Otoe-Missouria News Archive

After nearly a year without a Web presence, the Otoe-Missouria Tribe launched its new official Web site www.omtribe.org. The new site provides information about the tribe, its businesses, tribal departments and services offered to tribal citizens.

“With members living all over the world, the internet is a great tool to help keep everyone informed,” Tribal Chairman John R. Shotton says. “And it is important that the website be as comprehensive as possible so that tribal members have access to the information they need.” The new site is divided into four main areas: government, tribal enterprises, departments and culture. The tribe’s Public Information Officer Heather Sarles says that the site was designed this way for ease of navigation.

» Read the complete article on NativeTimes.com.

Although Indian country is divided along many lines – history, culture and language, among others – the collective energy of a number of tribes seems directed at a common target – the grandchildren.

The grandchildren seem, at least anecdotally, to be driving some current tribes to revisit their enrollment policies, as grandparents seek to ensure full tribal status for their youngest family members. There are plenty of high-profile, contentious, enrollment-related issues, including the role of government in disenrollment disputes, but in the ongoing evolution of Indian status and survival, possible shortcomings in the regular enrollment process itself seem to be preoccupying a number of tribal nations…

When the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota voted in 2008 to change from a one-fourth quantum to lineal descent, it meant a possibility that otherwise-disqualified grandchildren could be considered for enrollment. A number of Oklahoma tribes, including the Otoe-Missouria and Pawnee, have recently reduced blood quantum requirements from one-fourth to one-eighth, as have other tribes across the U.S., including the Hoopa Valley Indian Tribe in California.

» Read the complete article on Indian Country Today.

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.

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.

In a historic vote tallied Friday evening, Otoe-Missouria tribal voters overwhelming passed a constitutional amendment changing tribal membership requirements by a margin of 358 for the amendment to only 71 against.

The first ever amendment to the tribal constitution lowers the minimum blood quantum requirement to one-eighth degree of Otoe-Missouria descent.

“It’s real exciting and I’m gratified that it was a landslide decision,” stated Tribal Chairman John R. Shotton on Saturday. Ballots were counted by an election board, composed of Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal officials, in the historic Agency Building which has recently been renovated and is once again used as the seat of tribal government. The vote was seen as a matter of survival, according to Shotton. The approximately 1,400 member tribe had only 141 members under the age of 18 before the vote.

Shotton stated the vote becomes official after a three-day protest period and new enrollments will thereafter be accepted.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

“Power and speed for the Otoe-Missouria Tribe’s telecommunications system is on the way,” said Tribal Councilmember Wendell Bollinger. Wendell is spearheading a drive to replace the tribe’s present copper wire system with up-to-date fiber-optics.

Fiber-optic lines are strands of very pure glass as thin as a human hair that, arranged in bundles called optical cables, carry digital information over long distances. Fiber optic cables have several advantages over traditional metal lines, like copper. They have a much greater bandwidth, which means they can carry more data; they are less susceptible to interference; and are much thinner and lighter.

The greater bandwidth means the tribe’s present computers will be faster once the fiber- optic system is installed, Wendell said, and will allow the computers’ processors to work faster and more efficiently. In addition, the tribe’s telephones and computers can be on the same line, which will save money for the tribe.

Last year AT&T laid a fiber-optic line all the way from Stillwater to Ponca City along Highway 177, which fronts the tribal offices. The tribe plans to run a cable off the AT&T box that comes into the tribal campus and cover all of the tribal buildings. Two buildings are already equipped with fiber-optics lines, the Title VI and the Headstart buildings, but for some reason the project wasn’t completed at that time.

The power and speed of the new fiber-optics system will also provide the tribe more ability for expansion, Wendell said. Right now several new buildings for the tribal campus are in the planning stages – a water treatment center, maintenance building, transportation building and a community building.

He also envisions the tribe being able to provide this same high-speed internet service to the families in tribal housing, which could help open opportunities to those of any age living there with their studies, including long distance learning. In addition, the Pawnee Tribal College has already shown interest in working with the Otoe-Missourias in providing long distance learning opportunities to the surrounding communities. Providing computers in the tribal library, along with the high-speed internet access, could also assist those without home computers to further their education.

Wendell has been working with computers since the 1960s. While in the U.S. Army, he took advantage of the opportunity to attend classes at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) where he studied programming languages.

Coming from the military – where everything is organized and in order – he was dismayed to find the tribe had a computer system that would go down sometimes two to three times a week. While the system has been improved considerably, the new fiber-optics cables will modernize it into the 21st century.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

The Otoe-Missouria Tribe will be dedicating the War Mothers Memorial on Monday and encourages the public to attend the ceremony and a meal afterward. Special guests will be Otoe-Missouria veterans and veterans of other tribes. The Memorial honors those tribal veterans who have fought in every American war, including the Civil War.

Funds for the memorial were raised over several years by the Otoe-Missouria War Mothers, a chartered chapter of the National Organization of War Mothers. The tribal chapter was chartered on Sept. 13, 1943, and was the first Native American War Mothers chapter in the United States.

Chapter member Lorena DeRoin, now in her 90s, was one of first Otoe-Missouria War Mothers and in 1999 was the first Native American to be elected president of the national organization. Greta Adams, who is now the chapter president, was at one time the president of the American War Mothers State of Oklahoma Chapter.

Monday’s program will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the memorial, located immediately south of the tribal cemetery. Immediately following the War Mothers program, tribal council members — representing the tribe — will dedicate the memorial.

Afterward, a meal will be served in the tribe’s Cultural Building. Everyone is welcome. Those attending are requested to bring your own chairs and dishes.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

In a historical first for both the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and the City of Perry, the two governments plan to enter into a formal agreement that both entities believe will lead to greater safety for their citizens.

City and tribal officials agreed on three issues to improve the well-being of both tribal and area citizens at a recent meeting in Perry which included representatives of Noble County.

A critical first part of the agreement will provide 911 dispatch services to the tribe and the Red Rock area, with all calls for assistance going to Perry. Dispatchers there will be trained to contact the appropriate agency to help in the situation.

Second, the tribal police will be able to utilize the new Noble County Jail in Perry when needed for detention of persons in custody, with the tribe partially subsidizing the costs of these services.

The third part of the agreement will provide for limited cross-deputization between the tribal police and the city’s police department.

“It is a historical and exciting time for both the tribe and the city,” Tribal Chairman John R. Shotton stated. “The possible implementation of 911 services for our tribal citizens and police department means quicker response times and increased safety in our community. I feel a well-planned cross-deputization agreement will be beneficial to both the City of Perry and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe.”

Shotton added, “Dialogue will continue with representatives from Noble County and the City of Perry about how we can cooperate to improve public safety in Noble County.”

Tribal Police Chief Eric Payne, who has been a driving force behind the planned agreement, said other issues also made such an agreement necessary.

“We have held concert events and have had to ask Perry and Kay County law officers to assist at these events, which they have done with the utmost professionalism,” he said. “There are countless issues that Noble County has helped us with, and numerous major crimes that Perry has helped with.”

The agreement will also solve a big liability issue, he said. With an official agreement in place, the officer involved in a case can easily prove in court that he did indeed have authority in that particular jurisdiction.

Although tribal officials met with representatives of both Perry and Noble County, the planned agreement is exclusively with the city, P Payne said. The tribe and the city had already been discussing such an agreement prior to the meeting, and the city and the county already have an agreement in place between the two of them. Having county officials at the meeting opens the door for a similar agreement between the tribe and the county, he said.

“I’m elated! I’m excited about it,” said Charles J. Moncooyea, the tribe’s vice-chairman. “This is the first historical thing that has happened with the tribe and the city since the land run, and the first time the tribal council has agreed with another government organization within tribal jurisdiction. Considering over the years we’ve had some difficult situations, this shows we’re putting those behind us to move forward together.”

“This also opens up a tremendous dialogue between the tribe and the city and the county,” he added. “We already had a good dialogue, this just makes it official.”

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

by Rolf Clements

In a historic move, eligible Otoe-Missouria tribal members will soon vote whether to make the first ever change to the tribal Constitution.

After being elected in November 2007, Tribal Chairman John R. Shotton had suggested to his fellow council members that a change to tribal enrollment requirements was needed to maintain a vibrant tribal community.

“It’s a matter of survival,” said Shotton, who at age 32 is the youngest tribal council member by at least two decades. Shotton, who holds two degrees from the University of Oklahoma, a Bachelors in Business Administration and a Masters in Public Administration, knows what the numbers show and that the very future of his tribe is at stake.

Tribal enrollment has stayed at about 1,400 members for many years according to council members. However, due to inter-marriage of tribal members to spouses of neighboring and other tribes as well as to non-Indians, fewer and fewer children of tribal members meet the existing one-fourth degree blood quantum requirement.

Barbara Childs Walton, a council member and tribal secretary, said that many member’s children are descended from multiple tribes, but not enough of any one tribe to qualify for tribal membership. The age demographics of the tribe have skewed so much, that of 1,395 enrolled tribal members, only 141 are under the age of 18, according to Ann Hopper, the director of Enrollment Services. She added that perhaps 300 or so members are over the age of 50.

Lowering Blood Quantum

Shotton delegated the responsibility for considering a change to tribal enrollment requirements to Walton. Walton gathered a team of tribal members to consider possible alternatives, obtain the opinion of a wide section of the membership and to take the necessary legal steps to make a possible change. The consensus opinion was that a change from one-fourth to one-eighth was the minimum change needed to revitalize the tribe and to allow it to maintain and possibly grow membership at a reasonable rate.

The 1983 tribal constitution requires 300 signatures on a petition to amend. About 362 signatures were obtained on a petition to change the blood quantum requirement from one-fourth to one-eighth. The petition was submitted to the Pawnee Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs office on Dec. 15 2008 and over 350 signatures were certified as valid.

Voter Registration Required

The office of the Secretary of the Interior, which oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs, will conduct an absentee ballot only election with ballots accepted until noon on June 12, 2009.

Unlike regular tribal elections, this special Secretarial Election for a Constitutional Amendment requires tribal voters to register with the Anadarko office of the BIA by no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, May 15 in order to be eligible to vote. Tribal members who have not yet registered may obtain a “Voter Registration Form” from: The office of Barbara Childs Walton at the Otoe-Missouria Tribe, Old Agency Building at tribal headquarters; the Southern Plains Regional Office, Anadarko, Okla.; or by calling 405-247-1534 or 580-723-4466 ext. 139.

The forms may be mailed to Election Board, P.O. Box 970, Anadarko, OK 73005 or may be faxed to 405-247-9240 by 4 p.m. CST on May 15.

Financial Effects

While some members have expressed concern that increased membership might dilute tribal financial resources, council members believe the opposite will result. “The Otoe-Missouria operate two gasoline service stations, yet we receive less gasoline tax revenues from the state than a neighboring tribe [Ponca] with no gas stations because we have fewer members,” stated Vice-Chairman Charles J. Moncooyea in describing how tax distribution compacts with the State of Oklahoma worked.

A membership increase would entitle the tribe to a greater percentage of gasoline tax revenues earned by tribes. “Many federal programs for tribes are based upon tribal membership,” explained Baptiste Shunatona, tribal treasurer.

Vote Encouraged

“I encourage all tribal members to vote in this election and to become a part of history,” said Shotton. “I strongly support this amendment, but whether you agree or not, your vote is important,” Shotton added.

Election rules require a majority vote, plus at least 30 percent of eligible registered voters must cast ballots in order for the amendment to pass.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.