subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sun, Nov 08 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


United Keetoowah Band Chief George Wickliffe delivers his State of the Nation address to a large crowd Saturday at the UKB complex. Wickliffe said the Keetoowahs are working hard to get a land base. The tribe currently has no land in trust.
Bob Gibbins /


The Keetoowah Cherokee Youth Choir performed Saturday afternoon as part of the 58th annual Keetoowah Cherokee Celebration.
Josh Newton /


Children jump inside one of the numerous activities at the 58th annual Keetoowah Cherokee Celebration, held over the weekend in Tahlequah.
Josh Newton /


Published October 06, 2008 09:34 am - Part of the theme for the 58th Annual Keetoowah Cherokee Celebration speaks of the tribe being rich in tradition.

Being Keetoowah


By BOB GIBBINS
Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS

Part of the theme for the 58th Annual Keetoowah Cherokee Celebration speaks of the tribe being rich in tradition.

That was exemplified in Chief George Wickliffe’s State of the Nation address.

“We are the original Cherokee Nation and the Cherokee people,” Wickliffe said. “We’re traditional people, and we’ve made a lot of gains.”

He said the United Keetoowah Cherokees volunteered to come to Oklahoma after being in Arkansas since 1817.

“We weren’t forced to come here,” he said. “We volunteered.”

Wickliffe, who alternated between Cherokee language and English in his speech, said the Keetoowahs have traditional values, and they take care of the elderly and the children.

“The elderly are where our tradition comes from,” he said. “They help keep our tradition alive, and our young people are our future leaders.”

The UKB worked 58 years to get an Indian Health Services contract, which they received this week. The chief said plans for the future include building a museum on tribal grounds and starting a civil defense group. He said the tribe plans to start education and training programs.

“We know our culture and we preserve our culture and language,” Wickliffe said. “I’d say 70 percent of the [Keetoowah] people speak or understand our Cherokee language.”

He said Keetoowahs should learn Cherokee, if they don’t already know how to speak in their native language. He said it’s a difficult language to learn.

Strides are being made in education. Scholarship funds are increasing, and the UKB has 67 students at NSU, he said.

“We have a plan,” he told tribal members. “We have a good plan. We have some good lawyers and they’re interested in what we’re achieving.”

Wickliffe explained the UKB had to sue IHS this past week because the agency had been ignoring them.

“We wanted them to understand we were being slighted,” he said. “They understand that, and we hope to have more IHS contracts.”

Wickliffe said improved health care for the 13,000 Keetoowahs is a goal of the administration.



print this story    email this story   






autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

Help Wanted
PART-TIME HELP NEEDED in income tax preparation. Computer skills necessary, tax experience preferred. Send resume to 303...>MORE

Help Wanted
THERAPIST (Grove, OK) GRAND LAKE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER Providing Outpatient Behavioral Health Services.  Requires Masters...>MORE

Help Wanted
Cherokee County 911 Trust Authority is seeking qualified applicants for the position of 911 Coordinator. GENERAL SUMMARY...>MORE

Help Wanted
Need Human Resources/ Payroll person, PT Temporary Clerical person. Bring resume to LaFerry’s Propane Keys across from ...>MORE

Help Wanted
Are you unhappy with your current job?  Are you looking for a company that values their employees?  Then BIOS is the pla...>MORE

Help Wanted
Rehabilitation counselor needed. Must have Bachelor’s Degree in a Mental Health related field or degree in Criminal Jus...>MORE

See all ads

Premium cars

Auto For Sale
1994 Ford Ranger XLT. Super condition $1250 cash. 918-718-4319...>MORE

Auto For Sale
97 Tahoe Lt, 4 WD, dual air, lots of extras. 456-5604...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Homes

House for Rent
2bdrm, furnished, Satellite TV and water included. Chicken Creek $500 monthly, 740-0039...>MORE

House for Rent
3-4bdrm, 1b, $750., fenced backyard in Tahlequah, 458-5895...>MORE

Mobile Homes For Rent
2bdrm, 1bth, $350, $150 deposit, 431-0405...>MORE

Apartments for Rent
Efficiency and 1BDM, All bills paid, A/C, furnished, Satellite, Start at $90 week/ $325 month, 457-4220...>MORE

Condos
Executive Condo, 2400 sf, 3 bdrm, 2 1/2 bths, loft, library, gourmet kitchen, all appliances, 2 decks, references requir...>MORE

House for Rent
2 bedroom references needed. 225 South St. 868-2561...>MORE

Mobiles for Rent
2-3bdrm 2B, Mobile Keys Area. 456-6813...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Extras

Acreage For Sale:
3Acres +/- , Available for site built or new mobile home. Several tracts to choose from 6 miles +/- NW of Tahlequah H...>MORE

Acreage for Sale
apx 15 acres in town call 918-822-7084, 918-456-9424....>MORE

Commercial Property
Restaurant for lease (formally Runts) call 931-8386...>MORE

Lots For Sale:
Owner near Lake Tenkiller and Golf Course. Lots starting at $4,500, $300 down and $43.35 monthly. RV and Mobile lots a...>MORE

Acerage For Sale
Owner finance 10 acres 5 miles east of Peggs on 82C $22,000 $1,000 down $210 monthly 530-0885...>MORE

Commercial Property
8,400 sf retail space 4th Street and Muskogee, call 931-8386...>MORE

Commercial Property
1,800 sf office/ Retail next to Check-N-Go call 931-8386...>MORE

Commercial Property
Retail/ Office Space 600 sf to 8,400 sf call 931-8386...>MORE

Wanted To Buy:
Cash for Junk or
Unwanted cars. Quick
income. Call 456-4753
...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index