CHICKASHA, OK — Tribal citizens gathered in a festive celebration Saturday to welcome the holidays with food, prizes, and gifts for the children! Participants signed in at the registration table to receive a raffle ticket, a t-shirt, and a goodies bag, from Delaware Nation Staff.

The Christmas dinner started at 11:00 AM (CST) with a warm prayer by Committee Member Terry Williams. Guests lined up to receive a delicious traditional holiday meal with turkey, dressing, gravy, green beans, and mac & cheese prepared by Cracker Barrel with pecan pie or Cinnamon rolls as dessert choices. Princess Serenitee McCasland and tribal staff served the elders and the remaining guests.

After the meal, all the children and parents gathered around Santa Claus next to the Christmas tree to receive their gifts, handed out by Princess Serenitee McCasland and the ladies of the Cultural Preservation Department. Happy children opened their presents and filled the arena with laughter and joy. Santa even made adults sit in his lap!

In the finale, Tribal Administrator Janice Maddox and Information Technology Director Joshua Farley drew and announced the winners of the raffle prizes. Smiles and warm hearts flooded the crowd as families fellowship in light of the Holiday season. Something COVID-19 was unable to stop, as there was a record-sized crowd large enough that Delaware Nation staff had to set up additional chairs and tables to fit the capacity!

Wanìshi to the hard-working staff that made this event happen, to Santa Claus, and to the citizens of this great Nation! More photos at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.680353086834951&type=3

By Wesley Boone Public Relations 12/3/2022 | Photos by Wesley Boone

President Deborah Dotson with guests at Christmas Party

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Wednesday pledged to give Native Americans a stronger voice in federal affairs, promising at the first in-person summit on tribal affairs in six years that he will bolster tribal consultations, inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in decision-making and funding for communities struggling with the impacts of climate change.

Biden spoke on the opening day of the two-day White House Tribal Nations Summit to representatives from hundreds of Native American and Alaska Native tribes, reiterating and announcing a series of new commitments. The summit coincides with National Native American Heritage Month, which is celebrated in November.

The Biden administration said its goal is to build on previous progress and create opportunities for lasting change in Indian Country, which isn’t guaranteed without codified laws and regulations.

“Administrations can bring in their priorities, but they shouldn’t be telling us who have lived here since the beginning of time how to manage our resources, which resources we can even access,” said Richard Peterson, president of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. “These are things that are inherent in our sovereignty.”

Among the pledges from the Biden administration is to establish uniform standards for federal agencies to consult with tribes and go beyond a “check the box” exercise, finalize a 10-year plan to revitalize Native languages and strengthen tribal rights like hunting and fishing that are outlined in existing treaties.

Biden also said he intends to designate Avi Kwa Ame, a desert mountain near Laughlin, Nevada, that’s considered sacred to Native Americans, as a new national monument. Last year, he restored the boundaries for Bears Ears National Monument in Utah.

On climate change, Biden said $135 million in federal money is going to 11 tribal communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Louisiana, Maine and Washington to help plan for and relocate to safe ground because of climate-related environmental threats.

“There are tribal communities at risk of being washed away,” he told summit participants. “It’s devastating.”

A 2020 study from the Interior Department found that $5 billion would be needed over the next 50 years to relocate tribal communities and Alaska Native villages at risk of severe infrastructure damage due to coastal erosion and extreme weather events.

On health care, Biden reiterated a commitment to push for $9.1 billion for the Indian Health Service, which provides health care for federally recognized tribes, and make the funding mandatory.

That news was welcomed by Lummi Nation Chairman Tony Hillaire. The tribe based in Washington state took out a loan to build a new health care clinic and plans to offer services to treat substance abuse, Hillaire said.

“Part of our understanding of the trust and treaty responsibility of the federal government is to ensure resources for the work we do in taking care of our people at home,” he told The Associated Press.

Whether Congress will act on the request for increased funding for health care and other tribal issues is another matter.

Navajo President Jonathan Nez said he’s been advocating for a speedier process to get infrastructure projects approved on the reservation that stretches 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) into New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. He said it requires constant advocacy.

“Even when it’s legislated, it takes a significant effort especially when, at times, tribal issues take the back seat to larger, national issues,” said in an interview.

Thomas Lozano, chair of the National American Indian Housing Council, wants to see a federal grant program for housing in tribal communities reauthorized and a boost in funding that takes into account inflation and supply chain costs. Housing ensures tribal elders who are historians and children who will be future leaders are safe, he said.

“It’s important to keep a roof over their heads and not just in substandard living, but in comfortable living that every family deserves,” Lozano, who is from the Enterprise Rancheria tribe in California, told the AP.

Federal agencies in the Biden administration have been creating tribal advisory councils and reimaging tribal consultation policies with a goal of garnering consensus among tribes. Some of the more significant commitments from the Biden administration involve incorporating Indigenous knowledge and practices into decision-making and federal research.

The Commerce Department is the latest federal agency to sign on to an effort to work with tribes to co-manage publish resources, such as water and fisheries. The Agriculture Department and the Interior Department have signed 20 co-stewardship agreements with tribes, and an additional 60 are under review, the administration said.

The tribal nations summit wasn’t held during then-President Donald Trump’s administration. The Biden administration held one virtually last year as the coronavirus pandemic ravaged the U.S. and highlighted deepening and long-standing inequities in tribal communities.

Both administrations signed off on legislation that infused much-needed funding into Indian Country to help address health care, lost revenue, housing, internet access and other needs. The 574 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. received a combined $20 billion in American Rescue Plan Act money under the Biden administration.

Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which provided $8 billion to tribes and Alaska Native corporations but had more rigid guidelines on how it could be spent. The Treasury Department was sued over how that funding was allocated and faced harsh criticism for the time it took to get the money to tribes.

Biden’s Treasury Department said it prioritized tribal engagement and feedback in distributing funding from the latest aid package. A report released Wednesday by the administration outlines how tribes spent the money on more than 3,000 projects and services.

The Karuk Tribe in northwestern California, for example, used some of the aid for permanent and temporary housing after a wildfire that burned 200 homes in the Klamath Mountains displaced tribal members.

The Native Village of Deering and other tribal governments in Alaska pooled funds to ensure access to preschool and free meals, along with extra servings in an area where food has been scarce.

Other tribal communities across the U.S. have spent the money on housing for tribal members, transportation to veterans hospitals, after-school facilities, language and culture programs, emergency services and health care facilities.

Tribes celebrated the opportunity at the summit to visit in-person and connect with U.S. officials.

Biden promised to make official presidential visits to Indian Country, saying “the United States owes a solemn trust and treaty obligation that we haven’t always lived up to. I will do so in the enduring spirit of our nation-to-nation relationship, the spirit of friendship, stewardship, and respect.”

He stressed the need for “respect for tribes as nations and treaties as law, … respect for Indigenous knowledge and tribal consultations as a key part of federal agency decision making. ”
___

Fonseca reported from Flagstaff, Arizona. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

By Felicia Fonseca & Fatima Hussein | AP – Washington Post 11/30/2022 | Photos provided by President Deborah Dotson

“Hè, kulamalsi hàch? Hello, How are you? My name is Serenitee McCasland and I am a sophomore at Anadarko High School. I plan to go into the zoological veterinarian field and attend the University of Oklahoma. I am very honored to represent my family and tribe at the events I have attended. I have enjoyed teaching students about our culture with the Anadarko High School Native American Club dance troupe as well as with the Delaware Nation Social Services Department. I hope everyone has safe travels and happy holidays.”

• Inter-Tribal Summer Camp Cultural Presentation-July 22, 2022
• Kiowa Apache BlackFoot Society 62nd Annual Ceremonial-August 6-7, 2022
• Princess Powwow luncheon 2022, Wichita Community Building- September 17, 2022
• American Indian Expo, Princess Powwow – September 17, 2022
• Comanche Nation Annual Powwow- October 1-2, 2022
• Comanche Nation princess luncheon- October 1, 2022
• Indigenous People Fall Festival/Parade (Red Earth youth powwow)- October 15, 2022
• Delaware Nation Bigfoot event-October 22, 2022
• Davis High school, Cultural Presentation, Delaware Nation Social Services- October 24, 2022
• Sunset Elementary, Anadarko, Oklahoma – dance troupe, Anadarko High School Native American Club, October 28, 2022
• University of Oklahoma, Health Services Campus, Native American Heritage Month- dance troupe Anadarko High School Native American club- November 9, 2022
• Delaware Nation Christmas Dinner- December 3, 2022

Inter-Tribal Summer Camp Cultural Presentation-July 22, 2022

Kiowa Apache Blackfoot Society 62nd Annual Ceremonial-August 6-7, 2022

Princess Powwow luncheon 2022, Wichita Community Building- September 17, 2022

ANADARKO, OK — Delaware Nation hosted an elder’s turkey giveaway event in the Administration on Aging building within the Tribal Complex. Social Services & Maintenance staff served all the participating Tribal elders, 60 years and older on a first come, first serve basis without holds or deliveries. Elders filled out a small survey and then were assisted in transporting their 20lb Butterball Premium turkeys to their vehicles. Participants were asked to present a copy of their tribal enrollment card. If participants were picking up for an elder, they were limited to picking up 2 turkeys and were required to have a copy of the enrollment verification for the elder(s) they were picking up for, including submitting a completed survey by the elder. A General Welfare Elder Thanksgiving Supplement Assistance Program fund also assists in the amount of $35.00 to Delaware Nation enrolled elders (60+) with the purchase of a Thanksgiving turkey or groceries. This funding made available to Delaware Nation elders Nationwide until November 30, 2022. Wanìshi to all the elders that participated in receiving their free turkey!

By Wesley Boone Public Relations 11/10/2022 | Photos by Wesley Boone

MASHANTUCKET, CONNECTICUT — NAFOA is proud to present Chief Mutáwi Mutáhash (Many Hearts) Marilynn “Lynn” Malerba with the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award. She became the 18th Chief of the Mohegan Tribe and is the first female Chief in the tribe’s modern history. The position is a lifetime appointment made by the Tribe’s Council of Elders. Prior to becoming Chief, she served as Chairwoman of the Tribal Council and served in Tribal Government as Executive Director of Health and Human Services.

Earlier this year, Chief Malerba was appointed by President Biden as the Treasurer of the United States, making her the first American Indian to serve in this position. The Treasurer serves as a liaison with the Federal Reserve and oversees the U.S. Mint and Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Her list of prominent national positions also includes serving as Chairwoman of the Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee of the Federal Indian Health Service (IHS); and being a member of the Justice Department’s Tribal Nations Leadership Council, the Tribal Advisory Committee for the National Institute of Health, the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Center for Indian Country Development Leadership Council.

By Janet Curley Accounting Tech III 11/10/2022 | Photo by Janet Curley

ANADARKO, OK — Tribal Citizen Zachary Hokeah has been officially active in small films since 2017 and portrays Native roles where he can exercise dramatic acting, martial arts, and combat training to nail his parts. Zack’s unique taste for film and eye for detail gives him an edge Directors are seeking for their modern roles in crime thrillers, action, horror, and drama film productions. Zack’s 6′ (1.83 m) profile is tough, but he is a kind and friendly individual with extensive knowledge of cinema. His representation of Native Americans is crucial to today’s audience. We can’t wait to see your next film, Zack!

Zachary Hokeah is known for Mono Deux (2019), Black Bags, and Out of Exile (2022).

His filmography is listed below:

• Upcoming Film: Black Bags (N/A) – as Bus Passenger
• Out of Exile (2022) – as Police Sniper
• Prone to Violence (2019) – as Arms Dealer
• Mono Deux (2019) – as Cheyenne Brave (segment: Prey)
• Los Americanos (2018) – as Coyote
• Elegy for a Hangman (2018) – as Jedidiah
• Prey (2018) – as Cheyenne Brave
• Shhh! (2017) – as Tommy

By Wesley Boone Public Relations 10/31/2022 | Photos taken Downtown 10/31/2022 by Wesley Boone

ELGIN, OK — Tribal Citizen Phillips Giles and his business Native Smoke Barbeque were interviewed by Discover Oklahoma TV! The episode will be posted soon! Stay tuned.

By Wesley Boone Public Relations 11/3/2022 | Photos by Native Smoke Barbeque Facebook Page

ANADARKO, OK — Delaware Nation hosted a Trick or Treat Event at the tribal complex for the community youth in lieu of Halloween. Departments passed out candy to Riverside Indian School students & more who were all dressed to impress! Creepy crawlers and zombies didn’t stop these kids from nabbing pounds of candy. What a great turnout and we hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween! Be sure to check out our Facebook page for photos of the event! More photos at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.650233243180269&type=3.

By Wesley Boone Public Relations 10/31/22 | Photos by Wesley Boone

ANADARKO, OK — Stan Moss of the OKC Freedom Riders expressed how the organization greatly appreciated President Dotson’s time Saturday, October 23, 2022, and for the ICW donation that is soon to come. Stan, alongside the Freedom Riders, presented a $1,000 donation check for a good cause to President Dotson and was assisted by the Gold River Casino Players Club.

The Benefit Run raises money to buy Christmas presents for children in foster care. Their motto was ‘No child deserves to wake up on Christmas morning without presents. So, help us buy Christmas presents for the kids in foster care.’

The event started at The Lokal – 10 West Main St. – Yukon, OK & ended at Backporch – 4825 NW Expressway – OKC, OK

Rider $20.00/Passenger $10.00
First bike out 1:00 PM (CST)
Last bike out 1:15 PM (CST)
$5 – $100 Cash Prizes
& Auction items

Wanìshi, Freedom Riders, and Wanìshi for your donation to help Delaware Nation children!

By Wesley Boone Public Relations 10/23/2022 | Photos by Gold River Casino