toys donations March 12 at the Comanche Nation Complex. The toys traveled to the
OU Children’s Medical Center in Oklahoma City, for children who are hospitalized.
Austin’s daughter, the late Jaden Austin, lost her life to cancer at 14 years of age, after
a three-year battle with undifferentiated sarcoma. Jaden asked her family to create
the Team Jaden Foundation, which puts on toy drives to help other children who
are facing terminal illnesses. Team Numunu, which raises money for cancer research
through the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event, joined Team Jaden to
help bring smiles and happiness to the children in hospitals. Team Jaden had a total of
12 boxes of toys to give to the hospital.
Full Name:
Email:
Date of birth:
Cell Phone:
Other Phone:
Current address:
Mark
16:5-6
“So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received
up into heaven and sat at the right
hand of God.”
Translated to the Comanche
Language
“Wihnu ta Narümai’a sunihku urüümatu tekwahkase’ surü God Jesusha tomovetu vetsünukwa.Surüse’
God-ha tüvitsinakwü karünu.”
-From the Book
Mark-ha Tsaatu Narumu’ipu
(The Gospel of Mark in Comanche
and English
Copyright 1958
April 2016
9
The Comanche Nation News
People, Places & Things Happening
2016 Chilocco
Annual National
Association Reunion
The 2016 Chilocco Reunion
will be honoring the Golden Class of
1966 for its 50th year anniversary.
Members of the class of 1966 are encouraged to attend the reunion to be
held at the First Council Casino, New
Kirk, Okla. and the Chilocco campus
on May 26-29.
For registration, contact is
Emma Jean Falling, evening telephone No. (918) 266-1626, 18517 E.
3rd St., Tulsa, OK 74108.
Contacts for the class of
1966 are: Clarence Johnson, (918)
752-9512, 17465 South Rock Creek
Road, Shawnee, OK 74801 or Pauletta Elephant Johnson, (918) 8128603 or (918) 366-6158, PO Box
531, Bixby, OK 74008, email: [email protected].
Yackeyonny Honored as
Offensive Lineman of
the Year
for NASA Oklahoma Space Grant
Consortium (OSGC). The event was
held in Orlando, Florida during the
week of March 13-16.
The Oklahoma Space Grant
Consortium is a program that supports endeavors throughout the state
of Oklahoma that are related to NASA’s mission. This is accomplished
through providing support for students, professors, sponsoring internships for affiliate university students,
inspiring and training future and
current educators to use aerospace
related materials to achieve educational objectives in the classroom
and creating, organizing, conducting
and financially supporting programs
for Oklahomans to better understand
NASA’s work.
Satepauhoodle is an enrolled
member of the Comanche Tribe. She
is majoring in Elementary Education
at Cameron University, she is a President and Dean’s Honor Roll student
for the past and current semester. She
is a 2012 graduate of Apache High
School and is the daughter of Tammie (Asepermy) and Kendric Satepauhoodle of Apache, Okla.
Satepauhoodle will graduate with honors at Cameron University in May of 2016.
Second Annual Youth
Dance Workshop Set for
Summer
Jalen Yackeyonny a 6’4”
280 lb. Offensive Lineman from
Cache High School was recently
selected to the 2016 Oklahoma
Coaches Association All-State team
and 2016 Oklahoma Coaches Association All-Star by Class for 4A. He
was also selected to the District 4A-1
All-District team and was honored
as the district’s Offensive Lineman
of the year. Yackeyonny has signed a
National Letter of Intent to play football at Northeastern A&M College in
Miami, OK.
Yackeyonny is the son of
Gary and Audrey Yackeyonny, grandson of Linda and Wayne Yackeyonny
and the late Wardlaw and Sharon
Lee.
Satepauhoodle selected
to attend Workforce
Development Seminar At
Kennedy Space Center
Kendra Satepauhoodle was
one of a very select group chosen
to attend the Workforce Development Seminar in Orlando, Fla. There
were 24 Oklahomans selected from
different colleges and universities
throughout the state to represent all
of our OSGC academic affiliates.
The competitively selected group
attended orientation meetings, daily
seminars, educational excursions and
group dinners. They also received a
VIP tour of the Kennedy Space Center. The group learned about NASA,
Oklahoma Space Grant, and the Kennedy Space Center.
The event was hosted by the
Kennedy Space Center specifically
Tribal youth who are interested in Dance have the unique opportunity to sharpen their skills, as
International Choreographer, Anna
Ward, will offer the second annual
Comanche Nation Youth Summer
Dance Project Workshop. Classes
will begin 1 p.m. June 27 at the Lawton Ballet Theatre Dance School,
6726 NW Cache Rd., Lawton, Okla.
The class will be broken down into
age groups and class times will be assigned.
Many tribal youth are interested in taking Dance Lessons, but
because of the cost associated with
the extracurricular activity, many parents cannot afford it.
Ward wants to work with
Comanche Nation Youth to share her
passion and love of the art form of
Dance. She welcomes both boys and
girls from age 7 to 18. The girls will
learn classical ballet, boys have an
option of participating in a Hip Hop
Class.
“I am very excited to teach
Comanche youth the art of Dance,”
said Ward. “I know they are talented in many ways, and by tapping
into their natural skills, they may
take interest in it, and we may help
produce the next Maria Tallchief or
Billy Mills, since it takes discipline,
balance, and strength. Many male
professional athletes have taken ballet or dance to improve their athletic
skills.”
Shoes and outfits will be
provided for the workshop. The highlight will be a performance on the
evening of July 9.
All Comanche tribal youth
are welcome. No experience is needed.
The Comanche Nation Diabetes Program will provide snacks
during the classes.
Currently, Ward is the director of the Contemporary Ballet Dallas
Youth Ballet. She was born and grew
up in Wichita Falls, Tx. Ward is an
international choreographer, Master
Teacher, and was a leading ballerina
with Krassovska Ballet Dallas and
Dallas Opera. She has trained under
Maria Tallchief, whom she considers one of her biggest influences, and
was a great source of encouragement
in her professional achievements. For more information, call
Ward, (409) 370-9181.
Pushing The Boundaries Of Lawful Tribal iGaming
The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma is looking to offer iGaming in states and countries where it’s legal via its PokerTribe.com and PokerTribe.gov websites, and recently took an important first step to obtaining legal clarity for
Internet gaming in Indian Country, writes Mike McBride III, Chair of Crowe & Dunlevy’s Indian Law & Gaming
Practice Group.
Submitted by iGaming Business North America
Since 2004, when the people of Oklahoma authorized expanded Class III gaming under a model
tribal-state gaming compact, physical
gaming sites in Indian Country have
grown substantially to more than
120 casinos, with 34 of Oklahoma’s
39 tribes signing the compact. The
legal boundaries of such physical,
on-site gaming are fairly clear. The
legal boundaries of internet gaming
in Indian Country, by contrast, have
remained a gray area.
The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma now seeks to test these legal
boundaries and obtain legal clarity
for internet gaming in Indian Country through a “friendly” arbitration
and confirmatory federal lawsuit
against the State of Oklahoma. The
Tribe wants to establish PokerTribe.
com and PokerTribe.gov as viable
commercial internet gaming sites
operated on servers located on tribal
land. Remote gamblers, physically
located outside of Oklahoma and in
other countries where such gaming is
legal, would be able to use the Tribe’s
website.
Oklahoma’s Governor Mary
Fallin has offered little resistance.
Oklahoma recently announced a $1.2
billion state budget shortfall, and the
State is hungry for revenue. The Governor’s lawyers are also gearing up
for negotiations as model tribal-state
gaming compacts become ripe for
expiration, extension and/or renegotiation in 2020.
The Iowa Tribe’s friendly
litigation with Oklahoma seeks to
clarify and narrow the legal boundaries. It also seeks legal cover from
potentially conflicting federal, state
and tribal laws that prohibit or regulate internet gaming. In 2014, Indian
gaming accounted for $29 billion
in revenue, with approximately $4
billion generated by tribes within
Oklahoma. Indian gaming revenues
are now almost equal to commercial
gaming revenues in the US. Internet
gaming could tip the balance.
“While the result of a
friendly arbitration, the
Award goes a long way
to clarifying the critical
legal distinction that the
gaming occurs where the
server is located and that
certain federal criminal
laws should not apply.”
The Iowa Tribe picks up
where the Cheyenne & Arapaho
Tribes left off four years ago. The
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes set up
an internet gaming website for free
play and money play as Class III
gaming. The State of Oklahoma took
umbrage with the Tribes’ internet
plan, but the Tribes and Oklahoma
settled their differences. Their settlement provided that the Tribes would
pay Oklahoma 20% of gross gaming
revenue, and gaming play would be
limited to players outside the United
States.
Most Oklahoma tribes
chafed at the settlement agreement.
Some suggested that it expanded
compacts beyond the model-state
gaming agreement and that the 20%
gross gaming revenue payments were
exorbitant. These terms were seen as
setting bad precedent for upcoming
compact negotiations. Kevin Washburn, Assistant Secretary for Indian
Affairs, agreed and wrote a letter to
the tribes disapproving the agreement, claiming that Oklahoma’s
take was too rich and that Oklahoma
would receive too much money for
the purported exclusivity. The Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes challenged
Washburn’s final agency action in
federal court for the Western District
of Oklahoma in December 2013. But
months later, the Tribes dismissed the
lawsuit when a change of leadership
took place within the Tribes.
The Iowa Tribe hopes to settle the critical internet gaming legal
issue – where does the gaming take
place? In many jurisdictions around
the world, including in New Jersey,
internet gaming takes place where
the server is located. So, internet
gaming can only occur on servers located in Atlantic City, the only place
where gaming is allowed under New
Jersey’s constitution.
Early attempts by Indian
tribes to conduct internet gaming on
Indian Country met with strong resistance from states. In the late 1990s
and early 2000s, the Coeur d’Alene
Tribe in Idaho tested the waters but
was pushed back by various states’
attorney generals. Kevin Washburn,
then General Counsel to the National
Indian Gaming Commission, issued
a 2001 letter to Coeur d’Alene, stating with little legal analysis that “use
of the internet…would constitute
off- reservation gaming”. Legal challenges had similar findings, AT&T
Corporation v. Coeur d’Alene Tribe
(9th Cir. 2002) and State of
Missouri v. Coeur d’Alene Tribe (8th
Cir.1999).
The Iowa Tribe’s litigation
with Oklahoma was friendly and
quick. The Iowa Tribe gave notice to
Oklahoma in September 2015 that it
intended to operate an internet gaming website on the tribe’s lands. The
State responded within a week, expressing concern about whether the
internet gaming expanded or restricted rights under the model tribal- state
gaming compact. The parties agreed
to engage a sole arbitrator, Charles
Chapel, a respected retired Judge
from Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Judge Chapel issued
a prompt, forceful and thoughtful
29- page arbitration award just two
months later.
The award recounted the
history of tribal internet gaming and
navigated the issues of embracing
new technologies under the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act. The parties
did not intend to change or alter the
model gaming compacts in any way.
They agreed that the compact “permits the Tribe to conduct internet
gaming of a covered game and that
all provisions of the Compact are applicable to such gaming.” Ultimately
the award provided an answer to the
following question:
Is a game, which is expressly authorized
by an approved tribal-state compact and
an approved Tribal Gaming Ordinance
being played by players physically located off Indian land on a computer connected via the Internet to computer located on Indian land being conducted in
accordance with IGRA, the State-Tribal
Gaming Act and the Compact?
Judge Chapel concluded
that it was. Even though the player
may be physically located off of
tribal lands, the computer server is
located on Indian lands, and that
server controls all aspects of a covered game. The award reasoned that
“gaming is ‘conducted’ where the
computer server controlling the game
is located.” The award also found
that permitting Internet gaming does
not amend the compact and require
subsequent approval by the Department of Interior.
The Award provides good
faith protection against the potential
application of four federal laws potentially activated by Internet gaming
by finding that the federal laws are
supposed to help enforce state laws:
●
The Wire Act
●
Unlawful Internet Gaming
Enforcement Act
●
The Travel Act
●
Illegal Gaming Business
Act
The Award analyzed the
Department of Justice’s Memorandum interpreting the Wire Act, 35
Op. Atty Gen. 2011. Since Congress
passed the Wire Act in 1961, courts
and the DOJ have interpreted the
Act to apply to all forms of gambling. That changed with the DOJ’s
2011 memo. The Award and a subsequent confirmation by a federal court
will provide cover from the
potential application of these laws.
Likewise, the Award also concluded
that tribal law permitted the contemplated gaming and that, while state
law prohibits virtually all forms of
gambling and related activities, the
IGRA and the compact exempted
tribes from these laws for covered
games conducted consistently with
the law and the compact.
With candor, Judge Chapel acknowledged the complexity of
reams of technical standards and testing lab reports of the game. “After
reading it, I have no idea as to whether they meet the standards required
by the State-Tribal Gaming Act. The
Standards and the Tribe’s Exhibit are
extremely complex and quite simply
far beyond my knowledge and expertise. Only an expert in computer science could possibly understand these
Standards.”
On December 23, 2015, the
Iowa Tribe filed suit in the Western
District of Oklahoma federal court
to seek confirmation of the Award.
Oklahoma answered several weeks
later and largely did not dispute the
allegations of the Complaint. A federal court will likely confirm the award
shortly.
While the result of a friendly arbitration, the Award goes a long
way to clarifying the critical legal
distinction that the gaming occurs
where the server is located and
that certain federal criminal laws
should not apply. Without significant
marketing and investment, the website may not draw considerable traffic and revenue from international
players, but it is a great start. And, it
is an important legal clarification to
advance tribal internet gaming.
"The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes fully support the
Cheyenne and Arapaho Directors of the American Indian
Exposition, Dara Franklin Arapaho Director, and Karen
Yeahquo Cheyenne Director. Any attempt to elect a different
officer for this position is not sanctioned by the Cheyenne and
Arapaho Tribes. Any other claims made by officers that were
removed legally by the Directors of the Exposition will not be
recognized by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.”
April 2016
10
The Comanche Nation News
Plants and Herbs that Help
Keep Mosquitos Away
Springtime means perfect
weather to plant beautiful flowers
and spices. According to the “Country Living” website, these plants and
spices can keep the mosquitoes away.
Lemon Balm
The strong lemon scent of this plant
will remind you of citronella—it contains high levels of the bug-repelling
compound—but in a more appetizing
way. (It's an invasive species, however, so be careful when growing it.)
Lavender
It may sound hard to believe since the
scent is so heavenly to us humans,
but mosquitoes can't stand the smell
of this herb. Keep bugs at bay by
planting the lavandin variety, which
has a high concentration of camphor.
Bonus: It also keeps moths and flies
away!
Catnip
Cats may love it, but mosquitoes hate
catnip. Related to mint, it contains a
chemical called nepetalactone, that's
both a feline attractant and an insect
repellant.
Basil
Placing a pot of basil on your picnic
table is helpful for giving your food a
flavorful update—but it will also keep
the bugs away, since it's one of the
few plants that offer a strong bug-repelling scent without having to crush
the leaves. A 2009 study showed that
basil essential oil is toxic to mosquito
larvae.
Mint
Mint leaves can aid in keeping mosquitoes away. Bonus: Mint essential
oils can also help soothe bug bites.
Citrosum
Also known as "Mosquito Repellent Plant," this perennial is heavily
marketed as a useful insect repellent.
While some research suggests that
this plant may not be so great at keeping biting insects away, it can't hurt
to plant some near your porch, right?
Sage
Gathering around the bonfire to roast
some s'mores? You might want to
toss a little sage into the fire—the
scented smoke will keep those pesky
critters away. (Rosemary works, too.)
Marigolds
Not only do they look pretty, these
colorful and heady flowers also repel insects, since they contain pyrethrum, an ingredient found in many
insect repellents.
First responders, EMT and EMS respond to a simulated car crash involving teenage youth. The crash scenerio
had serious casualties along with several deaths.
2016 Pre-Prom Car Crash Simulation
Story and photos by Tomah Yeahquo/ News Staff
On March 24, the Comanche Nation Injury Prevention and
Emergency Management held the 6th
Annual Pre-Prom Car Crash Simulation at the Comanche Nation Complex.
An estimated 76 students
from Apache, Elgin, Geronimo, Indiahoma, and Walters high schools
got a sobering look at the dangerous
consequences of texting and driving.
The event started with
speakers Trooper Green and Trooper
Hedges of the Oklahoma Highway
Patrol (O.H.P.), along with Comanche Nation Law Enforcement Officer
R.L. Smith. Officer Garcia of the
O.H.P. had the students walk with the
drunk goggles.
Booths were set up by local
health and law enforcement agencies
from M.A.D.D., I.H.S. Dental, C.N.
Crime Stoppers, C.N. Optometry,
C.N. Police and D-B.A.T. of Lawton. Students were allowed to visit
the booths while the video “Crystal
Darkness,” was being shown.
The simulation also served
as a Hands-on training for Emergency EMT, EMS, and CHR along with
First Responders.
Comanche Nation Injury
Prevention Director, Bonita Paddyaker said, “It’s all about team
work.”
“I would like to thank the
students that played the victims in
the car crash. Without them it would
not be possible. Working with the
tribal programs, and the emergency
responders in the community we
gain trust and it helps us keep up our
skills,” said Paddyaker.
The event was a great way
to make teenage youth aware of the
dangers of texting, or drinking while
driving.
April 30, 2016
3 p.m.- 11 p.m. Watchetaker Hall, Comanche Nation Complex
Nine Miles North of Lawton, Okla.
ALL GOURD DANCE
HEAD STAFF
Master of Ceremonies
Head Singer
Head Man Dancer
Head Lady Dancer
Arena Director
Security
Co-Host
Cy Ahtone
Elgin, Okla.
Parker Emhoolah
Lawton, Okla.
Glen Lonetree
Indiahoma, Okla.
Carlene Atauvich
Lawton, Okla.
Alex Cook
Lawton, Okla.
John Chasenah
Lawton, Okla.
Parker/ Mowwat Families
Public Welcome. Invitation to all Tribal Club Princesses and Organizations. Vendors welcome to
set up for a fee. Supper will be served. For more information, contact Frank Whitewolf, (580)
678-1540.
No drugs, alcohol, or harassment allowed. Not responsible for accidents or theft.
Firefighters prepare to use the Jaws of Life to free victims from the horrific wreckage during the 2016 Pre-Prom
Car Cash simulation.
jummy’s thrift shop
Low-prices Clothing Shoes Baked Goods Bread Donuts
Comanche Owned Business
Open
Monday-Friday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Open Occasionally on Saturday
Closed
Wednesday
618 A. NW 19th
Lawton, Oklahoma
(Next to Vaska)
[580] 647-3972
DIVORCE?
WRITS?
WILLS/CODICILS?
ATTESTATIONS?
Packets/citations typed and prepared for Native Americans
for issuance through BIA Court of Indian Offenses.
(Additional BIA filing fees due at time of documentation).
REASONABLE PREP FEES
Contact: Jewell Tieyah
(580) 678-2052 or (580) 492-5455
April 2016
11
The Comanche Nation News
April 2016
12
The Comanche Nation News
Military
Submitted by: Lanny Asepermy/CIVA
CIVA ACTIVITIES
FEBRUARY – MARCH
2016
Information courtesy of Roger and
Linda Tehauno, Clifford Takawana and
Lanny Asepermy
Military marker placements
were made by George Red Elk and
Stanton Pewewardy for Charles Curley at Mount Scott Cemetery on 20
January; Dennis Weryavah at Deyo
Cemetery on 20 February; and Roderick Youngman at Highland Cemetery on 23 February. A marker for
the late Patricia Cox will be placed
as soon as arrangements with her
husband, James Cox Jr, are made.
Cox is the daughter in law of former
Chairman James Cox and an Army
veteran. Upright markers weigh 230
lbs and the concrete slabs for bronze
flat markers weigh 135lbs. This is
a thankless detail often attended by
few if any family members. To date
217 markers have been placed at no
charge to the family. The minimum
charge for placement when the funeral homes contract the monument
companies is usually $100.
CIVA member, Captain Ken
Tomah III, departed Fort Campbell,
Kentucky on 6 February for Afghanistan on a 9-month tour with Division
Artillery, 10First Airborne Division
(Air Assault). He will serve as a “Battle Captain” with duty in the Division
Tactical Operations Center. His family will remain in the Fort Campbell area where his wife is a school
teacher and children attend school.
Captain Tomah is a graduate of the
Army’s Officer Candidate, Airborne
and Air Assault Schools. Although
the war ended in Iraq in December,
2011 information found on the internet indicates there are only about
3,850 American military still serving
in Iraq and their mission is to advise,
train and assist the Iraqi Army.
CPT Kent Tomah
On 12 February the leadership of the CIVA met at the Patriot
Room to review and reaffirm their accounting system for funding. Funding for the CIVA has been provided
by referendum vote since 2007. Fiscal Year 2016 funding is $40,000
with drawdowns usually the first of
each quarter (1 October, 1 January,
1 April and 1 July). Distributions of
funds require approval of the Commander, Secretary and Treasurer.
The Treasurer (George Red Elk)
maintains the financial records that
include receipts, reconciled monthly
bank statements and a monthly Treasurer Report. At the end of the fiscal
year those records are submitted to
Finley and Cook for review.
On 14 February the CIVA
served as Head Man Dancers during an Honor Dance for Associate
member Warrant Officer 1 Ben Rutledge at Watchetaker Hall. Auxiliary
Leader, Linda Tehauno, served as
Head Lady Dancer for the event. Attending the Honor Dance were Ron
and Phyllis Mahsetky; Roger and
Linda Tehauno; Clifford and Cheryl
Takawana; George Red Elk; Flavio,
Mison and Princess Lauren Noriega;
Richard and Fran Sapcutt; Cecilia
Gipson; Darrel and Roxie Yazzie;
Tina Emhoolah; Benny Tahmahkera;
Dustin Chrisman; Arnita Pewewardy; Lisa Longhat; and Alice Jay. Secretary Clifford Takawana served as
Co-Master of Ceremonies during the
dance. WO1 Rutledge is a member
of the North Carolina Army National
Guard and he and 21 other Soldiers
and Marines graduated, on 11 February, from the Field Artillery Targeting Warrant Officer Basic Course at
Snow Hall on Fort Sill. He began the
course on 26 June and departed home
to North Carolina on 15 February.
Attending his graduation were Roger
and Linda Tehauno; Flavio Noriega;
Darrell and Roxie Yazzie; and Tina
Emhoolah. WO1 Rutledge assisted
the CIVA during numerous commitments since his arrival and will be
missed.
ports. The upcoming Armed Forces
Day Banquet on 15 May and Memorial Day Ceremony on 30 May, both
at Watchetaker Hall were discussed
along with other commitments and
request. The meeting was attended by
34 veterans, Auxiliary members and
guests. The meeting concluded with
a prayer.
On 5 March the CIVA were
the Color Guard for the First Annual
Southwestern State University Powwow in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Attending were Ron and Phyllis Mahsetky; Roger and Linda Tehauno;
Flavio, Mison and Princess Lauren
Noriega; Cecilia Gipson; Tina Emhoolah; and Lisa Longhat Also assisting with the colors were Capps Tehauno Jr and Jason Gipson. Princess
Lauren placed first in the combined
teen contest.
The History of the
Comanche Indian
Veterans Association
Bill Volker with one of his many
birds at the SIAfacility in Cyril, Okla.
On 15 February the CIVA
were guest of Bill Volker, Director
of the Comanche SIA Program, in
Cyril, Oklahoma. They were given an
in-depth briefing about the program
and Comanche history, a tour of the
facility and a meal provided by Volker. Attending were Ron and Phyllis
Mahsetky; Roger and Linda Tehauno; Clifford and Cheryl Takawana;
George Red Elk; Lonnie Henderson;
Flavio, Mison and Princess Lauren
Noriega; Jimmy Caddo; Richard and
Fran Sapcutt; Cecilia Gipson; Larry
Carnes; Michael Squire; Arvillia
Craig; Arnita Pewewardy; Georgia
Sapcut; Sissy Terry; Roxie Yazzie;
and Sharon Enriquez.
George Red Elk presenting the casket
flag of Raymond Valdez to his sister;
Flavio Noriega is in the background.
On 2 March a Memorial
Service for Navy retiree, Raymond
Glenn Valdez, was conducted at the
Comanche Community Center in
Walters. Valdez was born on 20 September 1953 and passed away on 14
August 2015 at Spring Valley, California. He is survived by sisters Nina
Martin and Tina Valdez and brother
Victor Valdez. Roger Tehauno conducted the military honors, the CNPD
provided a firing squad, Clifford
Takawana played taps and George
Red Elk presented the flag. Others attending were Flavio Noriega; Jimmy
Caddo; Richard Sapcut; Tina Emhoolah; Richard Perez; Linda Tehauno; Cheryl Takawana; and Lucinda
Pueblo. A meal was provided by the
family after the service.
Since 3 May 2015 the CIVA
and CNPD have provided a funeral
detail for 19 Comanche veterans that
have passed away. Our condolences
continue to go out to the families
of the deceased and it has been our
honor to provide this service to those
families.
The March monthly meeting
was held at the Comanche Veterans
Patriot Room on 3 March. An opening prayer, pledge to the allegiance
and meal provided by the Auxiliary
began the meeting followed by the
roll call, introduction of guests and
monthly Treasurer and Spoils Re-
The original emblem of the
Comanche Indian Veterans Association. This emblem dons the headgear
and vests of active CIVA members
and the Service Blankets and Shawls
of the Auxiliary.
Logo of the Comanche Indian Veterans Association. Designed
by Tom Henderson of T & S Printing.
This logo is used on the CIVA Letterhead and other literature used by the
CIVA.
Comanche Indian Veterans
Association emblem designed by
Kent Tomah and Flavio Noriega is
used on citations, programs and other
special presentation items.
Zona Atewuthtakewa Suminski
The following was documented from 2003-07 by the former
Historian of the Comanche Indian
Veterans Association, the late Zona
Atewuthtakewa Suminski: Photos
were added by Lanny Asepermy:
World War I era: Indian
veterans’ organizations date back to
World War I. The first known club
was called the “American Indian Intertribal Veterans Association.”
The first gathering to honor
World War I veterans was held in
Cotton County on the farm of Herbert
Homovich, who was a World War I
veteran. This was recalled by a story
handed down to Merrick Youngman
by his father Bert Youngman, who
was with the group of World War I
veterans. Cheyenne and Arapaho veterans were invited to take part in the
gatherings and celebration to honor
the World I veterans.
A list of the World War I
veterans follows in alphabetical order:
Atchavit, Calvin; Bluehorse, Toacesy; Clark, Edward H;
Clark, George; Conwoop, Gilbert;
Lookingglass, Philip ; Mahseet, Alfred; Mahseet, Carl; Mahseet, Lee;
Mullen, Sam; Nahquaddy, Albert Sr;
Otipoby, Hugh; Pekah, James; Pewewardy, Sam; Pohocsucut, Preston;
Paywetowaup, Guy; Red Elk, Frank;
Saupitty, Lyon; Tabbytosavit, Samuel
Tahdooahnippah, Mikey; Tahkofper,
James; Tahpay, Cleveland; Tahquechi, Norton; Tarcypokeahdooah, William C; Tomah, Lawrence Sr; Wahkahquah, John; Wahkinney, Jacob;
and Wermy, Thomas.
1946: In 1946 the American
Indian Veterans Association became
active again as an intertribal organization. Lee Motah, Comanche, was
the Commander.
1976: In 1976 the Comanche Indian Veterans Association
(C.I.V.A.) was formed and only Comanche veterans were allowed to
join. Therefore, any member of the
Comanche Tribe was automatically a
member.
Comanche Indian Veterans Association is an Oklahoma Domestic Not
For-Profit Corporation filed on August 18, 1976. The company’s filing
status is listed as In Existence and its
File Number is 2100297412.
The Registered Agent on
file for this company is Clifford E.
Ototivo, and is located at 1813 Taylor St. Lawton, OK.
The company has 3 principals on record. The principals are
C Ototivo, Edgar Monetathchi, and
James Chasenah.
The first annual gathering
(pow-wow) was held October 23-25,
1976, according to an invitational
letter from the CIVA to the Native
American Church, who was asked
to co-host the event. I received the
original letter from Thomas Blackstar, current chairman of the Native
American Church. It included the official CIVA logo as a watermark.
The first officers listed on
the letterhead were: Commander,
Edgar Monetatchi; Vice Commander,
Clifford Ototivo; Service Officer,
Morris Sunrise; Secretary, Jerome
Tahhahwah; Treasurer, James Chasenah; Chaplain, Horace “Taylor”
Noyobad; Color Guards: Carl Tahah
and Howard Whitewolf.
Clifford Ototivo Sr
Vice Commander
Morris Sunrise
Service Officer
James Chasenah
Treasurer
Jerome Tahhahwah
Secretary
Carl Tahah
Color Guard
Edgar Monetatchi
Commander
Taylor Noyobad
Chaplin
Continued on Page 13
April 2016
13
The Comanche Nation News
Continued from Page 12
Photo not available for
Howard Whitewolf.
The first active members
of the club were the entire above
mentioned and:
James Barcinderbar; Franklin Cable; Hubert Cable; Stacy Pahdopony; Roderick Red Elk; Strudwick Tahsequah; Lawrence Tomah;
and Algernon Tonips.
Note: As of 1 January 2016
Jerome Tahhahwah is the only living
original active member.
The first active Auxiliary
members were:
Mae Cable’ Marie Carr;
Jean Jenkins; Barbara Miller; Alma
Ototivo; Rosalie Pennah; Helen Red
Elk; Bea Saupitty; Jolene Tahah; Loraine Tahmahkera; and Martha Weryavah
Note: As of 1 January 2016
Rosalie Pennah is the only living
original active Auxiliary member.
2003: The CIVA is very active at this
time with community projects such
as giving Christmas baskets to the
elderly and young families in need.
They also helped a young woman to
buy furniture. Of course, they are active at the ceremonials and celebrations by being the color guard.
Officers are elected for a
two-year term in November. Following is a list of the current officers;
Commander, Jack Codopony Sr; Vice
Commander, Eleanor McDaniel and
Secretary-Treasurer, Albert Clark Jr.
A list of members, listed
alphabetically, follows (asterisks
denotes deceased):
Asepermy, George Jr*;
Asepermy, Lanny; Bread, Richard;
Caddo, Jimmy; Chappabitty, Edwin;
Chibitty, Charles; Chibitty, Rev.
Steve*; Choney, Corey; Christian,
Vernon; Clark, Albert Jr; Coosewoon, Kenneth ; George, Jonathan
D; Kassanavoid, Forrest*; Kosechata, Lester; Mihecoby, Kelton; Mihecoby, Wesley; Monetatchi, Edgar Jr;
Mowatt, Janelle; Nahquaddy, Edward ; Nauni, Raymond Jr; Pennah,
“Cowboy”*; Pewo, Ted ; Red Elk,
Clifford Jr; Red Elk, George; Red
Elk, Roderick*; Tahhahwah, Jerome;
Tahmahkera, Garrison; Tahmahkera,
Monroe*; Tahsequah, Strudwick*;
Tate, Paul; Tiddark, Nipper; Tieyah,
Tim; Tippeconnie, Robert; Torrez,
Bruce; Wahnee, Mars Jr; Wallace,
Bobby ;Yackytooahnippah, Ken; Yellowfish, Elton ; Young, Richard ; and
Youngman, Merrick
Note: Since this document
was written the following are also
deceased as of 31 December 2015:
Richard Bread; Charles Chibitty;
Vernon Christian; Kelton and Wesley Mihecoby; Edgar Monetatchi;
Edward Nahquaddy; Ted Pewo; Nipper Tiddark; Ken Yackytooahnippah;
Elton Yellowfish and Merrick Youngman.
Current active Auxiliary
members:
Barbara Asepermy; Patricia
Bread; Myra Burgess (deceased);
Becky Clark; Arvillia Craig; Rosalie
Pennah; Zona Suminski (Deceased);
and Yonevea Terry
Note: Mrs. Suminski was
born on 21 February 1930 – she
passed away on 18 September 2009.
From late 2002 to 2015:
Other than the document from Mrs.
Suminski, CIVA records, documents
and photos prior to November 2002
were almost non-existent except for
some archives donated by Becky
Clark and Patricia Bread. From
November 2002 to July 2014 about
10,000 pages of military records,
news articles, various documents,
photos, obituaries, flyers, programs,
invitations, funeral handouts, marker/
headstone inscriptions, letters, emails
and special events have been collected by former CIVA Historian Lanny
Asepermy. Historical records and
archives have since been maintained
by current Historian Roger Tehauno
– the archives include a master list of
1,170 known Comanche veterans including 538 Comanche veteran photos, 67 photos of deceased Comanche
veteran military markers and bio’s of
about 600 Comanche veterans. The
master listing continues to be maintained by Asepermy and current Historian Tehauno.
CIVA Constitution: The
first known constitution of the CIVA
was signed on 12 September 2002 by
then Commander, Jack Codopony Sr
and attested by then Secretary, Albert Clark Jr. The Constitution was
revised and signed on 5 November 2015 by then Commander, Jack
Codopony Sr and attested by current
Secretary, Clifford Takawana. The
current constitution contains a Preamble and 10 articles. The Preamble
reads “The Comanche Indian Veterans Association is made up of honorably discharged Comanche veterans
from all branches of the United States
Armed Forces. Through a united and
determined effort we promote the
social, economic, moral and educational welfare of the Comanche Nation veterans by individual and group
activities, and do hereby ordain and
establish and adopt this constitution”.
The articles are I – Name; II Purpose;
III Membership; IV Organization; V
– Duties of the Officers and Appointees; VI – Removal from Office; VII
Conduct; VIII – Meetings; IX – Major Events and Honors and X – Princess.
The CIVA Court of Honor:
Most likely during the early 1980’s
until about 1993 the CIVA dedicated
6 granite dyes with the names, rank,
branch of service and years of service
of 612 Comanche veterans. The dyes
are located just west between the Nation HQ’s building and parking lot.
On 4 May 2004 Albert Clark Jr and
Asepermy secured funding from the
Nation and began upgrading what is
now called the CIVA Court of Honor.
The upgrade included a handicap accessible sidewalk and realignment
of the 6 original dyes. In addition, a
plague was installed in front of the
Code Talker memorial and the base of
the memorial was textured and painted a sand color to match the color of
the sand on Utah Beach, Normandy.
Two more dyes listing information of
about 221 Comanche veterans were
also added. Albert Jr and his wife,
Becky, purchased and donated an additional dye listing the names of the
Comanche Fallen Warriors and Prisoners of War. On 21 May 2009 another dye was added with the information about 110 Comanche veterans.
On 18 May 2013 three more dyes
were placed with information about
218 Comanche veterans along with
the names of the 23 Comanche Numu
Pukutsi and 57 Wounded Warriors.
Two granite benches were placed at
the south entrance of the Court. As of
31 December 2015 there are 12 dyes
in place at the CIVA Court of Honor
with the names of about 1100 Comanche veterans, 13 Fallen Warriors,
7 Prisoners of War, 23 Numu Pukutsi
and 57 Wounded Warriors.
The Code Talker Memorial:
On 26 September 2003 the Comanche Code Talker memorial was dedicated and put in place – the purpose
of the memorial was to recognize and
honor the Comanche Code Talkers of
World War II. The idea for the memorial was bought up and approved
at a monthly CIVA meeting by Jack
Codopony Sr, Elton Yellowfish, Albert Clark Jr, Jimmy Caddo, Eleanor
McDaniel, Richard Bread and Richard Attocknie. The actual design of
the memorial statue, called the Spirit
Talker, was from a sketch drawing
by Dean Aheokoko as envisioned
by Richard Attocknie. The sculpture
selected for fabricating the statue
was Dan Pogue from Marble Falls,
Texas at a cost of $38,000. Funding
was initialed by then CIVA Princess,
Randi Attocknie, when she donated
$450 to the CIVA from the proceeds
she received during a birthday Powwow in her honor. A presentation was
made, by the CIVA, at the 2002 General Council meeting, for additional
funding for the statue – the funding
was approved. After a contract, written by Yellowfish, with Pogue was
approved the fabrication of the statue
began. Two trips to Marble Falls by
Codopony Sr and Mrs. McDaniel followed to ensure the statue meant the
specifications of the contract. A final
trip to Marble Falls by Codopony
Sr, Mrs. McDaniel and Clark Jr was
made for the final inspection of the
statue. At the time of the dedication,
on 26 September 2003, the only living Code Talker was Charles Chibitty. In 2014 photos of the 5 World War
I Code Talkers and the 3 World War
II Code Talkers (who did not serve
overseas) were placed, courtesy of
Auxiliary member Mison Noriega,
on the east side of the Code Talker
memorial.
Fort Sill Veterans Affairs
National Cemetery Memorial: On
15 July 2005 members of the CIVA
dedicated a memorial at the Fort Sill
Veterans Affairs National Cemetery.
The memorial is located on the east
side of the cemetery near the American flag in an area called the Memorial Path. The inscription on the monument has the CIVA emblem with
“COMANCHE INDIAN VETERAS
ASSOCIATION” inscribed above it.
On the sides of the memorial it reads
“IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO
SERVED GOD AND COUNTRY”.
Fallen Warrior and POW/
MIA Memorial Panel: A panel with
photos and information about the
13 Comanche Fallen Warriors and 7
Prisoners of War was unveiled at the
Comanche Elder Center on 17 February 2007. The panel is permanently
displayed at the Elder Center and
the Comanche Nation Travel Center. A third panel is in storage at the
Comanche Nation Museum. Photos
and information was provided by
Asepermy – the panel was fabricated
by Dustin Miller.
Comanche Veterans Patriot Room and Gallery: On 13 May
2013 George Red Elk and Asepermy
established the Comanche Veterans
Patriot Room and Gallery to the right
of the entrance of the Comanche Nation HQ’s. The room contains framed
individual photos with brief bio’s of
about 500 Comanche veterans; the
US, Comanche Nation, Oklahoma,
CIVA and Code Talker flags; large
window panels with the great seals
of the US, Comanche Nation, Oklahoma, Army, Marine Corps, Navy,
Air Force and Coast Guard; and large
window panels with the history of
Comanche veterans during World
War I, World War II, the Korean War,
the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf
War and the War on Terror. Flavio
and Mison Noriega added three twofoot tall statues titled “Kneeling At
The Cross”, “Standing Guard” and
“No One Left Behind.” Mrs. Noriega
also fabricated a boarder to place the
framed photos upon. Several large
posters of CIVA activities and special
events also adorn the room. US flags
flown in either Iraq or Afghanistan
are also on display – they were donated by Comanche combat veterans
Randall Eckiwaudah, John Bennett
McClung and Manuel Zavala.
Tahsequah Garden: Was
established by George Red Elk and
Asepermy and dedicated on 6 March
2014. The Garden is located between
the Nation’s flag poles in front of the
HQ’s. The Garden was put into place
in honor and memory of LtCol Meech
Tahsequah who was declared dead
while missing in action and whose
body has not been recovered. An
individual flagpole with POW/MIA
flag, was added by Ronald Mahsetky
and Flavio Noriega, and is flown 24/7
at the garden until his remains are recovered.
Major Events and Monthly Meetings: The CIVA conduct three
major events each year – the Armed
Forces Day Banquet on Armed Forces Day, the Memorial Day Ceremony
on Memorial Day and the Veterans
Day Celebration usually on Veterans
Day. In addition a Christmas dinner
is provided to active membership and
their families during the month of December. Monthly meetings are held
the first Thursday of each month usually in the Comanche Veterans Patriot
Room and Gallery. On occasion the
meetings are held at the New Conference Room in the Nation’s Education
Building. The meetings are open to
any veteran or relatives of a veteran.
A meal is provided before each meeting by the Auxiliary followed by an
introduction of any special guest or
recognition/awards to Comanche veterans or families of Comanche veterans. A business session concludes the
meetings. The meetings open with a
prayer and pledge to allegiance and
closes with a prayer.
Honors, Special Recognition and Veterans Gift Packages:
Honors and Special Recognition are
presented to Comanche veterans,
Auxiliary members and non-Comanches who have made a significant contribution to the preservation
and history of the CIVA during the
Armed Forces Day Banquet, Memo-
rial Day Ceremony and Veterans Day
Celebration. Veteran gift packets are
also presented to Comanche veterans at monthly meetings or “on the
spot”. Packages have been mailed
to Comanche veterans from Washington, California, Arizona, New
Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Colorado,
Texas, Kansas, Indiana, Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Missouri, Ohio, New York
and throughout Oklahoma. Currently,
Comanche veteran honorees are presented an embroidered Grateful Nation or Comanche Nation Pendleton
blanket, a framed Certificate of Recognition, a miniature veteran’s horse,
a Veterans gift package and a stipend
– since 2005, honors have been presented to about 171 Comanche veterans. Forty-six Auxiliary members
have received Service Shawls (about
half of them also received a Service
Blanket) and eight non-Comanche
veterans and women have been given
special recognition for their support,
service and participation with the organization.
Veterans Gift Packages currently consist of Honorable Service,
Combat Service, Wounded Warrior
and Gallantry, Heroism, Valor medallions as earned by each recipient; a
CIVA Challenge Coin; a Comanche
Veterans DVD; a CIVA Coffee Cup;
2 CIVA and Comanche Nation Logo
stickers; a small fringed Comanche Nation flag; 2 CIVA Ink Pens;
a CIVA T-Shirt and Cap; and a Comanche Veterans Vehicle Tag. As of
31 December 2015 a total of 522 Gift
Packages have been either presented
or mailed to Comanche veterans.
Former
Commanders:
The first Commander of the CIVA,
according to the Suminski document, was Edgar Monetatchi. Other
Commanders, according to research
by former Commander George Red
Elk, include Algeron Tonips (photo
not available), Edward Yellowfish,
James Chasenah, Nate Woommavovah, Robert “Blackjack” Kassanavoid, Ted Pewo, Nipper Tiddark
in 1995, Jack Codopony Sr from
1996-07 and 2014-15, Kevin Pohawpatchoko from 2007-08 and George
Red Elk from 2008-14. The dates as
Commander are not known for Tonips, Yellowfish, Chasenah, Woommavovah, Pewo and Kassanavoid.
Zekey Tahsequah may also have been
a Commander, this is not confirmed
other than hearsay.
Princesses: Research by
current Auxiliary Leader, Linda Tehauno, has provided the following information about the CIVA Princesses.
The current princess of the CIVA is
Lauren Ashley Noriega. Her term is
from May 2015 to May 2017. Shelby
Elizabeth Mata served from 201315; Chelsea Sapcut from 2011-2013;
Krista Nicole Hubbard from 20032011; Christina Jones from 2002-03;
Randi Lynn Attocknie from 2000-02;
Megan Velene Stone from 1998-00;
Melinda Alcala from 1996-97; Shana
Marie Tahhahwah from 1995-96;
Lisa Karty from 1993-94; Lorraine
McCurtain from 1991-93; Thomasine Kaudle-Kaule from 1989-91;
Deborah Tahah from 1983-85; Cri
Cri Brittan from 1982-83; Francis
Mowatt from 1979-81; and Colette
Tahah from 1976-79. No Princess is
listed for the years 1986-88.
Funding: Was first provided to the CIVA in 2006 and 2007 by
the Comanche Nation Business Committee. Since 2008 funding has been
approved by the referendum vote of
the Comanche Nation.
Commitments since 2003:
Since 1 January 2003 through 31
December 2015 the CIVA has fulfilled about 1200+ commitments (an
average of 90-120 each year) to include placement of military markers
(215 placements to date – the first
being Dennis Redbone, the last being Anthony Pelosi) and providing
a military funeral detail (215 to date
– the first was Kiowa Warrior Twohatchet in 1992, the last was Preston
Gwoompi on 3 February 2016 ) for
the families of deceased veterans
and former Auxiliary members. They
have provided, most years, the Color
Guard for Comanche Homecoming,
the Comanche Nation Fair and the
Comanche Nation Fair parade. Other
Color Guard commitments include
Pow-wow’s, banquets, memorials,
ceremonies, celebrations, sporting
events, dedications, grand openings,
parades, inaugurations, graduations
and many other special events. In addition the CIVA has Co-hosted at numerous Pow-wow’s, provided guest
speakers for school and military
events, participated in Soldier homecomings and departures, performed
flag raising and lowering ceremonies,
hosted 3 major events each year and
been special guest for prayer services and weddings. The CIVA has
also provided monetary assistance to
veterans and their families and have
made hospital, nursing home, retirement center and home visits with our
ill and aging veterans. Over 200 military news articles and CIVA activities
have also been published in The Comanche Nation News and other local
newspapers.
Current Active Membership: The current active membership
of the CIVA as of 1 January 2016 includes Ronald Mahsetky, Commander; Roger Tehauno, Vice Commander/Historian; Clifford Takawana,
Secretary; George Red Elk, Treasurer; Lonnie Henderson, Sergeant at
Arms; Flavio Noriega, Quartermaster/Color Guard Coordinator; and
Jimmy Caddo, Chaplin. Other active
members are Larry Carnes; Cecilia
Gipson; and Richard Sapcutt. Active
veteran members are provided with a
beret, vest, tie, funeral tie and slide,
ribbon rack, jacket, CIVA T-shirt and
hat and appropriate service medallions. Active Auxiliary members are
Arvillia Craig; Beverly Isaac; Phyllis Mahsetky; Mison Noriega; Arnita
Pewewardy; Nona Gail Mihecoby;
Rebecca Howlingwater; Lucinda
Pueblo; Yonevea Sapcut; Fran Sapcutt; Cheryl Takawana; Linda Tehauno (Auxiliary Leader), and Yonevea
Terry. Active Auxiliary members are
provided with a service shawl and
blanket, T-shirt, jacket and medallion. Active membership requires at
least three months of participation
with the organization and approval of
the active membership.
Current CIVA Officers and Appointees: Seated from left to right:
Ronald Mahsetky, Commander;
Roger Tehauno, Vice-Commander/
Historian; Jimmy Caddo, Chaplain; and Clifford Takawana, Secretary; Standing from left to right:
Flavio Noriega, Color Guard Coordinator and Quartermaster; Linda
Tehauno, Auxiliary Leader and
George Red Elk, Treasurer. Lonnie Henderson, Sergeant at Arms
not in photo.
There are also a number of
veterans and Auxiliary that continue
to support the CIVA. They are Lanny,
Shelley and Barbara Asepermy; Sharon Enriquez; Talbert Gooday; Jim
Lane (Associate); Jimmy Looking
Glass; Clara Ruddell; Richard Perez;
Stanton Pewewardy; Kevin Pohawpatchoko; Georgia Sapcut; Michael
Squire; Garrison Tahmahkera; and
Rhonda Williams.
Other former active members who have resigned, retired, relocated, have medical issues or have
full-time jobs are Don Brown (Associate); Patricia Bread; Eva Chappabitty; Albert Jr and Becky Clark;
Jack Codopony Sr; Rita Coosewoon;
Monica Galindo; Jose (Associate)
and Sandra Gallegos; Beth Giles;
Baliente Herrera; Frank (Associate)
and Susie Hubbard; Alice Jay; Larry
and Jana Laurenzana; Eleanor McDaniel; Harry Mithlo; Rosalie Pennah; Budd Phillips (Associate); Jan
Marie Sapcut; Donna Smith; Towana
Spivey (Associate); Anna and Benny
Tahmahkera; Jewell Tieyah; Kent
Tomah; Doug Williams; and Lamoni
Yazzie. There are probably others
that are not listed.
Active members that have
passed away since 2003 include
Richard Bread; Myra Burgess; Beverly Caddo; Beverly Chasenah;
Leatrice Jay; Wilbur Sapcut; Ruth
Smith; Zona Suminski; and Merrick
Youngman.
April 2016
14
The Comanche Nation News
Culinary Corner
Viburnum
Submitted by Steve Parker/Primitive
Archer Magazine
Recipes for
Home Cooking
Baked Ziti
er of the coated pasta and the remaining sauce and mozzarella.
7. Bake until bubbling, about 20
minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before
sprinkling with chopped parsley to
serve.
Patty Melts
Prep Time 30m/Cook 1h10m
Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound Italian sausage
• Two 14.5-ounce cans tomato sauce
or marinara sauce
• One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes
with juice
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound ziti
• 1 1/2 pounds mozzarella, grated
• One 15-ounce tub whole-milk ricotta
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for sprinkling
• 2 eggs
Directions
1. Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions
and saute until starting to soften, 3
to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef
and sausage and cook until browned.
Drain off almost all of the fat, leaving
a bit behind for flavor and moisture.
Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and
some salt and pepper. Stir, bring to
a simmer and simmer for 25 to 30
minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of the
cooked sauce to a bowl to cool down.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil
and add some salt. Cook the ziti until
not quite al dente.
3. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
4. In a bowl, mix 2 cups of the grated
mozzarella, the ricotta, Parmesan,
parsley, eggs and some salt and pepper. Stir together just a couple of
times (do not mix completely).
5. Drain the pasta and rinse under
cool water to stop the cooking and
cool it down. Pour it into the bowl
with the cheese mixture and toss to
slightly combine (there should still
be large lumps). Add the cooled reserved meat sauce and toss to combine.
6. Add half the coated pasta to a large
casserole dish or lasagna dish. Spoon
half of the remaining sauce over the
top, then top with half the remaining
mozzarella. Repeat with another lay-
Prep 30m/ Cook 40m/Ready in
1h10m
Ingredients
• 1 stick butter
• 1 whole large onion, halved and
sliced
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 5 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 8 slices rye bread
• 8 slices Swiss cheese
Directions
1. In a medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over mediumlow heat. Throw in the sliced onions
and cook slowly until the onions are
golden brown and soft, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together
the ground beef, Worcestershire and
some salt and pepper. Form into 4
patties.
3. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in
a separate skillet over medium heat.
Cook the patties on both sides until
totally done in the middle.
4. Assemble the patty melts this
way: Slice of bread, slice of cheese,
hamburger patty, a quarter of the
cooked onions, another slice of
cheese and another slice of bread.
5. On a clean griddle or in a large
skillet over medium heat, melt 2
tablespoons of the butter and grill
the sandwiches until golden brown.
Remove the sandwiches and add the
remaining 2 tablespoons butter to
the skillet. Return the sandwiches to
the skillet, flipping them to the other
side. Cook until golden brown and
crisp, and until the cheese is melted.
Slice in half and serve immediately!
Escalloped Cabbage
Casserole
Prep 10m/ Cook 30m/ Ready In
40m
Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons butter, plus more for
greasing the pan
• Kosher salt
• 1 head green cabbage
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• Freshly ground black pepper
• One 15-ounce jar processed cheese
sauce or dip, such as Cheez Whiz
• 1 cup grated pepper Jack cheese
• 1 jalapeno pepper, sliced into
rounds, seeds removed
• Paprika, as needed
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter a 9-by-9-inch baking dish.
2. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Slice the cabbage into 4
wedges. Remove the hard inner core.
Parboil the wedges for 1 to 2 minutes.
Drain very well, then arrange in the
prepared baking dish.
3. In a medium skillet over medium
heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the
flour and cook for a minute or 2.
Whisk in the milk, add a pinch of salt
and pepper and cook until beginning
to thicken. Turn off the heat and stir
in the processed cheese and pepper
Jack.
4. Pour the cheese mixture over
the cabbage. Dot with the jalapeno
rounds and sprinkle on some paprika.
Bake until golden and bubbly, about
20 minutes.
Directions
1. To begin, dice the onion. Melt the
butter in a large pot or Dutch oven.
Throw in the onion and cook until
translucent.
2. Now dump in the diced tomatoes
and stir to combine. Add the tomato
juice.
3. Next - and this is important - in
order to combat the acidity of the
tomatoes add 3 to 6 tablespoons
of sugar. Now, you’ll want to start
on the low side, then taste and add
more as needed. Some tomatoes and
juice have more of an acidic bite
than others. (For what it’s worth,
and I realize it’s not worth much, I
use 6 tablespoons of sugar.)
4. Next, add 1 or 2 tablespoons
chicken base to the pot. I added 3,
and it wound up being a little too
much.
5. Now you can add lots of freshly
ground black pepper. Stir to combine, then heat almost to a boil.
Then turn off the heat.
6. Add in the sherry if desired. Stir in
the cream. Add the basil and parsley
and stir.
7. Serve the soup warm!
Chow Mein
Best Tomato Soup Ever
25 min. Prep Time/Cook 15m/Ready
In 40min
Ingredients
• 1 medium white or yellow onion
• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter
• Two 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
• One 46-ounce bottle or can tomato
juice
• 3 to 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1 or 2 tablespoons chicken base, or
3 chicken bouillon cubes
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup sherry, optional
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
5min Prep/Ready In 15min/Cook
10m
Ingredients
• 8 ounces thin lo mein noodles
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 1/2 head napa cabbage, sliced thin
• 1/2 onion, sliced
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• Sliced green onions, for topping
Directions
1. Bring a pot of water to a boil and
cook the noodles according to the
package directions. Drain and set
aside.
2. Heat a skillet over medium-high
heat and add the peanut oil. Add
the carrots, cabbage and onions and
cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken
broth, soy sauce and sesame oil, then
toss in the noodles. Top with sliced
green onions.
The healing plant used by
the Medicine Man was the viburnum.
This genus of shrubs and small trees
of the Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliacea) is found throughout much of
the temperature world, with at least
sixteen species native to North America. The range of the genus extends
throughout most of the United States
and Canada in varying habitats. Most
native viburnums are small to large
shrubs, but some, such as the black
haw (V. prunifolium), can reach
small tree status. All viburnums have
opposite simple leaves with finely to
coarsely-toothed margins. The flowers of most species are white and
borne in flat-topped corymbs. Fruits
are clustered fleshy drupes, ranging
in color from red to blue-black.
Viburnums have a long
history of medicinal usage. The medicinal properties vary somewhat
between species, but most have antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic,
nervine, uterine relaxant, pain relieving, and anti-inflammatory properties. Active constituents include
viburnin, scopoletin, salicosides,
tannins, saponins, and arbutin. The
part of the plant used is the bark of
the stem or root. Several species of
viburnum are known by the common
name “crampbark,” which signifies
one of their principle uses. Viburnum
is considered to be one of the best
medicines for relieving menstrual,
muscle, and stomach cramps and
spasms. It has long been used in formulas for “women’s medicine.” This
plant has also been used for centuries
as a preventative for abortions and
miscarriages. Slave owners were said
to have sometimes given viburnum
to their female slaves to prevent them
from aborting children who, when
born, were considered valuable property of the salve owner. Viburnum
contains salicin similar to aspirin and
is effective in treating minor pain and
inflammation. Other medicinal uses
include the treatment of asthma and
digestive disorders. High doses of
viburnum are suspected of lowering
blood pressure.
Some viburnums have food
value. The fruits of some species are
edible and tasty raw or cooked into
sauces and jellies. Some species have
berries that are sometimes used as
a substitute for cranberries. Others
have fruits that taste similar to raisins or dates, while others have bitter, unpalatable, or even mildly toxic
fruits. The seeds of the edible species should probably be avoided, as
should unripe fruit. Among the edible
species, the taste and quality of fruits
can vary considerable between individual plants. As there are so many
species of viburnum, you should be
sure to identify your local species and
research their edibility before using
them as food.
Viburnums have utilitarian
usages. Many species are commonly
known as “arrowwood,” as the young
shoots tend to grow very straight and
have been preferred arrow shaft material around the world for thousands
of years. Otzi, the 5,000-year-old frozen “ice man” mummy discovered
in the European Alps, had viburnum
arrow shafts in his quiver. The wood
is strong and dense, with some species having a specific gravity of .80
or more. The species that grow into
large shrubs or small trees can be
made into bows.
Other common names, such
as witheord, suggest the use of the
flexible bound shoots for weaving
and lashing.
April 2016
15
The Comanche Nation News
Milestones
Happy Belated Birthday
Sydney Ellis Rotert, March 1
Darien Coffey, March 6
Jerome Howlingwater, March 27
Happy Birthday
Carrie Coffey, April 2
Jaxon Enyo Jolin, April 2
Chuck Pollard, April 6
Sophia Leone, April 6
Marley Sunshine Minthorn, April 6
Vanessa Lynn Ruiz, April 8
Gaylon Motah, April 10
Noah Grey Jolin, April 11
Christian Todd Bennett, April 15
Nevaeh Ann Simmons, April 15
Kristie Coffey, April 17
Martina Minthorn-Callahan, April 18
Bethany Leeanna Rose Long , April 18
Sheyanne Juarez, April 19
Nicole Peeler, April 22
Lloyd Heminokeky Jr., April 23
Rodney Lee Parker, April 25
Taleliah Tahhahwah, April 26
Laura Juarez, April 27
Eli Tahhahwah-Martinez, April 27
Karen Coffey, April 30
The Comanche Nation News
May Edition Deadline
April 15, before 5 p.m.
Email: [email protected]
Contact PIO (580)492-3386
By Mail:Comanche Nation/PIO
P.O. Box 908
Lawton, OK 73501
Happy Belated Birthday
Sydney Ellis Rotert
March 1
Happy Belated Birthday
Hayley Howlingwater
March 27
Happy Birthday
Christian Todd Bennett
April 15
You stand tall and
overcome so much.
You are an example of
Comanche courage.
Your gifts to this world
are many.
Mom & Dad are grateful
for every one.
HAPPY 14TH
BIRTHDAY
Happy Birthday
Nevaeh Ann Simmons
April 15
We love you baby girl.
Mom & Dad and all your
grandmas, grandpas,
aunts, uncles and especially all us cousins.
Happy Birthday
Jaxon Enyo Jolin
April 2
We are blessed baby boys
and you are loved. Mom
and Dad, grandmas and
grandpas, aunts and
uncles and especially all
us cousins.
Happy Birthday
Noah Grey Jolin
April 11
We are blessed baby boys
and you are loved. Mom
and Dad, grandmas and
grandpas, aunts and
uncles and especially all
us cousins.
Happy Birthday
Nicole Peeler
April 22
Happy Birthday
Lloyd Heminokeky Jr.
April 23
Happy 19th Birthday
Sheyanne Juarez
April 19
In Loving Memory
Happy Birthday
Charles Pollard in Heaven,
They say that there is a reason and
that time will heal, but will not change
the way we feel.
For no one knows the heart ache that
lies beneath our smiles, no one knows
how many times we have broke down
and cried, your so wonderful to think
of, but hard to be without.
~Mary Pollard & Family
Happy Birthday
Vanessa Lynn Ruiz
April 8
Happy Anniversary
Johnny & Laura Juarez
April 16
Happy Birthday
Eli Tahhahwah-Martinez
April 27
Happy 4First Birthday
Laura Juarez
April 27
Comanche Nation Crime Stoppers
Tip Line [580] 492-1847 [580] 492-1TIP
Help Stop Crime on Tribal Lands
Happy Birthday
Taleliah Tahhahwah
April 26
Married
18 years
In Loving Memory
Leatrice Wermy
3/1/1937-4/14/2012
In Loving Memory
Loving Mother &
Grandmother
We miss you
& love you
From the Caddo
Family
Dale Scott Long
April 26, 1974 - January 8, 2015
Mothers Day 2016~Sunday, May 8
Wish those special Mother’s a Happy Mothers Day in the May edition of The Comanche Nation News-Deadline: April 15
Powwow Trail
Comanche Nation Youth
Program Pow Wow
April 23, at Watchetaker
Hall, Lawton, Okla.
Gourd Dance- 2 p.m., Supper break5 p.m., Grand Entry- 7 p.m.
MC Wallace Coffey, HYLGD Tasha Tahchawwickah, HYMGD
Mitchell Gwoomp, HYLWD Amarose Blackstar, HS Alex Akoneto,
HYMWD Wyatt Patty, AD Travis
Codynah.
Contest in all categories:
Tiny-tots to 18 years old.
Special invitations to all
Princess Club and organizations.
For information contact Tiffany Allen (580) 583-7327 or (580)
492-3290.
Esa Rosa Descendants
Benefit Powwow
3 p.m.-11 p.m., April 30,
2016 at Watchetaker Hall,Comanche
Nation Complex, nine miles North of
Lawton, Oklahoma.
All Gourd dance, MC Cy
Ahtone, HS Parker Emhoolah, HMD
Glen Lonetree, HLD Carlene Atauvich, AD Alex Cook, S John Chasenah.
Public Welcome, Invitation
to all Tribal Club Princesses and organizations.
Vendors welcome to set up
for a fee.
For more information contact, Frank Whitewolf (580) 6781540.
Haskell Indian Nation
University 2016
Commencement Powwow
May 6-7, at Haskell Campus, Lawrence, KS.
Friday Gourd dance 5:30
p.m. and Grand entry will begin 7:00
p.m. Saturday Gourd dance will begin 5:30 p.m. and Grand entries will
begin 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Comanche Little Ponies
48th Annual Celebration
May 7, at Comanche County Fairgrounds, Expo Center, Lawton, OK.
MC Wallace Coffey, HS
Robert Tehauno, HGD Balliente Herrera, HLD Erin Yarholar, J.T Liles,
HND Young Buffalo Horse, AD Travis Codynah, AD Sam Howell, CG
Comanche Little Pony Veterans.
Contest divisions: Tiny-tots
combined, Jr. Girls combined, Jr.
Boys combined, Mens; Fancy, Grass,
Traditional and Straight, Women’s;
Cloth, Buckskin and Jingle. Special contest, Men’s Chicken dance
(Round bustle dancers only).
For more information contact, Lowell Nibbs (580) 583-5279,
for vendors contact (405) 341-7874.
10th Annual AIHREA
Powwow
May 7-8, 2016 at Johnson
County Community College, Field
House. Saturday 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.,
Sunday 1:00 p.m.
MC Lawrence Baker and
Isaiah, HMD Trae Little Sky, HFD
Laryn Oakes, HAD Joe Bointy, AD
Chago Hale, HMJ Royce Kingbird,
HFJ Toni Mule. Host Drums, Wild
Band of Comanches and Young Bear
Singers.
For more information contact, Jason Hale (913) 945-7822 or
Vendor information contact (913)
469-8500 ext. 4570
24th Annual Monacan Indian
Nation Powwow
10 a.m.-9 p.m., May 21,
2016 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m., May 22,
2016, located at Rt. 130, 6 miles
West of Rt. 29 In, Elon, V.A., Admission for Adults $8, Seniors $6
and Children $6
Send Powwow
Flyers and
Information to:
Candace Todd
[email protected]
or call
(580) 492-3386
April 2016
16
The Comanche Nation News
Obituaries
never met a stranger. Frances loved
his nieces and nephews. He was a
grandma’s boy and loved and missed
his Grandma Esther. He was loved
and will be missed.
He is survived by his mother, Gina Longhat of Apache; sisters
and brothers in laws: Dawndi and
Kevin Paddyaker of Cache, Kara and
Jared Coffman of Apache; nieces and
nephews: Michelle Longhat, Baylee
Paddyaker, Kerry Paddyaker, Daniel,
Dustin and Dayton Coffman.
He is preceded in death by:
Father, Melvin Longhat, grandparents: Esther Parker, Bill and Eleanor
(Beaver) Longhat; great grandparents: Ahway and Len Parker; greatgreat grandparents: Maddicome and
Semeno.
Longhat
Frances John Longhat
passed away on March 12 in Cache.
Funeral service was March
18, Comanche Nation Funeral Home.
Burial followed at Deyo Cemetery
under the direction of Comanche Nation Funeral Home.
Prayer service was March
17, at Comanche Nation Funeral
Home.
Longhat was born on April
3, 1980 to Regina Parker and Melvin Longhat in Lawton Oklahoma.
He grew up in Apache and attended
old Boone School from kinder garden thru the fifth grade. He graduated
from Apache High School where he
was active in basketball. Longhat
then attended Cameron University.
He worked at the Comanche Nation
Truck Wash. Longhat entered the
Tough Man Contest at the coliseum
under the name of Chief. He also
worked at the Comanche Senior caregivers.
He enjoyed fishing, cooking, going to casino. He was willing to help any and everybody. He
Sheila Ann
Tahdooahnippah Amero
Amero
Sheila Ann Tahdooahnippah Amero 71 of Cache passed away
with her loving family by her side on
March 13, in Lawton.
Funeral service was March
17, at Comanche Nation Funeral
Home with Rev. Matt Asetamy and
Rev. Nick Tahchawwickah officiating. Burial followed at the Cache
KCA Cemetery under the direction
of Comanche Nation Funeral Home.
Amero was born in Lawton
on February 2, 1945 to Gertrude Tahdooahnippah. She graduated from
Cache High School. Amero played
basketball and softball when she was
in school.
She was a member of the
west Church of the Nazarene and a
member of the Comanche Nation
of Oklahoma. She enjoyed making
flower arrangements, sewing, word
puzzles, spending time with her family especially great grandson.
Amero is survived by:
daughters and son in law: Audrey and
Jess Cizek of Elgin, Laura Wauqua
Phillips of Cache, son and daughter
in law: Jason and Karen Wauqua of
Cache; grandchildren: Jay, James,
Daniel, Robin, Randy, Josh, Mathew,
Michael, Marcus, Evan and Mead;
great grandchildren: Davian, Talia,
Lou, Cheyanne, Alexander, Kaydence, Alex, Toni, Angeline, Kaylee, Embree, Hayden, Jaelen and
Dashaun; aunts: Clara Begay of Virginia; cousins: Glynis Geionety and
Shari Geionety, John and Beverly
Wermy, Kendra and Dave Clark all
of Cache; good friend: Doris DeJesus many other family members and
friends.
She is preceded in death by:
mother, Gertrude Tahdooahnippah;
sisters, Georgia Waites, Sharon Lee
and Alberta Leitz; aunts: Clarice Tahdooahnippah, Estelle Saupitty, Audrey Geionety; uncles: Luther, Rafey,
Calvin; companion: Jim Jefferies;
grandparents: George and Clara
Tahdooahnippah and John and June
(Kopaddy) Wermy, Ella Connywerdy
and Kopaddy.
Eddie Wayne Sain
Sain
Eddie Wayne Sain 56 of
Lawton passed away February 19, in
Lawton.
Funeral Service was March
23, at Comanche Nation Funeral
Home Chapel. Burial followed at
Celestial Gardens in Cyril under the
direction of Comanche Nation Funeral Home.
Sain was born on October 4,
2016 in Jacksburo, Texas to William
and Vivian (Martinez) Sain.
He grew up in Elgin spending most of his time at “The Creek”.
He also attended Elgin High School.
Eddie worked in the oil field as a
roughneck. He was a member of the
Comanche Nation of Oklahoma. He
enjoyed spending time with friends,
going to the casino and helping others in need.
Sain is survived by: two
daughters: Allison Sain of Elgin and
Shelsea Sain of Houston; grandson:
Sawyer Skinner of Houston; brother
and sister in law: Terry and Judy Sain
of Baytown, Texas; niece and nephew: Whitney and Cody Sain.
Sain is preceded in death by:
parents: Bill and Vivian Sain; grandparents: Will and Carrie Sain, Condy
and Mattie Martinez; brother, Rusty
Sain.
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm
free, I'm following the path God
laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard
his call, I turned my back and
left it all.
I could not stay another day, To
laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay
that way, I've found that peace
at the end of the day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered
joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a
kiss, Ah, yes, these things too I
will miss.
Be not burdened with times of
sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My Life's been full, I savoured
much, Good friends, good
times, a loved one' touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all
too brief, Don't lengthen it now
with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share
with me, God wanted me now,
He set me free.
Janice M. Fair-Salters
Dear TCNN
Letters to the Editor
Courtesy Photo
Dear TCNN,
I am a Comanche tribal
member and on Saturday, March 5th
I was at the Hobby Lobby store in
Lawton on Sheridan Road. As I was
browsing the store I came across the
attached "art" that was for sale in their
store. I was in total shock that this
Christian-based store would sell such
culturally insensitive depictions and
call it art. I immediately went to the
store manager Joe Bestgin and voiced
my concerns.
I informed him that I am Indian and have never been WILD. I
also let him know the teepee is a sacred part of our history; it was life
back then and used in special ceremonies and celebrations today. He, with
an "I don't care" attitude said, "I'll see
what I can do."
As I was leaving the store
I saw what he did. By the checkout counter there was a cart used for
those items misplaced or not purchased and needed to be re-shelved....
you guessed it, there was the "art" I
had complained about.
I have attached those pictures. I think this is something our
tribal members need to know about
and take a stand against.
Respectfully,
Sofia (Laurenzana) Vaughn
Dear TCNN,
I really appreciated Steve
Parker's write up on White Pine. It
was interesting, informative and confirms what I believe about nature. I
have an old book my parents gave
me (Monroe & Pat Tahmahkera). Its
thin, but has so much info. It's simply
called American Indian Remedies.
It's full of "tried and true" cures using herbs, barks, roots, tobacco, etc.
I believe modern medicine copies
what God already gave us in nature. I
lost my hair really bad several years
ago when I hit menopause. Using
pure oils of Cedarwood, Rosemary
and Clary Sage with prayer, it has all
come back better than ever!
Also, I had non-alcoholic
liver cirrhosis for several years. I
drink lemon water every day and in
December, they said my blood test
was clear, no signs of it, and I didn't
have to have the usual sonograms!
Now if I could just find a
remedy for wrinkles!
Please thank Parker for his
article and tell him to write more,
please!
I love this paper. I love &
appreciate y’all.
Karen Tahmahkera
Watauga, TX
Dear TCNN,
The Comanche Nation Elder
Nutrition Center’s Advisory Council
wants to thank Comanche Business
Committeeman, Clyde Narcomey, for
graciously donating a popcorn machine to us.
He paid for it out of his own
pocket, and we are very thankful for
his generosity.
The Comanche Nation Elder Nutrition Center Advisory Council
Dear TCNN,
I want to thank the Comanche Nation PIO for the interview that
Mrs. Schonchin provided on November 20, 2015. I found your answers to
my questions to be interesting.
I did not know your culture
didn’t recognize Columbus Day, but
now I can see why. I also found that
the elders in your culture to be highly
respected.
The information you provided me helped make my project a
success.
Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Gabriel Chavez
Wyndmere, ND
Dear TCNN,
My name is Tasha Fridia. I
am an enrolled member of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and a second
year law student attending Oklahoma
City University School of Law. Presently, I serve on the executive board
for the National Native American
Law Students Association (NNALSA). One of our organizational goals
is to increase the number of Native
Americans in the legal profession.
In furtherance of that goal,
NNALSA has partnered with OCU
Law to offer an event specifically for
tribal higher education professionals,
current high school and college students, as well as other tribal members
interested in law school. This event
will include sessions on: how to navigate the law school application process, financial aid/funding sources
for law school, and a lunch session
with current Native American law
students. Our hope is that every tribe
in the state will bring a delegation of
students so that they can learn about
the power of two degrees and how a
legal education can strengthen their
nations.
Please join us at the OCU
Law campus in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. RSVP including the number of students, staff
and tribal members you will bring.
Instructions can be found on the attached flyer (see left). If you have
further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Also feel free to
include this in your tribal newspapers.
Best,
Tasha R. Fridia
April 2016
17
The Comanche Nation News
Local Responder Attends
Homeland Security Training
Submitted by Vern Griffin/Comanche Nation Police Dept. Chief of Police
Emergency
Responders
Chief Griffin, Capt. Daly and Capt.
Wood from Comanche Nation, recently completed training offered by
the Center for Domestic Preparedness
(CDP), in Anniston, Ala. The CDP is
operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security's Federal
Emergency Management Agency and
is the only federally-chartered Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
training facility in the nation.
The CDP develops and delivers advanced training for emergency response providers, emergency
managers, and other government officials from state, local, and tribal governments. The CDP offers more than
40 training courses focusing on incident management, mass casualty response, and emergency response to a
catastrophic natural disaster or terrorist act. Training at the CDP campus
is federally funded at no cost to state,
local, and tribal emergency response
professionals or their agency.
Resident training at the CDP
includes healthcare and public health
courses at the Noble Training Facility,
the nation's only hospital dedicated to
training healthcare professionals in
disaster preparedness and response.
A number of resident training courses culminate at the CDP's
Chemical, Ordnance, Biological and
Radiological (COBRA) Training
Facility. The COBRA is the nation's
only facility featuring civilian training exercises in a true toxic environment using chemical agents. The
advanced hands-on training enables
responders to effectively prevent,
respond to, and recover from realworld incidents involving acts of terrorism and other hazardous materials.
Responders participating in
CDP training gain critical skills and
confidence to respond effectively to
local incidents or potential WMD
events.
Information about CDP
training programs can be found at
http://cdp.dhs.gov. Visit the "News
& Media" tab at the top of the site to
download images, share CDP training articles, and find out what others
are saying about CDP training. For
more information about the CDP,
contact the CDP External Affairs Office, at (256) 847- 2212/2316 or email [email protected].
Herrin Professional
Tie-Down Calf Roper
NATIVE AMERICAN SCI-FI MOVIE COMES TO LAWTON, Okla. Vaska Theatre, 1902 NW Ferris
Ave., Lawton, will show the movie, Legends from the Sky, an independent film from Holt Hamilton,
director of the movie More Than Frybread, 6 p.m. June 3. Hamilton will be present following the show
to answer questions and greet movie fans. The movie is about a Native American Veteran, burdened
by survivor’s guilt after a disastrous military tour, is forced to search for his missing grandfather after
his ancestral lands is mysteriously taken over by an unknown federal organization. It stars Edsel Pete,
Mia Sable and Chris Robinson.
NAJA Calls for Ethical, Informed
ICWA Reporting
Courtesy Photo
The Native American Journalists Association addresses deficient coverage of
the child-welfare case involving Choctaw family; Will create a guide for
reporters covering the Indian Child Welfare Act
Submitted by Rebecca Landsburry/ NAJA
Submitted by Wrangler Network
Hunter Herrin has a reputation and it is one that has served him
well in his 11 years as a member of
the PRCA.
The man from Apache,
Oklahoma has had a lot of success in
the rodeo arena and it’s largely due to
his hands. The same hands that guide
his horse and throw his rope, are
some of the fastest hands in rodeo.
Those hands have earned
him $93,813 so far this year and see
him coming into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in fourth place,
one spot behind his traveling partner
Marty Yates. If the Thomas and Mack
Center was the location western movie, Hunter would be playing the role
of the gunfighter.
Instead, the arena at the
WNFR will find him doing the same
things he has done in eight previous
qualifications. However, he comes
into the competition in a great place,
has awesome horsepower, and those
hands.
Herrin has come close to a
gold buckle before, finishing second
to Stran Smith in 2008. He lost the
world title by less than $2,500 and
that’s largely due to not placing in
the average. That’s been an issue in
the past and will play into this year’s
world title, no matter who wins it.
The average at this year’s
event pays a whopping $67,269.
The rounds pay $26,231 so a guy
like Herrin, who will come out with
guns blazing, can win a lot of round
money. He’s not a contestant that is
known to make businessmen runs
and safety up. He is known to go full
bore, all out, all the time.
He placed in 7 of 10 rounds
last year earning $37,698. He finished ninth in the average – just one
spot out of the money. His family,
fans and sponsors expect big things
out of him at this year’s WNFR. Herrin expects to deliver and is hoping
for his first world title.
The Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) is disheartened by some of the mainstream
reporting on the recent adoption case
involving a Choctaw Nation child
and a non-Native adoptive couple in
Los Angeles County.
While NAJA understands
that the court-ordered custody
change attempted by the California
Department of Children and Family
Services was emotionally charged, it
is our steadfast belief that journalistic
standards of reporting must prevail.
Indeed, when reporting
about issues with great emotional
and human impact, honoring the
ethical values of accuracy, fair sourcing and the proper provision of con-
text should be the guiding principles
that ensure good journalism. When
reporting on this case specifically,
NAJA urges all media to include essential background on this case and
the Indian Child Welfare Act in order
to provide the context necessary for
their audience to fully understand this
complex story.
As an organization dedicated to encouraging our own members
to attain the highest ethical standings
in their work, NAJA strongly encourages both mainstream and Native
American media outlets to both seek
truth and minimize harm, in accordance with the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics.
In response to the arbitrary
reporting by mainstream media on
this national story, NAJA will also
be releasing a reporting guide to aid
reporters and editors when covering
cases that fall under the Indian Child
Welfare Act.
For additional resources
and information on covering Indian
Country, visit the NAJA Legal Resource Room or contact Interim Executive Director Rebecca Landsberry
at [email protected].
View this release on the
NAJA website here: http://www.naja.
com/news/m.blog/509/naja-calls-forethical-informed-icwa-reporting. ;
April 2016
18
The Comanche Nation News
The Comanche Nation Handgame Tournament Attracts
Twice as Many Out-of-State Players This Year
Submitted by Carlene Atauvich Collins/ Comanche Nation Hand Game Tournament Coordinator
“Hand game,” also called
“Bone Game,” “Stick game,” or “Slahal,” was played by many of our ancestors long ago. This type of play
is a Native American guessing game
that predates recorded history; it is
also known as a first way of gambling.
Once played for land use,
wives, lodging and goods, such as
clothing, beadwork, horses, and cattle, now is a form of trade and social
bonding among Native peoples.
Today, it is becoming more
than just a social gathering; it is becoming high stakes competition with
tournaments scheduled across the
United States and as far as North
Canada. First place payouts range
from $45,000 to $10,000.
The first year the Comanche Nation held this tournament,first
place payout was $5,000; the second
year first place payout was $7,000;
and this year first place payout was
$8,000.
This is the third year tribal
member Carlene Atauvich-Collins
coordinated the tournament. Each
year the tournament has grown.
The Comanche Nation Hand
game Tournament has become one of
the biggest tournaments in the State
of Oklahoma, according to AtauvichCollins.
This was the first year the
Comanche Nation Hand Game Tournament brought two different styles
of play together. The games started on March 4 with “Free for All,”
which means Open games. Players
choose sides and play amongst each
other. This type of play gave the outof-state players a chance to learn the
Oklahoma style of play.
The official tournament
started on March 5, with the traditional Material game. This game
was played for material items such
as: beadwork, blankets, shawls, etc.
This game was dedicated to the ancestors, whom played long ago. After the Material game was played, the
Oklahoma Style tournament began
lasting into the night.
On March 6, the Stick Game
Tournament began sponsored by the
Northern Ute Tribe of Fort Duch-
esne, Utah. This tournament gave the
Oklahoma players a chance to learn
and play a different type of playing
hand game.
“I hope everyone that came
or stopped by enjoyed themselves,”
expressed Atauvich-Collins. “To all
my hand game families, I just want
to say, I ‘Thank You’ all for coming
to the tournament and making the
weekend a success. Without all the
hand game players, a tournament is
nothing. You made this year’s Comanche Nation Hand Game Tournament awesome.” Atauvich-Collins
would also like to Thank the Northern Ute hand game teams, as well as
the out-of-state teams, for traveling
to the tournament.
The Comanche Nation
Hand Game Tournament brought
many tribes together from across the
Nation to socialize, fellowship and to
make new friends and families.
2016 COMANCHE NATION
HANDGAME TOURNAMENT
RESULTS
First Place Champions: Oklahoma
Indians/Oklahoma City area/Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribe
Second Place: Red Thunder/Carnegie area/Kiowa Tribe
Third Place: Magic/Clinton area/
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribe
Fourth Place: SW Comanche’s/
Cache area/Comanche Nation
Best Dressed Team: Spirit Bear
Best Singing Team Men: SW Comanches
Best Singing Team Women: Kiowa
Kickers
Best Hider: Lydia Yellowhair
Best Guesser: Jackie Yellowhair
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Eureka, Montana
Reno, Nevada
Fort Duchesne, Utah
Ibapah, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
White Mesa, Utah
Randlett, Utah
Roosevelt, Utah
Whiterock’s, Utah
Towaoc, Colorado
Farm Creek, Utah
Haskell-Lawrence, Kansas
Crow Agency, Montana
Total Teams: 21
Total Players: 239 Players
52 Out-of-State
Out-of-State Players from:
•
Bellingham, Washington
•
Flagstaff, Arizona
•
Oglala, South Dakota
•
Eagle Butt, South Dakota
•
Lame Deere, Montana
Photos by Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
Photos by Jolene Schonchin/News Staff
YOUTH TOURNAMENT.
The Comanche Nation Youth
Program hosted its inaugural youth handgame tournament on March 5. Seven
teams registered with a total
of 86 participants. First place
honors go to team Lil-Bit-ASouthside, and the runnerup team was the CNYP (Older), consolation prize along
with Best Dressed team was
Ahgoo. Best hider was Decora Monoessy with CNYP (Younger) and Best guesser was Tasi Wetselline with
Lil-Bit-A-Southside. The Comanche Nation Youth Program would like to thank all the participants and
sponsors who took time to teach, learn, and play.
April 2016
19
The Comanche Nation News
Story and photos by Stacey Heminokeky/News Staff
The Comanche Nation
Prevention and Recovery Program
held it’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt on
March 26 at the Comanche Nation
Headquarters.
The event had a abundance
of participants from seniors to toddlers, and over 2,000 eggs that covered the ground with colorful spring
colors.
Everyone that came out enjoyed the afternoon, hunting eggs,
hoping to find the prize. Each category had special prizes for the lucky
person. The prizes ranged from Walmart gift cards, to bikes, Televisions,
and much more.
The Prevention and Recovery Program would like to thank all
the volunteers and Comanche Nation
Programs that came out and helped
with this year’s successful event.
Donna Sis Kawaykla won
First Place in the Handicap/Elderly Category.
April 2016
20
The Comanche Nation News