By: Shayln Proctor
OKMULGEE, Okla.- The Okmulgee Elder Indian Community held a fundraiser on May 26 at the Okmulgee Indian Community Center. They served Indian tacos to raise money for travel expenses for the National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) Conference in Cherokee, North Carolina.
Every two years the NICOA Conference welcomes all of the 574 tribes and other attendees.
According to NICOA’s website it states, “NICOA’s conference is the only national conference in the country focusing exclusively on the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native elders. It serves as a national forum for Native elders from across the country to come together to meet and receive updated information on aging in Indian Country.”
“The conference is the elders’ forum; the place to voice concerns, provide recommendations on policies that are important to Native elders, and to receive up-to-date information and resources to help elders age at home and in their own communities.”
National Indian Council on Aging board of directors member Lillian Thomas said, “They have workshops for different issues. Just things about health or finances, anything that will help assist the elders.”
The Chairman of the Elder’s Committee of the Elder Indian Community Esther Gee has been to approximately four conferences in the past. These conferences are held in different locations.
Through these conferences, they are able to make connections within the other tribes. They get to learn how other tribes live and practice their traditions.This creates bonds that make the attendees hopeful to see each other again year after year.
During their time at these different conferences they have toured other tribes’ government headquarters and have been able to get to know the different tribes that are within the state they reside in.
The elders enjoy sightseeing and being able to get out of their own home. “Some elders haven’t gone that far,” Gee said.
“We went to Washington in Tacoma. The tribe there had a feast for us and they live on the coast, and all of their food had to deal with crab. Their food was delicious,” Gee said.
During the events within that week they are able to spread the Mvskoke language and culture. “We work with the creek singing, so we can share our language and songs when we go to Cherokee, North Carolina.” Gee said.
These different tribes are able to sing different songs within their own language.
“They have a banquet night and then they have a traditional fashion show. All the tribes can wear their traditional dress and have a fashion show.” Thomas said.
During this most recent fundraiser the community raised more funds than their last Indian taco sale. This helps the community inch closer to their goal of $2,500. For whatever portion the community is unable to raise on their own, they are hoping the National Council will pass legislation to cover the rest of the expenses for transportation and rooms.
The Indian taco sales seem to be the higher attraction among the community’s fundraisers because the attendees love the food. While they have hosted garage sales in the past, they reported that they profit more with the Indian taco sales.
They try to at least have one Indian Taco Sale every month to raise enough money for seven of the community members that plan to attend the conference.
They had volunteers and others within the community to help serve or cook the food. Some of them are not going on the trip, but were giving their time to help.
“We have been blessed that we lived this long and blessed that people are interested in coming with us,” Gee said.
According to Thomas, regardless of the fundraiser outcomes, she is just happy to have a facility to meet and fellowship with her fellow elders.
“One thing that I appreciate about the Okmulgee Indian Community is that they allowed us to use the facility. They are thinking of the things that help the elders, I appreciate this community for what they do for us elders,” Thomas said.
To donate to the Okmulgee Elder Indian Community NICOA trip, you can contact Council Representative Anna Marshall at amarshall@muscogeenation.com. Just specify the donation for the “elder trip.”
