Prairie Band Potawatomi NewsMerry Christmas and Happy New Year

A Report to the People of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation

PRESORT STANDARD U.S.Postage Paid Permit #10P.O.Box 116

Mayetta, Kansas66509-9114

Winter 2011

Kansas apologizesto Tribes

Noah Wahquahboshkuk appointed Tribal Council treasurer

History was madeNov. 16 when Kan. Gov. SamBrownback issued an officialapology to Native Peoples atthe Tribal Kansas 150Commemoration held at theKansas Historical Society inTopeka and signed a proclama-tion in front of tribal leadersincluding PBPN ChairmanSteve Ortiz.

“As Governor, Iresolve we will move forwardwith the recognized tribes in apositive and constructive rela-tionship that will help us fairlyand effectively resolve differ-ences to achieve our mutualgoals and work together to pro-tect this land we call Kansas,”Brownback said.

Several members ofthe Prairie Band PotawatomiNation (PBPN) attended theevent and also had a role in theceremony including We-Ta-SePost #410 that provided the

color guard, Little SoldierSingers who drummed andsang, and Steve Ortiz who gavethe invocation.

The commemorationalso included a welcome byChris Howell, executive direc-tor of the Office of NativeAmerican Affairs, and remarksfrom Jennie Chinn, executivedirector of the KansasHistorical Society.

Tribal dignitariesfrom the four Kansas tribes andthe Kaw Nation sat up frontwith the Governor and alsospoke briefly during the event.

In addition, as part ofthe Tribal Commemoration,Brownback gave an AmericanBison as gifts to the tribes fromthe state that were on display ina pen outside the museum andwere supervised by rangersfrom the National Park Serviceuntil they were turned over tothe Tribes.

Kan. Gov. Sam Brownback signing a proclamation ofapology for past misdeeds at the Tribal Kansas 150Commemoration held Nov. 16 at the Kansas Museumof History. Standing (left to right) are the chairs of thetribes Mike Dougherty (Sac & Fox), Steve Ortiz(PBPN), Steve Cadue (Kickapoo), Tim Rhodd (Iowa),and Guy Monroe (Kaw). The Kaw were included fortheir historical role in the statehood of Kansas.

While Chairman Steve Ortiz was inWashington, D.C. attending meetings at theWhite House Tribal Nations Conference helearned that he had been selected as one oftwelve tribal leaders out of 565 to personallymeet with President Barack Obama at the WhiteHouse Dec. 2.

Besides Obama, the group also metwith the Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar,Secretary of Health and Human ServicesKathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Education Arne

Duncan, and Associate Attorney GeneralThomas Perrelli who are members of Obama’sCabinet.

Chairman Ortiz told the News thatissues and concerns discussed at the meetingwere on jobs in Indian Country, protecting tribaltrust resources like land, water, energy and treatyrights, and improving communication betweenNative American tribal communities andObama’s Cabinet. For more details see thechair’s message on page 2.

Chairman meets Obama

Noah Wahquahboshkuk was appointedtreasurer of the Tribal Council and sworn intooffice by Vice-chair Joyce Guerreroon Nov. 30 at the Rock/Communitybuilding

Wahquahboshkuk wasselected by the Tribal Council aftergoing through an application andinterviewing process.

When asked about his newposition he said, “I plan on makingsome changes for the Nation. I knowI have less than eight months to pro-vide results but I believe that a lot of good willresult from these changes. Tribal affairs has

always been a passion of mine and to have aresponsibility that reflects just that is truly a

dream come true.” Wahquahboshkuk holds a

Master of Business Administrationdegree from Baker University anda Bachelor of Science degree fromHaskell Indian Nations University.

In addition, he has superviso-ry/management experience fromthe Prairie Band Casino & Resort.

His term for this appointmentwill expire in July 2012. He

replaces Ryan Dyer who left office inSeptember.

Steve Ortiz (fifth from left at table) was selected as one of twelve tribal leaders to meet per-sonally with President Obama (far left) at the White House Dec. 2. (White House photo)

Potawatomi NewsP.O. Box 116

Mayetta, KS 66509-0116

Physical location:16281 Q RoadMayetta, KS

66509Phone: 785.966.3920

Fax: 785.966.3912Editor: Suzanne Heck

Email: suzanneh@pbpnation.org

Message to the Nation from Steve Ortiz, Tribal Council Chairperson

The Prairie Band Potawatomi (PBP) News is a quar-terly publication of the Prairie Band Potawatomi(PBP) Nation. Editorials and articles appearing in thePBP News are the responsibility of the authors and donot necessarily reflect the opinion or attitude of thePBP News staff, Tribal Council, Gaming Commissionor the Nation. The PBP News encourages Letters tothe Editor but all letters upon submission must includethe signature, address and telephone number of theauthor. Letters are subject to editing for grammar,length, malicious and libelous content. Please submititems by email or by other electronic means if possi-ble. The PBP News reserves the right to reject anymaterials or letters submitted for publication and itemssubmitted past the deadline. Photos submitted withnews articles will be returned after publication with aSASE or can be scanned if brought to the News office.

Government Page 2 Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

During the 4th quarter Tribal Council appointedNoah Wahquahboshkuk as treasurer for the PBPN. TheTribal Council now has all seven seats filled and I am look-ing forward to working with the Tribal Council.

I recently returned from Illinois where I attendedthe Shabbona Lake State Park 12th Million Visitor recogni-tion. Also, Shabbona Lake State Park was recognized for itsimpact on Northern Illinois tourism. While there I met StateSenator Christine Johnson and a staffer from StateRepresentative Robert Pritchard’s office. I also met withcommunity members that attended the function and arehopeful the PBPN Tribal Council will take action to build acasino on the Shabehnay land as the community is in needof jobs. Local community members are willing to set up ameeting with the State Attorney's office to discuss the casi-no and to urge why it is needed.

The number of visitors to Shabbona Lake StatePark is a good indicator of potential visitors that wouldcome to a casino on Shabehnay land. We are at a time nowin Kansas where the three state-run casinos located inKansas City, Kan., Mulvane, and Dodge City are either setto open or are in operation. If the PBPN wants to continueimproving our existing programs like housing, education,health-care, etc. we need to be looking at starting up theIllinois casino to generate more income for the PBPN.

The economic development plan (called PrairieBand LLC) that was recently formed to generate incomefrom businesses other than the casino will not be ready todispense income to tribal members for five years. In con-trast, the Shabehnay casino could generate income quickerthan that if we begin now. We already have PBPEntertainment Corporation in place to handle the casinooperation once Tribal Council completes the governmentalwork. Currently an agreement has been signed with DeKalbCounty by me with Tribal Council approval for a casino inthe community. Tribal Council is aware of the consequencesof placing the Shabehnay land into trust for gaming purpos-es, land into trust for non-gaming purposes and startingclass II gaming with current documentation. However, atthis point the Tribal Council has made no decision on mak-ing an application for placing the Shabehnay land into trust.The National Indian Gaming Commission will not rule onthe Shabehnay land eligibility for gaming unless theAssistant Secretary of Indian Affairs rules the Shabehnayland is a reservation. The Assistant Secretary of IndianAffairs Larry Echo Hawk will make no ruling onShabehnay land status unless an application is made to takethe land into trust. As chairman I have advised the Tribal

Council to make an application for land into trust for gam-ing purposes but ultimately the decision of placing theShabehnay land application into trust will take a vote offour of the Tribal Council to the affirmative to do so and Iwill continue to await their decision. The last big questionto answer is how big of a casino do we build and how muchare we willing to spend to construct it.

From Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 I travelled to Washington,D.C. for meetings with the National Congress of AmericanIndians and the Tribal Leaders meeting with PresidentBarack Obama on Dec 2. On Tuesday the NationalCongress of American Indians met with tribal leaders to dis-cuss common platforms on trust issues, health-care funding,education funding, water rights, subsistence hunting andfishing rights, taxation issues, and an Indian preference law-suit that is on its way to the Supreme Court. On Wednesdayand Thursday tribal leaders were invited to the EisenhowerExecutive Office Building on the Whitehouse grounds tomeet with assistant secretaries and deputy assistant secre-taries from Education, Commerce, Department ofTransportation, Office of Management & Budget,Department of Health and Human Service, Indian HealthService, Federal Communications Commission, andVeterans Affairs. On Friday the White House Tribal NationsConference was held at the Department of Interior wherePresident Obama spoke. At 4:30 p.m. I was invited, alongwith 11 other tribal leaders, to go to the White House andmeet with President Obama to further discuss tribal issuesI was grateful and honored to have been selected to meetwith the President in this private meeting.

Other activities:* October 3: Tribal Council appointed me as TribalChair to represent the PBPN with the Topeka Chamber ofCommerce.* October 12 & 13: I attended and chaired themeeting of the Oklahoma City Inter-Tribal Health BoardMeeting in Oklahoma City.* October 24: I met with Governor SamBrownback at the State Capitol to discuss cigarette taxissues, Kansas gaming impact on tribes in Kansas, KansasCommission on Veteran Affairs, and tribal I.D.'s for voterregistration.* November 2: I met with Lt. Governor JeffColyer, Governor Sam Brownback and PBPN Lobbyist RonHein.* November 10: Gave welcoming remarks for theCultural Competence and Native American Religious

Freedom Conference held at thePBP Casino & Resort; gave open-ing remarks for the AARP/AIPPHealthy Cooking Class at the PBPCasino & Resort; and participatedin the American Legion Post 410We-Ta-Se Veteran's DayMemorial and Reading of NewNames at the veterans wall atPrairie Peoples Park.* November 14: Attended the Governor'sEconomic Advisors Committee meeting in Kansas City,Kansas at the Legends where I am a committee member.Discussion was about completed research on Kansas busi-ness growth and job creation. * November 15: Tribal Council and I attended theFour Tribes meeting held at PBP Casino & Resort.* November 16: Attended the Fire Keepers ElderCenter Thanksgiving dinner: spoke at the 150 TribalCommemoration of Kansas as chair of the PBPN and alsogave the invocation. Gov. Brownback signed a proclama-tion of apology to the Kansas tribes and gave a bison as agift to each of the tribes during the historic occasion. * November 17: Met with the Kansas Departmentof Revenue to discuss license plate issues concerning updat-ing data and access to KBI license data information. ThePBP attorney, IT and Motor Vehicle staff (Tribal Police)also attended. Key information hardware will be added tothe KBI system to allow tribes access in late January 2012.

Lastly, I express my condolences to tribal mem-bers and their families on the passing away of their lovedones.

A meeting was held with Gov. Brownback Oct. 24at the Capitol. (Clockwise) is Chairman Ortiz,Chris Howell, Bob Murray and Gov. Brownback.Howell and Murray work for Brownback.

(Photo courtesy of Governor’s office )

Other tribal leaders who met withObama at the White House

*Fawn Sharpe, President, Quinault Indian Nation *Diane Enos, President, Salt River Pima-Maricopa

Indian Community *Jefferson Keel, Lt. Governor, Chickasaw Nation; *Nelson Cordova, Governor, Pueblo of Taos *George Edwardson, President, Inupiat Community

of Arctic Slope *Ben Shelly, President, Navajo Nation *Richard Milanovich, Chairman, Agua Caliente

Band of Cahuilla Indians *Colley Billie, Chairman, Miccosukee Indian Tribe*Tracy “Ching” King, President, Fort Belknap

Indian Community *Rodney Bordeaux, President, Rosebud Sioux Tribe;*Erma Vizenor, Chairwoman, White Earth Band of

Chippewa*Steve Ortiz, Chairman, Prairie Band Potawatomi

Nation

Government Page 33Potawatomi NNewswinter 22011

Burton Warrington and Pete King, Jr.both received prestigious awards last fall at the National Center for American IndianEnterprise Development’s (NCAIED) 36thAnnual Indian Progress Business AwardsEvent held Sept. 8 in Hollywood, Fla.

Warrington and King, who work forPrairie Band LLC were among a group of 40Native Americans under the age of 40 whowere honored as existing and emerging youngAmerican Indian leaders. The selection wasbased on demonstrated leadership, initiativeand dedication in achieving impressive andsignificant contributions in the areas of busi-ness and economic development.

Warrington (PBPN) is the

President/CEO of Prairie Band LLC and King(Oneida) is the Chief Operating Officer.According to a report in Indian CountryToday, King was selected for the 2011NCAIED award for his previous work as theVice President of Marketing and BusinessDevelopment with the Oneida SevenGenerations Corporation in Green Bay, Wis.

Winners ranged from tribal officialsand leaders to attorneys and business entrepre-neurs to tourism and museum directors.Winners were nominated and then selected bya panel of NCAIED representatives.

Prairie Band LLC is now located ina building on the Firekeeper Golf Course.

Burton Warrington and Pete King Jr. receive Native American 40 under 40 awards

Anna Boswell named Assistant GeneralManager of Tribal Operations

A n n aBoswell has beennamed the assistantgeneral manager fortribal operations andbegan her duties lastOctober.

“I amexcited to be workingfor the Nation’s gov-ernment,” she said.

Boswell isa tribal member and

before coming to work for the PBPN govern-ment she worked at the Prairie Band Casino &Resort (and Harrah’s) for twelve years as a

compliance officer for the GamingCommission, as a Database Analyst, and in thehuman resources and marketing departments.

Boswell will assist the GeneralManager Liana Onnen with the supervising ofprogram directors, managers and coordinators.She is also assisting with program develop-ment, resolution of issues and coordination ofmulti-program activities.

The General Manager’soffice serves as the liaison between the TribalCouncil and the program directors, primarily toassist directors in making proposals andresponses to the Council.

Tribal Operations is located on thefirst level in the Government Center.

Nation Station smokin hot!

Nation Station, a convenience store run by the Prairie BandCasino & Resort, won an award recently from HCI Distributionvendors for having the highest volume of cigarette sales in theirregion. Several PBPN members work at the store including (leftto right) Eugene Thomas, Adraine Gillum, Dawn Matchie-Harjo,John Mitchell, and Tom Hernandez. Others not pictured areRobynn Barney, Lan Danielson, Evan Evans, Brenda McClure,Lucas Slater and Roman Harjo.

Left to right: PBPN member Cheryl Nagelwas photographed with Tribal Council mem-ber Carrie O’Toole at the National Congressof American Indian (NCAI) conference heldin Portland the first week in November. Vicechair Joyce Guerrero and Jancita Warringtonalso attended the convention from the TribalCouncil.

Tribal Council attends National Congress ofAmerican Indian 68th Annual Convention

Jefferson Keel (Lt. Gov.Chickasaw) was sworn in as thePresident of the NCAI and unan-imously re-elected for a secondterm. Keel was also one of thetwelve leaders selected to meetwith Obama (along with SteveOrtiz) Dec. 2 at the White House.

The Prairie BandPotawatomi Nation TribalCouncil attended a Four-Tribesmeeting Nov. 15 at the PrairieBand Casino & Resort.

Items on the agendaincluded representatives fromthe American Civil LibertiesUnion (ACLU) and the KansasDemocratic Party who informedthe group that the new voter IDlegislation recently passed bythe State had left out tribal iden-tifications as a form of voteridentification.

Other persons pre-senting at the meeting were:Chris Howell, tribal liaison forthe state of Kansas, who read a

proclamation declaring themonth of November as NativeAmerican Heritage Month andgave a summary of his liaisonwork to date; David Neumayer,Western Area PowerAdministration, who spoke onpower marketing initiatives;Judy McKee and WillMcClammy, Topeka VeteransAdministration, who spokeabout Native American veter-ans housing initiatives; andDave Chaffins and Ashley Kusi,KC Nike who discussed possi-ble sports-related partnershipswith Haskell and the othertribes.

Prairie Band hosts Four-Tribesmeeting at casino

(Left to right) is Jim Potter, Carrie O'Toole, Steve Ortiz, JancitaWarrington, Gary Brunk, Joan Wagnon, Doug Bonney, JoyceGuerrero and Junior Wahweotten. Brunk and Bonney are withthe American Civil Liberties Union and Wagnon is ExecutiveDirector of the Kansas Democratic Party. They came to themeeting to speak about the new voter ID legislation passed bythe Kansas legislature last year. The others are on the Council.

Photos submitted by Carrie O’Toole

Kevin Gover (sitting center) director of the SmithsonianInstitution's National Museum of the American Indian, came tothe reservation to visit with Tribal Council on Oct. 17. Gover isa member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and has beendirector of the National Museum of the American Indian inWashington, D.C. since 2007. To Gover’s left is Joyce Guerrero,and, to his right, is Jancita Warrington. In back, left to right, isCarrie O'Toole and Junior Wahweotten. The meeting was heldin Tribal Council chambers.

Kurt Luger, second from left, who directs the GreatPlains Indian Gaming Association, is photographedwith PBP Gaming Commissioner Rey Kitchkumme,far left, and Tribal Council officers Joyce Guerreroand Steve Ortiz, third and fourth respectively. ThePBPN co-sponsored a Regional Gaming &Legislative Summit on Sept. 20-21 led by Luger atthe Prairie Band Casino & Resort.

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN) pre-sented checks to 27 organizations totaling $88,807 at a cere-mony on October 13 at the Prairie Band Casino & Resort.Six members from the PBPN Charitable ContributionsCommittee and Tribal Council members Jim Potter, CarrieO’Toole, Jancita Warrington, and Junior Wahweotten wereon hand to deliver the checks to the following groups:

•Breaking Camp Corporation ($2,500)•Lawrence Community Shelter, Inc. ($5,000)•Shawnee County Allied Tribes ($4,000)•Washburn University Foundation ($5,000)•Woodland Boys & Girls Club ($3,000)•Housing & Credit Counseling ($5,000)•Circlefest ($1,000)•Four Winds Native Center ($5,000)•Inter-Faith Ministries ($4,000)•Topeka Performing Arts Center ($3,500)•Capital City Friends of the NRA ($2,000)•American Heart Association ($6,000)•KSDS, Inc. ($5,000)•Brewster Place ($1,800)•Morning Star ($2,343)•Sheltered Living, Inc. ($2,500)•North Topeka Saddle Club ($200)•Topeka Public Schools Indian Ed Program ($1,500)•St. Matthew Catholic Church ($2,500)•Holton Community Health ($2,500)•Horton High School Student Council ($650)•St. Francis Health Center Foundation ($5,000)•Big Brothers Big Sisters of Topeka ($1,000)•Topeka Symphony ($1,000)•Topeka North Outreach, Inc. ($5,000)•Audio Reader ($1,000)•USD #337 Royal Valley School ($10,814)

Areas that are focused on when determining thedistribution of funds include groups involved in education,health and community services, environmental protectionand preservation, and religious organizations that have animpact on the spiritual wellness and quality of life for all.

Charitable Contributions gifts $88,807

Jim Potter, Tribal Council secretary, wasinterviewed by Topeka television stationKSNT-27 News at the ceremony. Potterwas also emcee for the event.

Left: BonnieWilliams fromRoyal Valley SchoolDistrict givingthanks for their$10,814 award.

Right: Members of the CharitableContributions Committee look onduring the event. (Left to right)

Lavera Bell, Wanda Treinen, MaryCarr, John Tuckwin and Frank

Tecumseh.

Tribal Council memberCarrie O’Toole poses withWalter Echo-Hawk at theNative American LawSymposium where Echo-Hawk was a featured speak-er. The symposium was heldSept. 16 on the Iowa reserva-tion that is located in WhiteCloud, Kan. Read moreabout the symposium onpage 6 inside this issue.

National Museum Director visits Tribal Council

Regional Gaming & LegislativeSummit Conference

held at Prairie Band Casino

Carrie O’Tooleattends NativeAmerican Law

Symposium

Firekeeper Golf Course hasbeen selected in the top 10 for bestnew courses that opened in 2010 and2011 by Golfweek Magazine, a week-ly publication that has over 150,000subscribers.

According to the marketingstaff at Firekeeper Golf Course, anationwide team of esteemed courseraters for Golfweek Magazine evalu-ated Firekeeper in ninth place.

Firekeeper Golf Courseopened to the public in the spring2011 and is a 240-acre 18-hole courselocated across from the Prairie BandCasino & Resort. The course offersmultiple teeing options for playersand is a traditional-style course.Randy Towner is the golf course man-ager and the property is owned by thePrairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

As an aside, Firekeeper wasalso featured in a television episodecalled Native Cultures on SunflowerJourneys, a weekly program ofKTWU-11 Public Broadcasting ofTopeka last fall. The show featuredthe grand opening activities atFirekeeper that included KU basket-ball coach Bill Self and former coachRoy Williams along with interviewsby PGA pro Notah Begay and PBPN’sTribal Council Member JuniorWahweotten.

Firekeeper Golf Courseranked in Golfweekmagazine’s top 10

of new courses

GovernmentPage 4 Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

Government Page 55Potawatomi NNewswinter 22011

BrieflyHaskell president named

Chris Redman (Chickasaw) wasnamed President of Haskell Indian NationsUniversity (HINU) in July.

Before that time he had served asacting president for two terms at HINUfrom May 2010 to March 2011 and fromSept. to Dec. 2009. He has worked atHaskell since 2008 and before that workedfor the BIA Office of Education and for theChickasaw Nation of Oklahoma.

He replaced former presidentLinda Warner, who resigned from the postand Clyde Peacock who was acting presi-dent from March to July 2011.

In other news, Shane Flanaganhas been named HINU women’s basketballcoach.

Elouise Cobell dies

Elouise Cobell (Blackfeet) who ledthe fight demanding that the federal govern-ment give Native Americans an accountingof billions of dollars called the CobellSettlement, died of cancer October 16 inGreat Falls, Mont.

Cobell led a 16-year landmarklawsuit that is the largest class-action settle-ment ever which is resulting in the federalgovernment giving money back to NativeAmericans who filed for mismanaging theirtrust accounts.

Cobell was born on the BlackfeetReservation on Nov. 5, 1945 and was one ofeight children. Her Indian name was LittleBird Woman.

Coming up!

Dec. 23-26 PBPN government offices closedChristmas break

Dec. 30- Jan. 2 PBPN government offices closedNew Years break

Jan. 16 PBPN government offices closedMartin Luther King Day

Jan. 21 PBPN General Council meeting

Feb. 20 PBPN government offices closedPresidents Day

General Council Meeting Dates2012

January 21April 21July 21Oct. 20

For more details log on to the members-only section

at www.pbpindiantribe.com

By Tom Wabnum

On October 16, Indian Country lost a modern dayLady Warrior that will always be well spoken of from nowto the end. All across this country many have responded onher passing from the U.S. President to the oldest individualIndian account holder.

My feelings were this: "Greater love hath no manthan this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Evenwhile she was ill she still traveled the country to educate allNatives of the settlement she died for. She is a hero and willnever be forgotten.

During the Cobell trial, Judge Lamberth said theindividual Indian knew very little of their land and moneybusiness because the government failed in administering thebasic federal trust responsibilities to American Indians.

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation has one ofthe worst allotment situations and history with the govern-ment. Basically, the Allotment Act was to break up triballands by allotments, terminate the tribes, force public landsales by starvation and failed Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)programs that still makes the remaining Indian trust landsavailable to the white man. The government forced us fromour lands to make it available to others. This is why we livein a checkerboard reservation that means tribal and non-trib-al citizens both own land within the reservation.

The government, through the BIA, forced assimi-lation dreams onto us of becoming a rich farmer if we vol-unteered to take our land out of trust. They knew at that timethrough their own failed federal programs we were not inde-pendent enough to compete in the modern business world.The proof is the millions of acres of lost land from tribalownership and all the money derived from our lands thatthey cannot account for from day one. This broken trust pol-

icy all happened while under the care and protection of theU.S.

Ms. Elouise did not fight the U.S. with the bowand arrow, tomahawk or war paint on the Plains or in themountains like in the past. She fought this war their way andin their courts. In 1996 she filed a lawsuit to basically fixthe Department of Interior’s (DOI/BIA) broken trust systemand account for all funds taken from individual Indian trustlands. The first judge tried to hold the government account-able for their actions but they ferociously defended theirtrust mismanagement. The government spent more moneyin trust reform than the settlement amount of $3.4 billion.Finally, the U.S. was tired of this lawsuit beating up on thegovernment so they got rid of the first judge, appointed asecond who left, and then appointed a third judge who justwanted to end it no matter what the cost. After 15 years ofcourt and investigations and finding federal hate and crimi-nal conduct towards American Indians, the end seemed end-less. I believe the government’s strategy was to keep thislawsuit in court forever rendering bankruptcy, exhaustionand even death of its claimants without payment.

This lawsuit forced information from the govern-ment that proved two centuries of abstraction of Indian trustfunds. There is a great legal history of hundreds of courtdocuments proving U.S. failure of their fiduciary trust.Some day the court documents Cobell provided may berequired reading if you want to understand the government’sreal intentions of getting out of the Indian business. Theywill reveal to you the real pain and damage inflicted onIndian people who owned the land and lived happily onthem.

The BIA is recognized as the worst and most cor-ruptible federal agency of all times. "The actions of Interiorand Secretary [Gale] Norton in this instance again demon-

strates why the court continues to believe that the Interiorsets the gold standard for mismanagement of a governmentagency," Lamberth wrote. "The Interior has once againproven that it cannot be trusted and is in need of judicialoversight."

The lawsuit exposed so much historical trust mis-management but it also exposed what the trust should havebeen. If the government trust was a common law trust as inpublic banks, tribes and individual Indians would have hadthe best of beneficiary services and wealth management. Wewould have kept our lands and our money would beaccounted for from day one. Unfortunately, the U.S. want-ed our land and money and stole it and that's what Elouiseexposed.

I feel the tribes and individual Indians failed tofinancially support the Cobell lawsuit. We failed to bandtogether as one Nation because that is what is required for usto protect our own sovereignty, property, money and futureif we are ever going to fix the broken trust system. We failedto watch her back.

Elouise Cobell knew the effort needed to provideonce-and-for-all justice to all American Indians. She knewall too well the strength needed and went beyond what washumanly possible. We may never have another Cobell-likelawsuit but she knew there should be and encouraged it.Unfortunately, many did not opt out of the settlement, theywill receive payment and cannot participate if there is anoth-er. There is so much more to say about her and will be some-day when we realize what she provided for us in her life andher death.

Elouise fought the good fight, she stayed hercourse and she kept the faith.

Tribal member Tom Wabnum speaks out:Elouise Cobell: The loss of a modern day Lady Warrior

B.J. Smith (Osage Nation) is thenew coach of the Highland CommunityCollege women’s basketball team. He has22 years of coaching experience havingpreviously coached at Southeast MissouriState Univ., Northeastern Oklahoma A &M, and Northern Arkansas College.

Highland College hasNative American coach

State casinos set to open The Kansas Star Casino near

Mulvane, Kan. in southwest Kansas plans toopen Dec. 26 and the Hollywood Casino,near the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City,Kan. plans to open early next year.

Both casinos will be state-runalong with Boot Hill Casino that is alreadyin operation in Dodge City, Kan. and plansto open a hotel in February.

Departments and Programs Page 66 Potawatomi NNewswinter 22011

11th annual Native Nations Law Symposium The 2011 Native Nations Law

Symposium was held Sept. 16 on theIowa Reservation in White Cloud, Kan.

Walter Echo-Hawk who is anattorney and with the University of Tulsawas the featured speaker and spoke abouta book he has authored called In theCourts of the Conquerer: The 10 WorstIndian Law Cases Ever Decided.

Burton Warrington (PBPN) alsogave a presentation with Antoinette Houleon Land into Trust and Vivien Olsen, thePBPN Tribal Attorney, was the moderator

for a session on the Indian Child WelfareAct.

Carrie O’Toole, Tribal CouncilMember and Theresa Barr, PBPNAdministrative Judge for the JudicialCenter also attended the symposium thatday.

The Sac and Fox Nation ofMissouri hosted the event and The PrairieBand Potawatomi Nation, Iowa Tribe inKan. & Neb. and Kickapoo Tribe inKansas were co-sponsors.

Walter Echo-Hawk, left, gave apresentation at the 11th AnnualNative Nations Law Symposiumheld Sept. 16 on the Iowa reserva-tion. With him is PBPN’sAdministrative Judge TheresaBarr. Topics at the conferenceincluded Indian Taxation, IndianHealth Care, Indian ChildWelfare, Land Into Trust, TribalGaming and Ethics, to name a few.

“Safely disposing of old and used pre-scription drugs is the first step in dealing withAmerica’s prescription drug abuse epidemic,” saidU.S. Attorney Barry Grissom at a news conferenceheld Oct. 21 at the Bingo Hall. He, along withJoyce Guerrero, Vice Chairperson of the PrairieBand Potawatomi Nation (PBPN), and Jim Potter,Tribal Council Secretary, were on hand at theBingo Hall that day, among others, to urge the pub-lic to take part in National Drug Take Back Day.

The Prairie Band Potawatomi TribalPolice Department was one of the collection siteswhere bottles of prescription medications thatwere unused or expired were brought in by mem-bers of the community on Oct. 29.

“Prescription drug abuse is the fastestgrowing drug problem in America,” Grissom said.“Our family medicine cabinets are full of old andunused bottles of powerful pain killers, sedatives,tranquilizers and stimulants that should be dis-posed of safely.” He also said that law enforce-ment and health care providers need the public’shelp to tackle this problem.

Mike Carpenter, pharmacist for thePrairie Band Health Center, and other HealthCenter staff, were at the press conference that day.

Congress recently passed the Secure andResponsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 to giveconsumers a safe and responsible way to disposeof unused prescription drugs. Consumers current-ly seeking to reduce the amount of expired orunwanted prescription drugs in their homes have

few disposal options, increasing the risk of drugabuse and poisonings. The Secure and ResponsibleDisposal Act of 2010 seeks to reduce these risks bypermitting individuals to deliver their unused med-ications through the Drug Take Back program.

Up to 17 percent of prescribed medica-

tions go unused, and if improperly disposed, maycontribute to drug diversion and environmentalproblems. This is a concern as studies have shownthat medications are present in the water systemsand may cause ecological concern and that storingold medications may increase the opportunity forillicit use. One in five teens report intentionallymisusing someone else’s prescription drugs to gethigh.

U.S. Attorney of Kansas holds news conference at PBPN to promote

national Drug Take Back Day

(Left to right) is Alan Metzger, AssistantU.S. Attorney of Kansas, Jim Potter,Tribal Council Secretary, JoyceGuerrero, Tribal Council ViceChairperson, and Barry Grissom, U.S.Attorney of Kansas at a news conferenceabout a Drug Take Back program thatwas a national effort where individualsbrought their unused or expired medica-tions to collection sites like the tribe’spolice department on October 29.

Mike Carpenter, pharmacist at the PBPNHealth Center, visits with Judy Williamsof the Drug Enforcement Administrationfrom Kansas City who attended the newsconference.

Individuals who were working in the PBPN attor-ney’s office last fall were photographed at a newsconference with U.S. Attorney Grissom. (Left toright) is Cody McCullough, Univ. of Kansas extern,Abby Stenek, law clerk, Grissom, and Vivien Olsen,PBPN attorney.

The Potawatomi Tribal Police department col-lected approximately 25 pounds of unused or expiredprescription drugs during National Drug Take Back DayOct. 29 at the police station.

According to the DEA website, studies showthat prescription drugs are often obtained from homemedicine cabinets and that approximately 2,500 teensuse prescription drugs each day to get high for the firsttime. The website also stated that disposing of medi-cines properly is a concern for saving the environment.

Potawatomi Tribal PoliceDepartment collects 25 pounds of meds

during Drug Take Back Day

Rebekah Jones featured in magazine

Rebekah Jones, who manages the office at theTribal Police Department and Tribal Victims AssistanceProgram, was featured in the winter 2011 issue of Lady AMagazine’s series called “In the Uniform”. In the articleJones discusses her work with the Potawatomi TribalPolice Department and her life on the Potawatomi reser-vation. The Community Story Tree is also photographed.

Lady A is published by the Atchison (Kan.)Globe and features women of the Mo-Kan region.

Community Story Tree Project a successThe Community Story Tree, a large mosaic

of art tiles created by 72 individuals and shaped into atree has found a permanent home in the lobby of theGovernment Center. The purpose of the project was toraise awareness about domestic violenceand highlight PBPN's commitment to end-ing violence in the community.

A ceremony was held Oct. 28 tocelebrate the permanent installment of theCommunity Story Tree. Tribal Council,artists, and members of the community wereon hand for the event.

The project, organized by thePrairie Band Potawatomi Nation's (PBPN)Tribal Victims Assistance Program (TVAP),took several months to complete.

A companion book that describesthe artwork grid accompanies the display.In the book each tile is coded to identifywho the artist is and also offers his/herreflections on how violence has affectedthem.

The Community Story Tree proj-ect, was first unveiled at jones huyettPartners (3200 SW Huntoon) during theFirst Friday Art Walk in Topeka. There wereover 150 people in attendance.

Attending the premiere Oct. 7 were leadersfrom the PBPN community and artists who created thetree along with U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom andAssistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger. In addition,Chris Howell, executive director for the Office ofNative American Affairs for Kansas attended the pre-miere.

In a news release about the project, PBPNChairman Steve Ortiz said: "The Nation has beenactively working in family violence prevention for

over a decade and is committed to ending domesticviolence. The Community Story Tree visualizes thatcommitment and we will continue to work for a vio-lence-free future."

Micki Martinez, who was one of theartists said creating one of the tiles helpedher let go of the darkness and sadness. "Icould not have articulated myself in anyother way," she said. "Through the use ofart, it has brought comfort and gratitudeto my heart, knowing that I am a sur-vivor."

As an aside,Martinez also cre-ated a power pointpresentation forthe premiere thatdescribed what theartists were think-ing while drawingtheir tiles.

T h eCommunity StoryTree project beganlast spring and wasscheduled forcompletion in

October to be in conjunctionwith National DomesticViolence Awareness Month.After the unveiling the mosaicbecame a traveling exhibit andwas shown at other tribal loca-tions in northeast Kansas.

There are 72-12x12inch tiles that were created byindividuals from all walks of

life using a variety of mediums which took severalmonths to complete. An art room was established in abuilding on the reservation where various groups,formed by the TVAP staff, still regularly meet to cre-

ate art and relax. Among them are the ProvidersArt Circle that is comprised of tribal employeeswho provide services to the tribal community,and the Women's Art Circle which is a workshopfor victims of domestic violence or other sur-vivors of violence. There is also an open studioavailable that has no group designation.

The Community Story Tree projectwas sponsored by the Potawatomi Tribal PoliceDepartment, TVAP and support of the PrairieBand Potawatomi Family Violence PreventionProgram and Native Women's AdvocacyCommittee.

The Tribal Victims AssistanceProgram on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nationbegan in 2006 with the purpose of assistingNative American victims of crime and their fam-ilies. Some of the services they provide includecounseling, emergency assistance, criminal jus-tice process information and court accompani-ment, transportation assistance and helping withreferrals for other services. The program isstaffed by Rebekah Jones and Kent Miller whohave an office located in the Potawatomi Tribal

Police Department. The art room, where theCommunity Story Tree Project was created, is locatedin the Old Tribal Court Building.

TVAP also serves the other three tribes innortheast Kansas. The program is funded by a grantfrom the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of JusticePrograms, and U.S. Department of Justice.

Artists and U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom, second from left, at the pre-miere unveiling of the Community Story Tree Project on Oct. 7. Thepremiere was held at jones huyett Partners, a communications agency,during the First Friday Art Walk of Topeka.

(Photo submitted by Rebekah Jones)

PBPN actively support Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Departments and Programs Page 7Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

Rebekah Jones and Kent Miller, who coordinated theCommunity Story Tree, were photographed shortly after themosaic was installed in the lobby of the Government Center. Aceremony was held Oct. 28 that included Tribal Council andseveral other members of the PBPN community who came to-gether to celebrate the installation.

A close up of one of the tiles created. The Providers Art Circle stillmeets on Wednesdays at noon at the old Tribal Court building.

Departments aand PPrograms Page 88Potawatomi NNewswinter 22011

Kent Miller was namedEmployee of the Quarter atthe All-Employee meetingheld Oct. 21 at the BingoHall. Miller is a Victim'sOutreach Advocate in theTribal Victims AssistanceProgram at the PotawatomiTribal Police Department.

Kent Miller named Employee of the

Quarter

Juliet Carlisle was allsmiles after receiving a 10-year work award at theAll-Employee meeting. Sheworks at the EarlyEducation Childhood CareCenter.

The Human Resources department featured Race AgainstBreast Cancer speakers at their All-Employee meeting heldOct. 21 and raised money for the cause at a bake sale on Oct.14 (above) in the lobby of the Government Center. (Left toright) is Priscilla Martin, Shanna Smith, MoniqueLiesmann, Cherie Jim, Jillena Knoxsah and DonnaValdivia-Wofford who raised over $500 for the charity.

Human Resources supports Race Against Breast Cancer at All-Employee quarterly meeting

The Division of Planning and EPA had a display at theAll-Employee meeting on how to weatherize homesfor winter temperatures. Adam Irvin, from the PBPNEPA Department, was available to answer questionsand to pass out literature.

News shortsTribal Operations restructures

weekly director meetings

Instead of the former weekly meetings of all tribal directors,the general manager has separated programs into fourareas including: 1. infrastructure 2. health, safety and well-ness 3. education, services and support and 4. essential oper-ations. The restructure was aimed at providing better timemanagement. The meeting above was an infrastructure &maintenance meeting held at the We-Ta-Se building Oct. 11.

Training employees to become leaders

Some PBPN employees, including Robbie Lange (standingabove) participated in a five-week training called Directions inOrganizational Leadership offered by Washburn University’sAcademic Outreach program last fall at the casino. The courserevolved around problem-solving and teaching directors andsupervisors to become more effective in managing people.

A buffalo chili cook off and feed contest was held Nov. 9 at the Bingo Hall that wassponsored by staff from the Lands Department. A raffle was held and buffalomeat was provided for contestants to use in their chili. There were 21 who enteredthe contest in three categories that included mild, hot, and fire-alarm hot. In thephoto above are members of the Lands Department including (left to right) JasonDavis, Ahnah Wahwassuck, Travis Darnall, Chris DeCoteau, Mikes Potts, ElliotMasquat, and Russell Jim and unidentified girl.

The PBPN Division ofPlanning and EPA cospon-sored a two-day trainingcalled Tribal Healthy HomesRegional Training with U.S.Region VII EPA and theNational Tribal HealthyHomes Assessment Trainingand Technical AssistanceSupport Center. It was heldSept. 27-29 at the PrairieBand Casino & Resort.

There were approximately 24hikers that took part in Takea Hike event on Oct. 16 thatbegan at We-Ta-Se andincluded a picnic lunch.Mary LeClere, PBPN mem-ber, helped lead the hike thatwas sponsored by theDivision of Planning &

EPA and DiabetesPrevention Program. Morehikes are planned in thefuture.

Chris DeCoteau, Directorof the Lands Department,and Steve Duryea, TribalRealty Specialist, conducteda tour of the reservation’sbison program and farmingprogram on Oct. 21 for JeffSutton, of the Kansas FarmBureau, and four Germandignitaries who were in theU.S. as McCloy Interns.Also on the tour with themwas Chris Howell, executivedirector of the NativeAmerican Affairs Office forthe State of Kansas.

Meet Tribal Police Officer Matt Johnson

The News periodically plans to conduct a series ofquestion and answer interviews with tribal policeofficers who work on the reservation.

This series introduces Matt Johnson:

Q: What is your official title?A: I hold the rank of Sergeant and I am currently

assigned the duties of Patrol Supervisor. Q: How long have you been working for the

Tribal Police Department?A: I initially worked here from 2001 to 2007 and

then returned to the department in Nov. 2009.

Q: Are you a tribal member?A: No. Q: Do you have other education besides high

school?A: I’ve attended several community colleges and am

currently enrolled at Highland Community College. I am working toward a four-year degree in criminal justice with a goal of earning my master’s degree so I can teach atthe college level.

Q: Can you briefly outline your work experience?A: I have almost twenty years of experience in law

enforcement with nine of those being spent as a corrections officer in state and local detention facilities. I have been a commis-sioned law enforcement officer for the past eleven years. Prior to that I served four years in active duty in the United States Navy.

Q: When did you graduate from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) and what does that mean to you?

A: I graduated from KLETC in 2000. Graduating from the KLETC afforded me the opportuni-ty to embark on my career as a police offi-cer. In addition to the technical training thatis taught at this academy, they also instill thephilosophy of honor, integrity and service into new police recruits. This is a philoso-phy that I have adopted and adhered to my entire police career.

Q: Where did you do your training and what did youlearn?

A: My initial law enforcement certification was through KLETC, however, since that time I have received additional training in a wide variety of area that include DUI

Apprehensioin and Investigation, CriminalInvestigations, Tactical Response Training, Field Training Officer, Drug Investigations, etc. Each training course that I have com-pleted has gone towards making me a better officer which has allowed me to provide more effective law enforcement services in the community that I serve.

Q: What does it mean to you to work for the Tribal Police Department?

A: I’ve had the opportunity to work for several state and local law enforcement agencies and theyhave all been exceptional in one way or another, but serving as a Prairie Band Potawatomi (PBP) police officer has been the highlight of my career. The PBP reserva-tion is a “family-oriented” community with programs and activities geared towards youth and families. To serve as an officer inthis type of environment has been reward-ing.

Q: What goals would you like to achieve in your work with the Tribal Police Department?

A: I’d like to continue with my growth as a police officer, a leader and as a person. The strug-gles that face our community are always changing so constant training and education is critical in facing those challenges. As a leader, I subscribe to the philosophy that I am always “training my replacement”. I want to provide my officers with opportuni-ties to grow and develop in this profession. I want to build their management skills by placing them in leadership roles and involv-ing them in policy development. I want thisagency to seize on every available opportu-nity to utilize technological advances and education that will allow us to serve this community more effectively and efficiently.I want the PBP Police Department to not only be the gold standard for other tribal law enforcement agenices but for all law enforcement agencies in this region.

Q: What would you like to tell the tribal member-ship about your work or life?

A: I am a police officer and an avid family man. I am blessed to have a terrific wife and four children. I try to instill in my children a love for their God, community, country and themselves. I also try to teach them the value of a good education and hard

work; passing along the values taught to me by my parents, grandparents and ancestors. I am an obsessive learner and I enjoy read-ing, no matter the topic. I also study karate which has shown me a connectivity betweenbody, spirit and mind.Regarding my work, I truly believe that law enforcement is a calling. As police officers, we respond to situations that most people try to avoid. We often see people at their worst but also at their best. No one enters into law enforcement with the intent of making a great living. I am on officer because I believe that I can be an instrumentof change. In my career I can recall several instances where I have had a positive, life-changing effect on people’s lives.An an officer and person I try to accept everyone at face value. To me, differences in culture and background are opportunities for learning and exploration. Everyone has something to offer and everyone should have a seat at the table. I believe that respect is something that is not guraranteed, but is something that is earned. I come fromthe old school were you were taught to respect your elders, and the Pledge of Allegiance really stood for something. The American flag was something to honor and appreciate and not a cool, or trendy fashion accessory. And, last but not least, military veterans were honored for their service and sacrifice.My goal as an officer and person is to try and leave this life just a little better off than when I first found it.

Departments and Programs Page 9Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

Tribal license plates meeting held with the State

PBPN tribal personnel including Chairman Steve Ortiz attended a TribalLicense Plate meeting that was sponsored by the Office of Native American Affairson Nov. 17 in Topeka. The purpose of the meeting was to offer an informationexchange between the Kansas tribes and the State and to discuss technical issuesand glitches regarding data being transferred from tribal Motor VehicleDepartments to the Department of Revenue.

TheTribal Police Department

wishes you a Merry Christmasand a safe

2012 New Year

Tribal Police Department785.966.3024

About 3,500 Americans die each year in fires and about 20,000 are injured. You can stop the fire before it starts. Use this fact sheet to learn how to prevent a fire in your home and know what to do if you have a fire.

Stop the holiday fire before it starts:

Holiday Fire Prevention and Home Fire Safety

Be prepared for a fire:i One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to have a working

smoke alarm that can sound fast for both a fire that has flames, and a smoky fire that has fumes without flames. It is called a “Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm.” A smoke alarm greatly reduces your chances of dying in a fire.

i Prepare an escape plan and practice it often. Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two (2) escape routes from their bedrooms.

i Do not place your holiday tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree and it could catch fire by heat, flame, or sparks more easily.

i Never put holiday tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove.

i When the tree becomes dry, remove it from your home right away. The best way to get rid of your tree is to take it to a recycling center or have it collected by a community pick-up service.

i Check holiday lights each year for wires that are worn out or coming apart, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and a lot of bends or twists in the wire.

i Only use laboratory-tested lighting and extension cords.

i Never overload outlets or extension cords. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet.

i Do not leave lit holiday lights on unless someone is in the room.

i Avoid using lit candles. If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and put them where they cannot be easily knocked over and start a fire.

i Never leave the home with candles burning.

Departments and Programs Page 11Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

Mending Broken Hearts: Healingfrom Unresolved Grief andIntergenerational Trauma

workshop held

Sharyl Whitehawk ofWhite Bison, an organi-zation that teaches andoffers healing resourcesto Native American peo-ple, taught a trainingthat offered a culturally-based way of healingfrom grief, loss and inter-generational traumaNov. 15-17 at the Rockbuilding. The workshopwas sponsored by thePBPN Alcohol & DrugRecovery program.

Cultural Competency &Native American Religious

Freedom seminar draws large crowd

Early Childhood Education Center updateFire Prevention Week Head Start classes tourPotawatomi Fire Department

Fire Prevention Week was held the second week inOctober and Head Start classes were photographedgoing to the Fire Station on Oct. 11 for a tour. The build-ing seen in the photo is the old fire station that was usedfor several years before the new one was built that canpartially be seen at left.

Fall Health Fair & Early Head StartRound-up held at Health Center

A well-child clinic was offered for childrenages 0-3 years of age Nov. 10 at the PBPNHealth Center. Various developmental screen-ings were offered and informational tableswere available. This is the first year the clinichas been offered at the Health Center insteadof being held at the Early ChildhoodEducation Center located on K Road.

Halloween and

Red Ribbonweek

focus on children

Red Ribbon week wasOct. 23-29 and celebratedwith a parade to the Boys& Girls Club for treats and

more Halloween fun Oct. 31

LaVerne Haag was the mod-erator for the CulturalCompetency seminar. Sheworks in the Social ServicesDepartment.

Learning about different Native American religions and howsocial and legislative bodies should deal with them was thetopic of a Cultural Competency & Native American SeminarNov. 10 at the casino. Speakers for the sessions were, left toright, Wilson Aronilth, Steve Ortiz (gave opening remarks),Justin Jones, and Gerald King. Audience members includedattorneys, law enforcement personnel, social workers, healthcare providers, Native Americans and others. Aronilth is a cul-tural/traditional teacher, Ortiz, the chair of the PBPN, Jones,a Native lawyer, and King, a traditional counselor.

For more information about theEarly Childhood Education Center

go to www.pbpindiantribe.com/childcare.aspx

Social Services sponsors drives

The Social Services department held a warm clothingdrive for clients the first week in December and held aClient Appreciation Day on December 9 in the SocialServices lobby. In addition, the Youth Services programin Vocational Rehabilitation sponsored an OperationMilitary Kids toy drive and a Christmas food drive.

The Early Childhood Education Center andother programs involved wishes to thank

the PBPN community and employeesfor the outpouring of donations for the

2011 Adopt a Family for Christmas gift drive

(Left to right) is Elwood Ott, Exercise Specialist, KathySterbentz, R.N. and Educator, and Hubert White, LifestyleCoach, who are all working together at the PBPN HealthCenter in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to pro-vide information and programs. Ott and White are withHaskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence and aretemporarily assisting Sterbentz with the DPP program.

Chef with National Museum of American Indian Cafe teaches healthy foods cooking class at casino

Health Page 112 Potawatomi NNewswinter 22011

(Right) Richard Hetzler,Executive Chef of the National

Museum of the AmericanIndian’s Mitsitam Cafe, with

Janis Simon, CaregiverCoordinator for the PBPN.

Hetzler was in Kansas on Nov. 10to give a cooking class using

healthy foods that was held atthe casino. The class was a joint

project between the AmericanAssociation of Retired Persons(AARP) and the Association of

American Indian Physicians.

Diabetes Prevention Program

Health Center pharmacy installs prescription dispensing robotics system

Diabetes Prevention Program upcoming classes

•Diabetes Self-Management classes begin Jan. 10•New Special Diabetes Program for Indians

session begin Feb. 1, 2012

For details call 785.966.8207or email KathySterbenz@pbpnation.org

By Morris Taylor, director

Lots going on over the holidays withthe Youth Transition Program conducting activ-ities like a Christmas food drive, Gen S meet-ings, and an Operation Military Kids back pack(OMK) drive. In addition, Independent Livinghosted a client appreciation reception onDecember 9 at the Health Center. Their nextquarterly meeting will be Jan. 25 at the casino.

The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)fiscal year ended September 30 and the averagestatistics for the 79 programs found in TribalVocational Rehabilitation programs nationwide

were 22 successfully employed closed casesand 106 clients served. In comparison, thePBPN had 33 successfully employed closedcases and 130 clients served. These numbers aredown about 15% from previous years as a resultof the economy and a shortage of available jobs.Lastly, the VR program has begun a number ofshort term training programs in computer skillsas well as developing some creative plansinvolving self employment that are expected tobear increased numbers next year. Even withthe shortage of jobs our numbers are very goodin comparison with the national averages.

Vocational Rehabilitation update

A new technology is taking the Prairie Band Health Center back to thepractice of allowing pharmacists the time for personalized service and counseling.The pharmacy staff is now using the SP 200 Robotic Prescription DispensingSystem from ScriptPro, an automated system that has many safety features andensures accurate medication dispensing.

Mike Carpenter, who has been head of the Pharmacy Department since2004, said he is pleased with the system and that it is very efficient and safe.

“The SP 200 has saved us a lot of time that is normally taken in the tedioustasks of counting pills, filling vials, and labeling prescriptions,” he said. “It hasreally been a boon to increasing our staff efficiency.”

How does the robot work? Once a prescription is entered into the pharma-cy computer system, the robotic arm determines the correct size vial, then finds thespecified drug. Using barcode scanning, it verifies the location of the drug. Therobotic arm holds the vial and counts the pills as they are automatically droppedinto the vial. The arm then places the vial on a short conveyer belt and the patientlabel is applied, complete with medication warning labels.

Barcode scanning is used throughout the system to ensure that the correctdrug is given to the patient. The pharmacist makes the final check for accuracy,comparing the pills in the vial with a computer screen image of the drug.Pharmacists are pleased to have the SP 200 on staff. It never calls in sick or takesa vacation. The system counts and fills up to 150 prescriptions per hour, so cus-tomers get their medications promptly, even during peak pharmacy hours.

ScriptPro developed the SP 200 and the business is located in Mission,Kansas. The company provides, and supports state-of-the-art robotics-based man-agement and workflow systems for pharmacies that, in turn, helps pharmaciesoperate efficiently, safely, and profitably so they can make the maximum contribu-tion to the healthcare system.

The Pharmacy staff pho-tographed in front of the

new dispensing unit.(Left to right) is Heather

Redlightning, AngelaEmert, Jim Simonson,

and Mike Carpenter.The women are national-

ly certified techniciansand the men are full-time

pharmacists.

Pharmacist MikeCarpenter demon-

strates the oldmethod of filling

prescriptions thattook a lot of staff

time. Now thepharmacists can

counsel more andupdate their

records quickly.

For Pharmacy Department hoursgo to

www.pbpindiantribe.com/health-center-information.aspx

Departments and Programs Page 13Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

Haskell Indigenous Food Festival includes PBPN involvementLEFT: Eddie Joe Mitchell, former project coordinatorand traditional gardener for the PBP Health Center’sDiabetes Prevention Program’s “Return to a HealthyPast” program, gave a presentation on Indigenous FoodSovereignty at the Haskell Indigenous Food Festival Oct.22 at Haskell Indian Nation University’s Cultural Center.It was the first time for the festival that focused on restor-ing healthy and culturally relevant food systems.RIGHT: A table that exhibited indigenous foods wasplaced in the exhibit hall. The festival was sponsored bythe Haskell Green Campus Initiative, the Douglas County(Kan.) Community Foundation, and private donors.

MANHATTAN -- A change of heart in Siberia led toa nearly $100,000 fellowship for one Kansas StateUniversity graduate student and the possibility ofcleaner water for many indigenous people.

Heidi Mehl, a doctoral student in geographyfrom Lawrence, is the recipient of a nearly $100,000,three-year Science to Achieve Results -- or STAR --fellowship from the Environmental ProtectionAgency. Mehl recently returned from a conference inWashington, D.C., with other STAR fellowship recip-ients, where they were given the tools and the confi-dence to begin moving forward with their work.

This fellowship will fund part of the workMehl is doing for her dissertation, "A cultural ecologyof riparian system on the Prairie Band PotawatomiNation: Understanding stream incision, riparian func-tion and indigenous knowledge to increase best man-

agement plan adoption." Mehl receives tuition and stipend funding for

three years, including a $5,000 equipment fund eachyear.

"Although the geography department does agreat job of helping students by offering graduateteaching and research assistantships, this fellowship iswonderful because now I can simply focus on myresearch and my studying," she said.

Mehl's research will combine fluvial geo-morphology, the study of river systems and related

processes, and cultural ecology, thestudy of how cultures influence landuse decisions.

In short, Mehl will focus onthe relationships between riparian waterquality filtering and streambed incisionor down-cutting, along the SoldierCreek system on the PotawatomiNation reservation. Mehl has beenworking with the Prairie BandPotawatomi Nation's stream systemnear Topeka to determine its water qual-ity and how to improve it.

"Riparian vegetation serves asa filter for runoff, and removing stream-side trees and grasses can lead to morenutrients, bacteria and pesticides in the water as wellas bank erosion," she said. "What we don't know ishow stream incision affects riparian water qualityfunctions."

Starting in the spring and continuing for sev-eral years, Mehl will use piezometers -- tubes installedfrom the surface of the ground to the water table -- tomeasure the water level in the riparian zone and takesamples to determine how water quality is influencedby riparian zones along incising river channels on thereservation. She will also interview tribal membersabout their land-use decisions.

Eventually, Mehl hopes to use this researchand the EPA fellowship to not only earn her doctoratebut to educate the public about their natural resourcesand to improve water quality and availability for thosewho desperately need it.

Her research and motivation may be impres-sive on their own, but even more so when one consid-ers her original undergraduate focus: animal behavior.While studying ecology as an undergraduate, Mehlaccompanied other students and professors on a trip toSiberia, where she was introduced to water qualityscience and how it affects indigenous communities.She immediately sought a new focus in indigenousstudies with an emphasis on water quality, in whichshe received her master's degree at the University ofKansas before coming to K-State to pursue her doctor-ate in geography.

Mehl's passion for water quality shines

through to her work, helping her receive the highlycompetitive EPA STAR fellowship, regularly awardedto students from top schools like Yale and Princeton,said Melinda Daniels, Mehl's doctoral supervisor andassociate professor of geography at K-State.

Daniels said that Mehl is the only student inKansas to receive the fellowship this year, and onlythe second in the university's history to receive thehonor. She is Daniels' second doctoral student toreceive the fellowship.

"Heidi brings a unique and powerful interdis-ciplinary background to her doctoral work in geogra-phy," Daniels said. "She is addressing a critical prob-lem -- poor water quality -- in an innovative way thatcan be transferred from her case study to other indige-nous and nonindigenous communities and will helpthe EPA more successfully effect water qualityimprovements in the region."

"Rivers are thought of as a conduit to carrywaste away, but I want to help people value rivers fortheir ecological services and recreation," Mehl said.

The Science to Achieve Results fellowship isalso an opportunity to represent her state and univer-sity, she said.

"I love Kansas, and this is a good chance tobring positive attention to the state, as well as drawattention to important issues with rivers and streams,"she said. "This is an important time to focus on ourwater resources."

Heidi Mehl, K-State doctoral student to study quality of Prairie Band PotawatomiNation's streams

Heidi Mehl also gave a presentation at the HaskellFood Festival along with two other environmen-talists on Water and Agriculture in NortheastKansas.

Soldier Creek a few years ago when it was swollen with water.

Departments and ProgramsPage 14 Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

By: Suzanne Heck

In the last few months the Road & Bridge Department has really cometogether to make their work place on K Road more energy efficient and safe.

As examples, administrative offices have been re-organized, bathroomsupgraded and the kitchen improved with the help of the Construction/Maintenancedepartment. In addition, the shop floors have been sanded and sealed for easiercleaning and a large air compressor that was originally in the kitchen, was removedto an outside shed which has really cut down on the noise.

On a sunny fall day in October when the News was at Road & Bridge,electricians Shawn Kelly and Jim Harvey were busy installing security lights out-side. The lights will help when the weather gets bad and when the Road & Bridgecrews work at night. The outside lights will also keep outside equipment safer andare energy-efficient which will cut down on the electric bill.

Another big improvement has been the installation of a generator that willkick in when the power goes off during extended periods of time. Road & Bridgecrews work 24/7 when the weather is bad and having power all the time will helpcrews complete their work faster to keep the roadways clear.

The mechanics shop, located in a building nearby, has also been reorgan-ized. Better compartmen-talizing of automotiveitems and a new shelvingsystem is affording quick-er response times by themechanics and easierinventory counts whichhas also made things morecost effective.

Another changeis that the asphalt opera-tion has been centralizedwith the use of two shedson the property that willstore equipment andmaterials.

Road & Bridgehas approximately 20employees and many aretribal members who haveworked for the Nation a long time. Job positions include equipment operators,truck drivers, mechanics, welders, sign installers, asphalt/bridge, deck/tire repairworkers, administrators and foreman. The primary job of the crews is to regularlymaintain reservation roads but it is well known that the workers do many other

jobs on the reservation aswell.

The department isfunded by the PBPN alongwith other federally-fundedprograms that come primari-ly from the BIA. Anothermajor boost came last yearwhen several road and bridgeimprovements were madepossible by AmericanReinvestment & RecoveryAct (ARRA) funds. In addi-tion, a Rural SafetyInnovation Program (RSIP)that included help from theKansas Department ofTransportation (KDOT) andPBPN has allowed for safer

intersections on U.S. Highway 75 at 150 Road, 158 Road, and 162 Road with theinstallation of flashing beacon warning signs and message boards that have beenplaced. Lastly, the final phase of an asphalted pedestrian-bike trail that connects

community places on the reservation was also finished this year which has creat-ed a safe and beautiful trail for community members.

The Road & Bridge Department’s first blacktop was placed on the reser-vation in 1997 and since that time several miles of roads have been blacktoppedwith the most recent being the Q Road stretch between 150 Road and 158 Road.Last year crews also completed a hill cut on 174 Road between H & I Roads andanother cut is being planned to begin next year on 150 Road near Nation Stationand the casino.

Crews are making preparations for the 2012 winter weather ahead and inthe meantime keeping busy by improving parking lots and other roadways that areon the reservation.

Road & Bridge

Brenda Pahmahmie, Road & Bridge Specialist,points to where a large air compressor has beenplaced in a shed outside the main building.Originally the compressor was housed in thekitchen of the main building that caused a lot ofnoise when it was used.

(Above) Jim Harvey (left) and Shawn Kelly(right) placing security lights on the south side ofthe Road & Bridge headquarters building.Harvey works for the PBPN and Kelly ownsKelly Electric in Topeka.

The shop room floor wassanded and sealed by the

Construction/Maintenancedepartment last summer

which has made cleaning eas-ier and safer for crews to

work. A large road gradercan be seen inside the shop.

The Road & Bridge Department is located at 14880 K Road, Mayetta, KS.Years ago the building housed the PBPN administrative offices of the gov-ernment and the only way to get to it was on a dirt road that is now paved.

Merry Christmas from Road and Bridge!

Front row (left to right) Donita Mattwaoshshe, Hardy Eteeyan, BrendaPahmahmie, and Justin Hainline. Middle row (left to right) Ronnie Bone,Dennis “Festus” Eakin, Ronny Hester, Brad Rice, Virgil “Wamp” Shopteese,and Alan “Boney” Pahmahmie. Back row (left to right) Gordon Beightel,Billy Price, Billy Jim, Benny Potts, Robert Arnold, Lawrence Pahmahmie,Joe Shobney,Willie Potts, and Mike Shobney. Not pictured is Craig McNutt.

Departments and Programs Page 15Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

Language Submitted by Billy Matchie, Language Specialist

Ho'! Good news from the Language Department. We have been awardeda new ANA grant that will fund six positions that will continue to bring you lan-guage for the next three years. Our Administrationfor Native Americans (ANA) grant will utilize theMaster Apprentice Program, providing an empha-sis on immersion that centers around a masterspeaker and two apprentices.

The staff Jan "Pom" Hubbard, a first languagePotawatomi speaker, is our master speaker. She isthe daughter of Cecelia "Meeks" Jackson(deceased) who was the teacher of our languagefor many years. Pom has recently moved back tothe reservation and has stepped in to help us keepour language alive.

Eddie Joe Mitchell is one of the new apprenticesthat will work with the master speaker in acquiringthe language. His mother, Alberta Nagmo was afluent speaker. Eddie Joe has lived on the reserva-tion most of his life and grew up hearing and work-ing with the language.

Cindy LeClere is now another apprentice and has been a devoted worker in thedepartment for the last five years. She has been an asset to the LanguageDepartment and has come a long way in learning Potawatomi.

Jessica YoungBird is the administrative assistant and began working six monthsago and has already taken on many roles in the department. Jessica was exposed tothe language while a young girl due to the influence of her late grandfather, WalterCooper.

Larry "Mekseni" Berryhill is the elder language resource person. He has workedfor the department for for two years. Potawatomi is his first language and he's

become a solid resource for hisknowledge of the language and itsuses.

Billy Matchie is the new languagespecialist. He has worked for thelanguage for the past six years. Heis skilled in the grammar and struc-ture of the language and has comea long way in understanding thePotawatomi language.

Dawn "Sogi" LeClere is a part -time coordinator and is assistingthe department.

We are just getting startedwith our new grant and we are stillin the transitioning phase. We havemany projects underway as well ascontinuing to support other depart-

ments such as the Child Care Center and the Boys & Girls Club. The department isexcited to be working with Larry and Pom on this grant. They are excellent sourcesfor learning the language and our culture. There is much positiveness and strengthin preserving our language and culture within the department.

We always welcome visitors and new students to our Monday night adultclasses. In February, we are hosting Winter Stories (see flier on back page).

Dr. Leanne Hinton from the Advocates for Indigenous CaliforniaLanguage Speakers gave a training on the Master Apprentice Programon Nov. 9-10 to the Language Department. There were 10 participantswho attended the two-day training.

The PBPN community also came out to donate pintsof blood at a Blood Drive held December 2 at the Bingo Hall

The community came out in force thisyear to help families in need for Christmas. TheAdopt a Family for Christmas program, a gift driveoriginally begun by the Tribal Police Departmentthat has been in existence for several years, wasanother big success this year with the help of sev-eral groups.

The drive was administered by the EarlyChildhood Education Center, and assisted by theTribal Police/Tribal Victims Assistance programand Social Services Department. Families werenominated and selected from within the PBPNcommunity and then those families made a list ofitems that were purchased and gift wrapped by vol-unteers.

Some of the PBPN departments thathelped with the drive included the HousingDepartment that sponsored a 50/50 raffle andraised over $300 and the Lands Department thatcontributed over $500 raised from a Buffalo chilicook off that was held. In addition, the PBP HealthClinic employees sponsored a silent auction andthe GEN S Youth Council conducted a non-perish-able food drive and toy drive to help with thecause.

The community at large also helped. Forexample, proceeds from a Holiday Flea Marketorganized by Sherri Landis at the Bingo Hall onDec. 16-17 were given to the Adopt A Family pro-gram and some local churches in the area alsohelped purchase gifts.

Gifts will be distributed the week before Christmas to the families selected.

Community steps up for Adopt a Family Christmas gift drive

Merry Christmas toactive PBPN military soldiers

like Holly Johnson

Holly Johnson of Topekais currently deployed in

support of OperationEnduring Freedom. She is

the daughter of DebbieJohnson (and the late

Bruce Johnson) andgranddaughter of Howard

& Melvene Oliver.

For the second year in a rowTribal Council sponsored an address request andgift-drive for active soldiers who are Prairie BandPotawatomi Nation members. They had a great

response this year and want to thank those who sentthe contact information to them.

Tis the season of giving

Season Serna from the Housing Departmentputs tickets into the 50/50 raffle jar at theElder Center while Verna Simon (with purse)and Mary Truhe from the Health Center lookat the table display.

Departments and ProgramsPage 16 Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

State officials visit We-Ta-Se to look at Native American veteran taxation issue

Officials from the State ofKansas came to the We-Ta-Se AmericanLegion Post #410 monthly meeting onNovember 7 to see if the veterans werewilling to push for the collection of backstate taxes that may have been withheldfrom Native American soldiers who livedon reservations prior to 2001.

Chris Howell (Pawnee) andPonka-We Victors (Ponca- Tohono-O'odham) spoke to a group of 14 We-Ta-Se members to get the veterans' views onthe issue. Victors, from Wichita, is anelected state representative from District103 and Howell is the Executive Directorof the Office of Native American Affairsfor Kansas.

The taxation issue was firstbrought to light by veteran RichardAdame who was at the meeting and saidhe had been trying to alert legislators andthe media about the issue since learningabout it through the Internet last year.Howell and Victors said that they werewilling to go forth with the issue providedthere was enough veteran interest whichwas the purpose for their visit.

During the meeting FrankShopteese, We-Ta-Se Senior Liaison,asked the group if they wanted to pursuethe issue and the group informally agreedthat they did. Individuals then askedquestions to Victors and Howell abouthow to proceed and they both said thatthey would guide the group through thelegislative process but that it needed tostart with individuals at the grass-rootslevel.

At issue is a federal law enactedin 1940 called the Soldiers and SailorsCivil Relief Act (SSCRA) (Section 514)that prohibited the collection of stateincome taxes from the pay of AmericanIndian veterans who lived on reservationsat the time of their entrance into militaryservice. Even though there have beennewer versions of the law (Service

Members Civil Relief Act of 2006, section511e) and other legal opinions that alsofavor the protection, the wrongly deductedtaxes before 2001 are still with theDepartment of Defense. In 2001 theDepartment of Defense did stop theimproper taxation of Indian veterans sothe emphasis on the newly-planned leg-islative process would be to return statetaxes before 2001 retroactively.

One state that has initiated restor-ing taxes back to veterans is New Mexicothat created a Native American Veterans'Income Tax Settlement Fund in 2010.Native American veterans there are beingasked to go through a claims process usingproper documentation that should provethat their state income tax was withheldwhile they were on active duty and legal-ly domiciled on tribal land. Howell saidduring the meeting that something similarcould be enacted in Kansas and that hewould research the New Mexico processmore.

At the national level, NewMexico also took the lead on resolving theissue in 2004 when New Mexico(Democrat) Rep. Tom Udall introducedbill (HR5275) to Congress that wouldhave allowed Native American veterans torecover state taxes withheld prior to 2001but the bill died on the floor for lack ofsupport. The opening paragraph of the billsaid: "Native Americans have had thehighest rate of military service of any eth-nic group in the nation; how have werepaid them for their dedication? By ille-gally withholding state taxes from theirpaychecks".

We-Ta-Se was organized in 1985and is one of the oldest Native AmericanLegion posts in the United States.Presently there are two full-time staffmembers who have offices and a smallmuseum in the We-Ta-Se building locatedat 15434 K Road, Mayetta, Kan.

Kansas representatives attended the monthly November We-Ta-Se meeting to discuss a veteran’s taxation issue. (Left to right) isChris Howell, tribal liaison for the Kansas Governor’s office,and Kan. Rep. Ponka-We Victors, from Wichita, who are seenreceiving thanks and a coffee mug from Jim Potts, staff liaison,for coming to the meeting.

We-Ta-Se year-end stats(as of Dec. 1, 2011)

•Motored over 39,000 miles in 2 We-Ta-Se vans •Transported 516 vets to various VA cen-

ters and other medical facilities •Color Guard performed at 56 events

in Kansas and in four other states

•Honor Guard conducted 12 military burials

Native American Veteran’s Pow-wow in Topeka

(Above) We-Ta-Se posted colors along with other veterans of theKickapoo tribe and Haskell Indian Nations University on Nov. 18at the Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka. Thedancer in full view is Galen Hubbard who is also a PBPN.

(Below) is Chago Hale (left) and Naseka Hale who provided thedrum for the grand entry. Chago was also emcee for the pow-wow.

Little Soldier Singers provided the drumming and singing at theKansas 150 Tribal Commemoration held at the Kansas Museumof History on Nov. 16. (Left to right) Naseka Hale, Gubba Hale,Chago Hale and Kwake Hale. We-Ta-Se provided colors andChairman Steve Ortiz gave the invocation and other remarks.

Departments and Programs Page 117Potawatomi NNewswinter 22011

14th Annual Veterans We-Ta-Se pow-wow

Amber Mahkuk was named the2011-12 We-Ta-Se princess.She is 17 years old and attendsKickapoo Nations School. Thisphoto was taken before she wascrowned.

Amber Mahkuk was also the Head GirlDancer at the pow-wow and is seen (left) lin-ing up with her family before her special.

(Left to right) Jancita Warrington (HeadLady Dancer), Amber Mahkuk (HeadGirl Dancer), Mjek Hubbard-Irving(Head Boy Dancer), and MikeMattwaoshshe (Head Man Dancer).

We-Ta-Se Color Guard during the firstgrand entry on Sept. 24 in the arena.

Afternoon grand entry.

Boys Grass dancers in the arena. There were 101dancers registered for the pow-wow.

In back is Jim Potts (left) and FrankShopteese (right) who are on the We-Ta-Sestaff. In the ball cap is Dean Whitebreastwith Roger Lewis in front. Whitebreast wasthe master of ceremonies for the pow-wow andLewis was arena director.

Whistling Wind was one of four drumgroups that performed. The others wereLittle Soldier Singers, Boss Hawgs, andWhite Water.

Raffle winners:

•Pendleton blanket-Lisa Wamego•50-gallons gas-Mary LeClere•100-gallons gas-Cindy LeClere•$1,000 cash-Rosa Potts

We-Ta-Se at Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

We-Ta-Se provided a Color Guard for a cultural day of celebrationat the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art on Oct. 23. Little SoldierSingers and the Royal Valley Singers & Dancers also performed atthe event.

(Photo courtesy of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art)

Veterans Day

Above: Roy Hale and AmberMahkuk carrying the wreath to theVeterans Memorial Wall that is locat-ed in Prairie Peoples Park. We-Ta-Se veterans at a ceremony held in

Prairie Peoples Park Nov. 10.

Approximately500 meals

were servedat the evening meal

during the pow-wow

Pow-wow held at

Prairie Peoples Park

CommunityPage 18 Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

The Tribal Council Review Committee A Tribal Council Review Committee that will

review several aspects of the Tribal Council wasformed in 2011 and is carrying out its duties.

According to Dale Delg, who is the secretaryof the committee, members were nominated andselected at the the October General Council meeting.Other members are Royetta Rodewald, chair, FrankTecumseh, vice-chair, Dale Delg, secretary, and KellyMcClure, research analyst, and John McClury, LysetteMorris and Laura Abeyta who are members.

On Oct. 27 the TCRC met for the first timewhere they selected officers. Since that time the grouphas had six meetings and gathered information thatwill be used in a report for an audit of the Tribal

Council that will be done by an outside auditing firm.Plans are for the TCRC to interview three companiesthat will submit request for proposal (RFP) bids backto the committee. The TCRC will then choose onefirm and assess which company has the most expertiseand experience working with Indian tribes in the areasthat the committee has chosen to review.

On Nov. 22 the TCRC met with TribalCouncil about their progress to date and intentions tomove forward with interviewing three firms after theTCRC receives the final financial bids from the threecompanies. After the bids are received, a budget forthe TCRC will be created to be inclusive of all thecontingencies needed to complete the committee’s

work. One caveat to Tribal Council’s agreeing to thebudget request for the committee is that the finalreport is to be presented at a General Council meetingsometime in the future. Discussion ensued that thismight take some time to do a thorough investigationand that it was unlikely that it would be ready for theJanuary 21 General Council meeting.

Delg also reported that the TCRC is com-prised of non-paid volunteers who are honored that theGeneral Council selected each of them to serve andthat they will diligently and professionally attempt tocomplete the task of preparing the final report.

Member news and notes

Jessie Murray graduates Jessie Murray graduated fromthe Institute of American IndianArts in Santa Fe, New Mexicowith a Bachelor of Arts degreein New Media Film. She is thedaughter of Robert and TheresaMurray and the granddaughterof Constance Magnauck Lewisand LeRoy Jessepe.

Isaac Murray graduated as aCombat Medic. He received hisbasic training in Ft. Benning, Ga.He received his Health CareSpecialist training in Ft. SamHouston, San Antonio, Texas.He is the son of Robert andTheresa (Jessepe) Murray andthe grandson of ConstanceMagnauck Lewis and LeRoyJessepe.

By: Clifford Knoxsah

Dedicated to Clint-my forever nephew

This is the story of the original Boys & GirlsClub on the reservation. It began when I witnessedthe kids playing kickball in the front yard.The yard, while good in size, wasn't big enough for allthe kids so I loaded them all up in the truck and tookthem to the ball field-just as much for space and safe-ty.

That was the beginning. We began to playsoftball instead and practiced three to four times aweek. We furnished everything including the equip-ment, refreshments and transportation.

More than just teaching the game to the kids,Sandy Mitchell and I also tutored some of them athome during the evenings. Randy Mitchell was alsovery helpful as a player/coach.

We began putting on tournaments and hadone every Fourth of July for three years. We also trav-eled to other tournaments to play with other teams and

players. We also played volleyball and basketball

during the off season. I opened the gym a couple ofnights a week for the kids-offering a fun and safeplace and we usually had a full house. Thanks toDonDon LeClere.

We offered an alternative to drugs and gener-al boredom. We made sure everybody got to play thatshowed up and stressed teamwork versus winning.We won more than we lost but we learned to lose withcharacter and integrity and, above all, we showedgood sportsmanship.

One particular loss in softball was to theHorton Ramchargers, an elite co-ed championshipcaliber team. They were leading about 16-0 and aftera couple of innings their coach asked us if we want-ed to forfeit. I told him I'd ask the players and whenI did they wanted to play on. Clint Wahquahboshkuktold them "we're here so let's play on" so we did. Welost 33-0 but gritted it out and played with our headsheld high as a team in that tournament.

Later on, Sandy took the kids to the 1st

Gathering at Perry Sound. I was unable to attend andregret missing the trip. We took the kids to somepow-wows including camping for a week at theWinnebago Homecoming pow-wow which was awe-some. We took them to a leadership conference inKansas City and we named ourselves TLT-(Tomorrow's Leaders Today).

Through the tribe's help and covering ourown expenses we organized the original Boys & GirlsClub. We were the Dead-End Kids. Sandy was thedirector and organized all the transportation, fundraising, etc. I was the player/head coach, Randypitched for us, and Clint was team captain.

I'm probably missing someone but Maria,Nikki and Sage Fairman, Pauline and MaxineWabaunsee, Russell Jim, Eric Jim, DaylanMzhickteno, Jason and Justin Jackson and them littleO'Toole's, who never missed a practice and playedtheir hearts out, were the first Boys & Girls Club.

I cherish the memory of the Dead-End Kidsas they are our champions.

The origins of the Boys & Girls Club: a short story by Clifford Knoxsah

Royal Valley High School 2011 Football Senior

•All County•All League

Honorable Mention

CongratulationsTyler Bell

Isaac Murray graduates

Francis Jensen will be inductedinto the Holton/Jackson County Chamberof Commerce Hall of Fame in Februaryfor his volunteer work with area youth-oriented programs. He retired a few yearsago from operating his own barber shop

for over 50 years in Holton and he is anactive member of We-Ta-Se AmericanLegion Post 410. Francis also works withthe medical community to provide equip-ment for those in need. He also makeshandmade flutes.

Francis Jensen to beinducted into

Holton/Jackson CountyChamber of Commerce

Hall of Fame

By: Dustin J. Goslin

Greetings from St. Cloud, Minnesota! Myname is Dustin Joseph Goslin (Pam-Mbwit-M'ko), 27,and I am a member of the Prairie Band of PotawatomiNation. My parents are Robert Goslin Sr. (Wish-koh-nah-be) a Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa,and LaVonne Chenault-Goslin (Kaw-e-quah) aPBPN/Kickapoo tribal member. I spent most of mylife growing up on the shores of Lake Superior nearBayfield, Wis.

I possess a Master's of Management inOrganizational Development and received numerousfellowships, grants, and scholarships. One of thescholarships I received was from the PBPN educationprogram and would not be where I am today had I notreceived that financial assistance.

I am the General Manager of St. Cloud's newHomewood Suites by Hilton hotel in St. Cloud, Minn.As General Manager, I oversee four managers and astaff of approximately 45 employees. In my positionI help establish long-term partnerships with organiza-tions and businesses in the St. Cloud area. I haveserved as a city official for the city of Waite Park,Minn. and have volunteered with the St. Cloud SocialSecurity Administration.

This past year I helped establish a partnershipwith the St. Cloud Area School District 742 to providea community based educational setting for disabledyoung adults. I have also been working with theDirector of the American Indian Center at St. CloudState University to develop an American Indian man-agement internship. This new public-private partner-ship with Hilton will give American Indian students anopportunity to develop practical business skills andgain exposure to the corporate lodging industry. Theprogram is important to me and I am hoping it willdevelop successfully.

I was selected as a local young professionalin the September 12, 2010 edition of the St. CloudTimes due to my prominent role with a new business.In the article I stressed the importance of higher edu-

cation and its importance to tribal governments andorganizations. I have also spoken to students on sev-eral occasions at St. Cloud State University regardinghigher education, program development, personnelmanagement, financial planning, and other areas.

I have also been involved with the Wiconí

Wasté Mentoring and College PREP high school pro-gram with Little Earth of United Tribes located inMinneapolis. This program has allowed me to speakwith American Indian students about the importanceof graduating from high school while sharing withthem the obstacles I have overcome to achieve myeducational goals.

My recent successes have not always comeeasy as I have struggled with being an AmericanIndian leader in corporate America. Different culturesoften value different qualities in effective leaders.There are many differences that exist between main-stream American business leadership and AmericanIndian leadership. Many of these differences arenoted as distinct opposites. Mainstream Americanbusiness leaders value a centralized authority toenforce hierarchal leadership models, while AmericanIndian leaders value a decentralized approach inwhich all parties have a voice in the decision.Mainstream American business leaders often have a

tendency to see themselves as strategic individualplayers seeking to advance their own purposes, whileAmerican Indian leaders seek to blend into the collec-tive and value humility and self-deprecation. As youcan imagine, these two cultures can conflict with eachother. I, however, believe that being an AmericanIndian leader in corporate America works well to bal-ance me out and will help make me a stronger leaderin the end.

When I give presentations, I speak about thetwo sides of my personality. One side reflects the cap-italist and competitive nature of my personality. I likebeing on the winning team and coming out on top. Mybusiness card states this side of my personality nicelyas "striving to exceed expectations." I feel this per-sonality characteristic causes me to be a "workaholic"- I am one who, when the going gets tough--I workharder. The other side of my personality is that I am avery caring person. I love getting involved with mycommunity and volunteering for a purpose. I like theidea of equality amongst people. I often think this sideof my personality reflects my American Indian her-itage. My leadership style is one that is passionateabout driving toward results but not at the expense ofmy human capital. A mentor once told me that I clear-ly understand how to work with people but notthrough people.

I once read that a successful leader leads withintegrity, vision, and competence. This statement iswhat I adhere to and will often recite when in times ofdoubt.

I will be featured in the American IndianGraduate Center magazine as one of their success sto-ries in their 2012 spring edition. I received a graduatescholarship from AIGCS during my entire graduateprogram. You can access their magazine at www:aigcs.org.

*Upon request by AIGCS, article submitted toAmerican Indian Graduate Center Scholarships' mag-azine for featured article in Spring 2012 issue.

Dustin Goslin on the winning team

Dominic Ortiz, PBPN, was one of 33 CPAsunder age 36 selected to participate in the AmericanInstitute of Certified Public Accountants' (AICPA)annual Leadership Academy in Durham, N.C.

Ortiz joined fellow rising stars in the pro-fession for three days in October 2011 to learn a cut-ting edge strategic thinking process and discuss ahost of strategic issues facing CPAs and theaccounting industry. Attendees participated in exer-cises to help them internalize the value of leadershippersonally and professionally and understand howthey can impact their community, organization andthe profession as a whole. They were joined bysome of the profession's most experienced leaders,

including AICPA Chairman Paul Stahlin and BarryMelancon, AICPA president and CEO.

Ortiz received his CPA from the KansasBoard of Accountancy last year. He is the directorof finance at the Prairie Band Casino & Resort andacting CFO for the Prairie Band PotawatomiEntertainment Corporation. He holds a Master’s inAccounting and Information Systems degree fromthe University of Kansas and in 2006 attended theHarvard Business School where he attained alumnistatus by completing the Executive EducationGeneral Manager Program.

Dominic Ortiz attends American Institute of CPA’sAcademy: an elite group

Community Page 19Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

Member news and notes

Community Page 220Potawatomi NNewswinter 22011

Have you known these Rez people?

•Butch•Burns•Pandy•Wild Bill•Emmytoes•Flop (or) Flip•Boozen Susan•Scary Mary•Old Joe (or) Possum•Cassabooboo•Tony Glento•Chicken•Wash•The Snake•Day•Little Joe•Kawzho•Jimmie Due•Canio•Lil Helen•Bope•Corky•Porky

•Marty•Tiny•Arch•Chink•One Dollar Ninety Eight•Whimpy•Bud•Ducky•Hobo•Pink•Johnnie Boy•Wildman•Junior•Bonydick•Hawkeye•Bozo•Tweetie•Runt•Azabee•Uncle Fudge•Smoky•Wine•Punk

•Pinoccio•Squirt•Banjo•Jack Forty•Ninetynine•Misho•Jawblue•Sheem•Dupee•Brub•Mokey•Gunzy•Moldy•King•Shop•Shucka•Shuck•Tope•Sawgie•Girlie•Bud•Meeshty•Sissy•Junior(in twice)•Fatty•Ol’Man•Sonnyman•Mouse•Posey•Pickles•Gumpy•Booger•Meatball•Shorty•Pinhead•Kungfoo•Festus•Beanno•Swede•Woody•Joe-Joe•Lil Joe•ClydiePie•Nan•Papa Jay

Submitted by Cornelia Donahue

Cornelia Donahue, a life long reservation resident, submitted this list of nick-names of people that she’s known through the years. She said that some of thenames had been given to more than one person through the years but shethought it might be fun for readers to try and identify who some of the nick-names belonged to.

(Right) Ron Wahweotten was pho-tographed at the We-Ta-Se pow-

wow held Sept. 24at Prairie Peoples Park. Ron was one of the hon-

ored veterans at the pow-wow andserved in the Korean War.

Snaps

These three tribal members were photographed at the HealthCenter and are (left to right) Roland Matchie, Janice Ownby,and John Matchie. Ownby is the Outreach EligibilitySpecialist for a program called Health Wave that has anoffice in the Health Center. The photograph of the buffalo inthe background was taken by Jim Wahwassuck.

Thanksgiving dinner at the Elder Center Nov. 16

(Left) is an imi-tation casinofamily that wason display forfun at the ElderCenter’sHoliday Craft &Bake Sale heldDec. 7. Vendorssold food andcrafts and otherworks of artthroughout theday.

(Right) The ElderCenter holidaycraft and bake saledrew a big crowdfor lunch. Theannual Christmasdinner also drewlots of diners onDec. 14.

Sandra Bodah (Desert Storm)

was also recognized as anhonored veteran

at the 2011 Veterans Pow-wow

Fire Keepers Elder Center continues to rock

Greg Brown, an EMT from the Potawatomi FireDepartment, does a medical check on KittyShopteese at the Elder Center. The FireDepartment’s EMT’s administer the check ups atthe meal site regularly on the reservation.

An arts and crafts/bake sale was heldOctober 5 and above is LindaTecumseh who sold decorated cup-cakes that were a hit.

Waiting in line for the meal site to open for lunch onOctober 5. Meals are served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Monday through Friday.

Halloween fun!The top three win-ners in the cos-tume contest at theHalloween partyheld at the ElderCenter Oct. 26were (left to right)the Mad Hatter,mystery man andthe mummy.Around 50 peopleattended the party.

Elder News Page 21Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

For monthly Fire Keepers Elder Center luncheon and activities calendars

go to www.pbpindiantribe.com/community-

services.aspxand

look under Elder Center

Congratulations and Happy 30th Wedding Anniversaryto

Floyd (Chagabe) and Sara Ann Slocum LaClairwho were

married Sept. 12, 1981 at Meade Park Gardens in Topeka, Kan.

A celebration of the

Albin Family Reunion and Floyd and Sara Ann’s anniversary was held Sept. 11, 2011

atThe Lodge in Circleville, Kan.

A very special Migwetchto

Ralph and Linda Tecumseh &

Nina HindsMayetta, Kan.

(Ralph was Chagabee’s best man at the wedding)

KKaanniibbwwââççââkk((tthhee oonnee’’ss tthhaatt ssttoooodd uupp ttooggeetthheerr))

Troy and JoAnne (Kitchkommie) LittleAxe of Bartlesville,Okla. celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary onDecember 2, 2011. They met as teenagers at HaskellInstitute in Lawrence, Kansas in the late 1950s and marriedin JoAnne’s hometown of Topeka, Kansas in 1961. Theybegan their family in Kansas City, Kan. and then moved toBartlesville in 1973 to start the family business. They areboth retired and nowadays enjoy spending their time withtheir grandchildren and attending Native American activitiesand events.

LittleAxe 50th Wedding Anniversary

Share your birthdays, weddings and anniversaries with the Potawatomi News

Merry Christmas &

Happy New Year

From the Fire Keepers Elder Center

Welcome to this world!

Sylas Ancel Mitchell

Born: September 10, 2011

I love you my favorite grandson!From:

Grandma Whitepigeon Ingersoll

GGaanniiççââkk((tthhoossee wwhhoo aarree bboorrnn))

Community Page 22Potawatomi Newswinter 2011

Love,Mommy & Daddy

Trulee

Tres

sa

Happy 5thBirthdayJan. 28

Happy 7thBirthdayJan. 13

Happy BirthdayJaiden Albert-Cooper

Wamego10 years old

onJanuary 24

You are my reason forexisting!

You are such an angel.

Love,Mom

TTttiiwweennmmoo eeggiinniiggyyáánn((hhaappppyy ddaayy yyoouu wweerree bboorrnn))

Happy 16th Birthday to Taylor Potts on Dec. 20

To one of my beautiful granddaughters. Let’s hope theholidays are good for all and remember, Meh Meh.

We all love you.This is from Gramma Lou’s outfit

Happy Birthdayto

Taylor Potts-Dec. 20Kay-Kay Rupnicki-Jan. 3Doran Rupnicki-Dec. 20

From your family!

Happy BirthdayLeigh Ann

Dec. 21

Love,Your Mom & Brothers

Happy BirthdayTosha Wilson

Dec. 27Love,

Dawn Masqua

Happy 4th BirthdayDec. 27Ki-Bo!

Love you lots,Mommy

&Family

Happy 6th BirthdayJan. 13

Angelina!Love,

your Mom, Dad,Sis, Brother &

Family

Happy Birthdayto

Alvina LaClairwho will be 89 years old

onDec. 21

Happy Birthdayto

Jacob Walter5 years old

onDec. 22

Love, Dad & Mom

(Dan & Mary Walter)and

Grandmother(Bernadette Lewis)

Community Page 223Potawatomi NNewswinter 22011

Kamboçâk ((those wwho ddied)

Norma Tolsma

Mrs. Norma J. Tolsma, aged 73, passedaway Tuesday, March 22, 2011. She waspreceded in death by her parents, Levi andEllen Whitepigeon; sister, VivianWhitepigeon; brothers, Levi Pigeon,James Pigeon. Surviving are her children,Kim (Doug) Whitepigeon-Ingersoll,Brian Tolsma, Kenneth Tolsma; grand-children, Tiffany Mitchell, David(Jessica) Mitchell, Joshua Tolsma, Aiyana

Tolsma; great granddaughter, Madyson Mitchell; sisters, LorraineBessemer, Jennie (Carl) Wicker, Marlene Wade, Ruth (Robert) Carlton,Yvonne Whitepigeon; sister-in-law, Laura Pigeon. Funeral Services willbe held 11:00 AM Saturday, March 26 at Life Center Church of theApostolic Faith, 4488 Breton Rd. SE with Elder Wiley Rigsby officiat-ing. The family will greet relatives and friends Friday 2 to 4 and 6 to 8PM at the Ronan-Vanderpool-Stegenga Funeral Chapel, 3131 S.Division Ave. Interment Burnips Cemetery. Memorial contributionsmay be made to Life Center Church. Memories and condolences toNorma's family may be shared at www.stegengafuneralchapel.com.

(Courtesy of Stegenga Funeral Chapel, Grand Rapids, Mich.)

Kenneth Tolsma

Mr. Kenneth Tolsma, aged 48, of Wyoming, passed awayThursday, June 16, 2011. He was preceded in death byhis mother, Norma J. Tolsma; father, James Tolsma;brother, Jim Tolsma; grandparents, Levi and EllenWhitepigeon; aunt, Vivian Whitepigeon; uncles, LeviPigeon, James Pigeon. Surviving are his sister, Kim(Doug) Whitepigeon-Ingersoll; brother, Brian Tolsma;;Nieces and nephews, Tiffany Mitchell, David (Jessica)Mitchell, Joshua Tolsma, Aiyana Tolsma; great niece,Madyson Mitchell; half brothers and sisters and theirfamilies, MaryJo (Tom) Tolsma-Gosselin, Pat Tolsma,Bill Tolsma, Jerry Tolsma, Michelle Cerajewski, Kate Tolsma; aunts, LorraineBessemer, Jennie (Carl) Wicker, Marlene Wade, Ruth (Robert) Carlton, YvonneWhitepigeon and Laura Pigeon. Ken worked at Hayworth for over 16 years. A time ofsharing will be held 12:00 Noon Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at the Ronan-Vanderpool-Stegenga Funeral Chapel, 3131 S. Division Ave. The family will greet relatives andfriends one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Interment Burnips Cemetery.Memories and condolences to Ken's family may be shared at www.stegengafuner-alchapel.co.

(Courtesy of Stegenga Funeral Chapel, Grand Rapids, Mich.)

The Burial Fund was established to help ease the finan-cial burden of funeral expenditures at a time of a family member's death.

The burial benefit will pay up to $ 6,000 in burial costs per eligi-ble individual. Tribal members with funeral expense for stillborn or pre-mature death of infant (who are less than 3 days old) can also be reim-bursed for up to $500 to be paid to a funeral home for burial. All burial

allowance applications and statements must be filed with the TribalCouncil within one year from a member's date of death. The Burial Planmay be amended or terminated only by a vote of the General Council,with a quorum present, and approval by the Secretary of the Interior.

For additional information call the Member Services Departmentat (785) 966-3910 or toll free 1-(866) 277-3722.

A note from Member Services about the burial fund

James “Jimmy” Nephew

James "Jimmy" Nephew, 44, ofTopeka, died Thursday, October 6, 2011 at hishome.

He was born May 4, 1967 at Gowanda,New York and lived most of his life in Topeka.

Jimmy was a member of the PrairieBand Potawatomi Nation and the CatholicFaith. He worked for Fisher Roofing in Topeka.

Survivors include his mother, BerdinaMarshno, of the home; a daughter, ShariAllison, Iola, KS; two sisters, Dawn Barnes andhusband Tim, and Sherie Bowers and husbandJimmy, all of Topeka; and several nieces and nephews whom he loved dear-ly.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Our Ladyof the Snows Catholic Church, just west of 166 & I Rds. on the PotawatomiReservation. Burial will follow in the Old Dance Ground Cemetery. Jimmywill lie in state from 2:00 p.m. Sunday until 3:00 p.m. Monday at the ChapelOaks Funeral Home in Hoyt, where family and friends will meet from 6:00to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a Rosary prayed at 7:00 p.m. onMonday at Our Lady of the Snows Hall, followed by visitation. The casketwill remain closed. On-line condolences may be made at chapeloaksfuner-alhome.com

(Courtesy of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hoyt, Kan.)

Norwood Frank “Woody” Nocktonick(M-zhnauck)

DELIA- Norwood Frank "Woody" Nocktonick (M-zhnauck), 72,of Delia, KS passed away Thursday, November 3, 2011 at HospiceHouse in Topeka. He was born December 16, 1938 in Mayetta, KSthe son of John and Louise (Masha) Nocktonick.

Woody graduated from Mayetta High School andHaskell Indian Nations University. He had lived in the Mayettacommunity for 20 years and had also lived in Topeka. He was aprofessional small engine mechanic for Price Equipment and forR&K Lawn & Garden.

Woody was a member of the Prairie Band PotawatomiNation and a long time member of Alcoholics Anonymous; whichincluded 31 years of sobriety.

He married Lucille Armell on December 22, 2006 in Mayetta. She survives.Other survivors include 3 daughters, Joelee Charles (David) of Topeka, KS, JanealLovejoy (Lawrence) of Topeka, KS and Marilyn Zavala of South Sioux City, NE; a son,Jeffrey Lenzini of Delia, KS; 2 sisters, Ramona Cole (Larry) of Plano, TX and Linda Yazzieof Mayetta, KS; a brother, Terry Cross Bear of Topeka, KS; a sister-in-law, Kay Nocktonickof Easton, KS; a niece, Tammy Martindale (Dean) of Mayetta, KS; 9 grandchildren; 3great-grandchildren; special friends, Fred Mahkuk, Gerald McKinney and Jodie McIntosh.

He was preceded in death by a son, Michael Nocktonick, sister, Verna MaeNocktonick and a brother, George Donald Nocktonick.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at the MercerFuneral Home in Holton. Interment will be in the O' Bennick Cemetery southwest ofMayetta. Family will greet friends at 6:00 p.m. with an AA Meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m.on Monday evening at the funeral home. To leave a special message for the family, visitwww.mercerfuneralhomes.com.

(Courtesy of Mercer Funeral Home, Holton, Kan.)

The Heart of Jackson Humane Society has grant money

available tofix your dogs.

Please call 785.364.5156 for details.

Community Notices Potawatomi NNewswinter 22011

Page 224

National Native American Church Conference“One Heart, One Mind, One Spirit”

will be heldon

Father’s Day weekend at

the Prairie Band Potawatomi reservation

For details call Gil Aitkens405.933.2888 405.247.8501

The PBPN Social Services Departmentwishes to thank the Shawnee County

Allied Tribes for helping to donate to itsvarious programs

Tiny-k program Tiny-k is a statewide system that provides

early intervention services to children ages birth tothree and their families. Services are provided at nocost to families.

Children with developmental delays or disabil-ities are eligible for tiny-k services.

Potawatomi Infant Toddler Services is a tiny-kprogram for families residing on the Prairie BandPotawatomi Reservation or for members of the PrairieBand Potawatomi Nation residing near the reservation.

If you have any questions about a child'sdevelopment, or early intervention services offered inyour area, please contact at:

Melinda KnowlesTiny-k Coordinator Ben-no-tteh Wigwam15380 K RoadMayetta, Kansas 66509PHONE: 785-966-2707FAX: 785-966-2514EMAIL: knowles_melinda@pbpnation.org January is National Stalking

Awareness Month.