“It’s my dream job. I love getting to work with my culture and to have a small part in bringing the culture alive. We’re still here, it’s still going. We want to make sure it stays that way.” – Teresa Runnels
TULSA – The Tulsa City County Library American Indian Resource Center is recognizing Native American Heritage Month with a full slate of programs. Although the center provides year-round programming, November is packed with events that honor the Tribal nations in Tulsa County. The Tribal cultures featured in this month’s programming are the Mvskoke Nation, the Euchee Tribe, the Osage Nation, the Cherokee Nation and the Pawnee Nation.
Mvskoke storyteller Will Hill will share Native American stories at the Duno-Logah: Exciting Folktales From Native Americans event. Audience members will experience Hill’s stories with the accompaniment of a buffalo hide drum, Native flute and turtle shell rattle.
Euchee culture will be shared through the Native Culture Make and Take: Making Traditional Ball Sticks and the Native Stickball Throw Around with the ZOyaha Nation events. Mike Deo (Euchee) and Tony Shepard (Euchee) will teach ball stick making and share about the traditional game of stickball.
Three language classes will be offered throughout the month. Native Hand Talk for Families is led by Mike Pahsetopah (Osage/Mvskoke/Euchee), a fourth generation hand talker. In this class participants will learn to sign simple phrases and stories. Two Osage Language Classes will be held and led by Osage Nation Language Department teacher Jacqueline Delong. Participants will learn commonly used words and simple phrases.
Other make and takes include: Cherokee Pottery, Beaded Medallion Earrings, Pony Bead Creations and Plains-Style Mini Moccasins. Each class will teach a particular craft and allow participants to take it home. Make and take classes are open to all ages. However, the Pony Bead Creations and Plains-Style Mini Moccasins classes are recommended for adults.
TCCL American Indian Resource Center Coordinator Teresa Runnels is a Sac and Fox citizen and has Mvskoke, Shawnee, Caddo, and Delaware heritage. It is her mission to inspire others to learn about different Native cultures so that it will be passed on.
“We always strive to create an interest in one of these cultural arts and seek further training for their learning so that they can carry that on with them in their lifetime.” Runnels said.
The American Indian Resource Center
In 1991 a proposal was written to establish a Native American Collection. This contained all books in the TCCL digital system pertaining to Native American culture. In 2000 the Native American Collection was officially established. In 2003 the collection found a physical home at the Zarrow Regional Library in West Tulsa. The collection was renamed as the American Indian Resource Center. The center has been headed by three coordinators during its 25 year history.
In addition to overseeing the Native American resource database, the American Indian Resource Center provides programming and outreach year round. The database is available to all card-carrying TCCL members.
Runnels has worked for TCCL in her current position since 2004. In addition to planning and overseeing Native American programming for the community, she also works with Tulsa Public Schools Indian Education Department. According to Runnels, there are over 60 tribes represented within the student body at Tulsa Public Schools. For TCCL, cultural programming provides a connection for Tribal citizens within Tulsa County. Runnels’ goal is to provide a class at every TCCL location.
“There are so many (cultures). It’s not like there’s one tribe, even though we are in the Mvskoke Nation we have so many tribes represented here,” Runnels said. “A lot of times if we don’t offer it (cultural programming) here at the library, they (Tribal citizens) may not be able to travel back to their Tribal nation to participate. We keep that stuff in mind. We want everyone to feel a part of the culture.”
Registration is required for most programs and classes offered during Native American Heritage month. To register, visit www.tulsalibrary.org/events. A full list of programs and classes can be found below:
Native Culture Make and Take: Making Traditional Ball Sticks
Saturday, Nov. 8
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Jenks Library
523 W. B St.
Native Stickball Throw Around with zOyaha Nation
Saturday, Nov. 8
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Veterans Park
305 S. Birch St.
Native Hand Talk for Families
Monday, Nov. 10
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Broken Arrow Library
300 W. Broadway
Duno-Logah: Exciting Folktales From Native America
Thursday, Nov. 13
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Charles Page Library
551 E. Fourth St.
Native Culture Make and Take: Cherokee Pottery
Friday, Nov. 14
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Skiatook Library
316 Wc Rogers Blvd
Native Culture Make and Take: Beaded Medallion Earrings
Monday, Nov. 17
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Bronson Brookside Library
4607 S. Madison Place
Adult Craft Night: Pony Bead Creations Make and Take
Monday, Nov. 17
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Zarrow Regional Library
2224 W. 51st St.
Native Culture Make and Take: Plains Style Mini Moccasins
Tuesday, Nov. 25
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Maxwell Park Library
1313 N. Canton
