Otoe-Missouria News Archive

by Leeann Root

The Central New York offices of Indian Country Today are typically rather quiet. But the sound of drums April 8 sparked the worker’s attention. A multicultural group of about 20 began a 700-mile “Walk for a Nuclear Free Future” March 7 in Salamanca, New York, to call attention to the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, which is scheduled for May 3, 2010.

According to an event announcement the treaty’s objective is “to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament.”

Larry Bringing Good, a Cheyenne Arapahoe and Otoe-Missouria from Troy, New York, said the walk began at the West Valley Nuclear Waste Site in Salamanca, “where erosion is going to cause nuclear waste to leak into the Great Lakes and contaminate the water.” He said waste “they say is lower hazard” has been stored there for years.

» Read the complete article on Indian Country Today.

by David Allen Seaton, Scott Cloud, Foss Farrar

The number of accidents along U.S. 77 in the Chilocco area tripled in the last four years. Two large Indian casinos and a travel plaza now draw hundreds of cars a day to an otherwise barren stretch of highway. Vehicles turn in and out of the casinos from a rural highway on which motorists can go 65 mph. There are no turn lanes, no acceleration lanes and no stoplights or access roads to help motorists navigate the intersections… In a November 6 phone interview, ODOT traffic engineer Bill Walton said the state is discussing possible turn lanes into the First Council Casino with Otoe-Missouria tribal leaders. The Otoe-Missouria tribe owns First Council Casino and the Seven Clans Travel Mart just north of it.

» Read the complete article in the Winfield Daily Courier.

Otoe-Missouria tribal members and staff gathered in the historic Council Building on November 13 to witness the declared winners of the recent tribal elections take the oath of office.

Incumbents Charles Moncooyea and Baptiste Shunatona were re-elected to the offices of Vice Chairman and Treasurer respectively. New to the council is Alvin L. Moore who was elected to the long vacant Third Member seat.

In the November 7 election for Vice Chairman, Moncooyea received a plurality of 34.47 percent of the votes cast in the six-person contest. In the five candidate field for the vacant Third Member position, Moore garnered 39.52 percent of the tally. Treasurer incumbent Baptiste Shunatona easily won re-election against three opponents by receiving a clear majority of 52.77 percent of the ballots cast.

Also taking the oath of office were new tribal election board members Ranae Kihega, Linda Francis, Tina Youker and Jodi McGlasin. The election board members were elected at the General Council meeting also held on November 7 at tribal headquarters in Red Rock. [photo]

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

by Rolf Clements

Voting members of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma went to the polls Saturday, returning two incumbents and filling a long vacant Third Member seat on the tribe’s governing Tribal Council. The Otoe-Missouria Election Board reports that 471 of the 1,561 registered voters cast ballots for a turnout of 30.17 percent during the 12-hour election.

In the contest for Vice-Chairman, incumbent Charles J. Moncooyea outdistanced a field of six candidates, garnering 162 votes for 34.47 percent to win by plurality. Votes for the other five candidates were: Arlen W. Lightfoot, 92 votes for 19.57 percent; Charles “Chap” Tillman, 84 votes for 17.87 percent; Truman Black, 63 votes for 13.40 percent; Claude Dailey, 42 votes for 8.84 percent; and James Black, 27 votes for 5.74 percent.

Treasurer incumbent Baptiste Shunatona easily won re-election against three opponents by receiving a clear majority of ballots cast, 248 votes for 52.77 percent. Others receiving votes for Treasurer were: Rosetta “Midge” Blueback, 118 votes for 25.11 percent; James W. Overby III, 67 votes for 14.26 percent; and Joseph L. Black, 37 votes for 7.87 percent.

In a tight race for Third Member, Alvin L. Moore edged Marcella E. Harper by 30 votes out of 463 votes cast in the five candidate field. Moore received 183 votes for 39.52 percent with Harper right behind at 153 votes for 33.05 percent. Others receiving votes for Third Member were: Rosella R. DeRoin, 61 votes for 13.17 percent; Earlene Miller, 42 votes for 9.07 percent; and Vernice K. Willis, 24 votes for 5.18 percent.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

by Jami Custer

To honor the 30 year anniversary of the first “Longest Walk,” a new group of walkers is traversing the continent. Along the way they will assist communities by doing community service and listening to Indian people’s needs and concerns. The walkers began on February 11 in San Francisco, California, on Alcatraz Island and they will finish in Washington, D.C. The first walk began in 1978 when bill HR 9054 was going to be brought to Congress.

“They were going to abolish some Native American rights like mineral and fishing rights and abolish all treaties that existed at that time. A group of Natives got together with some elders and they wanted to find a peaceful solution to this,” said Southern Route Coordinator Larry BringingGood, who is Cheyenne, Arapaho and Otoe-Missouria. “They made the suggestion that they walk across America and let them know what is going to happen and how this is going to affect us in all people and all nations across this nation.”

» Read the complete article on the CherokeePhoenix.org website.