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.
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 […]
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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. […]
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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 […]