Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Group raises eagles to help preservation of culture
Bearing his grandmother’s staff of eagle feathers, Comanche Tribe member Bill Voelker was the special guest speaker at the Chickasha Kiwanis Club luncheon meeting on Tuesday.
Joining Voelker was Troy “He Who Saves The Eagle From The Water,” (the English translation of his Comanche name).
Representatives of “SIA,” an organization in Cyril that raises eagles for the preservation of Indian culture and rituals, the two brought along a 44-year-old African Wahlberg’s Eagle, a cousin to the Golden Eagle.
In addition to raising eagles, the organization also keeps an archive of published and unpublished manuscripts, a photo archive of more than 1,400 items dating from the mid-1800s and a collection of artifacts stored in a carefully controlled environment.
“But our primary work is eagles,” said Voelker, who studied ornithology at Cornell University. “We have ongoing behavioral studies and we have traveled from Palo Duro Canyon in Texas to Montana checking on eagle nesting sites for more than 40 years. It is a calling and a responsibility because of our background.”
Voelker said they would occasionally come upon a nesting site that they thought was previously undiscovered only to find old prayer bundles at the site.
SIA, which is Comanche for “feather,” has several “firsts” to its name, including being the first organization in the world to produce a Bald Eagle through artificial insemination and they have released more eagles into the wild than any other group, 308 to date.
Troy, whom Voelker’s grandmother recognized as having an affinity with the birds, is one of the last Comanche captives and has been with the tribe for more than 30 years.
According to Voelker, captives among the Comanches, “a warlike, nomadic people,” were not considered prisoners, but were able to rise to the rank of War Chief.
Voelker’s grandmother, who lived to the age of 111 years, gave Troy the Comanche name of “He Who Saves The Eagle From The Water” after he dove into an icy river to save the lives of two fledgling Golden Eagles.
“Grandmother lived in forced captivity, but she never wore a bought dress, never converted to Christianity and always spoke Comanche,” said Voelker.
The staff belonging to Voelker’s grandmother is made up of several kinds of eagle feathers including those of the Golden Eagle, the White-tailed Sea Eagle, the Imperial Eagle, the African Wahlberg’s Eagle and the American Bald Eagle. Several Parrot feathers were added to represent her work in South America. All of the feathers on the staff are molted feathers that shed naturally.
Voelker told of a recent battle with Ft. Sill over the protection of one of the last nesting sites for Golden Eagles in Oklahoma.
“We have to re-educate the command at Ft. Sill periodically, they weren’t in tune with our sacred sites,” said Voelker, who filed for an injunction and won. “It’s been quite a battle, but the staff stood its ground. Only 20 percent of the Comanche are in tune today; it’s a sad statistic, but we see the younger people coming this way - showing up and asking questions.”
SIA is responsible for its own fundraising and donations are gladly accepted. For more information or to schedule a tour of the facility, call 580-464-2750.
- Local News
-
-
Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
-
GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Transformations
