Strawberry Dance: will be held this Sunday May 20. This dance is held usually in the month of May, when the strawberries are ripe. This is another form of thanksgiving for the strawberry is considered the first fruit of the season. In this dance all members participate.  This dance is accompanied by a drink made of crushed berries sweetened and diluted with water. After the first dance this drink is passed around and everyone is given a cupful. This is always danced in the early morning and is usually over by noon.

Blackberry Dance: July 3rd this year. It is always held during the first full moon in July which falls early this year. This is a nighttime dance. It is held when the moon is full in gratitude for her part in the changing of the seasons and the cycle of man. This is the only dance where the women do their own singing. The dance begins late at night and ends just at dawn the following day. This dance is also accompanied by a drink made from the berries.

Green Corn: August 5th is camp day with main day being the 6th.

I look forward to seeing everyone there and always keep in mind how important our traditions are.

Nya-Weh,
Toot-No-Son-Dee
Charles Diebold
Ceremonial Chief

Bartender – 1
Duties: Knowledge of bar procedures, alcohols, mixers, wine, beers and liquor laws. Be knowledgeable of “Grand Customer Service” standards and implement with all guests.
Hours: 20-25 per week

Kitchen Prep Cook – 2
Duties: Food prep for all menu items, knowledge of kitchen equipment and their uses. Be knowledgeable of “Grand Customer Service” standards and implement with all guests.
Hours: 30 per week

Cherokee Queen Staff – 3
Duties: Greet guests boarding, take tickets, and offer snacks, food and beverage selection including alcohol. Perform opening/closing procedures and follow cleaning schedule. Assist Captain in day-to-day operations. Be knowledgeable of “Grand Customer Service” standards and implement with all guests.
Hours: 30 per week

Dock Store Lead -2
Duties: Oversee dock store, including Restroom, Laundry room, Supervise Dock Store and marina staff. Facilitate the purchase/use of all the Marina and Cherokee Queens have to offer. Be knowledgeable of “Grand Customer Service” standards and implement with all guests.
Hours: 30 per week
Dock Store Associate -2
Duties: Assist boaters with gas purchases, keep dock store and marina clean, launch and catch boat for cruises. Preform additional duties as required. Be knowledgeable of “Grand Customer Service” standards and implement with all guests.
Hours: 30 per week

Captain – 1
Duties: Insure that all Cruises are Captained, Captain Cherokee Queen (CQ) for private charters and special events. Supervise CQ staff – Including: Opening/Closing procedures, Cleaning, Inventory, Maintenance of exterior/interior, engines, etc. Coordinate boat Launch/Catch persons schedule.
Hours: Full-Time

Pilot – 2
Duties: Captain CQs as scheduled including day cruises, private charters and special events.
Hours: As needed

Sales/Marketing Associate
Duties: Responsible for all sales/marketing activities, from lead generation through close of Marina, River Boat, Events Center and Restaurant business. Develops and implements agreed upon Marketing Plan which will meet both personal and business goals of expanding customer base in the marketing area. Associate works with all staff members for the achievement of customer satisfaction, revenue generation, and long-term account goals in line with company vision and values. Be knowledgeable of “Grand Customer Service” standards and implement with all guests.
Hours – Full-Time

Applications are available at Grand Lake Casino, Grove, OK 74344.

The Sun Dance will be this Saturday April 14th. Everyone is welcome.For those that have not attended and would like to we will begin preparing around 8:00 a.m. and it will last all day.

We as a tribe have a gift that some people may not realize we have. These traditions were given to us to honor our father, in what he has given us here on earth to be able to live. Everything needed to survive was provided. The rains, river and streams provide water to drink and grow crops, animals in the forest for food and clothing, the sun to make the crops grow and provide us light. He also made us a tribe. Where we would not be alone, where we work together as one for strength and safety. It is my hope we will continue to keep what we have and strive to be closer going forward.

The longhouse is OUR church. Everything we do has meaning, whether it is the prayers, dance, the songs it is our way of worshiping the creator.  As you enter the longhouse think about why you are here. Also remember your ancestors that have walked the same earth that you are on. Take a minute to close your eyes take a deep breath and know that this place is your church and let the peace and well being enter you.

I look forward to seeing everyone Saturday. Be safe and until then,

Nya-Weh,

Toot-No-Son-Dee

Charles Diebold
Ceremonial Chief
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Sundance is our way of thanking our creator for the passing of winter and the beginning of spring planting time. It is also tribute to the creator for providing his people with the sun, moon, thunder, and lightning. All things he provides us to sustain life here on earth. In the prayers, songs that are sang and dances, we give thanks for what we have and that Son-Qwa-Ya-Tis-Soot will continue to provide for us. The Sundance give thanks for the sun (sa-qwa-tay-tan-nay), and that it will continue to shine and give life to the crops we grow. It also asks that the seeds we plant will be blessed and grow to a good harvest. The prayers of many are heard this day as the people bring gifts of food as a token of their gratefulness for another season of planting.

The dancers are composed of men and boys of the tribe which begins in the morning and continues throughout the day till late afternoon. They begin dancing at the east end of the grounds and will finish at the west end, thus representing the path of the sun (rising in the east setting in the west). The songs are directed to the sun and the rain to aid in the growth of the seeds to be planted. After the dance the gifts of food are divided among the dancers and another cycle has begun.

In the evening we will have the seed dance in which the women dance. This dance also asks for abundant rain and sunlight for the plants to grow and thrive. There is also the bean dance in which the men and women dance together. With the men leading the pattern of the dance follows no particular direction representing the way a bean plant grows as it winds its way upwards toward the sunlight. After that will be social dancing and stomp dancing.

Chief Howard other chiefs of the North Eastern Oklahoma tribes were in attendance. Many items were discussed such as land trust, water and acting BIA management.

Students accepted into the program spend five days at Texas Tech University engaged in academic classes, campus life events, and other college readiness activities. Participants are exposed to the college environment and participate in college-level courses, leadership, cultural and social activities, and college-preparation workshops. It is designed to introduce, assist, and prepare Native American high school students for higher education.

For those interested check out the links below and/or contact the tribal education office at 918-787-5452

*****The deadline for the NASBI application has been extended to Tuesday, April 10, 2012.

Links:

NASBI Page 1

NASBI Page 2

NASBI Page 3

Spring is just around the corner and it will soon be time for our
ceremonies. To prepare we are having a singing session for everyone to
get together. The ceremonial leaders look forward to seeing everyone.
Weather permitting it will be at the rock house, if it is too cold we will have it in the Wenz – Zah – Keh building.

Everyone is welcome.

Date: Saturday, March 17th
Time: 12:00 Lunch and sing afterwards
Location: Stomp Grounds
*bring a covered dish if you can ]]> http://www.sctribe.com/from-our-ceremonial-chief/singing-practice/feed/ 0 http://www.sctribe.com/tribal-news/many-nations-one-college/ http://www.sctribe.com/tribal-news/many-nations-one-college/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:31:54 +0000 Charles Diebold http://www.sctribe.com/?p=1296 [...]]]>  

Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2012 3:26 pm Miami News Record

MANY NATIONS, ONE COLLEGE / NEO dedicates flag plazaBy Jim Ellisjim.ellis@miaminewsrecord.comMiami News Record | 0 comments

Ten local tribes are included in a flag plaza that is located in front of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M’s new residence hall.

Dedication ceremonies for the plaza, located at the corner of Central and I streets, were held Wednesday morning.

“It’s just a phenomenal thing for our tribe,” Ottawa Chief Ethel Cook said during the ceremony. “We are so pleased to have it sitting in our area.”

The Ottawa, Miami, Peoria, Eastern Shawnee, Modoc, Quapaw, Seneca Cayuga, Shawnee, Wyandotte and Cherokee tribes are represented by a flag and plaque.

In addition to Cook, other tribal leaders participating in the ceremony were Deputy Chief Joe Crittenden of the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Shawnee Chief Glenna Wallace, Miami Chief Tom Gamble, Modoc Second Chief Judy Cobb, Peoria Chief John Froman, Quapaw business committee member T.C. Bear, Seneca-Cayuga Chief Leroy Howard, Shawnee Chief Ron Sparkman and Wyandotte Chief Billy Friend.

Students assisting with the flag raising ceremony (and their tribal affiliation) were Taylor Tanner (Cherokee) of Grove, Cherokee; Cameron Sund (Eastern Shawnee), Eastern Shawnee; Cate Coyle (Creek) of Sperry, Miami; Paige Perdasofy (Comanche) of Bartlesville, Modoc; Spencer Donnel (Delaware) of Bartlesville, Ottawa; Jared Liston (Peoria) of Bartlesville, Peoria; Robyn Rulo (Osage) of Pawhuska, Quapaw; Jennifer Logan (Seneca-Cayuga) of Miami, Seneca Cayuga; Roman Groves (Choctaw) of Claremore, Shawnee, and Charlsie Cunningham (Osage) of Pawhuska, Wyandotte.

“It’s really a unique situation both for the region and especially for the college,” Hale said. “Our thinking was it would be a nice way to profile that longtime relationship and give it a real visible presence on our campus on that corner of Central and I street at the new student housing.”- as well as the Cherokee, are each represented by a flag and plaque in the plaza.

Following the ceremony, a traditional Indian feast was served in the NEO Student Activity Center.

As a native people we live in what are kind of two worlds. On one hand we have the white world which we must live in. But we also have our tribal world. That which sets us apart from everyone else by blood, heritage and spirituality. We should not choose one or the other but accept both, pick ourselves up and strive to make things better for ourselves and our children. To survive and be a strong people we must learn to conquer the white world in our own way, and what better way than through education. You students are on the path, through hard work and dedication to achieve goals which I am proud to recognize.

Congratulations again,

Charles Diebold
Second Chief
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe

_____________________________________________________________________________

In an attempt to better inform the Seneca-Cayuga Tribal Members, the  Environmental Department will be future posting our bacteria findings, here, for Buffalo Creek, Buffalo Confluence, and Elk River.

These water bodies were chosen as they directly affect the Seneca-Cayuga Ceremonial Grounds and its participant members.   The Seneca-Cayuga Environmental Department currently uses the MPN method to report findings to both the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  Our findings are compared to the current Oklahoma standard, which is considered as a base-line measurement, which is published by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

O.W.R.B. standards for “fecal coliforms” for a warm water aquatic community;

                  Parameter                       Standard^a

                  Total Coliforms               200 (cfu)

                  E.-Coli.                            126 (cfu)

a : shall not exceed this monthly geometric mean value per 100 ml; based upon a minimum of not less than five (5) samples collected over a period of not more than thirty (30) days.

*Note – the “geometric mean” is simply a type of average that indicates the central tendency or typical value of a set of numbers. This O.W.R.B. value is calculated from the results of 5 seperate test, 100 milliters each, taken within a thirty day period.

The “cfu“ simply means colony forming unit and is a unit of measure of viable bacteria or fungal numbers.

Coliform Bacteria are the most commonly used bacterial indicator of sanitary quality of foods and/or water. They can be found in aquatic environments, in soil and on vegetation; they are universally present in large numbers in the  faeces of warm-blooded animals.  While coliforms are not normally causes of serious inllness, they are indicators that other pathogenic organisms of faecal origin are persent. Faecal pathogens include bacteria, viruses, or protozoa, and  many multicellular parasites.

 Escherichia Coli, commonly abbreviated E. Coli, are almost exclusively of fecal origin and their presence is an effective confirmation of fecal contamination.  Some strains of E. Coli can cause serious inllness in humans.

*Disclaimer … Our findings are based on monthly samples taken from these monitoring site locations, under U.S.E.P.A. regulations of the “Clean Water Act”, using USGS approved collection methods, and serve merely as a “snapshot” of water conditions at the time of collection.