UKB CELEBRATION: 73rd commemoration of signing constitution

Sep. 29—A celebration recognizing the 73rd anniversary of the signing of the United Keetoowah Band's constitution, the establishment of bylaws, and a corporate charter in 1950, is Oct. 6-7 at the UKB complex.

The theme for this year's celebration is "In the beginning...we were all Kituwah."

Ernestine Berry, director of the John Hair Museum, shared the story behind the signing of the document.

"The reorganization came about, actually, as a result of the Great Depression," Berry said. "Franklin D. Roosevelt was the president, and at that time the poor were poorer, and the poorest of the poor was the full-blood Indians. So Roosevelt said our natives were the poorest of the poor and said that if the U.S. gave the Indians back their governments they could help themselves."

That was the impetus behind the Indian Reorganization Act, which gave the reservation tribes the right to reorganize their governments, Berry said.

The first event of the celebration was Sept. 29, with the Jr./Miss Keetoowah Pageant. A two-day golf tournament is scheduled on Oct. 5-6, with senior two-man scramble and open two-man scramble tournaments.

A dignitary dinner, by invitation only, is scheduled for Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m., followed by a stomp dance at 9 p.m. at the stomp grounds by the arbors on the 76-acre UKB complex.

A chili supper is scheduled on the stomp grounds at 6 p.m. Oct. 6, prior to the stomp dance.

On Saturday, Oct. 7, the day begins with the UKB Council meeting. At 11:15 a.m. Chief Joe Bunch will give an address, followed by Deputy Chief Jeff Wacoche. Victoria Holland, the delegate designate to Congress, will serve as the emcee of the event.

At noon, a free meal of hog fry, fried potatoes, beans and fry bread will be served. Michelle Downing, executive administrative assistant at UKB, said at last year's event they ran out of food because more people than anticipated attended the celebration.

"The hog fry will be cooked in large open cast iron pots," Downing said.

Beginning at 8 a.m., the kids' fishing derby starts, followed by the stickball tournament at 9 a.m.

Stickball is a game that was once played in lieu of sending humans to die in war. Downing describes the time she saw a stick ball game at an event in North Carolina.

"The ones I grew up with on the stomp grounds [were] like a social game," Downing said. "This past year I saw a game in North Carolina and people were coming out bloody, and one had blood coming out of his nose, and I thought 'boy that's a rough game,'" Downing said.

The deadline to register for the stickball tournament and pay the $75 entry fee, was Sept. 29.

A car show begins at 8 a.m. A $20 registration fee is required, with awards being given out starting at 3 p.m. Chief's Choice, Princess' Choice and Best of Show will be awarded. Categories are original cars and trucks from 1900-present and modified cars and trucks for 1900-present.

Arts and crafts vendors open their booths at 10 a.m. Entertainment by "Saved by Grace Gospel" begins at 10 a.m., as well as the horseshoe pitch competition, volleyball tournament, chunky, and cornstalk shoot. In the volleyball tournament, first and second place wins T-shirts and first place wins half of the pot.

One of the tradition keepers, Cindy Hair, will be demonstrating basket weaving beginning at 11 a.m.

Lakes Country Radio station 102 will be on site during the celebration.

In an earlier interview, Holland told of days before the casino was shut down, when the celebration was much bigger.

"We would have a pow wow that lasted two days, and a parade downtown. But unfortunately, we don't have those extra resources," Holland said.

The UKB operated a casino and the tribe applied to get the land into trust. The Cherokee Nation objected to having the 76 acres put into trust within the Cherokee boundaries, Holland said.

"This led to the casino being shut down and we lost half our workforce, our education benefits ceased...pretty much did away with most of our income," Holland said.

The public is invited to enjoy the celebration and learn more about the traditions of the UKB at this annual event.