Kiowa Tribe District 7 Legislature - Newsletter
New Kiowa Tribe District 7 Legislator!
We would like to welcome our new Kiowa Tribe District 7 legislator Warren Queton! Below you will find an introduction from Mr. Queton.
Hello, my name is Warren Queton. I am the legislator for the District 7 Legislative seat, representing the At Large Kiowa District, meaning all citizens who do not reside in the jurisdictional area of southwestern Oklahoma. 
 
Personal Life: My Cauigu Name is P’aw Ah which means “the moon is coming” and was given to me by Oscar Tsoodle. I am the son of Clifton and Nellie Queton, and grandson of Mickey and Melvin Queton. I come from the Queton, Bointy, and Bigbow families, my family's allotment is located north of the Stinking Creek bridge west of Carnegie. My family still resides in the Crowley Area south of Fort Worth. I am the oldest of three siblings, with two younger sisters, Danielle and Shawnea Queton. I am married to my wife, Welana Queton, of the Osage, Creek, and Cherokee nations. We have a six-year-old pup named Lettie Jane who lives with us in our house in Blanchard, OK.
 
Kiowa Background: My family has lived in the Dallas Fort Worth Area since the 1950s, working and living as part of a large Urban Indian community. I grew up alongside a large extended family, my grandparents, my aunt Rene Queton and Bruce Queton. We have always participated in American Indian dances and cultural events even though we were located a long way from our tribal communities. We group up spending our summer in Oklahoma with our relatives around Carnegie, Oklahoma. That upbringing has become a large part of who I am, a Cauigu.
 
Educational Background: I moved to Oklahoma in 1999 and attended the University of Oklahoma, earning a Bachelor's in Native American Studies and a Master's in Applied Linguistic Anthropology. After attaining my degree. I worked full-time for OU as the Upward Bound Academic Counselor and Tribal Liaison. I am currently part-time Faculty for the OU Department of Native American Studies, teaching tribal service learning. I am transitioning from my full-time position with the Kiowa Tribe, serving as the Director of Higher Education.
 
Military Career: I am a Proud Army Veteran with service in Iraq from 2007-08, Afghanistan from 2012-2013, and recently in Kuwait from 2018-19.
 
My Leadership Attributes include 1) Character-Kiowa Values, Empathy, Humility, 2) Presence-Professionalism, Confidence, Resilience, 3) Intellect-Innovation, Personal Tact, and Expertise.
 
My Leadership Competencies include 1) Achieves-Gets results, improves performance, gives feedback, executes, and adapts 2) Develops-Believer in lifelong learning, positive work environment, steward of tribal money, 3) Leads-Leads others, builds trust, extends influence, leads by example, communicates effectively.
Warren Queton
Kiowa Tribe District 7 Legislator
Blood Quantum Update
We are clarifying a new movement to address the Kiowa Blood Quantum. On August 10, 2022, District 1 Legislator Kyle Ataddlety informed the Kiowa Legislator he intends to circulate a petition to call for a special meeting of the Kiowa Indian Council (KIC) to address the issue of Kiowa blood quantum. By the Kiowa Constitution, the petition needs four hundred signatures (400) to call for a special KIC meeting. To be clear, this is not a petition to change the blood quantum in the constitution, and it is only to call for the KIC meeting. Email the D1 Legislative Office for more information contact - 580-951-0235, kataddlety@kiowatribe.org
2022-24 Kiowa Tribal Princess
We would like to welcome our incoming Kiowa Tribal Princess Kyla Tsoodle. As well as say farewell to Angel Hummingbird and thank her for honoring her title. Kyla Tsoodle will the reigning Kiowa Tribal Princes from 2022-24.
Update from the Tax Office
Tribal citizens, when you purchase a vehicle new or used from a dealer, make sure you ask them to send the title to your personal address. If you do not request the title, it’s automatically going to be sent to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Motor Vehicle Department, and you will not be able to obtain the title until you have paid the vehicle off. This is a change that has come about in the past few days, and it is creating a lot of confusion and disgruntled Tribal citizens among other Tribes as well. If you fail to request the title, and when you come to visit the Kiowa Tag office, we will hold the Kiowa title until you are able to have the Oklahoma State title sent to you, and you either bring it in or mail to: Tax Commission, P. O. Box 369, Carnegie, OK 73015.
 
If you have any other questions, feel free to give our Tag office a call at 580-654-6319, 6320, or 6468.
 
Thank you!
 
Nick Hutchins
Kiowa Tax Commission Director
Powwow Dancers Wanted
Household Assistance Program
Household Assistance, under the Kiowa Tribe COVID-19 Response Program, is intended to assist Kiowa Tribal households stabilize by providing financial support when income has been reduced or diminished due to quarantine mandates. The funding under this program is to assist with expenses for utility bills, groceries, and other essential household necessities during the ongoing pandemic. The total amount of Household Assistance authorized for each item cost is as detailed below:
  • Utility bill(s) cost shall not exceed: $400.00 per household 
  • Grocery cost is determined by the size of the household but shall not exceed: $500.00 per household
Payments will go directly to the utility company by the Kiowa Tribe COVID-19 Response Program. Applicants may NOT be reimbursed through the Household Assistance Program. It is the responsibility of the family to initiate the Household Assistance Request. Information will only be taken and shared with the authorized individual who is completing the request. The application to the program can be found here.
Emergency Assistance Programs
Eligibility
The programs under Social Services are available to all enrolled Kiowa citizens. However the programs: Domestic Family Violence, General Assistance, and Liheap do have restricted service areas.

* Domestic Family Violence program is available to any person who is in an intimate relationship that because abusive (physically, verbally, emotionally, and/or physiological).

Service Area
Burial Assistance: no restrictions
Emergency Assistance: no restrictions
Domestic Family Violence: Caddo and Kiowa counties only
General Assistance: Caddo, Kiowa, and Comanche counties only
Liheap: Caddo, Kiowa, and Comanche counties only

Requirements
Must be enrolled Kiowa citizens and able to submit a copy of CDIB (certificate of Indian blood). 
* Domestic Family Violence is available to anyone.

Application
Applications are available online (here) as well as the Social Services offices in Carnegie and Anadarko.

Kiowa Tribe Housing Authority
The Kiowa Tribe Housing Authority has released an umbrella application for Elder Emergency Assistance, Storm Shelter Assistance, Low Rent, Minor Rehab, Major Rehab, Mutual Help, Down Payment/Bridge Assistance, and the Uniform Accessibility Program. Below you will find the application to be admitted to any of those services listed above.

If you have any questions or need assistance filling out an application feel free to contact the District 7 Legislative Office. Contact information can be found at the bottom of the newsletter.
District 7 Aye-Bahh for Digestion
August 8, 2022

I want to thank our newly elected District 7 legislator Mr. Warren Queton, for establishing this editorial forum to accommodate his constituency and encourage tribal order engagement for us living outside of the federal Kiowa tribal service area. He is not only perpetuating positive tribal relations but also proven, productive means of alleviating a communication crisis so evident in the past decade of our tribal dynamics. Rather or not this forum has an impact will be determined in the years following his term, but it is a good beginning for his representation and leadership. We wish him the best, for his success will be our salvation for a representative tribal government for current and future generations of District 7 tribal members.
I would like to encourage District 7 tribal members to participate in this editorial forum by submitting your written perspectives regarding the direction of our tribal government, at all levels. When one examines the past, the written communication of tribal members is tempered with complaints, criticisms, and personal exchanges. I respect such history but would like to suggest that you offer progressive, positive ideas on what and how the tribe could move forward in serving and representing District 7 tribal members. The newly elected tribal administration will lead and better serve our tribe if they confer with the various tribal representatives rather than the few as demonstrated these past years. Mr. Queton’s Editorial Forum provides us with this opportunity to contribute. Let us use our common sense, wisdom, intellect, and experience to guide our thoughts as expressed in written words.
Our Kiowa people must have productive means of communicating if we are to get out of the governance stalemate we currently find ourselves in. Sure, the new administration has a positive attitude but may need more input from our people to arrive at a meaningful position of productive change for future generations. I understand Chairman Spottedbird and Vice-Chair Tsotigh have promised more transparency and communication outlets to enhance access and input from tribal members. I trust this promise will be a priority and that we see some results soon. I encourage readers of this editorial piece to be active in their support and offer guidance and ideas as our new administration moves forward toward a better quality of life for our people. What are some suggestions you have for improving our communication environment? Please, let us have an intelligent conversation/discussion about communication and try hard to avoid the negativity/confrontational tendency of politics. 
Personally, I would like to see us commit to modernizing our tribal communication to include a more advanced system including continued familiarity and training (all facets of the tribal order) with the social app platforms and a possible proto-tribal model for rural/urban tribal members. Facebook has been turned into a weapon rather than a tool and has been misused and abused. I believe that it was/is the only social network app our past administration was familiar with at a time and is outdated and useless except for spreading bad feelings and corruption.  We need to learn how to communicate on a broader scale with a more appropriate system to meet the diversity of our tribal population. I would like to see us create our own television/radio thrusts until our tribal people get up to date with today’s communication technology. Seemingly the past political campaigning days utilized private radio as a primary means of communicating live and proved to be very effective and productive in my opinion. I do have an issue with using a private platform for the Kiowa Talk radio program and would rather see a tribally controlled program with tribal ownership and control. The private approach, though appreciated, got a little too political with personal attacks and inappropriate commentary as a result of personal and private agendas. Finally, many of our older generational tribal members (over 65 in my opinion) are not of the technology age or familiar with the processes, terminology, operation, manipulation, etc. of computerized communication and have a problem using even cell phones. Not a criticism, just a mention of a generation gap in technology that we are all victimized by. I recall grandpa always telling me “everybody needs to learn more, just in different areas” which helped us learn from one another collectively. As a result, our family promoted a Kiowa Way value (respect for one another) which was demonstrated within the family, and at one time throughout the tribe’. I can honestly tell you that I do not have a problem with disagreement. My attitude (Kiowa Way) is that with disagreement I am enlightened even more for life. 
To what extent is it feasible/viable to have a Kiowa Tribal NEWS Network starting with the establishment of a local radio station in Carnegie (in partnership with related Carnegie services) to better suit the Kiowa communities concerning communication? KIOWA Radio, 49.0 on your radio network, would be a proactive communication service to our District 7 tribal members provided it carries a signal strong enough to reach the OKC and Tulsa areas. Later in the years to come the tribe could consider a streaming channel for tv watchers, many of who are retired and limited mobility elders. I appreciate technology but it seems like it forgot, or ignored, our rural tribal people’s situations, and little was done by the past administrations in PLANNING for life and societal changes for our people. What has been done for the tribal people and made available has been done by the public and private sectors (schools, businesses, churches, etc.). We either need to buy into these sectors more, partner with either, or both, or start our tribal sector that caters to tribal members and the tribe as a whole. 
I don’t expect immediate availability of technology for our tribal members, thus access to the internet, streaming services, and other communication technological services, but I do expect our elected officials and our tribal institutions to come together and develop a “communication plan” for the months and years to come as they promised. Our Kiowa tribal districts are in desperate need of such services, especially for our students. Also, I do know there are federal and state technical and financial opportunities available for tribal governments if they would only “apply” themselves accordingly. We might start by identifying and hiring some good technology-minded and experienced people to work for the tribe in building and let them go to work with the suggested planning dynamics to get computer access and related communication services throughout all Kiowa districts.
In conclusion to this segment of the Editorial Forum, Kiowa tribal members of District 7 must have a more productive means of communicating with tribal representation at all levels of tribal government and vice versa. Without an effective communication system, a high level of dysfunction will continue to exist and contaminate tribal governmental/governance infrastructure and ultimately our tribal societies/culture. - Aye-Bahh for Digestion
Kiowa Tribe District 7 Office Staff
My name is Suzanne Wise and I am the office manager for the District 7 Legislative office. My Kiowa people come from the Kaulaity and Domebo families. My paternal grandfather is Harry Domebo and my paternal grandmother is Anna Kaulaity. My father’s name is Charles Domebo and my mother’s name is Frances Wise. I am an enrolled Kiowa and I am also from the Wichita and Caddo tribes. I learned from a very early age that to be a servant of your people is one of the greatest things you can do in this life. I am passionate about helping not only Kiowa people but all indigenous people. Since I started working for the Tribe it’s been wonderful to meet all of my Kiowa relatives and to serve our Kiowa people. 
I graduated from the University of Oklahoma where thanks to the Kiowa Tribe and the academic scholarships I received from OU, I owed nothing when I earned my diploma. Before I came to work for the Kiowa Tribe, I was the Legal Assistant to the Attorney General of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes for 7 years. I have been with the Kiowa Tribe since January 13, 2020 and thoroughly enjoy my job and the people I work with.
Again, I will always do my very best to serve our people and am thankful to Dawkee.
Suzanne Wise
Office Manager/Notary Public

Hello everyone my name is Jared Blackbear. I am from Tahlequah, Oklahoma. I am currently a senior at the University of Oklahoma studying Management and Information Systems with a minor in Psychology. My mother Amy Ross is a full blooded member of the Cherokee Nation, My father Jesus Aquirre is apart of the indigenous population of El Salavador the Pipil.I have been with the Kiowa District 7 Office since December of 2021. I am in charge of running the newsletter and will be providing you with updates about any announcements from the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma that may pertain to district 7 citizens.
Jared Blackbear
Legislative Intern
My name is Manilla Whitehorse. I am an enrolled citizen of the Kiowa Tribe, and of Otoe and Pottawattamie descent.
I am a descendant of Chief Dòhâusàn, (Little Bluff) the last noted Principle Chief of the Kiowas. His son was Háunèm:í:dâu, (Charging the Enemy) also known as Bautigh. My Grandfather was Charlie Whitehorse, Tsêñt’àiñ:dè who was the bustle keeper for the O-ho-mah Lodge.
My Great, Great grandfather on my father’s maternal side was, Gáuñ:mâmáñ:dè, (shortened to Mâmáñ:dè) He was the famous owl medicine doctor that was sent with a group of Kiowas to Fort Marion as a prisoner. His son was Pàu:k’ausa (Paw-k’aw-sah), personal name Rainy Mountain Charley. My grandmother was Laura Pàu:k’ausa Whitehorse, and was a keeper of one of the Ten Grandmothers Medicine Bundles. Roland N. Whitehorse, Háunèm:í:dâu, (Charging Man) was my father. He was a member of the Black Leggings Warrior Society and the O-ho-mah Lodge. He designed the Kiowa Seal and gifted it to the tribe in 1972.
My mother, June Louise Carson-Whitehorse was Otoe and Pottawattamie and was the daughter of Joseph Hurley Carson. He was a noted Otoe Indian Medicine Man. My maternal grandmother was Manilla Chilson.
After High School, I attended Duncan Brothers Barber School and was a barber for almost 40 years. I opened my hair salon “Take Five for Human Grooming” in Norman, Ok on Historic Campus Corner in 1993, remaining open for 34 successful years until I opted for a change of scenery.
I also worked at three successful restaurants in Norman, having the opportunity to learn to cater and serve the public. 
I began work for The Kiowa Tribe District 7 Legislative office on May 15th of 2020. COVID is what pushed me in a direction to learn and help the Kiowa Tribe. I have served as an administrative assistant and have had the opportunity to learn, meet and serve our Kiowa people. I’m very honored to have found a new path of employment.
Manilla Whitehorse
Administrative Assistant
Kiowa District 7 Citizens,

Below you will find a link a to a survey. This survey serves as a way to find out what you the citizens of district 7 would like the legislator Warren Queton to focus on. Please use the survey as a way to help guide Mr. Queton in providing the best advocacy for the issues you would like addressed. The survey is ten questions long and we ask that you please share it with any other district 7 Kiowa Citizens so we can better understand citizen needs Aho!
CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT!! GET INVOLVED!!

SURVEY TIME! We are conducting a District 7 Sensing Survey! The intent of this survey is to collect data from Kiowa Tribal Citizens to establish priorities now that I am the District 7 Legislator! Please take the time to fill this out!
We want to hear from District 7 Tribal Citizens!!
Kiowa District 7 Newsletter Vol 1