Oldest living Otoe Missouria passes on at 103

STILLWATER — Cecelia Moore, 103, of Stillwater, went home on Sunday, May 17, 2009, in Stillwater.

The funeral will be held at noon Wednesday, May 20, at the Otoe-Missouria Cultural Complex with the Rev. Warren Duane Pratt Jr. officiating. Interment will be in the Otoe-Missouria Tribal Cemetery, Red Rock. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

She was born Jan. 26, 1906, in Black Bear to Charles Moore and Laura Saunders Moore.

She was the oldest member of the Otoe Tribe and a member of the Bear Clan. Epageme "Fire Woman" was her Otoe name. She was one of the last fluent speakers of the Otoe language. She was very proud of her heritage and wanted to make sure her culture was passed to the next generation. She accomplished this by teaching younger generations the Otoe language and culture. She raised many children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Edgar Moore and Walter Moore; one sister, Hildegard Moore Harris; and one infant sister.

Condolences may be emailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.

She will be missed by everyone. We lost a precious jewel today, she lived a blessed life for many to try to live up too.

Hanging my work boots and gloves up for good!

Well, when I got to work Monday morning, I had no idea how the day was going to go. I had been hearing about the low interest rates on the 30 yr T-bill and the PBGC. Both are down, and at all time lows. My money man called me on Friday and notified me of the info. So when I got to work I just had to investigate it. I in turn called the people in charge of retirements, and before it was all said and done, I had locked in on the current rate, and prepared for my retirement.

I called the clerk and set up vacation for the rest of the month of May, and will be officially retired on June 1st. Don't get no better than that! I actually feel pretty good about it. Past 2 days here at home have been nothing but jubilation. I am still coping and adjusting to the idea of not ever getting up to go to work again.
Now if I want to get up early it will be because I want too, not for someone else! To work toward that kind of freedom is what it's all about!

Now when I think about what I am going to do, I can honestly think about what I am going to paint! That is freedom!

Just sharing my latest and greatest..

Another Gallery upcoming soon!

Ok, I went to the opening for Linda Rous, her name is pronounced like Rose. Come to find out she is renowned through out the country, and has been painting for over 40 years now. I had a chance to visit with her, and the formal invite for my gallery will be coming in the mail. She did mention it will be a one day show. On a Saturday, during the annual alumni gathering in Fairview, Okla. She said there will be a lot of people there at that time, which sounded promising. I must say I was impressed with her no face doll creations. Very lovely work. Each one is individual, no two alike. Some even had beads hanging on them. Definitely something to see if you ever get a chance. Here are a couple of sites she has. Website #1 and Website #2

Changes with the season happening now..

Getting up early everyday is a way of life my folks taught us. It is just something we all aspire to do. To get up and go to work. To provide for your family. To have a good feeling in your heart that you know you did a good days work. To sweat, and toil, for something that eventually will get you to a place where you can one day say, I have had enough! To work and save, to save and work. To do without so you can have something later.

We see it everyday where someone we may work with who hasn't had the chance to retire and enjoy the benefits of his/her retirement or pension. They pass without ever getting to enjoy it. This is one of the fears I have lived with for the past several years now. This coming Monday I will reach the age of 58. Still a youngster, but old enough to know I have officially had enough of the same ole same ole. 35 yrs 4 mos. of it is enough.

I got a call Friday from my money man who said if I am going to do it, then we need to be getting things done now. He said the interest rates are going up July 1st, which will lower my lump sum amount for retirement. I told him lets get together and talk about it then.

So I honestly don't know yet how things will be, or which direction I will go, but I do know one thing for sure, I am alive today, and hope to be come July 1st. I pray and hope that I will be able to enjoy sometime during retirement. After all I do have a new grand daughter we haven't seen yet and we are am dying to see.

She was born on Jan. 8th, of 09'. She is the oldest of my oldest, and I am the oldest of my generation as well. She is special to all of us. One thing for sure, she will be spoiled rotten once grandpa gets her.. lol

My Mother is recovering well today from her major back surgery, and sounds like she is getting back to her old self again. She got to walk to the corner and back which is about 1/2 a block. So her strength is coming back slowly. Her doctor told her she was looking good and everything was healing fine. I think she sleeps better these days.

Since I just had my first art gallery, I took a picture of the sign that the center has out front. I hope that sometime in the near future you can attend one of my shows. I plan to make more art shows, on a larger scale. I will see how things go for me in the future.

The Ponca tribe has asked me if I would be interested in preparing a booth in the Clyde Warrior memorial museum at White Eagle. I accepted and will wait for their call to let me know when I can begin. Should be interesting since they asked me if I would hang traditional regalia besides my art work. I will see about some bead work, and some feather work. The booth will run for about 6 months.

My other projects involve finishing a portrait of my late Aunt Jo Phoneix, Dad's younger sister who passed recently in Lakeside Calif. The Barona tribe built a new library and named it after her. The family asked me to do this portrait of her, so they can hang it in the library. I am probably about 1/2 way through it, and need one more photo of my Aunts broadcloth dress to finish it. My cousin said she will get me a jpg. of it.

I want to wish all the Mothers a happy Mothers day for the 10th. I will call my Mom in the AM. My wife will call her Mom in Germany as well. Our son is going to drive over from Bartlesville and prepare his Mom some German brauts, with potato salad. Sounds like a nice meal, and look forward to it.

One of our families life long friends passed this past week Hank Katzuta of Apache, Okla. He was 81. He and my Dad were Indian brothers, who played fast pitch softball together in their hayday. Uncle Hank was catcher, and a good one. They were good enough to go to the National fast pitch softball tournament 3 different times, and represent the State of Oklahoma. They were good! The pitchers they had were something to see.
I recall games they played where they would win with the score 1-0. Nothing but awesome pitching. Uncle Hank will be missed. He is with all his brothers now, and is in a much better place. We don't have to worry anymore about him. God speed.

Lots of changes going on right now, and hopefully everything will turn out fine when it is all said and done. I will attend another opening tomorrow with a Native American artist from Fairview, Okla. Linda Rous, who is a wonderful artist. I had the chance to meet her the other day and she hinted to me about doing a gallery out at Fairview. I will visit some more with her tomorrow about it.

Everyone have a safe week. I will post more as things happen. Thanks for reading.

Spirits watch over us!

I have a friend that I met through Photoshop, who takes wonderful photos of hoot owls, eagles, yellowhammers. Significant birds of our people. Sacred birds, and I feel very fortunate to have made Connie and her husband's acquaintance. I now have an unlimited source of photos I can use to paint with.

These past few days have been very trying here, with tornado warnings. The local TV stations here are very good with keeping you abreast to all the warnings. They have storm chasers out looking for funnels that drop out of the clouds, relaying the info back to the station, and airing it for everyone to see. They do a great job in keeping everyone informed.

Connie had submitted a picture of a hoot owls face, I took that picture and I did a hurry up job of it, with a tornado that happened in Enid, Okla. I have no shortness of inspiration living here. Living here, keeps you very mindful of the creator's power, and his grace. We pray a lot for our home, and for those that maybe in the line of fire with a tornado.

This is the end result of what I did. Enjoy..

3d digital art work, is fasinating..

Click here to see!

Art Gallery is a success!

It's funny cause your thinking, that so and so said they will come to the show, but for some reason they don't make it. On the flip side of that coin, you see people you had no idea would come. Then people purchase prints, who you never even met before. The place was packed! More people than I expected. A lot of the people were my relatives, but mostly friends.

The reception offered a nice atmosphere with refreshments.

When it was all said and done, I was approached by the board about putting on a class for digital art. I didn't see that one coming! I will have to see how that all goes, after the gallery finishes next month!

It was a success! My wife and I both feel completely exhausted now.. Time for a break!

Check my website out.. I just added my latest renderings!

When everything was perfect, the ancestors gathered for a Native American Church meeting. One time the Buffalo would run it, next time it would be the bear, or the eagle, the clan leaders would take turns leading the service. The bear, and buffalo would go by the season. Spring and summer the buffalo is in charge. In the fall and winter, the bear would lead since it was their time to be in charge. The other clans would get permission to run things. There is an order to how things are conducted among the Otoe Missouria. At one time there were either 11 or 12 clans of the Otoe, but only 7 today.

Regardless of what happens tomorrow

I will be thankful regardless of how tomorrow goes. I can still say Mom, and she is here with me for my first gallery. Both my younger brothers will be there with their children. However my baby sister won't be able to make it, since she had to work this weekend. I know her heart will be with all of us. I know how her heart is. 2 of my 3 sons will be here. My oldest son lives in Idaho, he won't be here. He is busy taking care of my grand daughter. My daughter in Germany won't be here either. Hopefully she will be getting her final results for her thesis she recently submitted.

I still have a few elders living, and hopefully one or two will be able to attend. I have a Uncle that is in a wheelchair, he wants to come see my work. I really feel honored that my Uncle wants to come. I will check on a ramp for him to roll up and down on.

If anyone else comes it will only add frosting to the cake, and for that I will be thankful.

I will be starting a painting of my Aunt. She passed a few years ago, and since that time the Barona reservation in Southern Calif. has named a library after her. The family asked me if I would do a portrait of her. I said I will do my best.
I got a few photos today from my Mom, my cousins sent with her when she was out in Calif. recently.

So for tomorrow however it goes, I will be thankful for everything I have today.

Ponca City art center makes art gallery announcement

See here!

I have been waiting for this now for some time, and it is finally announced. I think I have everything ready to go. I will gather up my inventory for the art center to use. Otherwise I think I am ready. I will be showing 14 paintings. I am still working on my self portrait, and won't have it done by next week.

I plan to move everything in the art center this week, and hope to have everything in place for the opening next Sunday.

Please come join me and my family for this occasion.

Giving credit where credit is due!

My friend and partner Dave Nelsen who does all my printing for me, has been very busy in some new discoveries with framing. I had asked him to see what he could do with my Donnie painting, and I think he surpassed all of my expectations. He actually superseded them. A frame inside a frame, with what feels like a very soft foam. He said it is a fabric with a foam board behind it. The color of the frame itself is pewter. The color of the fabric is purple, to compliment the red and blue colors I used in this painting. I couldn't be more happy with the end result. I think it will only add to the art show!

I wanted to display the frame and mat work I finished last night as well. I really like how it finished. I hope people will like what I do. Thanks for looking, Sid

Friday is Native American New Year!

Among the Otoe Missouria the Bear clan is in charge or Chief, during the fall and winter months. Before calenders the ancestors would go by a tree frog that would let them know spring time is here. When the newest grass shoots come up, and the temperature warms, New life is celebrated. This coming Friday we will have our Buffalo clan lodge. It is an opportunity for Buffalo clan members to cleanse themselves from the long winter. It is our time to take over as Chiefs or be in charge through the spring and summer months. Kinda like the changing of the guard. This has been planned for sometime now. We will have our elder of the Buffalo clan lead the sweat lodge for us. We have clan members coming from different places around the country. We even have visiting tribes that join in with the blessing. We will ask blessing for the spring, and summer for all the tribe. Mid July is the Otoe encampment(powwow). We will ask for a good year, that the creator will be merciful upon us. I want to wish everyone a good spring, as we draw closer to the Easter season. Thank you for reading.

Merle Haggard and John Anderson put on a great show!

Wife and I had a chance to get out last night. First time in awhile since we had a chance to get out. We had gone to the Tulsa Blues fest. in the past, but I think they stopped it. Not too many musician/artists we will go see. When we heard that Merle Haggard was coming to town, we quickly looked into a couple of tickets to attend. We honestly had no idea what we was getting into, because that was a sold out crowd at the First Council Casino, North of Newkirk, Ok. at Chilocco. It actually sits right next to the Kansas state line. So about half the crowd was from Kansas.
John Anderson came out first, we didn't know he was on the ticket with Merle. He actually did a good show. All of his hit songs.
Merle Haggard didn't need to do nothing but be hisself, and his show was awesome. All of the old great ones. He still has it!
Maybe they will bring Willie Nelson to town now. I look forward to going back, depending on who is performing. Looks like they will have performers coming in all through the year.
The set up that First Council has is a humongous tent. I understand they hold boxing fights there as well as tough man fights.
First Council has a pretty good buffet for those of you that may be looking at eating then go to a show. Wife and I don't gamble, so the casino won't get any money from us in that respect, but we will go eat. Crab legs was on the menu last night, along with prime rib. Not to bad for a place out in the country.