Shawnee County Allied Tribes Traditional Pow Wow

Honored Elders

1993 - Catherine Clinton Vieux - Prairie Band Potawatomi

She was the first female Marine from the State of Kansas.

1993 - Jim Fire Eagle Boose - Aztec/Wampanoag

Spiritual leader of the Northern Aztec Peoples.

1994 - Kansas Governor Joan Finney (Wah na ko qua) - Adopted Kickapoo

1994 - Dr. Horne - VA Hospital Director of PTSD Treatment

Developer of the PTSD Treatment for Veterans.

1995 - Walter E. Cooper (Pahso) - Potawatomi Citizens Band

Grandfather and teacher in several schools including Haskell.

1995 - Julia G. Eteeyan-LaClair - Potawatomi Citizens Band

Retired from Stormont-Vail. Attends Pow Wows and celebrations and shares her culture with you. Native American artist.

1996 - Jim & Agnes McKinney - Prairie Band Potawatomi

They work as a team in Church and religious activities and Jim is well known for his teaching and working on the Potawatomi language project.

1996 - Pete & Alana Fee - Iowa

Both are active in Native American activities.

1997 - Hollis (O-Kitch Shano) & Isabelle Thomas - Potawatomi

Both active in Native American activities. Hollis is a singer. They are always there for their people.

1997 - Joe Lewis (Wape Mee) - Prairie Band Potawatomi

Joe is active in the Native American community and Native American spirituality. Joe is known for his Straight Dancing and his smile.

1998 - Chief Beverly Baker - Northern Cherokee

Seventh genereation leader of the Northern Cherokee people and author.

1998 - Chief Charlie Little Coyote - Southern Cheyenne

Charlie is a member of one of the last great Cheyenne traditional families. He has been one of the Cheyenne Chiefs for many years.

1998 - Dee Gutierrez - Kickapoo

Artist in Native traditional dress making. She is a presenter of Native culture and working with seniors.

1999 - Mose Cahwee - Yuchi

Recognized as a Yuchi historian and language authority. A much decorated veteran.

1999 - Jan English - Wyandot - Principal Chief, Wyandot Nation of Kansas

Chief Jan English (in the center in the blue dress) has led the struggle to preserve and protect the Wyandot Nation history and reconciliation. She provides spiritual direction to Native Americans.

2000 - Louis (Roe Cloud) Jessepe - Potawatomi/Kickapoo

Well known Native artist and preservationist of the history, culture, language and religion of his ancestors.

2000 - Karen Gayton Swisher, President of Haskell Indian Nations University - Sioux

Active in the field of Native American education and the training of teachers in schools attended by American Indian and Alaska Native children.

2001 - Danny J. Petersen - Potawatomi

Congressinal Medal of Honor holder. Known for his heroic and selfless actions for his fellow soldiers.

2001 - Preston E. Tone-Pah-Hote - Kiowa

One of the founders of Eagle Talon Brotherhood. This Native artist is active in his culture and participates in Native celebrations.

2002 - Gerald (Jerry) Lewis - Prairie Band Potawatomi

Former race car driver and well known Gourd dancer. Active in the Pow Wow circuit.

2002 - Marvin McKinney - Prairie Band Potawatomi

Loves to go to pow wows serving as pow wow staff member and well known as "World Champion Hoop Dancer".

2003 - Hildrith Crith - Kickapoo

Native artist and drug alcohol counselor.

2003 - Cy Ahtone - Kiowa

Native singer and active member of the Kiowa Gourd Society. Staff member for many pow wows.

2004 - Joy Yoshida - Prairie Band Potawatomi

Native artist and known for her work with elders.

2004 - Tim Tieyah - Comanche

Native singer and teacher. This Veteran has been a staff member of many pow wows.

2005 - Georgia Perry - Kootenai/Prairie Band Potawatomi

Native American artist and teacher of traditional values.

2005 - Virgil Yeahquo - Kiowa

Veteran known for his work as a prison Chaplain and his ministry for Native Americans.

2006 - Hildred Vilander (Chiidiini)- Prairie Band Potawatomi

Active in the Topeka community, teacher in her church, Native artist and President of Shawnee County Allied Tribes.

2006 - Michael Ballard (Tate Ob Mani) - Northern Cherokee

Active in Native American affairs as a Tribal Judge, Chairman of several pow wows over the years, active in the Topeka community and a Native artist.

2007 - Carole Botone Willis - Kiowa

Mrs. Willis has received numerous awards for her work in education on both an Oklahoma state and National level. She is an active member of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference of the United Methodist Church and has provided Kiowa Language hymn classes and Kiowa Cultural programs for the Lawrence Indian UMC in Lawrence, KS.

2007 - Don (i nv i ga ti a s gay a) & Bobbie (tsi s qua ka no gi s di a ge ya) Anderson - Northern Cherokee

Don is a retired United Methodist minister and is currently involved in the Shawnee County Allied Tribes, Standing Bear Inter-Tribal Brotherhood, Awi Akta District of the Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory, and active in the Committee on Native American Ministry of the United Methodist Church, the International Center of Topeka, Interfaith of Topeka, and the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice.

Bobbie has worked in the field of literacy, adult education and international education; currently serving on the faculty of Washburn University with the Intensive English Program, and training tutors with the Topeka Literacy Council. She is active with the Committee on Native American Ministry of the United Methodist Church, and Awi Akta District of the Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory.

2008 - Theodore, "Ted", Ensley

Theodore D. Ensley was elected Shawnee County Commissioner in 1996 and re-elected in 2000 and 2004. served as Secretary of Kansas Parks and Wildlife and served as the Director of Shawnee County Parks and Recreation for 31 years. He served as General Manager of the Kansas Expocentre and Vice Chairman for the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission. Mr. Ensley is past President of the Kansas Association of Counties. He is a member of the Arab Temple, serves as a Board Member of the YMCA, serves on the Advisory Boards of CASA and the Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Center. Mr. Ensley is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Third Judicial District Community Planning Team for Juvenile Justice Reform. Ted Ensley made it possible for the Pow Wow to be held at Lake Shawnee 18 years ago and has been a supporter of the Pow Wow ever since.

2008 - Conchita Ballard (Ki Ma Mna To Win) Northern Cherokee

Connie has been a member of Shawnee County Allied Tribes for 20 years and, with her husband Mike, was co-chair of the Pow Wow the first two years. Connie continues her work for the Pow Wow by working in the background doing computer work and creating the Education Day book, Program Book, and forms each year for the Pow Wow. She is the web master for the Shawnee County Allied Tribes Web Site. Connie is the Kansas Awi Akta District Representative for the Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory (NCNOLT) and is a member of the Tribal Council. Connie also creates the program book for the annual Veterans Pow Wow sponsored by the Awi Akta District each November. Connie is past secretary for the Indian Parent Committee for the 501 School District and was a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader and a Cub Scout Day Camp Director.

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