The man on the left is Carl Renfro who has
worked tirelessly for a number of years to see the completion of this
project, "The Standing Bear Park." To his right is T. L. Walker. Her
duties have been extensive. Her grant writing, physical labor around the
park, public speaking, traveling distances to speak on behalf of the
project and many more duties have made the project successful.
Under the new steel arbor. For years the observers sat under a traditional
willow branch arbor. This year the new steel arbor was completed and this
is a picture of it. Sitting under the willow leaf arbor gives a calming to
one's mind, reason being that the willow leaves contain a chemical which
is the Natives aspirin. After the pow-wow the willow leaves would have
been easily crumpled and saved in medicine bags much like someone would
carry a bottle of aspirin in their purse today. I miss the old arbors. My
brother, this year's chairman, said that next year he was going to give
awards for the best built willow arbors in an attempt to bring the old
tradition back.
Charmaine Pensoneau Billy stands on the left in this picture while she
obtains this man's name and address so the Chilocco Alumni can send him an
invitation for the October 22 meeting at the Conoco Clubhouse, 1500 S.
Fourth, Ponca City. The man on the right wears his contest number, 25.
On his wrist he carries the medicine bag I spoke of above.
This man on the right is Garland Kent, President of this chapter's
Chilocco Alumni. He stands in front of the little booth we had for
signing people up to receive an invitation to the up coming meeting. He
graduated Chilocco around 1956 a year after I left. Charmaine stands at
his left side. Charmaine is a daughter of my mother's brother, Ed
Pensoneau. Uncle Ed was active in the early stages with planning for this
Standing Bear Park.
This is Chris LittleCook, a descendant of my grandmother's brother, David
Little Cook. Chris has a job with the school system here and is very
active in helping and working with our Native American Youth. He is well
respected for his work. On his right side on the ground you can see two of
those orbs talked about in the Ponca pow-wow pictures. These are very
small in comparison and I almost missed them. One is the transparent and
the other is the real orb with a cross in it. |
