Dear Fellow Tribal Members,

Anticipation can sometimes be so exciting and yet at the same time cause such anxiety. Last month I wrote that stage one of remodeling the original bingo hall was almost complete. I fully expected for the employees to be moved into those spaces by now, but that hasn’t happened. The furniture is here—just in boxes; ninety-five percent of the painting is complete; seventy-five percent of the wooden trim is in place; and the debris is gradually being moved out to the dumpster. Carpets will have to be shampooed, furniture will need to be assembled and computers will have to be installed. Then the fun part can begin-adding the finishing touches. So close, just not close enough. As I said, I’m so anxious. The finished product is something I believe tribal members will be proud of. I can’t wait to show it
off to everyone and for employees to finally have the space they deserve. Kudos go to Eldonna Jackson, Shannon Basset, Robin DuShane, and Perry Hauser for their hard work.

My second anxiety concerns me Elders Dinner. We have great plans for honoring our elders. We are planning some cultural touches such as a few traditional foods and we hope to play some traditional Native American games. We have many elders who have never played Indian dice nor eaten such dishes as grape dumplings or beef and hominy. Tribal employees will be volunteering to serve the meal. Some great door prizes will be available as well as a tribal logo lapel pin for each attendee. Good food and even greater fellowship add to the merriment. We’ve done the planning so as they say, “Y’all come.” And of course I am getting antsy about our bus trip to Ohio. All spaces have been filled and there are so many details to take care of. Mark Bushong, Bud Enyart, Larry Kropp and Jo Ann Beckham are crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s for this humongous undertaking. Minor adjustments may have to be made to the original itinerary but it will all work out. Connecting with our Shawnee roots is not only exciting for me but others as well as illustrated in this poem written for Tribal member Lola Purvis:

The genealogy trail (for Lola)
It’s gonna take a while
said the bayou woman
to her man from Tennessee
for me to find out
all my Shawnee

baby, take your time
we’ll be alright
said he

so she searched
from the library halls
to the census walls

talked to the elders
picked their memories
to cross reference
the facts of her search

from Ohio to Oklahoma
to Louisiana and back
she walked the genealogy trail the

bayou woman
with her man from Tennessee
to find out
all her Shawnee

George D. Clabon 09/16/05

Until next time walk in balance.
Chief, Glenna