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Cherokees In Sperry Are Ga Du Gi September 6, 2002 Skiatook Journal SPERRY—Native people in Sperry exhibited the true meaning of ga du gi, which means working together in the Cherokee language, by their strong showing at the Cherokee Council District 8 meeting held last week. A total of 78 people registered for the council meeting hosted by Cherokee District 8 Councilman Buel Anglen. Cherokee Principal Chief Chad Smith spoke to the group about a number of issues facing the Cherokee people. He specifically addressed education, youth and elderly programs, housing, employment and economic stability of the Cherokees. Smith said the Cherokees have faced great adversities--lost lives and land through war and removal and faced government control--but the Tribe has a great legacy. He said after living through these trials and tribulations, the Tribe came out inspired and looked to the future. He recommended that all Tribal members not only study their Cherokee heritage and learn the Cherokee language, but learn from the past and move forward as leaders into the future. In fact, Smith said that Cherokee language classes could be organized for the Sperry area. He said the Tribal members have the burden of duty and leadership today; and they need to take the initiative. As an example, Smith referred to Pat Moss (the mother of the late Brian Moss, who Smith recognized as one of the Cherokee Nation's great patriots) and her involvement with the organization of the Brian A. Moss Memorial Chapter of the American War Mothers. "Our future is only limited by leadership," said Smith. He also talked about the children and their education. He said his dad always said, "Get your education. No one owes you a living." Smith said, "We've got choices to make. We will determine our future. We need to remind our youth to get their education." He said the Cherokees' decision for today is "What will we do with our great Cherokee legacy? "We can die from apathy, or excel with great tradition. We are not a people of the past; we are a people of the future," he said. Smith answered questions of the Tribal members in attendance. Concerning the employment rate of Cherokees in the area, he said they were doubling the work force at Catoosa. When asked how many Cherokees are employed by the Cherokee Nation, Smith said 82% were Cherokee, 6% were Indian, and 10% were non-Indian. In reference to a question about the Summer Youth Program and Head Start in Sperry, Buel Anglen said the Head Start program is co-oped with the public school. Anglen also said they were checking into the Johnson O'Malley program, as well. Some Tribal members wanted to know about car tags. Chief Smith said what they can get is not a regular car tag, but a tag that says Cherokee Nation Citizen. Other discussion centered on college scholarship funds, elderly housing, and housing rehabilitation. Smith said the Cherokees had recently connected with HUD in a loan to help reduce the waiting list for homes...with the elderly and handicapped given first priority. In reference to housing rehabilitation, Smith said regulations on rehabilitation of homes located in a floodplain cannot be waved since the funding comes from the Federal government. One person attending the meeting wanted to know if the Cherokees would help the Shawnees. Chief Smith said the Shawnees, both the Loyal Shawnee and Absentee Shawnee, are considered full members of the Cherokee Tribe and are offered the same programs. Special guests at the meeting along with Principal Chief Smith were representatives of the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation, Owasso office--Marcy Barrett, Debbie Bailey and Melody Rock--and the Mobile Clinic. Also, Deborah Campbell attended the meeting as a representative of State Senator Grover Campbell.
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