Shawnee Tribe Office of the Chief
Proclamation 2022-04-01
April 2022 Designated as “Child Abuse Prevention Month”
On File with Office of Tribal Secretary
To the Tribal Council, Business Council Executive Officers and Councilpersons of the Shawnee Tribe,
WHEREAS, the Shawnee Tribe’s future prosperity depends on nurturing the healthy development of the more than the 840 Shawnee citizen children currently living, growing, and learning within our community; and
WHEREAS, research shows that safe, nurturing relationships and stimulating, stable environments improve brain development and child wellbeing, while neglectful or abusive experiences and unstable or stressful environments increase the odds of poor childhood outcomes; and
WHEREAS, individuals, businesses, schools, community organization and tribal nations must make children a top priority and take action to support the physical, social, em otional and educational development and competency of all children; and
WHEREAS, during the month of April, the Office of the Chief of the Shawnee Tribe in collaboration with the Shawnee Tribe Indian Child Welfare Office and other partners will be engaging individuals and communities throughout the tribal nation in a coordinated effort to prevent child abuse and neglect by promoting awareness of healthy child development, positive parenting practices and the types of support families need within their communities; and
WHEREAS, I encourage all citizens of the Shawnee Tribe to recognize that prevention starts with each of us;
NOW THEREFORE, 1, Chief Ben Barnes, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the constitution and laws of the Constitution of the Shawnee Tribe, Art. VIII. (1.) do hereby proclaim the month of April 2022 as
“Child Abuse Prevention Month”.
Copies of this Executive Order shall be distributed to the Shawnee Tribe Business Council, the Chairperson of the Shawnee Tribe Gaming Commission, the Chairperson of Shawnee Development, LLC, the Court Clerk of the Shawnee Tribe, the Administrator of the Shawnee Tribe, as well as any and all appropriate agencies and organization that should require notification of the Shawnee Tribe’s support of Child Abuse Prevention.
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Messages from the Chiefs – Fall 2024: It’s a US Election Day! Chief Barnes highlights the importance of voting in every election, local to federal, and Chief Baldridge reflects on the earliest days of his service on the Business Council compared to where we are today.
Shawnee language classes will resume for the 2025 calendar year on Monday, January 6! Self-paced learners and those hoping to participate in live classes should contact the Shawnee Language Immersion Program team (SLIP) to begin enrollment. SLIP will work with each individual student to place them in the appropriate course(s) based on their learning preferences […]
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 […]
On October 15, the Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine and his wife, First Lady Frances “Fran” DeWine traveled to Miami, OK to visit with various Shawnee Tribal programs and leadership. “We were honored to receive Governor DeWine and his wife at our Shawnee language house, Cultural Center, and Administrative offices,” said Chief Ben Barnes. “We […]
In September, the Shawnee Tribe’s Gaming Commission staff received safety training from City of Guymon professionals including; Fire Marshall Jason Bond, Fire Chief Scott Lathrop, 911 Director Justin Carnagey, and Police Sergeant Jacob Bankston. “It was a very productive training day and was well received by the Gaming Commission staff,” said Otis Hughs, Executive Director […]
GILA RIVER, Ariz.—Chief Ben Barnes attended today’s event on the reservation of the Gila River Indian Community, where President Joe Biden delivered a historic speech and a formal presidential apology for 150 years of federal Indian boarding school policies which he called “a shame” and “a blot on American history.” “I’m delighted that President Biden’s […]