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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - The Fifth Annual American Indian Elders Conference, "Elders Are the Difference," will be held September 9-11, 2003, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The main goal of this conference is to recognize the differences American Indian Elders make in the lives of others as they strive to improve their own lifestyles.

Outstanding elders representing tribes in the state of Oklahoma as well as their accomplishments will also be recognized at the conference. Nomination information will be distributed to tribal administrators and chiefs this summer.

Conference topics will include Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, exercise, pain management, grief management, T’ai Chi and more. The conference keynote speakers will include Corie Moran Adakai, Madeline Rugh, Ida Sue Gray, Kymberly Cravatt and Susan Nahwooksy. Sammy "Tone-Kei" White will serve as conference emcee. John Bennett Herrington, Commander, United States Navy and NASA astronaut, is the conference special guest at the Outstanding Elder Awards Banquet set for September 10, 2003. Renowned Oklahoma-native artist Dana Tiger has provided the art for this year’s conference, which will be displayed on the conference materials.

This year’s conference planning committee consists of representatives from Lawton Indian Hospital, Wewoka Indian Health Center, Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service, Oklahoma State University, American Cancer Society, Cherokee Nation, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Choctaw Nation, Seminole Nation, Oklahoma Insurance Department, Department of Human Services’ Aging Services Division, and the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center.

Conference sponsors include Indian Health Service, Oklahoma State University, AARP, American Cancer Society and Lucky Star Casino. Integris Health, Stone Mountain Trading Co., Mary Barnett, OSU Gerontology Institute and Peggy Pappas are among the many conference exhibitors.

The conference will be held at the Marriott Hotel, 3233 Northwest Expressway Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Registration brochures are available.

For more information on conference registration, call for presentations, conference support, or outstanding elder nominations contact,
Shona Gambrell at Oklahoma State University; by phone: 405-744-6571, or by e-mail: shonmat@okstate.edu. K. Denise Smith can be contacted at Lawton Indian Hospital by calling toll-free: 888-275-4886 (ext.348), or by sending email to: karole.smith@mail.ihs.gov. Conference information can also be found by visiting the following URL: http://ches.okstate.edu/programs_events/ie2003.