Click on this link to download a PDF of this Newsletter — November 2009 (3.7 mb).
2009 Annual Meeting
This year’s annual meeting as held on June 13, 2009. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Lanay B. Creech I at 11:45 A.M. An opening Prayer was offered by Clyde W. Creech Jr. Rosmarie De Boer was appointed Secretary for the Meeting. Attendance was taken; Alan Coates, Deborah Gravett and Pete Kingston were absent. Present at the meeting were Lanay B Creech, T. Wayne Harris, Deb Borjas, Rosmarie De Boer, Ivan Kingston, Randy Coates, Charlotte Simmons, David Creech, Forest Hynek, Clyde Creech Jr., Tammy Bird and Ken Sereduk. A quorum was declared.
Lanay read the minutes, T. Wayne Harris made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Randy Coates seconded the motion and the motion was passed. The Treasurer read the Financial Report and T Wayne Harris made a motion to accept the report as read and Deb Borjas seconded the motion. The Motion passed.
Old Business
The Federal Recognition Process and Technical Assistance Letter was discussed. We have our records mostly in shape. When we have a TA inspection we must have the “form 20″ signed and in each members file, as requested by the BIA. The Federal Recognition Committee consists of Lanay B. Creech I, T. Wayne Harris, Deb Borjas, Rosie De Boer, Gwen Klinger, Chris Klinger. New members are Andrew Gildersleeve, and Trish Shields. Andrew Gildersleeve does legal research and studies Indian Law, he was appointed to the Board.
The need for documentation of the time period 1900–1960 was discussed, highlighting the fact that we need one document from each decade starting from 1900 thru 1960. Ideally this would be from a third party, and them referring to us as a Delaware Indian person or group. For example, pictures or articles from newspapers.
New Business
Some of the new business discussed was that Chairman Lanay B. Creech I was tired of bickering and fighting among the members. The chairman stated “It will quit or I will walk away.” There was a discussion about the fact that we do not have everyone’s “form 20″, including one large group that is lacking their minor children. Please remember to send in form 20!
New members Andrew Gildersleeve and Patrica Shields were welcomed to our organization; they are members of the Watches side of the family. After a discussion, a consensus was reached to change the Annual Gathering meeting from the 2nd Saturday in June to the 4th Saturday of June each year. This change was made to accommodate members who have children still in school during the 2nd week of June. The next Annual Gathering meeting will be on June 26th, 2010, at the Park in Ontario, and will be a potluck lunch. Get your favorite recipe out and ready to share. Lanay Creech made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by T. Wayne Harris. After the meeting flowers and a certificate were presented to Charlotte Simmons for being the Outstanding Tribal Woman of the Year for the Year, 2008. A Golden Eagle Feather was presented to Clyde Creech Sr. as the Ceremonial Chief of the Tribe.
Oklahoma Indian Summer Festival
Our Chairman, Lanay B. Creech I, attended the 22nd Annual Oklahoma Indian Summer Festival in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Bartlesville is the tribal headquarters for the recently re-recognized Delaware Tribe of Indians whose ancestors were forced off of the Kansas reservation in 1867.
Attending the Indian Summer Festival with Chairman Creech were his wife Judy Creech, tribal members Cris and Gwen Klinger and Gwen’s Sister Brenda. The festival was very well organized and at the inter-tribal powwow our group had the opportunity to visit with various tribal members from the Delawares of Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation, Pawnee Nation and the Osage Nation. Additionally at the event, more than 30 Native American Indian Artists were selected for a juried art competition. Sculpture, paintings, clothing, gourd art, pottery, wood sculpture, basket weaving, silver work, bead work, and leather goods were some of the items available too see and purchase. Various interactive traditional craft making and cultural demonstrations showcasing these artistic talents were held both days. Another highlight of the event was a 50 member Cherokee National Children’s Choir that sang songs in Cherokee. We were blessed with some beautiful fall like weather for the festival which helped bring out a tremendous turnout for the event.
The Color Guard Unit for the Grand Entry each evening of the event was the Lenape Color Guard from the Delaware Tribe of Indians.
We thought it was very gracious and an honor that the Lenape Color Guard took time after the grand entry to pose with our Chairman, Lanay Creech. The Lenape Color Guard brings much Lenape honor and tradition to the Grand Entry of each event that they attend.
The Lenape Color Guard are pictured posing with Chairman Creech, and are (from left to right) Kenny Brown, David Inda, Homer Scott Jr. and John W. Sumpter.
There are more interesting photos at the Oklahoma Indian Summer Festival website. (http://www.okindiansummer.org/?page=photos)
1959 — 2009 Frank Scaramuzzi
Frank Scaramuzzi, son of Francis Scaramuzzi, died in unfortunate circumstances some time in mid-July. Francis Scaramuzzi is the sister of Priscilla Ruth Thayer, mother of our Chairman, Lanay B. Creech I. Frank is Chairman Creech’s first cousin. Chairman Creech drove up from Oklahoma, and stayed with his family in Baker City through the services.
Frank Scaramuzzi enjoying a Lucky Lager
The memorial for Frank Scaramuzzi was held on August 15th, 2009 in the Elgin City Park from 5:00 to 8:00 in the evening. Arrangements were under the care of Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory.
Wheel built by Frank & Lanay
Please join us in extending our condolences to Chairman Creech and his family.
Welcome Kastle Xaiden De La Fuente
A new Delaware was born on June 17, 2009 to Nina Wonacott and Ruben De La Fuente, of Boise, Idaho. His name is Kastle Xaiden De La Fuente, and weighed in at 7 lbs and 17 3/4”.
Kastle Xaiden De La Fuente
Welcome Kastle, and congratulations to Nina, Ruben and his big sister Sonnet!
Sonnet, Nina & Kastle
DOI College Scholarship Fund Benefit Sale
Rosmarie De Boer held a garage and bake sale benefiting the DOI College Scholarship Fund at her home in Meridian, Idaho this August. The three day event was the “First Annual” sale, as she plans to make it an annual happening.
Many volunteers helped make the event a success. Jan and Paul De Boer helped set the sale up each day, and Jan manned the grill for the two dollar hot dog and a drink combo. Charlotte Simmons, Deborah and Dion Gravett, Priscilla Thayer, Forest Hynek, Ivan Kingston, and Rosmarie De Boer worked the sales floor. They collected $184.04 over the 3 day sale.
The sale featured many tools, household items, toys and artwork donated by Chuck Creech, Clyde and Lisa Creech, Dion and Deborah Gravett, Forest Hynek, Ivan Kingston, Jan and Rosmarie De Boer, Linda Holland and Ron and Lou Milliken, to name just a few. Thank you all.
As a reminder, we will gladly accept your donations year round, we are a 501©3 non profit corporation, and all donations are tax deductible.
More information will soon be released about the requirements for and how to apply for this scholarship for the spring 2010 school semester on our website, thedelawaresofidaho.org.
Why you must sign & return Form 20 to belong to the DOI
The excerpt below explains why you must sign consent form (DOI form 20) to belong to the Delawares of Idaho. It is taken from the Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 101 / Friday, May 23, 2008 / Notices on the first page, third column under Guidance and Direction 1. Emergence of Splinter Groups no. (3) and refers to consent forms to be signed by each individual stating that he or she voluntarily wishes to belong to the group, i.e. here the Delawares of Idaho.
This provision has been the reason we now have our present applications with the statement a member desires and intends to be a member of the Delawares of Idaho. This also gives other directions we need in our federal recognition process that is being followed.
Click here to download a copy of the the register. Click here to download a copy of this required form, DOI Form 20. Please fill it out and send it in!!
Guidance and Direction
I. Emergence of Splinter Groups
A. Splinter Groups That Arise After a Petitioner Submits a Letter of Intent and Before the Department Determines the Group Is ‘‘Ready, Waiting for Active Consideration.’’
Conflicts within a petitioning group that result in multiple and conflicting claims to leadership hamper the ability of OFA to communicate and conduct its business with the group when OFA cannot identify a single governing body as the point of contact with the group.
OFA should deal with the designated leaders of the group as a whole, not the group’s various members, and should continue to avoid becoming involved in the internal conflicts of a petitioning group. Disputes are matters that must be handled by the group. When OFA finds that conflicting claims to leadership interfere with its ability to conduct its business with the group, OFA should not devote its expertise and resources to the group’s petition.
In order to be able to work with the one duly authorized governing body of a petitioner when these leadership disputes occur, OFA may request the following information from the group:
(1) The current governing document, and all past governing documents;
(2) The current membership list that is certified as accurate as of a specific date, and all past membership lists;
(3) Completed consent forms from every member. A consent form should be signed by each individual and should state that he or she voluntarily wishes to belong to the group. A parent should sign for his or her minor children individually or the legal guardian or representative transacting for that minor child or individual should sign. In the latter instance, the group should submit a copy of the legal document allowing that representation;
(4) Copies of the all minutes of meetings of the group’s governing body since the filing of the letter of intent;
(5) Copies of documents reflecting changes in the composition of the governing body since the filing of the letter of intent, such as published election results, minutes, newspaper articles, or newsletters; and
(6) Any court order determining the legitimate leadership of the group.
Until this material is received and the leadership split is resolved, OFA should not expend time on the petitioner. The submissions should be reviewed by the appropriate OFA researchers, when available, recognizing that, under the regulations, the Department’s top priority is processing petitions on active consideration, followed by those petitions on the ‘‘Ready, Waiting for Active Consideration’’ (‘‘Ready’’) list. If an OFA review of the submitted information identifies a governing body agreed upon by the group’s members, then OFA may contact the petitioner.
Some petitioning groups attempt to resolve their disputes by splitting into two or more groups, not realizing that, by doing so, neither group may be able to meet the criteria. The Department does not acknowledge parts of an Indian tribe. Therefore, the groups should be encouraged to work together for the long term, recognizing that there may be circumstances in which the separation is appropriate to reflect an actual group that might meet the regulatory criteria.
Click here to download a copy of the the register. Click here to download a copy of this required form, DOI Form 20. Please fill it out and send it in!!
1920 — 2009 Lewis Murray
Lewis Murray, 89, of Ponca City, Oklahoma passed away on June 15, 2009. Arrangements were taken care of by the Trout Funeral Home in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Lewis was a welder, and is Gwen Clinger’s father. Please join us in extending our condolences to The Delawares of Idaho’s Secretary of State, Gwen Clinger, and her family. (no picture available)
The DOI is on Facebook
Are you on Facebook? Now you can keep up with the tribe using these two handy links!
Click here for our public fan site, or copy and paste this link into your browser:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Delawares-of-Idaho-Inc/114805545279?ref=mf
Anyone can be a fan!
Click here for our invite only discussion group, or copy and paste this link into your browser:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=133534412049
Check us out and request an invite!
Subscribe to the DOI Newsletter via Email
Join the green revolution by subscribing to the newsletter via email! Save a few trees and save us the postage!
Please visit the DOI website and enroll in the electronic form of the newsletter. It will only take a few minutes! Use the form on the web site and you will then receive a few emails to make sure we have it set up correctly!
After you fill out the form, a confirmation email will be sent to your email; after you read and follow the instruction inside the email the subscription process will be complete. The newsletter has been one of the biggest expenses for the tribe over the years, and this is quick and eco-friendly way to help out!
Subscribe here:
http://www.thedelawaresofidaho.org/wordpress/?p=1449
Amanda Keathley and Cory Bingamon buy first home
Amanda & Cory
This is a very exciting time for Deborah Gravett’s Daughter, Amanda Keathley and Cory Bingamon, who just bought their first home. The home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a three car garage in a nice Kuna subdivision. Congratulations!
For more information and photos, check out their web page:
http://amandaandcory.web.officelive.com/default.aspx
Families in Service
Rosmarie De Boer has several grandchildren in the service of our country:
Ailsia Baxter in Kuwait
Ailsia Baxter
Ryan Goldsmith Afghanistan
Amber & Ryan Goldsmith
Robert Guardiola in Iraq
Autumn & Robert Guardiola
Please join us in prayer for these and all of the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States of America who are now in harm’s way in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other parts of the world.
Please let us know of your family members in service, and we will post them here, so that we can all pray for them and their safe return.
We are grateful for the ultimate price of freedom paid by those fallen.
We pray for strength and courage for the POW’s, MIA’s, those held hostage and their families.
We pray for the protection and safety of selfless relief workers and missionaries who help those in need.
We pray for the protection of children and innocent civilians.
We pray for our nation and our leaders.
Amen
Photos with the Chief
Chief Eagle Eye, Clyde W. Creech Sr. resting his eyes at the 2009 Annual Meeting
A fund raiser benefiting DOI College Scholarship Fund was held during the annual meeting. $10.00 for a 5X7 and $7.50 for a 4X6 and you could get your picture taken with the Chief, Clyde W. Creech Sr. Thanks to all who participated, including — Lanay and Judy Creech, Barbara Short, Trish Shields, Andrew Gildersleeve, James and Darlene Coutts, Forest Hynek, Anna Danforth, and Rosie De Boer. Together they raised about $90.00 for the scholarship fund. Thanks to all!
The Alseth Family in Bolivia
The Alseth Family
Kathy Alseth, one time secretary of the Delawares of Idaho, and her family are currently serving with a christian orphanage called Casa de Amor, in Cochabamba, Bolivia. They recently opened an orphanage for special needs children out of their home in Bolivia. Originally they went to Bolivia planning to spend six months working in two different orphanages in August of 2007. After working there for the six months and falling in love with the children, they felt compelled to stay through 2010.
In the orphanage, called Casa de Amor 3, they care for as many as 8 children, and many have special behavioral or medical needs. Rick and Kathy are house parents to these children and they endeavor to meet their needs on a continual basis. They are assisted by a small staff and their children, who are like brothers and sisters to them.
They are currently in the process of adopting three of the children themselves! You can follow Kathy and her family on Facebook, or on their website. If you would like to support her family and associated expenses to run the orphanage throughout the year you can do so by sending a tax deductible contribution to:
Mountain Meadow Christian Center
“Bolivia Project”
38 Robie Creek Road
Boise, ID 83716 USA
*Please put a note on your contribution specifying:
“Bolivia Project”
If you’d like to support them through prayer please visit their PRAYER SUPPORT page on their website. They keep it up-to-date monthly with all of the physical and spiritual needs they encounter and face. Kathy says they can never have too much prayer support!”
The Alseth Family website is here:
http://www.thealsethfamily.com
1920 — 2009 Margaret De Boer
Margaret De Boer
The mother-in-law of Rosmarie De Boer, Margaret De Boer, 89, of Nampa, passed away Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at her home in Nampa Idaho. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Chapel of the Chimes Funeral Home, in Meridian, Idaho.
Margaret and her family immigrated to the United States in 1959. She became a U.S. citizen in 1967. Margaret had 10 children, many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Please join us in extending our condolences to Secretary Rosmarie De Boer, and her family.
Pay your dues online
You can now pay your dues online now via PayPal with any major credit card. You will need your roll number to fill out the form so that we can credit your account.
1944 — 2009 Richard Koch
Richard N. Koch, 65, of Seattle, Washington passed away July 13, 2009 of a heart attack. He was preceded in death by his brother, Alan Creech. He is survived by his siblings, Lanay B Creech I, Forest Dawn Hynek, Danny Danner, David Creech, Jimmy Creech, David Lowe, and Chris Allen. Please join us in extending our condolences to Richards family. (no picture available)
Birding Islands
The Name
Birding Islands
In the 1940s, when our tribe lived there, we called it Birdies Island. That was the name of the location that the tribe referred to as home. I was always curious to visit Birdies Island because the elders sounded so attached when they spoke of this special place and the time they spent there. Occasionally, over the years, I’ve searched the internet in hopes of finding more information about this place so close to the hearts of our tribe. I found no reference to it on the internet. One day I asked my mother to be very specific on how to get there, so I could locate it. I contacted the State and they helped me locate our prior home called Birdies Island.
What I found was that our Birdies Island is the same place that others now call Birding Islands. They described the place to me like this. “Just north of the small community of New Plymouth, Idaho lies the unique river habitat area known as the Birding Islands. The name depicts, to a large extent, what type of wildlife use the area. Many different types of birds, both game and non-game, can be found throughout the area. For example, great blue herons and night herons, snowy egrets, mallards, widgeon, Canada geese, and a variety of shore birds all utilize the wetlands of this area.” I can’t help but wonder if Birdies Island was our name for the place, that eventually evolved to Birding Island; or was it called that already and the oral history slowly altered the name.
How to Get There
Birding Islands Map
Payette River Wildlife Management Area’s (WMA) Birding Islands segment is located just northeast of the town of New Plymouth in west central Idaho’s Payette County. Birding Islands is accessible at three locations; the Birding Islands South access is the most popular. To reach it, take Interstate 84 to exit nine and travel 4.5 miles on State Highway 30 through the town of New Plymouth. Just past the New Plymouth Post Office look for the Birding Island South sign. Turn east onto Idaho Street and drive 0.5 miles to Holly Avenue. Turn north and follow Holly Avenue 1.5 miles to NW Second Avenue. Turn east and follow this road 0.7 miles to Payette River WMA’s Birding Islands South parking lot.
The BLM shared some general information with me, It is near the Idaho/Oregon border, scattered islands dot the Payette River. Large and small, wide and narrow, these islands and nearby mainland areas provide prime nesting habitat for Canada geese and other waterfowl. Recognizing the significance of this area to nesting waterfowl, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) purchased 50 acres of Payette River islands in 1960 (15 years after our tribe left the Island). Additional island and mainland acreage has been acquired over the years and today, Payette River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) totals just over 1,200 acres. Area management focuses on waterfowl nesting/brooding habitat and upland game bird nesting/wintering habitat. These and other management efforts benefit a host of wildlife present at Payette River WMA.
Birding Islands & our Family History
(recalled by Charlotte Simmons)
The tribe lived where it is known today to be called Birding Island. We always called it Birdies Island. Our house was right next door to the water area. This is where we had jewelry hidden in the walls. The family brought it from Pearl Stephenson’s family up the trail, hidden in the hem of their skirts. They hid it in the logs of the house at Birdies Island. It was a 3 room wooden framed house with a tar paper roof. We called it “The Big House”. There was a pot belly stove in the living room and a cook stove was in the kitchen. The front door was on the north side of the house and opened into the living room. There was a window in the living room, a couple in the kitchen and one in the bedroom. The bedroom was just big enough for a bed and a dresser. Grandpa and Grandma (Leander Creech and Pearl Stephenson Creech) lived in The Big House. Everyone else in the family lived in tents and tee pees on the west side of the house. The driveway was on the East. It had a wood pile on the south. The road to the place was on the north. What is known today as the WMA refuge, would have been on the east side of our house and the river was on the west side of the house. We had a big screened in coup that was about 16’ with wire so the birds could fly around. It was about 10 feet tall. The wire was on poles with a door into it. The birds couldn’t get out until you wanted them to go out. Sometimes they clipped the wings so the birds would get used to staying on the place and then when the wings grew back they would fly away but always return because that is where they started from. The more that came back, the more eggs we had. But at the time we lived there it was not a refuge. Often Grandpa (Leander Lewis Creech) and I (Charlotte Creech) went down along the river and gathered the wild eggs and hatched them out under setting hens that belonged to grandma and turned the birds loose on the island. The family did that all the time. The birds came back because we raised them. One day the house was burnt down. We figured someone stole the jewelry and then burnt the house down. Gilbert, Bruce, Grandpa (Leander) and Grandma (Pearl), and Ruth (mama) hunted thru the ashes for days with rakes looking for the jewelry or melted gold and found nothing. They figured it must have been stolen before the house was burnt down. After the house burned down, the tribe left the area. Twenty years later, the area was preserved as a bird refuge. I may have been born there, I don’t know for sure. I do remember being only 7 or 8 at the time and recall that these are some of the tribe that were there: Leander and Pearl, Art and Ruth, Joan, Tom, Dale, Nina, Charlotte, Chuck, Ray, Elsie and Al with all their kids, Alan, Jean, Bill-Clarence, and Gary, Kate, Frank, Gilbert, Bruce, Clyde, Fred and Annie, and LeRoy Hobson. This is where Grandpa raised the twelve wild geese that he called his boys, but that’s another story.
Whether or not, it was Leander Creech and the Delaware descendants care, nurturing, and protection of the birds that started this refuge that so many people enjoy today; we may never know for sure. What we do know for sure is that our ancestors, our tribe, has always been close to the land and the animals. The time we lived at Birdies Island was a special time, a time we shared with the birds. It may be called Birding Island now, but to the tribe it will always be Birdies Island.
(submitted by Deborah Dewey~Gravett)
Needed — Your Old Photographs & Documents
Please consider sharing old family photos, bibles and documents with the DOI. We need to collect further documentation about our group’s activities, 1860 to present day; your pictures and documents can help us do that, from any time period.
We can arrange for them to be picked up from you or shipped to our office, at no cost to you. We will copy them and return them, unharmed, along with a free digital photo CD(s) of your pictures for you to use as well.
All of the items we receive will go into our archives, and will be shared with all of our members.
Contact the tribal office for more information.
Click on this link to download a PDF of this Newsletter — November 2009 (3.7 mb).
