"Procession Before War Dance", Ernest Spybuck Credit: National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution (02/5735).
Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
The Absentee Shawnee Tribe is primarily located in the heart of central Oklahoma with approximately 4,576 members who live in all parts of the world as of January 2022. Our tribal government complex is located in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Our logo features Tecumseh, a Shawnee warrior and visionary leader, who worked to unite tribes in a common homeland where Indians could live under their own laws and leaders. He died in October 1813, in battle near the area of present day Thamesville, in Toronto, Canada. The LI-SI-WI-NWI in our logo means “Among the Shawnee”
Latest Announcements & Upcoming Events
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Special Executive Committee Meeting
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PUBLIC NOTICE
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Thurman "Duke" Blanchard
Obituary
Regular Executive Committee Meeting
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Volunteer Assistance Requested
Announcement
Special Executive Committee Meeting
The Executive Committee of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, in accordance with the Constitution, Article XVI, Section 4, "Executive Committee Meetings" hereby calls and declares public notice that the SPECIAL meeting of the Executive Committee of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 25th , 2022 at 10:00 AM at the Absentee Shawnee Tribal Complex in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
Dated this 19th day of May 2022
PUBLIC NOTICE
Cultural Preservation – THPO Program is seeking Absentee Shawnee Tribal Members who attended boarding school.
Please contact Carol Butler at
405.275.4030 ext. 6245 or cbutler@astribe.com for more details.
Little Axe resident Thurman “Duke” Blanchard, 71, died Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Little Axe.
Thurman was born February 6, 1951, in Little Axe, Oklahoma to Lewis and Cynthia (Creek) Blanchard.
He was a lifetime resident of Little Axe, Oklahoma and was a member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. He graduated from Noble High School and started his career with Oklahoma Natural Gas, retiring in 2006.
He married Fredith Butler on June 2, 1972, in Little Axe, Oklahoma.
He started as a pipeline welder with Oklahoma Natural Gas in Norman, Oklahoma. Later in his career, he worked in supervision, overseeing job site crews in the Oklahoma City area. He was proud to live and be involved in the Shawnee Tribal Ceremonies. In the early years, he loved to play fastpitch softball, traveling many miles to play various tournaments. His hobbies included working with old antiques and raising Dexter cows. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and sports, especially when it involved his grandkids.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Sue Ann Blanchard; and a brother, Kenneth Blanchard.
Survivors include his wife, Fredith Blanchard of Little Axe; son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Jessica Blanchard of Norman; son, Craig Blanchard of Little Axe; five grandchildren, Caden Blanchard, Cache Blanchard, Mya Blanchard, Chael Blanchard, and Cecily Blanchard; brother, George Blanchard and Kathleen of Miami, Oklahoma; brother, Chester Blanchard and Kathy of Noble, Oklahoma; sister, Cleta Johnson and Bud of Little Axe, Oklahoma; sister, Redena Miller and Glen of Norman, Oklahoma; sister, Glendine Blanchard of Little Axe, Oklahoma; sister, Betty Isaacs and John of Noble, Oklahoma; brother, Kevin Blanchard and Arlene of Lexington, Oklahoma; numerous nieces, nephews, and many other family and friends.
The Absentee Shawnee Tribe Department of Public Safety has been diligent in the response to the severe weather impacts. Now that initial damage assessments have ended and response plans are in place, we are looking to coordinate with willing AST volunteers to assist in recovery efforts. Seminole County and the City of Seminole will be our primary location for providing our assistance.
If you are interested in volunteering your time and efforts to assist our neighboring communities, please reach out to the following forms of contact:
- ASTEM@astribe.com
- 405.740.1502 [if you do not receive an answer immediately, please leave a voicemail so we may call you back]
The information we will require will be your:
o Name
o Contact Number
o Capabilities (What efforts you wish to provide assistance with)
We will be collecting contact information for volunteers over the weekend and will formulate an action plan based on the strengths and capabilities of the volunteers we receive. ASTEM will be in communication with Seminole County Emergency Management, City of Seminole Emergency Management, FEMA, and the American Red Cross to receive updates on types of assistance needed.
Expect follow up calls about your volunteer inquiries early next week, as the current work force in the Seminole area will greatly appreciate relief in the form of fresh bodies and minds.
At the moment we have been informed that debris collection and removal is of high priority and will gladly accept those who would be willing to assist with those efforts.
We look forward to coordinating our efforts with you in assisting our communities!
The following items are eligible for LIHEAP participants that are enrolled with a federally recognized tribe and live in Cleveland & Pottawatomie counties. For more questions or application, please call Social Services at 405.878.4723.
Tribal members that are interested in an HVAC career or change of career, the Workforce Development & Career Initiative will be conducting vocational assessment for tribal members to see if they meet the qualifications. This assessment will be provided at Moore Norman Technology Center.
Opening Date May 1st 2022 Closing Date May 25th 2022
Applications are available online. This program is first come first serve and applicant must qualify and meet the WIOA guidelines.
Program begins on June 6th and ends July 29th.
Deadline for applications is May 20, 2022.
For more information contact:
Alvina Barnes at 405.275.4030 x 6307 alvinab@astribe.com
Kim Porter at 405.275.4030 x 6269 kporter@astribe.com
Applications can be found on the AST website under Governor/WIA
OUTCOMES
Individuals return to natural order
Help rebuild families and assume roles as warriors Achieve sobriety and grow
Bring a person's life from despair to happiness & service
Making the Medicine Wheel & 12 steps a part of everyday life is a warrior's journey
Every Wednesday April 27, 2022
6:00pm-8:00pm CST Virtual classes
To register for this class use QR code or follow link:
Shawnee/Tecumseh Indian Education Craft Market & Powwow
Saturday May 21, 2022
Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Firelake Dance Grounds
1702 Gordon Cooper Drive, Shawnee OK 74801
(next to Firelake Grocery Store)
Schedule
Gourd Dancing @ 2PM Supper @ 5PM Grand Entry @ 6:30PM Closing @ 11PM Sponsored by Victor Cope