UETVMKV, Oklv. – The Wetumka Indian Community (WIC) recently celebrated their smoke shop customers and made a big name change. On Aug. 14 The WIC hosted a Customer Appreciation Day. The following week on Aug. 19 the WIC held a special-call meeting where they voted to change their community name from its current spelling, Wetumka, to the traditional Mvskoke spelling, Uetvmkv (UIC).
Attendees at Customer Appreciation Day were able to grab free hot dogs and had the opportunity to enter a drawing to win a variety of prizes. In order to be eligible to win prizes, attendees had to make a five-dollar purchase from the smoke shop, excluding tobacco products. The purchase had to be made from Aug. 5 through Aug. 14. The prizes given out included a wide variety of products to help make the summer enjoyable, including an Igloo ice chest, a 17-inch Blackstone griddle, a GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker chair, two $100 gift cards, a Yeti tumbler, a wood-carved walking stick, and various other prizes. The employees of the Wetumka Indian Community Smoke Shop saw this as their way to give back to the community they serve.
The special meeting featured Mvskoke citizen Edwin Marshall, who spoke on the history of the community’s name and preserving culture. UIC Chairman Lenora Yahola shared an article written about her grandmother, Bertha Yahola. It was estimated by the community that over 80 members were in attendance for the big vote.
According to the UIC Facebook page, the recent meeting where the community changed its name and the customer appreciation day were both big successes. In a public statement on the community’s name change, community leadership expressed that they were ecstatic and pleased with the turnout. The statement reads,
“It was a great night of fellowship, where everyone enjoyed an Indian taco, and door prizes, Mvto WIC board and the volunteers for an awesome evening. We are blessed to have such an amazing community.”
To keep up to date on UIC meetings and events, follow their Facebook page, Wetumka Creek Indian Community.
