Otoe-Missouria News Archive

The Otoe-Missouria Tribe has announced it will host the inaugural Kathage Akiwena Jiwere 5K Run on Saturday, July 17 on the traditional tribal encampment grounds. The 5,000 meter (3.1 mile) event is the brainchild of the tribe’s fitness coordinator, Donnie Childs, who created the run to tie in with both the annual encampment and the tribe’s push toward improving the health of its members.

“Many of our tribal members are obese and struggling with diabetes,” Childs says. “The encampment is the biggest gathering that the tribe hosts. There will be more Otoe people together than at any other time of the year. This run is a great way to get some of those people motivated to start moving.” Childs says that the while the event is a run, participants do not need to run the entire course. “There are people who plan to walk the entire race,” Childs says. “That’s fine with me, as long as they are moving. Getting people up off of the couch is the main goal of this race and the biggest focus for me. I want to see as many people out there as possible.”

The race begins at 8 a.m. at the 7 Clans Paradise Casino located east off of Highway 177 north of Red Rock. The race route leads through the traditional campgrounds of the Otoe-Missouria people. First place winners in the men’s and women’s category will receive a handmade hand drum. The top finishers in each category will receive awards and all participants will receive a T-shirt.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

» UPDATE: RESULTS posted July 17, 2010

©Associated Press
People enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program in Oklahoma are now able to obtain healthier foods. Federal, state and tribal officials-including Kevin Concannon, the undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food, nutrition and consumer services-visited a local grocery store Wednesday to tout the changes to the program, which has about 102,000 people enrolled in Oklahoma…

The tribal organizations involved include the Cherokee Nation, the Chickasaw Nation, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, the Intertribal Council of Oklahoma, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Osage Nation, the Otoe Missouria Tribe and WC Enterprises Inc.

Read the complete article on Michigan Live.

The Otoe-Missouria Tribe will have improved access to vital water services through funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Indian Health Service (IHS) today announced $90 million nationwide in ‘shovel ready’ infrastructure projects designed to better protect human and environmental health in Indian Country.

“EPA and Oklahoma tribes share a common interest when it comes to caring for people and the environment,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield. “The Recovery Act is helping us fund more projects by the Otoe-Missouria and other tribes that will deliver long-term benefits for their communities and respective lands.”

» Read the full news release on the EPA website.

An Oklahoma church outreach ministry to Native Americans visited the Otoe-Missouria tribal complex Thursday and distributed a semi-trailer load of food, clothing, household items and other goods to elders, the handicapped and others in the tribal community. The Edmond-based Mission Native America is a non-denominational organization which gathers charitable contributions from a variety of congregations and other charitable programs and directs where services are needed. For information visit www.missionnativeamerica.com.

Originally published in Ponca City News.

Addie Jo Tohee is going to participate in the “Walk With Me” independent walk for the awareness on diabetes and motivation on good health and the advantages of wellness centers. Tohee is going to walk 21 miles from Boomer Lake in Stillwater to the Otoe-Missouria Browning Pipestem Wellness Center in Red Rock.

On June 8-9 Tohee and supportive walkers will walk in the morning and evening. On June 10, she will begin walking at 6:30 a.m., from OG&E and anyone is welcome to join. She will walk from the Otoe-Missouria Cemetery road to the wellness center around 7:30 a.m. and will be walking with her five grandchildren, Bethany, Braden, Kyla, Jana and Kirklyn.

Addie says she would love for all the grandparents and their grandchildren to join her on that morning. T-shirts will be given to the grandparents who walk with their grandchildren. The T-shirts have been donated by Wellness centers around Indian Country.

Update

Addie Jo Tohee, member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe, will complete the last leg of a walk that was cut short due to a death in the tribe. She will finish the last four miles of the walk, ending at Otoe-Missouria Browning Pipestem Wellness Center in Red Rock, on Thursday. She previously walked 20 miles June 8 and 9, beginning at Boomer Lake in Stillwater.

Tohee has invited elders, children and supportive walkers to join her for the last mile. She will give T-shirts to the elders who walk with their grandchildren. The purpose of the walk is to raise awareness on diabetes and motivation on good health and the advantages of wellness centers.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

The Otoe-Missouria Tribe Health Services Program will host its annual health fair Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Otoe-Missouria Tribal Complex Cultural Building, 8151 Highway 171 in Red Rock. The festivities will start off wit a one mile walk/run at 9 a.m. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. There is no cost for registration and each participant will receive a T-shirt.

The Health Services Program estimates over twenty-five health service related vendors on health promotion and disease prevention programs. The Oklahoma Blood Institute of Ponca City will sponsor a bedlam blood drive. Each donor will receive a choice of OU or OSU T-shirt. In conduction with Halloween, prizes for best decorated booth and best costume will be given, as well as door prizes and health related gifts.

The Health Services Department will be asking each tribal member to complete a community health needs assessment and those participating will have a chance to win a Pendleton blanket. A catered luncheon will be provided for those in attendance.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

Charles W. Grim, D.D.S., M.H.S.A.
Assistant Surgeon General
Director, Indian Health Service

“It is an honor to be here today to join Chairman Grant in dedicating this new Wellness Center to the memory of Francis Browning Pipestem, whose untimely passing was the result of diabetes related complications. This dedication is the result of his vision for the return of good health to the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and the surrounding community members, as well as the committed efforts of the many people who have served to make the dream of this facility a reality.”

Read the full text on the Indian Health Service website.

The Otoe-Missouria Health Department will be hosting a multidisciplinary health fair on Wednesday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Health Fair will be located at the Otoe-Missouria Cultural Building, 8151 Highway 177, Red Rock.

Many different tribes and organizations will be on hand, including Tonkawa Tribal Diabetes program, Pawnee Nation Substance Abuse Prevention, Red Cross, Hospice of North Central Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Flu vaccinations will be administered by the Noble County Health Department, and health screening and self-defense techniques, taught by Russell Cannon, will also be available. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day and lunch is going to be catered by Dougan’s Bar-B-Q and the Otoe-Missouria Tribal employees.

In conjunction with the health fair, Leroy Enloe, Otoe-Missouria chief of police, will lead a one mile fun run/walk at 9 a.m. Prizes will be given to the best Halloween costume and best booth. All ages are welcome to participate, and for more information, contact the Otoe-Missouria Health Department at (877) 692-6863, ext. 252.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

The Otoe-Missouria people celebrated a day of new beginning, renewal and continuation Thursday with the ground breaking of a wellness center, and the opening of a nutrition center for women, infants and children.

The Otoe-Missouria Tribe was relocated to the site near Red Rock in 1881. The only structure that remained from the late 19th Century was the old red brick building that served as a school and the agency for the Bureau of Indian Affairs before it was relocated to Pawnee.

Master of ceremonies Don Patterson said the building was once three-stories before it was heavily damaged by fire. The building stood dormant, in ashes, for decades. He compared the building to the phoenix of Egyptian mythology that rose from the ashes to become a universal symbol of rebirth and renewal. “The phoenix rose from the ashes and became a powerful force,” Patterson said. “This building will become a powerful force, not only for our people, but also for our neighbors.”

Otoe-Missouria Chairman James Grant Sr. said the old agency building is the only structure remaining of three constructed during the same period. A laundry house and water were condemned and demolished by the Indian Health Service. “In the 60s, a lot of social events were held in the basement when I was growing up. We played a lot of hand games and had round dances,” Grant said. “I was fortunate to be able to sit around the drum with old men who have since passed on. I will never forget those memories. Maybe there will be someone who will make new memories they will never forget.” He said the council began working on the exterior and roof of the building in 2000 with funds from road profits.

Leslie Rime, executive director, Otoe-Missouria WIC program went inside the building and saw its potential right away. The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a $100,000 grant in 2001 to preserve the interior of the building. “One of the greatest benefits to me is the building had so much history. I hope we can create many more memories,” she said.

The ceremony was moved to the future site of the F. Browning Pipestem Wellness Center after everyone had the opportunity to take a short tour of the WIC Center. “Everything has a beginning,” Patterson said. “Today is the beginning of F. Browning Pipestem Wellness Center.”

F. Browning Pipestem was a respected Indian civil rights attorney. While serving at the headquarters of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, he authored the legal rationale for the Indian Preference in Federal Employment, which overhauled the employment practices of the bureau. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the National Center for State Courts in 1995 and received the Spirit of Excellence Award from the American Bar Association in 1998. In 1996, he was inducted into the Newkirk High School Hall of Fame. He received the Bison Award for outstanding contributions to Native American people by the Native American Heritage Association, Oklahoma Baptist University and an Award of Merit from the secretary of Labor. Pipestem died in August 1999.

Dr. Bernadine Tolbert, diabetes consultant and chief medical officer of the Oklahoma Area Indian Health Service said too much time is spent trying to cure people. “We never have enough time or resources to deal with sickness,” Tolbert said. “But, we wouldn’t need those resources if we emphasized wellness.” She said the Native American population suffers from a myriad of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Diabetes was not always a problem. “Fifty or 60 years ago, you probably didn’t know anyone with diabetes,” Tolbert said. “It took hold too fast for genes to change.”

According to the doctor, the epidemic of diabetes is a result of lifestyle. In 20 years, she hopes to talk about the disappearance of the disease. “There are many factors, many you had nothing to do with. You were not necessarily participants because many of the factors were external,” she said. “However, you have a choice to turn it around with exercise and physical activities and nutrition.” She said Indian tribes are taking the lead in the fight against the disease with wellness centers. “You will be an example to the rest of the world. You got hit first and you are the first to respond. It is my hope that on the day the doors open, that it is already too small,” she said.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.