Gary--Our heritage does not include reservations, that comes from your heritage, it is your people who inspired Hitler to form the concentration camps he had built to house the Jews. Our heritage is one of honor and pride!

For anyone who doesn't fully understand the Oklahoma land run and the froming of the state of Oklahoma, let me give you a very condensed explaination. Oklahoma was founded by mob mentality. The land was promised to the Indian people, they were living there after being forced to leave their homelands. The white people were by law, not allowed to settle in Indian Territory. They kept creeping in, the government started cutting the size of our allotments, until finally they had to admit they could not control the mob. All you people so proud of the Oklahoma Sooners, do you know where that name came from? The Sooners are the people who defied the government and snuck in and claimed their stolen land before the offical start of the land rush. Certainly nothing to be pround of, much less celebrate!

Hmmm-get over it? Perhaps NDNs would be better off if the Germans had won the war. In spite of beating tribal languages out of boarding school students code talkers won the war for AmeriKKKa. Oklahoma christians are hypocrites and nazis, bringing only sin and slaughter, death and destruction. Tribal Aborigines have survived despite the best efforts of OKKKlahoma and AmeriKKKa to readicate us. They will not cease until there is NOT ONE tribal aborigine left on the face of thee earth! Get over it?? NEVER!!!

Gary, I apologize to you for the extreme wording towards you in re to sending you to the Mohave Desert! My parents/grandparents taught me to be respectful of folks, even when we disagree & despite the fact that some of us have been abused, emotionally &/or physically by Anglos for just being born Indian ~ it bothers me that your attitude seems to be one that iniated historical/past Indian Removals in the first place, & seemed to welcome a new Indian Removal! So of course, this is going to evoke deep emotions & reactions from the true first inhabitants of this great land/country, besides the good Lord Himself.

Gary...ahhh dear Gary...I don't want the panhandle. I want downtown Oklahoma City! Nooo...I want all of Oklahoma back...No, seriously! You not only missed the boat Gary, you're missing the point. We, the original occupants of Oklahoma, have no reason to celebrate "Statehood Day"...We did not put a big "WELCOME!" greedy land hungry railroad people sign out. They wanted to open up Oklahoma to make $$$. Oklahoma was set aside for native people and then they turn around and opened it up to undocumented immigrants/aliens! And Gary, I strongly suggest you attend the "mock wedding" in Guthrie..to protest the marriage of (coff..coff) Miss Indian Territory and Mr Oklahoma! Ask for an annulment...! Hell demand it! We are asking for the truth to be told...we are proud of who we are, our culture, our heritage...after all these years, we are still around...You can take our land, but we will still remain who we are, PROUD INDIAN PEOPLE!! You can believe that we recieve free health care, free housing, free education, again..I ask you at what cost have we paid? We paid dearly...and are still paying! Like I said before, this is a very racist state and nobody can tell me differently! There's a church everywhere you look...but yet, a lot of people in Oklahoma have prejudice in their hearts. I may not go to church, but I do not believe I have to be in a church for the creator to hear my prayers...Indian people are the most praying, thankful people I know of...we pray and are thankful everyday for our life, the food we eat, we even pray for you! We pray for our young people, give thanks for our elders, we remember our people who are incarcerated, who are on the streets, the less fortunate..We do not have to have a holiday to remind us about those who gave our lives to protect this country. I remember my father who was a Korean war veteran everyday! As well as those who are still fighting for us! I am proud of not just our Indian people who have gave their lives for this country, but all our military people! You see, Gary...that's just how we are...and Gary, if I ever saw you broke down on the road...I would probably stop and help you...and if you was hungry and thirsty, I'd probably feed you and give you water....cuz that's how we are...WE ARE GOOD PEOPLE! BUT! Do not ask me to forget how Oklahoma was aquired...and do not ask me to be proud and take part in Oklahoma's Centennial.."Statehood Day"...to do so would go against my very existance...! I am inviting ALL to come out and join us on November 16th!! 8:30 NW16th and Lincoln! IF ANYONE WANTS TO HELP...Please, do not hesitate to contact Brenda at the number listed in the article...Thanks for listening to me ramble...I am not a good writer, I write from my heart...!

Gary, I vote that "we people" promise you great things, then take your land away, put you on your very own reservation....what about the Mohave desert? I hope you learn how to read, it's been stated previvously in this subject line that it's fact that all Indians didn't live in teepees! And what's wrong with teepees, anyway??? And some Indians can't afford to pay for licenses/permits it takes to hunt & fish.

Gary-you wise full of wisdom gent. That is exactly what an Indian reservation is and anyone that wants to be separate has that right. The entire state of Oklahoma is designated Indian Country. If you set foot outside of a township or municipality you are on property that had a special designation unlike any other in the nation except for maybe Alaska. I've heard that this city is the traditional location of the Wichita and affiliated tribes. Therefore, when the English as the official language comes around, remember that Wichita is the Indigenous language of this area.

Glenda, I will not swim in Lake Thunderbird period! When I was 18 something kept tugging at me and I said it was seaweed! I didn't know it could be your relatives. That was a few decades ago and I won't swim there! Yes, I knew something was not right about participating in the Centennial celebration. Something didn't feel right until I read Lilah post about a slave celebration. When she mentioned that I understood.

Tell you what. You Indians that want to live according to your heritage- we'll make an Indian reservation in the panhandle where there are very few highways and nobody to interfere with your lives. You can live in teepees and hunt for your food. I have no problem with that. I mean, if that's what you want to go back to - and I'm sure none of the imperialist anglos will bother you there.

SUPPORT BACTERIA! It's the only culture some people will ever have..SMILES!
Ahhh yesss...Indian Land...the lands the wonderful, generous Govenment gave us Indians..Family Allotments...Which now (after a few generations) has about 100+ people who come in on a few acres which means nobody can do jack caa caa with it...yesssss...Free Indian land.
How many of you enjoy swimming/boating and fishing in Lake Thunderbird? Were you aware of the fact that when that lake was made that they removed bodies of Shawnee people and reburied them in a mass grave? Some of them were not even moved...So if you feel someone tugging at you underwater...might be one of my relatives. Ahhhhh yesssss....Statehood...100 years...get over it? HA!

Do not take part in this celebration unless you are going to protest it. Think about it, they have a lot of nerve to expect us to take part. " Hey we are throwing a big party to celebrate your people's demise, come and take part". Let's have a slavery celebration, and watch all hell break loose. Be smart, don't turn your back on your own people, demand they tell the truth!!! It is time for people to stop accepting the , "oh yeah a lot of bad things happened, but...look how good things turned out". We are not whiners, we are simple truth tellers!

To anyone who thinks we would still be living in teepees, if the white people hadn't committed genocide against the native people, who ever told you that didn't know much, very few of us ever lived in teepees. Most of us lived in towns with stationary houses and highly functioning societies. We saw what was happening with the white race, since we were of a different color, it was socially accpeptable to treat us as sub humans. That treatment continues today, with some of our own people acting "like them", and putting us down, and acting superior, you know those white Indians you see everywhere now. We were living the way our Creator meant for us to live, and we would have progressed just fine, if we had been allowed to.

People are quick to say get overt it Indians! Well America get over 9-11. Indians went through 100s of 9-11s from the state and federal government!! Oklahoma history books should tell the true history of how this and all other states came about "Killing Indians" Was the law!

unitednativeamerica

Oh, I should celebrate the fact that my mother had her washed mouth out with soap at an Oklahoma public school for only being able to speak her native Creek language, and that her mother, my grand-mother (full blood Creek & Seminole), died in poverty after losing her allotment of 160 acres south of Tulsa, after a social worker visited her after she became an orphan, and because she couldn't speak, write or understand English, she was conned into signing an "X" on a piece of paper....and guess what?? No more land!!! And nothing to show for it, either. This happened to several of my relatives. This land is some of the richest in oil to this day. Someone profited, but not them!! So I'm supposed to celebrate these facts? It would be like a slap in the face of my precious ancestors to celebrate the Centennial. If we're supposed to put things like this behind us, then why the "celebration" at all? Whenever I hear the words "land run", "Pioneer Woman", "my family settled on homested, & proud of it"....it brings up these images & memories (I was able to see Grandma living this way before she was mercifully taken to heaven) and makes me sad to think that these loving women & other relatives suffered in this way. If one of my Creek sisters wants to protest, let her, it's her right! Mvto.

Wow, they made Oklahoma History a full year class? That's great! When I was in school it was only one semester. The other half of the year was Civics.

As a Native American college graduate with a Master of Arts degree and working at a headquarters level office in the Washington, DC area, I am very knowledgeable of all facets of the "American" way of life. I was forced to learn their government, religion, laws, regulations, history, value systems, etc. while also learning that of my own. Most Native Americans can be viewed as bi-cultural in that respect. Anglos know only their way of life and know little about ours. So who is the ignorant and un-educated race here? I have every right to whine and cry because I know what I'm whining and crying about. Do you, Rebecca? How far in school did you go to "strive for a better society?" By the way, I worked two jobs, took out loans, received grants based on my GPA and went to school full time for seven years as a single parent. How dare anyone assume that we are getting a free ride and wallowing in self-pity! Shame on you.

And another thing, the more things change the more they stay the same. Today the destruction of families by a state sponsored Hate Bill, (HB 1804) and the disenfranchisement of American Children born to immigrants in denying them the opportunity to have a two parent family, equal opportunity for education, and quality health care are the ATROCITIES that are occuring in 2007 in the state of Oklahoma!

Candace, I served 4 years and paid into the Army College Fund for my education. To recieve all this free money you have to #1 FIRST AND FOREMOST live in your tribes jurisdictional boundaries. In other words, live in the same area as their settlements. There are some exceptions depending on your family name or who you are related to. Three years after starting school I did get a scholarship because I was an Indian and I was grateful. However, that held some stringent stipulations as to the repayment requirements.

In other words that statue could tell us which way the wind was blowing.

Robin, you asked so here it is. I never supported that Guardian statue on top of the capitol dome. Church Steeples, the Washington Monument, and Capitol domes are phallic symbols. Historically all power has been White power. Therefore, when all the Indians ran to the Capitol and was so happy about an Indian being atop the Capitol dome, I disagreed. I said that the Dome was a phallic symbol and that the White man s___wed the Indians out of this land, and that they are still screwing us symbolically and figuratively-by that statue on top of the glans/dome of the phallus. I said that they needed to put a bearing in the base of that statue and make the shield larger so that the Guardian could serve some purpose as a wind vane.

Rebecca, did you ever notice who "authored" the Oklahoma History book? I bet there wasn't one single Native Americans given credit for any reference in that publication. History books of this nature were written from the Anglo perspective, of course! If you could hear some of the stories that have been passed down through our elders, people who actually went through all of the history, it would make you cringe let alone whine or cry.

Imagine what could have happened if the tribes had cooperated with other tribes (instead of what they did instead) and repelled the outnumbered Europeans. Ya’ah’tee!

mary, did you attend & graduate from high school? I was also born in Oklahoma & we were required to take an entire year of Oklahoma History to graduate. Indians may or may not be the "originals" - who knows who was here...this whole thing is ridiculous...there's always whiners & criers & people who'd rather wallow in self pity than strive for a better society.

I was born here in Oklahoma, the closest I ever knew about the history of the Native Americans was that they were given a turkey on Thanksgiving by "The Pilgrims". Now I am beginning to understand... I was also always told that they were the first people here and that Oklahoma was an "Indian State". Knowing the little that I know now, I think that everyone who has anything negative to say to or about a Native American, really need to bite their lip and suck it in. Ancestors were slaughtered. So what how long ago it was? Does water wash away everything? I don't think that the so-called fortune from "the government" really created amnesia. And it in no way should. I think that all of you "Pilgrims" need to stop praising about what you have done for them, because you are all starting to sound like the illegals that you attacked so much in past days. Trying to throw what you have done for them in the present. Let the "Originals" protest, scream, shout-whatever they feel the need to do. Just because pieces of paper say your given name on it, makes it yours now. But who paid a higher cost?-Not financialy. Those of you who are racist, really are embarasing yourselves on this one. You just want to throw around the word "MINE". The phrases you hide behind are really crazy... And "Get over it" is the most insulting of all..to anyone who lost someone in those times... I praise for this protest-they are the only legal ones here..... You go guys!!!

OH I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT WE, (NATIVE AMERICANS) PAY TAXES JUST LIKE EVERYONE IN THIS STATE...PART OF OUR "CASINO MONIES" AND TOBACCO, GAS TAXES, ETC...GO BACK TO THE STATE "FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PEOPLE! THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CUT DOWN MUCH OF OUR "FREE" MONEY, THEREFORE MUCH OF OUR "CASINO" MONIES GO BACK TO SUBSIDIZE OUR TRIBAL PROGRAMS....BUT THATS'S ANOTHER JERRY SPRINGER SHOW...gets off soap box...HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY PEOPLE...AND THINK!!! WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR YOUR SYMPATHY, YOUR PITY....WE ARE ASKING FOR UNDERSTANDING! PEACE AND A LIL FRYBREAD GREASE...~smilez~

All lot of good comments...and alot of comments that are the very reason for this protest. Free education? Free medical? What the.....? Ask yourself at what price have the Native people paid for these so-called freebies? Go home and ask your children and grandchildren if they even know what the word "OKLAHOMA" means? Oklahoma? Bible belt? Oklahoma is one of the most racist states I know, and many of your comments have proven this...If you say your not, your lying to yourselves...Looks at the resentments many of you have.."thinking" we get free education and medical, etc...Free? My people paid dearly for these so-called "freebies"....Get over it? Is like asking me to deny my people who lost everything...SHAME ON YOU PEOPLE...NOW GO HOME AND EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN!!! ASK THEM WHAT DOES OKLAHOMA MEAN! I think you'll be surprized at the answer....

Lori, of Yukon, You might ask your tribal office about Title 25 of the US Code (USC.) .. .. .. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode25/usc_sup_01_25.html .. .. .. Those are most of the federal laws regarding Native Americans & the Bureau of Indian Affairs. USC Title 25: Chapter 35 provides the Indian Higher Education program provisions. Apparently federal funds are disbursed to tribes for use to pay for their children's post-secondary education. I don't know which tribes participate, but I did go to college in the late 70's with Creek and Choctaw students who attended college on BIA funds.

It always amazes me when someone says "get over it." These individuals are usually the same ones who will file charges and sue when they have been a victim of a crime. Why do we have police, court systems, counselors for victims of violence, etc. if polite society thought that all victims just need to "get over it." If you have never been a victim of a crime or suffered at the hands of an unjust society, then you are just howling in the wind and have no right to tell Native Americans to "get over it." Until you have learned the true history of Oklahoma and its treatment of Native Americans, then you are ignorant and are wasting everyone's time by spouting your rhetoric and voicing your biased opinions.

I am very proud that part of my heritage is Native American. I am also Irish and French. I think the Centennial should include the Native Americans and I think it does. I had a very dear friend who was a Cherokee and an engineer. He stated although things were very bad back then for the Indians he also stated if not for the white man they would still be living in teepees. They did not believe in change, they were proud of the heritage and carrying on the ways of the Indians. I think they do a wonderful job keeping their heritage alive. We would all benefit from their teachings and should learn the history of their people, they are part of our past too.
On the illegals all we want them to do is get their citizenship, why is that so hard. They must understand our borders must be sealed to protect all of us, including them. I know lots of Mexican families but do not know if they are here unlawfully. I understand they want a better life. I do not care if they want to keep their heritage to pass on, but they do need to learn english, that is our language. If I was to live in Mexico I would have to adapt to their rules and language. I am not for across the board amnesty because they would not try to become an American by learning the history and what it means to be an American. Freedom!!!! Apparently it was not what they had in their home country or they would have stayed there. This country is getting deeper and deeper in the red, we simply cannot continue to care people who are here unlawfully. I had to call Social Security yesterday and I had to punch a button to speak English. I was hot, if you cannot speak our language how are you able to collect social security? Enough already. Signup to become an American Citizen or go home. End of story!
Marilyn - Beaver

Barrett, there is also another book by Angie Debo called "The Rise and Fall of the Choctaw Republic". It's pretty dry reading at times, but very enlightening. It shows that greed and treachery are nothing new to Oklahoma. The conditions of the Territory before statehood was no cakewalk.

I’m here to amuse! Not so sure that the “grapevine” is all that well-known, but it’s out there. “They” said so…

Amusing...thanks for the "insight". This must be information that you have gathered through the illustrious "grapevine". Appreciate your assistance.

You must not be talking to the right people, but there is a website named “Google” and I’m sure that website can assist you anyway you need. Good luck to you and your family!

Where do you sign up for this "free college and free money" thing? It must have escaped my attention. Any assistance you could offer would be greatly appreciated. My children could benefit from this service.

If I received free college and money from the government, I’d protest too… (if you don’t note the sarcasm…carry on…)

I am not an Indian, but have great compassion for their plight. I have read the history and there is a great book written by an Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductee, Ms.Angie Debo. The title is "And Still the Waters Run: The Betrayal of the Five Civilized Tribes", written in 1936 and published in 1940. I suggest that this should be required reading in all high schools. It would certainly put this issue in the proper perspective. Go free speech!

Protest...great. A freedom protected by OUR constitution. I am Cherokee and proud. However, I have never received one payment from this state, medical benefits, a housing allowance, etc...Under Title IX, created by OUR federal government, the only thing my children our entitled to is free tutoring as they are "expected" to fall behind in math and science. No longer are OUR public schools allowed to teach the Native American heritage, culture or language. We certainly wouldn't want to expose them to the fact that their people were treated unfairly, marched across several states, given blankets infected with small pox, and given land that was nearly impossible to live upon. The fact of the matter is that "Indians" were moved from one spot to another to benefit the needs of others. As a whole, I would say thus was something that the vast majority of today's generation have benefited from in one way, shape or form. As far as the casinos are concerned...WE will take back this state one penny at a time, if necessary. We sincerely thank all of the kind folks who frequent these establishments and strongly encourage your continued patronage. Nobody can deny that this culture was attacked and forever altered nor that any tribe has been conveniently neglected. However, I (as a CDIB card carrier), do not want any money as it is a poor substitute for happiness and/or equality...I am not owed anything. As Jack Nicholson stated in A Few Good Men...I would prefer that you just say "thank you, and be on your way".

My apologies then regarding your intentions, Kenny. Absent a perpetual disclaimer, the effect of the use of the name for your hometown is still one of affinity and not condemnation. While you may "think" you use it as a condemnation, the effect is not in that direction.

James, there's nothing I despise more than meth. I've watched it destroy people I loved and turn them into hideous, pathetic creatures. I call this little town methville, not in appreciation of it, but in condemnation of it.

Michael, you really shouldn't respond to Kenny's hate-bait. It only encourages him. A look as his professed hometown should give you a clue the where his warped head originates from. While I agree with some of the things he says, I would never consider trying to reason with someone who proudly proclaims an affinity with the destructive meth-culture that is destroying our country.

Michael, don't mistake my anger for bitterness. I don't dwell on these things on a daily basis. It just angers me when people say "oh, look at all the money..blah, blah blah" like money is what it's all about. People who base their happiness on money will never find it. I guess it angers me because I was once the same way. It took a really hard and drastic fall for me to wake up and realize what's important. As for the last sentence in my previous post, I suppose I was baiting the inevitable jerks who always like to talk smack online. I don't hate white people. I hate the attitude that money = happiness. You're right, though, and that mentality knows no racial boundaries and I was wrong for attributing it to just one race.

Kenny, don't tell me you're not bitter. Your whole post wreaks of hate and racism. I highly respect the Native American people except those who relish in their bitterness and racist feelings toward the white man. This is one white man who didn't do anything to you or who is in no way responsible for what happened to your ancestors. I'm sure the Great Spirit is proud of you and your hate and racist behavior.

I think we should scedule one day a year as Protest Day during which all of those people who choose to live in the past rather than the present can protest all the unfair things that have happened to them and their people. Alot of nasty, terrible, and downright inhumane things have been done against a wide array of groups. Nobody doubts that. But must we carry on the hate generation after generation. I doubt than anyone living today is responsible for anything that happened a hundred years ago, so lets not punish each other for the things our forefathers did. Besides, every group that has been discriminated against has members who practiced the same unacceptable treatment of other human beings as our forefathers. Let's all agree that what happened in the past is unacceptable. Let's also agree to change those things. And finally let's all stop persecuting each other for things we had no control over. Let's respect and remember the past, live in the future, and try the best we can to improve the future!

Yeah, look at all the casinos. Money is not and should not be the measure of success. A lot was lost when the tribes were relocated here. A lot more was lost when the territory was made a state. Every one of you white people can go visit the homeland of your ancestors. A homeland where your people still have control of it. Indians have nothing like that. I'm not bitter, I'm just a realist. The reality is the United States has done nothing but be dishonest in it's dealing with indians. This is my home, this is my country, and it has nothing to do with the United States. No, I don't want to go back to the days of old. I wouldn't be willing to live without modern conveniences. That doesn't mean I should forget the past, to disregard it is disrespectful to those who lived it. I already know how racist you f**kers can be, c'mon...show me your REAL side.

And history repeats itself. The invaders come and demand their right to take that which they have no legal claim to. We used to call that theft.

Got that right, Ray. Imagine what could have happened if the tribes had cooperated with other tribes (instead of what they did instead) and repelled the outnumbered Europeans. Ya’ah’tee!

This is a perfect example of how we can learn from the past. See what happens when you don't control illegals!

Harvey & Bud where do you stand on this issue ????

Give it a rest Amy - do you even know your native language? Maybe all this energy should be put into preserving your heritage & memories, instead of wallowing in self pity. We all have things happen to us in life - some generations much worse than others. How many men & women do you think have died over the years protecting your freedom to protest? By the way, the Native Americans believed that nobody owned the land - so how exactly can someone have stolen it if they didn't own it? Nobody denies that it was a terrible period of change for the Native Americans & it's acknowledged in the MANY museums, statues, libraries, etc. dedicated to the culture & in their honor.

I guess some people never learn from their attrocities.

Yeah Mike Im really happy that they killed our ancestors, stole their lands, beat our language out of them, corralled them and literally put them in prisons(Assimilation Schools). Well I guess thats good for you but what about them? They suffered and you reap the rewards.I believe that if you dont acknowledge past attrocities then they will occur again.

Some people are forever stuck with the victim mentality.

Tieya is a joke. Comparing our state's centennial to Krestallnacht is an act of desperate whining. The Indians in Oklahoma have been treated well with all the assistance, free housing, and free education they receive. I guess nobody would have settled Oklahoma if not for the land run. Bull! And look at the money the casinos are bringing in for the tribes. It seems all some of these radical Indians want to do is whine and complain. Get over it!

What was done is done get over it and celebrate the future. You can dwell on the past and what will it get you except frustrated.

Mike, you make a fantastic point! It was tragic, but it's over. Move forward, the entire world is constantly evolving...either evolve with it or be left behind, but PLEASE quit beating a dead horse!

I believe that the entire story should be told but protesting statehood is not the way. This year has been the year of protest after protest in this sate. Everybody has known that the centennial was coming, some of this should have been brought up beforehand. But in true fashion, everybody waits until there isn't time to adjust things so that they can make a huge political statement. How about we try to work together to bring the entire story out instead of doing yet another protest march over something like statehood. It's a waste of time and a lot of people will see it as though you are not proud to be an Oklahoman and Native American, but that you would rather us all leave and take our business with us. I'm not saying that what happened in the past was right but it's the past and we've learned from our mistakes, now let us all move forward and make a better life for us all.

As a member of the Cherokee Tribe, I am astonished that this protest is taking place. Sure, at the time it was tragic, but look where we are today as a result! They're raising awareness? I think everyone is aware of what happened in the land run and unfortunately we can't change the past. I'm proud to be a part of the future of Oklahoma and I'm thankful for the progress.....

I'm also interested in an accurate historical perspective rather than history as written by the "winners." I hope the American natives will tell the story as it happened, including any tribal support of statehood. I'm really tired of the one-sided histories spoon-fed to all of us.

Good idea. The truth should be told.

Alas...'tis true.