“These are really good for people to find out about programs that the tribe offers. Every resource fair that the people come to, they learn more about social services, youth services, different things they don’t know about. You can find out about upcoming events. Every department offers a lot of information. – Sapulpa Indian Community Member Virginia Rangel
SAPULPA – Elders were greeted by Tribal employees from various Muscogee (Creek) Nation departments at the Sapulpa Indian Community Center Resource Fair on Aug. 27. The small fair provided community members, particularly elders, updates on available Tribal services. The fair was sponsored by the College of the Muscogee Nation as an effort to bring information directly to communities.
CMN Dean of Student Affairs Krystal Wind (Mvskoke) said the idea to bring the fair to the Sapulpa Community came from CMN Case Manager Kim Morrison. When asked about programming the Sapulpa Indian Community would like to see, Morrison was told they wanted a resource fair.
“Kim (Morrison) swung into action and got it organized,” Wind said. “She’s really involved with our campus community care and also the Creek Nation communities. She wanted to bring them together to make them more accessible to these communities.”
The main goal is to bring resources to community members, rather than community members going out to a large fair. Smaller resource fairs have been hosted by the college for the past two years.
MCN departments participating in the fair included Youth Services, Vocational Rehab, Elder Services, College of Muscogee Nation, and the Department of Education. Many offered freebies like pencils and letter openers, but more importantly they provided information on currently available resources..
The Sapulpa Indian Community serves lunch to members every weekday. The resource fair was held during the community’s Wednesday meal. Community member Virginia Rangel (Mvskoke) has lived in the Sapulpa area for over 74 years. It is rare to find a day when Rangel does not stop by for lunch. Her favorite dish is the baked chicken.
“The meals are excellent. As for the fellowship, I am able to get out of the house, I am able to speak to people. It makes a big difference because that socialization is needed,” Rangel said. “I’m able to get around but there are those that can’t. When they come in they get to visit, they get to say hi to people they basically see on a regular basis. It means a lot.”
Family members are even invited to bring in treats to share like cupcakes for special occasions. Rangel said that for some members the socialization aspect is more important than the meal itself. It is especially important for those with disabilities that make it hard to get out of the house.
Rangel’s family lives on her grandfather, Lewis Cumsey’s original allotment. They have regularly attended lunch at the community center for two years. The Sapulpa Indian Community Center is their gathering place.
“I see my family more here than I do at home and we all live on the same 20 acres,” Rangel said. “We still live on my grandfather’s allotment land just south of Sapulpa.”
Rangel utilizes the MCN Tribal Energy Program for household cooling and heating bills. Housing has also performed emergency repairs on household water lines.
According to Wind, her department is also available to host Question Persude Refer Suicide Prevention training. If there are other MCN Chartered Communities that are interested in hosting a resource fair or a QPR Training with the college they can reach out to Morrison by phone, 918-549-2864 or by email, kmorrison@cmn.edu.
