Seminole Nation women leaders show what's possible for future generations
By Sarah Liese (Twilla), KOSU
The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma has hit a historic milestone: two women are leading the tribal nation for the first time in history.
Seminole Nation tribal citizens trickled into the Mekusukey Mission Arena to witness history on a crisp September morning: the first female duo — Sena Yesslith and Sheila Harjo — stepping into leadership as principal and assistant chiefs.
“Mvto (thank you) to everyone who is present today and to those who embarked on this historical journey with me by casting your vote … You have helped me to inspire Seminole girls and our women that any position in the nation and this world is possible to obtain,” Yesslith said during her speech on Saturday. “You helped to prove that women are not second-class in this nation.”
Emilia Wise sat in the crowd, representing her tribal nation as Little Miss Seminole at nine years old.
“It's inspiring how two strong girls went up there and got elected,” Wise said.
Assistant Chief Harjo made some of her dresses, she said, holding the traditional gown she sported at the inauguration.
“So that made me happy that she won,” Wise said. “And it's kind of cool to see somebody that's really nice [up there].”
When Harjo was sworn into office, Joel Factor stood by her side as her close friend. She’s proud to see a shakeup of representation, highlighting hardworking women.
“I think that they're going to show more women that anything's possible, that we can do more than what we were born [or] raised to do,” Factor said.
Some in the community may need to adjust to having two women leading the tribal nation, Factor noted. But she said the change is worth it.
“Women can do more than just make dresses, bead, show culture,” Factor said. “They can have a voice.”
The inauguration and swearing in of the new council came after former chief Lewis Johnson challenged the August 9 run-off election results.
Dan Factor, Seminole Nation Election Appeals Board Chair, said Johnson’s testimony stemmed from some Seminole citizens claiming they never received absentee ballots. But he said the board didn’t find discrepancies in their system.
“We could find no evidence that there was a violation of Title Ten,” Dan Factor said. “There's always an appeal process available to the candidates, and it's very seldom that there's an appeal. But there is sometimes.”
The election appeals board upheld the results a day before the inauguration, paving the way for Seminole Nation history to be made.
Anita Fields to be inducted into American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Fields joins Osages Maria Tallchief and Dr. Robert Warrior. Her induction ceremony will take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in October
by Chelsea T. Hicks, Osage News
Osage artist Anita Fields is among the 248 new members of the Academy of Arts & Sciences who will be inducted in October 2025.
Fields’ works include clay, fiber and installations, as a multidisciplinary artist who has exhibited in over 60 shows and held more than 20 grants and awards, according to her website.
The Osage artist’s work is held in numerous permanent collections, such as the Heard Museum, the Museum of Art and Design and the National Museum of the American Indian.
In a 2024 interview with the Smithsonian Institution, Fields said she believes decolonization is happening, as she is seeing Indigenous contributions begin to be recognized.
“There’s a long way to go, but I feel like huge steps have been taken for our involvement to be seen and understood. We’ve been sidelined for a very long time. Sadly, our work — and I’m kind of including everybody, writers, curators, artists — our work has not been seen as important, and I don’t know how you could discount that,” Fields said.
The academy was founded by John Adams, John Hancock, and “60 other scholar-patriots,” their website reads. Native contributions are beginning to be seen at the Academy, where artists inducted in recent years include examples such as Jeri Redcorn and Edgar Heap of Birds.
Reckoning with history
Osage scholar Dr. Robert Warrior said that the Native inductions are a sign of the academy’s reckoning with its history. He was inducted in 2018.
The American Academy of Arts & Sciences was founded in 1780.
According to its website, the Academy of Arts and Sciences “honors excellence and convenes leaders from every field of human endeavor to examine new ideas, address issues of importance to the nation and the world, and work together to cultivate every art and science which may tend to advance the interest, honor, dignity, and happiness of a free, independent, and virtuous people.”
Their values — advancing common good, upholding democratic ideals, elevating the use of evidence and knowledge, fostering deliberative discourse, preserving independence, embracing diversity and inclusivity, and celebrating excellence — are reflected in their legacy recognitions, which admit “individuals … not elected during their lifetimes[.]
“Their accomplishments were overlooked or undervalued due to their race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation,” the academy website notes. As part of their effort to reckon with the past, legacy recognitions was given to Maria Tallchief.
Prior to 2017, only the writers N. Scott Momaday, Louise Erdrich and Philip J. Deloria were Native members of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
What it means to be inducted
Fields’ induction will take place during a weekend of new member events on Harvard’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where inductees encounter opportunities to contribute to the life of the organization.
Following the October induction, members are invited to associate with one another in local committees. While there is no Oklahoma option, the academy’s website states that members can contact membership engagement to address that, if desired.
As an honorary society and an independent research center, members of the academy also take part in events, projects and publications. They do so to both discover and advance knowledge, as well as apply it to the problems of society, their website states.
Warrior said it’s notable when artists are inducted independent of an organization or school, as Fields was. The overall rate of successful nomination is very low compared to the number of people nominated, and the process is also involved, often taking years, he said.
The induction of new Native members in Fields’ class includes: journalist Peggy J. Berryhill of the Native Media Resource Center; historian Ned Blackhawk of Yale University; playwright Mary Kathryn Nagle; scholar Kim TallBear of University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; tribal leader Della C. Warrior of Multi-Indigenous Community Action; and the filmmaker Taika Waititi.
Fields’ legacy
There are many influential members of the academy.
Among the members of Fields’ year are Anderson Cooper and Gloria Steinem.
Fields herself is known for venerating traditional Indigenous arts. Her first art lessons, she has said, were her grandmother’s trunk of Osage clothes.
She attended the Institute of American Indian Arts, where she first wanted to be a painter — but was quite drawn to working with clay after trying the medium as a student.
In many ways, clay has elements resembling human people, Fields said.
Her website notes that “Landscapes, environment, and the influences of nature are themes found throughout [her] work. … They reflect time, place, and how the earth holds the memory of cultures who once called a specific terrain home.”
In addition to honoring tradition and place, Fields emphasizes the importance of hard work. This is something she learned from her father, she said in a statement.
In response to being named to the Academy, Fields expressed profound gratitude.
“To be named to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is both a humbling and incredibly exciting moment.
”I am honored to join the list of names whose work I greatly respect and remain inspired by.
“I am deeply grateful for the friends, family members, fellow artists, and the arts community for their encouragement and support in making life and the world a better place.
“I continually find strength through the survival of my Osage culture, whose beautiful stories I am committed to expressing. My Dad told me over and over as a child, be proud of where you come from and you can do anything you want in life, it just takes work,” said Fields.
In their work, the Academy’s goal is to “cultivate every art and science which may tend to advance the interest, honor, dignity, and happiness of a free, independent, and virtuous people.”
Fields’ works are now a part of those efforts.
Governor Anoatubby leads ribbon cutting for Tishomingo elder housing project
TISHOMINGO, Okla.— Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby was joined by elected tribal leaders, Chickasaw elders and community members Friday, Sept. 5, in ribbon cutting ceremonies to dedicate an elder housing complex.
The eight new homes are the direct result of requests for housing from Chickasaw seniors who live in the Tishomingo community, Governor Anoatubby said.
“We listened and the planning began, and these duplexes were built to meet our mission and that is to improve the quality of life of Chickasaw elders in this community,” he said. “Our goal was to provide more than just housing. Our goal was to provide both a sense of independence, as well as community and care.”
By building safe, affordable and accessible housing in Tishomingo, the Chickasaw Nation offers tribal elders the opportunity to remain within their community, close to family and friends, Governor Anoatubby said.
“In this way, these homes are part of our broader effort to support aging in place, an approach that respects both the autonomy of elders and reinforces the importance of community,” he said.
“Whether it be an in-home health service or senior programs or projects like this one, we continue to ensure Chickasaw elders receive support without having to leave the communities and people they know and love.”
The housing addition, located at 201 N. Chisholm, consists of four duplexes. Each duplex contains two, one-bedroom homes. The units’ interior design is fully accessible with walk-in showers, wide doorways and a thoughtful floorplan that reduces fall risk.
Each home is equipped with central heat and air, energy-efficient appliances, and large windows that provide plenty of natural light. Outside, each home has a fenced yard that contains a storm shelter.
Strategically located on the Chickasaw Nation Tishomingo Campus, the new duplexes are steps away from vital programs and services, such as the Chickasaw Nation Nutrition Center and Senior Center.
“These two facilities ensure that those who live here have easy access to food and meals,” Governor Anoatubby said. “The close proximity to the senior center will encourage activity and community among these residents and others who visit the senior center.”
A wellness center and health clinic are also near the new housing addition.
“These two facilities give those in these homes quick access to health and wellness services that become so vital to quality of life as we all age.”
For more information about services offered to Chickasaw seniors, visit Chickasaw.net/Elders or call (580) 795-9790.
Pat Green to Perform at Comanche Red River Hotel Casino
LAWTON, Okla. – Country music star Pat Green is set to take the stage at Comanche Red River Hotel Casino on Friday, Sept. 12, with gates opening at 7 p.m. and the show beginning at 8 p.m. The performance will continue Comanche Nation Entertainment’s concert series, bringing beloved music artists to Southwest Oklahoma.
“Hosting Pat Green at Comanche Red River Hotel Casino is an exciting way to continue our expansion of live entertainment offerings,” said Sterling Ticeahkie, General Manager of Comanche Red River Hotel Casino. “Guests can look forward to an unforgettable night of music in a setting that brings our community together.”
Green, born in San Antonio, Texas, is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, celebrated as one of the most influential figures in modern Texas country. With a career spanning more than two decades, he has earned more than 200 million streams and built a reputation as a dynamic live performer. Green has released a string of acclaimed albums and fan-favorite hits including “Wave on Wave,” “Carry On” and “Feels Just Like It Should.” Known for his powerful stage presence and loyal fan base, Green has become a staple of the country music scene nationwide.
"His performance not only brings incredible entertainment to our community but also shines spotlight on the exciting upgrades coming into the casino’s second phase of expansion,” Ticeahkie said. “These upgrades really show how we’re growing, bringing in more jobs, more entertainment and more reasons for people to visit, all while staying true to our traditions and building toward the future.”
The concert is part of Comanche Nation Entertainment’s larger initiative to provide premier entertainment experiences. Guests can expect even more concerts, special events and unique opportunities in the coming months.
Tickets start at $25 for general admission, with VIP options available for $70. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the link here.
To learn more about Comanche Nation Entertainment, visit www.comanchenationentertainment.com.
