AARP Recognizes Native Elders at 9th Annual Indian Elder Honors

One by one, the names and accomplishments of 50 Indian Elders were shared with an audience of more than 800 at AARP Oklahoma’s 9 ^th Annual Indian Elder Honors celebration at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, October 3, 2017. As the distinguished honorees were announced, they stood to applause, and a medallion was presented to each honoree.

AARP State Director Sean Voskuhl said, “This event celebrates a lifetime of service from these distinguished elders who have positively impacted their community, family, tribe and nation. Whether they are well-known or exhibit quiet devotion to family and community, this year’s AARP Oklahoma Indian Elder honorees represent what is best about Native American people: love of family, dedication to culture and respect for all people.”

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During his remarks, AARP National President Eric Schneidewind said, “Tribal elders are the guardians of legacy, and younger generations are the guardians of the elders. Leaving the world a better place for our children and grandchildren has always been AARP’s goal, and I see the same values alive in each of the elders honored.”

AARP honored teachers, veterans, nurses, artists, tribal leaders, language and culture preservationists, and even a champion archer and a champion arm wrestler.

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Presenting the medallions to the honorees were Joe Ann Vermillion, AARP State President, Eric Schneidewind, AARP National President, and Mashell Sourjohn, AARP Associate State Director of Outreach.

Dr. Henrietta Mann, Ph.D., was awarded the Dr. John Edwards Memorial Leadership Award. Wilson, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, remarked during her acceptance speech that “Elders are so important in our Native American cultures. Of all the categories we are the ones who carry the knowledge and traditions of our respective cultures.” The Dr. John Edwards Memorial Leadership Award honors an individual whose positive impact embodies the spirit of Dr. Edwards, who passed away in 2014.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND DOWNLOAD 2017 INDIAN ELDER HONORS PICTURES

Voskuhl said the AARP Oklahoma Indian Elder Honors, which has recognized 450 elders from all 39-federally recognized tribes and nations in Oklahoma since its inception in 2009, is the largest gathering of its kind in the state and, perhaps, in the nation.

Voskuhl also noted that AARP Oklahoma continues to expand its work on issues affecting Native Americans in the state, particularly working to address health disparities, transportation needs and cultural preservation.