In early December, Ted Tate’s attic furnace caught fire while he and his family soundly slept. Thankfully, Mr. Tate had received smoke & carbon monoxide detectors and a fire extinguisher through the Fire Safe Tribal Citizens Program one year prior.
“It was about 12:30 in the morning, and I smelled something, but I didn’t know what it was, and then, the smoke alarms went off. I seen the smoke coming out of the vents and went up in the attic, and the furnace was on fire.
I ran everybody out, and my wife brought the fire extinguisher to me to put the fire out. And it was minimal damage. I was able to catch it fast enough that it didn’t catch the house on fire.
I’ve always had smoke detectors, and I put them where it’s supposed to be. But whenever I seen the [Fire Safe] program, I added smoke detectors and replaced my older ones. And the one that caught it, I hadn’t had any in those extra spots.
Signing up for Fire Safe is definitely something that I recommend everybody do because it can be the difference between having a home and not having a home. It’s no cost to you, and you can save your home and your family by just filling out an application.”
Fire Safe Tribal Citizens assistance is available to all Shawnee citizens 18 years or older. The amount of assistance awarded varies based on the project and the size of the home. Support is provided through the tribe’s American Rescue Plan Act BIA Tribal Housing Improvement Funding.
Visit shawnee-nsn.gov/housing.
The Shawnee Tribe is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of Marina Staubus, whose artwork Whispers in the Wind earned First Place in the Painting category at the 2026 55th Annual Trail of Tears Art Show in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Marina, a Shawnee Tribe citizen, continues a family tradition of service and dedication to the Tribe as the daughter of Mike Staubus, […]
A traditional bow-making workshop recently brought together Shawnee youth and cultural instructors to share knowledge, skills, and values that have been passed down through generations. The opportunity began when a request was made to teach Shawnee relatives the traditional craft of bow making. Having previously shared these skills with Muscogee participants, the instructors were honored […]
By David Pollack, A. Gwynn Henderson, and Edward R. Henry A people’s relationship to their homeland is dynamic. How they alter the landscape reflects their sense of place, their social relationships, and their connections to their ancestors. This is as true now as it was in the past. The North Elkhorn Creek Earthworks Around 500 […]
The Hidden Cost of Four Everyday Products When we buy a product, we usually see only the price on the shelf. What we don’t see is the environmental cost of making it. For example, it takes about 2,700 liters (713 gallons) of water to produce a single cotton T-shirt—about the same amount one person drinks […]
Mark McDowell, Treasurer and Keni Hood, Business Council Seat 7 have filed seeking re-election to their respective offices. The filing period for candidates has passed, with no additional candidates declaring their intention to run for office. Therefore, in accordance with Title 6, Sec. 6.20.080 of the Shawnee Election Act, both unopposed candidates are hereby deemed […]
YOUR CAN COULD BE BACK ON THE SHELF IN JUST 60 DAYS! You enjoy your beverage and recycle your aluminum can. Recycling trucks collect the cans and take them to a facility to be sorted. The cans are cleaned and shredded into small pieces. The aluminum pieces are melted down and rolled into large sheets. […]
The Shawnee Tribe’s Environmental Department recently hosted a hands-on learning experience focused on water systems, runoff, and watershed education in the Miami community. During the event, students participated in the installation of a rain barrel system while learning how rainfall moves through local watersheds and contributes to flooding.
WEEMEYAKWE (WHERE WE COME FROM) By A. Gwynn Henderson and David Pollack “Two heads are better than one,” the old saying goes. With twice the brainpower and two times the life experiences to draw from, we are twice as likely to solve a puzzle, make sense of an enigma, or figure out a mystery. The […]