Note to Gary: I know you don't often post personal news on the lists, but
as we had many expressions of good will from list members when we started
this trek, I hope you will let me update all of our friends there at once
in this manner. I'm sure some of them must be wondering whether we made it
to Oklahoma by now, and what we're doing here if we did.<g> In addition,
we're getting email on old accounts, and some of it is probably bouncing.
This will update everyone at once and let them know how to reach us.
Thanks! --Liz
To all our friends on NativeNet,
Thanks to all of you for the many good wishes and prayers expressed in
your email when we announced our move. We made it, folks!
Our move to Oklahoma two months ago took a bit longer than expected, and
we've taken a while to settle in our home here, but it's home already. We
were slowed down by a heavily loaded van getting here, and on arrival, we
got busy unpacking and doing some repairs on our house. :-) In addition,
we were both laid low by nasty colds for about three weeks, but things are
finally falling into place now, and we're getting much involved in the
Native American community. We've renewed old friendships in the area and
made many new ones already.
Our new snail mail address and phone are in my signature below, so if any
of you are in the area, stop by and say hello or give us a call! We are
located in a quiet residential neighborhood in Anadarko, and some of the
first neighbors we met are an elder Kiowa couple next door. Their children
and 14 grandchildren are in and out often, which delights us! <g> Michael
Darrow, Ft. Sill Apache, was on hand the morning we arrived, and he and
another new friend, Jackie Tointigh, Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, helped us
unload. Jackie is also an accomplished artist and uses his Indian name,
Black Horse, on his work.
I've had a major upgrade to my computer system, and I'm setting up a small
business out of our home, utilizing some of the skills and experience I
gained on the job and in my volunteer work. All of this has slowed us down
in getting back in the swing on NativeNet, but now we're ready, and we
expect to be sharing with you news about the tribes in this area! As you
can see by the header of this and my signature file, I have a new email
address through the local ISP,
and Grosvenor has his own as well, at gpollard@tanet.net.
Powwow season is moving into gear in this area, and despite a recent cold
snap, the gatherings continue! Tribal princesses are being chosen, and
plans are under way for the annual American Indian Exposition, and we're
right in the middle of it all.<g> For the latter event, I've volunteered
my services to the committee, and will be doing PR work for this year's
affair. I'll keep you all posted as things develop with that, so watch the
posts on the subject! Here are a few items of interest to some or all of
you.
AMERICAN INDIAN EXPOSITION
The dates for this 66th annual Exposition will be August 4-9, 1997,
beginning with the big parade on Monday morning. The exposition president
this year is Sam Redbone, Apache Tribe of Oklahoma (formerly Kiowa
Apache), and the Vice-President is Lincoln Tartsah, Kiowa Tribe. We hope
to set up an official Web site shortly for this event, so stay tuned for
further info!
COMANCHE CODE TALKERS
We have been introduced to one of the two surviving Comanche Code Talkers
from World War II, Roderick (Dick) Red Elk, and he has promised me some
interviews to tell me his stories from that experience! I hope to write
these up and compile them into a book for publication. Dick has become a
good friend, and we look forward to seeing him at powwows here. He's still
quite spry at his advanced years, and participates enthusiastically in
gourd dances, is trying to teach us some of the Comanche language (we're
willing, but the drums drown us out <g>), and he has introduced us to a
lot of others in the tribe, including his niece, Shanna Tahhahwah, who has
just completed her reign as their princess for 1996. The Comanche princess
for 1997, elected last weekend, is Shannon Raylene Sovo, a senior at
Cameron University in Lawton.
MONETATHCHI FAMILY
We renewed acquaintance here with an old friend since 1986, Comanche
medicine man and elder Edgar Monetathchi, but were saddened to learn that
he suffered badly from an auto wreck about a year ago. He came very near
to death at the time, his wife tells us, and is now confined to a wheel
chair. He continues to recover, but is very weak and his progress is
slowed by his years. We ask prayers from all of you for his health and
strength.
That's about the news for this message, but I did want to reassure all of
you that Grosvenor and I are still out here, following the list, and are
ready to begin contributing again. We expect to have much more to share in
the future. :-)
-Liz