Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Principal Chief Chad Smith (left) and Deputy Principal Chief Hastings Shade (right) present Lost City resident Lizzie Whitekiller with the Cherokee Nation's Ga Du Gi Award

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation honored three Cherokee citizens with the Ga Du Gi Award during the October Tribal Council meeting. Principal Chief Chad Smith presented the awards to Lizzie Whitekiller of Lost City, Bill Davis of South Coffeyville and William Deerinwater of Tahlequah.

The Ga Du Gi Award is given to Cherokees who are recognized by their peers in the community for their dedication and service to the Cherokee Nation, it's people, it's culture and it's language.

For decades, Whitekiller has been known as a community leader dedicated to her family.

"She raised 10 kids and always emphasized education," Smith said. "She even got her own GED when she was 60, at the same time her youngest child was graduating from high school."

Davis is the founder of the Cherokee Outlet Indian Organization, a community group in the Coffeyville area.

"If there is an elderly person that needs a repair around the house, Bill is there with his hammer," Smith said. "He is always willing to go the extra mile to help someone else." Deerinwater is a well-known hog fry cook, who frequently sacrifices his time to help community groups and families.

"William always has a smile on his face, and has worked tirelessly for Cherokee folks for a long, long time," Smith said. "The other thing people will tell you about William, aside from the fact that he is always making people laugh and smile, is that he is the man to have around if you want to have a hog fry. Makes me hungry just thinking about it."

After the awards, the Council voted to change the law distributing car tag revenues to public schools, increasing the number of eligible schools. Schools receive 38% of the car tag revenues, with the money being distributed based on Indian enrollment.

In other action, the Tribal Council: approved a resolution authorizing $20,000 to support cultural renewal with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; approved a resolution authorizing a land lease to a Shawnee group for ceremonial property; approved a resolution authorizing the donation of surplus medical equipment to W.W. Hastings Indian Hospital; approved a resolution authorizing a grant application to the Department of Health and Human Services for Native American social and economic development.