april 2013 tcnn

VOLUME 13 EDITION 4 Lawton, OK April 2013

The ground breaking ceremony for the new access road leading from HWY 7 to the Comanche Nation Ca-sino and the Comanche Na-tion Tourism Center was held March 11. The ceremony began at 10 a.m., with offi cials meeting at the Comanche Nation Tour-

Roadway to Casino Breaks Ground

Story and Photos by Stacey Heminokeky/News Staff

Pictured above: Comanche Nation Business Committee members along with Chairman Wallace Coffey and Tribal Administrator Will Owens.

The Comanche Nation broke ground to its upcoming hotel expansion at the Coman-che Red River Casino March 15. The celebration is also in conjunction with the casino’s 10-year anniversary. The Hotel Expansion Project was a vision to the Co-manche Business Committee (CBC) and after the members of the Comanche Nation voted to approve the expansion in December 2012, the CBC and the CEO of the Comanche Na-tion Gaming Board, Chas Rob-bins, began to work on its con-struction, design, and opening. The hotel will be a 90-room, six-suite, three-star fa-cility at the existing Red River Casino, located near the Texas border off of the I-44 highway.

Comanche Nation Breaks Ground for Red River Hotel Expansion Project

Photo by Tomah Yeahquo/ PIO Staff

Submitted by Jolene Schonchin/News Staff

Comanche Nation Business Committee and Chairman Wallace Coffey break ground March 15 for the hotel at the Red River Casino.

Election Board Sends Out Notice

The Comanche Na-tion Election Board sends this Notice of Election to ensure that all eligible voters receive an opportunity to vote in the upcoming General Election scheduled for May 18, 2013.Prior to the Election, a General Council Meeting will be held on April 20, 2013 in Watch-etaker Hall. At the General Council Meeting, nominations will be accepted for candidates for:Committeeman # 1Committeeman #2Two (2) Election Board Mem-bers for these Precincts (nomi-nations must come from a Pre-cinct resident): Apache Anadarko Oklahoma City One (1) Election Board Mem-ber for the Precinct of: Walters Also at the General Council meeting, Budget items to be placed on the Election ballot will be presented to the membership and a Tribal Ad-ministrator will be hired.

Voting on Election Day Voters may cast their ballot on Election Day, be-tween the hours of 8 a.m., and 6 p.m., at the polling location of the district in which they re-side. Polling locations are: Anadarko Precinct – BIA Agency Courtroom, Hwy 281 N & Parker McKenzie Road Apache Precinct – Co-manche Community Center,

ism Center. Offi cials attending the ceremony were Comanche Nation Chairman Wallace Cof-fey, members of the Comanche Business Committee (CBC), Tribal Administrator William Owens, Comanche Nation Transportation Director Adrian Tehauno along with members of the Oklahoma Department

of Transportation. Each offi cial was given a shovel to break the ground for the new access road. The new paved road to be constructed will be a conve-nient access road for persons wishing to visit the casino and the tourism center from the Duncan/Lawton Highway 7. to

the south side of the Comanche Nation Tourism Center. Adrian Tehauno, said the new paved road is going to be good for the tribe and the city together. It’s going to be safer for everyone. If the tribe decides later on to expand, the road will be here.

The hotel will offer conference rooms, meeting space, dinning options, a fi tness center and a swimming pool. Included is an expansion of the parking lot to have a well lit spacious parking area. Robbins, said during the ceremony that the begin-ning of the hotel is a sign of things to come. “It’s a happy day. It’s an exciting day,” he told an audience of more than 100 people. “We have been looking forward to this for years.” It is estimated the con-struction will be completed in nine to 10 months by Crossland Construction Company, who are based in Columbus, Kan. The rooms will vary in bed size and amenities, and the interior

of the hotel will be decorated with works by Comanche art-ists, a way the casino can share the heritage of the Comanche Nation according to the Co-manche Nation Red River Ca-sino Representatives. Wallace Coffey, Co-manche Nation chairman, said the hotel was a long time com-ing for the casino and was a historic time for the Comanche Nation. He added the proximi-ty to the town of Burkburnett is signifi cant because of the Co-manche Nation’s history with North Texas. Robbins said the casino provided 300 direct and indi-rect jobs and $17 million in salaries and benefi ts last year.

See ELECTION Page 3

Comanche Business Committee (“CBC”) Resolu-tion No. 07-13, signed and ad-opted on the 5th day of January, 2013, established the Coman-che Nation Native American Graves Protection and Re-patriation Act (“NAGPRA”) Board (hereinafter “Board”).1

The Board consists of Bernard Kahrahrah, Clorandia Tsatoke, George Tahdooahnippah, San-dra Karty, William Morgan Tosee, Fred Fodder, Thomas Blackstar Sr., Anthony Mono-essy, Lloyd Heminokeky Jr., Sam Devinny, Eleanor Mc-Daniel and Recording Secre-tary Verna Cable. The mem-bers of the Board were selected because of their unique posi-tions as Comanche citizens, and further because they all are cultural participants and prac-titioners who have been tasked with protecting the traditions handed down by their Coman-che ancestors, which is an es-sential attribute to the cultural sovereignty of the Comanche Nation.2 The CBC mandated that the Board act in an advi-sory capacity to the Comanche Nation to assist, advise, and provide necessary consultation to the CBC to assist in making sound policy decisions regard-ing culturally identifi able re-ligious and sacred sites. The CBC further has asked that the Board take on the responsibil-ity of ensuring the protection of the Comanche Nation’s cul-tural sovereignty. Consistent with these purposes, on January 29, 2013, the Board convened and held a hearing. The Board took sworn testimony on the issues surrounding the Indian Agency Cemetery, located on the east end of present day Henry Post Army Airfi eld on the Ft. Sill Army Post, where many Co-manche ancestors lie in eter-nal rest. The hearing sought to determine whether the Co-manche Nation should declare the Indian Agency Cemetery a “sacred site” as defi ned by Ex-ecutive Order 13007(1)(b)(iii) and a “burial site” as defi ned by NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. § 3001(2)(i), and to consider the proposed unifi ed Comanche Nation position on the man-agement of the Indian Agency Cemetery. The following parties provided testimony and evi-

See NAGPRA 3

Comanche NAGPRA Board Responds to Ft.

Sill Indian Agency Cemetery Hearing

Give Report and Recommendation to

CBC at March MeetingSubmitted by Comanche Nation NAGPRA Board

Submitted by Comanche Nation Election Board

April 2013 3 The Comanche Nation News

Government THE COMANCHE

NATION NEWS The award-winning Comanche Nation News, the offi cial communication of the Comanche Nation, is available at no charge upon request. The deadline to submit information for the May edition is noon April 15. Donations to help cover the cost of printing and mailing are welcome.

Contact:The Comanche Nation News

P.O. Box 908Lawton, Okla. 73502-0908

Telephone: (580) 492-3386Fax: (580) 492-3709Email: [email protected]

TCNN Staff• Jolene Schonchin, Editor, Reporter,

Photographer-Email: [email protected] Num-ber-(580)492-3382

• Paula Karty, Assis. Editor, Reporter, Photographer- Email: [email protected] Telephone Num-ber-(580)492-3383

• Stacey Heminokeky, Reporter/Photographer- email: [email protected]

• Candace Todd, Administrative Assistant-Telephone Number (580)492-3386

• 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, An-niversaries, Engagements,Memorial Pictures, Weddings, Births) are by submission only. The Passings 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 orga-nization’s annual event fl yer once free of charge as a courtesy to our tribal organizations. The guidelines for fl yer submission are: Pow-wow fl yers have to be from an established Comanche organization. There has to be contact person and number on the organization’s annual fl yer.

• We reserve the right to edit all material. Letters or articles that contain libelous information, slan-der, or personal attacks will not be printed. Letters to the Editor must be signed with a legible name. The letters to the editor or articles con-tained in the The Comanche Nation News does not refl ect the views or opinions of the PIO staff.

Comanche Nation Offi cials

Chairman Wallace CoffeyVice Chairman

Mike Mack MahsetkySecretary/Treasurer

Gary TahmahkeraCommitteeman No. 1

Charles WellsCommitteeman No. 2

Sonya NevaquayaCommitteeman No. 3

Harry MithloCommitteeman No. 4

Jack Codopony Sr.

Tribal Administrator Will Owens

To contact offi cials:Comanche Nation

P.O. Box 908Lawton, Okla. 73502

Toll Free: (877) 492-4988

Physical Address584 Bingo Rd.

Lawton, OK 73505

Member of the Native American Journalist

Association since 2001

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists since 2010

Mission of the Comanche Nation

The mission of the Comanche Nation is to promote and preserve the culture, history and traditions of the Coman-che people, and to further promote and encourage pursuits relevant to an effi cient governing body, a viable eco-nomic base and measures designated to enhance social and cultural activi-ties which will refl ect our heritage and assure the continued development and success of the Nation and its members.

TCNN Winner of Seven 2012 NAJA Media Awards

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an overview of the March 2, 2013 Comanche Business Commit-tee (CBC) monthly meeting, and not the offi cial meeting minutes. To receive a copy of the offi cial minutes, please con-tact the Offi ce of the Comanche Nation Chairman, (580) 492-3251. Chairman Wallace Cof-fey began by briefi ng the au-dience on upcoming events including the Road Expansion from Lee Blvd. to the Law-ton Comanche Nation Casino. Each CBC had an opportunity to address the audience. Thomas Narcomey took the fl oor to discuss the In-dian Agency Cemetery. Chairman Coffey called the meeting to order at 11:23 a.m. Secretary/Treasurer Gary Tahmahkera conducted Roll Call. All CBC were pres-ent and a quorum was estab-lished. Tahmahkera provided the invocation. Vice Chairman, Mack

Mahsetky, made a motion to approve the February 2, 2013 meeting minutes. CBC No. 2, Sonya Nevaquaya, seconded the motion. The motion carries 6/0/1.

Resolutions 29-13 Enrollment List No. 923. Eligible for Co-manche Nation membership. Tahmahkera made a motion to accept the resolution. CBC No. 4, Jack Codopony Sr., sec-onded the motion. The motion carries 6/0/1. 30-13 Bank Account for Child Support Services. The resolution will provide a separate account at Liberty Na-tional Bank for the Child Sup-port Program’s support pay-ments to clients. They will turn in a monthly bank statement. Mahsetky makes a motion to accept the resolution. CBC No. 1, Charles Wells, seconds the motion. The motion carries 6/0/1. 31-13 Per Capita for Child. The resolution will au-

thorize City National Bank to hold the per capita check of persons who are behind on their Child Support Payments. Codopony makes a motion to accept the resolution. Mithlo seconds the motion. The mo-tion carries 6/0/1.

Motions Mahsetky makes a mo-tion for Finely and Cook to carry over $294,677 from Land Acquisitions, and to carry over $53,984 to Charitable Funds. Tahmahkera seconds the mo-tion. The motion carries 6/0/1.Old/New Business The Comanche Nation NAGPRA Board Recording Secretary, Verna Cable, took the fl oor to read the NAGPRA Report/Recommendations of the Ft. Sill Indian Agency Cemetery. (See Pages 1&13) Wells makes a motion to go into Executive Session at 12:08 p.m. Nevaquaya seconds the motion. The motion carries 6/0/1.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE:♦ Divorce

♦ Guardianship

♦ Juvenile

♦ Custody

♦ Administration of Estate

♦ Criminal

♦ Child Support

♦ Determination of Paternity

♦ Marriage

♦ Name Change

♦ Civil

♦ Protective Order

♦ Adoption

PHONE: (405)247-8511 or (877)787-4237 ♦ Fax: (405)247-7240OFFICE HOURS: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm ♦ Monday – Thursday (Closed Friday)MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 368, Anadarko, OK 73005PHYSICAL ADDRESS: Highway 281 North & Parker McKenzie Drive, Anadarko, OK 73005 (located inside the Anadarko Agency)

Judge Quanah Parker c. 1877

Julia Mahseet Rd. & Hwy 281 Cache Precinct – Caho-ma Building, 752 NW Quanah Rd. Lawton Precinct – Co-manche Nation Complex, New Conference Room, 584 NW Bingo Rd. Oklahoma City Pre-cinct – Oklahoma City Out-reach, 7390 S. Walker, Suite G Walters Precinct – Co-manche Community Center, 905 E. Missouri St.

Absentee Voting If you are not a resi-dent of one of the established polling districts listed above or you are a resident and will be away from your voting district on Election Day, you may vote by Absentee Ballot. Voters de-siring to request an Absentee Ballot may complete and re-turn the enclosed Request of Absentee Ballot using the pre-addressed envelope provided. Voters may also receive a Re-quest for Absentee Ballot:• At the Election Board offi ce at the Comanche Nation Complex between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.• By calling the Election Board at (580) 492-3274 or toll free at 1-(877) 492-4988 to re-quest a form be mailed.• By fax at (580) 492-3702.• By writing to :

Comanche Nation Election BoardPO Box 1289

Lawton, OK 73502• By going to www.co-manchenation.com and click-ing on “Government”, then “Comanche Nation Election” and then “Absentee Ballot” in the menu to download and print. Please follow instruc-tions for completion of the form carefully and include all requested information. You must sign your name and give your full address, including zip code. Voters may only request a ballot for themselves. Re-quest of Absentee Ballot forms must be received by U.S. Mail. Please return your Request for Absentee Ballot form by close of business May 6, 2013 to al-low suffi cient time for your ballot to be mailed to you and for its return by Election Day.Absentee Ballots must be re-ceived by mail in the Lawton Post Offi ce no later than 12 Noon on Election Day. Absen-tee Ballots will not be accept-ed In-Person by the Election Board or at the polls on Elec-tion Day. Should a run-off elec-tion be required, you will auto-matically be issued an Absen-tee Ballot if you requested an Absentee Ballot for the Gen-eral Election.In-Person Early Absentee Voting Eligible Voters may cast an Early Absentee Ballot in person at the Comanche Na-tion Headquarters, New Con-ference Room on Friday prior to the Election Day. Polling hours for In-Person Absentee voting are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Comanche Nation Election Board encourages you to exercise your right to vote.

ELECTION BOARDContinued from page 1

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION. Chairman Wallace Coffey was part of a special panel dis-cussion concerning Economic Development in Indian Country March 13 at the National Reservation Eco-nomic Summit in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The panel invited Indian Coun-try’s most infl uential Tribal Organizations as they discuss intertribal economic development opportunities and the benefi ts of cross cultural collaboration and teaming together to accomplish a brighter future for Indian Country. Co-Moderator for the event was Margo Gray-Proctor – President, Horizon Engineering and Chairwoman, Board of Directors, National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, and the Co-Moderator: Jefferson Keel – President, National Congress of American Indian and Lt. Governor, Chickasaw Nation. Sitting on the panel with Chairman Coffey were George Thurman – Principal Chief, Sac and Fox Nation; Brian Patterson – President, United South and Eastern Tribes Inc.; Bear Clan Repre-sentative to the Oneida Indian Nation’s Men’s Council and Clan Mothers; and Fawn Sharp – Chairwoman, Quinault Tribe and Chair, Affi liated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI).

Child Support Services Main Resolution Topics at March CBC Meeting

By Jolene Schonchin/News Staff


2014 Proposed Budget for the Comanche NationDisseminated to tribal members in accordance with the Comanche Nation Constitution Article VI, Section 7, Part d(1)

20% Funds Will Be Invested Comanche Nation Gaming Contribution Cont'dCommunity & Education - 25%

Tax Commission Contribution Firefighters $200,000Bereavement Assistance $300,000 Caregivers $200,000CBC Salary $18,000 CN College/CNC Nursing/Language Archival $2,250,000Chairman's Salary $75,000 Comanche Cemetery Improvement $30,000Child Support Services $106,000 Community Center - Apache $30,000Comanche Indian Veterans Association $40,000 Community Center - Cache $30,000Comanche Tribal Princess $3,000 Community Center - Walters $30,000Comanche JR. Princess $3,000 CHR $100,000Comanche Language & Cultural Preservation $30,000 Diabetes $200,000Comanche Fair Director $3,000 Child Care Subsidies Program/ Special Needs $150,000Tombstone Project $20,000 Elder Council $75,000Total Tax Commission Contribution $598,000 Family Services (Formerly ICW) $240,000

Higher Education $1,600,050KCA Operating Budget $270,000 Home Improvement $1,322,000

Hope House/Family Violence Prevention $112,000Smoke Shop Contribution (Community & Education) Education- Elementary/ Secondary Program $100,000Matching Grants $50,000 Grandparents raising Grandchildren $30,000Church Donations $60,000 Injury Prevention $120,000Emergency Management Direct Services $90,000 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act $50,000Total Smoke Shop Contribution $200,000 New Pathways $90,000

Outreach Anadarko, OK $82,000Comanche Nation Gaming Contribution Funds: Outreach Center - OKC $80,000Revenue Allocation - 40% Outreach center -Dallas TX $100,000Elder Payment 1,000,000 Prevention & Recovery Center (Formerly Substance Abus $120,000Per Capita Distribution 16,731,280 Reintegration Program $100,000Total Revenue Allocation 17,731,280 Shoshone Reunion Hosted by Comanche Nation $50,000

Social Services- Emergency Assistance $700,000Economic Development - 25% Student Services (K-12) $331,000CONEI $1,000,000 Tribal Historical Preservation Program $210,000Capital Improvement $1,887,000 Youth Program $420,000Water Park $200,000 Youth Shelter CRYS $490,000Tourism Center $75,000 Prescription Assistance $690,000Transit Program $775,000 Enrollment $230,000Transportation $173,000 Elder center $220,000Fitness Center $275,000 Environmental Protection Agency $300,000CN Fair $127,000 Total Community & Education $11,082,050Workforce Investment Agency $1,250,050Realty Management $452,000 Revenue Allocation 40%Land Acquisitions $1,000,000 Elder's Payment $1,000,000.00Museum & Cultural Center $996,000 Per Capita $16,731,280.00Optometry Clinic $322,000 Revenue Allocation 25%, 25%, 10% $26,596,920.00Nursing Home/Assisted Living Facility $1,500,000 Total 2013 Budget $44,328,200.00Administration $750,000Early Childhood Development Center $300,000 2014 Gaming Contributions Total Economic Development $11,082,050 Tax Supplement $598,000

Smoke Shop Contribution $200,000Tribal Government - 10% Total 2013 Contributions $798,000

Charitable Fund $200,000Children's Court $270,000 KCA $270,000Elections $277,820Emergency Management Office $70,000 General Council April 20, 2013Info Technology - Complex $500,000 Watchetaker Hall Comanche Nation Complex Law Enforcement $1,500,000 584 N.W. Bingo Road Lawton,OK 73507 Legal Fees $500,000 AgendaBurial Assistance $500,000 I. Call to OrderGravel-Tinhorns for Tribal Driveways $200,000 II. InvocationTribal Employment Rights Office $75,000 III. Nomination of OfficersTribal Court $40,000 a. Committeeperson No.1Public Information Office $300,000 b. Committeeperson No.2Total Tribal Government $4,432,820 IV. Tribal Administrator's Position

V. Tribal LawyersVI. Approval of Budget FY 2014

VII. New Business

Proposed FY 2014 Budget Ready for General Council ReviewApril 20 Annual Meeting Expected to bring beyond minimum quorum requirements

Submitted by Comanche Nation Administration Staff


Bereavement Assistance $300,000 Mission- Providing Bereavement to family members.Child Support Services $106,000 Mission- Promoting re-sponsible parenting so that each child has the opportunity for self-suffi ciency and self-respect that honors family, community and cultural traditions.Comanche Indian Veterans As-sociation $ 40,000 Mission-Pro-vide Military honors at various Comanche Nation Events such as Armed Forces Day, Memo-rial Day, and Veterans Day. Pro-vide military honors for funeral services, maintenance of Honor Court and fl ags.Comanche Language and Cul-tural Preservation $30,000 Mis-sion- To preserve and promote the Comanche Language through educational and developmental programs.Elder Center $220,000 Mission- To provide meals, information, and activities for the elders as well as to homebound elders.Tribal Employment Rights Of-fi ce - $75,000 Mission- To help improve the quality of life for Comanche Nation members and other Native American families through the development and as-sertion of Native American Pref-erence laws and the contracting rights of preferential employ-ment, training, business and eco-nomic opportunities on or near the Comanche Nation jurisdic-tional service area.Tombstone Project- $20,000 Mission to identify unidenti-fi ed Comanche tribal graves and place markers on the gravesite.CONEI $1,000,000 Mission- Invest in and operate profi table businesses that will provide di-versifi ed economic returns to the Comanche Nation.Capital Improvements $1,887,000 Mission - Construct-ing new facilities and improving existing tribal properties to better serve Comanche tribal members.CN Fair $127,000 Mission- To enhance social and cultural activ-ities that will refl ect our heritage.Environmental Protection Agency $300,000 Mission- To preserve, protect, and maintain our tribal property and lands.Firefi ghters $200,000 Mission- The fi re crew is to provide a work force available for fi re protection and suppression, and assisting with natural disaster relief.Fitness Center $275,000 Mis-sion- To enhance the quality of life for the Comanche Nation Members we serve through our fi tness philosophy, facilities, pro-

grams and to instill in the lives of people everywhere the value of health, wellness, and fi tness. Burial Assistance $500,000 Mission-To help defray burial costs associated with tribal mem-bers burial services.Gravel – Tinhorns for Tribal Driveways $200,000 Mission- To replace or repair tinhorns and supply gravel to tribal member’s residence. Land Acquisitions $1,000,000 Mission- To acquire lands and keep them in trust for tribal pur-poses.Museum and Cultural Center $996,000 Mission- To operate, for public benefi t, a museum and cultural center focusing on histo-ry, culture, arts, and related sub-ject areas concerning Comanche Indian people.Realty Management $452,000 Mission-To maintain tribal land documents, work to place trust free land into trust, assure land purchases are properly complet-ed, and that tribal lands are prop-erly managed.Tourism Center $75,000 Mis-sion-To share, display, inform, and educate both native and non-native people on the history of the Comanche people, as well as to share the vision of the future of the Comanche people.Transit Program $775,000 Mission-To provide bus or van transportation in our local ser-vice areas.Transportation $173,000 Mis-sion- To improve roadways and bridges.Workforce Investment Agency $1,250,050 Mission- To provide Tribal members with the skills necessary for employment.Children’s Court $270,000 Mission- To protect and serve Comanche Tribal customs, pre-serve and strengthen the family unit, by acting in the best interest of our tribal children.Elections $277,820 Mission-Conduct elections and provide election materials and services to Comanche tribal members.Emergency Management As-sistance $90,000 Emergency Management Of-fi ce $70,000 Mission-Prepare for emergencies in the Tribal Nation for natural or man-made disasters such as fi re, fl ood, or storm.Enrollment $230,000 Mission –Ensures that the tribal roll is cur-rent, updated, and adheres to the Comanche Nation Constitution.Info Technology- Complex $500,000 Mission- While keep-ing the highest level of confi -

dentiality, the Comanche Nation Information Technology depart-ment provides cost effective tele-communications and technology solutions to the Tribal Govern-ment. It is our goal to provide and maintain a reliable and se-cure network to assist the tribal departments in fulfi llment of their mission.Law Enforcement $1,500,000 Mission- Protecting and patrol-ling tribal assets and Trust Lands.Legal Fees $500,000 Mission- To provide legal advice to the Nation and handle possible or active litigation.Matching Grants $50,000 Mis-sion- Provide grant writing and dollar matches as grant opportu-nities arise.Public Information Offi ce $300,000 Mission- We are dedi-cated to the belief that a strong tribal newspaper and media communications are essential to a strong tribe. By encouraging community service among our PIO staff, we recognize that the more we are involved with the community, the better we will be able to understand and serve it by utilizing the many ways of deliv-ering information to the tribal members and public.Caregivers $200,000 Mission-To ensure that Comanche elders are taken care of by a family member.CN College includes Nursing Program and Language Archi-val $2,250,000 Mission-To pro-vide educational opportunities to Comanche tribal members, and others to learn at a two year college the necessary knowledge and skills including technical to be successful.Comanche Cemetery Improve-ment $30,000 Mission-To main-tain tribal cemeteries.Community Center- Apache $30,000 Mission- Provide a place for community activities.Community Center- Cache $30,000 Mission- Provide a place for community activities.Community Center Walters $30,000 Mission- Provide a place for community activities.Diabetes $200,000 Mission- To promote healthy lifestyles for the prevention and control of diabe-tes for tribal members through diet, exercise, and diabetes self care management.Early Childhood Development Center $300,000 Mission-The Comanche Nation Child Care Center and Numunu Turetu Early Childhood Development Center are here to provide qual-ity services through partnerships

with families, providers, and the community while nurturing the development of the whole child and supporting cultural and fam-ily values.Child Care Subsistence Pro-gram/ Special Needs $150,000 Mission- The program is to en-courage employment and educa-tion among our tribal members, provide a safe child care envi-ronment for our Comanche chil-dren, and to provide a rewarding program to families that wish to work and further their educa-tion. This program is designed to promote stronger family en-vironments that will include re-quirements such as: Comanche language classes, relationship building classes, community ser-vice and more. The program will assist with child care expenses for ages newborn to Kinder-garten, school age children that need before and after school care and child care during summer months. Program goals will be strengthening family relationship skills and youth development. Elder Council $75,000 Mission- To keep the elderly informed of tribal programs and services as well as supporting tribal culture, traditions, history, and language.Family Services (Formerly In-dian Child Welfare) $240,000 Mission- To protect and main-tain the integrity of Comanche families, provide crisis interven-tion services, court intervention, and promote family preservation through reunifi cation when pos-sible. To protect Indian children from losing their cultural identity and being separated from their tribe.Higher Education $1,600,050 Mission- Provide grants to eligi-ble Comanche students to attend post-secondary institutions/col-leges and universities to pursue a bachelors, two year or advanced degrees.Home Improvement $1,322,000 Mission- To assist tribal mem-bers with necessary home im-provements such as making their homes handicap accessible.Hope House/ Family Violence Prevention $112,000 Mission- To educate, empower and ad-vocate for American Indians to strive to protect their families and communities from crimes of domestic violence, sexual as-sault, and stalking and to provide a safe haven to victims and their children in a culturally sensitive environment.Education-Elementary/ Sec-ondary Program $100,000 Mis-sion- to evaluate the establish-

ment of an elementary/secondary student program.Injury Prevention $120,000Mission-To increase awareness of safety to the general public through modifi cation of the envi-ronment by demonstration, edu-cational awareness, presentations that promote behavioral changes and to reduce the unintentional injuries caused by falls, fi res, traffi c, and the environment. Native American Graves Pro-tection and Repatriation Act$50,000 Mission-To protect Na-tive American graves from de-struction by construction or other forces and to repatriate cultural items.New Pathways $90,000 Mis-sion- To provide halfway house services for the prevention and treatment of alcoholism for the Native American population re-siding within the Lawton, Okla-homa service area. Nursing Home/ Assisted living Facility $1,500,000 Mission-Continue efforts to establish an assisted living facility.Optometry Clinic $322,000 Mission- To provide the highest quality of life for our Comanche Nation Tribal members in the years to come through a better vision. We keep overall patient wellness and understanding as fi rst priorities in everything we do. We strive to provide the best quality of vision and eye health care with friendly, compassion-ate, & helpful staff.Outreach Center Anadarko $82,000 Mission- To act as a liai-son between tribal members and program directors.Outreach Center OK. City $80,000 Mission-To act as a liai-son between tribal members and program directors.Prescription Assistance $690,000 Mission- to provide as available assistance with medi-cations and certain medical sup-plies to help defer the costs for tribal members.Prevention and Recovery Cen-ter $120,000 Mission- To en-courage and assist Native Ameri-cans of all ages to lead a life free from dependence of alcohol, to-bacco, illegal drugs and/or any self-destructive behavior that is detrimental to one’s personal happiness and professional suc-cess.Reintegration Program $100,000 Mission- To reinte-grate recently incarcerated indi-viduals into mainstream society.Shoshone Reunion $50,000 Mission- To host the annual Sho-shone Reunion at Comanche Na-tion Headquarters. Social Services Emergency As-sistance $700,000 Mission- To assist and counsel tribal mem-bers with emergency needs.Student Services (K-12) $331,000 Mission- To assist with the basic school need of enrolled Comanche children in grades K-12 nationwide.Tribal Historic Preservation Program $210,000 Mission- To preserve historic and sacred landmarks of the Comanche Na-tion.Youth Program $420,000 Mission-Educating Comanche youth through multiple actions or activities to be accountable, responsible, taking pride in tra-ditional Comanche culture and becoming successful in life.Youth Shelter $490,000 Mis-sion-To provide a secure, stable environment for our children while they are in our care. Pro-mote and encourage their hopes and dreams so that they will know that there is always a place that they can be safe from what-ever brought them to us. Allow children to be who they are in their culture.

Line Item Justifi cations for FY 2014 Proposed BudgetSubmitted by Comanche Nation Administration Staff


1. Adams, Kelly Renee 2. Ahhaitty, Tracy William 3. Alcantar, Eric Glenn 4. Alcanter, Dawnie Toreca 5. Andersen, Jessica Chris-tian 6. Anderson, Richard Wade 7. Andonian, Tina Marie 8. Arneecher, Ashley Lynn 9. Asenap, Korie Vanessa 10. Asepermy, Kimberly 11. Attocknie, Jeremy Jene 12. Ballenger, Mary Anna 13. Baskett,Caitlin Keiko-eileen 14. Beasley, Vernie Van 15. Beeson, Jack Michael 16. Benefield, Amanda Pihe'vheta 17. Bennett, Anthony Wade 18. Bennett, Cynthia 19. Berg, Erica Renee 20. Blank, Colin Drew 21. Brinkley Jr., James Clin-ton 22. Brookshire, James Cleve 23. Burgess, Samantha Ray 24. Butler, Judy Ann 25. Cable, Bruner Micheal Fra 26. Cable, Christi Lynn 27. Cardenaz, Carla Sue PO 28. Carr, Sylvena Marie 29. Castro, Karlann Rae 30. Chaat III, Ted 31. Chasenah, Barbara Ann 32. Chasenah Jr., Gary 33. Chebahtah, Jennifer Ma-bel 34. Christian, Jr., Vernon Garth 35. Clanton, Derek Alan-don 36. Collins-Atwood, Katie Lynn 37. Concepcion, Jillian Lor-raine 38. Connywerdy, Adriane 39. Coy, Jamie Sue 40. Coy, Linda Kay 41. Davis, Michael Craig 42. Davis, Toni Lee

43. Deeter, Joshua Henry 44. Deford, Virginia Diane 45. Delaware, Phyllis Joann 46. Delgado, Cheevers Hah Tee 47. Dowling, Christina Nicole 48. Driskill, Dallas Frank 49. Dunbar, Charleen Sue 50. Dunbar, Sherea Ravone 51. Dyer, Laura 52. Early, Darby Lou Elaine 53. Elam, Daniel Theodore 54. Elm, Nadja Lee 55. Esquer, Stacie Dale 56. Fagan, Melvin Nicholas 57. Felan, Jennifer Renee 58. French, Crystal Rose 59. Fuller, Linda Lou 60. Galan, Ashley Danielle 61. Gomez, Shannon Guer-rero 62. Gooday Jr., Henry Wal-lace 63. Gordon, Eva Lois 64. Grissom, Robert Dwight 65. Grizzell, Amy Dawn 66. Hadley, Geneva Fay 67. Hamm, Sally Angelena 68. Harris, De Angelo T. 69. Hartman, Bryce Edward Lee 70. Hatcher, Reba Gail 71. Heath-Mcintire, Brandon Roe 72. Heinze, Vernon Eugene 73. Hood, Misti Kay 74. Isbell, Linda Joe 75. Jake, Brandon June 76. Jones, Britany Elise 77. Jones, Scott Edward 78. Jorden, Jeanne Theresa 79. Kahrahrah, Raymond Neil 80. Kahrahrah, Ross Bernard 81. Keller, Shelley Renee 82. Kelley, William Kane 83. Kennedy, Nomachee Lou-ise 84. Killsfirst, Kelly Len 85. Kopaddy, Michelle 86. Krayeski, Rose Ann 87. Landers, Jessica Dawn

88. Lee, Herman Paul 89. Leon, Anastasia Nicole 90. Longoria, Arlene 91. Lookingglass, Henriette Gay 92. Lopez, Janet 93. MacIas, Marisa Florentina 94. Madsen, Lynn Ann 95. Mahseet, Lena 96. Mahsetky Jr. Larry Wayne 97. Mann, Adam Whitfield 98. Mann, Diana Jean 99. Martinez, Laurena Mae 100. Martinez, Rosa Linda 101. Maynahonah, Sabrina Marie 102. Maynahonah, Robert Todd 103. McCarthy, Dylan Cordero 104. McCarthy, Teanna Joann 105. McCoy, Maria Charlotte 106. McGuire, Dixie Lee 107. McGuire, Steven Paul 108. Mihecoby, Derrick Thom-as 109. Miller, Clinton Mathew 110. Moore-Brown, Johanna Nell 111. Moses, Paul Anthony 112. Mott, Cheldon Skylar 113. Mowatt, Stephen Ray 114. Mowatt Jr., Evans 115. Munoz, Delora 116. Murphy, Patricia Ann 117. Niedo, Darrel Nathan 118. Niedo, Monica Sue 119. Nunley, Melissa Ann 120. Orme, Vernon Lloyd 121. Oxley, Aaron Michael 122. Paddyaker, Aaron Craig 123. Pahcoddy, Cassie Rhian-non 124. Pahdocony, Darrin Lee 125. Palacios, Billie De Ann 126. Parker Jr., Billy Jack 127. Parker, James Kenric 128. Parker, Jena Beth 129. Parker, Mandy Lynn 130. Pebeahsy III, Charles Wil-liam 131. Pekah, Candida Suezett

132. Perez, Clay Simon 133. Poafpybitty, Charles Lynn 134. Poafpybitty, Zackery 135. Poco, Carlos Craig 136. Pohawpatchoko, Chris 137. Pohocsucut, John Ray 138. Pollock, Ernest Lee 139. Portillo, Jermaine Lucas 140. Privitt Jr., Howard Lynn 141. Pueblo, Kevin Lee 142. Ramos, Eleanor Ruth 143. Ransom, Thomas Lee 144. Red Elk, Misty Dawn 145. Red Elk, Shawn Lee 146. Red Elk, Winrod Yackes-chi 147. Rhodd, Althea Jeanne 148. Rhodd, Randy Carl 149. Rider, Branden Ronald 150. Rios, Alyssa Candice 151. Rivas, Meredith Kay 152. Roache, Harold Lee 153. Roer, Barbara 2615 154. Rogers Sr., Philip Keith 155. Sandoval, Mariana Luz 156. Sanford, Allison Gayle 157. Sankadota, Daniel 158. Sapcut, Kenneth Milton 159. Satepeahtaw, William John Otto 160. Sayerwinnie, Mario `z Yanez 161. Sayerwinnie, Raymond Allen 162. Sevier, Christopher Graha 163. Sevier, Donna Jeanne 164. Shelton, Kimberly Dawn 165. Singleton, Erin Raquel 166. Sosa, Amy Marie 167. Sovo, Justin Wayne 168. Spottedbird, Ida Cora 169. Steinmeyer, Zaine Poweshiek 170. Stewart, Ricky Lee 171. Stillwell, Carolyn Lucille 172. Suina, William Rory 173. Sullivan, Gail Marie 174. Tahmahkera, Victor Law-rence 175. Tahsahsanah, Taletha Dawn

176. Tahsequah, Sherrie Marie 177. Tarvin, Carol 178. Tarvin, Christopher Guy 179. Thode, Jonathan Christop 180. Thomas, Drake Allen 181. Tiddark, Christian Ross 182. Tieyah, Jordan George 183. Tippeconnie, Yvonne 184. Tomah, Ashley Nichole 185. Tomah, Korbi Grace 186. Tonips, Brian Allen 187. Tooahimpah-Tate, Dennis Frank 188. Toquothty, Joshua Logan 189. Toquothty, Thomas Lee 190. Torralba, Dean Allan 191. Trujillo, Christopher Paul 192. Ubbard, Betty Mae 193. Vance, Chris Leo 194. Varner, Allan David 195. Verdejo, Migdalia 196. Voeltz, Matthew Allen 197. Wahkahquah, Karlijo 198. Wahlenberg, Sean Brad-ley 199. Wallace, Jacquelyn Ruth 200. Watson, Amanda Conover 201. Wauqua, Wayla Jane 202. Weryavah, Alicia Dawn 203. Wheeler, Delores Ann 204. Whitecrow Jr., Sullivan Roger 205. Wickes, Christina Noel 206. Williams, Eva Teresa 207. Williams, Jimmy Marlow 208. Williams, Rebecca Leann 209. Woosypiti, Jeanine 210. Woosypiti, John Fitzger-ald 211. Yackeschi, Ina 212. Yarbrough, Anthony Dean 213. Yates, Gordon Ray 214. Yellowfish, Jacqueline 215. Yellowfish, Lynnie Ronette

The Child Care Devel-opmental Fund (CCDF) Pro-grams want to get information out to the CCDF participants about the CCDF Plan Pre- Print. It will be having a se-ries of Public Hearings in the different community areas at

the end of April and the begin-ning of May to address chang-es to our program over the next two years. Please check the Comanche Nation website for the upcoming dates. Some of the things they want to discuss are:• How to spend the pro-

gram money for quality activi-ties.• How to ensure quality service at the Tribal Centers.• Eligibility require-ments for tribal and non-tribal providers.• Income Eligibility re-quirements for participants.

• The sliding fee scales which determines the family’s co-payments.• Health and Safety re-quirements.• Collaboration and co-ordination with the other Pro-grams and entities. For more informa-

tion, please contact Carolyn Codopony ~ Rhianna Nelson ~ Sunshine Warren at (580) 492-3490 by telephone, by fax 580-492-4399 or email: [email protected]

The Child Care Developmental Fund (CCDF) Programs will be setting up a booth atApril 20 General Council

Comanche Nation Election Board Releases Insufficient Addresses

VOTE

Daniel Robles for

Tribal Administrator

• Management Experience • Bachelor’s Degree• Will monitor & keep programs within budget

Paid Advertisement

The following Comanche tribal members do not have current addresses with the Comanche Nation Election Board. Please contact the Election Board to update by telephone (580) 492-3273, by fax (580) 492-3702, or by email-- [email protected].

All Candidates running for Comanche Nation Committee positions please contact the Wil Niedo IT Department for a video interview to place on the Comanche Nation You Tube Chan-nel.

Let tribal voters know your goals and plat-forms as a member of the Comanche Business Committee.IT--(580) 492-2335Deadline is May 5 p.m. May 3.

Updated Phone List of the Comanche Nation Programs and ServicesPlease Cut Out and Save


Programs The Comanche Na-tional Museum and Cultural Center presented All Things Comanche A Numunuu Tril-ogy Part 3 on February 28th at 1:06 p.m. at the McMahon Au-ditorium. The exhibit displays many rarely seen Comanche items, including historic items on loan from the Smithson-ian Institution’s National Mu-seum of the American Indian and World War II relics from the personal collection of the late Charles Chibitty who was the last remaining Comanche Code Talker. The program was opened with a welcome and In-troduction by Phyllis Wahah-rockah-Tasi, CNMCC Execu-tive Director. The posting of the colors was done by CIVA and the Comanche flag song was sung by the Wild Band of Comanches. A prayer was given by Rev. Videll Yackeshi. The prayer was then followed by the honoring of the Coman-che Code Talkers. A moment of

All Things Comanche A Numunuu Trilogy Part 3

The Wild Band of Comanches performed for the museum.

The crowd watching the Eagle and War dancers perform and listening intently to the songs sung by the group Wild Band of Comanches.

A honor song was sung for Machel Monenerkit’ to welcome thank her for everything she has done.



silence was then observed fol-lowed by the Comanche Code Talker song. The program also included eagle and war dance tributes.

The guest speaker for the event was Machel Monenerkit, a member of the Comanche Nation and the Deputy Director of the Smith-

sonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). Monenerkit’s position allows her to provide programmatic and administrative input for

the day to day operation of the museum’s three facilities. She directly oversees the NMAI’s financial planning office, the Office of Administration, as well as the Executive office support staff, During her ca-reer with the museum Machel Monenerkit has many accom-plishments that has given her an extensive background. She has also been given the oppor-tunity to travel almost all 50 states, including Puerto Rico. Special honors were given to Monenerkit as she was pre-sented with a Comanche Pend-leton blanket. The Comanche Nation-al Museum and Cultural Cen-ter thanked all who made this event a success. The exhibit would not have been possible without the continued sup-port of our tribal people, so a big thank you is extended. All Things Comanche: A Numun-uu Trilogy will be on display through August 31, 2013 so all are encouraged to attend.-

Fire Extinguisher Training for Tribal Complex Employees The Comanche Nation CHR/EMS Department held a Fire Extinguisher training on March 1. The training was held at the parking lot west of Watchetaker Hall at the Co-manche Nation Complex. Tom Myers of the Law-ton Fire Department was the course instructor for the train-ing. Myers explained the differences of fire extinguish-ers and what type of fires each extinguisher is used for. Myers also taught the proper way to use each of the extinguishers. Myers demonstrated the use of the fire extinguish-ers, assisting with the demon-

stration was Ed Ware from the Comanche Nation CHR pro-gram. A small contained fire was set and Myers show ex-actly how to put the fire out us-ing the proper fire extinguisher. Each participant in every class had to demonstrate how to put out a fire using the fire extin-guishers. The training was scheduled every hour on the hour from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with a lunch break held from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. There were 20 par-ticipants per class. Each par-ticipant was given certificates upon completion of the class


The participants walked away with a little bit of knowl-edge on fire safety and the haz-ards of not knowing how to use a fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher training was co-sponsored by the Comanche Nation CHR-EMS office, Lawton Fire De-partment, and the Meers Fire Department. The training was to promote fire safety. Since we are approaching the dry and windy season of the year, prop-er knowledge of how to extin-guish a fire and how to use a fire extinguisher correctly is very important.

Tribal employees took turns extinguishing a small controlled fire to show them how to use a fire extinguisher.

Fire Training Field Day Prepares Participants for Fire Season

At 11 a.m., February 23, 2013 the Comanche Nation Fire Program; held a field day training for the Comanche Na-tion first year firefighters. This event took place behind the Co-manche Nation Environmental Program Office (CNPEO.) The Comanche Nation in conjunction with the south-ern Plains Regional Fire Staff

hosted a week long training session for first year firefighters at the Comanche Nation Com-plex on February 19-23,2013. The training courses consisted of S-130 Firefighter Training, S-190 Introduction to Fire behavior, I-100 Intro-duction to the Incident Com-mand system, and L-180 Hu-

man Factors in the Wildland Fire Service. These courses are required training for qualifica-tion as a Firefighter 2 (FFT2) under the wildland and Pre-scribed Fire Qualification Sys-tem Guide, PMS 310-1.The final day February consist-ed of field drills utilizing fire-fighting equipment introduced in the classroom. The students will be able to apply their skills learned during these drills to further enhance their knowl-edge by actually performing on the job training supervised by experienced knowledge able instructors. Upon completion of these exercises. They will be qualified to suppress wildland fires throughout the United States


The Comanche Nation-al Museum and Cultural Cen-ter is seeking qualified people to sit on its Board of Directors.Applicants must have profes-sional experience in one of the following disciplines:Finance, Fundraising, Education, Mar-keting, Organizational Man-agement, the Arts, or museum work.The selected boardmem-

Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center Extends Board Members Deadline

A Valentine’s Party was held at the Comanche Nation Elder Center on February 14th, in Lawton, Okla. The day was filled with an extra lovely meal and various activities for the elderly. One of the topics pre-sented was Behavioral Health. Jamie Swanson and Shirley Burris from the Lawton In-dian Hospital Behavioral Cen-ter, demonstrated the hug and

Valentine’s Party at the Comanche Elder Center


Lloyd and Dorothy Demarries won the contest for the couple being married the longest which they have been married for 55 years.

touch method. Everyone in at-tendance had a great time while participating in the demonstra-tion. Valentine goodies, and door prizes were available. There was a contest for the oldest couple that has been married for the longest years. The winners of the Valentine couple were Lloyd and Doro-thy Demarries, who have been married for 55 years. Congratu-

lations to the lucky couple and may you continue to celebrate many more Valentine’s Day’s together. The whole day was a great and eventful success for all the elders to spend their Valentine’s Day with Coman-che Nation Elder Center.

Picture above from Left to Right: Vivian Holder, Henerieta Pohawpatchoko, Waka Edwards, Lebert Taunah, Laru Sikes, Professor Tracy Price, David Palmer, and Richard Perez

Beginning Computer Course for Comanche Elders

Story and Photo by Stacey Heminokeky/News Staff

The Comanche Nation Office of Higher Education held a “Beginning Computer Course for Elders” from Janu-ary 7- February 1. The objec-tive of the Beginning computer course was to provide individ-uals with basic computer skills. The class was held Monday-Friday from 9a.m. to 12p.m. in the Comanche Nation Educa-tion building, Adult Education room. The course was offered to Comanche tribal members, 50 years and older, who had little or no experience with computers and equipment. Each student was required to

have a high school diploma or GED and a completed a pro-gram application. The course not only provided experience and knowledge of computers, but each student also received $5.00 per hour for seat time. The computer course was a great opportunity to learn new skills. The students were able to recognize and identify all computer literacy, know basic operations of a comput-er, compose a Microsoft word document, create a Power Point Slide presentation (5-10 slides), complete a Microsoft Excel mini-project, and learn internet and E-mail basics.

The Comanche Nation Law Enforcement held a de-fensive driving course “Alive at 25” on March 18 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Comanche Nation Business center. The program is focused on young adults between the ages of 15-24. Comanche Nation’s Cpl. Brian Wahnee was the instruc-tor. “Alive at 25” is an ear-ly intervention program to help prevent traffic violations, col-lisions, and/or fatalities. The

Alive at 25! Teaches Safety to Teen Drivers


Officer Brian Wahnee explaining to the students about some safe driving practices.

sure environmental distrac-tions, State Graduated Drivers: License (GDL) requirements, and driving hazards in general. Harry Tahsequah, Di-rector of Security at the Co-manche Nation Casino, attend-ed the class and shared some of his stories with the students. The 4-hour class included watching interactive videos, sharing driving experiences, and role playing.

On March 6th the award-winning comedy show, 49 Laughs performed live at Watchetaker Hall. The crowd was treated to fun filled stories and jokes from each of the performers. The opening act was Adrianne Chalepah, right, from Colorado. The highlight of the night was James and Ernie. A Native American comedy duo from New Mexico and Arizona. Watchetaker Hall was filled with laughter. The comedy performance was a drug and alcohol free event and the tickets were $10 per ticket. The comedy show also featured Adrianne Chalepah. For more information visit www.JAMESANDERNIE.com.

A Evening Of Laughs

Photos by Stacey Heminokeky/News Staff

course is only taught by trained police officers or drivers edu-cation instructors. Many of the topics discussed in the class deal with issues that teens may encounter which include: speeding, distractions, aggres-sive driving, seat belts, im-paired driving, and other life-or-death issues. The program educates young drivers to learn safer driving practices, take re-sponsibility for their behavior in various driving situations, become aware of peer pres-

bers will serve a three-year term. Comanche preference preferred.Applications will be accepted until April 15, 2013.Send resumes to:Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center, Attn: Phyllis Wahah-rockah-Tasi, Executive Direc-tor, 701 NW Ferris Avenue, Lawton, OK, 73507.

People,Places and Things Happening New Law Allows Tribes

Authority Over non-Indians

FLAGSTAFF Ariz.- American Indian tribes have tried everything from ban-ishment to charging criminal acts as civil offenses to deal with non-Indians who commit crimes on reservations. Ever since the U.S. Su-preme Court ruled in 1978 that tribal courts lack criminal juris-diction over non-Indians, tribes have had to get creative in try-ing to hold that population ac-countable. They acknowledge, though, that those approaches aren’t much of deterrent, and say most crimes committed by non-Indians on tribal land go unpunished. Tribal leaders are hop-ing that will change, at least in part, with a federal bill signed into law. The measure gives tribes the authority to pros-ecute non-Indians for a set of crimes limited to domestic vio-lence and violations of protect-ing orders. Implementation of the Violence Against Women Act will take time as tribes amend their legal codes and ensure defendants receive the same rights offered in state and fed-eral courts. But proponents say it’s a huge step forward in the face of high rates of domestic violence with no prosecution. “For a tribal nation, it’s just absurd that (author-ity) doesn’t exist,” said Sheri Freemont, director of the Fam-ily Advocacy Center on the Salt River Pima Maricopa res-ervation in Arizona. “People choose to either work, live or play in Indian Country. I think they should be subject to Indi-an Country rules.” Native American wom-en suffer incidents of domes-tic violence at rates more than double national averages. But more than half of cases involv-ing non-Indians go unprotect-ed because Indian courts have lacked jurisdiction and because federal prosecutors often have too few resources to try cases on isolated reservations. Still, the tribal courts provision was a major point of contention in Congress, with some Republicans arguing that subjection non-Indians to Indi-an courts was unconstitutional. Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., said after its passage that the bill denies basic pro-tections and will be tied up in court challenges for years. “It violates constitu-tional rights of individuals and would, for the first time ever, proclaim Indian tribes’ ‘in-herent’ authority to exercise criminal jurisdiction over non-Indian citizens,” Hastings said in a statement. “The Supreme Court has ruled multiple times that tribes do not have this au-thority.” The U.S. Department of Justice met with tribal lead-ers to discuss implementing the provisions, which will take effect two years after the law is enacted. A pilot project would allow any tribe that believes it has met the requirements to re-quest an earlier start day. To ease concerns that the new authority would vio-late the constitutional rights of a non-Indian or that jurors

in tribal court would be unfair, the bill allows defendants to petition a federal court for re-view. A tribe would have juris-diction over non-Indians when that person lives or works on the reservation, and is married to or in a partnership with a tribal member. About 77 percent of people living in American In-dian and Alaska Native areas are non-Indian, according to a recent Census report. Roughly half of Native American wom-en are married to non-Indians, the Justice Department has said. Although tribes have civil jurisdiction over non-In-dians, they often are reluctant to go forward with a case when the penalty amounts to a fine and offenders have little in-centive to pay it. The hope in taking on criminal cases is that incidents of domestic violence will be quelled before they lead to serious injury or death, and that victims won’t be afraid to report them. “Having the ability to do it local and have the pros-ecution start soon after the of-fense, that’s just going to be great for our victims,” said Fred Urbina, chief prosecutor for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in southern Arizona. Officers there are cer-tified under state and federal law, which allows them to ar-rest non-Indians, but the cases aren’t handled at the tribal level. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe also has banished some non-Indians from the reservation for criminal activity. “It’s almost like a patchwork of things we’ve been able to employ to fix that jurisdictional void.” Urbina said. “It’s not satisfactory in all cases.” Under the new law, a non-Indian defendant would have the right to a jury trial that is drawn from a cross-section of the community and doesn’t systematically exclude non-Indians or other distinctive groups. The protections would equal those in state or federal court, including the right to a public defender, a judge who is licensed to practice law, a recording of the proceedings and published laws and rules of criminal procedure. “This is not scary. It’s not radical,” said Tony Eid, former U.S. attorney in Colo-rado. “It’s very much in keep-ing with what we have as local governments.” The safeguards are similar to those in the federal Tribal Law and Order Act, passed in 2010 to improve pub-lic safety on tribal lands. About 30 tribes across the country are working toward a provision that allows them to increase sentencing from one year to three years, leaving them well-positioned to take authority over non-Indians in criminal matters, Eid said.

Hart Receives Medals

Tribal member Tavia Lee Hart, 14, has won medals in races such as 5K, mile, 800 meter, 4 X 400 relays, 10K, 4 mile, as well as Scholars Bowl and Mathlete Meets. Hart is currently in the eighth grade at Udall Junior

High, Udall Kan. She main-tains a 4.0 grade point while participating in Track, Vol-leyball, Basketball, Scholars Bowl, Mathlete, and Leader-ship. She is the captain of her Scholar Bowl, Volleyball, and Basketball Teams. During the summer she races in the mile, 5K, Cross Country Runs and Marathons. She is currently train-ing for the track season at her school, for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon on April 28, and the Jim Thorpe Na-tive American Games on June 9-15, and a variety of other races throughout Kansas and Oklahoma. Hart is the daughter of Travis and Emily Hart, grand-daughter of John and Laura Hart, great-granddaughter of Lizzie (Pohocsucut) Hart and Melvin Hart, and great-great- granddaughter of Kate (Heaka-ma) Tahdooahnippah and Mike Tahdooahnippah.

Hart sitting surrounded by some of her medals she won during the past two and a half years.

17th Allie Reynolds Red Earth Golf Tournament

The 17th Annual Al-lie Reynolds Red Earth Golf Tournament is scheduled for 11 a.m., April 15, at the Okla-homa City Golf & Country Club, Oklahoma City, Okla. The tournament is a four-man scramble. There are a limited number of team spon-sorships, tee sponsorships and individual player slots avail-able. For additional infor-mation call (405) 427-5228 or http://www.redearth.org.

Rose State College Pow-wow

The Rose State College Pow-wow will be April 13 in Midwest City, Okla. For more information call (405) 736-0347.

Tribal Member Competes in Special

Olympics

Tribal youth Audrianna Williams participated in this year’s Special Olympics bas-ketball tournament. Her team came in fourth place and she received a white ribbon. Williams is 12 years old, in the 6th grade at MacAr-thur Middle School. She is the daughter of Juan Pohocsucut and the granddaughter of Opal Gore. Williams suffers from a rare genetic syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Williams

Billy Mills Awarded Presidential Citizens

Medal NARF National Sup-port Committee member Billy Mills was awarded the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal on February 15 by President Barak Obama. Mills is a co-founder and the National Spokesper-son of Running Strong for American Indian Youth, an or-ganization that strives to build the capacity of communities, grassroots Indian organiza-tions, families, and individuals to leverage their strengths and solve problems. “I am humbled and hon-ored to be recognized by the President in this extraordinary way,” said Mills. “The most powerful thing you can give to a child is a dream. I hope every child in Indian Country knows what is possible if you follow your dream.” Mills, who is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, won an Olympic Gold Medal in the 10,000 meters. He remains the only American to ever win the event. Mills’ win in the 10,000 meters is considered one of the greatest upsets in Olympic his-tory. Running Strong and NARF are two of seven na-tional Native non profits that have formed the Native Ways Federation, a workplace giv-ing and charity accountabil-ity organization serving tribes and Native peoples around the country, leveraging national strength for local impact. Mills was one of 18 people who received the Presi-dential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian award in the United States, second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Cooperstown Schools Drop “Redskin” Name

Cooperstown, N.Y.- An Otsego County school is now looking for a new mascot fol-lowing a vote that nixed the

name “Redskins” for future use. The issue was first brought to the district’s atten-tion by a group of concerned students. “The questions where you go to school, and what’s your mascot nickname come up and they found them-selves to be a bit uncomfort-able in the conversation,” said David Borgstrom, president of the Cooperstown Board of Ed-ucation. Inside the Cooperstown High School auditorium, red and black banners with the Redskin mascot still hang, showing pride in a longtime tradition. Their trophy cases have old football memorabilia of the Redskins that date to 1967. “The (student) con-cerns are with the insensitiv-ity that they perceived in the name “Redskins” and how it pertained to Native peoples,” said Superintendent C.J. Her-bert. The potential change had been getting a lot attention in the community. “I think the students, just like the community at large, have a mixed response to it,” Herbert said. “I think that many of them are very pleased to see the possibility of change within their school communi-ty. Others have some level of anxiety about losing something they have connected with for their high school years.” With the vote to change the mascot nickname, the school district now has to replace team uniforms. “A couple people have raised the question of where that money would come from, but the issue isn’t really money, I think it’s tradition,” Borgstrom said. Oneida Nation Rep-resentative Ray Halbritter heard about the possible name change. In a letter to students, Halbritter said Oneida Nation would help pay for any new uniforms if they got rid of the Redskins name. “Their offer is certainly greatly appreciated and we have been in contact with them and we feel that it is very generous,” Herbert said. An offer from Oneida Nation shows Cooperstown a school mascot means more than just school spirit. The major concern the school has received from the public thus far is a loss in tradition. “Re-ally, just kind of realization that time’s changed and per-ceptions changed and if there was anyone who was offended by the then we need to take a hard look at it,” Herbert said. Despite the vote, Borg-strom said the board will con-tinue to recognize the Redskins name and the history it holds with the Cooperstown commu-nity.

TEXT the wordCNWEB

to the numbers 90210 to get updates

on tribal events



Local Fitness Center in Cache is Anticipated by Community

Carmen Niedo Glenn and her husband, Mason, have always had a habit of exercis-ing. Opening a fi tness center that was local in their com-munity in Cache, Okla. was a thought to both of them as they would travel to the closest fi t-ness facility in Lawton. With faith and determi-nation of the Glenn family and close friends, the thought of Cache having a fi tness center is now a reality. Hi-C Fitness Center, lo-cated at 513 C Street in Cache, is in its fi nal stages of opening, and the community is looking forward to it. The anticipated work-out facility is a nice addition to the recently upgraded walking track not far from its door.

“People want to be ac-tive, and if we can provide a place for them to exercise we are successful,” said Carmen. A friend in Prague, who runs a workout center, helped them get the ball rolling, added

Carmen. From moving to paint-ing and carpentry, Carmen, who works in the Cache Public School system, and her family worked long hours from Janu-ary 18 to get the facility trans-formed to a professional and welcoming fi tness center They purchased every treadmill, weight set, televi-sion set, and nautilus station with their saved earnings. “The biggest obstacle was cleaning, and refurbishing the walls of the former storage unit that her and her husband staked out. Carmen and her hus-band understands the business will not be profi table, and fully accept that.

“We did not do this to make money,” she explained. “We went into this knowing that we will be providing a place the for the community to be healthy through exercis-ing.” With other communi-

ties, such as Snyder, Chatta-nooga, and Indiahoma, look-ing for a local workout center, Hi-C Fitness has a very good chance of succeeding. The tight security cen-ter will be open 24-hours, with no contact to sign, just a monthly fee. Individuals can use the facility for $33/month; couples $45/month, and a fam-ily of four $70/month. Senior citizens can use the facility for $25 a month, and a discount is given to fi re personnel, EMT, Police offi cers, and teachers. Free tanning with membership is an incentive of joining the center. “ We have been getting nothing but positive comments and support of the community, which helps,” she said. She added they will be looking for their members to help them by following the rules of membership and not allow anyone to enter who is not a paid associate of the gym.Her future goals are to have fi t-ness classes available, such as Zumba, and nutrition experts visit to help members with eat-ing right. Hi-C Fitness Center is named after their children, Hunter, Isabel, and herself, Carmen.

Carmen Niedo Glenn paints the walls of Hi-C Fitness Cen-ter. The building was a former storage center, and with the help of family and friends, it is in its fi nal stages of comple-tion.

The workout stations offer a variety of exercises to help keep the members healthy and in shape. Fitness classes are in the future plans of the fi tness center.

Story and photos by Jolene Schonchin/News Staff


Lawton High School held the Mr. LHS competition, Friday, March 8th at 9:30 a.m. in the LHS Gym. There were nine candi-dates vying for the title, each one being sponsored by either Lawton High clubs, LHS or-ganizations, or LHS athletic coaches. Two of the candidates were members of the Coman-che Nation. Eduardo Soto, an LHS senior, and an active member of the Native American Club enjoyed participating in the Mr. LHS competition. Soto stated he wanted to take part in ev-erything at school to show his support during his senior year. Soto’s escort was LHS senior, Kimberly DeJesus. Eduardo Soto is the son of Tasha Gal-legos and grandson of Jose and Sandra Gallegos. Tevin Foster, and LHS senior, and an all around LHS athlete was the winning can-didate for the Mr. LHS title. Foster is the son of Darone and Lisa Dawsey, and grandson of Joyce Tahah-Burruss and Dirl Burruss. The candidates were all supported by parents, friends, and community members.


Comanche Nation Students Compete for Mr. LHS Title

The 2013 Mr. LHS candidates from Left to Right; Kendull Anderson, Tevin Foster, Darius Jones, Emmanuel Llanos, Eduardo Soto, Daniel Pae, Lee Kantowski, Morgan Fletcher, and Will Hight.

Eduardo Soto during the Jail perfor-mance.

Eduardo Soto and his escort Kimberly DeJesus. Tevin Foster being crowned for Mr. LHS.

TASHINA Angeline OTOTIVO. . Will be graduat-ing April 19th 7pm. FROM USAO UNIVERSITY. in Chickasha Okla....at college auditorium. Congratulations from Crystal Ototivo, Christo-pher Ototivo, Randy Stillwell, Grandma Rebecca. Wendy Ototivo, Auntie Hayley, Brooke and Jadon Ototivo, Channing, Emma..& Uncle Jerome...All Family and many friends.

The Advisory Board Committee along with newly elected board member Anita Johnson.

A reception was held on February 5th at the Coman-che Elderly Center in honor of Anita Johnson, newly elected NICOA Board member for the SW Plains Area (Kansas, SW Oklahoma, Texas) at the Co-manche Nation Elder Center. Johnson is a resident of Law-ton and has lived within the Comanche Indian community, since 1961. “The mission of NICOA is to advocate for im-proved comprehensive health, social services, and economic well-being for American In-

Reception held for NICOA Board member Anita Johnsondian and Alaska Native Elders. NICOA serves as a central ac-cess point for information on employment, healthcare, con-ferences, and more for Ameri-can Indian and Alaska Native Elders..” As a member of the NICOA Board, Johnson’s re-sponsibility is to represent our people as an advocate for con-cerns that affect our elderly. The concerns of NICOA in health care, economic well be-ing, and social service are what is discussed about in everday lives. In the SW Plains caucus,

one of the main issues deals with health care for diabetic elder patients. The meals pro-vided at elderly centers or de-livered to homes of the elderly is one of the areas that NICOA advocates for in the reauthori-zation of the older Americans Act. The reception provided useful information to our el-derly and was enjoyed by Mrs. Anita Johnson. Congratula-tions on being newly elected and may this year bring much success to the NICOA board.

Story and Photo by Stacey Heminokeky/News Staff

“LIKE” The Comanche

Nation News on

FACEBOOK

dence:Robert Atchavit

George Karty

Kenneth Karty

Cornelia Karty

Cynthia Ann Clay

Albert Clark, Jr.

Wahnne Clark

Towana Spivey

Thomas Narcomey

Ed Heminokey

In addition to the sworn testimony given by the indi-viduals identified above, tribal member Wahnne Clark read the sworn affidavit of Gaylyn Sue Hubbard into the record. The Board also took under consideration 123 letters from parties who are either next-of-kin to those interred at the Indi-an Agency Cemetery, or others that had relevant and helpful views supporting the Board’s hearing and deliberations.3

As the below report in-dicates, the Board finds that (1) the Indian Agency Cemetery is a “sacred site” under Executive Order 13007(1)(b)(iii) by vir-tue of its established religious and cultural significance to the Comanche Nation, its citizens past and present and other In-dian nations whose ancestors are interred therein; (2) the In-dian Agency Cemetery is also a burial site within the mean-ing of NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. § 3001(2)(i), and the general laws and social policies gov-erning cemeteries and places of burial;4 (3) the Board ad-ditionally recognizes that the Comanche Nation’s Unified Position Statement addressing the conditions of the Indian Agency Cemetery, which the Comanche Nation has distrib-uted to Comanche Nation citi-zens and has made available to the public at large, received near unanimous support by the parties who appeared at the January 29, 2013 hearing, and best reflects the express wishes of the next-of-kin, and there-fore recommends that the CBC formally adopt and take steps to implement the Unified Posi-tion Statement.5

Background of the Indian Agency Cemetery

In 1867, the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache Tribes of Indians acquired treaty recognized property rights to 2,991,993 acres of land situat-ed generally in the southwest-ern part of Oklahoma (here-inafter “KCA Reservation”). Under the Treaty, the United States set apart the 2,991,993 acres of land for the absolute and undisturbed use and oc-cupation of the Kiowa, Apache and Comanche. The Treaty also provided that the United States would establish an agen-cy within the KCA Reserva-tion, and that authorized agents of the Government would have authority to enter onto the res-ervation to conduct Govern-ment affairs.

In accordance with this provision, the United States established the Kiowa-Coman-che Indian Agency in 1869. As a matter of normal procedure after the establishment of an Indian Agency, that Agency would soon thereafter establish a cemetery for Agency use. The Government did this to accommodate those individu-als who had become wards of the Government or converts to Christianity since many of

the civilian Agents were of the Christian faith. The Indi-an Agency Cemetery located on the east end of present day Henry Post Army Airfield was the only cemetery located near the Kiowa-Comanche Indian Agency, or the sub agency, and would therefore have been the only cemetery suitable for Agency use. The Indian Agen-cy Cemetery predates the Ft. Sill Army reservation.

Burials began on the In-dian Agency Cemetery some-time between 1892 and 1900. During that time, the Depart-ment of Interior transferred operation and control of the Indian Agency Cemetery to the Ft. Sill Sub-Agency Reserva-tion. In 1907, the Government formally transferred the cem-etery from the Agency to the Ft. Sill Military Reservation. Sometime during that year, the United States ceased burials on the Indian Agency Cemetery.

In 1892, the Jerome Agreement ceded the prop-erty rights granted by the 1867 Treaty back to the Govern-ment, excepting certain allot-ments to each man, woman and child of the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache Tribes. Contro-versy, however, marred the Jerome Agreement because of allegations that United States Government officials bribed tribal leaders and engaged in fraud to secure the Tribes’ ac-quiescence to the Agreement; the investigation of this contro-versy prolonged Congressional ratification until June 6, 1900. The United States Department of Interior specifically exclud-ed the Indian Agency Cem-etery land from the lands made available either as allotments to tribal citizens or the lotter-ies for the KCA land opening to non-Indian settlers in 1901.

Beginning in 1917, the Ft. Sill Military Reserva-tion commanders unilaterally converted the Indian Agency Cemetery from a sacred burial site into an active airfield. To achieve this conversion, Army workers removed the head stones marking the grave sites of those buried within to pre-vent damage to aircrafts dur-ing landings. In their place, Ft. Sill Army workers placed concrete slabs over the grave sites. As of 1954, those con-crete slabs constituted the only remaining visible markers to memorialize the final resting place of each Comanche citi-zen buried within the Indian Agency Cemetery. That year, Ft. Sill Army workers covered the slab markers with three or more inches of dirt, hiding the last remaining monuments of remembrance from view, to further facilitate the landing of aircrafts. The Army effective-ly hid the Indian Agency Cem-etery, until a project in 1984 began to uncover the previous-ly concealed graves. Since that time, the Comanche Nation has had ongoing negotiations with Ft. Sill to attempt to provide restoration and protection to the Indian Agency Cemetery.

Currently, a majority of the gravesites remain cov-ered by dirt and grass, and therefore the next-of-kin can-not locate with certainty where their relatives that lie in eternal repose. In 1984, the Fort Sill Museum prepared a plat of the gravesites which revealed and documented the location of 109 gravesites, some of which are marked with known iden-tities, and many of which are marked as “unknown.”7 Ex-perts estimate that as many as 200 gravesites may contain Comanche ancestors at the In-dian Agency Cemetery. Today,

there are at least 96 number of known Comanche next-of-kin to those buried at the Indian Agency Cemetery.

The Indian Agency Cemetery also is currently eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As such, all “federal undertakings” which could im-pact the cemetery are subject to the protections and procedures provided by Section 106 of the National Historic Preserva-tion Act. In addition, the Co-manche Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Office formally submitted a nomination packet to the Keeper of the Registry on March 19, 2012, in order to have the Indian Agency Cem-etery listed on the Register. On August 15, 2012, the Coman-che Nation requested that the Keeper postpone consideration of the nomination until the Co-manche Nation could resolve certain factual and legal is-sues. The Comanche Nation thereafter withdrew its request, and the decision to list the In-dian Agency Cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places remains pending with the Keeper’s office.

Legal Standards

Executive Order 13007 issued on May 24, 1996, by President Bill Clinton, defines a “sacred site” as follows:

“Sacred site” means any specific, discrete, nar-rowly delineated location on Federal land that is identified by an Indian tribe, or Indian individual determined to be an appropriately authoritative representative of an Indian religion, as sacred by virtue of its established religious significance to, or ceremonial use by, an Indian religion; provided that the tribe or ap-propriate authoritative repre-sentative of an Indian religion has informed the agency of the existence of such a site.

See Ex. 6, Executive Order 13007(1)(b)(iii), May 24, 1993. The Order further man-dates that federal agencies managing federal lands “(1) accommodate access to and ceremonial use of Indian sa-cred sites by Indian religious practitioners and (2) avoid ad-versely affecting the physical integrity of such sacred sites.” Id. at § (1)(a).8

NAGPRA defines a “burial site” as any natural or prepared physical location, whether originally below, on, or above the surface of the earth, into which as a part of the death rite or ceremony of a culture, individual human remains are deposited. See 25 U.S.C. § 3001(2)(i).

Evidence at the Hearing

During the hearing, ten people gave sworn testimony including Robert Atchavit, George Karty, Kenneth Karty, Cornelia Karty, Cynthia Ann Clay, Albert Clark, Jr., Wahnne Clark, Towana Spivey, Thomas Narcomey, and Ed Heminokey. A summary of their testimony is provided below:

Tribal member Robert Atchavit testified at the Janu-ary 29, 2013 hearing. Atcha-vit is the next-of-kin to two Comanche buried at the Indian Agency Cemetery at site no.’s 94 and 95, Nokeke and Popeiky. See Ex. 7, January 29, 2013 Transcript, 4:11-15. Atchavit testified that he is concerned about the Indian Agency Cem-etery, and that he would like to be able to do at the Indian Agency Cemetery what Co-manche normally do for their

loved ones – lay a wreath, rose, or other memorial item at his ancestor’s burial site. Id. at 5:20-6:3.

Tribal member George Karty testified on behalf of his brother, Kenneth Karty, who was present but unable to give testimony at the hear-ing because of a health condi-tion. Id. at 6:14-18. Karty is the next-of-kin to at least seven Comanche buried at the Indian Agency Cemetery, includ-ing his great grandmother, his great grandmother’s sister and brother, and four of his great grandmother’s children. Kar-ty has visited the Indian Agen-cy Cemetery at least five times, and was denied access at least once. Id. at 8:4-19. Karty, who is approaching 84 years of age, was able to identify the burial sites of his ancestors only by digging through the grass and dirt:

Ms. McDaniel:9 So you saw where they were laid and it had a marker?

Mr. Kenneth Karty: Yeah. I was able to dig down – dig down and I was able to see their markers.

Ms. Karty: He was able to dig down and see the markers.

Ms. McDaniel: Was it overgrown? Could you clearly see it or was it covered with grass? Could you see it clearly when you got there?

Mr. Kenneth Karty: No, it was covered with grass.

Ms. Karty: It was covered with grass. Not all the same amount, but the ones that he saw were found were cov-ered with grass.

Mr. Kenneth Karty: I had to dig down. Yeah.

Id. at 9:7-24. Karty addition-ally testified that he wanted it to be made known that he fully supports the Unified Po-sition Statement requesting certain restorations to the In-dian Agency Cemetery. Id. at 11:5-10.

Tribal member Cyn-thia Ann Clay testified at the hearing. Clay is the next-of-kin to two twins who are buried at the Indian Agency Cemetery. Id. at 12:19-21. Clay also expressed her support for the Unified Position Statement re-questing certain restorations to the Indian Agency Cemetery, and requested that a Ground Penetrating Radar study be conducted to locate additional gravesites. Id. at 12:21-25.

Tribal member Al-bert Clark, Jr. testified at the hearing. He is the next-of-kin to his aunt, uncle, and great grandparents who are buried at the Indian Agency Cemetery. Id. at 14:2-6. He testified that he agreed with the decision to have the Indian Agency Cem-etery restored, but was un-able to testify further because of a health condition and his advanced age. Id. at 13:23-14:21.

Tribal member Wahnne Clark testified at the hearing. The Board un-derstands and believes that Clark is the next-of-kin to the Clark Twins, who are buried at site no.’s 13 and 14 at the In-dian Agency Cemetery. The Board further understands and believes that Clark views the Indian Agency Cemetery to be a place of religious signifi-cance, and is deeply offended by the current state of the In-dian Agency Cemetery and the

interference with peaceful and undisturbed visits of next of kin with their interred relatives. Clark has been the catalyst for many of the restorations the Comanche Nation now seeks to have implemented by Ft. Sill at the Indian Agency Cem-etery.

Towana Spivey tes-tified at the hearing. Spivey has no relation to any of the Comanche ancestors buried at the Indian Agency Cemetery, but was the Director and Cu-rator of the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark Museum in 1982, and frequently addressed cultural issues between Indian Tribes and Ft. Sill as a part of his official duties at Ft. Sill. Id. at 31:1-16. Spivey testified, among other things, about the difficulties in gaining access to the Indian Agency Cemetery because it is kept behind a locked gate, and Ft. Sill grants access only by an individual making a phone call to the con-trol tower at the airfield and re-questing that airfield personnel unlock the gate. Airfield per-sonnel monitor the visitor at all times while inside the gate. Id. at 39:6-40:1.

Tribal member Thom-as Narcomey testified at the hearing. Narcomey’s testimo-ny concerned the nomination of the Indian Agency Ceme-tery to the National Register of Historic Places. Narcomey ex-pressed concern that any effort by the Comanche Nation or the CBC to postpone the nomina-tion would violate a Comanche Nation General Council Reso-lution from April of 2007. Id. at 45:20-46:2. Upon request, Narcomey would not produce and submit to the Board a signed copy of the Resolution to which he referred.10 Nar-comey further testified that he believed any of the proposed restorations to the Indian Agen-cy Cemetery could have a det-rimental effect to it being listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and therefore any changes to the conditions at the Indian Agency Cemetery should take place only after the listing has occurred. Id. at 49:4-19. Narcomey also testi-fied that he is concerned about additional gravesites at Ft. Sill which contain Comanche victims of the smallpox epi-demic. Id. at 43:20-44:4. The Board is of the view that those gravesites are not located at the Indian Agency Cemetery, and therefore are a matter to be considered separate and apart from the burial site that was the subject of this hearing.

Tribal member Eddie Heminokey testified at the hearing. Heminokey testified about the difficulties in gaining access to the Indian Agency Cemetery, which requires an individual to go through a chain of command to have the fence surrounding the area unlocked. Id. at 54:3-13. He also testified that he and his family felt very uncomfortable while visiting their interred relatives within the Indian Agency Cemetery, because the visits required an escort and surveillance from Ft. Sill personnel, and the es-cort “would be looking at you and waiting for you to finish up doing what you were supposed to be doing … and [t]hen they would follow behind you when you [were] leaving and lock the gate…. Id. The lack of pri-vacy when paying respects and commemorating the dead hin-ders those Comanche religious practices by the next-of-kin.

Wahnne Clark read in into the record the Affida-

NAGPRAContinued from page 1


Continued on page 14

vit of tribal member Gaylyn Sue Hubbard. Hubbard is the next-of-kin to Sarah Tis-sywahwoonard, who is buried at the Indian Agency Cem-etery. See Ex. 8, Affi davit of Gaylyn Sue Hubbard. Hub-bard, along with her husband, daughter, and aunt, visited the Indian Agency Cemetery for the purpose of laying a memo-rial wreath at the gravesite of Tissywahwoonard. Id. at ¶ 4. They traveled great distances. At the time of her visit, Hub-bard’s aunt was barely ambula-tory, and 84 years of age. Id. at ¶ 6. She had never before been to the Indian Agency Cem-etery, and did not know where Tissywahwoonard was buried. Id. Through Clark’s personal assistance, signifi cant efforts, advance phone calls and ap-pointments, Hubbard and her family fi nally gained access to the Indian Agency Cemetery through Ft. Sill offi cials. Id. at ¶ 8. Ft. Sill’s airfi eld person-nel closely monitored Hubbard and her family’s visit to their interred loved ones at all times. Id. Five to eight inches of soil covers the actual site of Tissy-wahwoonard’s grave and was located only with the aid of the 1984 plat prepared by Spivey. Id. at ¶ 9. Hubbard had to as-sume that she had located Tis-sywahwoonard’s gravesite, but could not be certain because she was not able to see the ac-tual concrete slab. Id. Hub-bard’s belief is that uncovering the concrete slabs is the only way family members will actu-ally know that they are paying homage to their own ances-tors and exercising their reli-gious practices. Id. Hubbard also supports the Unifi ed Posi-tion Statement requesting cer-tain restorations to the Indian Agency Cemetery. Id. at ¶ 10.

Almost all of the 123 letters and written responses that the Board received and en-tered into the record held the Indian Agency Cemetery out as a place of religious and cul-tural signifi cance. The letters and written responses addition-ally expressed the following general concerns:

(1) The current access to the Indian Agency Cemetery is unsatisfactory and substan-tially inhibits the ability of next-of-kin to commemorate the deaths of their ancestors, remember them and observe traditional Comanche religious customs and beliefs. Specifi -cally, access to the cemetery is granted only upon making a phone call to Ft. Sill airfi eld personnel, who will come down and unlock the gate to the Indian Agency Cemetery, and then monitor and surveil the

families’ cultural and religious observances. Evidence taken at the hearing revealed that Ft. Sill airfi eld personnel do not al-ways answer these phone calls requesting access, and that ac-cess has been denied on mul-tiple occasions. The comments also demonstrate that Ft. Sill offi cials currently make no ac-commodations for the elderly and disabled to access the Indi-an Agency Cemetery. There is no paved road, no parking close by, and an individual can only visit the cemetery by walking a substantial distance through a grassy fi eld. The comments further reveal that once Ft. Sill offi cials grant access, Ft. Sill airfi eld personnel closely mon-itor and guard an individual’s visit to the burial site of an an-cestor at all times. Such sur-veillance intrudes signifi cantly into the private moments or-dinarily shared between next-of-kin and their deceased at a cemetery, and also impedes the willingness of next-of-kin to perform traditional Comanche religious and cultural ceremo-nies.

(2) The Indian Agency Cemetery’s restricted proxim-ity to the airfi eld and current physical conditions prevent next-of-kin from identifying the burial sites of their ances-tors. Only a handful of the burial sites are uncovered, while the rest remain concealed by several inches or more of dirt and grass. Elderly Coman-che next-of-kin can positively identify the burial sites of their ancestors only by digging down into the dirt and grass, until the concrete slabs become visible. However, it appears that Ft. Sill is no longer willing to allow Comanche citizens to remove the dirt and grass in order to verify that their ances-tors lie beneath. At least one Comanche citizen received a letter from Ft. Sill, advising him that removing the dirt and grass from the burial site of a family member could lead to criminal penalties, including fi nes and imprisonment.

(3) At Ft. Sill there are three Apache prisoner-of-war cemeteries, and a Post cem-etery, that are all meticulously maintained by Ft. Sill offi cials. There also is a cemetery at Ft. Sill that contains the remains of four donkeys and two goats that receives substantially bet-ter care and protection than the Indian Agency Cemetery receives. The comments ex-pressed outrage at this example of disparate treatment, and gen-eral disbelief that a cemetery set aside for animals receives superior care and maintenance than a cemetery that is the fi -nal resting place for as many as 200 Comanche Indians.

The remaining com-ments address Ft. Sill’s lack of respect for the Indian Agency Cemetery, and condemn Ft. Sill’s failure to act. An ex-cerpt from a letter written by retired Master Sergeant Doug-las E. Powell, United States Air Force, who is next-of-kin to Comanche ancestors buried at the Indian Agency Cemetery, writes as follows:

I have attended the open meeting re the Indian Agency Cemetery at Fort Sill, with great interest, high hopes, and an open mind. I remember being told when I was much, much, younger that I had rel-atives buried there, but I no longer remember the names of those relatives. It would be my hope that once unfettered ac-cess to the cemetery is restored, and the soil that was put over the grave markers is removed, that the names of all buried there will become known for certain. Only then can I posi-tively trace the lineage of those buried there, with any full cer-tainty, to their places on my family tree.

I consider the know-ingly and deliberate desecra-tion, defacing, and obscuring, of the grave sites, markers, and the cemetery itself by the United States Army to be noth-ing short of a crime against hu-manity, and a genuine source of outrage. I feel that the defi -nition of Desecration pretty well sums up what the United States Army has done to the Indian Agency Cemetery. Des-ecration (also called desacral-ization or desanctifi cation) is the act of depriving something of its sacred character, or the disrespectful or contemptuous treatment of that which is held to be sacred or holy by a group or individual.

This Board agrees. As the record evidence shows, the Indian Agency Cemetery is a burial ground of great religious and cultural signifi cance not only to the Comanche next-of-kin who are buried there, but to all citizens of the Coman-che Nation. This religious sig-nifi cance is derived from more

than the inherent religious sig-nifi cance afforded to the burial grounds of any people, culture, or country. It marks a time in history when the Comanche adopted traditional Christian burial practices. It also serves as a reminder of the hardships the Comanche Nation has en-dured, and the adversity it has overcome.

Findings and Recommenda-tions

We, the undersigned members of the Comanche NAGPRA Board, having been recognized as cultural partici-pants and practitioners, and having been tasked with pro-tecting the Comanche Nation’s cultural sovereignty, and being knowledgeable of the Coman-che Nation’s religious and spir-itual practices, hereby make the following fi ndings and rec-ommendations to the CBC:

(1) The Board fi nds that the Indian Agency Cemetery is a “Sacred Site” of the Coman-che Nation by virtue of its es-tablished religious and cultural signifi cance to Comanche Citi-zens.

(2) The Board further fi nds that the Indian Agency Cem-etery is also a burial site within the meaning of NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. § 3001(2)(i), and the general laws and social poli-cies governing cemeteries and places of burial. In accordance with this fi nding, the Board recommends that consider-ation be given by the Ft. Sill Garrison Command to opening a dialogue with the next-of-kin to those buried at the Indian Agency Cemetery who may also wish to lie in eternal rest with their ancestors in accor-dance with Comanche cultural practices.

(3) The Board further fi nds that the Unifi ed Position State-ment addressing the conditions of the Indian Agency Cemetery, which the Comanche Nation has developed over a period of meetings amongst tribal mem-bers and next-of-kin, and has distributed well in advance to Comanche Nation citizens and made available to the public at

large, received near unanimous support by the parties who ap-peared at the January 29, 2013 hearing. The Unifi ed Posi-tion Statement comports with the expressed wishes of the next-of-kin as well as the gen-eral laws and policies pertain-ing the care and maintenance of places of burial including “Post” cemeteries as defi ned by Army Regulation 210-190.

(4) The Board further fi nds that Ft. Sill has been negligent in its care and maintenance of the Indian Agency Cemetery, and this fails to meet the fi -duciary standards as trustee, with stewardship over a place of burial and sacred site of the Comanche Nation. The Board does not lay blame at the feet of Ft. Sill or its Garrison Com-mand, but instead declares that this historic wrong must be cor-rected, and that the above men-tioned Unifi ed Position State-ment is the means by which to achieve this correction.

(5) The Board recom-mends that the CBC pass a res-olution which adopts the fi nd-ings of this Board, and declare the Indian Agency Cemetery to be a Sacred Site of the Coman-che Nation, and communicate that fi nding to the Ft. Sill Gar-rison Command.

(6) The Board further rec-ommends that the CBC pass a resolution formally adopting the Unifi ed Position Statement addressing the conditions of the Indian Agency Cemetery, and take steps to implement the restorations and improve-ments contained therein with the United States through its Departments, Agencies, offi -cials and courts forthwith.

These fi ndings and rec-ommendations are important to the protection and integrity of the political sovereignty of the Comanche Nation because they serve to preserve and pro-tect the Comanche culture, its religious practices, and its an-cestral burial grounds which are essential to its cultural sov-ereignty.


Continued from page 13

YOUTH AGES 14 TO 21

SUPPLEMENTAL YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM

TAKING APPLICATIONS APRIL 1ST

FOR SUMMER WORK AND SUMMER SCHOOL

AREA OUTREACH 6PM TO 8 PM

CACHE - APRIL 9TH

CAHOMA BUILDING

WALTERS - APRIL16TH

COMANCHE COMMUNITY CENTER

APACHE - APRIL23RD

COMANCHE COMMUNITY CENTER

To Enroll For Your Free Lifeline Cell Phone Apply On-line At: https://webapp.lifeline-landing.com/LJohnson/ Since 1985, the Life-line program has provided a discount on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers to ensure that all Americans have the opportu-nities and security that phone service brings, including being able to connect to jobs, fam-ily and emergency services. In 2005, Lifeline discounts were made available to qualifying low-income consumers on pre-paid wireless service plans in

addition to traditional landline service. Lifeline is part of the Universal Service Fund. The Lifeline program is available to eligible low-in-come consumers in every state, territory, commonwealth, and on Tribal lands. Consumers with proper proof of eligibility may be qualifi ed to enroll. To participate in the program, con-sumers must have an income that is at or below 135% of the federal Poverty Guidelines <http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.shtml> or participate in a qualifying state, federal or Tribal assistance program.

Life Line Cell Phone Program Extends Services to Enrolled

Native Tribal Members

February 26, may be remembered as the day after the snowstorm to some but to two police offi cers it marked the announcement of promo-tion to Police Sergeant. Offi cer Kayle Kastner and K-9 Offi cer Chris Kennedy received notifi -cation from Chief Griffi n of the selection upon arrival to work. Most of the time offi cers dread the call to the Chief’s offi ce but not so in this case. Each offi cer demonstrated what the testing and recommendations suggested: these offi cers were ready for advancement and a new challenge. This process began last year with the addition of a pro-

motion section to the depart-mental policy and procedure. With the process identifi ed the department then had to wait funding for the positions and then began the selection pro-cess. The management staff reviewed all eligible candi-dates and made recommenda-tion based on performance, ex-perience, and trainability to the new position. The Chief used Standard and Associates to perform the knowledge testing of all candidates in the areas of Management and Supervision, Investigation, Patrol, Commu-nity Policing, and Case Law. Offi cers Kennedy and Kastner excelled all areas of the selec-

tion process and were clear choices after the Chiefs inter-view held on February 26. As an accredited agen-cy, we strive to go the extra measure to be fair and provide opportunities for all who work for the Police Department. While the Chief of Police made the fi nal decision, the offi cers actually had the input on who earned the promotion by their performance, testing ability, and trainability. Offi cer Kastner was born in Lawton and attended Eisenhower High School and Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He began his career with GEO Group in Lawton

Comanche Nation Police Promotes Offi cersApril 2013 15 The Comanche Nation News

and then worked as contract-ed security at Fort Sill for the Chenega Tribe of Alaska. He returned to Oklahoma working as an offi cer with the Medicine Park PD and joined the Co-manche Nation Police Depart-ment in August 2008. Since his arrival, he has completed the CLEET Police Academy, Oklahoma Criminal Investiga-tion Academy and Narcotics Investigation along with more than 250 hours of continuation education to include Back-country Tracking and Clan Laboratory Responder certi-fi cation. In his free time, you can fi nd him hunting or fi shing. Offi cer Kennedy is a

graduate of Geronimo High School and served as a Hulen volunteer Firefi ghter where he was certifi ed as a Firefi ghter 1, Hazmat, and Ropes 1. Prior to coming to the Comanche Nation Police, he worked at Lawton Correctional Facility. Since his arrival to the depart-ment in December 2005, he has completed the CLEET Po-lice Academy, K-9 Academy, FLETC Firearms Instructor, Clandestine Laboratory Re-sponder, Narcotics Investiga-tion, and Backcountry Track-ing. He enjoys shooting and archery in his free time.

Native American OwnedPatrick Mahsetky

Indian Pat Tire Center902 S.E. 2nd St.

Lawton, OK 73501(South of Comanche Nation Housing)

(580) 483-5217

Brake Service, Flat Fix, Tire BalancingMinoMinor Auto repair, Roadside serviceFollowing the Trail Family

Conference April 26 and 27, 2013

Location: Cornerstone Indian Bap-tist Church, Little Axe, OK

Registration cost: $10/person, in-cludes breakfast and lunch

Conference website for www.followingthetrail.

org <http://www.followingthetrail.org/>

Submitted by CN Law Enforcement Staff


In May 1996 Larry and Charlotte (Niyah) McCurttain were invited along with many Comanche tribal members to attend and participate in the 150th celebration and re-en-actment of the 1847 Treaty between the German settlers of Fredericksburg and the Co-manches. It was a particular pleasure to go to Fredericks-burg because according to fam-ily history, the family’s great grandmother, Takey-yetchy (Stands and Speaks) was born outside the German town. During the celebration it was announced that the town was the birthplace of Takey-yetchy. Some year and a half later, one of the organizers of the 150th celebration, Larry Liles, contacted the McCur-tains and informed them that the city officials of Fredericks-burg wanted someone from the Comanche Tribe to put on an-other powwow. It was at the invitation from the city that the family was asked to bring their annual family powwow to Fredericksburg. After long and careful thought it was decided

to move their annual powwow some 400 miles from home to Texas. For years, the family held their powwow in Freder-icksburg. The first powwow in Fredericksburg that was held in 1999 was the eleventh fam-ily powwow. For these many years, the family received no financial help from the city. Even recently in February 2013 the city council turned down a request for funding thru the city hotel tax revenue to help get the powwow start-ed back up. This request was made by the Fort Martin Scott Museum Association. So, like in the past the family have to fund raise to meet their own personal expense and the trav-el expense and stipend of those Comanche tribal members and Native Americans invited to participate in the powwow. After the tenth pow-wow in Fredericksburg in 2008, there was an effort by a non-Indian powwow volunteer to take over the powwow. This was in retaliation when the family asked for a financial ac-

counting from this non-Indian, since this individual kept all the funds following the powwows. Mayor Hoover disrespected the family when he was asked to support the family and their effort of supporting the Treaty. This individual claimed the support of Mayor Hoover in a malicious letter mailed to the family disinviting them from their own powwow. Mayor Hoover promised to look into the matter and get back with the family. He failed to keep his promise. His “getting back” to the family was only to call and hang up on a family spokesperson. In 2010 it took the ef-fort of a supporter of the pow-wow, Randy Rupley of the Fort Martin Scott Museum Associa-tion to contact the new Mayor, Tom Musselman to recognize the wrongfulness of this action. The result was that the family was invited back. It was the feeling of the family and Chair-man Burgess that there needed to be a traditional reaffirmation ceremony on the 1847 Treaty. In November 2010 a ceremony

on the treaty was held and at-tended by Mayor Musselman, a German consulate represen-tative, Chairman Burgess and two CBC representatives, the Chappybitty/Quassycheeky family and other Native Amer-icans. Following the re-affir-mation ceremony the family held their eleventh powwow in Fredericksburg in May 2011. In 2008, unbeknownst to most Frederickburg citizens, Mayor Hoover initiated a ten-tative agreement with a group known as the Former Texas Rangers to lease a location (the old powwow grounds) on Fort Martin Scott. This group is not associated with the of-ficial Texas Ranger Museum in Waco, Texas. It wasn’t un-til 2010 that this arrangement became known by some of the citizens of Fredericks-burg. When the family went to hold their eleventh powwow in 2011, they were forced to move their powwow to an ad-jacent pasture. The former CBC were informed about the matter and chose to show their support through an officially signed letter of support to the Fort Martin Scott Museum Asso-ciation’s effort to preserve the Fort Martin Scott historical site and to get the city to fulfill their promise to develop and me-morialize a powwow grounds for all Comanches to use. This document was signed by Chairman Wauqua and the en-tire CBC on Feb. 16, 2012. There are many Freder-icksburg citizens who remain opposed to the proposed muse-um the Former Texas Rangers were to build. The construc-tion would mean bulldozing on the Fort Martin Scott historical site. Most recently the Former Texas Rangers announced dur-ing a city council meeting that they do not have enough funds to build their museum. There are many that believe that they have violated their lease agree-ment because they are no lon-ger going to build a museum. However, this group still want to use the designated piece of property for other unknown activities. The Chappybitty/Quassycheeky family believe that the real reason is to keep the family from holding their dance on the old powwow grounds. This is an prime ex-ample of Texas Ranger mental-ity at an attempt, once again, to stop the Comanches. Randy Rupley of the Fort Martin Scott Museum As-sociation has been very active in supporting the 1847 Treaty, the powwow and the preserva-tion of the Fort Martin Scott historical site. He and other

supporters have created a spe-cial website called Honor the Treaty. Org. The website gives individuals as well as Coman-che tribal members and Native Americans the opportunity to show their support by electron-ically signing a petition in sup-port of the treaty, the powwow and the Fort. There are those Co-manche tribal members who ask the family why they keep fighting over this matter. Their opinion is that the city of Fred-ericksburg doesn’t want the Comanches to return. Many are concerned about the hard-ship it’s been having on the family, which is true. The Chappybitty/Quassycheeky family respond that is has been difficult financially and spiri-tually during the tough times, but traditionally Comanche people don’t give up. Our Co-manche ancestors, particularly the chiefs that signed the treaty were strong and were think-ing about the safety of their people. Today, as Comanches we need to honor their strength and wisdom. The 1847 Treaty provided safety in the travel for our ancestors when going to Mexico in earlier days. When one thinks about the meaning of a treaty, one must remember a quote of an Indian activist who said, “To not honor a treaty is not to hon-or one’s ancestors who made it.” It was the intention of the family to work at planning a powwow for 2014. Howev-er, through the encouragement of the Fort Martin Scott Mu-seum Association and many Fredericksburg citizens there is going to be a one day intertrib-al powwow on May 4, 2013. The powwow is called Honor the Treaty Powwow. It will be held at 2082 West Live Oak. This location was donated by a supporter. Beside having a powwow another purpose of the powwow is to get out infor-mation to the citizens of Fred-ericksburg about the future of the powwow and the Fort. The Chappybitty/Quassycheeky family is asking for the support of Comanche tribal members, Native Americans and con-cerned individuals. All tribal organizations, princesses, sing-ers, dancers and volunteers are invited. You may call Char-lotte Niyah McCurtain at (580) 483-1221 for more informa-tion. The family will appreci-ate any monetary donation or donation of items for raffles. Attention Comanche tribal members. Please log on the website, Honor the Treaty.org and sign the petition!

HONOR THE TREATY POWWOWMay 4, 2013

2082 West Live Oak, Fredericksburg, TexasHistory of the Chappybitty/Quassycheeky family powwow

Text the words PIO to the text number 90210

to get the latest Information about tribal events and

Reminders


MilitarySubmitted by Lanny Asepermy


THE FORGOTTEN WAR – KOREA,

1950-53 The United States mili-tary participation in the Korean War began on June 25, 1950 and lasted until a cease-fi re armistice was signed on July 27, 1953. Documentation in-dicates 142 Comanches served in the military during the Kore-an War including two Coman-ches who died as a result of the war – one was CPL Dennis King Karty who was captured on May 18, 1951 and died in captivity on March 30, 1952. The other was LtCol Meech Tahsequah who was reported missing in action on December 6, 1950 after the aircraft he was traveling in, crashed. He was Declared Dead on February 28, 1954. His body has never been recovered. CPL Karty’s body was returned, in 1955, and is buried at Highland Cemetery, in Lawton.

Dennis King Karty

Meech Tahsequah

The United States mili-tary had 36,940 dead, 92,134 wounded, 4,439 prisoners of war and 8,176 missing in action. It is estimated that 178,700 United Nations mili-tary died and 367,000 North Korean, Chinese and Russian military died. Over 2.5 million civilians also died as a result the war. That’s a total of 545,700 military deaths on both sides and 3,295,700 total deaths as a result of the war. To put that in some sort of perspective more people died in Korean than the state of Iowa which is the 31st largest state with a population of 3,074,000 people.

Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C.

Four military awards, the Korea Service Medal from

the United States, the United Nations Korea Medal from the United Nations, the Korean War Service Medal and Repub-lic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation from the Republic of Korea, were awarded to mili-tary personnel who served in Korea or were in direct support of the war. Listed below are 141 known Comanches who served in the military from 1950-53 – not all served in Korea. Army (62), Asepermy, George Jr,; Atchavit, Robert; Bull, Frank; Burgess, Max; Ca-ble, Vernon; Chandler, Wood-row; Clark, Bob; Coosewoon, Kenneth; Coosewoon, Raphie; Coosewoon, Randolph; Faw-bush, Rie Jr; Galindo, Jake; Gooday, Bob; Gooday, Lupe; Hoahwah, Carlton; Hunt, George; Karty, Dennis; Karty, Kenneth; Kassanavoid, Stacey; Komah, Curvin; Komah, Ken-neth; Mahsetky, Marcy; Mihe-coby, Kelton; Mora, Raymond; Mowatt, Clifton; Niedo, Wil-ford; Ototivo, Rudy; Parker, Henry; Parker, Simmons; Pe-beahsy, Milton; Pekah, Larry; Pennah, LaVerne; Permansu, Melvin; Pewewardy, Samuel; Poafpybitty, William; Pocow-atchit, Virgil; Pohawpatchoko, Kevin G.; Red Elk, Roderick; Riddles, Stanley; Sapcut, Ken-neth; Saupitty, Leo; Southard, William; Tahahwah, Edward J; Tahsequah, Strudwick; Ten-equer, Bob; Tiddark, Nipper; Tieyah, Chester; Tieyah, Mel-ford; Titchywy, Philip; Tomah, Bobby W; Tooahnippah, Ken-neth; Topetchy, Byron; To-quothty, Lee; Trevino, Eddie; Vidana, Elbert; Wahahro-chah, Louis; Wahkinney, Rus-sell; Webb, William; Wermy, Billy; Wermy, Ralph; Woosyp-itty, Wilford and Yellowfi sh, Edward Sr. Marine Corps (11), Chasenah, Oris; Chockpoyah, Vernon; Clark, Edward; Codo-pony, Jack; Kassanavoid, Rob-ert Sr; Laurenzana, Ramon; Nevaquaya, Bernard; Poah-way, Matthew; Portillo, Ray-mond; Weryackwe, Wendell and Yackytooahnipah, Ken. Navy (31), Apauty, Curtis; Atauvich, Vandal; Ben-nett, Jerry; Caddo, Jimmy; Chemah, Clyde; Clark, Clif-ford,; Conneywerdy, Tyler Wahnee,; Davis, Charles; Da-vis, Curtis; Fawbush, Ernest; Hardin, James; Karty, Ran-dolph; Kassanavoid, Lavell; Kopaddy, Woodrow; Kosecha-ta, Lester; Mihecoby, Joyce; Otipoby, Clyde; Pewewardy, Garner; Poncey, Freddie; Say-erwinnie, Houston; Tahah, Carl; Tahahwah, Ray; Tippe-connie, Norman; Tippeconnie, Henry; Toahty, Benny; Tonips, Algernon; Tonips, Kenneth; Wermy, Glenn; Woommavo-vah, Ronald; Woothtakewah-bitty, Hugh and Youngman, Roderick Air Force (23), Clark, Albert Jr; Clark, Alfred; Clark, Charles W; Eckiwaudah, Em-erson; Evans, Gary; Health, Perry; Komah, Lester; Mah-setky, Travis; Medrono, Ardin; Parker, Harold; Pratt, John; Red Elk, Ervin Jr; Roach, Harley; Tahquechi, Gordon; Tahsequah, Meech; Topetchy, Gary; Torralba, William; Querdibitty, Jed; Vidana, Her-bert; Wahnee, Myers; Wells, Arvin; Yackeschi, Winfred and Yellowfi sh, Lyman Sr OK Army National

Guard (11), Ellis, Wilbur; Goodin, Charles; Goodin, Theodore; Mihecoby, Wesley; Nahwooks, Reaves; Pebeahsy, Roland; Poemoceah, Kelly; Rivas, Louis; Tomah, Kent O. Sr; Tomah, Lawrence and Wahkinney, Raymond CA Army National Guard (1), Brown, Johnny Women Army Corps (WAC) – 2, Clark, Wanda and Moore, Wilma Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) – 1, Portillo, Edna

Below are photos of some of the Comanches who served in Korea or in direct support of the Korean War.

LaVerne Pennah

Edward Clark

Johnny Brown

Louis Rivas

Lawrence Tomah

Robert Atchavit

Rie Fawbush

Reeves Nahwooks

Roderick Red Elk

Tyler Conneywerdy

Vernon Cable

Kent O. Tomah Sr.

Jack Codopony Sr.

Wesley Mihecoby

Edward Yellowfi sh

Eddie Trevino


Continued from page 17


Carl Tahah

Chester Tieyah

Henry Tippeconnie

Melford Tieyah

Myers Wahnee

Nipper Tiddark

Oris Chasenah

Rusty Wahkinney

Kenneth Tooahnippah

Billy Wermy

Winfred Yackeschi

Vandal Atauvich

Bobby Tomah

Jimmy Caddo

From a personal view-point: Having spent 31 month in Korea (1967-68 and 1980) including time on the Demili-tarized Zone, I can say the men who served in Korea had to endure conditions that tested a man’s perseverance. Korea was the coldest place I’ve ever been with temperatures reach-ing a low as -20 degrees during the winter months and summer temperatures as high as 110+ degrees. The monsoon season ran from August through Octo-ber with heavy rain most every-day. There are mountains and deep valleys everywhere with a lot of large rivers. Terrible conditions to fi ght a war. Per-haps the greatest obstacle was fi ghting two different armies, the North Korean and Chinese. In addition the enemy had tanks, aircraft and ships. Most all of our Warriors came home as they endured and survived the many hardships of Korea. War doesn’t get nastier than Korea. The war is called the Forgotten War but to the Co-manches who fought, support-ed, was wounded or died as a result of that war I salute you for your undying courage and bravery in the face of a deadly enemy in a unforgiving land. It is said the enemy was more than willing to die for their country while the American Soldier is more than willing to live for our country.

DO YOU REMEMBER Henry Lewis Tippe-connie – passed away on April 30,1966, and is only one of four non-Navajos buried at Navajo Nation Veterans Cem-etery near Fort Defi ance, NM. He served in the US Navy from 1952-56 mostly aboard the USS Saint Paul (CA-73), a Baltimore-class cruiser, during the Korean War. His awards include the National Defense Service, United Nations Ser-vice, Korean War Service, Ko-rean Service, Navy Occupation with/Japan Clasp and the Chi-na Service Medals.

Henry Tippeconnie

The USS Saint Paul was part of the Navy’s 7th Fleet during the Korea War. She saw intense combat service be-tween Formosa and China and mostly in the Sea of Japan as she engaged enemy ground troops and artillery batteries with deadly fi re from the 91 guns on board. Despite being fi red upon hundreds of times she received only one direct hit – no one was killed as a result of the hit. Other missions in-cluded escort and evacuation, indirect gun strikes on rail-roads, convoys, bunker com-plexes and tunnels. She fi red the last round shot at sea on July 27, 1953, 2 hours before the truce went effect bringing the war to a stalemate.

Tippeconnie standing behind some of his ship’s ordnance.

Tippeconnie standing in front of his ship’s big guns.

Tippeconnie was born on September 2, 1934 at Law-ton and grew up in Cache and Lawton. He attended Fort Sill Indian School and was tagged with the nickname of “Tuffy” – he boxed at Fort Sill and in the Navy. His parents were Lewis and Annabelle Lesitigh Tippe-connie (a Kiowa). His only brother was Donald Tippecon-nie and his sisters were Ro-wena Tselee, Louann Darby, Marceline Bordeanx and Lucy “Bubbles” Flores all deceased. Henry married Louise Hogan Begay and lived in Shiprock, NM until his death at the young age of 32 years in 1966. He worked as an X-ray Techni-cian at the Shiprock PHS. His children are Norman, Yvonne, Victoria, Cindy, Henry Sr and Marcilen (deceased). We thank Mr. Tippe-connie for his dedicated, faith-ful and honorable service to the US Navy, the Comanche Nation and the Republic.

FOUR GENERATIONS OF WARRIORS

Edward Hatch Clark

Clifford Clark

Benjamin Clark

Curtis Clark

On the Comanche War-rior Master Listing there are fourteen members of the Clark Family. They, along with the Chebahtah family, which also list 14 veterans, have the sec-ond most veterans that have served in the Armed Forces. The Parker family list 21 veter-ans. There are but few Co-manche families that have had four generations serve in the military. Curtis Clark has fol-lowed in the footsteps of his father, Benjamin (US Marine Corps 1955-59 and US Army 1959-76), his grandfather, Clifford (US Navy 1943-52), and his great grandfather, Ed-ward Hatch (US Army 1918-19) as he is currently serving with the 17th Military Police Detachment, as a Desk Ser-geant/Operations Sergeant, at Fort Jackson, SC. After his Basic and Advanced Indi-vidual Training (as a Military Policeman) at Fort McClel-lan, AL Curtis has served as a Military Policeman (MP) with the 551st MP Company at Fort Campbell, KY; Unit Armorer with the 94th MP Battalion in Yongsan, Korea; Team Leader with the 551st MP Company at Fort Campbell and overseas in Djibouti, Africa and Iraq; MP Investigator with the Fort McPherson, GA Law Enforce-ment Agency; Squad Leader


Continued from front page 18

with the 55th MP Company at Camp Casey, Korea; MP In-vestigator, Evidence Custodi-an, Investigator NCOIC with the 35th MP Detachment and as a Squad Leader and Pla-toon Sergeant with the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Gordon, GA and as a Squad Leader and Admin NCOIC with the 978th and 591st MP Companies at Fort Bliss, TX. He is 1 of about 58 known Comanches to serve in either Iraq or Afghanistan as his combat tour was from Septem-ber, 2002 to July, 2003. While in Africa he was based at Camp Lemonnier where his unit pro-vided security for cargo ships coming into port. They also provided convoy security. His unit was the fi rst MP Compa-ny to deploy into Iraq as they hit the ground 12 hours after the war started on March 19, 2003. They escorted V Corps from Kuwait into Baghdad in 21 days of major combat op-erations which concluded with the capture of Baghdad on May 1, 2013. His unit suffered no killed or wounded in action. Curtis is a graduate of Warrior, Advance and Senior Leader Courses and has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Troy University. He is currently a Staff Sergeant and enlisted on December 29, 1997. His awards include the Meritorious Service, Army Commendation (4), Army Achievement (5), Good Con-duct (5), National Defense Ser-vice, Korean Defense Service, Iraq Campaign with/2 Combat Stars and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, NCO Pro-fessional Development with/Numeral 3, Army Service and Overseas Service Ribbons, Valorous Unit Award, Merito-rious Unit Commendation, the Air Assault, Drivers and 9mm Expert Badges. Curtis graduated from Cache High School in 1993. His wife is the former Janease Dodson, a Sterling native. They have 4 children and re-side in Columbia, SC. Edward Hatch Clark was born on November 3, 1890 and died on December 8, 1958 (68 years old) and is buried at Highland Cemetery. He was drafted into the Army and served at Hoboken, NY and Newport News, VA. Ed-ward’s birthplace was at the Indian Agency Abode House, near the current Indian Hos-pital, east of Cache Creek. He was raised in Faxon. His wife was Mary Patch Parker, daugh-ter of Quanah Parker. After his military service he was a cem-etery monument stone cutter in Lawton, was an outstanding baseball player for a number of local Indian baseball teams and also did carpentry and stone mason work. Clifford Edward Au-gust Clark was born on August 29, 1909 and died on March 27, 2005 (93 years old) and is bur-ied at Highland Cemetery. He served as a Navy Seabee from 1943-52. Prior to enlisting in the Navy, at age thirty-four, Clifford worked with Civilian Conservation Corps in New Mexico. After his military ser-vice he was a heavy equipment operator for the Bureau of Indi-an Affairs and the City of Law-ton. He was raised at Yellow Mission and from what I gather was quite a comic. He and his fi rst wife had eleven children. After a divorce Clifford lived in California and Oregon be-

fore returning to Oklahoma. Benjamin Clark cur-rently resides in Indiahoma with his wife Sharon. He served in numerous positions while in the Marine Corps and Army and served a tour of duty in Vietnam with the 11th Light Infantry Brigade. Benjamin also served overseas in Japan, Germany, Korean and Hawaii. He is a retired Police Offi cer with the Comanche County Sheriff’s Department and also worked with the Lawton Police Department. Benjamin was a Licensed Private Investiga-tor owning his own business. He also worked as a Security Guard at Cameron University and many local businesses. Honors, by he CIVA, will be presented to Benjamin and his brothers, Louis and Mark, at the Armed Forces Day Ban-quet, in Apache, on May 18th.

The Comanche Code Talkers of World War I

and World War IIRecipients of the

Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal is an award be-stowed by the US Congress. Along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom it is the highest civilian award in the United States. It is awarded to persons “who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is most likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient’s fi eld long after the achieve-ment” – President George W. Bush signed Pubic Law 110-420 on October 15, 2008 au-thorizing the Congressional Gold Medal be awarded to the Comanche Code Talkers of both World War I and World War II. The medal was fi rst awarded in 1776 by the Sec-ond Continental Congress to General George Washington. In addition to numerous mili-tary fi gures the medal has been presented to many former US Presidents, actors, authors, en-tertainers, musicians, pioneers in aeronautics and space, ex-plorers, lifesavers, notables in science and medicine, athletes, humanitarians, public servants, and foreign recipients. In its 237 year history only 148 med-als have been presented. The World War I Code Talkers are Calvin Atchavit, George Clark, Gilbert Con-woop and Samuel Tabbytose-vit. They were members of the 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division and served in Europe during 1918-19.

Calvin Atchavit

George Clark

Gilbert Conwoop

Samuel Tabbytosevit

The World War II Code Talkers who served with the 4th Signal Company of the 4th Infantry Division, in Europe from 1944-45, are Charles Chibitty, Haddon Codynah, Robert Holder, Forrest Kas-sanavoid, Wellington Mihe-coby, Perry Noyobad, Clif-ford Ototivo, Simmons Parker, Melvin Permansu, Elgin Red Elk, Roderick Red Elk, Larry Saupitty, Morris Tabbyetchy (Sunrise) and Willis Yackeschi

WORLD WAR II PHOTO FOUND

In the February edi-tion of TCNN an article titled “OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE, THEY JUST FADE AWAY” listed the 11 living Comanches who served during World War II. Photos of ten of those veterans were published. Lewis Kowena’s photo was not shown. In a chance meeting at the Western Heights Indian Ed-ucation pow-pow in Oklahoma City on March 2nd Mr. Kowe-na’s daughter, Rachel, spoke to the CIVA Commander, George Red Elk and CIVA Historian, Lanny Asepermy about her fa-ther. They requested his photo and DD214 (Discharge) which she provided to Asepermy on

Pvt Lewis Kowena

March 6th. Kowena will be given Special Recognition during the CIVA’s Armed Forces Day Banquet in Apache on May 18th. Mr. Kowena turns 87 years young on March 31st.

ECKIWAUDAH PROMOTED TO

MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT

MGS Eckiwaudah

Randall V. Eckiwaudah earned the US Marine Corps’ ninth and highest enlisted grade of Master Gunnery Ser-geant (E-9) during a promotion ceremony on February 1, 2013 at Camp Pendleton, CA. He is the fourth Comanche to earn the grade of E-9. MGS Eckiwaudah

Chibitty At Ft. Hood, TX

Tribal member Dana Chibitty would like to Thank the Comanche Nation Historic Preservation for letting her ac-company them on a trip to Ft. Hood, Tx. Col. Frytag gave each of the group a shaw blanket. In the far North, the Army was honoring the Co-manche Code Talkers during the Native Heritage month in November. She was invited to represent the Comanche Code Talkers. Her uncle Charles Chibitty and Larry Saupitty were Code Talkers. After the ceremony Col. Frytag approached Chibit-ty and presented her with the shaw blanket and told his sol-diers about the Comanche El-ders.

Dana Chibitty and Col. Frytag

graduated from Anadarko High School in 1988. He is the son of the late Gerald Eckiwaudah and former Sarah Silverhorn. MGS Eckiwaudah is currently the Academics Chief of the As-sault Amphibian Schools Bat-talion at Camp Pendleton. He and his wife, Jen-nifer, live in Oceanside, Cali., and have 4 boys.

We’re here for you with the money you needAdvance America Cash Advance provides a

quick and easy way to get the money you need when you need it.

Advance America #35585334 NW Cache Rd., Ste. A

Lawton, OK 73505(580) 591-0333

Items to Bring• Two Forms of ID (Valid State or Federal photo ID and one additional ID) • Bank Statement (Most recent checking account statement) • Paycheck Stub (Most recent paycheck stub or ver-ifi cation of other income) • Personal Check (Held until due date) • Verifi cation of Social Security Number

Jennifer Eckiwaudah pin-ning Master Gunnery Ser-geant stripes on her husband.


MilestonesHappy Belated Birthday

Sydney Rotert, March 1Kiefer Kopaddy, March 2T.C. Ototivo, March 2Britney Ototivo, March 7Jamie Loretta Long, March 9Rance Hood, February 9Mary Pollard, February 16Cole Cook, February 25Ellen Tahhahwah, March 7Avery Joyce Austin, March 9Janetta Gooday, March 11Justin Wayt, March 11Lety Murrow, March 18 Gerald Pewewardy, March 20Mia Reyes, March 22Margie Bowdie Wahkinney, March 24Vicki Biazzo, March 24Teta Thompson, March 26

Happy Birthday Harkold Wermy, April 1Tyler Komahcheet, April 1Dino Gonzales, April 2Natasha Gooday, April 2Virgie Kassanavoid, April 2Bryse Russell, April 3Jordan Shields, April 4Nico Rosario, April 4Brian Tonips, April 5Jalisa Santiage, April 5Chuck Pollard, Apri 6Romelia Kassanavoid, April 6Sophia Leone, April 6Emilia Mae Chasenah, April 8Gaylon Motah, April 10Lesley Boyden, April 10Lisa Yackeyonny, April 10Andrea Pebeahsy, April 12Shauna McCarthy, April 12Corky Jacob, April 14Ty Jacob Gallegos, April 15Myra Medina, April 16Sebastian Perea, April 16Ivan Serna, April 17Rylei Suina, April 17Bethany Long, April 18Martina Callahan, Apri 18Tasha Poemoceah, April 19Howard Todome Jr., April 20Rylen Furr, April 20Denise Todome Lawrence, April 21Nicole Peeler, April 22Vylet Stonecalf, April 22Danielle McCarthy, April 23Lloyd Heminokeky Jr., April 23Alice Wermy, April 25Charles Pollard, April 25Keagan Perea, April 25Dale Long, April 26Kristen Ototivo, April 26Lora Beltran, April 26Taleliah Tahhahwah, April 26Ciara Kaywaykla, April 27Eli Tahhahwah Martinez, April 27Michael Miller, April 29

Anniversaries

Steven & Brittany Avery-Huggins March 8

John & Jeanine Tahhahwah WoosypitiApril 4, 2012~Married 1 year

Carl J. & Tara Paddyaker Jr.April 13~Married 6 years

Happy Belated BirthdayLety Murrow

March 18

Happy Belated BirthdayMia Reyes March 22

Happy Belated BirthdayVicki Biazzo

March 24

Happy BirthdayDino Gonzales

April 2

Happy BirthdayJalisa Santiage

April 5

Happy BirthdayBrayden Halberg

April 10

Happy BirthdayAndrea Pebeahsy

April 12

Happy BirthdayCarol Aitson

April 3

Happy BirthdayRylen Furr

April 20

Happy BirthdayVylet Stonecalf

April 22

Happy BirthdayLloyd Heminokeky Jr.

April 23

Happy BirthdayEli Tahhahwah Martinez

April 27

Happy BirthdayTaleliah Tahhahwah

April 26

Duskie Murrow 1979~1999

Happy BirthdayBeloved Daughter, Sister,

Mother & Friend Gone but never forgotten!

Roderick Hoahwah Sr.11/14/34~4/2/12

In Loving MemoryFrom: wife, daughter &

grandkids

Jeanette Connahvichnah5/24/30~4/17/12

In Loving MemeoryWe All miss you and love you very much Mom! We

can’t believe its been a year. Thank you for being our mom, aunty, grandma

and great grandma. From all the Chasenah children and families.

Leatrice Wermy3/01/37~4/14/12

In Loving MemoryYou’ve been gone a year, this year has been so long and lonely without you.

Though you are in heaven the love and memories you

gave us are missed very, very much. We miss your loving smile and all the

love that you gave each and every one of us. We miss

your phone calls, your vis-its, and your thoughtfulness

at holidays and birthdays and all our family get

togethers. Thank you mom for sharing your Christian

values and your faithfulness to the lord for that we were

truly blessed. ~Your Loving family

Haddon Montgomery Jocko

Born: 2:28 P.M.March 4, 20136lbs’ 10oz’ 19.25 inTo: Derek & Jo-Neal H e m i n o k e k y Jocko

Don’t Forget to submit milestones for those special loved ones;

Just married, Anniversaries, Birth Announcements,

Birthdays Deadline for May 4/15/13

Call: Public Information Offi ce

(580) 492-3386 Email:

[email protected]

Or mail to: Comanche Nation/PIO

P.O. Box Box 908 Lawton, OK 73502

Don’t Forget to wish your Mom, Wife

or Relative a Happy Mother’s Day, May 12th,

in the Next edition of The Comanche Nation News...

Message of 50 words or lessDeadline April 15

Happy BirthdayMichael Miller

April 29

Happy AnniversaryJose & Sandra Gallegos

April 19

Married44 years

In Loving Memory

Anniversary

Congratulations

COMANCHE NATION CHILDREN’S COURTP. O. BOX 646

1921 E. GORE BLVD.LAWTON, OK 73502

PHONE: 580-492-3348FAX: 580-595-9423

This change will affect the office of COMANCHE NATION CHILDREN’S COURT ONLY.

Happy AnniversaryMeech and Bobbie Aitson

April 3

Married4 years

Happy BirthdayWill Owens

April 23

ObituariesApril 2013 21 The Comanche Nation News

Devin Kory Harragarra

Devin Kory Harragar-ra, 34, Lawton went to his heavenly home on March 8, in Lawton, Oklahoma. Funeral service was March 18, at Mt. Scott Kio-wa United Methodist Church (UMC) in Meers, Okla., with Rev. Bill Foote offi ciating.

Burial followed at Mt. Scott KCA Cemetery Lawton, under the direction of Coman-che Nation Funeral Home. Harragarra was born June 30, 1978 in Lawton to Susan (Harragarra) Campbell and Kaye Pohocsucut. He was raised by his maternal grand-parents Wanda (Yeahquo) and John Campbell. Harragarra grew up in the Meers community and at-tended Cache Public Schools. He was of Kiowa, Otoe and Comanche descent. He was a member of Mt Scott Kiowa United Methodist Church and Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma. Growing up Harragar-ra was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed playing football, bas-ketball, volleyball, fi shing and golf. Summers he would spend his days roaming Jimmy Creek and exploring the Slick Hills. He is survived by his sister Myca (Campbell) and her husband Paul Wood, McK-inney, TX, his father Kaye Pohocsucut, paternal grand-mother Opal Gore Pohocsucut, Lawton and aunt Irene Spot-tedHorse, Meers and uncle Earl Yeahquo, Lawton.

June Marie Riddles Harmon

June Marie Riddles Harmon, 87, Orem, passed away March 7 from pancreatic cancer. Riddles was a master teacher, whose work infl u-enced children from the Ton-

gan Islands to Utah’s Jordan School District over a span of 35 years. She was born Febru-ary 5, 1926 in Lawton, Okla., to William Wesley Riddles and Jane Nun-na-quan-nah Mo-therme. She married Rondo S. Harmon in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on January 18, 1945. They had six children: Lynda J. Philbrick, of Mesa Ariz; Rondo S. Harmon Jr.; Richard S. “Dick” Harmon of Orem; Leonard Kent Harmon of Provo; Debra J. Harmon of Orem, and Phillip R. Harmon of Orem. She also raised two foster Navajo children, Nora and Henry John Joe. She was an active mem-ber of LDS faith, she served in many callings including Pri-mary teacher and Relief So-ciety President. She attended boarding school at Fort Sill In-dian School as a child. She was football queen at Temple High School in 1943 and earned her high school certifi cate from BYU after having given birth to three of her six children. She earned her Bachelor’s De-gree in Education from BYU in 1969 and worked towards

a Master’s Degree in child de-velopment, also at BYU. She was a dedicated teacher, having retired from Jordan School District af-ter 23 years where she taught fi rst grade at Draper Elemen-tary School. She also taught school in Vernal, Utah and at Liahona High School in the Tongan Islands. She loved the Utah Jazz, working with young people and spending time with her many grandchildren. Her hobbies included camping, reading, playing board games, travel, water aerobics, quilting, and compassionate service. She is survived by two sisters: Faye Winkler of Wal-ters, Okla., and Esther Williams of Tula Rosa, N.M.; fi ve of her six children, 30 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Rondo, son Rondo Jr., grandsons Jef-fery J. Harmon and Kolby De-Marco, brothers Leonard and Stanley Riddles and sister Ada Hettich. Funeral services was March 12 at the Provo, Utah Stake Center.

Harragarra is preceded in death by his mother, Susan Harragarra Campbell Bear-bow; sister Kelly Dee Vance, grandparents Wanda (Yeah-quo) and John Campbell and maternal grandfather Earl Harragarra.

Former longtime An-drews resident Sidney Miheco-by known to many as “Chief” currently of Lawton, Oklaho-ma always dreamed of making it to the “Big Leagues.” Even though his dream never came true he has done something equally as close to his heart as baseball can be that he never dreamed possible. Mihecoby will be portraying a Coach on the “Big Screen” in “Home Run, the Movie” to be released on April 19, 2013. So he’s ac-tually getting to play the part of what so many people were to him growing up a “mentor”. When he was too young to be in any league his mother, Imogene Mihecoby would play catch with him while his dad, Wesley worked long hours in the oil field. Come game time they never missed one game no matter what kind of weath-er they had to sit through. It’s sad to say neither one of his parents are here today to see their star player make a movie of the one thing they all loved and enjoyed. For he knows his parents were sitting on the highest bleachers staring down at him and cheering him on as he was making the movie and all the other days of his life. He also had a brother-n-law, Eddie Trevino who pushed him into being the best pitcher he could possibly be. After he got old enough he started playing baseball at the lake side little league ball-park where he was coached by the likes of Chief Long when he was 9-years old. Followed by Joe Railey and Vic Brevard who coached him from the age of 10 to 12 years old and took his team to state where they placed 3rd. At the age of 13 he played on an All-Star team for Jorge Lopez where they would travel to surrounding cities and play those teams. During his Babe Ruth years at the age of 14 to 15 years old he was coached by Greg Morris whom was one of his favorite coaches (R.I.P..). From there he moved up to 16 to 18 year old summer league during 1986-1989 and was coached by Larry Martin. When he entered his freshman year at Andrews High he began playing for Joe Ray Halsey in 1986 till he graduated in 1989. Mihecoby is one of those rare Southpaw pitchers that shined on the mound. In the summer after he graduated he and fellow team-mate David Emiliano got the honor of playing in the Red River World Series Shootout in Vernon, TX. Mihecoby never got to play for the “Big Leagues” but the love for the game still lives strong in his heart. He is always eager and willing to teach anybody about the game whether it be his own kids or someone elses. He coached his son, Shea’s team the “Indians” in Wichita, Kansas for 3 years ending with a record of 21-3 before making a move to Law-ton. Shea will also be a fan in the movie. Mihecoby still likes to play a little ball himself when or where ever possible. What is ironic about the name of one of the teams Sindey coaches in the movie is they are none other than the “Mustangs”. His baseball number was always and still is #13, but one of his movie uni-forms has #40 on it which is his age (they didn’t have #13)

Submitted by Sidney Mihecoby

Director, David Boyd and Coach, Sidney Mihecoby pose for a quick picture during the filming of the motion picture “Home Run.”

HOME RUN THE MOVIE

Another home run for Sidney Mihecoby. Mihecoby and fellow actor practices for scenes in the movie.

Sidney Mihecoby and Scott Elrod pose for a picture on the set of the film “Home Run” in which Mihecoby plays a coach of major league baseball team.

Sidney Mihecoby hits a home run in one the scenes in which plays the coach a major league baseball team, called the Grizzlies.

Sidney and his son Shea Mihecoby both have parts in a motion picture about a major league baseball team.

Shea Mihecoby plays a fan in the movie.

Sidney Mihecoby plays a coach in the motion picture “Home Run,” which is to be released in April 2013,

Sidney Mihecoby (the coach) signs a baseball in one the scenes of the motion picture “Home Run.”

ironic. Everyone always won-dered why he would want that number since there is a stigma attached to such a number. Even though people thought it was a “bad luck” number Mi-hecoby never thought of it that way and why would he look at what he got to experience for loving something so much. Look for this movie in theaters baseball season 2013, it is a true life Christian based story for all the family to see that celebrates recovery. Di-rected by David Boyd who also directed “Friday Night

Lights”. Mihecoby would like to thank all of his teammates and everyone that inspired and gave him the drive to ex-perience something that is one of the Greatest Sports of All Times including a very special woman, Lawannah Mihecoby even though she had no idea how much her choices matter in his life! Giving God All the Glory!



A Night of blues and soul Rocks Watchetaker Hall

A crowd of music lov-ers gathered in Watchetaker Hall March 9 to listen to the sounds of blues music from Gary Farmer and the Trouble-makers and Blues Nation. The crowd felt the rhythms of the two live bands throughout their performances, which lasted most of the night. Gary Farmer, who is known primarily as an actor, has a fi rst love, and its playing music. Not any music, but the blues. “The blues have had an impact on Native tribal peo-ple,” Farmer explained in an interview. “We as a race have experienced hardships and downfalls, both on small and large scales, and playing this type of music connects me to the Native audience. I think there is a story between Black American and Native America, and it has not been told yet.” Playing the harmonica is what he is known for, and Farmer, who is a member of the

Six Tribes (or Nations) of the Iroquois, and he is knowledge-able about his tribal history. He also plays the piano. When he went to college, he picked up the knack of playing the har-monica. “Half of my people fought against the British, so we have a track of land in that area. It would have been nine nations if it had not been for the revolutionary war,” ex-plained Farmer. He grew up around Niagara Falls, he said, and he believed hearing the blues as a child infl uenced him to pur-sue it as an adult. He added he admires the people who write the lyrics for blues songs. He believes there is structure to blues music and he can play a diversity of Started the band Gary Farmer and the Troublemak-ers, in 2005 with old blues and added his own material. With a fi fth CD in its fi nal stages, he hopes to have it completed by

mid April.Blues Nation

The Blues Nation Band was formed in 1990 by Tom Ware, and they have been mak-ing a name for themselves across the land. Playing a mix-ture of blues and soul music, they have a fan base that fol-lows their musical tour faith-fully. Terry Zotigh, the drum-mer, guitarist, and harmonica player for the band, said in an interview, Blues Nation had the opportunity to play for Al Gore, the 1994 Olympics, and was named the Best Blues Al-bum at the Native American Music Awards. “Blues relates to every-one,” said Zotigh. “We have traveled with our music all around the world.” They are planning an-other CD, and continue to give their fans and audience a feel-ing of good blues music they can relate to.

Story and Photos by Jolene Schonchin/News Staff

Blues Nation plays a Sam Cooke song to warm up the crowd March 9 at Watchetaker Hall.

Gary Farmer plays a sweet melody on the harmonica.

Farmer and Tom Ware of Blues Nation sing a duet as one of the last per-formances of the night.

Terry Zotigh opens the concert with a soulful song

from his drum set.

april 2013 tcnn

Documents