Lillie Realrider Cummings

“Having previously served four years on our Pawnee Nation Business Council, I have filed for Council Seat #3. Once again I have chosen to run for a position on our tribal council because I’m confident I can be an asset as another Tribal Elder.

I am Lillie Realrider Cummings, widow of Lloyd Cummings, full-blood Pawnee. Both of us belong to the Chaui band. My parents were Austin and Marie Lane Realrider. My great-great Grandfather was WhiteElk. My great Grandparents were War and Lillie Rouwalk. My grandparents on my Dad’s side was Warren and Jennie Rouwalk
Realrider and Grandma Addie Realrider. On Mother’s side, my Pawnee blood comes from Mary Rice Lane, who was known as “Babe”. Great Grand-father was full-blood Pawnee, Nelson Rice, who was a Federal Marshal. He also built our family home which was a hotel on our Pawnee Reserve.

My education consists of graduation from Pawnee High School. I then attended Oklahoma City University. In my second year I met and married Lloyd and from there I attended college adding hours toward my degree wherever we lived while being both a Mother and a Student. I also attended Fort Lewis College, Northern New Mexico State, and finally Oklahoma State University. Now that I am mature I am attending our Pawnee Nation College full time! Our classes will be over just about the time of the tribal council elections.

After Lloyd’s retirement from the BIA, we moved back home to Pawnee twenty-two years ago and have lived here since. We had three children, the youngest Lawrence Ray is deceased. Our son, Lloyd Cummings, Jr., and his family reside in New Mexico. Our daughter, Dr. Linda Cummings (Mrs. Jimmy Horn) lives here in Pawnee and works at our IHS Clinic.

While my husband was in college, I worked as secretary for a private lawyer, worked for Bank of America, and also worked in the Realty Department for the BIA here in Pawnee and later also in Coulee Dam, Washington. I worked as a Copywriter for KSPI in Stillwater and years later while living in Washington and New Mexico, I worked as Copywriter for a Christian Radio station in Yakima, Washington, and as account specialist for KCHF Christian Televison in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Lloyd and I were invited to co-host our own show on the Trinity Broadcasting Station in Albuquerque hosting a program called “Chief Cornerstone” which we did for two years. I have also owned and operated three gift shops.

I am President of our Pani Hope HIV-Aids Coalition, and have served as Chairman of our Pawnee Nation Housing Authority, and served on our Repatriation Committee. I now enjoy writing the Elders News for our local newspaper.

As aTtribal Council member I want to see progress for the Tribe. Be aware that whoever you choose to elect, one cannot or should not, act alone. It takes a majority of the Tribal Council to take any kind of action.

I’m sure you are aware of the obvious, that opportunities for our tribe are rapidly decreasing with the plight of our National economy. There have already been cuts in some of our programs through no fault of our own. You and I know this is happening all over Indian Country. For this reason it is imperative that we plan and budget our money wisely.

We are in desperate need of employment for our Tribal people. We have tribal people who want to work but do not have transportation to go out of town. I am in favor of giving our Pawnee Tribal people first preference, not just “Indian Preference” for jobs here on the Reserve. I have heard that we can’t do that because it would be discrimination. We are a sovereign people. We are a Sovereign Nation within a Nation. Until we begin giving our people jobs to support themselves and their families, we’re going to continue having them in poverty.

I know the council has approved to build a large casino at Chilocco. That may be a good thing for some, but we cannot put all our eggs in one basket. We need to put people to work here!
As your Councilwoman I will make every effort to search our opportunities for gainful employment for our Tribal members. In my opinion, that should be our number one priority!

For one thing, we have land where our people could put up a metal building and have their business, such as a laundry, barber shop, beauty shop, car repair, etc. They could pay the Tribe rental money for the location and the Tribe would also get tax money. This is one thing we could do without any cost to the Tribe and this could put some people to work and provide services. We would be giving them an opportunity to have a business.

Years ago the Chiefs would take care of the needs of the Tribe. Many times they were the ones who saw to it that the widows were taken care of, that the elderly were taken care of, that the sick ones were taken care of. My Mother-in-law, Eva Cummings, told me about when she was married to EagleChief, that was one of their duties. The people would camp near them and she would help take care of them.

In essence, this is what the Tribal Council is for. To help the people!

James (Jimmy) E. Fields

Education:

• Pawnee High School, Pawnee
• Wichita University-Accounting
• Central State University, Edmond, OK- BA in Sociology
• University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK-Guidance/Counseling

Military Experience:
Army/National Guard- 1st Lieutenant/MOS Infantry Honorable Retired Reserve

Professional Experience:
U.S. Forestry Service, Clark, ID GIS-Surveyor
U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Muskogee, OK, Relocation Officer
U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wewoka, OK, Superintendent (GS-13)
U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Muskogee, OK, Regional Director SES
U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pawhuska, OK, Superintendent GS-14)

Political Experience:
Pawnee Business Council-Councilman

Public Service:
Rotary Club- Pawhuska, OK
Rotary Park, various activities
Council of Social Agencies- Pawhuska, OK-Promote Social Services

Describe how your membership on the Pawnee Business Council will benefit the Pawnee Nation:
“As a retired Federal Official with over thirty-nine years of service, I have a thorough understanding of all Federal laws and regulations dealing with Indian Tribes. I have served on numerous national review committees who had the responsibility of reviewing and revising federal regulations prior to submission to the Secretary for approval. These committees include: Roads, Law Enforcement, Social Services, Realty, and Housing. I believe this experience will assist the Tribal leadership in making the best decisions possible as we participate in and maximize funding from these Federal programs. We need to know what is and is not possible and how to get them.

As one of my duties as a Federal Officer, I have taken land in trust for individual Indians, and have reviewed the trust acquisition package for the 20 tribes in Eastern Oklahoma for gaming and economic development. My knowledge of the trust acquisition process will benefit the Tribe as we look to expand our gaming and economic development activity.

As Superintendent of the Wewoka Agency serving the Seminole Nation, I worked closely with the Tribal leadership in developing their economic development activity. Many contacts with industry leaders were made and I believe these contacts are still available to the Tribe.

Having served on the national committee which initially established the TERO (Tribal Employment Rights Program) Program, which was established to maximize employment opportunities for members on the reservation, it’s my belief the Tribal contractors should be held to a higher standard in hiring our Pawnee people in the performance of their contracts.

While in Federal service, I served for over 15 years as the agency head in charge, either as Superintendent or Regional Director. I know how to effectively supervise employees to maximize their day to day activities. We have a great Tribal workforce and I know how we can improve their performance thus improving their earning potential.

While serving on the housing regulation review committee, I became aware of the many opportunities available to Tribal members to acquire adequate housing. Too many of our members are living in sub-standard housing and it doesn’t have to be that way. I want to maximize our participation in these programs.

I am thoroughly knowledgeable of all aspects of the Federal-Tribal relationship, and of all Federal laws affecting Indian Tribes. If the Tribe supports me in this election, I’m looking forward to being a small part of the excellent tribal leadership team we currently have and to continue the progress now taking place.”

Identify the top three priorities currently facing the Pawnee Nation’s tribal government, and briefly describe how you will address these priorities:
“The top priority is to maximize our gaming activity as this is our most productive economic development activity. It is important that we fully develop it. I would look to expanding the current facilities in Pawnee and at the turnpike, but I would like to see what can be done with establishing one at Keystone Lake near Cleveland and/or one close to Stillwater.

I believe we have a good higher education grant program. I would like for us to establish an incentive program to compliment the higher education program which would reward those students who do well in their college work. For example, a $500 grant for those who make the honor roll in their semester studies. The Oklahoma Seminoles have such a program and 65% of their college students do well enough to participate in their incentive program.

Developing the economic development activity is another area which could lead to jobs and Tribal income. I would like to see us establish a team that would take to industrial and business contacts all the advantages of doing business with the Pawnees. ”

Provide any additional information relevant to the Pawnee Nation’s May 2009 Regular Election:
“Qualities that the most successful tribes possess are the ones that exhibit a unity of purpose, team work, togetherness, love and respect for each other. I believe our Tribe has come a long way in exhibiting these qualities in the past two years. I have found in my experience these tribes that perform a higher degree of cooperation are the ones that are most successful. These are the tribes that are able to meet the needs of their members. President Howell and the Tribal Council have done an excellent job these past two years and they are to be congratulated. I would like to be a part of the Council that will continue this progress.