Web Site – shawneecountyalliedtribes.org

E-Mail Address: scat2525@yahoo.com

SCAT AND STANDING BEAR TO SHARE IN HOLIDAY MEETINGS

Shawnee County Allied Tribes and Standing Bear Inter-Tribal Brotherhood will combine their monthly meetings 
during November and December in celebration of the holiday season.  The two organizations will share in a 
combined Thanksgiving carry-in meal on Monday evening, November 12, and in a combined Christmas carry-in meal 
on Monday evening, December 10.  Both of these celebrations will be held in the Activity Building at the Gage 
Park Zoo beginning at 6:30 p.m. and lasting until about 9:00 p.m.  

These combined meetings are designed to provide a time of fellowship, food, and enjoyment during this 
Thanksgiving and Christmas season.  Persons wanting to learn more about SCAT and/or Standing Bear are invited 
to come and enjoy the celebrations with us.  Just bring some food and a good spirit.  


SCAT TO DECORATE A WREATH AGAIN THIS YEAR

Shawnee County Allied Tribes will be decorating a wreath for the Festival of Trees again this year.  The 
theme this year is “Merry Christmas To You From Our Teepee.”  For this decorating project, we are asking for 
homemade items that can be placed on the wreath.  It will be decorated following the Thanksgiving meal and 
meeting on November 12th.  Let’s make this a group project and have a good time with it.  Last year our 
wreath was very well received and brought a good price at the auction. 


CHEROKEE VETERAN’S POW-WOW TO BE AT GAGE PARK ZOO BUILDING 

The annual Northern Cherokee Veteran’s Pow-Wow will be held Friday evening, November 2, in the Gage Park Zoo 
Shelter building from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m.  It will be a time when we honor and express our gratitude to those 
veterans who have served in our armed forces.  The evening will include gourd dancing, inter-tribal dances, 
food, and craft vendors.  All persons in the Topeka area are invited to come out and join in this honoring 
celebration and to pay tribute to our veterans.  The Head Drum will be the Night Hawks with Henry Collins as 
the Head Singer.  Standing Bear will be the Host Gourd Society.  Admission for the event is free.   


REGULAR SCAT MEETINGS

Shawnee County Allied Tribes meets on the second Monday evening of every month.  The meetings are held at the 
Highland Park United Methodist Church which is located at 29th & Michigan in the southeast section of Topeka. 
Our board meets at 6:30 p.m. with our general meeting following at 7:30 p.m.  We are normally finished by 
around 9:00 p.m.  Both the board meeting and the general meeting are open to any persons.  The most 
convenient parking is back behind the building on the east side.  (Special Note --  Because of the 
Thanksgiving and Christmas season SCAT will meet at the Gage Park Zoo for a carry-in meal during November and 
December.)


STANDING BEAR NEWS 

The Standing Bear Inter-Tribal brotherhood meets on Wednesday evenings to drum and sing and make plans for 
future events.  The meetings are held at the Highland Park United Methodist church (29th and Michigan) from 
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.  Interested persons are invited to attend.  Future events include the following:

•	Participating in the annual Washburn University Veteran’s Celebration on Friday, November 9, at 10:30
	a.m. 
•	Participating in the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Sunday evening, November 18, at the First 
	Congregational Church (1701 S.W. Collins Ave.) at 7:00 p.m.
•	Participating in the annual Salvation Army Christmas Bell-Ringing on Wednesday evening, December 12, from 
	6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  
•	Participating in the annual Renewal of the Flame celebration on Saturday evening, January 5, at the Gage 
	Park Zoo from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.  


AWI-AKTA NEWS 

The Awi-Akta District of the Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory meets on the second 
Sunday afternoon of each month.  The meetings begin at 1:00 p.m.  with a carry-in dinner followed by a 
business session and a cultural presentation.  

The location of the meetings alternates between Holton and Topeka from month to month.  On November 11th the 
meeting will be in Holton at the First United Methodist Church (1401 W. 4th St.).  On December 9th the 
meeting will be in Topeka at the Crestview United Methodist Church (2245 S.W. Eveningside Drive).  

Awi Akta will be holding its annual Cherokee Veteran’s Pow-Wow on Friday, November 2, at the Gage Park 
Shelter (located outside the Zoo entrance.  Admission is free and everyone is invited.  


LINDA SUE WARNER IS NEW PRESIDENT OF HASKELL 

When Linda Sue Warner, Comanche, returned to Haskell Indian Nations university this past spring as its new 
president, she determined that Haskell was a “new” school despite the history of the institution and began 
looking at how the university needed to change.  Her goal is to build a school around cultural values.  

“I’m not the same person I was when I was here before and I am guessing neither are the people who work 
here,” Warner said.  “So now everything is fresh and new.  When I see familiar faces it is like meeting them 
for the first time – all new.”

Warner said she was happy that Haskell had identified its core values: accountability, respect, cooperation 
and honesty.  “When I saw that those core values had already been identified, I knew I could build a school 
around that,” Warner stated.  “I want those core values to permeate around the school.  When people meet me 
and then walk away, I want them to know that I am going to be accountable, respectful, cooperative and honest 
with them.”  (reprinted from Indian Country Today, Wednesday, September 5, 2007)


STEVE ORTIZ IS ELECTED AS CHAIR OF POTAWATOMI

Recently, in an election on the Potawatomi Reservation, Steve Ortiz was elected to the position of Tribal 
Chairperson of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.  He is well known in this area for his work on behalf of 
the P.B.P.N. and his efforts to benefit the Potawatomi people who live in this part of Kansas.  


NATIONAL HOLIDAY FOR NATIVE AMERICANS IS PROPOSED 

Two powerful organizations, the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) and the National Congress of 
American Indians, have teamed up to push for creation of a national holiday, Native American Heritage Day.  
It would be observed annually on the Friday following Thanksgiving.  

On July 23, Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) introduced Senate Bill 1852 to create such a national holiday, and a 
companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives.  A national survey commissioned by NIGA and 
conducted by a respected polling company recently found that 85 percent of Americans support the designation 
of a day honoring American Indians.  

“This day will help our effort to educate the public about the true story of the contributions of tribal 
governments and individual Indian people to the United States,” notes Ernie Stevens (Oneida), NIGA chairman. 
“The Friday after Thanksgiving is a natural fit for this day of recognition.  It will require the nation to 
focus on the many contributions of Indian people and help to promote an accurate story of our history, as 
well as help this great nation grow away from the common stereotypes and misinformation that plague a very 
proud, productive and patriotic people.”
(reprinted from Native Peoples Magazine, Nov/Dec 2007)


PRAYERS AND CONCERNS 

•	Glenda Stenger recently had foot surgery and is at home recovering.
•	Mike Ballard recently fell and injured his foot.  He is currently wearing a brace that is to improve his 
	recovery.  
•	Joey Leirman, who is related to Agnes McKinney, recently suffered third degree burns and is in the 
	process of recovering.    



UNITED NATIONS ADOPTS INDIGENOUS DECLARATION 

After three decades of drafts, deliberations and delays, the United Nations General Assembly voted Sept. 13 
to adopt the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  The majority, 143 countries, voted in favor.  
As expected, the only countries opposing the adoption were the United States, Canada, New Zealand and 
Australia.  The main objections of these countries centered on indigenous peoples’ control over land and 
resources, their right to self-determination, and that the declaration might give indigenous peoples veto 
authority over development on their lands and territories.  

Its adoption marks the first time in history that indigenous peoples’ collective rights to self-determination 
and control over their lands and natural resources will formally be recognized by the United Nations.  

“The world is taking a formal stand that indigenous peoples have the right to be free  from all forms of 
discrimination and to maintain our cultures, societies, languages and spiritual practices,” said Robert Tim 
Coulter, executive director of the Indian Law Resource Center in Helena, Montana, and Washington D.C.
(reprinted from Indian Country Today, Wednesday, September 19, 2007)


AGNES MCKINNEY TO ATTEND WORKSHOP 

Agnes McKinney will be attending a Diabetes Clinic Workshop on Sunday, November 17, as a part of the 2nd 
Annual “Working Together for Balance” Conference at the Prairie Band Potawatomi Casino and Resort.  She will 
be attending as a volunteer who represents the Northeast Kansas Community.   


THE SULLIVAN CHAPEL CHURCH  

(1937 N.E. Madison in Topeka) has an Indian Taco Sale on the first Friday of every month.  They may be eaten 
on site or taken as orders-to-go.  The hours are 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.


LOCAL POW-WOWS 

•	Nov. 2 -- Northern Cherokee Veteran’s Pow-Wow at the Gage Park Zoo Shelter Bldg. in Topeka from 6:00 to		11:00 p.m.  
•	Nov. 10-11 -- Veteran’s Pow-Wow at the Mid-America All Indian Center, 650 North Seneca, Wichita, Kansas. 
•	Nov. 17 – We-Ta-Se Veteran’s Pow-Wow at the 4-H Center in Holton, Kansas.  


VERNON BELLECOURT DIES 

Vernon Bellecourt, a longtime leader of the American Indian Movement against the use of American Indian 
nicknames for sports teams, including the Cleveland Indians, died Saturday, Oct. 20, at the age of 75.  

Bellecourt was arrested in Cleveland during the 1997 World Series and again in April, 1998, during protests 
against the Cleveland Indians’ emblem, Chief Wahoo.  Charges were dropped the first time and he was never 
charged in the second case.  

Bellecourt – whose Ojibwe name WaBun-Inini means Man of Dawn – was a member of Minnesota’s White Earth band 
and was an international spokesman for the American Indian movement Grand Governing Council based in 
Minneapolis.  He was also president of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media.  
(reprinted from Native American Times, October 26, 2007)


NEWSLETTER SUGGESTIONS

Hildred Vilander, Agnes McKinney, and Don Anderson put the SCAT newsletter together on a bi-monthly basis.  
Connie Ballard then puts it on the web-site for people to read.  If you have information for stories that 
could be included in the newsletter, or have suggestions about improvements, you may contact the persons 
named below at our e-mail address scat2525@yahoo.com  
   
SHAWNEE COUNTY ALLIED TRIBES
P.O. Box 750284
Topeka, Kansas 66675-0284

President: Hildred Vilander
Secretary: Don Anderson
Treasurer: Mike Ballard

Editors: Hildred Vilander
         Don Anderson