Otoe-Missouria News Archive

Michael Eric Brown passed away Friday, March 20, 2010, in Del City. He was 49. Michael was born January 16, 1961, in Oklahoma City, the son of Alford Brown and Lawana Fern Kent Brown.

Michael loved music and his music took him all over the United States. He loved traveling with his family and friends to go to concerts or perform in them. He enjoyed entertaining and was a founder of the Oklahoma punk scene. He liked singing, drumming and living life to the fullest. Michael was currently enrolled at Rose State College where he was working toward an associate degree in communications. While at Rose State College he was listed on the Vice President’s Honor Roll. Michael was known as Little Bah-Kho-Je by his grandpa. Michael was a colorful representation of the creator’s blessing and he will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his sisters, Lou Brown, Suzette Ayala, Velvet Brown, Beverly Manley, Jami Warledo and Denise Bible; many cousins, nephews, and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alford and Lawana; grandparents, Gail Collier and Nina Lavers Kent; brother, Aaron Alford Brown; sisters, Karon Lowe and Mignon Warledo; and nephew, Mario Brown.

The graveside service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 22, at Otoe-Missouria Cemetery in Red Rock with Gary Whitecloud Sr. presiding. Interment is under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Casket bearers for the service will be Terrence Manley, Vernon Manley, Chebon Henderson, Collier Henderson, Robert Harris Jr. and Joseph Loving. Honorary casket bearers are Philip Sanchez, Robert Harris Sr., Elliott Snyder, Jonas Jay Manley, Chris Harris and Teddy Jack Tyner.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

Michael Dickey will speak on “The Missouria Indian Nation: A History of the Nyut^achi People” at the Arrow Rock [Missouri] State Historic Site Visitor Center Saturday, March 6, at 10 a.m., according to a news release from the Friends of Arrow Rock and the Arrow Rock Historic Site.

Dickey has been the site administrator at the Arrow Rock State Historic Site since 1995 and is the author of “Arrow Rock, Crossroads of the Missouri Frontier.” Dickey’s presentation is based on research completed for a new book on the Missouria Indian Nation. The lecture is free and open to the public.

The world “Missouri” evokes one of two images: The great Western river followed by Lewis and Clark or the state known for its rolling farmland, forested Ozark hills and symbolic Gateway arch in St. Louis. Even residents of the state seldom associate “Missouri” with the once powerful Missouria native nation that gave name to the river, then to the state. Their villages on the Missouri River in present-day Saline County, made them the first American Indian tribe encountered by European explorers venturing upriver.

For more than a century, the Missouria played a key role in the commercial and military activities of the Louisiana Territory and Illinois Country. They had numbered in the thousands, and William Clark described them as “once the most powerful nation on the Missouri River.” When he wrote this in 1804, fewer than 400 Missouria remained, living with the Otoe tribe in Nebraska or the Little Osage tribe in southwest Missouri.

» Read the complete article in the Marshall Democrat-News.

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.

Dolphus Roubideaux was born August 4, 1970, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Murray “Red ” Roubideaux and June Begay Roubideaux. He passed from this life Tuesday, February 2, 2010, in Oklahoma City, having reached the age of 39 years, 5 months, and 28 days.

He moved to Oklahoma City from Hanau, Germany, in November of 2007. He was affiliated with the Native American Church, the Otoe Chapter. He enjoyed researching tribal traditions, enjoyed books, and spoke fluent French, German, Spanish, and was learning Hungarian. He retired from the United States Army after 18 years of service, and received the Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and two Overseas Service Ribbons. He served in Bosnia along with Iraq.

Dolphus is survived by his mother: June Roubideaux of Oklahoma City; brother and sister, Ivan Buffalohead of Perkins, Murray Roubideaux Jr. of Oklahoma City, Sonya Roubideaux and Sean Roubideaux of Wichita, Kansas; and other brothers and sisters; an aunt, Gladys Brown of Missoula, Montana; an uncle, Andy Begay of Farmington, New Mexico; Leita Yazzie of Albuquerque, New Mexico; the Bassett family; plus a number of other relatives, and many friends. Dolphus was preceded in death by his father, Red Roubideaux; uncle Loren Littlecrow; and several other family members.

The funeral will be held at noon Friday, February 5, at the Otoe-Missouria Cultural Center in Red Rock. Interment will be at Otoe-Missouria Tribal Cemetery under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home in Pawnee.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

Deland “Yancy” Ward Denny was born on January 12, 1959, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Harvey Hansen Denny and Constance D. Harper. He passed from this life on Friday, January 29, 2010, in Perry, Oklahoma, having reached the age of 51 years and 17 days.

He was given the name of Ski-Chne Lugela meaning Little Plays Lightning. He graduated from Tonkawa High School in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and also attended Northern Oklahoma College of Tonkawa. He attended Haskell Indian College in Lawrence, Kansas, and North Eastern College in Tahlequah. He has worked for Conners State Correctional Facility in Hominy; Mertz in Ponca City, Iowa Casino in Perkins, Otoe Tribal Police Department and Dish Network. He worked on computers in his spare time.

Yancy is survived by son Joseph Denny, Red Rock, Oklahoma; daughter Goya C. Denny, Tulsa; grandson Bishop Denny; mother Constance D. Harper, Red Rock; brothers Darvin W. Denny, Red Rock, Dwight W. Denny, Red Rock, Dennis W. Denny, Nevada; sisters Debra D. Denny, Nevada, Delima D. Berman, Ponca City; nephews Shane Berman, Ponca City; Daniel W. Denny, California, Sanoe Denny, Nevada; nieces Cassandra Berman, Ponca City, Divina Denny, Fairbanks, Alaska; great grand nieces Breann Warrior, Ponca City, Alisa Warrior, Ponca City, Mai Lee Warrior, Ponca City; plus a number of other relatives and many friends. Yancy was preceded in death by his father, Harvey Hansen Denny.

Services will be held at noon Monday, February 1, 2010, at the Otoe-Missouria Tribal Complex, Red Rock. Interment will be at Otoe-Missouria Tribal Cemetery under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home, Pawnee, Oklahoma.

» Originally published in the Stillwater NewsPress.

Sarah Skye Kihega, a 23 year old Otoe-Missouria tribal member, passed this life to be with her beloved relatives on Thursday, January 21, 2010, in Mescalero, New Mexico. Greeting her in glory are grandfather, Alfred Skye; brother, Richard White; and grandparents, Richard and Bernice Saunders Kihega. She is from the following families: White Cloud, Arkeketa, Wild Bird, Diamond and DeRoin.

She is survived by her loving parents, Charles and Mary Skye Kihega of Camp Verde, Arizona; companion, Nick Garcia; sisters, Rowena Kihega, Lena and Isaiah Klinekole of Mescalero, New Mexico, Andrea Kihega, Norman; brothers, Kyle Wilkerson, Harry Kihega, Eddie Gilbert Kihega, DeJohn Kihega, Anthony Kihega, George Kihega, Roman Kihega, Bryan Kihega, Brent Kihega, Michael Kihega, and Rock Kihega; grandmother, Florence Skye of Quapaw; uncles, Lenny Skye, Harold “Red” and Elaine Kihega, Carroll Kihega, Richard Jr. and Angela Kihega, Ronald Dean Kihega and Robert “Bobby” Kihega; niece and nephew, Mary and A.C. Kihega; and a great aunt, Lorena Kihega. She also leaves a host of other cousins, relatives and friends.

She enjoyed life and liked things simple. She loved participating in cultural activities and attending Native American Church. She was an avid basketball player and enjoyed the outdoors. She enjoyed her time as a firefighter with the Mescalero Apache Tribe. She loved all her brothers and sisters and their children. She had a good part in helping to raise her nephew and niece, A.C. and Mary. She also enjoyed her gift to make people laugh. She was a sweet and loving daughter, sister, and auntie and will be missed by all who knew her.

Wake services will be held both Monday and Tuesday night; a Native American Church Service will be held on Tuesday night, and traditional feast and services on Wednesday, January 27. All services will be held at the Otoe-Missouria Cultural Center near Red Rock. Burial will follow in the Otoe-Missouria Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

Harrison Emery Roy, longtime resident of Ponca City, passed Friday evening, January 22, 2010 in Wichita, Kansas. He was 61. Harrison was born January 3, 1949, in Pawnee, the son of Emery Roy and Georgia Winifred Cries for Ribs Roy. He attended Ponca City schools. He was married to Molly Tannehill in 1982. Roy was a member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and his enjoyments were bead working, drawing, watching old movies and being with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his mother, Georgia Roy of Ponca City; two children, Jamison “Jammer” Roy and Heather Eraina Roy, both of Ponca City; two sisters, Eraina Pappan of Ponca City and Florence “Kitty” Clark of Kaw City; one brother, Wesley Roy of Ponca City; four grandchildren, Hannah Roy, Emery Jamison Roy, Mark Clark and Dana Clark. He was preceded in death by his father; his wife, Molly, on March 3, 2008; and one son, Emery Jess Roy.

A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, January 24, at Ponca Tribal Cultural Center at White Eagle. A noon meal will be served Monday, January 25, at Ponca Tribal Cultural Center with the traditional funeral service to follow at 2 p.m. The Rev. Louis Headman and Doug Eagle will preside over the services. Burial will be in Ponca Tribal Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Casket bearers will be Jammer Roy, Mark Clark, Amos Simpson, Garland Pappan, Brenton Carney and Curtis Primeaux. Honorary casket bearers will be Dakota Kent, Solon Kent and Ben Waters Jr.

» Originally published in the Ponca City News.

Leon O. Dailey of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, celebrated his 80th birthday on Sunday, January 17. He was feted with a family dinner on Saturday evening and a church reception on Sunday.

Dailey was born on the Otoe-Missouria Indian Reservation near Red Rock, Oklahoma, one of seven children of the late Dewey and Susie Caleb Dailey. Leon is from the first generation of his family to be born with the surname Dailey. His grandfather, So-Jay-Inga, took the name Charles Dailey as an adult and passed the surname onto his son. Dailey is a descendant of Ah-Hah-Che-Ke-Saw-Ke, one of the Missouria chiefs who signed the tribe’s Treaty of 1854.

Dailey attended the Pawnee Indian boarding school and completed high school at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. After graduation he helped on the family farm and worked briefly as a plasterer in Stillwater and Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was inducted into the Army during the Korean War. After completing basic training at Fort Stewart, Georgia, he was transferred to Indiantown Gap Military Reservation to join the 5th Infantry Division, anti-aircraft artillery. It was during his stay there that Dailey met Caroline Reese of Palmyra. The two were married the following year. The couple has resided in Lebanon County ever since and will celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary in April.

Dailey has worked primarily in construction. For many years he was employed with Granger General Contractor and later with Buchmoyer Contractor. He retired from Hauck Manufacturing in Cleona.

As a charter member of the Jonestown Bible Church, Dailey has sung in the choir and taught Sunday school for more than five decades. At various times he has served on the Elder Board and as a Deacon of the church. He has been active in many church programs over the years, such as conducting music and worship services at local nursing homes.

Leon and Caroline are parents of five children. They also have seven grandchildren. Leon Dailey and his children are enrolled members of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma.

» Originally published in the Lebanon Daily News.

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.

by Lorraine Jessepe

Jessica Moore’s passion for art, mathematics and culture has taken her across the world. Moore (Osage/Otoe-Missouria/Sac and Fox/Pawnee) is a 24-year-old Oklahoma State University student in her final year of the landscape architecture program.

“I have been fortunate to travel abroad to a number of countries, which created a new passion for me – a love for other cultures and other societies of this world,” said Moore, a 2009 National Center for American Indian Enterprise 40 Under 40 honoree. So far, her studies have taken her to France, Italy, Thailand, Japan and Peru.

As a young girl, Moore always wanted to be a doctor, but her interest in art and math eventually led her to architecture. Later, an interest in environmentalism led her to change her field to landscape architecture. “I actually didn’t know what landscape architecture was until my sophomore year at OSU.” It’s a multidisciplinary field involving the planning and design of natural and built environments. “My design philosophy as a landscape architect is to make space animate, special and memorable in a way that invokes the emotions that the owner wishes to express or feels,” Moore said.

» Read the complete article on Indian Country Today.