INTRODUCING THE EMMA "MOCK" DONALDSON SAAWANWAATOWEEWIKA

Oct 31, 2024

INTRODUCING THE EMMA “MOCK” DONALDSON SAAWANWAATOWEEWIKA

On Friday, September 20, tribal citizens and community members gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Shawnee Tribe’s newest facility and cultural resource—the Emma “Mock” Donaldson saawanwaatoweewika (Shawnee language house). A little more than ten minutes east of central Miami, OK, the facility boasts a large, open gathering space with high ceilings and a kitchenette, plenty of gravel lot parking and approximately eight acres of land for the Shawnee Language Immersion Program’s future use. Off the back patio of the main building, the program is already working on what will eventually become a state-of-the-art audio recording studio.

The new facility is named for the late Ms. Emma “Mock” Donaldson (1921-2021). Mock was born in White Oak, OK and grew up in the area before eventually moving to raise her family in Sioux Falls, SD. She loved gardening, fishing, bowling and sewing, and she was one of the last remaining first-language speakers and among the oldest living Shawnees at the time of her passing. Two of Mock’s children and many of her extended family members were in attendance at the ribbon cutting, where Chief Ben Barnes spoke about the language warriors, including Mock, who laid the foundations for what the Shawnee Language Immersion Program is now able to accomplish. Other honorary guests included the family of Troy Little Axe, Sr., representatives from Firaxis Games, who’ve recently worked with the tribe’s language program on their in-game portrayal of historical leader Tecumseh in the forthcoming seventh edition of Sid Meier’s Civilization video game franchise, and George “Fife” Blanchard, who works for the tribe as their first-language specialist. The ceremony’s remarks concluded with heartfelt speeches from Mock’s daughters, Diann Burrier and Audrey Holzworth.

The Shawnee Language Immersion Program team is looking forward to their future in the new facility named for such a remarkable Shawnee woman. While the facility is not generally open to the public during tribal business hours, Shawnee citizens and local community members should watch for upcoming events at the saanwanwaatoweewika, like the Winter Stories Gathering on Friday, December 7.

Back

Aug 22, 2025

SHAWNEE TRIBE HOSTS GRAND OPENING OF GOLDEN MESA CASINO, RV PARK AND HOTEL EXPANSION PROJECT

GUYMON, OK — Construction is complete on the $78 million expansion of the Golden Mesa Casino & Hotel, which now boasts a 40,000-square-foot gaming floor, new food and beverage options, an RV park and a four-floor hotel. On Friday, Shawnee Tribe officials and representatives from Shawnee Development, Global Gaming Solutions, Chickasaw Nation, the City of Guymon, Connect […]

Aug 19, 2025

SHAWNEE TRIBE PLEDGES $500K TO FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM'S NEW FAMILY DISCOVERY CENTER

MIAMI, OK – The brand-new FAMily Discovery Center at First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City will have its grand opening later this summer, thanks in part to support from the Shawnee Tribe. In May 2024, the Shawnee Tribe’s Business Council approved a pledge of $500,000 over four years to help support the FAMily Discovery Center. […]

Aug 8, 2025

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY PROGRAM (LIHEAP)

The Shawnee Tribe is accepting public comments from tribal citizens about the Low Income Home Energy Program (LIHEAP) in preparation for next fiscal year, which begins October 1. All Shawnee households residing in the state of Oklahoma are encouraged to provide comments. Submit comments here through Monday, August 25, 2025. The LIHEAP program also still has funding […]

More News

Aug 22, 2025

SHAWNEE TRIBE HOSTS GRAND OPENING OF GOLDEN MESA CASINO, RV PARK AND HOTEL EXPANSION PROJECT

Aug 19, 2025

SHAWNEE TRIBE PLEDGES $500K TO FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM'S NEW FAMILY DISCOVERY CENTER

Aug 8, 2025

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY PROGRAM (LIHEAP)

Jul 28, 2025

RECYCLING SPOTLIGHT: STEEL

STEEL – The World’s Most Recycled Material Approximately 85-90% of all steel is being recovered and reused. Recycling 1 ton of steel conserves:

Jul 3, 2025

RECYCLING SPOTLIGHT: POP QUIZ!

Take the true or false pop quiz on recycling vs. landfills. True or False: 6 out of every 10 people in the US recycle? True or False: More people are employed by the landfill process than the recycling process? True or False: Recycling in the U.S. is a valuable export? True or False: Recycling can […]

Jun 4, 2025

RECYCLING SPOTLIGHT: GLASS

Source: www.recycleacrossamerica.org Read about the recycling trailer available for citizen use.

May 30, 2025

CHIEF BEN BARNES AND UINO RELEASE STATEMENT ON HB 1137

“This override tells Native families that their lives matter, their grief has been felt, and that Oklahoma is committed to justice for them and their loved ones,” said Ben Barnes, Chairperson for United Indian Nations of Oklahoma and Board President of National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. “Many hands helped lift this veto override over the finish […]

May 22, 2025

CONGRATULATIONS, SHAWNEE GRADUATES!

We are looking forward to celebrating the following grads at the 2025 Honor Banquet on Saturday, June 7. Rylee Adams, Afton Public High School Ava Adkinson, Miami Public Schools Averi Anderson, Fairland High School Averi Attocknie, Quapaw High School LaCinda Attocknie, Haskell Indian Nations University Landon Bedell, Minot High School Kelsie Boyd, Fairland High School […]

See All News