TULSA, Okla. Four Cherokees were honored Nov. 6 at the
Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commissions 17th annual
Dream Keepers Awards Banquet inside the University of Oklahoma-Schusterman
Center.
Buddy
McCarty, a Cherokee Nation citizen, was honored with the Lewis B.
Ketchum Excellence in Business Award. He said to be honored by fellow
Native Americans meant much to him.
Its an incredible honor. I never dreamed Id
be up here with all the great business people we have, you know.
Im just very fortunate to be here, McCarty said.
He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and graduated from Chilocco
Indian School in 1961. After getting a bachelors degree from
Northeastern State University he entered the U.S. Army. After serving
he moved to Tahlequah and opened a mens clothing store that
he operated for 15 years. In 1982, he went to work for State Farm
Insurance and has resided in Owasso ever since.
McCarty said he also likes to make bow and arrows and enjoys
traveling to Tahlequah for bow shoots. He and his wife have been
married more than 40 years. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.
CN
citizen Mary Baker Shaw of Broken Arrow received the Charles Chibitty
Family Community Award. Shaw has devoted time volunteering and fundraising
for different organizations in the Broken Arrow/Tulsa area. She
said volunteering to raise money for organizations are more important
today than ever.
In todays economic hardships we find that many of
our nonprofits are very dependent. As a matter of fact most of their
survival is dependent upon volunteer fundraising, she said.
So Id like to encourage everyone if you have any free
time, volunteer. I promise you someone will appreciate it.
Shaw serves on the American Indian Resource Committee for Tulsa
City/County libraries, Tulsa Community College Foundation, Bacone
College Board of Trustees, Signature Symphony Advisory Board, Salvation
Army Advisory Board and is an emeritus board member of Tulsa Opera.
She and her husband Dr. B Frank Shaw have been married for 34
years. They have one daughter and two granddaughters.
Lester
Revis, who is of Cherokee Yuchi descent, was honored with the Perry
Aunko Indigenous Language Award. Born in Claremore and raised near
Kellyville, he works to preserve the Yuchi language and culture
by teaching it to the young people of the Yuchi community.
At 10 years old, Revis began learning the language from his
mother, Ann Holder, and aunt, Addie George. He later worked with
Jimmie Skeeter, the last fluent Yuchi language speaker of the Snake
Creek ceremonial ground. In 2003, he began to work with the Yuchi
language project in Sapulpa, and in 2006 he graduated Pawnee Nation
College with a Native Language teaching certificate.
Revis said he was happy to receive the reward from the commission.
Its a wonderful thing and Im glad to be here
with all of you. I never thought Id ever be standing up here.
It never occurred to me, you know, but its a wonderful feeling
being up here and I appreciate it, he said.
United
Keetoowah Band citizen Mel Cornshucker received the Moscelyn Larkin
Cultural Achievement Award for his work as an award-winning potter.
Cornshucker was born near Jay in 1952. After high school, he
attended Bacone College in Muskogee and Southwest Baptist University
in Bolivar, Missouri.
He said he was honored to receive the award because he comes
from a family of artists that encouraged his creativity and gave
him a solid foundation in life.
At 101, my grandfather was still telling me stories about
how life was in the Indian Nation. He would tell me how he got by,
how he would go out and get his own materials to make the rugs he
wove
and he would tell me stories of how life was in Indian
Territory, he said. My parents provided me with an education
and gave me support as an artist. Its hard to be an artist.
You have to work hard at it. So to have your family behind you is
quite inspiring.
He owns and operates the Brady Artists Studio in Tulsa with
his wife Michele. He. They have a daughter and son.
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