OKMULGEE, Okla. – During her lifetime Phyllis Bigpond (Yuchi) spent over 40 years working in Native American advocacy and community service. Serving Native communities in Arizona, Oklahoma and Colorado, Bigpond made a big impact in the areas she lived in. On April 17 it was announced that the former Ross-Barnum Denver Public Library Branch was renamed the Ross-Phyllis Bigpond Branch Library in honor of her contributions to the community.
Bigpond passed away on September 26, 2009 after battling lymphoma of the brain. She was the recipient of many awards throughout her lifetime including Outstanding Native American Leader by the Association of the American Indian Social Work. She was honored by then Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, who proclaimed July 30, 2009 to be Phyllis Bigpond Day.
Bigpond was one of the founding members of the Denver Indian Family Resource Center (DIFRC), along with Lucille Ecohawk (Pawnee), and Dr. Nancy Lucero (Mississippi Choctaw). The center was built in 2000, back when Denver did not offer Indian Child Welfare Act services for urban Native American families. DIFRC offers culturally-connected services with the goal of keeping families together, and connected to their culture.
DIFRC Executive Director Jolene Holgate (Diné) continues the fight to keep Native families together. According to Holgate, Bigpond was instrumental in establishing a centralized location for services, making it easier for the families that rely on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) to navigate custody cases.
“What Phyllis was realizing was that Native children were being removed and placed with Non-Native families,” Holgate said. “There just needed to be that bridge between the system and the families that ensured the welfare of preserving the family, as well as ensuring reunification if those children were removed. Phyllis definitely felt like it was important that our Native children and families had that cultural connection. That’s what we provide here at DIFRC.”
ICWA is administered by the counties in Colorado. They are responsible for the due diligence of carrying out the law and ensuring the rights of Native children are protected. However, the counties rely heavily on DIFRC to make sure Native families stay together and that children receive the best outcome possible. If the best possible outcome is not with the parents, per ICWA children are placed with kinship providers or extended family relatives.
“What she oversaw at DIFRC (Denver Indian Family Resource Center) was basically wanting to keep the circle whole. She felt like there had to be a focus on Native families.” Holgate said.
Life and Legacy
Bigpond was born in Mounds, Okla. According to family, she grew up in Yuchi culture and was very passionate about her heritage. She attended Oklahoma State University for college and went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Washington University.
According to Negiel Bigpond, Phyllis Bigpond’s nephew, she grew up in the Duck Creek area and attended Pickett Chapel United Methodist in Sapulpa. He described her as a “devout woman of faith.”
“She knew a lot about everything. She knew a lot about the history of the Yuchi people,” Negiel Bigpond said. “She was always a person that tried to introduce you to excellence. That includes getting an education, knowing your history, knowing about your family, knowing where you came from.”
When asked about what Bigpond’s legacy is, her nephew said it was wisdom. Holgate said it was kindness. According to a release from the Denver Public Library, Bigpond’s legacy “Lives on through the programs she established, the communities she strengthened, and the countless lives she touched through her compassionate leadership and unwavering dedication to Native American families and children.”
The Ross-Phyllis Bigpond Branch Library is located at 3570 W. 1st Ave.
